{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1", "title": "Fediverse on Marti Abernathey", "icon": "https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a65647c633168fccd9a98104bb2f2e7b?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fmicro.blog%2Fimages%2Fblank_avatar.png", "home_page_url": "https://martiabernathey.com/", "feed_url": "https://martiabernathey.com/feed.json", "items": [ { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2026/07/12/my-blogs-on-microblog.html", "title": "My Blogs on Micro.blog", "content_html": "

I have four blogs here on micro.blog. My main site:\nMartiabernathey.com\nTpartypodcast.com\nStillnottrans.com.

\n

Martiabernathey.com is my personal website. Tpartypodcast is set up to be like my own Linktree to social media sites.

\n

StillNotTrans is an idea that I’ve thought about doing for a while. It’s a blog where I will post cisgender predators that are the real threat, rather than the made up by transphobes. Trans people are more often victims of sexual violence than cisgender people.

\n", "date_published": "2026-07-12T20:52:47+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2026/07/12/my-blogs-on-microblog.html", "tags": ["Transgender","Podcast","SocialMedia","Fediverse","Blogging"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2026/03/19/homelab-realities.html", "title": "Homelab Realities", "content_html": "

During my journey through POSSE driven social media with a focus on open source/federated applications, I’ve picked up a few insights. As a homelabber, I was curious about running my own social media apps on my private NAS.

\n

While I know it’s possible to expose my NAS/network to the internet, I feel that, from my perspective of being “smart enough to be dangerous,” it’s not the best idea for me. If I want to host something online, like Actual, PeerTube, or Mastodon, It’s more cost-effective (in terms of my time) and safer to use a fully managed DevOps platform like Elest.io or Pikapod. I’m fine with running local applications that don’t need internet exposure, but self-hosting Mastodon seems like a daunting task for someone like me. I still have nightmares about the time I tried to run group WordPress blogs on Transadvocate.com and kept getting hacked with bad MYSQL injections.

\n

For now, I’m sticking to locally hosted, in network apps that don’t go outside my home network. I know myi limitations.

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-19T11:39:39+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2026/03/19/homelab-realities.html", "tags": ["SocialMedia","Fediverse","SelfHosting"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2026/03/18/so-ive-moved-from-mastodon.html", "content_html": "

So, I’ve moved from Mastodon, to Micro.blog. I was hosting my own Mastodon server, it just isn’t worth $20 a month (it was raised last month from $9 to $20) to have my own domain/instance. Micro.blog is limited in what it can do, but my old mastodon.social profile will do to fill in the gaps.

\n", "date_published": "2026-03-18T16:11:26+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2026/03/18/so-ive-moved-from-mastodon.html", "tags": ["SocialMedia","Fediverse"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2026/01/24/post-by-galacticstonemastodonsocial-folks-if.html", "content_html": "

Post by @galacticstone@mastodon.social

\n
\n

Folks, if you have favorite TikTok or YouTube accounts that you follow, send a comment or DM to that account and tell them about PeerTube and Loops.Progressive voices are not welcome or safe on those broligarch venues and it’s going to get worse.It would be wise for these influencers and creators to not have all their eggs in one corporate basket. They should at least establish a presence and cross post.#TikTok #YouTube #PeerTube #Loops

\n
\n", "date_published": "2026-01-24T10:30:55+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2026/01/24/post-by-galacticstonemastodonsocial-folks-if.html", "tags": ["SocialMedia","Fediverse"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2025/03/20/104440.html", "content_html": "

peertube.martiabernathey.com/w/5teeZiu… this makes me cackle, because it’s true!

\n", "date_published": "2025-03-20T11:44:40+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2025/03/20/104440.html", "tags": ["Fediverse"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2025/03/07/ive-got-the-custom-css.html", "content_html": "

I’ve got the custom CSS fixed on my peertube instance the way I like it, at least for Desktop, but not yet for mobile. Work in progress, but I’m happy with it.

\n", "date_published": "2025-03-07T16:41:21+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2025/03/07/ive-got-the-custom-css.html", "tags": ["Fediverse","SelfHosting"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2025/01/15/leaving-another-social-media-account.html", "title": "Leaving Another Social Media Account Behind", "content_html": "

With the coming TikTok ban, I’ve realised that I’m doing something that I’ve done since 1997, which is leaving another social media site.

\n

My online social media prepense since 1997:\nAOL community (1997), Livejournal (2001-2004), Friendster (2003-2004), Myspace (2004-2006), Tribe.net (2005), Facebook (2006-2019), Twitter (2008-2024), YouTube (2011), Mastodon (2018), TikTok (2020), PeerTube (2024).

