Bill Conrad's Blog, page 9
February 14, 2024
Banned YouTube Topics
YouTube is a company that pays content creators to develop videos that entertain people. Viewers are usually satisfied with the options, but sometimes a particular video may offend.
What is going on? People have different backgrounds, ethics, religions, families, personalities, likes, dislikes, random thoughts, and moods. Let’s take a basic example where a person has an accident captured on video. Some people might find this video funny, but others dislike gore. This latter group takes offense to the content and wishes they had not seen it.
To prepare viewers, YouTube provides a video title, preview picture, warning about sponsored content (commercial), and text description. Of course, the text and preview picture could be incorrect, but YouTube does its best.
YouTube has two other techniques to prevent viewers from being offended. If they deem an approved video controversial, they “demonetize” it. They withhold advertisements (payment) from videos, reducing content creator income. The punishment should discourage content creators from posting controversial videos.
Second, YouTube does not accept certain content. This includes videos that do not match the descriptions, undeclared advertisements, adult content, harming children, suicide, self-harm, violence, dangerous content, misinformation, and the sale of regulated goods (sex, guns, and drugs).
YouTube believes banning such content delivers a better viewing experience and improves the company/content creator’s profit. Also, viewers know they can visit other sites to view raunchy videos.
Life is imperfect, and YouTube occasionally bans or demonetizes videos that do not deserve this treatment. I follow the China Uncensored channel, and they often get demonetized because their opinions displease the Chinese government, leading to demonetizations. This is not fair, but YouTube continues the practice.
Another channel I follow discusses automobiles and car repair. One video was titled “Out for a quick street race.” In it, three friends drive their cars under the speed limit while passengers speak to each other over the phone. The shock title was intended to attract viewers, but YouTube did not approve it. The content creator appealed twice but was denied because street racing is a banned topic. Apparently, it is also a banned title.
One harshly banned topic is planning a massacre, but there are exceptions. For example, if the subject is presented in a video game, the topic is acceptable, no matter how realistic the discussion is. Also, after an actual attack, it is permissible to discuss the event (not show the images).
YouTube banning politics is not quite the topic I wanted to cover. I am a humble author and cannot afford to offend readers. Thus, I need to understand what society finds offensive. This task is difficult because society is rapidly evolving, and people use bans to achieve their agendas.
Understudying what the YouTube censors deem unacceptable is a good metric for societal trends. Let’s take the example of planning a massacre. Using YouTube banning logic, readers or bookstores would dislike a “how to guide” type of book. What about a book scene?
Our book is a buddy cop story where the heroes are on the trail of a psychopath. There has to be an incident to show the psychopath is an evil character, so let’s have them plan an attack on a shopping center and then carry it out. Now, the two police officers can start their investigation. Is that plot acceptable? After all, this is a fictional story, and readers need to dislike the psychopath. Planning a massacre seems like an excellent way to rile readers up.
If you have read my prior articles, you know I would never write such a story, but I will take a step back from my morals to answer this question. Writing a detailed plan would indeed get the reader into the mindset of the psychopath. Readers would appreciate the horrific choices, like planning what time of day would cause the most harm. This plan would produce a good story, but is the content appropriate?
The YouTube censors would certainly not allow such content. Yet, they would if it was for a video game. A book is sort of like a video game. They both have plots, action, intrigue, and characters. If anything, the video game is worse because the player is involved with the planning and gets to be part of the gory results.
Ignoring the strange video game tangent, YouTube would probably allow a fictional story where one scene is an evil person planning a massacre. What if the scene was too long or too realistic? They might indeed have a problem with it. Therefore, YouTube’s banning logic shows readers would dislike such a scene.
I think this is good news. I now have a new tool to help me avoid issues. But is YouTube banning logic bad? Massacres occur in our society. Can we not write about them? No, the topic is taboo and should no longer be glorified. This is an evolution of society. For example, racial and sexual jokes used to be acceptable, but we now consider these jokes to be taboo.
On the topic of street racing. That is a dangerous activity that can hurt drivers and innocent motorists. But what about a new Fast and Furious movie? Street racing is the basis of their franchise. Society is changing, and YouTube banning logic indicates that the movie franchise will probably end. Bummer.
You’re the best -Bill
February 14, 2024
What is going on? People have different backgrounds, ethics, religions, families, personalities, likes, dislikes, random thoughts, and moods. Let’s take a basic example where a person has an accident captured on video. Some people might find this video funny, but others dislike gore. This latter group takes offense to the content and wishes they had not seen it.
To prepare viewers, YouTube provides a video title, preview picture, warning about sponsored content (commercial), and text description. Of course, the text and preview picture could be incorrect, but YouTube does its best.
YouTube has two other techniques to prevent viewers from being offended. If they deem an approved video controversial, they “demonetize” it. They withhold advertisements (payment) from videos, reducing content creator income. The punishment should discourage content creators from posting controversial videos.
Second, YouTube does not accept certain content. This includes videos that do not match the descriptions, undeclared advertisements, adult content, harming children, suicide, self-harm, violence, dangerous content, misinformation, and the sale of regulated goods (sex, guns, and drugs).
YouTube believes banning such content delivers a better viewing experience and improves the company/content creator’s profit. Also, viewers know they can visit other sites to view raunchy videos.
Life is imperfect, and YouTube occasionally bans or demonetizes videos that do not deserve this treatment. I follow the China Uncensored channel, and they often get demonetized because their opinions displease the Chinese government, leading to demonetizations. This is not fair, but YouTube continues the practice.
Another channel I follow discusses automobiles and car repair. One video was titled “Out for a quick street race.” In it, three friends drive their cars under the speed limit while passengers speak to each other over the phone. The shock title was intended to attract viewers, but YouTube did not approve it. The content creator appealed twice but was denied because street racing is a banned topic. Apparently, it is also a banned title.
One harshly banned topic is planning a massacre, but there are exceptions. For example, if the subject is presented in a video game, the topic is acceptable, no matter how realistic the discussion is. Also, after an actual attack, it is permissible to discuss the event (not show the images).
YouTube banning politics is not quite the topic I wanted to cover. I am a humble author and cannot afford to offend readers. Thus, I need to understand what society finds offensive. This task is difficult because society is rapidly evolving, and people use bans to achieve their agendas.
Understudying what the YouTube censors deem unacceptable is a good metric for societal trends. Let’s take the example of planning a massacre. Using YouTube banning logic, readers or bookstores would dislike a “how to guide” type of book. What about a book scene?
Our book is a buddy cop story where the heroes are on the trail of a psychopath. There has to be an incident to show the psychopath is an evil character, so let’s have them plan an attack on a shopping center and then carry it out. Now, the two police officers can start their investigation. Is that plot acceptable? After all, this is a fictional story, and readers need to dislike the psychopath. Planning a massacre seems like an excellent way to rile readers up.
If you have read my prior articles, you know I would never write such a story, but I will take a step back from my morals to answer this question. Writing a detailed plan would indeed get the reader into the mindset of the psychopath. Readers would appreciate the horrific choices, like planning what time of day would cause the most harm. This plan would produce a good story, but is the content appropriate?
The YouTube censors would certainly not allow such content. Yet, they would if it was for a video game. A book is sort of like a video game. They both have plots, action, intrigue, and characters. If anything, the video game is worse because the player is involved with the planning and gets to be part of the gory results.
Ignoring the strange video game tangent, YouTube would probably allow a fictional story where one scene is an evil person planning a massacre. What if the scene was too long or too realistic? They might indeed have a problem with it. Therefore, YouTube’s banning logic shows readers would dislike such a scene.
I think this is good news. I now have a new tool to help me avoid issues. But is YouTube banning logic bad? Massacres occur in our society. Can we not write about them? No, the topic is taboo and should no longer be glorified. This is an evolution of society. For example, racial and sexual jokes used to be acceptable, but we now consider these jokes to be taboo.
On the topic of street racing. That is a dangerous activity that can hurt drivers and innocent motorists. But what about a new Fast and Furious movie? Street racing is the basis of their franchise. Society is changing, and YouTube banning logic indicates that the movie franchise will probably end. Bummer.
You’re the best -Bill
February 14, 2024
February 7, 2024
Dictated But Not Read
Nearly every business executive used to have an administrative assistant, and one job is taking notes or recording a verbalized document. Today, computers have become more affordable, which limits this practice, but a few executives still ask their administrative assistants to create documents verbally.
At some point, it became popular to show off the privilege of having an administrative assistant by sending a memo or letter with the phrase “dictated but not read” or the abbreviation “DBNR.” Executives included it to warn readers that they had not reviewed the final document.
Readers were supposed to be impressed with the tremendous power of an executive with an administrative assistant, but the phrase inspired an unintended result. People (probably beginning in the 1960s) without an administrative assistant began including the phrase to impress their readers.
Readers caught onto this deception and treated the phrase like a power play. “If you did not bother to review this document, I should not be bothered to read it.” “You tried to impress me but failed.” “How arrogant.” It is like ending a letter with a mousetrap that snaps at the reader’s fingers.
