Work and Life

A Good Start to the Weekend (and Next Week!)

Swagnilla Ice Work and Life ,

Hey everyone,

Just a quick check-in for this Saturday’s post. After doing a video blog on Thursday, I wanted to keep today’s update a bit shorter, but still keep my Saturday tradition going!

It’s been a quiet week on the work front, so I’m really happy to share some positive news. I recently got confirmation from my supervisor at the site that they’re returning to work there, and they specifically want me back! This job is usually 10-hour shifts, and I get paid as a flagger, not a regular labourer, which is great. It’s a huge relief to know I’ll be working this Monday, and it definitely takes a bit of financial pressure off. I’m looking forward to getting things caught up and even being able to do laundry!

It’s always nice when things start looking up.

Hope you all have a great weekend! As you’re reading this, I’m likely out grabbing those free groceries I get most Saturdays, which is another little win.

Level Up Your Status: How VIPs Will Shape Our Community’s Future

Swagnilla Ice Work and Life, Gaming and Technology , , , , , ,

Greetings everyone! I have something quite exciting to introduce to you today: a new rank on Discord that will later transition to the community website when I shut down the Discord server and Fourthwall store in favor of the community website’s features. This rank is called VIP and you should know what that stands for already, but for those new to the acronym it means Very Important Person. Later in this post, I’ll explain how you can get this rank for yourself (but it’s not easy!).

On the Discord server, VIP status lets you stand out with a colored nickname and an exclusive VIP tag when online. But the true power of VIP comes from free access to the Supporters Area—a space packed with exciting perks! Inside, VIPs can enjoy private chats, behind-the-scenes livestreams (once I have enough Full Members consistently), interactive Q&A sessions via Stages, exclusive images, and polls. And if you’re a gamer, there’s something extra: early access to beta versions of the Minecraft modpacks I’m developing—giving you the chance to explore new content before anyone else.

One of the goals for the community website is to expand the VIP experience, offering even more perks—including exclusive discounts. While the Fourthwall store doesn’t currently support free ranks, moving to our own platform will unlock new possibilities!

When the transition happens, VIPs will retain all their existing benefits—but to keep your status, you’ll need to verify your identity on your new community website profile. On top of the previous perks, VIPs will receive special discounts on most shop items (except memberships—sorry, no one gets a discount on those, even as gifts!). The VIP discount will be slightly higher than Full Members’, giving you even more savings.

But that’s not all! VIPs will also get exclusive arcade tournaments to compete in, along with other future perks still in the works. Keep an eye on the community website’s blog section (which this blog will transition into) for updates as new benefits roll out!

You might be eager to grab VIP status for yourself—but hold your horses! This isn’t just handed out—it’s earned. If you want the prestige and perks that come with VIP, you’ll need to actively contribute to the community.

For now, I’ll personally be awarding this rank on Discord to those who consistently engage—whether it’s posting regularly, participating in discussions, or interacting with my YouTube channel through comments and community posts (yes, I do check if you’re subscribed!).

Once we transition to the community website, a dedicated committee within the company I’m founding will take over the process, granting VIP status once a year while revoking it for serious violations of community standards.

So what does being active really mean? It’s all about consistent participation—whether it’s chatting on Discord, commenting on videos, engaging with blog posts, or making meaningful contributions to discussions.

So if you really want VIP status and all the perks that come with it, start engaging now—earn it through genuine participation and become part of something exclusive!

Building the Future: A Strategic Plan for My Community-Focused Business

Swagnilla Ice Work and Life , , , , , ,

After thinking about the future of my business, I realized that I had made a major mistake in how I was going to hire people when I wrote that post about it earlier this year. In this post, I will explain the correct first few hires that I will make and why each one is vital in the order I will be hiring them as my income from online content allows me to do.

I will be the first person that will be hired by my company, and I will be setting it up as a Limited Liability Corporation or LLC for short. I do not know what name I will use, but I will have to check and see if it is available, and I will be using a lawyer to ensure that this goes smoothly, even though I have incorporated a company in Alberta before. I will be the company’s Chief Executive Officer as well as the Chief Content Officer, thus ensuring that all content produced by the company meets my standards.

I would like to point out that my vision for the company is to create family-friendly content and spaces to give parents a place to be able to send them online and not have to worry about exposure to content that is not appropriate for them. This blog will be transformed into a community website where that vision can be fulfilled. This will include moderated forums, safe games in the arcades, fun videos for them to watch and comment on, my weekly podcast, and of course, weekly blog posts about interesting topics from yours truly.

