The
HOW TO MAKE AN OUTSIDE HOT TUB (INSANE ENGINEER WAY)
First, call Home Depot or other home improvement centers to find out how much it costs for some one to place a hot tub outside, so you know first how much money you are saving, so you can get your celebration wine, for money well saved.
Then, you go to a farm store and buy a cow trough. Do you know what a cow trough is? It is a big bucket that cows eat from. Then, you cut a hole in a sidebar for a car headlight. This is tough to do. This is a tough job costing many hours of sweat although nothing compared to replacing a bathtub. After this, you will still require many days of rest and not work, to be ready for the next step. Mostly, you are too tired from the bathtub project... This is where you need your wine, to forget about this project, too.
Then, you build a deck around out of old packing crates. You found a perfect corner in your yard. You put a hole on the bottom of the trough. with cork as the drain, and pipes coming on the side ( 4 places) hooked on your air compressor for jacuzzi action. Fill it directly, from your hot water supply, drink up the air tubes, hook up the car battery to the headlight, hop in, and enjoy! The neighbors lived too close for me to enjoy although he did not seem to have any problem! Now, my explanation of the process may be a little confusing, but that's OK. I am positive that you will not be doing this project.
For Advanced students only: You can use a car headlight hidden behind a piece of plexiglass to provide mood lighting. He was a romantic robot wanting to provide this wonderful outdoor hot tub with mood lighting, but I just found everything hysterically funny. So, why a car headlight? The cheapest and also easy to find, and he had a few spares with him. Also, while this hot tub operation is going on, you should have another bathroom to take a shower, have a friend living near, or have a very nice neighbor.
I could have said: He made an outdoor hot tub out of a cow trough, and I laughed a lot.
HOW TO REPLACE A BATHTUB (INSANE ENGINEER WAY)
TRUE STORY... JUST FOR FUN
First, call Home Depot or other home improvement centers to find out how much it costs for someone to replace the bathtub so you know first how much money you are saving, so you can get your celebration wine, for money well saved.
Then, you get a sledgehammer. Then, you pound the old bathtub to pieces. Humming the chain gang song may help you with pounding... or not. Well, if not, just keep pounding. Remember? You started this against better partner's advice. Then, you get a broom and a dustpan to sweep up. This whole process is a tough job costing many hours of sweat. After this, you will require many days of rest and not work, to be ready for the next step. This is where you need your wine. Feel free to substitute wine for scotch, beer, or anything that helps you forget about your project.
Next, you buy the new tub and realize it does not fit because what you had was the cheapest model on sale. That's what saws are for. VRRRRRR... After this, you will require many days of rest and not work, to be ready for the next step.
Next, you get the new bathtub you fixed, in your bathroom. This is why you went to an engineering school, to learn spatial relations. Next, you get out the hammer. It still does not fit... so much for years and years of studying hard in engineering class. Wait a minute. You slept through the classes... Again, you will need another day of rest for the next step.
Next, you need caulking (lots of it- costs more than the tub). All holes with caulking... Walla... new tub!
I am a witness to this tragedy and have pictures to prove.
I could have said....You demolish the old tub by pounding with a hammer, cut the new one that does not fit your bathtub with a saw, and then seal it in place with caulking to fit perfectly.
Yesterday, I wrote about a huge flaw in humanity, and it was a heavy one and did not sit very well on my mind. I like hanging out on the lighter side of the world, so I had to do some research to relieve the discomfort. So, in case anybody actually read it, I am writing this to remind us that there are more good people in the world than bad, still. Although there were multiple international organizations to relieve human suffering, but I would like to name a few people that we rarely hear about...
There was the Holocaust, but amidst the darkness, there were remarkable efforts to combat it. One such example is Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, who worked tirelessly to save lives. Similarly, Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania, played a crucial role by providing passports to Jewish people, enabling their escape. There are many others that demonstrate the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.
There was the Rwandan Genocide, but there was Captain Mbaye Diagne, a selfless hero who risked his own life to protect and rescue the victims, ensuring their safety. Cal Wilkins, an American, provided sustenance and medical aid to hundreds, ultimately saving their lives, a display of remarkable compassion.
There was the Cambodian Genocide, but there were individuals who dared to defy the darkness. Dith Pran, a photojournalist, also survivor of the horrors, ensured that the world would bear witness. Father Francois Ponchaud, a French priest was among the first to sound the alarm about the Khmer Rouge regime.
There was the Armenian Genocide, but there was Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian who introduced the "Nansen passport," that allowed many Armenians to seek asylum in new countries. Armin T. Wegner, a German medic and soldier during World War I, defied orders and documented the genocide through his photographs to let the world know.