Most business executives use computers to create their documents, yet this phrase is still in use. A week ago, I received an insurance company junk mail that had this phrase. It made me wonder, “What the heck were you thinking?” Recruiters and human resource managers have told me they always get resume cover letters with this phrase. A former coworker used this phrase in his email signature as a joke. It nearly got him fired when he sent a status update to a vice president. One of my friends was trying to get a grant and included this phrase. He had little success. I wonder why?
What is going on in those people’s minds? “Hey, look at me!” “I want to be important.” “Please fear me.” “You must be prepared for my immense power.” “I need confidence.” “This sounds cool, and I don’t know any better.” “I read this once, and it impressed the heck out of me.”
Taking a deeper dive into writer’s minds, I think some genuinely do not know how offensive they are acting, even with so much evidence. They might lack empathy or awareness. Perhaps they do not understand consequences or good taste.
I suppose including “dictated but not read” initially impressed a few readers, or perhaps it had a legitimate purpose. Now, it is a relic of the past. I should end this article with a power play to impress you, but it would be cliché to use DBNR. I know. Hey Seri. “Yes, Bill.” Please end this article. “I have brought the article to an end.”
You’re the best -Bill
February 7, 2024
At some point, it became popular to show off the privilege of having an administrative assistant by sending a memo or letter with the phrase “dictated but not read” or the abbreviation “DBNR.” Executives included it to warn readers that they had not reviewed the final document.
Readers were supposed to be impressed with the tremendous power of an executive with an administrative assistant, but the phrase inspired an unintended result. People (probably beginning in the 1960s) without an administrative assistant began including the phrase to impress their readers.
Readers caught onto this deception and treated the phrase like a power play. “If you did not bother to review this document, I should not be bothered to read it.” “You tried to impress me but failed.” “How arrogant.” It is like ending a letter with a mousetrap that snaps at the reader’s fingers.
Most business executives use computers to create their documents, yet this phrase is still in use. A week ago, I received an insurance company junk mail that had this phrase. It made me wonder, “What the heck were you thinking?” Recruiters and human resource managers have told me they always get resume cover letters with this phrase. A former coworker used this phrase in his email signature as a joke. It nearly got him fired when he sent a status update to a vice president. One of my friends was trying to get a grant and included this phrase. He had little success. I wonder why?
What is going on in those people’s minds? “Hey, look at me!” “I want to be important.” “Please fear me.” “You must be prepared for my immense power.” “I need confidence.” “This sounds cool, and I don’t know any better.” “I read this once, and it impressed the heck out of me.”
Taking a deeper dive into writer’s minds, I think some genuinely do not know how offensive they are acting, even with so much evidence. They might lack empathy or awareness. Perhaps they do not understand consequences or good taste.
I suppose including “dictated but not read” initially impressed a few readers, or perhaps it had a legitimate purpose. Now, it is a relic of the past. I should end this article with a power play to impress you, but it would be cliché to use DBNR. I know. Hey Seri. “Yes, Bill.” Please end this article. “I have brought the article to an end.”
You’re the best -Bill
February 7, 2024
January 31, 2024
Coin-Operated
Ten years ago, I worked at a contract engineering company. Their business model was if you had a concept, they would do the engineering to turn the idea into a product… For a price. This little addition led to great confusion, anger and lawsuits.
The core of the issue was that customers did not understand the company was not a friend or partner. Instead, they were a coin-operated entity, meaning that when the customer stopped paying; they stopped working. This almost makes sense, but there is another aspect of a coin-operated company that is not always appreciated.
When a customer approached us with a concept, we gave them a time and money estimate along with estimated material costs. After the customer agreed to hire us, we would begin development. Some projects went according to plan, but others required multiple attempts or encountered unexpected issues. As a result, costs ballooned, which angered customers.
I am sure you have experienced the same frustration with a project like a house renovation. For example, if a contractor gets hired to replace a tile floor. All goes well until they find asbestos, mold, or dry rot. Then, the contractor asks for lots more money to fix the problem(s).
What about the other side of this situation? The contractor is a fair person and does not want to cheat anybody. They do not have x-ray vision to see asbestos under ten old tile layers. No matter how the project goes, they must pay bills, pay employees, and profit. If you wish for them to stop working, they would say, “Fine, pay me for the work I have done so far.” Sometimes, a contractor can do no wrong, but the enraged customer feels they got mega-ripped off.
I can recall customer meetings exploding when we explained how much the next step would cost, and those hurt feelings have stuck with me. “I thought you were our partner.” “That is way too much money.” “You never told me it could cost so much.” “You should cover this cost.” “This is not my fault. It’s your fault.” “You should have expected this problem.” It is easy to get comfortable with a coin-operated contractor and forget their place.
One project failed right from the start. We promised them an easy project, but it took too long and failed miserably. Essentially, we charged them for junk. Was this our fault? Yes, we failed to understand the problem when we developed the estimate. Should we have known better? Yes, because we developed the estimate based on worthless information. (We worked through email and did not go to the site to do our research.) Would we make the same mistake? No, we learned to ask more questions. The problem was that the customer paid for us to learn this lesson.
I hired a building contractor to remove cement and install pavers from my backyard. When they dug up one area, they found long roots and spent two days hacking them all out (40+ wheelbarrows full). I wish I had known about the roots in advance, as did the contractor, but we did not have x-ray vision. The extra work added a lot to my bill, but I watched them hack away the roots (doing actual work), and the amount they charged me was fair. Still, I was not happy.
Now, hold on. What about a fixed-price contract? The problem with a fixed-price contract is that all the information must be present to develop it. If a customer insists upon a fixed price to ensure a profit, the company must account for the unknown by adding a buffer. In addition, it takes time to make a proper estimate that accounts for everything, and most companies do not wish to put in the effort as they know the customer will not go through with an expensive project.
I developed fixed price estimates at this engineering company; our buffer was 40%. We usually did alright with these, but one lost money because of poor contract wording. The customer took advantage of the loose deliverables by adding additional requirements. Essentially, they got three times the work out of us.
The heart of the confusion over hiring a coin-operated company is the pride in the work and going the extra mile. This added value might include an extra coat of paint or staying late to finish the job. Coin-operated companies get paid for these additional services, and when a job is done, they are done. Want more work? Put in another coin.
I think of book editors as coin-operated. You give them your document, they glance at it and quote a price. Usually, two to five cents per word. So, the author signs the contract, and a few days later, the editor says, “Hey, I found big issues and need to charge you more.”
The author would counter, “You saw the entire book and gave me a quote.” “Yeah, I know, but this mess needs extra work.” So, the author pays.
Usually, things work out with editors, but I have had three unpleasant experiences. One editor did a light pass, catching minor errors. Another hated my book, deleted an entire chapter without explanation, and I did not use 80% of their edits. A third editor introduced as many errors as they found.
Did I pay? It takes time to review the edits, and quality is not apparent until looking deep into them. Thus, I had to pay, which made me understand they were not my partners.
This coin-operated mentality also addresses ethics. Was my company behaving ethically when they delivered a pile of junk to that customer? From the customer’s viewpoint, they were an unethical company. From the company’s viewpoint, we fulfilled the contract. Still, I feel bad about my participation.
I must step back and think about my lousy editor experiences with the coin-operated mentality. They did a terrible job but fulfilled the contract. Fortunately, the fourth editor I worked with did a fantastic job, and I gained experience.
You’re the best -Bill
January 31, 2024
The core of the issue was that customers did not understand the company was not a friend or partner. Instead, they were a coin-operated entity, meaning that when the customer stopped paying; they stopped working. This almost makes sense, but there is another aspect of a coin-operated company that is not always appreciated.
When a customer approached us with a concept, we gave them a time and money estimate along with estimated material costs. After the customer agreed to hire us, we would begin development. Some projects went according to plan, but others required multiple attempts or encountered unexpected issues. As a result, costs ballooned, which angered customers.
I am sure you have experienced the same frustration with a project like a house renovation. For example, if a contractor gets hired to replace a tile floor. All goes well until they find asbestos, mold, or dry rot. Then, the contractor asks for lots more money to fix the problem(s).
What about the other side of this situation? The contractor is a fair person and does not want to cheat anybody. They do not have x-ray vision to see asbestos under ten old tile layers. No matter how the project goes, they must pay bills, pay employees, and profit. If you wish for them to stop working, they would say, “Fine, pay me for the work I have done so far.” Sometimes, a contractor can do no wrong, but the enraged customer feels they got mega-ripped off.
I can recall customer meetings exploding when we explained how much the next step would cost, and those hurt feelings have stuck with me. “I thought you were our partner.” “That is way too much money.” “You never told me it could cost so much.” “You should cover this cost.” “This is not my fault. It’s your fault.” “You should have expected this problem.” It is easy to get comfortable with a coin-operated contractor and forget their place.
