The Summer Olympics in Rio had a record number of
openly LGBTQ athletes—at least 41—competing, up from just 23 four years
earlier. The world got a little gayer during the games.
August 8, 1978:
The International Lesbian and Gay Association was
founded, which now has consultative status at the United Nations. From
small beginnings, big queer voices grew!
August 29, 1867:
Karl Heinrich Ulrichs became the first person to speak
publicly for gay and lesbian rights, paving the way for thousands of
bold voices.
In August 1966,
the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot happened in San Francisco—a
lesser-known, pre-Stonewall LGBTQ uprising led by trans women and drag
queens. The revolution didn’t just start in New York, and it definitely
included fierce Black and Brown queens.
On August 3, 1974,
the “Lesbian Connection” magazine began
publication—one of the earliest, long-running lesbian publications in
the U.S., packed with wit and important community news.
The Watts Uprising in Los Angeles began on August 11, 1965. It was a
pivotal moment in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism
in America.
August was originally called Sextilis in Latin, as it was the sixth
month of the original ten-month Roman calendar before January and
February were added.
In 8 BCE, the Roman Senate renamed Sextilis to August in honor of
Emperor Augustus Caesar, after his notable triumphs during that month.
Man,
let me tell you something I’ve been thinking about.
The folks at the
top? They’re not always there because they’re the smartest or the
hardest working. A lot of them are sitting there because they’ve stacked
so much money that it’s like looking up at a wall of gold you can’t
even climb. They use that money like a shield and a weapon—blocking out
competition, buying influence, and keeping the rules in their favor.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are just trying to make it, stretching dollars
until they’re thin as tissue paper.
There were places, especially down South, where people said, “Forget that,”
and made their own little money systems. It kept things close to home,
kept it in the hands of the "little people."
These days, the rich will hide
behind things like cryptocurrency, but since they pretty much run that
game too, it’s not the safe space for regular folks, in my opinion.
That’s
why I think we should talk about bartering. It’s old, sure, but it’s
solid. Imagine your grandma swapping a basket of fresh peaches for a jar
of homemade honey. No dollars, no banks—just trade. It’s you and me
saying, “I’ve got this…I need that…let’s make it work.” You can almost
smell the fresh bread someone bakes in exchange for a helping hand with
their garden.
And
you know what? With the internet, bartering has leveled up. Now you can
swap with people across the city or even the world without leaving your
couch. Imagine the quiet hum of your laptop as you message someone, the
little flicker of excitement when you find the perfect match for what
you’ve got to offer.
Here are some ideas for how bartering could play out:
You
design a logo for someone’s small business, and they cook you dinner
once a week for a month. You can hear the sizzle of the food hitting the
pan as payment comes in flavors instead of dollars.
You
fix a neighbor’s car, and they fix that drip in your bathroom sink. You
feel the relief of no more leaky faucet keeping you up at night.
You
give guitar lessons, and in return, they take professional photos of
your family—freezing those memories you can see forever.
You walk someone’s dog every morning, and they cut your hair twice a month. You leave every cut feeling sharp and confident.
You
clean a friend’s garage, and they give you that old bike collecting
dust—it’s yours now, ready for the smell of sunshine and asphalt.
If you're looking for bartering platforms where people can trade
goods or services without using money, here are a few popular ones:
A. BarterQuest –
A well-known platform that allows users to trade goods and services
globally. You can list what you have and what you're looking for, and
the site connects you with potential trade partners.
B. Swap.com – Mainly focused on swapping clothing, toys, and baby items, Swap.com allows users to trade gently used goods with others.
C. Craigslist (Barter Section) –
While Craigslist is primarily for buying and selling, it has a specific
section dedicated to bartering. People often post offers to swap items
or services in exchange for something else.
D. Bunz –
A mobile app that started in Toronto and has spread to other cities.
It's a community-driven platform where you can trade anything from food
to clothes to services.
E. Freecycle –
Although it's mostly focused on giving away items for free, you can
sometimes find bartering opportunities here. It's based on local
communities, so you can offer items in exchange for something else you
need.
F. Nextdoor – This is a social
networking app for neighborhoods, and while it’s primarily about local
updates and community interaction, people sometimes post items to barter
or trade.
G. U-Exchange – A free barter
site where you can post your trade offers and browse what others have
available. It includes everything from tangible goods to services.
H. TradeAway –
A platform that focuses on swapping products and services, making it
easy to find like-minded individuals interested in bartering.
The
beauty of bartering is that it keeps things private and personal. No
big companies counting your every dollar, no one tracking what you’re
buying. It’s just two people, making a
fair deal. It’s that warm community feeling, like hearing laughter float
out from a backyard get-together on a summer night.
Money’s
not going anywhere anytime soon, but we don’t have to use it for
everything. Bartering is like a quiet little path through the trees when
the main road is loud, crowded, and full of toll booths. Who knows? The
next connection that changes your life might start with a simple trade.