\n

This was never a linear event cycle, I just kind of floated from one app to the next with a lot of bleed over. At each site, I met different people and formed community bonds. Some of those connections lasted through those journeys, some did not. But at each part of the journey, there was always a sense of fear at not finding community again.

\n

Here we are at the beginning of 2025 and TikTok is being banned in the USA. I’ve known for about a year that I’d be transitioning off TikTok anyway, but the ban has made me self-reflect on my journey. Things I’ve realised:

\n\n

I don’t see myself returning to corporate social media. As I’ve said recently, I’m going to focus on building community in a very specific way, namely POSSE. I’m no longer going to worry myself about the people who don’t come along for the ride with me, but on those that do.

\n", "date_published": "2025-01-15T05:45:15+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2025/01/15/leaving-another-social-media-account.html", "tags": ["SocialMedia","Fediverse"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2025/01/13/abbey-asks-a-very-good.html", "title": "Abbey Asks a Very Good Question! What is POSSE?", "content_html": "

My mutual Abbey (OpenBookShelf), asked on TikTok what “POSSE” is. POSSE stands for “Publish (on your) Own Site, Syndicate Elsewhere”. You start with your website. For me, I start with my blog on Micro.blog, but you can use WordPress too. You can cross post or “syndicate” yourself automatically to most sites (you can find this post on Mastodon, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Threads, Tumblr, and Nostr) You can spin up your own social media sites like Mastodon (think Twitter) or PeerTube (think YouTube/TikTok) yourself effortlessly. My tutorial on that is here:

\n\n

With Mastodon (like Twitter) or PeerTube (like YouTube/TikTok) where YOU decide your own the moderation policies. This is possible because you are running the software on your own servers. The formatting with PeerTube when it comes to TikTok style content is a bit wonky, but even that has a decentralised (meaning running your own servers) answer on the horizon. Presently, you can post short form video content like this

\n

\"Auto-generated

\n

over on the Loops app that is very similar to TikTok.

\n

All of it can be tied back to Mastodon (or any other ActivityPub ran social media site that is under your control. There are no content guideline violations (CGV) on Mastodon/PeerTube.

\n

Abbey mentioned Substack. Much has been written about the controversy over there. The bottom line with that is that any platform that controls/hosts your content, also can control your moderation. With POSSE, there’s no algorithm to throttle your content, and you’re leveraging existing social media applications that lead people back to YOU.

\n

With this strategy, can go as light or as heavy as you want it to. There’s so much depth to it. It’s flexible and fun, and it’s ultimately bringing users back to controlling their content. You’re no longer the harassed/censored product.

\n

If you blog at a place like micro.blog you can expand to things like your own podcast hosting, sending out newsletters of your content, telling people what you’re currently reading

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

and more. They’re innovating with new & improved services all the time (like micro.one for example). The sky is the limit. POSSE opens up all kinds of possibilities that are centred in ethically getting people’s voices back to the masses without monetizing their work for the benefit of social media corporation’s shareholders.

\n\"\"\n", "date_published": "2025-01-13T10:59:35+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2025/01/13/abbey-asks-a-very-good.html", "tags": ["Podcast","SocialMedia","Fediverse","Blogging","Books"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2025/01/01/you-were-mostly-shit-but.html", "title": "2024 You Were Mostly Shit, But I Learned A Few Things", "content_html": "

I don’t really like doing New Year’s resolutions, for a few reasons. \nA. I don’t see the new year as the beginning of something. Yes, it’s a chance to reflect, but there’s nothing “new” about the year apart from the year I’m printing on forms. \nB. I save resolutions for when I get depressed. Even then, it’s not really resolutions, it’s more like goal setting. When I get depressed, I feel like I don’t see a way out. Setting goals helps me to keep going even if I feel bad.

\n

That being said, I don’t mind self-reflecting on the previous year. So with that…

\n

Things I realised in 2024

\n
    \n
  1. \n

    I miss writing. I found this blogging platform Micro-blog thanks to \nZoyander Street. WordPress is becoming a lot more feature rich, but at a price. I couldn’t justify spending £20 a month on blogging, but £7? Yes, please. I already have my own Mastodon instance and my own Peertube instance. With that in mind…

    \n
    2. \n
  2. \n

    Again, thanks to Zoyander Street, I found a name for the practice I’ve been pointing myself to regarding social media, namely POSSE. You can’t just remove yourself from popular social media apps without impacting your reach. But you can focus on creating a space that’s your primary base. That’s what my website is.

    \n
    3. \n
  3. \n

    2024 was a lot about waiting. Waiting or my bariatric surgery. I’ve been on a steady decline since needing to have my lap band removed in 2021 due to slippage. Since I had surgery in October 2024, I’m 68 pounds (ca. 31 kg) down, with about 119 pounds (ca. 54 kg) to go to get into a “healthy” range. But I’m getting there.

    \n
    4. \n
  4. \n

    How old I am. So much of the things I grew up with are fading away. The biggest realisation is a funny one, in Phil Collins (but I’m guessing not for him). Collins was a constant in the music of my life. Collins is 73. He retired from music in 2022, and the recent documentary shows how frail he is.

    \n\r\n

    It really set in stone how much time, even if I’m not struck away with some disease, that old age is close. There are no constants in life. I’m about 16 years younger than Collins. Yesterday I had a concert of his on YouTube pop up from 1997. I remember 1997.

    \n
    5. \n
\n \r\n

The concert from the Live and Loose tour in Paris has him dancing and smiling and being the Phil Collins I remember. The Collins in the Drumeo documentary is the harbinger of what is to come. For everyone, but especially for me.

\n

I have more years behind me, than I do in front of me. Nik, my son, is in his 30s now. He’s got his life, and he’s making the most of it. I’m very proud of the man he’s become. I don’t intend on sounding like this is the end for me (or hell, even for Phil). Even if the bells aren’t ringing for me yet, I can hear them in the distance. It reminds me to always keep myself in the moment. I’m grateful for all the wonderful moments I’ve had so far, and am ready for more.

\n
    \n
  1. This year I got married to my wife. She really doesn’t realise how much that she means to me. I think that’s probably more my fault than hers. It’s hard unlearning 50 years of taking care of others and letting someone in to see you and take care of you. She doesn’t think she does that, but she really does. I am truly grateful for her love. Finding Marcele was at the right time, it allowed me to be the best version of myself that I know how to be.
    2. \n
\n

I feel like 2025 will bring plenty of changes to my life as well. Marcele will finally be home, and we can start building a life together. I’m sure I’ll continue to lose weight. If I lose weight at the same rate I’m losing now, I’ll be at goal in June. There’s a lot to look forward to. 2024 felt like I was running in place, waiting for surgery. Now it feels like I can do things that will improve my life. I’m hopeful for 2025.

\n", "date_published": "2025-01-01T08:10:48+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2025/01/01/you-were-mostly-shit-but.html", "tags": ["Family","Reflection","MentalHealth","SocialMedia","Fediverse","Blogging"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2024/12/12/keeping-my-posse.html", "title": "Keeping My Posse Local: Working on Social Media Workflows", "content_html": "

I’m working on new social media priorities, using the POSSE (Post on your Own Site Syndicate Everywhere) scheme.

\n\n
\nYou can read about it [here](https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/23/23928550/posse-posting-activitypub-standard-twitter-tumblr-mastodon). The focus is bringing back social media out of the hands of big corporations. Judging from the way people jumped from Twitter to Bluesky, it will take a while for people to get away from being the product. So, this is a strategy to leverage the social media platforms that are out there, but keep the ultimate focus local. \n", "date_published": "2024-12-12T14:45:18+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2024/12/12/keeping-my-posse.html", "tags": ["SocialMedia","Fediverse"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2024/12/08/mastodon-reports.html", "title": "Mastodon Reports ", "content_html": "

I’m quite amused at the moderation of my Mastodon instance. I’ve been reported by exactly two different factions: Zionists, and Democrats. That just about tracks. Silencing, for having opinions contrary to the narratives of both factions, is a tactic that’s been disastrous for both Democrats and Zionists. But I guess when it’s all you have, that’s what you go with.

\n", "date_published": "2024-12-08T11:16:45+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2024/12/08/mastodon-reports.html", "tags": ["SocialMedia","Humour","USPolitics","Fediverse"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2024/11/19/083451.html", "title": "Who Owns Bluesky and Why it Matters", "content_html": "

My initial reservations about Bluesky were that it is algorithm-based, it is a closed platform (you can’t run your own Bluesky server), and it was first created by Twitter’s founder Jack Dorsey.

\n
\"\"
\n

Reading Cory Doctorow’s Bluesky and enshittification I had many questions. Simple questions centered around Bluesky seem hard to answer. They are hidden under layers of complexity. A question like, “can I run my own Bluesky instance?” is an example.

\n

Laurens Hof over at the Fediverse Report explained it this way:

\n
\n

It turns out that once you start peeling back the layers of the technological side of decentralisation, more and more questions start to arise. This is because ATProto splits up the network into separate components, and makes each component open and accessible for others to use and run. This is good for making the network more decentralised, but funnily enough it makes understanding decentralisation all the more difficult. – Bluesky, decentralisation, and the distribution of power

\n
\n

and

\n
\n

Furthermore, what the protocol affords is not equal to what the average person can actually use. ATProto allows people to take full control of their own data by either self-hosting their PDS or using a hosting provider Doing so currently requires technical knowledge: easy from the perspective of an experienced programmer, but out of reach from the majority of the population.