One project failed right from the start. We promised them an easy project, but it took too long and failed miserably. Essentially, we charged them for junk. Was this our fault? Yes, we failed to understand the problem when we developed the estimate. Should we have known better? Yes, because we developed the estimate based on worthless information. (We worked through email and did not go to the site to do our research.) Would we make the same mistake? No, we learned to ask more questions. The problem was that the customer paid for us to learn this lesson.
I hired a building contractor to remove cement and install pavers from my backyard. When they dug up one area, they found long roots and spent two days hacking them all out (40+ wheelbarrows full). I wish I had known about the roots in advance, as did the contractor, but we did not have x-ray vision. The extra work added a lot to my bill, but I watched them hack away the roots (doing actual work), and the amount they charged me was fair. Still, I was not happy.
Now, hold on. What about a fixed-price contract? The problem with a fixed-price contract is that all the information must be present to develop it. If a customer insists upon a fixed price to ensure a profit, the company must account for the unknown by adding a buffer. In addition, it takes time to make a proper estimate that accounts for everything, and most companies do not wish to put in the effort as they know the customer will not go through with an expensive project.
I developed fixed price estimates at this engineering company; our buffer was 40%. We usually did alright with these, but one lost money because of poor contract wording. The customer took advantage of the loose deliverables by adding additional requirements. Essentially, they got three times the work out of us.
The heart of the confusion over hiring a coin-operated company is the pride in the work and going the extra mile. This added value might include an extra coat of paint or staying late to finish the job. Coin-operated companies get paid for these additional services, and when a job is done, they are done. Want more work? Put in another coin.
I think of book editors as coin-operated. You give them your document, they glance at it and quote a price. Usually, two to five cents per word. So, the author signs the contract, and a few days later, the editor says, “Hey, I found big issues and need to charge you more.”
The author would counter, “You saw the entire book and gave me a quote.” “Yeah, I know, but this mess needs extra work.” So, the author pays.
Usually, things work out with editors, but I have had three unpleasant experiences. One editor did a light pass, catching minor errors. Another hated my book, deleted an entire chapter without explanation, and I did not use 80% of their edits. A third editor introduced as many errors as they found.
Did I pay? It takes time to review the edits, and quality is not apparent until looking deep into them. Thus, I had to pay, which made me understand they were not my partners.
This coin-operated mentality also addresses ethics. Was my company behaving ethically when they delivered a pile of junk to that customer? From the customer’s viewpoint, they were an unethical company. From the company’s viewpoint, we fulfilled the contract. Still, I feel bad about my participation.
I must step back and think about my lousy editor experiences with the coin-operated mentality. They did a terrible job but fulfilled the contract. Fortunately, the fourth editor I worked with did a fantastic job, and I gained experience.
You’re the best -Bill
January 31, 2024
January 24, 2024
Rabinow’s Laws
I downloaded Sidewinder-Creative Missile Development at China Lake by Ron Westrum two years ago. It is about product development, technology, history, and work politics. The book was a fantastic read, and it had an additional gem.
Ron listed three laws (advice) by the famous inventor Jacob Rabinow. One rule was, “If the boss is a dope, everyone under him is (or soon will be) a dope.” I wanted to know more about Jacob and learned he wrote Inventing for Fun and Profit. So, I downloaded that book.
Jacob was an electrical engineer for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the United States Post Office, and a company he started. His book described his life, work, inventions, and marketing. His approach impressed me, and I will keep the book as a reference.
Yet, there was a problem. Jacob’s book only had two more laws, but he described writing 25. Bummer! Finding the rest became a quest worthy of song and drink, leading me to contact Keith Martin, Supervisory Librarian at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He did an extensive search and sent me a copy of the laws. Way to go, Keith!
I thought it would be fun to share the list, but there was a minor problem. Law # 21 had a sexist example. I omitted the example but kept the law.
1) Everything falls with the same velocity for the first six inches.
2) Everything is equally difficult. (Designing a new paper clip or a guided missile).
3) By spending ten times as much, you can cut the time in half, once.
4) Everyone knows that I should have built the second model first.
5) Everyone want’s improvement s without any changes. (Fix it, but don’t change anything.)
6) The ultimate selling price of an item, in large scale production, is twice the cost of its raw materials.
7) As an art develops, the price range always increases in both directions.
8) Things that are done illegally are done efficiently.
9) The opposition to a new idea is directly proportional to its novelty.
10) If you want to be different, you better be good. If you want to make a different product, it better be very good.
11) There are a few correct ways of doing anything, there is an infinite number of wrong ways.
12) If the boss is a dope, everyone under him is (or soon will be) a dope.
13) In judging a manager, the opinion of his or her subordinates is more important than the opinion of his or her superiors.
14) When you have enough money to tell the boss to shove it, you never have to do it.
15) The optimum size of an organization is 35 people.
16) The most efficient conferences are held in corridors.
17) The highest quality of talent that you can find is that which you can get for nothing.
18) To promote inventions (or any art form), just love inventions (or the art form).
19) An idling professional in your employ loses money 20 times faster than he earns it.
20) When a purchaser, who doesn’t know the difference between good technology and garbage, orders “good technology,” he will always get garbage.
21) You can tell a brilliant person that he is an idiot.
22) If you want a 50-50 deal, offer the other party 60 and ask for 40.
23) If you know how the college kids think today, you know how the country will be tomorrow.
24) If you talk a lot, you will say more stupid things than clever things.
25) An invention is often funny because it is like the punch-line of a joke - completely logical and completely unexpected.
26) If I have to be bored, I’d rather be bored at home.
27) A good book is one that states what I have always believed.
I thought there were 25 laws. I guess Jacob added two more. Analyzing the above, rules 4, 26, 27 are first person, rules 3, 10, 14, 17, 19, 23, 24 are second person. Rules 12, 19, 20, 21 are masculine, while rule 13 has both genders. Jacob needed a little editing to remain consistent, but Grammarly and ProWritingAid did not complain too much.
These rules provided great insight, and I refer to them when evaluating a project or needing advice. I was glad to find them all and hope you enjoyed reading them.
You’re the best -Bill
January 24, 2024
Ron listed three laws (advice) by the famous inventor Jacob Rabinow. One rule was, “If the boss is a dope, everyone under him is (or soon will be) a dope.” I wanted to know more about Jacob and learned he wrote Inventing for Fun and Profit. So, I downloaded that book.
Jacob was an electrical engineer for the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the United States Post Office, and a company he started. His book described his life, work, inventions, and marketing. His approach impressed me, and I will keep the book as a reference.
Yet, there was a problem. Jacob’s book only had two more laws, but he described writing 25. Bummer! Finding the rest became a quest worthy of song and drink, leading me to contact Keith Martin, Supervisory Librarian at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. He did an extensive search and sent me a copy of the laws. Way to go, Keith!
I thought it would be fun to share the list, but there was a minor problem. Law # 21 had a sexist example. I omitted the example but kept the law.
1) Everything falls with the same velocity for the first six inches.
2) Everything is equally difficult. (Designing a new paper clip or a guided missile).
3) By spending ten times as much, you can cut the time in half, once.
4) Everyone knows that I should have built the second model first.
5) Everyone want’s improvement s without any changes. (Fix it, but don’t change anything.)
6) The ultimate selling price of an item, in large scale production, is twice the cost of its raw materials.
7) As an art develops, the price range always increases in both directions.
8) Things that are done illegally are done efficiently.
9) The opposition to a new idea is directly proportional to its novelty.
10) If you want to be different, you better be good. If you want to make a different product, it better be very good.
11) There are a few correct ways of doing anything, there is an infinite number of wrong ways.
12) If the boss is a dope, everyone under him is (or soon will be) a dope.
13) In judging a manager, the opinion of his or her subordinates is more important than the opinion of his or her superiors.
14) When you have enough money to tell the boss to shove it, you never have to do it.
15) The optimum size of an organization is 35 people.
16) The most efficient conferences are held in corridors.
17) The highest quality of talent that you can find is that which you can get for nothing.
18) To promote inventions (or any art form), just love inventions (or the art form).
19) An idling professional in your employ loses money 20 times faster than he earns it.
20) When a purchaser, who doesn’t know the difference between good technology and garbage, orders “good technology,” he will always get garbage.
21) You can tell a brilliant person that he is an idiot.
22) If you want a 50-50 deal, offer the other party 60 and ask for 40.
23) If you know how the college kids think today, you know how the country will be tomorrow.
24) If you talk a lot, you will say more stupid things than clever things.
25) An invention is often funny because it is like the punch-line of a joke - completely logical and completely unexpected.
26) If I have to be bored, I’d rather be bored at home.
27) A good book is one that states what I have always believed.
I thought there were 25 laws. I guess Jacob added two more. Analyzing the above, rules 4, 26, 27 are first person, rules 3, 10, 14, 17, 19, 23, 24 are second person. Rules 12, 19, 20, 21 are masculine, while rule 13 has both genders. Jacob needed a little editing to remain consistent, but Grammarly and ProWritingAid did not complain too much.