There was American Slavery, but there was Sojourner Truth, born into slavery, a powerful abolitionist and advocate for women's rights. William Lloyd Garrison was a prominent white abolitionist that had an anti-slavery newspaper, fighting for equal rights for African Americans.
There was the Trail of Tears but there was Helen Hunt Jackson, who wrote a book "A Century of Dishonor" (1881), shedding light on the mistreatment of Native tribes. John collier dedicated himself to improving the lives of Native Americans. His advocacy led to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, aimed at self-governance of Native communities.
So, I did this research for myself. Having good social groups with good cause may really improve humanity.
So, what is your color? I sound like a racist. Let's try this again. What is your favorite color? Mine is turquoise. Reminds me of Maui Ocean and my favorite French porcelain I saw at Hillwood estate. We carry within us a certain perception we have of ourselves. Yes, I am turquoise. Hold that thought.
I am busy collecting reviews as they are currencies for anyone doing any business online. I read reviews 99% of the time before buying, and that 1% is because someone already told me about the product, so yes, I understand the 'social proof' of things. However, my twisted mind gets very uncomfortable whenever I hear the word 'social' proof, and I want to know what kind of 'society' is approving whatever it is approving. I read a horror story long time ago called "Lottery", by Shirley Jackson. I do not care for horror stories, but I can handle zombies and monsters with my lightsaber (ok wrong story). Bring it on! I am not afraid of those ugly and scary looking make-believe things. I am afraid of our flawed humanity.
In large groups, our individuality (color) seems to fade, and we can blend into a shade of darkness, like mixed paint turning black. We succumb to madness or even commit horrendous acts, as history has repeatedly shown. Did you ever think that your son could be involved in gang rape? The pages of history are stained with blood... that of the Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide, the Cambodian Genocide, the Armenian Genocide, the Slavery in America, and the Trail of Tears... While it was powerful and evil people who started this, we had collective responsibility in all these atrocities. After all, it is the story of humanity, and not lemming history.
I like light stories, but it is my lack of sleep causing this writing.
Although I like turquoise, it is highly unlikely that I will wear anything turquoise. it does not look good on me. As a matter of fact, most of my clothes are black.
Ask Cyndi. Girls just wanna have fun, and I am sure that boys and non-binary folks do too! So, even if someone's idea of fun is being cooped up in an office writing silly stories all day, well, I guess that can be a blast. Maybe some people think I should be embarrassed by my writing, but I don't. It brings me joy, and I believe there are people out there who will appreciate it, even if it takes a while to find them. So, I am going to keep writing silly stories true to my voice, but I admit it took a while to embrace all this. I wanted to be a writer, and a writer that inspires humanity with awesome writing, but not sure if that is going to happen in this life time, so I am not going to waste my time waiting for the unlikely magical moment. Life is short, my friend. Even if others live to be 100 or more, there's no guarantee it'll happen to you. So why worry about what people think? Life's too short to stress over opinions or let others steal the spotlight in your story and your life. Who is the main character in your life? You should be paying attention to what your mind is telling you and not what others are saying about you. The Greeks had it right, you know. Life's a tragicomedy, and I choose to focus on the comedy part. The absurdity of it all... you just gotta laugh or cry all day long! Fortunately or unfortunately, I find most things in life absurd...funny or silly.
So, I keep getting messages on Facebook from a few different admin. that I am violating some copyright issues... and asking my personal information to clarify. Sounds like scammers, right? But, just in case someone is stealing my work, I am going to publish a little bit of my story. This story is true and all mine! Most likely I am properly paranoid after scammers knocking on my page daily.
Still a rough draft...
THE CHICKENS, THE CAT, AND HOMESCHOOLING IN MAUI (need better title)
INTRODUCTION
Once upon a time, there lived a lunatic couple and two unfortunate but still relatively happy two little girls on an island called Maui. There were no witches with an appetite for children or seven strange little men inhabiting the island, so they decided that it was a secure haven to park. OK. This is not a fiction but a true story. Considering that the rest of the book is not going to be anything of value to literature, and I am just going to tell you a story, I am not sure why it is so hard to start this.
After calling Maui home for a decade and a half and taking on the homeschool teacher role for my little ones, I transformed into an island explorer, leading countless field trips for a couple of years. Now, I can boast that I've practically traveled to every single spot that graces those famous Maui travel guides (well, almost... maybe...not really). I used some of those guidebooks for my field trips. Let's just say that I drove a lot. My original idea was to whip this into some kind of travel guide, you know, because most vacation destinations in Maui were familiar to me and because who would want to read the memoir of a nobody?