The second person the company will hire is a Chief Financial Officer when it can afford to do so. By hiring such a person early, the company’s financial future will be secured, preventing spending money that it doesn’t have. This person will also help to determine when it is safe to expand the team and hire the others I will be mentioning in this post. Ideally, they will have experience doing this, but willing to help a young company grow into a profitable one.

The next person I’ll be hiring will be working closely with the CFO and that is the person who will be in charge of human resources. Their job will be to hire everyone after them, following a priority list that I will be giving them, when the CFO says that they can hire someone. They will also be handing everything to do with employees – from pay to benefits and everything in between.

A Chief Graphics Officer will be the fourth person I’ll be hiring instead of the second one. This person’s job will be ensuring all graphics meet my vision’s standard as well as coming up with new graphics as needed for products and Minecraft mods and modpacks that future hires will need for their projects. They will also work with me to ensure my videos have the best thumbnails for whatever video platform the community website is using.

The next role to be filled will be the company’s Chief Programmer. They will work closely with me to not only improve the website but also modpacks that I am developing. This person will also co-head the future Creative department with the Chief Graphics Officer, ensuring that all coding meets the company’s expectations – from HTML and CSS to Java and PHP.

Reporting to the Chief Programmer and the Chief Graphics Officer will be the next hire, the Lead Developer. This person will be in charge of a development team for new mods for games and plugins for WordPress, as well as maintenance to existing ones. The ideal candidate will have a good sense of time management and team leadership, two critical things that I feel cannot be learned but are a part of a person from a young age.

After the above roles are hired, I’ll pivot and get the HR lead to focus on the community by hiring a Community Leader, a Public Relations team, and a moderation team for the forums. Existing staff members will also be required to act as mods, especially for topics that they have excellent knowledge in. I’ll also ask to hire an expert in Catholic religious teachings to help me with my podcast writing and maybe even hosting it alongside me. This will ensure that my community will get the best possible staff that will be focused on keeping all members happy and content.

After all these people are hired, I will ask the HR lead to look for experts in various fields that the forums are covering and that I’m interested in writing blog posts on. These will not be full-time employees but contractors who will help ensure that posts in their fields are high-quality yet family-friendly. They will be offered the chance to write guest posts on the site about their topic of expertise and will be asked to do a AMA in the forum corresponding with their field.

Hiring the right people at the right time is essential to ensuring my company grows into a stable and thriving organization. With a foundation rooted in family-friendly content, structured engagement, and community-building, every role I’ve outlined plays a crucial part in making this vision a reality.

By starting with financial stability and strategic hiring, I’ll be able to build a team that shares my passion for creating safe, engaging spaces online. As the company scales, these hires will help develop innovative content, powerful tools, and a vibrant community that members can trust and enjoy.

This journey is about more than just running a business—it’s about shaping an ecosystem that fosters creativity, learning, and meaningful connections. With careful planning and the right people by my side, I’m ready to turn this dream into a lasting success.

My Dream of Owning a Home: A Path to Independence

Swagnilla Ice Work and Life, Personal , , , , , ,

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!

Streaming Schedule Update: What to Expect

Swagnilla Ice Work and Life, Gaming and Technology , , , , , ,

Greetings everyone!

In today’s blog post, I’d like to explain how my streaming schedule is going to look. I’ve chosen this schedule to allow my YouTube series to catch up to my livestreaming world for the Creative Engineering modpack, partly so that I won’t forget what I’ve learned in my livestream world when I record a new episode, and partly so that I don’t become bored with it too easily. I’ve chosen different themes for each day I will go live when I can, and I have an announcement later about Saturdays, so please read on.

Let’s start off by discussing that weekday streams are dependant on a couple of things being satisfied:

  1. I must have the day off work (ie. I must not have been offered a shift and accepted it) OR
  2. I must work a morning shift AND
    1. I must work 4 hours or less AND
    2. I must start by 8 am.

If either set of conditions is met, I will stream that weekday – but I also must not have released a video on YouTube that morning (so no livestreams Monday, Wednesday, or Friday). The weekday streams will start around 8 or 9 am America/Edmonton time. I appreciate your understanding as I juggle work, livestreaming, and creating content—it means so much to me!