These rules provided great insight, and I refer to them when evaluating a project or needing advice. I was glad to find them all and hope you enjoyed reading them.
You’re the best -Bill
January 24, 2024
January 17, 2024
Cleopatra
On April 12, 2023, Netflix released the movie Queen Cleopatra and received harsh criticism. The problems stemmed from altered facts to make the story more entertaining. Online posts from the actress who played Cleopatra amplified the situation. The heart of the problem is that Netflix released the movie in the documentary category. There are lawsuits by the Egyptian government because they poorly represented their beloved former leader.
We have all seen movies or read books that spun the original story into something unrecognizable. I recall the 2009 film Inglourious Basterds raised several eyebrows with its wildly different ending to WWII. It was a fun, goofy film that I got a laugh out of. Why? It’s a parody film. However, other moviegoers were not impressed with the radical departure.
I do not have any opinions about Queen Cleopatra because I did not watch it or research the controversy. I’m not too fond of it when people form opinions and publicly comment on something they have not directly experienced. If I were to guess, I do not think Netflix intended their film to attack Egyptian culture, but the result upset many people. Sometimes in my life, I did something stupid, even though people around me recommended a different course of action. I think this may have occurred during the production.
Instead of discussing the conflict surrounding the Netflix film, I have another topic in mind. My Immortality book series also has the character Cleopatra. I set my story in the preset, and my concept is that she used a life-extending procedure to survive. Given the present controversy, I thought it would be interesting to discuss my choices.
I picked Cleopatra because she is powerful, beautiful, historically significant, and a celebrated figure that readers would recognize. I also picked her because the plot required a known ruler of the ancient world. In that area, Cleopatra is at the top of the pyramid. Ha, I made a pun.
Yet, I knew there might be pitfalls because there will always be. Going into the process, I knew that the records of this period were poor, and additional facts are discovered. Plus, the popular view of Cleopatra (highlighted by the 1963 Elizabeth Taylor film) differs wildly from boring facts. Yet, I did not think people would care too much about my character choice because Cleopatra has been dead for a long time, and people use historical figures for many projects without issue. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter? No problems there.
The real problem with the Netflix film is that it hit a specific sore spot because they released it as a documentary. The great people of Egypt have pride in their historical figures and do not appreciate when they are “accurately” tarnished. This pushback made me reconsider how readers would react to my book.
I treated the character Cleopatra as beautiful, intelligent, and strong. Yet she was in vain and out of touch with present society. When the facts fit, I used them, but when my plot demanded something different, I wrote, “History recorded X, but Y actually occurred.”
How did I get around the fact that she passed away a long time ago? I explained that there was a revolt in Rome. She substituted a dead body for herself and escaped. Cleopatra invented a life-extending procedure and has continued using it to the present day.
Writers have used historical figures many times, and it is my experience that readers accept tasteful transformations. This positive reaction is what I am hoping for, but what if this is not the case? The Netflix film reaction gave me a lot to think about, and I certainly would understand a harsh response to my book if I trashed Cleopatra.
What is my high-level view? I do not think my work tarnished Cleopatra’s reputation because I ensured the historical facts were accurate. What about being out of touch? All leaders are out of touch. Want proof? Click on the latest news and see what the politicians are up to. Today, when I wrote this, they are enacting a law in California to tax residents leaving the state. Umm? Come live in California. We will not screw you. Honest.
What about vanity? All characters must have flaws, or readers will get bored, but I did not entirely make up that flaw. Some historical records show Cleopatra was vain; the popular 1963 Elizabeth Taylor film highlighted this trait. I applied this flaw sparingly, and the result rounded out the character.
What do I feel the total result of my book means to readers? To answer such a question, I can pretend to be Cleopatra, reading my book in Heaven. She would probably get a kick out of my portrayal. Cleopatra’s power over people would remain intact, and her sharp mind would inspire readers. If she read other books in Heaven, she would understand how characters develop and appreciate that I had tastefully applied negative traits.
What would an Egyptian citizen think of my book? I think they would feel the same way. I treated their historical figure with dignity and positively contributed to her legacy. In the best case, my book’s minor Wikipedia footnote will be in the Cleopatra entry.
What if I am incorrect, and the people of Egypt hate my portrayal? Some might argue that any publicity is good publicity. I would not, and an adverse reaction would certainly hurt my feelings. The weak excuse of “I tried my best to portray Cleopatra positively” would not help the situation, even if it is true.
Would I understand an adverse reaction? Until the Netflix film came out, absolutely not. As proof, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter did not result in a lawsuit or public uprising. Also, nobody would be foolish enough to release such a wildly inaccurate film as a documentary.
Yet, now I think differently. If I were to write a book today, I would not pick Cleopatra as a character because of the controversy. I am too small of a fish to take that risk. How about an immortal Abraham Lincoln? Umm, actually… He is a character in my next book. He is not immortal, but I changed a bit of history. Did you know Abraham Lincoln went into outer space? Yeah, just a bit.
You’re the best -Bill
January 17, 2024
We have all seen movies or read books that spun the original story into something unrecognizable. I recall the 2009 film Inglourious Basterds raised several eyebrows with its wildly different ending to WWII. It was a fun, goofy film that I got a laugh out of. Why? It’s a parody film. However, other moviegoers were not impressed with the radical departure.
I do not have any opinions about Queen Cleopatra because I did not watch it or research the controversy. I’m not too fond of it when people form opinions and publicly comment on something they have not directly experienced. If I were to guess, I do not think Netflix intended their film to attack Egyptian culture, but the result upset many people. Sometimes in my life, I did something stupid, even though people around me recommended a different course of action. I think this may have occurred during the production.
Instead of discussing the conflict surrounding the Netflix film, I have another topic in mind. My Immortality book series also has the character Cleopatra. I set my story in the preset, and my concept is that she used a life-extending procedure to survive. Given the present controversy, I thought it would be interesting to discuss my choices.
I picked Cleopatra because she is powerful, beautiful, historically significant, and a celebrated figure that readers would recognize. I also picked her because the plot required a known ruler of the ancient world. In that area, Cleopatra is at the top of the pyramid. Ha, I made a pun.
Yet, I knew there might be pitfalls because there will always be. Going into the process, I knew that the records of this period were poor, and additional facts are discovered. Plus, the popular view of Cleopatra (highlighted by the 1963 Elizabeth Taylor film) differs wildly from boring facts. Yet, I did not think people would care too much about my character choice because Cleopatra has been dead for a long time, and people use historical figures for many projects without issue. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter? No problems there.
The real problem with the Netflix film is that it hit a specific sore spot because they released it as a documentary. The great people of Egypt have pride in their historical figures and do not appreciate when they are “accurately” tarnished. This pushback made me reconsider how readers would react to my book.
I treated the character Cleopatra as beautiful, intelligent, and strong. Yet she was in vain and out of touch with present society. When the facts fit, I used them, but when my plot demanded something different, I wrote, “History recorded X, but Y actually occurred.”
How did I get around the fact that she passed away a long time ago? I explained that there was a revolt in Rome. She substituted a dead body for herself and escaped. Cleopatra invented a life-extending procedure and has continued using it to the present day.
Writers have used historical figures many times, and it is my experience that readers accept tasteful transformations. This positive reaction is what I am hoping for, but what if this is not the case? The Netflix film reaction gave me a lot to think about, and I certainly would understand a harsh response to my book if I trashed Cleopatra.
What is my high-level view? I do not think my work tarnished Cleopatra’s reputation because I ensured the historical facts were accurate. What about being out of touch? All leaders are out of touch. Want proof? Click on the latest news and see what the politicians are up to. Today, when I wrote this, they are enacting a law in California to tax residents leaving the state. Umm? Come live in California. We will not screw you. Honest.
What about vanity? All characters must have flaws, or readers will get bored, but I did not entirely make up that flaw. Some historical records show Cleopatra was vain; the popular 1963 Elizabeth Taylor film highlighted this trait. I applied this flaw sparingly, and the result rounded out the character.
What do I feel the total result of my book means to readers? To answer such a question, I can pretend to be Cleopatra, reading my book in Heaven. She would probably get a kick out of my portrayal. Cleopatra’s power over people would remain intact, and her sharp mind would inspire readers. If she read other books in Heaven, she would understand how characters develop and appreciate that I had tastefully applied negative traits.
What would an Egyptian citizen think of my book? I think they would feel the same way. I treated their historical figure with dignity and positively contributed to her legacy. In the best case, my book’s minor Wikipedia footnote will be in the Cleopatra entry.
What if I am incorrect, and the people of Egypt hate my portrayal? Some might argue that any publicity is good publicity. I would not, and an adverse reaction would certainly hurt my feelings. The weak excuse of “I tried my best to portray Cleopatra positively” would not help the situation, even if it is true.
Would I understand an adverse reaction? Until the Netflix film came out, absolutely not. As proof, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter did not result in a lawsuit or public uprising. Also, nobody would be foolish enough to release such a wildly inaccurate film as a documentary.
Yet, now I think differently. If I were to write a book today, I would not pick Cleopatra as a character because of the controversy. I am too small of a fish to take that risk. How about an immortal Abraham Lincoln? Umm, actually… He is a character in my next book. He is not immortal, but I changed a bit of history. Did you know Abraham Lincoln went into outer space? Yeah, just a bit.
You’re the best -Bill
January 17, 2024
January 10, 2024
Self-Plugging
My parents are getting older, so I downloaded a self-help book so I can help them and know what to expect. Unfortunately, the book was a dud. Instead of focusing on practical advice like low-impact exercise, a good diet, and working with doctors, the author presented a holistic approach. Before you get upset, this would have been fine if the book description or title had prepared the reader. “A holistic approach to old age.” However, neither was present, and the light content provided little helpful information.
Forgiving an author for lackluster content is possible, but there was a more significant problem. The author spent two (out of eight) entire chapters on a book that was far too short, instructing (not asking) the reader to write a positive review. The first chapter described how vital reviews were to the author, gave tips on the review content, and discussed how to post the review. The second chapter repeated how critical reviews were to the authors’ success. I have never encountered such an arrogant request and found it to be outrageous and unprofessional. I hope this new form of promotion is not a new trend.
I am a humble author who appreciates when a reader views my words; this is my positive review. You read my work? Thank you! The icing on the cake occurs when somebody takes the time to thank me. Wow, it feels great to be appreciated.
Now, hold on. I self-plug my published books in my articles and use my plots as examples. Why? I want to be successful, and advertising is a significant part of sales. Yet, I would never demand something from my readers and do not have gushing self-plugs. I would rather be a failure than stoop to that level.
Yet, my self-plugging seems hypocritical. I can complain about an author who went too far, but not myself. I suppose I must fall back on the title of a Cranberries song, “Everybody else is doing it, so why can’t we?” The difference is that I go far to ensure my humble plugs are tasteful and not in your face.
There was something else amusing about this book. None of the reviews mentioned the review demand. I would have expected at least some anger; after all, it upset me. This lack of reaction made me wonder why I get so upset.
Every day, commercials bombard us. Billboards, magazines, bumper stickers, radio commercials, banners, pop-ups, subliminal messages, and hidden text. Nearly every online video ends with “If you liked this content, please like and subscribe.” Likes have become the content currency.
Readers and viewers have become accustomed to in-your-face advertisements and demands for many things. It is so much noise and wasted effort. We live in a modern world, and advertising will only get worse. I predict that artificial intelligence will soon bombard us with hyper-specific advertisements.
Yet, a book is a flat, dull thing. They do not have exciting YouTube personalities with excellent graphics or pop-up windows with a great deal on socks. And that is the big reason we read them. “Today, I got under a warm blanket and read a lovely book.” What did it do? The book entertained and informed me. Great job, you wonderful author. But two self-plugging chapters? They crossed a thick line.
You’re the best -Bill
January 10, 2024
Forgiving an author for lackluster content is possible, but there was a more significant problem. The author spent two (out of eight) entire chapters on a book that was far too short, instructing (not asking) the reader to write a positive review. The first chapter described how vital reviews were to the author, gave tips on the review content, and discussed how to post the review. The second chapter repeated how critical reviews were to the authors’ success. I have never encountered such an arrogant request and found it to be outrageous and unprofessional. I hope this new form of promotion is not a new trend.
I am a humble author who appreciates when a reader views my words; this is my positive review. You read my work? Thank you! The icing on the cake occurs when somebody takes the time to thank me. Wow, it feels great to be appreciated.
Now, hold on. I self-plug my published books in my articles and use my plots as examples. Why? I want to be successful, and advertising is a significant part of sales. Yet, I would never demand something from my readers and do not have gushing self-plugs. I would rather be a failure than stoop to that level.
Yet, my self-plugging seems hypocritical. I can complain about an author who went too far, but not myself. I suppose I must fall back on the title of a Cranberries song, “Everybody else is doing it, so why can’t we?” The difference is that I go far to ensure my humble plugs are tasteful and not in your face.
There was something else amusing about this book. None of the reviews mentioned the review demand. I would have expected at least some anger; after all, it upset me. This lack of reaction made me wonder why I get so upset.
Every day, commercials bombard us. Billboards, magazines, bumper stickers, radio commercials, banners, pop-ups, subliminal messages, and hidden text. Nearly every online video ends with “If you liked this content, please like and subscribe.” Likes have become the content currency.
Readers and viewers have become accustomed to in-your-face advertisements and demands for many things. It is so much noise and wasted effort. We live in a modern world, and advertising will only get worse. I predict that artificial intelligence will soon bombard us with hyper-specific advertisements.
Yet, a book is a flat, dull thing. They do not have exciting YouTube personalities with excellent graphics or pop-up windows with a great deal on socks. And that is the big reason we read them. “Today, I got under a warm blanket and read a lovely book.” What did it do? The book entertained and informed me. Great job, you wonderful author. But two self-plugging chapters? They crossed a thick line.
You’re the best -Bill
January 10, 2024
January 3, 2024
Writing An Exchange Book Review
As a minor author, trying to get readers interested in my books has been difficult. I am competing with new, seasoned, and dead authors. Standing out is quite challenging.
Getting more book reviews is one way to get in front of the pack. I started my quest by begging friends to read my book and post a review, but I quickly exhausted this resource. So, I contacted random authors to ask them to exchange reviews. This effort has been mostly successful, and with a lot of hard work, my first book now has 58 reviews. Yay!
I thought it would be fun to explain my process. It begins by selecting an author to approach. I first examined their content to see if I was interested in this. I also read the book descriptions, and Amazon usually allows potential readers to review the first chapter. Existing reviews are also an excellent resource.
My ultimate deciding factor is to ask myself, “If somebody gave me this book for free, would I read it?” The answer must be between “yes” and “I guess so.”
A key aspect to getting the other author to agree is to include a brief book description. The idea is to warn them off if my books are not their cup of tea. “This is a first-person drama about a vampire who forces an author to interview her. It contains mild gore.” Including this basic information has saved me tons of grief. Plus, I get better results.
I do not target big-time authors; instead, I go after new authors with two or fewer books. We are in the same boat, which is amateurs with potential. We figured out how to throw a .epub file on Amazon. Side note. 99.999% of the population has not achieved this worthy goal. Yes, we are truly better people.
However, there is a problem with this class of authors. Only a few people have read their book, and there will be grammar, spelling, formatting, plot, logic, character, and description issues. Run-on sentences that run on while they are running on? You bet!
There is another problem with this kind of exchange. Authors spend a lot of time writing. This means other books… Well… Suck. Why? They do not have our type of characters, story, writing style, or book category. As a result, authors in a review exchange need to accept that they only like a specific type of story and can spot writing flaws like a hawk.
Allow me to re-state the above paragraph. Just because a writing style is unique, that does not make it wrong. For example, I have never encountered two books that use the same dialog integration format.
There is a particular category of book that has a unique problem. If the book contains heavy fantasy, science fiction, alternate reality, or superhero, the author must immediately pull the reader into an alternate reality. That transition is ultra-difficult, and the pitfalls are immense. Want proof? Have you ever met a vampire? Will you? Of course not. Now, let me try to convince you (in my book) that vampires live next door. And we are on Mars…
The fantasy category has another problem. These authors have lived in their wacky, made-up world for years and have difficulty thinking like a reader. This book class needs far more beta reading, editing, and concept work than a standard book. Of course, amateur authors do not have this extensive network of support. Therefore, I take special care when considering this book category for an exchange. I guarantee these stories will be a bumpy ride.
I also do not do an in-depth plot investigation. People reading reviews want clear highlights. “Outstanding book, worth purchasing.” To explain this issue, I found this deep-dive movie review for Clear and Present Danger. It is too highbrow for the average reader and does not provide a quick path to “buy it now.”
There’s a little bit of Mr. Smith in Ford’s Jack Ryan, and there’s a little bit of Capra in the techno-thriller as written and rewritten by Donald Stewart, Steven Zaillian, and John Milius. Unfortunately, this calls for an overblown denouement in which an outraged Ryan gives hell to the chief. This exchange of “how dare yous” aside, the film is certainly more adult in terms of real issues than “True Lies.”
Four of my exchanges were awful, and I can trace the issue back to an exchange partner who did not go into the process with the right mindset.
Now that I have a book to review, I read it cover to cover. While doing so, I take notes, including the main character’s name, locations, plot, and other vital details. Plus, I informed the author about major type-os. If the issues are too numerous, I will say, “Hey, I spotted a few errors. I suggest you give it another self-edit.”
What if the book is below average? I am good at locating positive points and cheerfully describing them. So far, I have not encountered a book so bad that I had to call off the exchange.
I know how difficult it is to put something out for the world to tear down. There is so much competition. Plus, famous authors have already written easy-to-write concepts to death. It nearly impossible to come up with something new. Plus, books are 60-200 thousand words, meaning there are 60-200 thousand places to make mistakees! See, nobody is perfect.
How long does the entire review take? Typically, a week of reading, twenty minutes to write, and fifteen minutes to edit. Do I cheat by reading the existing reviews and making something up? No, I consider this to be dishonest.
I shoot for a 200-word review and take a three-paragraph approach. The first contains an introduction and what the book is about.
“A friend recommended The Title by Major Author, and the description sounded interesting. Major began his story in a dystopian future where America has suffered a horrific war. A nation formed from destruction, and the new government thrived. However, Tony and her misfit friends suspect something is not right.”
You will note the lack of gushing descriptions or endless compliments. Why? This is how genuine reviews read. “Hey, I got this book, and it was cool.”
My second paragraph describes the story and answers why it is a good read.
“Unlike other time travel stories, Major Author thoroughly analyzes the science necessary to make time travel possible. Major put much effort into explaining exactly how time travel technology worked. The unique plot revolved around a daughter attempting to prevent her mother’s death in the past while the Time Cops stop ‘him’ in the future.”
The last paragraph contains praise, but it should not be over-the-top.
“The Title contains great dialog and superb descriptions. I loved the Australian twang and friendly interaction. I recommend this book to three friends and look forward to Major Author’s next work.”
That’s it! It’s a three-paragraph review, but I intentionally let out some details. How about a good quote? Some review sites ban reviews with quotes, and they have burned me more than once. I avoid giving away the plot because that is what the book blurb is for.
I enjoy review exchanges and read many books I would have never picked up. The wonderful authors have provided great tips and pointed out ways to overcome my writing flaws. With some luck, I will reach my goal of 100 book reviews per book, bringing me one step closer to being recognized.
You’re the best -Bill
January 03, 2024
Getting more book reviews is one way to get in front of the pack. I started my quest by begging friends to read my book and post a review, but I quickly exhausted this resource. So, I contacted random authors to ask them to exchange reviews. This effort has been mostly successful, and with a lot of hard work, my first book now has 58 reviews. Yay!
I thought it would be fun to explain my process. It begins by selecting an author to approach. I first examined their content to see if I was interested in this. I also read the book descriptions, and Amazon usually allows potential readers to review the first chapter. Existing reviews are also an excellent resource.
My ultimate deciding factor is to ask myself, “If somebody gave me this book for free, would I read it?” The answer must be between “yes” and “I guess so.”
A key aspect to getting the other author to agree is to include a brief book description. The idea is to warn them off if my books are not their cup of tea. “This is a first-person drama about a vampire who forces an author to interview her. It contains mild gore.” Including this basic information has saved me tons of grief. Plus, I get better results.
I do not target big-time authors; instead, I go after new authors with two or fewer books. We are in the same boat, which is amateurs with potential. We figured out how to throw a .epub file on Amazon. Side note. 99.999% of the population has not achieved this worthy goal. Yes, we are truly better people.
However, there is a problem with this class of authors. Only a few people have read their book, and there will be grammar, spelling, formatting, plot, logic, character, and description issues. Run-on sentences that run on while they are running on? You bet!
There is another problem with this kind of exchange. Authors spend a lot of time writing. This means other books… Well… Suck. Why? They do not have our type of characters, story, writing style, or book category. As a result, authors in a review exchange need to accept that they only like a specific type of story and can spot writing flaws like a hawk.
Allow me to re-state the above paragraph. Just because a writing style is unique, that does not make it wrong. For example, I have never encountered two books that use the same dialog integration format.
There is a particular category of book that has a unique problem. If the book contains heavy fantasy, science fiction, alternate reality, or superhero, the author must immediately pull the reader into an alternate reality. That transition is ultra-difficult, and the pitfalls are immense. Want proof? Have you ever met a vampire? Will you? Of course not. Now, let me try to convince you (in my book) that vampires live next door. And we are on Mars…
The fantasy category has another problem. These authors have lived in their wacky, made-up world for years and have difficulty thinking like a reader. This book class needs far more beta reading, editing, and concept work than a standard book. Of course, amateur authors do not have this extensive network of support. Therefore, I take special care when considering this book category for an exchange. I guarantee these stories will be a bumpy ride.
I also do not do an in-depth plot investigation. People reading reviews want clear highlights. “Outstanding book, worth purchasing.” To explain this issue, I found this deep-dive movie review for Clear and Present Danger. It is too highbrow for the average reader and does not provide a quick path to “buy it now.”
There’s a little bit of Mr. Smith in Ford’s Jack Ryan, and there’s a little bit of Capra in the techno-thriller as written and rewritten by Donald Stewart, Steven Zaillian, and John Milius. Unfortunately, this calls for an overblown denouement in which an outraged Ryan gives hell to the chief. This exchange of “how dare yous” aside, the film is certainly more adult in terms of real issues than “True Lies.”
Four of my exchanges were awful, and I can trace the issue back to an exchange partner who did not go into the process with the right mindset.
Now that I have a book to review, I read it cover to cover. While doing so, I take notes, including the main character’s name, locations, plot, and other vital details. Plus, I informed the author about major type-os. If the issues are too numerous, I will say, “Hey, I spotted a few errors. I suggest you give it another self-edit.”
What if the book is below average? I am good at locating positive points and cheerfully describing them. So far, I have not encountered a book so bad that I had to call off the exchange.
I know how difficult it is to put something out for the world to tear down. There is so much competition. Plus, famous authors have already written easy-to-write concepts to death. It nearly impossible to come up with something new. Plus, books are 60-200 thousand words, meaning there are 60-200 thousand places to make mistakees! See, nobody is perfect.
How long does the entire review take? Typically, a week of reading, twenty minutes to write, and fifteen minutes to edit. Do I cheat by reading the existing reviews and making something up? No, I consider this to be dishonest.
I shoot for a 200-word review and take a three-paragraph approach. The first contains an introduction and what the book is about.
“A friend recommended The Title by Major Author, and the description sounded interesting. Major began his story in a dystopian future where America has suffered a horrific war. A nation formed from destruction, and the new government thrived. However, Tony and her misfit friends suspect something is not right.”
You will note the lack of gushing descriptions or endless compliments. Why? This is how genuine reviews read. “Hey, I got this book, and it was cool.”
My second paragraph describes the story and answers why it is a good read.
“Unlike other time travel stories, Major Author thoroughly analyzes the science necessary to make time travel possible. Major put much effort into explaining exactly how time travel technology worked. The unique plot revolved around a daughter attempting to prevent her mother’s death in the past while the Time Cops stop ‘him’ in the future.”
The last paragraph contains praise, but it should not be over-the-top.
“The Title contains great dialog and superb descriptions. I loved the Australian twang and friendly interaction. I recommend this book to three friends and look forward to Major Author’s next work.”
That’s it! It’s a three-paragraph review, but I intentionally let out some details. How about a good quote? Some review sites ban reviews with quotes, and they have burned me more than once. I avoid giving away the plot because that is what the book blurb is for.
I enjoy review exchanges and read many books I would have never picked up. The wonderful authors have provided great tips and pointed out ways to overcome my writing flaws. With some luck, I will reach my goal of 100 book reviews per book, bringing me one step closer to being recognized.
You’re the best -Bill
January 03, 2024
December 27, 2023
I’m Responsible for Everything
In my junior year of college, I was struggling. It was because I had poor teachers, no girlfriend, unfocused studying, and complex subjects. I nearly dropped out of college but wanted to try one more year.
That was the summer of 1990, and a commercial for the book Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard blasted the airwaves. It promised to answer all of life’s questions, and I picked up a copy. The book was confusing, contradicting and did not help my situation, but there were life-enhancing tidbits. The author included contact information for local Scientology offices.
I set up an appointment since my life was spiraling into the drain. They directed me to a chiropractor’s office (he allowed them to use the building at night), and the people explained all about Scientology and how it could help.
I signed up for one introductory course, which included lessons, exercises, group activities, and one-on-one conversations to explain their philosophy. The course had badly Xeroxed pages with well-used reference books and passionately dedicated people.
I got a lot out of these sessions and obtained a new focus on life. The following school year, I hit the books hard. My grades turned around, and I felt much better about life. Continuing my self-improvement journey was natural, and I contacted them for more courses.
They no longer borrowed a chiropractor’s office; the new location was in an elegant downtown office building. They had replaced the badly Xeroxed pages, well-used books, and friendly people with slick workbooks, many new books, high prices, creepy people, and a distrusting atmosphere. I signed up for one expensive course and stopped after four sessions. Did they call me and ask why? No, they got their money.
Would I recommend Scientology to address your problems? If you could travel back to 1990 and have the same experience as I did, yes. Today, I would not recommend going near the organization because it has twisted into a monster about money, power, control, and mental dominance. Stay away! Yet, I think there is room for a rebirth. Take the good parts, add great people, and leave the monster behind. We could call it Hubbard’s witnesses:)
It is now 2023, which provides some perspective. How much of this knowledge do I use/practice in my present life? That is tough to answer. My 1990 life lacked focus, and the course was just what I needed. The combination helped build my mental foundation, and like my house’s foundation, I think little about it.
