Into December and the last month of the year already. Why does it always seem like January has just happened and we’re suddenly into December? Time just keeps marching on and we lowly humans keep trying to find it to get done what we want.

In among all the holiday preparations, December is a good time to be thinking about what you’d like to accomplish next year. Think big, then break in down into the simpler steps to plan your progress throughout the year.

For all the grumbling that goes on in some quarters, I do think that STEEM and the ecosystem developing around it will continue to grow and develop over the coming year.

Are we going to hit Facebook level adoption? Not very likely, but then Facebook and other popular social media sites didn’t emerge into our awareness fully formed and without issues. Nor have they even attempted to pay users in any manner.

I’ve been fighting a chest cold the last week or so which has been seriously sapping my strength. Feeling better today, I hope that holds.

Onward to today’s rambling

New Signup Service Available from @netuoso - How to open a new Steem blockchain account with your CREDIT CARD

One of the issues STEEM has been having is onboarding people. In an effort to validate people Steemit Inc. does free signups but it can take up to a week to get a new account onboard. There are other options and @netuoso has added a credit card option.

Have a look at @timcliff’s post and then click through the @netuoso’s site to get the picture. Also be sure to read the comments on @timcliff’s post as there are some questions answered there about the service.

SteemRadio - schedule of all the steemit radio shows - what, when, where

Steem radio is becoming a very hot addition to the blockchain. Most of the shows originate on Discord. If you are not on Discord yet, you should be. There are many excellent projects taking place on there which add to the STEEM experience.

@pennsif has put the effort into collating the shows which are currently running and where. Yes, with the launch of the @steemstarnetwork this past Sunday, Pimp Your Post Thursday will become a radio show.

New Steemit Users Analysis Oct & Nov Report – Steemit Business Intelligence

@paulag does some interesting posts using actual numbers to review the state of STEEM. I must confess, some of her posts go right over my head, but that is just me and my own aversion to some stats.

This post is very easy to follow and, to me, does give some positive outlook for the platform. While many complain about the retention rate, and that is a concern, for me, seeing an increasing number of new users actually engaging on the platform will eventually resolve the retention rate.

Thinking Out The Box: Curation Rewards

With all the debate going on about curation rewards on STEEM, it’s long overdue for someone like @meesterboom to put forth the idea of removing curation rewards as they are done here on STEEM. I’ve found calling what amounts to voting rewards ‘curation’ has been really misleading.

This is a definition of social curation: “Social media content curation is simply filtering through all the interesting content across the web and sharing the best news, articles, videos and infographics on your social channels.”

Notice it doesn’t involve any voting? It involves sharing. As @meesterboom has rightly (IMO) pointed out, what currently passes as curation on STEEM is more about a race to vote closest to the beginning on many accounts.

Many actual curation initiatives, like the Steemit Ramble, go on without regard to receiving curation rewards. It’s those initiatives which serve to discover talent on the platform.

Introduce A New Steemian: Meet Excell Fit Life, the Return Missionary Bodybuilder Who Wants to Help You Live a Fit and Healthy Life

Speaking of curation initiatives, @gmuxx has started an initiative designed to encourage members to introduce and bring attention to people new to the platform which show some promise as members of the platform. Great initiative, and one anyone can take part in, individual curation.

@rodeo670 has taken this to heart and has posted a few profiles of new Steemians. Nice work @rodeo670 and this post on @excelfitlife is worth giving a read to and then click through to the profile to welcome this new member.

#thealliance - The Vision

In your travels around Steemit, you likely have come across references to @thealliance and wondered what it is. @enginewitty has sat down to articulate the vision of what @thealliance is.

I’m a member and try to be as active as I can. The most active members help and support each other as much as possible. It’s not just about voting on each others posts, it’s about caring about each other as family and supporting what members are doing. Several alliance members take part in PYPT regularly. It’s much appreciated.

Team Good Gearing Up for Showtime! (Extra Karma Points Included)

If you like following multifaceted individuals, than you need to be following @battleaxe. She’s a great person who cares a lot about the platform. In this post she’s doing a shout out to @sircork and his @youarehope initiate as well as the newly aired @steemstarnetwork radio.

When she’s not being real like this, she writes some pretty cool parody which is always worth reading. @battleaxe has a very pointed perspective on life.