With that clearly explained, I can now explain the theme for Tuesdays going forwards: Retro Gaming Tuesday. This means I will be playing games like Mario Party 7, Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, and other Nintendo titles that I own via emulation on my PC (which is completely legal as I actually own the games themselves), using my controller instead of a standard Nintendo one. I love playing these old games and I hope to share my enthusiasm for them with you on Tuesdays going forwards – don’t forget I have a Mario Party 7 Party Map to finish and one final vs CPU map to beat!

Thursdays are going to be “OpenTTD Thursdays” from now on folks! You got that right – I’ll be working on growing my transportation empire in this game – I got until 2050 before my current game ends and I want to have a blast doing so with you folks! From building larger and larger railway networks, to building new highways and airports, this is gonna be epic! I love watching my company grow and ensuring that I don’t hit bankruptcy is part of the fun – what good or fun is a large company if it’s not profitable?

Saturdays are gonna be “Modded Minecraft Saturdays” where we dive into the world of modded Minecraft together – I’ll mainly be streaming from my Creative Engineering streaming world, but maybe I’ll switch it up in the future – I do have a Minecolonies settlement that I’d love to show off live to you all – and if either my Banished or Factorio series ends before the other (most likely the scenario that will happen), I’ll start a new streaming world in my Peaceful Mekanism modpack! Due to real-life situations, I may not always go live on Saturday – if so, I’ll be sure to announce it via social media – so consider following me there! Be sure to not miss a second of the action – you’ll probably regret it if you do! I should also mention that if I get enough viewers concurrently when I am live, I will consider making the first Saturday of each month “Community Saturday” instead where we’ll be playing “Golf With Your Friends” or “Quiplash” together for fun and laughs!

Finally before I let you go today, I’d like to mention that I have set up a second store with FourthWall. You can find merch there with discounts for Tier 3 Twitch subs and members there – you can support me via merch, memberships, or via simple donations in this store! The membership gives you a discount in the store as well as access to the Supporter Area of my Discord as a “Full Member” there – don’t forget, that’s where you can help me beta-test modpacks before they are released to the public on CurseForge! Your support allows me to keep producing content and livestreams that we can all enjoy together. It means the world to me and helps keep this community thriving! Did you know that any purchases you make in my shop will appear as alerts whenever I’m live? It’s a fun way to show your support and get recognized in real time!

Until the next time I post here, may God bless all of you!

Gender in the Workplace: Personal Insights and Reflections

Swagnilla Ice Work and Life , , , , , , ,

Welcome back to my weekly blog post. Before diving into this week’s topic, I owe you an apology for the absence of a post last week. I had the opportunity to write and schedule it earlier in the week but, regrettably, procrastination got the best of me. With that off my chest, let’s delve into this week’s discussion: gender in the workplace.

First off, I am writing this post as a firm Roman Catholic man with strongly conservative views. This background influences my perspective, so if you see anything you disagree with, at least you will understand the foundation of my beliefs and where I am coming from in my writing.

I strongly believe that there are some workplaces that should be permanently barred from either gender due to Tradition and Biblical teaching. For example, I support the exclusion of women from the priesthood and church hierarchy (deacons, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and the Pope) as set down by Church teaching and Tradition. Additionally, I would argue that military service should be reserved for men due to psychological and physical reasons.

However, this doesn’t mean that I oppose women in the workplace in general. I’ve worked with many women in various fields over the years, and I’ve generally been impressed by my female colleagues. I believe that some trades aren’t designed for a particular gender, but that’s my perspective. For women, a notable example of success in a male-dominated industry is Mary Barra, the current CEO of General Motors. She is thriving in the automotive industry, where men have traditionally dominated. Similarly, for men, Ben Carson is a role model in the medical field, an area where women have historically been the dominant force.

I think that in the construction industry, the raw building should be mostly left to men due to various factors, including:

  • Heavy materials
  • Inclement weather conditions in some parts of the country
  • Dirty conditions
  • Limited access to real washrooms, often only outhouses
  • Long hours

However, this doesn’t mean I believe women should be excluded from the construction industry. Some have proven to handle these factors (and I’ve worked with both genders who have and have not managed such conditions) so they shouldn’t be excluded just because they are women. Those who can’t handle the early stages of raw construction could still work later in the process on the interiors (flooring, insulating, drywalling, installing appliances and kitchens, etc.) or in the design and planning stages before, during, and near the end of construction.