\n
\n

You can run a PDS (personal data server), but your posts and all that data still get routed through Bluesky. Decentralization is great if you can pick up your data and go elsewhere. Where are you going to take that data if you leave Bluesky? There’s confusion through obfuscation in just about every part of Bluesky. Wikipedia provides clarity on this question. It lists the number of instances of both Mastodon (over 18k) and Bluesky (“mainly Bluesky”).

\n

The obfuscation continued when I just asked the question to myself “who owns Bluesky”? My first stop in this little adventure was the BBC. They claim that:

\n
\n

It is now run and predominantly owned by chief executive Jay Graber as a US public benefit corporation.

\n
\n

Wow, okay! What is a public benefit corporation?

\n
\n

It is a type of for-profit corporate entity whose goals include making a positive impact on society.

\n
\n
\n

Currently, there are no legal standards that define what constitutes a benefit corporation. A benefit corporation need not be certified or audited by the third-party standard.

\n
\n

Who is Jay Graber?

\n
\n

In 2015, Graber began working as a software engineer for SkuChain in Mountain View, California. She then worked in a factory in Moses Lake, Washington, where she soldered together bitcoin mining equipment. In 2016, she began working as a junior developer for the Zcash cryptocurrency. In 2019, she founded the event planning website Happening, Inc.

\n
\n

Next stop, TechCrunch! They claim that:

\n
\n

Decentralized social app Bluesky announced on Thursday that it has raised a $15 million Series A round, following its $8 million seed raise last year.

\n
\n
\n

The Series A round is led by Blockchain Capital with participation from Alumni Ventures, True Ventures, SevenX, Darkmode’s Amir Shevat, and Kubernetes co-creator Joe Beda.

\n
\n

Who is Blockchain Capital?

\n
\n

In 2013, Pierce joined brothers Bart and Bradford Stephens in founding venture capital firm Blockchain Capital (BCC)

\n
\n

Oddly, Brock Pierce isn’t listed as a co-founder on their Wikipedia page or on their website. Who is Brock Pierce? He’s a childhood star from the Mighty Ducks. He went on the run:

\n
\n

Fifteen years ago, Pierce cofounded a Southern California startup called Digital Entertainment Network. Despite raising tens of millions in venture capital, that company eventually went under. Not long before the company was slated to have its initial public offering in 1999, Pierce and two other cofounders were named in two civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of underage boys. Pierce was never charged criminally.

\n
\n
\n

After the settlement, Collins-Rector, Shackley, and Pierce fled to Spain as a second set of victims filed another lawsuit in California against the three alleging sexual abuse. The three men never responded to the case, and a judge awarded a default judgment and $4.5 million in damages.

\n
\n

Later, he became a cryptocurrency tycoon with Steve Bannon. Yes, that Steve Bannon.

\n
\n

Before he became CEO of the Donald Trump campaign, and before he took over the alt-right media outlet Breitbart, Steve Bannon made his living selling virtual gold on the Internet.

\n
\n
\n

The story focuses on the World of Warcraft marketplace called Internet Gaming Entertainment, where players could pay real money for virtual goods, like gold, in the game. The company was founded by former child star Brock Pierce, and Bannon was an investor.

\n
\n

I’ll continue to use sites like TikTok, Bluesky, and Threads to push my content. Still, I’m not going to build a community there. When it comes to Bluesky I have even more questions, than when I started researching this. I can’t trust that Bluesky won’t become another Twitter. There’s far too much venture capital and questionable alliances/history to feel comfortable there. “Trust us, bro” isn’t enough.

\n", "date_published": "2024-11-19T09:34:51+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2024/11/19/083451.html", "tags": ["Media","SocialMedia","USPolitics","Fediverse","SelfHosting"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2024/11/02/debating-sex-work.html", "title": "Debating Sex Work: Centering Real Experiences", "content_html": "\n

I see countless videos on TikTok and YouTube saying things like “is sex work, work” or “is sex work empowering?” without platforming sex workers themselves. If sex workers respond in comment sections, content creators often block them. If they make response videos, they often get deplatformed.

\n\n\n

I'm not a sex worker myself. But I am not trying to build a platform by speaking over sex workers for clicks and views. They are considered debate topics, rather than human beings with lived experience. This is commonplace on algorithmically driven video social media applications.

\n\n\n

As a transgender woman, I understand the experience of having my life legislated and regulated. These actions are often based on fear and disgust, rather than the people at the center of the debate. Lawmakers should listen to those affected by the legislation and regulation.

\n\n\n

If you're going to debate sex workers and their industry, include them in on the conversation.

\n\n\n
\n[peertube.martiabernathey.com/w/snvNygA...](https://peertube.martiabernathey.com/w/snvNygAtir66SGw8Kj8FSV)\n
\n\n \n", "date_published": "2024-11-02T10:56:10+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2024/11/02/debating-sex-work.html", "tags": ["Activism","Transgender","SocialMedia","Fediverse","Blogging","SexWork"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2024/07/08/123109.html", "title": "Democratic Phantasmagoria", "content_html": "
\"\"
\n
\n

phantasmagoria
noun
phan· tas· ma· go· ria (ˌ)fan-ˌtaz-mə-ˈgȯr-ē-ə 

\n
    \n
  1. an exhibition of optical effects and illusions
    2. \n
  2. a: a constantly shifting complex succession of things seen or imagined
    b: a scene that constantly changes
    3. \n
  3. a bizarre or fantastic combination, collection, or assemblage
    4. \n
\n
\n

\n

\n

A trip around the Blue MAGA Fediverse this morning wielded an odd conglomeration of posts:

\n
\"\"
\n

\n

and

\n
\"\"
\n
\"\"
\n

The absurdity of demanding that the media cover Biden and Trump the same, when they obviously are different, is a special kind of gaslighting. The question is who are they gaslighting, themselves or us? Trump is a lot of things, but incoherent is not one of them. He may go on strange rants, mumble, or make odd references, but he does not come off as if he has some sort of noticeable cognitive decline.

\n

The second line of attack Blue MAGA are talking about is the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025:

\n
\"\"
\n

also here 1, 2

\n

Yes, Project 2025 is bad. But what is your President doing about it? Biden has never gone on offense when dealing with the Supreme Court (court packing), or while trying to push legislation through (ending the filibuster). Even in the past, when he was more coherent, he did little to challenge what was happening legislatively. He was sold as the person that could “work with Republicans” when he couldn’t even get his party to go with his agenda. The Supreme Court has handed him a gift in going after Trump (because he can’t be prosecuted for anything he does while in office), but it’s obvious he will not do anything but campaign on how bad Trump is.

\n

Trump isn’t in office right now, and judging by the polls, the electorate will judge Biden on what he’s done and what he’s doing, not on how bad Trump is.

\n

Sorry, Blue MAGA, complaining about Trump while not addressing the material conditions of the electorate probably won’t win you an election.

\n", "date_published": "2024-07-08T13:31:09+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2024/07/08/123109.html", "tags": ["Elections","USPolitics","Fediverse"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2022/04/26/twitter-is-a.html", "title": "Twitter is a Choice, Don't Opt Out", "content_html": "\n

I see a lot of people I follow say they are going to leave Twitter, and I think that's a bad idea.

\n\n\n

Something I realised listening to Chelsea Manning on the It Could Happen Here podcast, that the \"pay to play\" internet has been in the works for a long time. Chelsea isn't a conspiracy theorist; she's worked as an intelligence analyst, developer, and now as a network security expert.

\n\n\n

TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook all make you think you have this large following when you don't, via algorithms. It is a mirage. Here's an example: @CaseyHammybone has 6.5 million followers on TT, but most of his views are 30k-150k on average.

\n\n\n

Most posts are seen by 2% or less of his followers. And this is how social media works. There's an illusion of being seen, but it is mostly just smoke and mirrors to give the illusion of audience.

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
\n
\"\"
\n
\"\"
\n
\n\n\n

But there is an alternative that's been around for a while. Mastodon isn't an algorithm-driven social media site; it doesn't make money from access to content. Blogs and open-source media sites run on ActivityPub lists your timeline in a chronological order. And it's not as if you have to stop posting to these popular social media sites. Moaparty, for example, crossposts to and from Twitter and Instagram.

\n\n\n

The default Mastodon desktop looks a lot like Tweetdeck:

\n\n\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

Toot! (iOS)

\n\n\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

\n\n\n

Fedilab (Android)

\n\n\n
\"\"
\n\n\n

Both are very \"Twitter-like\". Toots=Tweets, Boosts=Retweets, and Favourites=Likes.

\n\n\n

Don't leave algorithm-based sites; use them to push people from those platforms to platforms that aren't algorithm-based. Push your Twitter followers to your Mastodon instance, your Medium readers to your blog, or your Youtube viewers to Peertube. Push content to Patreon and Fanbase (instead of TikTok), where you get paid to produce content. It may SEEM like you've entered a smaller universe, but that's just an illusion that algorithms produce. Leveraging the current parasitic social media platforms is key to taking back the power from those that have effectively silenced online discourse.

