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Curtis's avatar

For many years my mother and her siblings would share the "Round Robin". Each sibling would read all the previous letters, write of the latest news in their family, add it to the manilla envelope, remove their previous letter, and mail it off to the next sibling. The cycle would repeat over and over through the years, with probably at least a few months for a full "round". The news wasn't earth-shaking, but it kept them connected over thousands of miles for many years. My mother, and all her siblings have now left this mortal plane. They each left boxes of letters with the thousands of mundane details of their lives, but what will my generation leave? FB/Instagram/Twitter/SS rants which were only relevant for a day or two?

More to your point of an author being relevant; I don't know what to say... As the volume of information has increased exponentially, the average quality has dropped proportionally. There may be as many, or even more, "gems" to be found, but one must wade through thousands of good, bad, exceptional, or horrible, examples to find them, leaving us right where we started.

My best advice, (weak as it may be); speak and write Truth and Light and let the Universe sort it out. Our various "Accomplishments" and "Successes" are but dust on the scales to Eternity. Truth echos forever.

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Amy Sukwan's avatar

That's precisely what I try to do. One of my biggest rules in writing my life stories is to always just say what happened. Sometimes though that wades into less fulfilling aspects of life: the secrets, the behind the scenes dramas, but also the more heartfelt things. What I really want it to be is a catalogue of growing up in a very tumultuos space and historical time of unprecedented change. I want it to both be something that future generations could open and red and also pleasing to God. My family background helps: one of my great great uncles wrote a book "letters from the Civil War" which detailed the letters sent between two brothers in my family both fighting for the North. They wrote about a lot of mundane things like a 1/2 cent increase in the price of beans in the commisary, but it serves as a vital historical record. I understood the importance of that book and the one he wrote regarding our family tree. They can't be erased only burned...

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Curtis's avatar

My ancestors also left several stories and journals, and I cherish every word, even as I skip a long dissertation on social media, because I know there are a thousand more that are probably just as "good" or better....

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alongername's avatar

So tell me Amy, how is your loving relationship with Sarah coming along ? :-)

Also, Phuck Yu has succeeded immensely and is mentioned millions of times a day by faithful

followers ! You might consider changing your name to this A2 creation .... has a nice Indian flavor to it which is quite popular with the diversity crowd : Upyurs Assole

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Amy Sukwan's avatar

LMAO! I'm thinking my relationship with Sarah is on the rocks as I haven't seen her (thinking to the last time I saw or talked to a Sarah) in years! Now I probably won't talk about that in my autobiography...we only talk about the good things and all. ;-)

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patrick.net/memes's avatar

I've long wanted to write an encyclopedia of scams, showing how they all fit into certain patterns. You've described one of these patterns very well.

I've written two books myself, one on website performance tuning, another about the housing market. They did sell a bit, but in the end it was pretty much minimum wage work both times. Now I publish memes and don't make any money, but I'm having a lot of fun with them.

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Amy Sukwan's avatar

Ditto here! The problem in many cases is that nobody want to work at some soul sucking corporate entity like Goldman Sachs and I'd say a fair number of people are wising up that maybe being a corporate doctor or compliance stamper isn't such a personally enriching job either, but all of the money flows into those things. So you have this huge base that dreams of doing what they love as a singer or a writer or a painter or a professionl football player up against the reality that they will likely go broke and/or will be working for free or near it to make that dream a reality. Some demand the recruitment of friends and family into the scheme, which further erodes things. The big problem is that the incentive structure is literally upside down of wht is important. I haven't even gotten to the censorship aspect or the steering of the Internet...

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patrick.net/memes's avatar

Education is generally missing the part where they tell the students how much various occupations actually make and how many of them there are in each field. Nor do they tell you how long you have to work in order to be able to STOP WORKING which is the entire point of working, imho.

So there is that dilemma between needing to work, which eats up your productive years, and doing what you really want to do, which eats up your money. I guess most people have that problem.

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Amy Sukwan's avatar

College itself can be a racket. It's become more about who you meet there with few exceptions. Real work is better done by apprenticeship, something where you are actually paid to learn a real skill in fixing building or doing...

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alongername's avatar

For many years now I thought that if I had a son I would encourage him to become an electrician. Once proficient it pays great , and one can be independent , with just one helper .......... and many jobs can be done alone.

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patrick.net/memes's avatar

The Germans are way ahead of us there. It is not expected that the majority go to college, and they have a well-established system of trade apprenticeships. People who do apprenticeships end up quite well paid there.

