Through a glass, darkly

So while most authors are confirming they aren’t using AI to write their books, I seem to know a lot in my chat groups who are playing with AI for fun. One of our groups newest challenges is to ask AI to make a caricature portrait of oneself based on the conversations you’ve had with AI. Thought I would give it a try, can you guess what my topics have been?

A little mid-week rant (aka- I don’t want to read a book by a Robot!)

I don’t understand the logic, really I don’t. Okay, you want to see how far we can get this AI tech to go. Companies want to see how much it can earn for shareholders, But PEOPLE who become unemployed based on the technology won’t have money to spend, right?

So how do you EARN from that you freakin’ morons? From people with no money? If you brag about increasing unemployment by 20-30%, so how does that not negatively impact your earnings 20%-30%?

If you’ve been looking for a job recently you will find that the majority of roles are now flat out telling you “we want you to help us train AI in your area of expertise”. What, AI can fix a roof? Or fix your plumbing? Not everyone will be capable of career changing to manual labor. This is creating a class divide like we’ve never seen before in this country and no one is concerned?

No bootstraps ever created will get some folks out of permanent, GENERATIONAL poverty. And no amount of billionaire funds you may have access to will buy the labor of people you are crushing beneath you.
Everyone of us below them now, raise your going rates for whatever you do to $1000/hour. See how they like it.

The overwhelm has whelmed me over

So as you know (or should) I like books. Collect them from everywhere, various formats as well (i.e.-physical, digital, audio, etc.) The only problem I often have is I get overwhelmed with what to choose to read next. I follow this funny guy on Instagram who has the same issue and uses a spinning wheel decider app to help him out. I have been cleaning out, rearranging and generally going through my writing books specifically. I found I currently have 125 I have not read yet. 😳 Again, just on the subject of writing.


So here’s the challenge, I’ve creating a spinner wheel to help me decide my next read and hopefully clean up my TBR. I’m giving myself one year to complete it starting today and will be posting regularly on here to be accountable. (Feel free to scroll by or unfriend if you like). The first pic is where we are starting, used fall colors for inspiration but will update along the way. And here is the first book to be selected 👇. Wish me luck!

2024 job market DE RIGUEUR

Step 1: Find job to apply for.

Step 2: Fill out application that asks for your Indeed/LinkedIn links (5 min to complete) and copy of your resume and cover letter.

Step 3: Receive email within 7 days, asking to fill out second application on company website. Asks for second copy of resume and cover letter. (30-45 min to complete.)

Step 4: Wait to hear back, (usually 7 days, some longer.) If approved asked via email to complete an assessment test. (45-60 min for assessment.)

Step 5: After completing assessment, wait another 7 days. Asked via email to do interview with HR rep, who in reality is a recruiter vetting you, saving company time. (Apprx 30 min interview).

Step 6: Wait 7-10 days to hear from recruiter who emails you to say you’ve been approved for an interview and schedules you for pre-recorded video interview. (45-60 min for prerecorded interview taping and 72 hours before you will be sent link for actual video interview.)

Step 7: You meet with one or two supervisors in Zoom/Teams meeting and spend about 45-60 being asked the exact same questions you were given for recorded interview. They read the questions for a list, rarely being polite enough to look directly at you in Zoom. They advise you are in a pool of candidates and it will take them 7-10 days to make a determination.

Step 8: You are sent an email advised they are passing on you, but will keep your information on file for future consideration.

Step 9: (NO REALLY! A STEP 9): Within 72 hours either the recruiters office or company will contact you via email asked you to complete a second video interview for them to “keep on file”, advising, YOU GUESSED IT, 45-60 minutes to complete. (I don’t know if its a new set of questions or not, now they are just wasting my time so I don’t do them.)

Results:
Time spent by applicant trying to get job: (low side) 2 hours/3 hours (add 45 min if doing second non-offer, follow up video)
Time spent with live people speaking to you: 1 hour
Length of time during interview process: 3 weeks for each application

When your new favorite author tries to kill you (or: what do I as a collector do now?)

Some people will never understand the frustration that can go with being a true collector. I don’t care what it is you love, (mine is books) when something like this happens the trauma we feel is real.

I fell in love with this author this year by accident, so much so that I decided to add her to my personal collection (You know 90% of what I read comes from libraries, but some you just GOTTA own).

So anyway she’s been publishing for years and so for some reason her books covers took a hard left turn MID SERIES ?!?!? WTF??? The only thing that hurts a collector more is when the sizes change between books in a series, and then we just cry.

I was able to get the first 3 books (all used) no problem and the fourth I had to get from Canada to stay in cover vein. Then Book5 WHAMO! She switched to the more Heraldic type covers. Now what do I do? Continue the collection in the new style and have a mismatch on my shelves? Or do I donate the first 4 to the library for others to enjoy and waste funds starting all over again?

And here’s where the real book lover’s craziness comes in, I will forever know I gave the first four away and those fakes ones I replace them with on the shelf aren’t the TRUE books I fell in love with. How could she do this to me???? Bonus pain points for the last book which just came out in 2022 which are prequels to the main characters adventures and she went BACK TO THE ART STYLE ON THAT ONE!!!

Seriously she’s trying to kill me here. What are your thoughts? How would you proceed with your collection on this???

PS-I intentionally withheld the author/series name as I don’t want my little rant to some how get back to the used bookstore I frequent and then I won’t get shown her future copies.