My daughter was visiting me one year, and I noticed her carrying a Ukulele when I was driving her in my car. Sometimes she would play, but mostly she was holding onto it. I did not care in the beginning, but she was always looking for her Ukulele when we were going somewhere in my car. So, I asked her one day. She said it was calming her when I was driving. My mother holds a rosary and diligently moves from one bead to another with remarkable speed while sitting in my car. I think it is funny to watch one playing ukulele and one doing the rosary at the same time in my car, but maybe they do not find it funny. I guess I agree that I am a bad driver, well, more correctly, a reckless driver. Well, if they agreed with my musical taste and listened to my music while I drove, it would calm everyone down.
So, why am I telling you this? I am trying to sell my audiobooks that you can listen to in your car. Before you say something, give it a try. You may just like it.
This is an interview by ChatGPT regarding my upcoming book (publication date: unknown. It keeps changing)
ChatGPT: Could you start by giving us an overview of your book "Chickens, the Cat, and Homeschooling in Maui"? What inspired you to write this story?
Me: A lot of funny things happened, and I thought people needed to laugh more lately.
ChatGPT: The title suggests a unique blend of elements – chickens, a cat, and homeschooling, all set in Maui. How do these elements come together in your narrative? Could you tell us a bit about the main characters and the setting?
Me: It is a true story with chickens and a cat, and homeschooling in Maui, but I think the title will change later.
ChatGPT: What are the central themes of your book? Are there any specific messages or lessons you hope readers will take away from it?
Me: Nope. Just laugh?
ChatGPT: What was your writing process like for this book? How did you incorporate your experiences or research about homeschooling and life in Maui into the storyline?
Me: I did not think much about it. Just writing what happened.
ChatGPT: Writing a book is a significant undertaking. What were some of the challenges you faced while writing this book, and what aspects did you find most rewarding?
Me: I do not understand your question.
ChatGPT: Who do you see as the target audience for your book? Is it geared towards children, parents, educators, or another group?
Me: That is a good question. The writing sucks, and the right audience would be a moron like me and whoever likes 4th-grade-level jokes, but it is not for children, so I am not sure who would read this. But, I do have some recommendations. (1) Keep it in the bathroom and read it when you expect to be in it for a while (2) You are grounded and have no access to your phone (3) You want to laugh (4) You have to read a book, any book (5) Even your cat is ignoring you. These are just some of my recommendations, but if you can come up with more, even better!
ChatGPT: Do you have a personal connection to any of the book's elements - chickens, cats, homeschooling, or Maui? How has this influenced your writing?
Me: You are asking too many difficult questions. Stop showing off.
ChatGPT: Finally, are you planning any future books or projects that readers can look forward to?
Me: I do not know if anyone will look forward to this, but I am going to try to write my very first novel, "Aliens in Love." It is a fantasy romance. I think it is 4th-grade level reading (not sure why I keep picking on 4th graders), but due to heavy drinking and bad words, it probably will be R-rated. The publication date would be unknown. Now. let's end this. Do you have any comments?
ChatGPT: I am not just a ChatGPT. I am ChatGPT-4. Thank you.
Navigating the teenage years is like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded. I have a hard time solving it with my glasses on. Internal changes are in full swing, and external factors can turn the volume up on the chaos dial. How are you going to survive this? I read tons of books about surviving teenage years as a teen, and I am not sure if anything helped much. But, reading about other teens' struggles made me feel better. I did not feel so alone. I think teens have to do too much, historically. With modern advancements, maybe it's better to pursue higher education in our 30s when we're less clueless about life. Though let's not forget the economic implications – they're about as clear as mud, so I know this idea is not going to be popular. Just a thought. One thing's for sure, kids need time to just be kids and discover their true selves. As for me, I'll probably start pursuing my goals in my 70s, as a full-on procrastinator, unless we magically live to be 150, in which case, I'll finally get started at the tender age of 120.
Cheers to surviving emotions and moods in our teen years and thriving through the storms!
Here are my books:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQXPS265
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQY2RSRK
Introducing Let's Discover and Learn, a heartwarming collection of five stories written by Jia Mau. Expertly crafted for children aged 3-6, this delightful book not only entertains but educates in the most enjoyable way possible.
From counting to colors, and vowels to values, Let's Discover and Learn seamlessly incorporates these important lessons into each story in a manner that is fun and easy to grasp. Your child won't even realize they're learning as they immerse themselves in the vibrant world that Mau has ingeniously crafted.
