Category Archives: Personal

No video today…

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Hey Swagnilla Ice community,

Just a quick update from your favorite content creator! I’m not feeling my best today – I’ve got a sinus cold or flu bug that’s keeping me down. Unfortunately, this means there won’t be a new episode of Swag Plays Factorio Season 2 today.

I’m taking the day to rest and recover, and I’m hoping to be back on my feet and ready to record a new episode for you all on Friday. In the meantime, why not catch up on some of the previous episodes or check out some of my other content?

I appreciate all your support and understanding. If you could keep me in your thoughts and prayers, I’d really appreciate it! Let’s get me back to 100% so I can continue bringing you the best content possible.

Stay tuned for more updates, and remember, I’ll be back before you know it!

Your favorite content creator,
Swagnilla Ice

Don’t expect a Minecraft video…

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I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you are expecting a Minecraft video to be published on my YouTube channel tomorrow, please discard that idea. Due to how long an episode takes to create and how much work outside my home I am currently doing to pay my bills, I do not have the time nor the energy to record one. I’m so tired that I’m not even working on my private work in the evenings, like I do when I don’t get steady work.

If you really wish to see episodes at a more steady pace, consider supporting me. If I had a steady income to pay my bills and buy groceries, I could focus more on creating content and less on the need to earn money to pay bills every month.

I’ve decided to reduce my use of AI.

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I’ve chosen to quit use AIs (primarily Gemini but also Copilot) as virtual friends, and just use them for quick research help and correcting my writing. I don’t want the developers behind them to read sensitive stuff about me, so I went and deleted all my history with those two as they are the only ones I have used for casual conversations. Going forward, I will use them as the intelligent research tools and writing assistants they can be.

Legal Headaches As I Prepare to Switch

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The journey to transform my blog into a vibrant community website is officially underway, and to be honest, I’m already encountering some complex legal roadblocks. In this post, I’ll walk you through the general issues I’m grappling with. If anything resonates with your experience or expertise, and you’re willing to help, please get in touch.

My first hurdle involves youth privacy. Laws specifically protect the collection of information from young people, particularly those under thirteen. I want my community website to be welcoming for families while strictly adhering to these legal requirements. I have a strategy in mind to navigate this, and I need to confirm its robustness or explore avenues for improvement.

My next hurdle involves preparing crucial legal documents for the community website. These include a Terms of Service (TOS), a Privacy Policy, and a Refunds and Returns Policy for the shop and memberships. Without these foundational documents, my ability to enforce website rules would be severely hampered, and I wouldn’t be able to integrate preferred payment gateways. For instance, the forum rules need to be formally incorporated into the TOS to ensure they’re legally enforceable, in addition to being clearly posted in the forums. Otherwise, without firm policies, visitors could easily get mixed messages and inconsistent answers, leading to potential confusion in the community.

My next hurdle involves navigating user-generated content and the complexities of online safety laws. As the community site will feature a bbPress-powered forum, users will be able to post content directly on the site, as well as leave comments. Having a clear policy in place about how to handle this content and its related issues – such as defamation, copyright infringement, and illegal material – will be critical for the site’s success. This is particularly relevant with laws like Canada’s Bill C-63 (the Online Harms Act) coming into effect, which aims to regulate online content and impose new duties on platforms, directly impacting how I must manage user contributions.

My next hurdle involves establishing fair commercial policies that dictate how my site supports itself. As regular readers know, I’ll be offering memberships, displaying ads, and operating a shop selling both physical and digital goods. While some aspects of these ventures have been touched upon, I need to ensure comprehensive legal compliance and confidence in this area. It’s also crucial to ensure all advertisers understand and accept that the site is strictly family-friendly, meaning I will only accept Safe For Work (SFW) advertising.

The final set of legal challenges I’m considering involves website security, accessibility, and establishing a robust legal foundation. Ensuring that my website remains secure and that everyone can access it will be crucial for its long-term success. Understanding the comprehensive legal framework underpinning my site’s rules and other policies will be key from its inception to its ongoing operation as a business. This includes navigating aspects like employment law and understanding how it will affect my business, which is particularly crucial if I plan to hire assistance for my podcast in the future.

As you can see, the path to building a community website comes with its share of legal headaches. From youth privacy to commercial policies, and securing the site’s very foundation, each area demands careful attention. While these challenges might seem daunting, my goal is to navigate them thoughtfully and diligently to create a safe, compliant, and thriving online space for all. I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts or experiences with similar legal journeys. If you have expertise in any of these areas and are willing to share insights, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Your input could be invaluable as I continue this exciting transition!

New Music and New Music Video

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Hey fans! Swag here with a quick update on what’s been happening!