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Amy Sukwan's avatar

I think one of the greatest disservices was turning higher education into a for profit requirement in the USA. Many countries in Europe have merit based scholarship systems i.e. all paid for but you have to be testing out. Instead the US just piles debt on the student and says everyone has to go to college to make it in life. It's a bankrupt system in so many ways

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patrick.net/memes's avatar

We should make it a requirement that all colleges must allow students to simply pass all the tests to get a degree, without paying for classes. I think there are a lot of people who could easily pass objective tests just by studying the material, without attending at all.

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alongername's avatar

Most of the people on these substack sites have been born into better economic situations than a great majority of the world . Unfortunately that does not always translate into making a life for themself which brings "happiness" or "success" . Taking an honest look at western societies will see unhappy, lazy, entitled children over the last few generations. I don't believe everyone can get rich ..... but i do believe that those with true integrity and desire to live a life different than the "norm" can do so . If they are willing to put in the effort. And adapt when needed, instead of blaming the world, yes, the increasingly fkd up world .

Indeed, everyone should be writing a book . AND LIVING IT ! Success is what you determine it to be . First one has to take responsiblity , and keep on pushing. BTW: never confuse education with intelligence ..........

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Amy Sukwan's avatar

You should be writing your own best life story every day or at least trying to...I got a nice Thai lady in immigration today and it looks like I have some video call of us at the bungalow at 10:00 AM on Monday for the 1 year visa. I'll be glad to show them our shower (points video camera at the cistern next to the well). I like going in the afternoon better. Not crazy busy. I don't know why it wouldn't let me schedule an appintment before, but I'm glad it did this time. And oddly as I was looking up immigration appointment on my email I saw that the US Embassy got back to me on Ka's visa. I haven't opened it yet probably some more BS document that they need which will take months...but we shall see. Maybe after 3 1/2 years they've tired of us too...

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alongername's avatar

Great Amy ! Ninja sent his best vibes there today with you :-)

I would refrain from telling them that you like "doing it" in the shower best in the afternoon . hahahaha

Good idea, or luck, about the afternoon visit. Less busy means less stress from the workers there . Please let us know how things go , but i think your persistence will pay off . Good luck

When you are in CM you can take notes and write my life story . Its a doozy ...... Maybe Mark Wahlburg for the lead in the movie 55

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Amy Sukwan's avatar

LOL I want Taylor Swift in mine! She's not a great actress but she is funny a little bit. She's definitely the famous person I'd most want to get drunk and hang out with...

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SimulationCommander's avatar

I find it fascinating when I "find" a new writer and we end up writing about the same sort of stuff from a different perspective.

Gato says the value of content is trending to 0, and I agree -- but that doesn't mean that your genuine content is worthless. Indeed, the value of inauthentic content could increase the value of yours!

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Amy Sukwan's avatar

That is true. The Kindle Cash Flow masterclass sounded pretty fake: the model was to find a bestselling book or category, find a cheap writer on guru or fiverr to write a copycat, and place your copycat book alongside the bestseller. Now of course ChatGPT could do that taking out the need to even pay a ghostwriter. The nice thing about writing my life story is that anything I've written in my books that can be proven, I can prove. So I suppose I'd be flattered if someone else tried to copy it!

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SimulationCommander's avatar

"Weird that you ALSO married my husband on our wedding date. I don't remember you there at all."

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JamesDuff's avatar

I want that for $40,000/month income on one hour of work. But instead of actually investing that 1 hour

I would prefer a tax correction in my favor of 6.2 billion $dollars.

The get rich no work scheme has been a source of

Of “I don’t understand the program”

I understand this that paying $5,000 dollars for an

Income of like $120.00 dollars is not going to work.

But it’s me who does NOT grasp the potential, and it’s me lacking the inspiration.

I have been in sales marketing in many capacities and know for a fact that customers are needed. No one knocks on your door bc you invented a better

Mousetrap.

AI I am not a tech guy most likely never use chat bc that’s just me, my age, and disposition.

My take on AI using map quest to find address. “You’ve arrived”

Go to medical clinic to use their restroom, still has a man sign on it. Good sign. The thought while peeing everyone must confront their own biology

4-5 times a day. I just happen to be a male.

AI comes in when the urinal flushes on it own.

The soap dispenser dabs soap in hand. The water faucet dabs water. The towel dispenser dabs a towel. That’s my AI experience.

Now if AI Could just dispense cash 💰 at my request I could play with the cats all day and landscape and kayak.

Scams of getting rich have been an issue that interfere and mock just going to work and carving a humble path.