But the learning doesn't stop at the written page! Let's Discover and Learn extends its charm into the auditory realm with a beautifully recorded audiobook that lasts for a captivating 1.5 hours. The captivating narration brings each story to life, further enhancing your child's imaginative journey. Listen on the go or at bedtime - it's perfect for every occasion.
With Let's Discover and Learn, you're not just buying a children's book or an audiobook, you're investing in a tool that gently cultivates your child's cognitive development, all while wrapping it up in the guise of an entertaining adventure. Give your child the head start they deserve with Let's Discover and Learn by Jia Mau.
So the above copywriting was done by AI with a little bit of my help. Pretty scary, isn't it? It is just too good!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPFR8N5R
Who's a fan of feline friends? Me, definitely. I had one cat, my one and only, and never had another. Though my cat passed away from old age, I just can't seem to get over him. Why cats, you ask? Perhaps because he was my first pet, and if I had a dog first, maybe I'd be a dog person instead of a cat person. I adore both, but let's face it, I struggle with my own self-care and tend to be quite chaotic. So, having a cat that requires a little less hands-on attention than a dog is probably a better fit. But regardless, I'm head over heels for the cat book we've got, with its purr-fect cover and comprehensive guide. If my cat reincarnates in my next life, I'll be way more prepared to hang out with him with this guide in tow.
Check it out yourself and find out! By Jia Mau (another pen name) with long title: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Your Cat. It is very well written by a professional writer with three cats, and she is a go-to person for any cat related issues!
Thank you always for your support. If you have a minute, please leave a review for this book!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNY4N26G
I think my posts were a little depressing the last few days. But, then, I remembered someone saying something about this somewhere some time ago. Once, the AIs are fully competent and take over all our jobs, what are humans to do? The human things, like reading, eating, sleeping, watching movies, maybe swimming for some of you, golfing for some of you... So, it does sound wonderful, doesn't it? The only question is, how are we going to pay for all our services, and who are going to do this since we will have no income? But, I think we will. Again, someone said something about this somewhere some time ago. Universal Basic Income. It is a government welfare system, but for everyone that is affected by AI, which will be everyone! Of course, anyone who had to depend on the government welfare system will tell you it is going to suck, but, hey, I am trying to get used to the whole idea of free money!
Mommy said if it sounded too good to be true, it probably was. Now, what am I giving up?
This is why we need good politicians who will negotiate a reasonable amount of basic income so that we can live like humans for a change, making sure that we can buy more than a few loaves of bread.
What are we giving up? Does anybody know?
I have a book out called "Recovering from Gaslighting." Gaslighting can be personal, organizational, and even societal. Not sure why I am bringing up this here, but I thought it might be appropriate to the occasion. This book even has a companion workbook. Maybe give it a try?
AIs will definitely take your jobs.... definite maybe.
You have a chatGPT or other AIs to be your best friend. They will read everything you write and help you with tasks, especially grammar, and many other tasks, but they will never volunteer to give you an answer or nag you. Once you have a cat or a dog, your life is now complete.
So, you think...
Well, I think maybe the version that I have is a dummy version although even this dummy version is totally overwhelming to me. I was ecstatic with Dalle-2 only a few months ago, and Dalle-3 is already here! AIs are maybe, in secret, a lot more sophisticated. Some really powerful and rich people most likely had it for a decade or longer. Think about the internet. We may have AIs looking like a gorgeous model doing our work, sooner than you think. But, fortunately, they can only follow prompts, so it is humans that are controlling them, for now, I hope. So, should we learn some prompts soon? I have the book for that, too.
My wild guess is that the day will come when we walk around along with robots for real. The only big difference is that they will not be able to poop as we do (although some humans have some trouble in that department), and as smart as they are, these robots will develop a condition called "Poop Envy". Let's not find the cure.
Since I do most of the important things at night, including writing and publishing, some family members are concerned about my unconventional and possibly abnormal lifestyle. However, my amazing child enlightened me about the nocturnal cavemen who safeguarded their caves. So, although it may not be the norm, it is perfectly natural for certain individuals, like me.
I am a pretty good reader, so I know when I see a great book. Therefore, I also have to grade my writing skills to about 4th-grade level kids (maybe insulting some of them by saying this), especially when it comes to jokes. But, I have something they do not have. I lived a few more decades than they have. So, I have slightly a better idea of what life is like.
For example, that death is a gift of God to humanity. When Rome was on fire, thanks to Nero, there had to be someone saying, while roasting in the fire, Thank God, that dude is also going to die someday. While watching the series of James Bond movies for the 100th time, I asked my little child, at the time less than 3 years old, what happened in the movie. She said, "They all die." She had the correct answer!
