[The Random Factor #42] I love you

Greetings brothers & sisters of Earth,

Wow. This is harder than I remember. I
was hoping to get this to you earlier, but
even the list software wouldn't work.

As most of you know, The Random Factor
was out of commission during the Writer's
Guild of America (WGA) strike.

For those interested, you can read more
about that and how it relates to my
"ambitionz az a writer" if you follow this link

So, now that stressed-out negotiators and mailing
list software troubleshooters have prevailed we
can all go back to... to... well, I hope it was good.

But, first, I want you to know.

I love you.

And, I want you to be safe.

So, here's two highly recommended, and FREE,
protection programs to help keep your computer
and you from battling Internet VD.

The first, SpyBot, is anti-spyware, the other
AVG is anti-virus. They are among the best, if
not the best, tools Microsoft Windows users
can use. That includes well-known and non-free
heavyweights like Norton & McAffee Anti-Virus

Mac users... smiling, aren't you. Well,
here's a tip, the most up-to-date source of
OSX software is at Version Tracker.

Windows users, without further ado.

SpyBot Search & Destroy anti-spyware

There is other good anti-spyware, like Spyware
Blaster, & Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition, but
you only need one.

AVG Free edition anti-virus:

Windows Defender, which is made by Microsoft,
is also another highly recommended free option.

If you're willing to shell out $40 Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0
is the best anti-virus software available according to
Consumer research

By running these applications you might find that some of
your software programs are mysteriously disabled.

That's because it had some secrets.

Even RealPlayer, one-time pioneer, has been called out for
it's use of spyware. Check this link to get spyware-free
RealPlayer.

The quarantine option lets you store suspect files in a safe
place in case you notice software that is no longer working.

You can also re-install software if it's disabled, and you need it.

I hope this helps some of you,

love and light,

SG

p.s. And when you're done, windows users, here's the
windows software link:

[The Random Factor #42a] The WGA Strikes Back

Greetings brothers & sisters of Earth,

As most subscribers know, The Random Factor
was out of commission during the Writer's
Guild of America (WGA) strike.

Now, it is true, I'm not actually a member of
the WGA and clearly I'm not getting any
professional help with The Random Factor, or
otherwise.

And, that's what makes this so difficult.

Long ago I heard this quote

"If you want to be a knight, act like a knight."

That mind-over-matter, decide-your-own-reality
sort of attitude really resonated with me.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to
be a knight.

Instead, I write.

More thoughts on being a knight


Now, imagine my dismay when I discovered some
time ago that the WGA does not consider writing
to be the sole condition for membership.

I can't find it, but I know somebody worthwhile
once said something along the lines of,

"To be a writer one need only write."

Oh semantics, how you soothe.

Unfortunately, the WGA has a more strict
criteria, 24 "units" and $2,500.

Sure, 2,500 people will make their way to
www.Some-Guy.com and www.RandomFacts.org
this very day and they will spend 125 hours
viewing around 15,000 pages of gems like ...

----------------------------------------
"Why do we create the things we create?"

"To be fulfilled."

"Is it fulfilling us?"

"No."

"Are we still chasing it?"

"Yes."

Prem Rawat, Adi Magazine
----------------------------------------

That's nearly one million visitors, 42,000 hours,
and 26 million "hits" a year exploring riddles
and facts and quotes, oh my!

But, these sites clearly were not intended to
be a place for my writing. Which is why I
decided to kick it up a notch with this
newsletter.

However, even while the WGA fought for a piece
of online revenue, receiving millions of web
visitors and thousands of subscribers does
not count as even 1 "unit" towards memebership
apparently as it's not for movies, radio, or
television... or paid. Hey, that just makes it
more challenging!

I guess I have to accept that this medium, while
clearly the future of entertainment, is too easy.
8% of people blog, which makes for at
least 10% of the population who write online.

Tough competition... but, has The Random
Factor been worth reading?

I decided to take a poll.

I guess I thought if I wrote a great newsletter
I'd get published or something. What a dreamer
I am. It occurs to me now I could write a hundred
newsletters, some even good, and not get a lick of
credibility amongst what I understand is a reputable
affiliation of real writers with actual writing jobs.

Now that would be sweet.

And so it was when it dawned on me the first day
of the strike... I've been acting like a writer
this whole time, surely I should take the logical
next step and start acting like a real writer!

Apparently, real writers write books and
screenplays too. It's not as easy as
striking, in fact it's very difficult.

It won't make me happy, but it would seem to
be the natural progression.

I truly appreciate your support, you have
given me confidence to try my best to ramp it
up a notch.


SG

[A Random Factor #41] Hope Agreement

Hello 2008, may you experience many good wishes to come true!

Too bad is still news how my oh my writers still not showing up to work to word Random Factor. Hope writer's guild of America happy soon and all be happy.

Some guy so far solidarity because wanting to great screenwriter very much... also a writer not so well by self need help badly for good stuff.

Good luck with writers back soon so until next time with hope this not make writers unhappy because we love them and need them.

SG