In conclusion, gender dynamics in the workplace can be complex and multifaceted. While tradition and certain physical factors may influence opinions on specific roles, it’s essential to recognize and appreciate the unique strengths and contributions individuals bring to their professions. Many industries, such as retail and fast food, have shown that both men and women can succeed and thrive equally. By fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect, we can create workplaces where everyone has the opportunity to excel, regardless of gender.

True Love: A Solid Foundation for a Family

Swagnilla Ice Religious, Work and Life , , , , , ,

Love is often described as the cornerstone of a successful relationship. Yet, when it comes to building a family, true love serves as an even more profound foundation. As we reflect on Valentine’s Day and the significance it holds, it’s important to consider how true love shapes and nurtures the bonds that hold a family together.

I’m no expert, as I’m not married myself, but I did grow up in a household with two married parents who are still married today. Their love and commitment have shown me the power of true love and its role in creating a strong, supportive family.

The Essence of True Love

True love transcends the superficial layers of attraction and infatuation. It is the unconditional commitment to another person’s well-being and happiness. In the context of a family, true love involves the selfless acts of kindness, support, and sacrifice that create a nurturing environment for everyone involved.

Building Trust and Communication

One of the key elements of true love is trust. Trust is the bedrock upon which strong family relationships are built. When family members trust each other, they feel secure and supported, enabling them to express their thoughts and feelings openly. Effective communication further strengthens these bonds, allowing for healthy conflict resolution and mutual understanding.

Fostering Emotional Resilience

Families face numerous challenges, from financial pressures to health issues. True love equips family members with the emotional resilience needed to navigate these difficulties together. By standing by each other through thick and thin, family members develop a sense of unity and strength that helps them overcome any obstacle.

Biblical Examples of True Love

The Bible offers profound examples of true love that can inspire and guide us in our family relationships. One of the most significant examples is God’s love for humanity. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This ultimate act of sacrificial love serves as a model for the selflessness and commitment we should strive for within our families.

Another example is the love between Ruth and Naomi. Ruth’s loyalty and dedication to her mother-in-law, even after the loss of her husband, demonstrate the power of unwavering love and support. Ruth 1:16-17 captures this beautifully: “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.”

Modeling Healthy Relationships

Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in modeling true love for their children. When children witness their parents exhibiting genuine affection, respect, and partnership, they learn valuable lessons about what it means to love and be loved. These lessons become the foundation upon which children build their own future relationships.

Creating a Legacy of Love

True love within a family extends beyond the immediate household. It creates a ripple effect that influences future generations. By fostering an environment of love, trust, and support, families can create a lasting legacy that will continue to benefit their descendants for years to come.

Conclusion

As we reflect on Valentine’s Day, let us remember that true love is not just about grand gestures and romantic moments. It is about the everyday acts of kindness, patience, and understanding that build a solid foundation for a family. For a deeper exploration of this theme, you can listen to my podcast episode on the Sacrament of Matrimony, where I discuss how the sacrament strengthens family bonds and exemplifies true love. In nurturing true love within our families, we create a haven of warmth and security where every member can thrive.

First Hires First: Prioritizing Roles for Growth

Swagnilla Ice Work and Life , , ,

Ladies and gentlemen, people of all ages, I invite you to read this post today as I explain how and when I plan to expand from a one-person operation to a dedicated team. My goal is to continue providing the family-friendly, Christian content you expect while ensuring that the quality only gets better.

The way I plan to expand is simple: For every multiple of two thousand five hundred Canadian dollars (C$2,500) in monthly income, I will hire a new full-time team member. For the first milestone (reaching C$2,500 in income per month), I will be hiring myself to do this content creation gig full-time.

As I get closer to that milestone, I will be focusing more and more on content creation and less on working outside of my home. Right now, most of my time is spent working outside to pay my bills and creating content around my job, but as I get more support, that will change.

At the C$5,000 milestone, I will hire a graphics designer to help me out. Their job will be to design all the images—from new art for merchandise and creator cards to thumbnails for YouTube videos. If it needs an image, that person will be responsible for creating it and then getting my approval of the final design.

At the C$7,500 milestone, I will hire an editor to join the team. This person will be responsible for turning my raw recordings and raw Twitch VOD content into final videos for release on my YouTube channel. Their duties will also include moderating my Twitch channel and Discord server to ensure a family-friendly atmosphere is maintained.