Yet, I have recently considered one of their lessons, “I am responsible for everything.” The intent was for the student to visualize taking on their lives. If you see a problem, fix it! What about world hunger? If it is important enough for you to be aware of the topic, contribute to the solution. What about the other million things wrong in this world? Please make a list and start working on it. The point was not to give up, but I never comprehended their approach because it was too big. How can I be responsible for everything?
Well, I want to take another whack at it. The lesson intends to identify all problems and cause you to do something about them. Directly take on the challenge and stop being on the sideline. That is undoubtedly good advice, but the problem is the execution. World hunger? The Ukraine War? All the upcoming movies look awful?
Even if I focused 100% of my entire life on one of those big issues, I would only make a minuscule difference. Such an approach would set me up for failure because I could never live up to my responsibilities. Yet, I now understand this was not the point. The point is to take on personal responsibility by identifying what is an essential responsibility.
World hunger may be at the bottom of the list, but there is something minor I can accomplish. At the supermarket, they have food for kid’s programs. Every time I shop, I could put in a dollar. Fix what I can fix. To do so, I need confidence so I will not back down. Is that good? Improving one’s life is always good.
That was the point, but they could have done better with that lesson. Form a list of responsibilities and a plan for each. Yet, being responsible for everything is a smack in the face. It is too difficult. The Bible, science, philosophy, and laws have similar confusing areas. They apply flat concepts that sound simple yet are deeply complex. Religious scholars, scientists, philosophers, and lawyers spend their entire lives trying to understand the true meaning of these powerful principles. With wisdom, one will appreciate that the journey is more important than the destination.
In 1990, I did not think I appreciated the concept of enormous responsibility because I did not have life experiences. Raising a child was indeed a new level of responsibility. I now think this concept is getting onto the lifetime path of being a more caring person. In retrospect, I have been on the responsibility journey all along. These milestones include graduating college, getting a job, living independently, having my family, and passing life lessons to my daughter. Plus, there is writing. I must take care of my characters and readers. Yet, I have the endless freedom to invent a new race or language. I could even travel back in time to fix a mistake. That’s kind of cool, but a lot of responsibility.
You’re the best -Bill
December 27, 2023
That was the summer of 1990, and a commercial for the book Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard blasted the airwaves. It promised to answer all of life’s questions, and I picked up a copy. The book was confusing, contradicting and did not help my situation, but there were life-enhancing tidbits. The author included contact information for local Scientology offices.
I set up an appointment since my life was spiraling into the drain. They directed me to a chiropractor’s office (he allowed them to use the building at night), and the people explained all about Scientology and how it could help.
I signed up for one introductory course, which included lessons, exercises, group activities, and one-on-one conversations to explain their philosophy. The course had badly Xeroxed pages with well-used reference books and passionately dedicated people.
I got a lot out of these sessions and obtained a new focus on life. The following school year, I hit the books hard. My grades turned around, and I felt much better about life. Continuing my self-improvement journey was natural, and I contacted them for more courses.
They no longer borrowed a chiropractor’s office; the new location was in an elegant downtown office building. They had replaced the badly Xeroxed pages, well-used books, and friendly people with slick workbooks, many new books, high prices, creepy people, and a distrusting atmosphere. I signed up for one expensive course and stopped after four sessions. Did they call me and ask why? No, they got their money.
Would I recommend Scientology to address your problems? If you could travel back to 1990 and have the same experience as I did, yes. Today, I would not recommend going near the organization because it has twisted into a monster about money, power, control, and mental dominance. Stay away! Yet, I think there is room for a rebirth. Take the good parts, add great people, and leave the monster behind. We could call it Hubbard’s witnesses:)
It is now 2023, which provides some perspective. How much of this knowledge do I use/practice in my present life? That is tough to answer. My 1990 life lacked focus, and the course was just what I needed. The combination helped build my mental foundation, and like my house’s foundation, I think little about it.
Yet, I have recently considered one of their lessons, “I am responsible for everything.” The intent was for the student to visualize taking on their lives. If you see a problem, fix it! What about world hunger? If it is important enough for you to be aware of the topic, contribute to the solution. What about the other million things wrong in this world? Please make a list and start working on it. The point was not to give up, but I never comprehended their approach because it was too big. How can I be responsible for everything?
Well, I want to take another whack at it. The lesson intends to identify all problems and cause you to do something about them. Directly take on the challenge and stop being on the sideline. That is undoubtedly good advice, but the problem is the execution. World hunger? The Ukraine War? All the upcoming movies look awful?
Even if I focused 100% of my entire life on one of those big issues, I would only make a minuscule difference. Such an approach would set me up for failure because I could never live up to my responsibilities. Yet, I now understand this was not the point. The point is to take on personal responsibility by identifying what is an essential responsibility.
World hunger may be at the bottom of the list, but there is something minor I can accomplish. At the supermarket, they have food for kid’s programs. Every time I shop, I could put in a dollar. Fix what I can fix. To do so, I need confidence so I will not back down. Is that good? Improving one’s life is always good.
That was the point, but they could have done better with that lesson. Form a list of responsibilities and a plan for each. Yet, being responsible for everything is a smack in the face. It is too difficult. The Bible, science, philosophy, and laws have similar confusing areas. They apply flat concepts that sound simple yet are deeply complex. Religious scholars, scientists, philosophers, and lawyers spend their entire lives trying to understand the true meaning of these powerful principles. With wisdom, one will appreciate that the journey is more important than the destination.
In 1990, I did not think I appreciated the concept of enormous responsibility because I did not have life experiences. Raising a child was indeed a new level of responsibility. I now think this concept is getting onto the lifetime path of being a more caring person. In retrospect, I have been on the responsibility journey all along. These milestones include graduating college, getting a job, living independently, having my family, and passing life lessons to my daughter. Plus, there is writing. I must take care of my characters and readers. Yet, I have the endless freedom to invent a new race or language. I could even travel back in time to fix a mistake. That’s kind of cool, but a lot of responsibility.
You’re the best -Bill
December 27, 2023
December 20, 2023
How Writing Affected My Life
My big life goals were to become an electrical engineer, get a job, and have a family. Writing did not play a part in these plans, yet stories rattled around my bonkers mind from an early age, and I thought that it would be fun to write something after I retired.
Life does not always go as planned, and being unemployed three times certainly deterred me from my goals. The first round lasted only a month, but it frightened me, and I had to do something about it. So, I created a notebook full of ideas to plan my future.
I wanted to organize my thoughts on business ideas and employment goals. Then, analyze everything to determine the best chances for success. This list of ideas included becoming a big-time author, and I wrote a summary (about a paragraph) for each story idea so I could evaluate the opportunity.
With this tool, I planned to get rehired and start a business in my free time. I did not include writing a book because it would take too much time. Everything was going according to plan, but life threw another curve ball. I was working for a company called Sundstrand (a division of United Technologies Corporation). They had three divisions (cheap, average, and high-quality) that made the same product. It made good business sense to eliminate the middle player. In hindsight, this decision was foolish because it led to a billion-dollar Airbus lawsuit. United Technologies Corporation settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
This second round of unemployment (technically not unemployment because I was working part-time) lasted a year, and I needed a side activity to keep from going crazy. I had recently attempted to start a business and needed a break from that nightmare. So, I wrote a book because I knew it would be easy money. I began without knowing the reality of publishing, marketing, or proper book structure.
Since that chaotic beginning, I have gained many skills and self-publish four books. It has been five years, and I thought it would be interesting to see how this effort affected my life.
Improved writing skills are the most prominent change. The flaws jump off the page like rocketships when I look at my past documents. Now, my sentences are more straightforward and more grammatically correct.
The downside to my new skills is that I spot errors in other people’s work. Before my writing adventure, I found it amusing on the rare occasions I spotted a mistake. (I cannot recall seeing an error in a professionally published book before I started writing.) Now, errors upset me, and I look down on unskilled authors. Is this bad? Yes.
Writing now occupies much of my time due to the many hours of self-editing and self-promoting. That is time I cannot get back, but what if I could time travel? Would I recommend the path to myself? Hmm. It is clear that I will break even with this venture, but I answer yes. While there have been many negatives, the positives have outweighed them.
My speech has also improved because I think more about what I will say. I also focus more on other people’s speech and often think of better/clearer methods. My family and friends have all commented on the improvement.
While watching movies, I couldn’t care less about acting, cinematography, and special effects. Instead, I focus on the plot and critically analyze it. This approach reduces entertainment but provides valuable information. Why? A movie allows me to visually see how a plot unfolds, which is not possible in a book. I also like to think about fixing a lousy plot; recently, there have been so many.