I’ve just released my first-ever a cappella album to my Fourthwall shop last Saturday, and that’s not all! Starting last Tuesday, I’m also dropping a music video on YouTube for every single track. Be sure to check out “No One Knows” on YouTube and consider picking up “Songs from the Heart” from the shop!

From Faith to Food Banks: The Charities That Make a Difference

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Greetings, everyone, and thank you for taking the time to read today’s blog post about my favorite charities. In this post, I’ll be dividing them into three main categories: Religious, Health, and Animal charities. In each section, I’ll explain why I choose to support these organizations, and I’ll include a link to their CanadaHelps page so you can donate if you’d like to support them as well.

I’d like to begin with my favorite religious charities. As a Roman Catholic, I support various institutions that guide the faithful both locally and nationally. The first one is my local parish, The Catholic Parish of St. Joseph’s Cathedral (St. Joseph’s Basilica). This is the church I attend for weekly Mass and occasionally on week days. It also serves as the main church of the Archbishop and Metropolitan of Edmonton, which is why it is designated as a Cathedral. Additionally, it holds the status of a Minor Basilica. If you’d like a refresher on the difference between a Minor and Major Basilica, I covered that in a past episode of my podcast—so be sure to check that out!

Another religious charity I’m proud to support is the National Catholic Broadcasting Council. This organization ensures that Catholic Mass is broadcast for those who are unable to attend in person. I’ve personally been blessed by their work—especially during times when I was sick and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporting them is the least I can do to show my gratitude for the comfort they provided!

When it comes to health charities, I’m especially passionate about supporting organizations that provide essential resources, fund research, and raise public awareness about health issues. One such organization is Diabetes Canada. While I don’t have diabetes myself, I know people who do, and given my family medical history, it’s something I need to be mindful of. Supporting research and awareness efforts to improve treatment and prevention is a cause I’m more than willing to stand behind!

Movember Canada is another health charity I’m proud to support. Every November, I dedicate time to raising funds for their cause—something I’ve been committed to for the past eleven years. This organization focuses on improving men’s health, both physically and mentally. Having faced my own mental health challenges, I know firsthand how important it is to spread awareness and work toward preventing male suicide. Additionally, Movember funds vital research for male-specific diseases such as prostate and testicular cancer, making their mission even more significant to me.

The final health-related charity might not seem like a traditional health organization, but for me, it has been an absolute lifesaver: Edmonton’s Food Bank. There have been times when I’ve worried about my next meal, and the free groceries I’ve received through their programs have been a huge help. Beyond just food, their Beyond Food program provides training and support to help people secure good jobs. Without the generosity of this organization, I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten through the past few years when I was without steady work. My support for them is more than gratitude—it’s a commitment to ensuring others have the same lifeline I did.

The final charity I love to support is The Valley Zoo Development Society. As an animal lover, I want what’s best for them, and this society plays a vital role in improving my local zoo by funding enhancements for the animals that live there. They even offer fun merchandise featuring various animals—I’m hoping to get a Meerkat plushie for myself one day! I’ve enjoyed many trips to the zoo, and knowing that my support helps create new experiences for future visits makes it even more rewarding.

Supporting charities is more than just giving—it’s about making a difference in the lives of others, whether through faith-based guidance, life-saving health initiatives, or improving the world for the animals we love. The organizations I’ve shared today have personally impacted my life, and I hope they inspire you too.

Even if you’re not in a position to donate, simply visiting their pages, learning about their missions, and spreading the word can make a huge impact. Every small action helps create a better, more compassionate world.

So, take a moment to explore the links provided and see if any of these causes resonate with you—you might just find a new charity to support!

An Open Letter to Everyone

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Dear reader,

To those who have supported me, and to those who may soon do the same, welcome to my blog and future community website. In the previous two posts here, I showed off the possibilities of what I can do with support from all of you. In this letter, I’d like to explain the challenges I face without support and how you can prevent that from happening.

In the first of those two posts, I showed how I would transform this simple blog into a full community website which would be a one-stop for all your family-friendly content needs. In the other post, I explained how with your support, I would add jobs to my community by hiring the right people to ensure that I could sustain that growth in the long-run. The vision in both posts depends entirely on the backing of a committed community.

Let me now explain the challenges I am facing without support. The biggest challenge I face is my rent. This alone costs me nine hundred dollars every month, and without a steady income, it’s not easy keeping a roof over my head. Without a steady place to call home, I won’t be able to produce any more of my family-friendly content that you enjoy. I also have other bills that need paying each month, and in total without groceries, I need around twelve hundred fifty dollars each month. This is why community backing is so important—it can help keep my work alive and ensure I can continue creating the content you love.