('Simple' and 'Trade' is what they called me in my twenties 😰)
Heyyyyy, humans! How’s it going? Everybody hanging in there? Or just clinging to sanity by a loose thread you found under the couch, next to your dignity and an old Cheeto? Yeah, same.
Anyone else loving this wild ride called “Earth: The Oops, All Disasters Edition”? I mean, come on, if 2025 gets any weirder, I expect flying whales and a nationwide shortage of pizza bagels.
But here’s the good news: Editorial cartoons are here! That’s right, hilarious little drawings that help us laugh at the stuff that usually makes us ugly cry in the shower. Seriously—cartoonists are like doctors for your feelings, if doctors used crayons and sarcasm.
So, here are some of the best editorial cartoons from this week (August 5th, 2025). May they help you giggle, chortle, or at least snort out a little sadness. Let’s laugh so we don’t sob, people!
A book that has worked for me and my relationship with money is "The Energy of Money" by Maria Nemeth. You can click the picture of it below if you want a copy of your own, but I am going to give all the important lessons and exercises right here.
I have had this book for so long,I dont even remeber where I bought it. I have a habit when reading a good book.. I highlight the most important parts of each page. That way, when i go to re-read it, I can just read the highlighted parts to squeeze the real value out quicker.
I have re-read this book about 7 times.. I dont know why but it works for me. When I get my mind and spirit right about money it becomes easier to get and hold onto.
We like to pass on anything that might be valuable so I used my notes, got a little computer help and summed up every paragraph, what it means and the actions you can take to get your mind and spirit in the best condition to attract and hold on to MONEY.
Because I know you're smart, I am going to spare you all the words and JUST the lessons and the exercises (the things you should do to get your mind and energy right with money)
Part I: The Hero’s Purpose
Be Willing — Example: Exercise:
Think of one thing you've been avoiding (like saving money or cleaning
your room). Say out loud, “I’m willing to look at this honestly.” Why it matters: Willingness is like opening a door. You don’t have to know everything—you just have to be ready to try.
Intentions & Integrity — Example: Exercise: Write down one goal (like saving $10) and one value (like honesty). Now check: Does your goal fit with your value? Why it matters: When your goals match your values, you won’t feel like you’re fighting yourself.
Goals Focus Energy — Example: Exercise: Pick a SMART goal. Example: “I’ll save $5 a week for 4 weeks.” Why it matters: Goals are like targets—you need a clear target to hit it.
Part II: Inner Blocks to Progress
Driven Behavior Wastes Energy — Example: Exercise: Notice when you’re doing something just to please others or out of fear. Write it down. Why it matters: Being “busy” isn’t always helpful. Real action comes from real purpose.
Scarcity as a Teacher — Example: Exercise: Think of a time you felt there wasn’t enough (money, time, friends). What did it teach you about being creative or careful? Why it matters: Scarcity can help you learn, not just scare you.
Transform Inner Blocks — Example: Exercise:
Notice a “Monkey Mind” thought (like “I’ll never be good with money”).
Write it down and add, “That’s just a thought—not the truth.” Why it matters: Naming your fears can shrink them.
Part III: Clearing the Path
Releasing Old Beliefs — Example: Exercise: Write a belief you want to let go of (like “Money is bad”). Then write, “I choose to believe I can use money for good.” Why it matters: Old beliefs only have power if you hold on to them.
Forgiveness Unleashes Energy — Example: Exercise: Write a letter (you don’t have to send it) forgiving someone—or yourself—for a money mistake. Why it matters: Forgiveness sets you free, even if the other person never knows.
Keeping Promises — Example: Exercise: Make a small promise to yourself (like “I’ll put $1 in savings today”)—and do it. Why it matters: Every promise you keep builds your confidence.
Part IV: Staying the Course
Obstacles Lead to Breakthroughs — Example: Exercise: Write down a recent problem and one thing you learned from it. Why it matters: Every obstacle has a lesson hiding inside.
Mutual Support — Example: Exercise: Ask a friend or family member to help you stick to a goal—and offer to help them too. Why it matters: Teamwork makes goals easier.
Gratitude Opens Doors — Example: Exercise: Write 3 things you’re grateful for right now. Why it matters: Gratitude shifts your focus from “not enough” to “plenty.”
There you go.. trust me, the time you take to do the exercises and get yourself in a good relatioship with money WORKS. Now I dont have to re-read the book anymore I can just come to this blog page for a refresher anytime I need. Bookmark this page and share it with family and friends because it can REALLY help.
If you like this and find value in it, let us know in the comments because I have lots of other books on business, realtionships, communication and money that I can sum and share!
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Be Willing — Example:
Intentions & Integrity — Example:
Goals Focus Energy — Example:
Driven Behavior Wastes Energy — Example:
Scarcity as a Teacher — Example:
Transform Inner Blocks — Example:
Releasing Old Beliefs — Example:
Forgiveness Unleashes Energy — Example:
Keeping Promises — Example:
Obstacles Lead to Breakthroughs — Example: