XPost: alt.comp.os.windows-11   
   From: mariasophia@comprehension.com   
      
   Chris wrote:   
   >>  I'm told that one can even self-publish on Amazon and other sites in   
   >> this Millennium, so you don't need a publishing house.   
   >   
   > The Martian award winning novel which then went on to be a major film was   
   > originally self-published as blog.   
      
   The book I want to write is akin to Unsafe at Any Speed only it would be   
   aimed at Apple and would drop their market cap in half, temporarily.   
      
   It would simply be titled something akin to "The Truth About Apple".   
      
   >>> For example, since Amazon gives us up to $300K/year of free products to   
   >>> test, we "earned" over $100K last year working for Vine to test things.   
   >>>   
   >>> At least that's what Amazon tells Uncle Sam about the free products we get.   
   >>   
   >>  Oh.   
   >>   
   >>  Can *I* get freebies, too?   
   >   
   > Sure, but then you'll be working for one of the biggest companies in the   
   > world for free.   
      
   Chris understands how Amazon Vine works, but technically it's not for free.   
   The way Vine works is that it's an invitation-only selected review group.   
      
   Only the best of reviewers get invited to be on the Amazon Vine team.   
       
      
   Who knows what Amazon robots think are the best of the best though.   
   But we do know that Amazon robots thought I was one of their very best.   
      
   I am one of the best in the world in quite a few things, it turns out.   
   That has always been the case (e.g., I scored 800/800 on my 1960's SATs).   
      
   Even in Silicon Valley circles, I've always been rated best in the world.   
   Which is why Amazon Vine robots selected my reviews for the Vine program.   
      
   Once invited, Amazon Vine gives you up to about $300K per year in product   
   that you choose, but as Chris noted, the freebies count as income to the   
   Feds (although you pay no sales tax and no shipping so it can net out).   
       
      
   And you order whatever it is that you want to order off of Amazon Vine.   
      
   Last year, for example, I ordered a $650 (MSRP) bike hitch for my SUV.   
   During the summer I ordered three 220VAC 1.75HP pool pumps for example   
   but Vine follows the same laws so they have to be variable speed.   
      
   But most of the stuff is small things like garden tools and the like.   
   I got a good set of knives and my wife loves to order the jewelry.   
   The kids tend to order baby clothes and toys for the grandchildren.   
      
   Technically, you have to maintain "control" over the items for 6 months.   
   After that time period, you can do anything you want with what you get.   
      
   Amazon Vine is trying to "lay off" the reviewers though, as the tariffs   
   have apparently drastically cut down on the number of Chinese product.   
      
   So starting on September 1st 2025, Vine implemented a scoring system where   
   if you don't write "excellent" reviews, they fire you within six months.   
       
   Once you're laid off from Amazon Vine, you can never ever return.   
      
   Luckily, I've never written a review that is less than Excellent but my   
   wife struggles as they score us from poor to fair to good to excellent.   
       
      
   Once you are accepted into Vine, then this URL shows that GUI to you.   
       
   --   
   Many people are average but some people are well above average   
   where those people are the ones we can all learn the most from.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)