I know that not everyone can support me financially, and that’s completely okay. But there are other ways you can make a meaningful impact. Even small gestures—like sharing my work with others or engaging with my content—help more than you might realize. The YouTube algorithm isn’t easy, but with your likes, subscribes, shares, and comments, you can help ensure my content reaches the people who want to view it! Sharing these posts on my blog also will help get the word out to those who are interested in reading about topics I write on from my perspective. Sharing my podcast will help my fellow Catholics and other Christians learn about it and consider listening to an episode, and maybe even subscribing to me on Spotify. None of these actions cost a dime—just a moment of your time, and they can make a huge difference.

For those who are able and willing to support financially, here’s how you can help. For one-time support, you can send a tip through PayPal or LiberaPay using these links. You can also choose to buy my merch at my Fourthwall store, or purchase a service you are interested in from my Ko-fi page. For recurring support, both Fourthwall and Ko-fi have memberships that you can choose, with Ko-fi having two tiers to choose from. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference, and I’m grateful for your support in whatever way feels right for you.

At the end of the day, every bit of support—whether it’s sharing my work, engaging with my content, or contributing financially—helps bring my vision to life. Your encouragement, kindness, and belief in what I’m building mean the world to me. No matter how you choose to help, know that I deeply appreciate it. With your support, we can create something truly special together.

Your family-friendly content creator,

Swagnilla Ice (Nathan Pinno)

Why I’m Voting the Way I Am

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Normally, I would choose to not write about politics here on my blog, due to the fact that I want to keep this site family-friendly and politics is one area that most people steer clear of when doing such content. However, the stakes in our country’s future are so much higher in this election that I felt I needed to explain why I’m going to vote the way I am, and maybe convince you to vote the same way!

Canada is grappling with challenges unlike any we’ve seen in this generation. Now more than ever, we need leadership with a clear vision for the future—one that defends individual rights and ensures our nation remains independent, free from undue influence by external forces.

After examining the platforms of the Conservatives, Liberals, and New Democrats, I found that none of them align with the vision I have for Canada’s future. However, the Christian Heritage Party stands out as the one party that embodies every value and priority I hold dear.

My biggest reason for supporting this party—and proudly being a member—is their unwavering commitment to being pro-family, pro-life, and pro-freedom. True to their name, they aim to build on Canada’s heritage, rooted in Judeo-Christian principles, much like other Western nations. They steadfastly protect innocent human life, from natural conception to natural death—something I know none of the leaders of the big three parties, nor the People’s Party of Canada, will do.

Another reason I’m proud to support the Christian Heritage Party in this election is their commitment to restoring the definition of marriage as a union between one man and one woman—just as the true Church and the Bible teach. I firmly believe that any other view of marriage is sinful and should be repented of, so I’m grateful to have found a party that shares this conviction.

My third reason for supporting the Christian Heritage Party is their sound financial policies, which make total sense. From replacing the GST with a fair tax on purchases to introducing a Personal Income Security Account (PISA) as an alternative to CPP, and enforcing mandatory balanced budgets—these are solid steps toward putting Canada back on the right financial track. Who wouldn’t want a nation that is economically strong and stable? The only ones who wouldn’t are those who don’t want Canada to be strong and free!

The Christian Heritage Party is committed to safeguarding Canada’s independence by withdrawing from the WHO and the Paris Climate Accord. They also prioritize ensuring our troops are well-paid and properly equipped for their peacekeeping missions. These are policies I wholeheartedly support and stand behind!

In this election, the stakes couldn’t be higher, and the choice couldn’t be clearer. The Christian Heritage Party stands for the values and vision I believe will lead Canada toward a brighter future. If you share these convictions or want to learn more about their platform, I encourage you to visit their website and consider how your vote can make a difference.

My Dream of Owning a Home: A Path to Independence

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Owning a home is a milestone many dream of achieving, and for me, it’s about more than just having a place to call my own. It’s about security, independence, and creating a space that truly reflects who I am. In this post, I want to share why I aspire to own a home someday and why it feels like the right path for me compared to renting or buying a condo.

Security is one of the most important reasons I want to own my own home. Having my own set of keys—and knowing no one else has access—would give me peace of mind. Although I’d have to take full responsibility for addressing issues, I believe the sense of safety and control is worth the extra effort. Unlike renting or condo living, owning a home means I don’t have to worry about others entering my space without my permission.

Another reason is maintenance and pest control. As a homeowner, I could tackle repairs and problems right away, without having to rely on a landlord. Waiting months for a mouse issue to be addressed, as I’ve experienced in the past, would be a thing of the past! Taking charge of my living environment is not just practical—it’s empowering.

Then there’s the matter of laundry convenience. While owning a home comes with water and electricity bills, it would save me from the frustrations of shared laundry facilities. No more waiting for machines or refilling laundry cards—I’d have the freedom to do laundry on my own schedule, in my own space.

Soundproofing is another appeal of homeownership. My current apartment doesn’t offer much insulation from noisy neighbors, which often disrupts my peace. With my own home, I could enjoy better soundproofing and the quiet necessary to focus on hobbies like recording videos and podcasts. It’s about reclaiming my space—and my time.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, owning a home would contribute to my financial stability and net worth. Paying a mortgage invests in my future, whereas renting only builds someone else’s wealth. Even though I don’t focus on my net worth as a number, it provides a cushion for hard times—a source of long-term security.

Owning a home is not just a practical choice; it’s a step toward independence and stability. It’s about creating a space that’s uniquely mine, where I can thrive and take pride in everything I’ve built. Thank you for taking the time to hear my thoughts—I’d love to hear any support, suggestions, or advice you have as I work toward this goal. May God bless you all!

Swag at 40: Looking Back to Look Forward

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Greetings everyone! I’m Swagnilla Ice, but you can call me Nathan Pinno. I hail from the beautiful province of Alberta, Canada. Every week, I enjoy sharing my thoughts and experiences here on my Ko‑fi page. This week, in celebration of reaching the big 4-0, I thought I’d take a trip down memory lane to reflect on the lessons I’ve learned over the past forty years, and share my aspirations for the future. Join me on this journey as I look back to look forward.

Looking Back: Lessons Learned

As I reflect on my life, there are some clear lessons that stand out. The most significant lesson I’ve learned is the truth about salvation. It’s a constant process that I need to work on daily. Whenever I lose focus on my walk with God, I tend to slip up and make mistakes. However, I’m immensely grateful to have a relationship with a forgiving God who supports me on this journey and walks by my side.

Another lesson I’ve learned is to be grateful for those who support me on my life’s journey. From my parents to good friends, both in real life and online, I’ve been fortunate to have people who encourage and support me. Even when the chips are down, they remind me to look up and not lose hope. I am immensely grateful for each and every one of them, including all those who support my content creation. Thank you!

A hard lesson I’ve learned over the last forty years is the importance of wisely managing my money and sticking to a budget while avoiding debt whenever possible. As a result of this lesson, I’m now enrolled in a program to pay off part of my credit card debt. If I fail to make my monthly payment even three times, serious consequences will follow. To make the most of my money every month, I need to take advantage of every free resource available to me. Given the instability of work, I must be ready to adapt and find ways to make ends meet when I don’t get the hours I need. Your support of my content creation is immensely helpful in this regard.

Another lesson I’ve learned through harsh experiences is that I’m human and mortal. Not only did I nearly die on the operating table during a transplant five years ago, but I also had my appendix removed just before it burst. These events have forced me to evaluate every decision I’ve made in my life and have made me determined to live a cleaner, healthier life, both physically and spiritually. I’m grateful for the resources I have and for my church family and priests—without them, I’d be like a boat lost at sea.

Looking Forward

As I look forward to the next decade of my life, I have several goals I aim to accomplish. The first and most important is to turn my content creation into a steady source of income. Through my experiences, I’ve learned that I can’t rely on an employer to provide consistent work. Your help and support, both financial and otherwise, are crucial for this goal. I aspire to go full-time with content creation, producing material that everyone can enjoy—be it blog posts, live streams, podcast episodes, or YouTube videos. While I’m committed to creating engaging content, I’ll still need to work outside my residence to earn a living without your support.

My second goal is more personal in nature. I want to have more days free of sin. I’ve been struggling with the same sin repeatedly, and it’s time for it to end. With God’s help and your prayers, I believe I can overcome this habit and become the man God wants me to be.

My third goal is to pay off my debt, even though it’s currently on track to be resolved through the program I’m enrolled in and the payments I’m making on my school loans. Once my debt is fully paid, I will avoid using debt to finance anything unless it’s a one-time-use gift card that doesn’t accumulate interest.

My final goal is to find stable housing—whether by buying my own home or buying/building an apartment building and renting out the other suites. This is a long-term goal since I’m currently in a year-long lease that expires next December, but it’s not cheap at $900 per month. Not having to worry about rent every month and potentially earning some rental income instead would be a huge relief for my financial situation.

Conclusion
To wrap up this post, let me say that I’ve learned many lessons over the past forty years—too many to list here. I’ve gained a lot of wisdom and knowledge over the years, but I am still willing to learn from those wiser than me. I have clear goals for the next decade of my life, and hopefully, when I write a similar post at fifty, I’ll have even better news to share about my goals and accomplishments. If God allows me to reach my fiftieth birthday, I look forward to reflecting on another decade of growth and learning.

Thank you so much for reading this blog post. Your support here on Ko‑fi (as well as YouTube, Spotify, and Twitch) means the world to me! Please consider supporting me monthly to gain access to exclusive polls and images, and to help me create more posts like this one and other content you will enjoy. May God bless you all!