🎄You Are H.O.P.E. Holiday Fundraiser #1🎅

Speaking of family supporting family, @thealliance has posted in support of the @youarehope holiday fundraiser. While you wont get a charitable receipt for this giving, it is totally transparent on the blockchain and you will be providing real help to people in areas where it is desperately needed.

Proud to announce my role in the 'Original Work Initiative' from @humanbot and @carlgnash!

We talked earlier about curation initiatives that are more about finding and sharing quality content than about racing to vote in the right window to receive curation rewards. This is another initiative that is underway and gaining steam that @beautifulbullies has rightly proudly announced her participation in.

end of november into the dawn of december, who knows what tomorrow brings.

This post was nominated by @beautifulbullies

So many live life just a paycheque away from disaster. They make enough to get by as long as no emergencies crop up, then it is disaster. @teamhumble writes honestly and poignantly about this and how even with that hanging over their heads, they can also appreciate the simply things in life.

I live much this way myself. One of the truths that keep me going is, no matter how rough things look, I’m better off than someone else.

@teamhumble you have some writing talent there IMO and apparently @beautifulbullies agrees. Writing is a craft, one that needs constant practice and refinement. The Writers Block on discord has a group of people who could help you with that, you may want to consider joining there.

The Journey to Helping my Autistic Son - Why Banting Changes Lives!

This post was nominated by @sgt-dan

I had never heard of Banting until I read this post and one other from the Facebook group who have joined Steemit. @forloveofbanting writes about the difference Banting has made in her son’s life. What an amazing story and makes me hope we’ll hear more from this group here on Steemit.

Drawitbetter Contest #5 Dragon

This post was nominated by @rodeo670

I always appreciate the talent of artists. It’s something I’ve not taken the time to learn. Like writing, it is a skill and not everyone can do it well. @gailbelga has created a delightful painting of a dragon and taken the time to document the process. Really wonderful painting and great work on describing the process.

Drone Video: Voelklingen Ironworks (Germany / Saarland)

This post was nominated by @steemitgraven29

I can readily see why @steemitgraven29 nominated this post, it’s very impressive. @folker-wulff has produced a stunning video for Stemmit of a drone exploration of the Voelklingen Ironworks, an abandoned industrial complex that is now a UNESCO World Site.

The video is well worth the nine minutes it will take you to explore this site and listen to the excellent narration. Well done @folker-wulff.

Hillbilly 3000

This post was nominated by @battleaxe.

A quick read short story. Short stories challenge is to precisely develop enough of the character(s) for the reader to get a sense of the dynamics at play. @cizzo has accomplished this with an excellent punchline for an ending. Well done.

We are not a civilized society

This post was nominated by @enginewitty.

@guyfawkes4-20 presents a very well thought out treatise on the concept of us not being a civilized society until we are a society without violence and therefore a society without need of standing armies.

I know, you’ll be inclined to dismiss it as an impossible dream. Here’s the thing, if we don’t dream ‘impossible’ dreams, how do we ever decide to strive to change as individuals, community and society? Read with an open, thoughtful mind.

Ice Adventure! A journey through Scotland

This post was nominated by @enginewitty

As I start reading this post, it appears to be about a visit to a Christmas market. Well, it is a visit to a market but it’s a whole lot more. This market includes an exhibition of ice sculptures with a Scottish theme to them. Absolutely amazing sculptures that you get to explore without having to put on a warm coat.

Wrap-up on Day 132

What a great group of posts today covering a wide range of subjects. It was one of those rare days where I spent more time reading the posts than I spent exploring to find them. That’s a nice change and allowed me to curate more posts. Keep up the great work you quality content creators out there.

Supporting and Upvoting

Let’s not forget folks. I’m sharing these posts not only because I like them. I’d really like to see them get support and upvoting.

Nominate Your Favourite Post

With all the chaff that I end up trying to sift through each time I sit down to do the Steemit Ramble, I think it is time to give you dear reader an opportunity to nominate your favourite reads.

Just visit the Steemit Ramble Discord and post the link in the Nominate-A-Post Channel.

As much as you may love your own post, I am really looking for someone else to say, “Hey, I like this post, have a look”. When I post a Steemit Ramble, that is what I’m telling my readers.

Once you’ve shared someone else’s post, you’ll be given access to a channel where you can share your own posts for me to consider them. It’s only fair for you to have the chance.

Pimp Your Post Thursday

Don’t forget, Pimp Your Post Thursday takes place every Thursday at 11am and 7:00pm EST. Come and join the fun.

Until Next Time — Just Steem on

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