I am waiting for AI to do all the heavy lifting.

Not really because work is good for the soul.

And it helps to keep food on the table.

AI how can I can be famous, wealthy, handsome? Sorry pay your upfront money of $857.00 dollars first and life’s secrets will be revealed to you too.

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Amy Sukwan's avatar

The humble path is seldom acknowledged but it should be. I've often debated what jobs are most essential in society. I have a thing for garbage collectors, for instance. People who run water and sewage plants. Truck drivers, electricians, builders of all types. Farmers should be held in very high regard, as should plumbers. Those who bury the dead (not people they killed in any way) including monks, priests, morticians, embalmers, funeral directors. The arts, entertainment and the like I have a very nuanced opinion on. Not essential exactly but a sign of a flourishing human spirit in good times and an emerging dystopia in corrupt times. Government should be held in distrust at best and open contempt at worst. True scientists, researchers and healers of all stripes are killed off in droves. And what was that thing with Jesus and driving the money changers out of the temple? I like to cook with real food in the company of good friends and family, doing a lot of chopping and frying and boiling that AI just can't do either. Mom's still canning plums from the tree out front!

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JamesDuff's avatar

We need plumbers more than doctors. Morticians more than politicians. Garbage men instead of ceos. Less suitors and more lunch pail guys who use their hands not their briefcases. More honest cops

Less dirty thieves, and killers.

We want basically the exact same things

Better housing

Better education for our kids

Better foods

Better conversations

Rights to flourish with our art

Rights to be free of a government

That needs a Christ Raging moment

To eliminate the current den of thieves.

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JamesDuff's avatar

Just got done reading El Cato Malo

On AI in education

In the very big picture imho is Aquarius Age will be less intrusions from grifting governments, more independence.

His comments were 1. Education now is mostly propaganda. 2. AI can do a much better job than teachers, self learning would create much better

Kids with initiative and instead of going to school bored out of your

Genius mind you could dive into what’s important to you. Not the no kids left behind, teach these kids to take a stupid test, where sex education is taught in the back seat of a car.

In the future I hope we will get there

To unplug from Rockefeller education

To liberate our greatest resources, our children’s mind. Now if we could keep AI politically neutral like.

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JamesDuff's avatar

Awesome Mom 🌹! AI can do many things. Money can do many things. Ain’t nothin like Home Cooking, good eating, and conversations.

“You’ve made my Fathers house a den of thieves” shortly after the Christ moment of focused rage he’s on a cross. Cant be upsetting the merchants and bankers now can we.

I am about simplifying everything.

Detaching from city, debt, I know where I want to be “in a Van down by the river. Kayaks. Sun. Trees. Shade.

Bacon eggs. Love of my life reading in her lounge chair. No where to go

Ohh that ole black magic feeling of nowhere to go.

Detaching requires a humble steady calm duty to untangling from a culture that is consumed by consumption and having. I get all that I want things but more time to do play, … it’s a zig zag course day by day. I’ll do the dishes I’ll live humbly

Being a half gypsy when winter comes. Like the Shawshank redemption main character I am using a spoon to carve my way through the s h …t to greener sunnier

Pastures. Just must remain humble,

Yet defiant.

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SomeDude's avatar

baiting the AI with Phuck Yu 🤣

priceless.

it surprised me, too, making it even funnier.

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feral lunch lady's avatar

I know how to be a successful author. You have to be famous or married to someone famous. Here's a true story from my long ago temp job at a major NYC publishing house. I was assigned to read the slush pile. I kept on running into my supervisor's office, raving about some of the manuscripts I was reading. Some of those unsolicited manuscripts were really good. I was majoring in English, so I knew how to evaluate fiction. After the supervisor showed a complete lack of interest in these promising works, I stopped trying to promote them.

I also did some secretarial work there. The most memorable thing I ever typed, and this was before computers, so it was on a typewriter and probably sent by mail, was a letter to a very famous Latin American writer, discussing an anthology of best contemporary short stories from Latin America. I'd name him, but I'm not completely sure it was him, so I can't, after 40 years. The editor offered to include in the anthology, a short story by the famous writer's wife, an unknown, in return for the famous writer writing the introduction to the anthology.

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Amy Sukwan's avatar

To keep this article short I did not even enter into the very problematic area of real talent being ignored, suppressed, censored or in some cases steered and co opted into more acceptable discourse, but it is a big one. What is beauty and truth become upside down when it becomes about who you know, especially when those people were probably allowed to flourish at the behest of the monster...

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