Sometimes, I fantasize about random people I see walking by. It’s fun to mentally describe their appearance (to develop excellent character descriptions) or guess their thoughts. Sometimes, I even put them into a plot I make up on the spot. Is this creepy? Probably.
Writing has made me more liberal. I want people to be happier and am more willing to be part of the solution. This comes from my desire/empathy for my characters to succeed. It might also be out of the passion for a positive plot.
I have a more worldly view because my characters travel. Therefore, I research other cultures, geography, flights, and currencies.
I am more outgoing online, including sharing my views, discussing critical writing topics, asking for advice, and promoting my books.
Last, I met many authors and became pen pals with two. I certainly would not have done this before my writing adventure.
Until writing this, I had not analyzed all the changes. Writing has indeed affected many areas of my life. So, let me ask myself a question. Do I think these changes are common among authors? I would guess that 75% of the changes I experienced are standard. But making up plots with random people? Only a crazy person like myself would go that far.
You’re the best -Bill
December 20, 2023
Life does not always go as planned, and being unemployed three times certainly deterred me from my goals. The first round lasted only a month, but it frightened me, and I had to do something about it. So, I created a notebook full of ideas to plan my future.
I wanted to organize my thoughts on business ideas and employment goals. Then, analyze everything to determine the best chances for success. This list of ideas included becoming a big-time author, and I wrote a summary (about a paragraph) for each story idea so I could evaluate the opportunity.
With this tool, I planned to get rehired and start a business in my free time. I did not include writing a book because it would take too much time. Everything was going according to plan, but life threw another curve ball. I was working for a company called Sundstrand (a division of United Technologies Corporation). They had three divisions (cheap, average, and high-quality) that made the same product. It made good business sense to eliminate the middle player. In hindsight, this decision was foolish because it led to a billion-dollar Airbus lawsuit. United Technologies Corporation settled out of court for an undisclosed sum.
This second round of unemployment (technically not unemployment because I was working part-time) lasted a year, and I needed a side activity to keep from going crazy. I had recently attempted to start a business and needed a break from that nightmare. So, I wrote a book because I knew it would be easy money. I began without knowing the reality of publishing, marketing, or proper book structure.
Since that chaotic beginning, I have gained many skills and self-publish four books. It has been five years, and I thought it would be interesting to see how this effort affected my life.
Improved writing skills are the most prominent change. The flaws jump off the page like rocketships when I look at my past documents. Now, my sentences are more straightforward and more grammatically correct.
The downside to my new skills is that I spot errors in other people’s work. Before my writing adventure, I found it amusing on the rare occasions I spotted a mistake. (I cannot recall seeing an error in a professionally published book before I started writing.) Now, errors upset me, and I look down on unskilled authors. Is this bad? Yes.
Writing now occupies much of my time due to the many hours of self-editing and self-promoting. That is time I cannot get back, but what if I could time travel? Would I recommend the path to myself? Hmm. It is clear that I will break even with this venture, but I answer yes. While there have been many negatives, the positives have outweighed them.
My speech has also improved because I think more about what I will say. I also focus more on other people’s speech and often think of better/clearer methods. My family and friends have all commented on the improvement.
While watching movies, I couldn’t care less about acting, cinematography, and special effects. Instead, I focus on the plot and critically analyze it. This approach reduces entertainment but provides valuable information. Why? A movie allows me to visually see how a plot unfolds, which is not possible in a book. I also like to think about fixing a lousy plot; recently, there have been so many.
Sometimes, I fantasize about random people I see walking by. It’s fun to mentally describe their appearance (to develop excellent character descriptions) or guess their thoughts. Sometimes, I even put them into a plot I make up on the spot. Is this creepy? Probably.
Writing has made me more liberal. I want people to be happier and am more willing to be part of the solution. This comes from my desire/empathy for my characters to succeed. It might also be out of the passion for a positive plot.
I have a more worldly view because my characters travel. Therefore, I research other cultures, geography, flights, and currencies.
I am more outgoing online, including sharing my views, discussing critical writing topics, asking for advice, and promoting my books.
Last, I met many authors and became pen pals with two. I certainly would not have done this before my writing adventure.
Until writing this, I had not analyzed all the changes. Writing has indeed affected many areas of my life. So, let me ask myself a question. Do I think these changes are common among authors? I would guess that 75% of the changes I experienced are standard. But making up plots with random people? Only a crazy person like myself would go that far.
You’re the best -Bill
December 20, 2023
December 13, 2023
Unassailable
I use the word optimize in every possible place it fits. Optimize that recipe. I have optimized my walking style. Can my driving be optimized? You bet! The word rolls off my tongue even when I am silently typing.
I never use some words because I do not fully understand their meaning and do not want to sound like an idiot. Argyle? Something to do with socks. Bloodthirsty? Umm, I think that has something to do with motivation. Googleplex? That’s a big number, but I do not know how big. Ribosomes? It’s some silly biological term. Myocardial? A doctor used that once in a health video. Metastatic? I think that was the same doctor.
That’s all understandable, but there is one word I avoid, like the plague, yet I fully understand the meaning. Unassailable describes a condition that cannot be argued against. If there is a video of a person committing a crime, their guilt is unassailable. Writers often use it in mathematics, law, engineering, and critical discussions.
Now, hold on. There are some conditions where I know the word legitimately applies. 2+2=4. The math is unassailable. Yes and no. The logic is flawless, but 2+2=4 is not unassailable; it is a correct equation with room for disagreement. Two apples plus two oranges do not equal four planes.
It seems like this word has many applications, so do I hate it with a passion? Because it is offensive to the reader. It is as if I said, “Hey, I discovered something, and you cannot contradict me, jerk!”
I can show you why I hate this work with this very sentence. I do not know who will read my words. You could be a serial killer, truck driver, or someone who accidentally clicked on a link. Yet, I have the same goal: for you to be entertained, educated, and enjoy my creation. Yet, there is no guarantee of success. My sentence might even bring resentment, but deep in my heart, I tried my best to present something enjoyable.
Allow me to make a brief exception with one awful sentence. Jack, and, Jill, went, up, a, hill, to, fetch, a, pale, of, water. Wow, those comas were so annoying. And that sentence? Could I have been any more cliché? Anger is boiling, and words are turning green like the Hulk. Roar!
Reading the word unassailable feels the same as that awful sentence. Why would I want to insult the people I am trying to entertain? “I am smarter than you!” Nobody likes that attitude. I want my readers to smile, but that word goes against every writing instinct I have. It is like it has a poor attitude reservoir.
I suppose we all have our little quirks. Grammar mongers dislike improper punctuation and go to great lengths to point out mistakes. Wordsmiths take great joy in using obscure words in everyday sentences. I love the band Rush, which probably makes the people who adore classical music freak out. Oh, well, that’s life, which is an unassailable conclusion.
You’re the best -Bill
December 13, 2023
I never use some words because I do not fully understand their meaning and do not want to sound like an idiot. Argyle? Something to do with socks. Bloodthirsty? Umm, I think that has something to do with motivation. Googleplex? That’s a big number, but I do not know how big. Ribosomes? It’s some silly biological term. Myocardial? A doctor used that once in a health video. Metastatic? I think that was the same doctor.
That’s all understandable, but there is one word I avoid, like the plague, yet I fully understand the meaning. Unassailable describes a condition that cannot be argued against. If there is a video of a person committing a crime, their guilt is unassailable. Writers often use it in mathematics, law, engineering, and critical discussions.
Now, hold on. There are some conditions where I know the word legitimately applies. 2+2=4. The math is unassailable. Yes and no. The logic is flawless, but 2+2=4 is not unassailable; it is a correct equation with room for disagreement. Two apples plus two oranges do not equal four planes.
It seems like this word has many applications, so do I hate it with a passion? Because it is offensive to the reader. It is as if I said, “Hey, I discovered something, and you cannot contradict me, jerk!”
I can show you why I hate this work with this very sentence. I do not know who will read my words. You could be a serial killer, truck driver, or someone who accidentally clicked on a link. Yet, I have the same goal: for you to be entertained, educated, and enjoy my creation. Yet, there is no guarantee of success. My sentence might even bring resentment, but deep in my heart, I tried my best to present something enjoyable.
Allow me to make a brief exception with one awful sentence. Jack, and, Jill, went, up, a, hill, to, fetch, a, pale, of, water. Wow, those comas were so annoying. And that sentence? Could I have been any more cliché? Anger is boiling, and words are turning green like the Hulk. Roar!
Reading the word unassailable feels the same as that awful sentence. Why would I want to insult the people I am trying to entertain? “I am smarter than you!” Nobody likes that attitude. I want my readers to smile, but that word goes against every writing instinct I have. It is like it has a poor attitude reservoir.
I suppose we all have our little quirks. Grammar mongers dislike improper punctuation and go to great lengths to point out mistakes. Wordsmiths take great joy in using obscure words in everyday sentences. I love the band Rush, which probably makes the people who adore classical music freak out. Oh, well, that’s life, which is an unassailable conclusion.
You’re the best -Bill
December 13, 2023
