From: Man@the.keyboard   
      
   On Fri, 6 Feb 2026 21:14:48 -0000 (UTC), Chris    
   wrote:   
      
   >John  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.   
   >   
   >>>   
   >>> 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.   
      
    "Working"?   
      
    Nope.   
      
    I stopped doing that when the "Austerity Crisis" rolled over me, They   
   decided I was Redundant and I got a shot at a small income for life   
   without any effort on my part.   
      
    It's not much but it is sufficient to make Life tolerable.   
      
    And it's more than hundreds of millions of others have.   
      
    So, I'll pass on the freebies, thanks, and simply continue to live   
   semi-contentedly on noodles, ramen and tea.   
      
                                                      J.   
      
      
      
   >   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)