\n\n", "date_published": "2022-04-26T17:54:30+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2022/04/26/twitter-is-a.html", "tags": ["Podcast","SocialMedia","Fediverse"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2007/12/05/mark-twain-ya.html", "title": "Mark Twain, Ya Ain't So Bad", "content_html": "

Today my son was complaining about how he hates being forced to read books, that it took all the pleasure out of them. Finally I had found a way to pounce on him and tell him about my love for Mark Twain! I too had the same sanitized version of Twain drilled in to me (in the very high school that my son attends). It wasn’t till I read “Letters From The Earth” that my view of Twain changed radically. From “Letters”:

\n

In the voice of Satan

\n
Very well, God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden, and eventually assassinated them. All for disobeying a command which he had no right to utter. But he did not stop there, as you will see. He has one code of morals for himself, and quite another for his children. He requires his children to deal justly -- and gently -- with offenders, and forgive them seventy-and-seven times; whereas he deals neither justly nor gently with anyone, and he did not forgive the ignorant and thoughtless first pair of juveniles even their first small offense and say, \"You may go free this time, and I will give you another chance.\"\n

On the contrary! He elected to punish their children, all through the ages to the end of time, for a trifling offense committed by others before they were born. He is punishing them yet. In mild ways? No, in atrocious ones.

\n

You would not suppose that this kind of Being gets many compliments. Undeceive yourself: the world calls him the All-Just, the All-Righteous, the All-Good, the All-Merciful, the All-Forgiving, the All-Truthful, the All-Loving, the Source of All Morality. These sarcasms are uttered daily, all over the world. But not as conscious sarcasms. No, they are meant seriously: they are uttered without a smile.

\nTwain’s daughter, Clara, released them in 1962 stating that “Mark Twain belonged to the world.” The back story is that Clara was a devout Christian Scientist who repeatedly tried to smooth over Twain’s growing disdain for Christianity near the end of his life. It’s been documented that Clara was the creator of the image we have of Mark Twain today. That image was crafted through her own religious dogma, guilt, and as a response to those in Communist Russia that claimed Twain was being censored.

\n

Twain was far ahead of his time. He gave a speech at the Stomach Club ( a society of American writers and artists) in 1879 titled “Some Thoughts on the Science of Onanism "

\n

Onanism,is defined as:\nOnan (אוֹנָן “Strong”, Standard Hebrew Onan, Tiberian Hebrew ʾÔnān) is a person described in the book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. The word onanism, an older term for masturbation or “spilling of seed”, which is derived from his name because of one interpretation of his actions in the Bible.

\n

In the speech he said:

\n
My gifted predecessor has warned you against the social evil --- adultery.\" In his able paper he exhausted that subject; he left absolutely nothing more to be said on it. But I will continue his good work in the cause of morality by cautioning you against that species of recreation called self-abuse to which I perceive you are much addicted. All great writers on health and morals, both ancient and modern, have struggled with this stately subject; this shows its dignity and importance. Some of these writers have taken one side, some the other.\n

Homer, in the second book of the Iliad says with fine enthusiasm, “Give me masturbation or give me death.” Caesar, in his Commentaries, says, “To the lonely it is company; to the forsaken it is a friend; to the aged and to the impotent it is a benefactor. They that are penniless are yet rich, in that they still have this majestic diversion.” In another place this experienced observer has said, “There are times when I prefer it to sodomy.”

\n

Robinson Crusoe says, “I cannot describe what I owe to this gentle art.” Queen Elizabeth said, “It is the bulwark of virginity.” Cetewayo, the Zulu hero, remarked, “A jerk in the hand is worth two in the bush.” The immortal Franklin has said, “Masturbation is the best policy.”

\n

Michelangelo and all of the other old masters–“old masters,” I will remark, is an abbreviation, a contraction — have used similar language. Michelangelo said to Pope Julius II, “Self-negation is noble, self-culture beneficent, self-possession is manly, but to the truly great and inspiring soul they are poor and tame compared with self-abuse.” Mr. Brown, here, in one of his latest and most graceful poems, refers to it in an eloquent line which is destined to live to the end of time–“None knows it but to love it; none name it but to praise.”

\n

Such are the utterances of the most illustrious of the masters of this renowned science, and apologists for it. The name of those who decry it and oppose it is legion; they have made strong arguments and uttered bitter speeches against it — but there is not room to repeat them here in much detail. Brigham Young, an expert of incontestable authority, said, “As compared with the other thing, it is the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” Solomon said, “There is nothing to recommend it but its cheapness.” Galen said, “It is shameful to degrade to such bestial uses that grand limb, that formidable member, which we votaries of Science dub the Major Maxillary — when they dub it at all — which is seldom, It would be better to amputate the os frontis than to put it to such use.”