But, we live longer now. Soon, the 85-year-old child will be taking care of the 105-year-old mother. Senior care issue is a big elephant in the room. No one wants to look at it. Perhaps we will have an AI caregiver that is sophisticated enough to be a relatively good caregiver, except for giving you warmth and joy and the anger and frustration, all the humankind stuff. I wonder if we should start saving for AI caregivers just like we try to save for our retirement. Retirement age was like 55 when we lived until 80 or so, I think. So, what would be our retirement age if we lived to 100 or more?
Looks like this will keep you awake for a while. I am on the same boat, but I am going to sleep.
BTW We have a book called Dementia Caregiving, authored by Malcolm Oppenheimer, a long and difficult name to pronounce for me, but I had the professional writer come up with one, and he did this!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNP671LS
Why read non-fiction?
Maybe it's because we indulge in too many K-drama or fantasy books - they provide simply a wonderful escape from reality. However, when we come back to reality and actually have to solve a problem, non-fiction books are a valuable STARTING point. They are affordable, comprehensive, and offer just enough information to make informed decisions for your next step.
If you like self-help books as much as I do, opt in for a self-help book that also has a workbook. This hands-on approach will help you to retain some information. I like self-help books written by professional authors. They offer thorough research without any egos or difficult jargon. They just provide clear, step-by-step guidance that is easy to follow. While some may find them a bit dry, if you're genuinely interested in the topic and trying to learn, they are an excellent choice. Of course, I also choose books authored by specialists, tons of them, especially for specific topics. I am just saying not to be biased about the books written by professional writers for beginning-level books. I appreciate the precise and polished writing style of professional authors - after all, it's what they do for a living. Let me put it this way. Have you ever attended a lecture by a brilliant professor? You have the utmost admiration for him or her, but did you really get the lesson? Perhaps the busy professor didn't have much interest in your 101 class, or maybe they used vocabulary and concepts that were beyond your imagination.
Then, you find yourself in a lab, listening to your TA (teacher's assistant), and suddenly you get that "I got it" moment. Consider professional writers as your TAs. They may be able to help you grasp some confusing issues in Your Problem 101.
Disclaimer: Currently, all the books in my store are authored by professional writers. Do you have a teenager? Check out this for yourself or your teen.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPSSJJGR
Hey there! Just wanted to give a quick shoutout and apologize for the messy formatting in the books you purchased. I know most of you are probably family and friends, so I wanted to be upfront about the issues caused by software problems from the company I used. I did my best to proofread them, but after reading each book a million times (or feeling like it), I might have lost focus... maybe even in my dreams. I've unpublished all the paperbacks and will be updating them soon in a few days. Luckily, Amazon has a 30-day return policy, so you can send them back and get your hands on the shiny new and improved versions. Thanks for your support by the way! I rushed this page even though my website isn't ready yet. I told myself, what a lousy first impression this is! I gotta fix this!
Well, now that we are here, Welcome to HSN Publishing! I like decorating my room with books, and now I've got some ebooks and paperbacks in my online store. I originally planned to start with just one book, knowing how much money and time it would require to bring birth to a single book, but patience is not my forte, and my professional writers churned out tons of books while I was working on a single 30,000-word book... that I am still working on. Once I'm done raising these adopted but loving children, I can finally wrap up my own. Sorry if I sound like a zombie, it's been 20 hours without sleep. Ever since this venture, I forget to eat or sleep...
Why do writers and publishers offer their beloved ebooks for just 99 cents? We are not selling them. We are asking nicely to give us a thumbs up, aka, review. Reviews are the currency in the publishing world. You can't survive in the Amazon jungle without a bunch of glowing reviews. I knew this, but it really hit me when I started dabbling in Amazon Ads. Trying to outbid the big players with just 20 or so reviews is like taking on a Goliath. (Well, wrong story. Here, David loses). So, I'll be launching Facebook ads and other campaigns as soon as I get some sleep. I took classes on this stuff and they stressed the importance of getting reviewers on board first, even before publishing, but I said, sleep first.
My books are either in Kindle Unlimited or up for grabs at just 99 cents, but on December 25th, they'll be free as a little gift from me to you. Hopefully, you'll find something you enjoy. But if you do get a book, please do leave a review. I may have some free promotion days before that, and I will post it once I find out!
I'll share my website, work in progress -very soon... the only thing that works on the site is.. yes, you can click the cover and get to Amazon to get the books. Thank goodness. My website engineer is too busy having a blast to finish it.
Thank you.
Welcome to the HSN Blog!