Starting at the C$10,000 milestone, I will begin to hire a group of people aimed at putting together bigger projects, such as the dream video project I outlined a few weeks ago. The first among them will be researchers to help me write my podcast episodes and non-gaming YouTube video scripts. From there, I will continue to hire as my business needs and as I can afford them.

In conclusion, planning to expand my team is not just about growing my business, but also about enhancing the quality and diversity of the content I provide. Every milestone represents a step towards a more dynamic and creative future, one that allows me to focus on what I love most: creating meaningful, family-friendly, and Christian content for you all. 

While I don’t know if I’ll be a perfect boss, I have learned in my life so far what I don’t want to be as a boss, and I am committed to fostering a positive and supportive work environment. Your support is what makes this journey possible, and I am incredibly grateful for it. Stay tuned for more updates and thank you for being a part of this exciting adventure!

Behind the Scenes: Crafting Engaging Content for YouTube and Podcasts

Swagnilla Ice Work and Life, Personal, Gaming and Technology , , , ,

Hi everyone,

Creating family-friendly content for YouTube and Podbean is a process I truly enjoy each week. Let me take you behind the scenes and show you how I craft each type of content.

I’ll start by explaining the process behind my gaming videos first, as they are easier for me to explain. When starting a new series, I first decide which game to play. The next step is to choose whether to play the game in its vanilla form or with mods. If I opt for modded gameplay, I select the mods that will enhance the experience. For games like Minecraft, this can be an evolving decision if bugs pop up along the way.

The next step is to play the game while recording my gameplay and commentary using OBS. I utilize a dedicated Recording scene setup and have a key combination to start and stop recording seamlessly. Any reactions you hear from me are genuine and captured live during gameplay; I don’t edit the sound afterward. To avoid any copyright issues, I turn off the game’s in-game music before I start recording.

I then import the recorded video into Wondershare Filmora, where I add a title screen and sometimes an ending scene as well. I take a screenshot for the YouTube thumbnail and, if needed, add transitions to keep the video as smooth as possible. I then decide on what music to add, where it should go in the video, and what edits are needed for each track—such as reducing the volume and adding fade-ins or fade-outs.

Next, I decide on the episode’s title and export the video using Filmora’s built-in system to export it as an MP4 file. This MP4 file is what I upload to YouTube, with the screenshot becoming the YouTube thumbnail. While the video is being exported, I determine the YouTube description, appending a set of links for uniformity. I make sure to schedule any new uploads for the proper date at 4 am MST, while also adding the proper YouTube parts (subscribe and suggested video at the end, and perhaps a card with the series if it’s not the first episode).

Now that I’ve explained how I create each new gaming episode for YouTube, let me switch gears and explain how I write and record each new podcast episode, as the process is quite different.

The first thing I do is decide what topic I want to talk about in the podcast. This is easier if I am doing a series, as I either have a fixed set of episodes I want to research, write, and record, or at least a limited number of topics to choose from.

The next step is to search on Google for information about the topic I’m covering that week. I aim to pick at least two or three different sources to ensure a well-rounded understanding. This allows me to write the episode in my own words after comprehending the topic thoroughly.

I then proceed to write the topic using both OpenOffice Writer and Microsoft Copilot. I write out a paragraph at a time and ask Copilot for help improving it for flow. In fact, as I am writing this blog post, I am using Copilot to ensure you understand me clearly.

Finally, I proceed to record the episode using Audacity. I use headphones during recording to ensure that sounds from the speakers are not picked up by the microphone, allowing my voice to be heard clearly. After recording, I use Audacity to export the file as an MP3, adding metadata such as track name, recording artist, genre, track number, album name, and year. I then use Copilot to help me craft the episode description when I upload it to Podbean on Sunday.

As I currently cannot schedule podcast episodes on Podbean, I manually publish each one on Sunday morning. This is why they don’t come out at the same time each week and sometimes get published on Monday morning instead. I make sure to set the episode name, description, and duration in minutes and seconds. Once I get the funds to upgrade my subscription, I’ll start scheduling my podcast episodes as well. After publishing each episode, I share it on social media, and it is automatically added to my YouTube podcast feed.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my content creation process for both YouTube and podcast episodes. I hope you found it insightful and informative. If you enjoy my content and would like to support my work, please consider becoming a supporter on Ko-fi. Your support helps me continue creating family-friendly content and improving my setup. Every little bit helps and is greatly appreciated. Thank you for being a part of this journey with me!