\n

The great statistician Smith, in his report to Parliament, says, “In my opinion, more children have been wasted in this way than any other.” It cannot be denied that the high antiquity of this art entitles it to our respect; but at the same time, I think its harmfulness demands our condemnation. Mr. Darwin was grieved to feel obliged to give up his theory that the monkey was the connecting link between man and the lower animals. I think he was too hasty. The monkey is the only animal, except man, that practices this science; hence, he is our brother; there is a bond of sympathy and relationship between us. Give this ingenuous animal an audience of the proper kind and he will straightway put aside his other affairs and take a whet; and you will see by his contortions and his ecstatic expression that he takes an intelligent and human interest in his performance.

\n

The signs of excessive indulgence in this destructive pastime are easily detectable. They are these: a disposition to eat, to drink, to smoke, to meet together convivially, to laugh, to joke and tell indelicate stories–and mainly, a yearning to paint pictures. The results of the habit are: loss of memory, loss of virility, loss of cheerfulness and loss of progeny.

\n

Of all the various kinds of sexual intercourse, this has the least to recommend it. As an amusement, it is too fleeting; as an occupation, it is too wearing; as a public exhibition, there is no money in it. It is unsuited to the drawing room, and in the most cultured society it has long been banished from the social board. It has at last, in our day of progress and improvement, been degraded to brotherhood with flatulence. Among the best bred, these two arts are now indulged only in private — though by consent of the whole company, when only males are present, it is still permissible, in good society, to remove the embargo on the fundamental sigh.

\n

My illustrious predecessor has taught you that all forms of the “social evil” are bad. I would teach you that some of these forms are more to be avoided than others. So, in concluding, I say, “If you must gamble your lives sexually, don’t play a lone hand too much.” When you feel a revolutionary uprising in your system, get your Vendome Column down some other way — don’t jerk it down.

\nThe real Mark Twain wasn’t just a witty ole' codger with a flair for writing colloquial American fiction. He was a true progressive for those times. He was anti-slavery, anti-capitalist (he played a major role in the American Anti-Imperialist League) and supported women’s suffrage.

\n

Digging deep in history, I found that he’s not as boring as most of my English teachers made him out to be. He was a man of courage, wit, common sense, with a compassionate heart to boot. He wasn’t without his failings, but who isn’t? The man behind the history is one of texture and depth. In the end, I found he ain’t so bad after all.

\n", "date_published": "2007-12-05T17:25:39+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2007/12/05/mark-twain-ya.html", "tags": ["Family","Capitalism","USPolitics","Fediverse","Religion","Books"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2005/10/22/the-pledge.html", "title": "The Pledge", "content_html": "

I wrote the following email to John Gregg, a local talk show host here on AM radio (WIBC).

\n

Hi,\nFirst of all, I’d like to say that even though I am sure we are philosophically at opposite ends of the spectrum (I’m a Green), I enjoy listening to your show on IBC.

\n

You read a quote of someone that advocated that this was a bad time to “take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance.”

\n

The Pledge was written by Reverend Francis Bellamy in 1892. Francis Bellamy was a Socialist Christian and did not include the words “under God” in the Pledge. “Under God” was not added to the pledge until 1954.It was a response to growth of communism. The genesis of adding “Under God” was from a sermon of Reverend Dr. George M. Docherty, a Presbyterian minister. He said “And I came to a strange conclusion. there was something missing in this Pledge, and that which was missing was the characteristic and definitive factor in the “American Way of Life.” Indeed, apart from the mention of the phrase, the United States of America, this could be the pledge of any Republic. In fact, I could hear little Muscovites repeat a similar pledge to their hammer and sickle flag in Moscow with equal solemnity, for Russia is also a Republic that claims to have overthrown the tyranny of kingship”

\n

You can read his full sermon here:\nwww.post-gazette.com/downloads…

\n

I do not believe that you can have a representative republic and theocracy at the same time. Jefferson said

\n
\"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own.\"
\n

The founding fathers spoke to the separation of church and state… to list a few…

\n
Thomas Jefferson\n\"Our civil rights have no dependence upon our religious opinions more than our opinions in physics or geometry.\"\n

James Madison\n“The Civil Government, tho' bereft of everything like an associated hierarchy, possesses the requisite stability and performs its functions with complete success; whilst the number, the industry, and the morality of the Priesthood, and the devotion of the people have been manifestly increased by the total separation of the Church from the State.”

\n

John Adams\n“The substance and essence of Christianity, as I understand it, is eternal and enchangeable, and will bear examination forever, but it has been mixed with extraneous ingredients, which I think will not bear examination, and they ought to be separated.”

\n

Thomas Paine\n“As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of government to protect all conscientious protesters thereof, and I know of no other business government has to do therewith.”

\n
\nThe voice of our founding fathers rings quite clear on this subject. That isn't to say that I think we should simply go on what the founding fathers believed (if we did, blacks would still be slaves and women would be considered property under the eyes of the law). I do believe that this is a nation where the government is dedicated to be \"For the people, by the people, and of the people.\"\n

If we choose as a nation to move closer to a theocratic form of government, we should be honest and forthright about our intentions in doing so.

\n

I listen to you on the drive home from work (I work 3rds). I hope at some point I get home in enough time to call in!

\n

Be well,

\n

Marti Abernathey

\n", "date_published": "2005-10-22T18:04:12+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2005/10/22/the-pledge.html", "tags": ["Activism","Wisconsin","MyStory","Fediverse","Religion","Midwest"] }, { "id": "http://marti-abernathey.micro.blog/2003/01/15/running-away-a.html", "title": "Running Away... A Lesson Learned", "content_html": "

 As a young boy not quite eight years old, I set off to run away from home. My mother had made me eat cole slaw and forbid me to watch my favorite superhero, Wonder Woman. I had had enough, so I started packing. I found my mom’s curler carrier. It was one of those hard brown leather cases with the mirror attached to the top. With my mom’s curler box emptied of all her plastic curlers, I replaced them with all my Star Wars action figures, my Evil Kenevil and Fonzie dolls, and a few other prized possessions. I fixed a PB&J sandwich, and then hit the door running.

\n

I was so upset with my mother for forcing me to eat that nasty slaw. As I walked towards the drainage ditch, it hit me. Who would feed me? Where would I sleep? How would I get to school? I sat at the ditch and ate my PB&J and contemplated my future. I realized, even as a small child, that I was running from problems that weren’t as large as the ones I was running to. 

\n

That episode happened 27 years ago. That boy at the drainage ditch isn’t quiet a boy anymore. He isn’t even a man. That boy is a woman, or at least she is on her way.

\n

I had to go through an alcoholic father and his death at age 11, two divorces and custody battles and a long internal battle accepting my transsexuality. My second ex-wife, Lynn, denied my visitation when it was clear that I was transitioning and wasn’t going to hide it.

\n

Last year it became apparent that I wasn’t going to be allowed to see my kids. I sank further and further into a horrid depression. I didn’t leave the house for weeks. One Sunday, I put my resume on Monster.com and came home to 15 calls from recruiters. One call was from the DC area. The recruiter connected me to a job not far from DC in Fredericksburg, VA. In an all too familiar scenario, I packed a suitcase and flew to DC to interview.

\n

The interview went great, and I rushed a move. I threw my sound equipment, computers and my clothes in my rented 2002 Mustang and drove away from Indiana feeling free. The company paid for everything, and finally my life seemed to be leveling out again…or so I thought. The $4,000 sign on bonus turned out to be $2,600 after taxes. My recruiter forced me into buying a car from them. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t pass Maryland inspection, and I was somehow coned into a lemon. So goes my second attempt to runaway.

\n

Again, my world was beginning to unravel. The only difference was I was 600 miles from my kids and I left any support network that I had, back in Indiana. Waves and waves of questions hit me. How would I work things out from 600 miles away? Why did I move so quickly? Did I leave people that love me to run away from the greatest pain in my life? There’s no drainage ditch close to my apartment, and I no longer eat PB&J’s, but the questions hit me just as hard.

\n

My life is different, but not any better. Running away to Washington DC hasn’t solved any of my problems. Like that little boy standing at the drainage ditch, I have realized I need to go back and face my problems…not run from them. No one else is going to solve my problems for me. If I don’t, no one will. My heart hurt so badly at the trauma of my divorce and the ensuing drama that began once my transition was announced. Sticking my head in the sand isn’t going to get me any closer to transitioning fully, having FFS or SRS, or gaining closure to this part of my life.

\n

As a child, I swallowed my pride, and walked back into the house and learned to live under my moms rule. As an adult, im moving back to Indiana to deal with the issues I buried when I left. Lynn has agreed to working on a resolution to seeing the kids, but that can only go forward if I move back. I have made contacts within the t-community in Indiana and hope to help them lobby local politicians for trans-inclusive legislation. I will continue to do my radio show “The T-Party” and write. The difference from before the move will be in my outlook and attitude. Some lessons really are worth learning twice.\n 

\n", "date_published": "2003-01-15T09:17:33+01:00", "url": "https://martiabernathey.com/2003/01/15/running-away-a.html", "tags": ["Indiana","Family","Transgender","Podcast","MentalHealth","MyStory","LGBTQ","Fediverse","Midwest"] } ] }