How You're Getting Robbed By the Sugar Racket

KEN KORCZAK:

The history of sugar production is violent, dreary and dismal. There are endless tales of slavery, greed, death, environmental destruction and a lot of rotten teeth along the way.

Sure much has changes but the sugar industry of America today is still a disgrace. It's robbing the American taxpayer blind. Billions of dollars are being siphoned out of the U.S Treasury and being given over to a few wealthy industrialists and an all-knew class of wealthy sugar beet farmers.

Here in my neck of the woods we have American Crystal Sugar, the biggest sugar processor in the nation. It commands about 15 percent of the U.S. Market

Crystal Sugar made headline here recently by defaulting on a $71.2 million government loan -- and the company CEO said "that was the plan from the beginning."

See my story here: THE SUGAR RACKET

FIND THE BEST SEO WRITER HERE: BEST SEO WRITER

Send Ken an email: ken.korczak@gmail.com

Follow @KenKorczak

She Makes $500 a Month on Amazon Mechanical Turk

KEN KORCZAK:

Is it the new "American Bangladesh" or a godsend for struggling U.S. citizens who need extra cash to supplement their incomes?

I'm talking about crowdsourcing jobs. Today, if you have a computer and an Internet connection you can jump online to anyone of dozens of sites and starting "working tasks" for pennies apiece. I recently interviewed a woman living on a health disability and welfare. She thinks the $500 a month she earns on Amazon Mechanical Turk is "a lifesaver."

It makes me wonder. This woman works about 35 hours a weeks, and in a "good month" nails down $500. By my math that works out to a little better than $3 an hour -- but she often falls short of her goal. At times, she figures she is pulling down $1 to $2 an hour.

The question is: Is this what the American Dream has come to -- when earning $1 to $3 an hour is considered "a great thing"? Some people would say, "She's just allowing herself to think like a poor person." But others would say: "It's the best situation she can get into right now."

Read my story; tell me what you think: MY LIFE AS AN M-TURK WORKER

FIND THE BEST SEO WRITER HERE: BEST SEO WRITER

Follow @KenKorczak

It It Really a Secret?

KEN KORCZAK:

If you want to sell a lot of books, certain words in the title help you along. Among the most powerful two title words are "How To". Another good one is "secret." The Secrets of Weight Loss Revealed! The Secret Money-Earning System! The Secrets of a Happy Marriage!

In fact, I have published my own book with the word "secret" in the title: SECRETS OF A GRANT WRITER.

And let's not forget that recent mega-bestseller: "The Secret"! That book had a really good run -- that is, until everyone found out that "The Secret" did not work. Millions of readers separated from their cash by book publishers realized that simply materializing piles of gold, cash and a new Mercedes purely with mind and visualization power isn't quite so easy after all.

Anyway, I digress. I have just completed my reading and review of another book that promises to reveal a secret -- The Secret of Metaphysical Science by Dr. Andrea Scarsi. See my review here: SECRET SCIENCE

FIND THE BEST SEO WRITER HERE: BEST SEO WRITER

Follow @KenKorczak

Frederik Pohl: Good-Bye to Another Science Fiction Legend

KEN KORCZAK:

The great Frederik Pohl has died. He was 93. Pohl probably deserved his title of "Science Fiction Grand Master" more than any other of the genre. That's because he was far more than just a writer of stellar science fiction; he was an extremely influential editor, but even before that, Pohl was a "super fan."

Pohl was intimately involved in the early development of the "science fiction scene" among the pulp publishing industry centered in New York City. He formed clubs, developed conventions, published obscure newsletters and fanzines -- he did it all. He was immersed within and passionate about science fiction. Science fiction was his life.

As a result, Pohl probably knew everyone there was to know in the business, and not just the great writers and editors. It would be difficult to name any other man who had a greater effect on the way science fiction came to be what it was, and what it is today. I believe Pohl's influence was even greater than editor John W. Campbell.

I still remember years ago reading the book considered Pohl's masterpiece -- Gateway -- and being swept away by this marvelous and innovative piece of fiction. The same goes for another of his books, JEM. It's a masterful work.

I also had a chance to meet Pohl once at the World Science Fiction Convention in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Imagine my delight! The year was 1994. I was strolling down a hall of the convention center. Coming toward me from the other direction I espy two very old men -- one with a full head of ashy gray hair. The other guy was shiny bald with a fringe of snow white. They looked like a couple of escapees from a nursing home -- yet there was a bounce in their step, a gleam in their eyes -- they looked spry and happy! An aura of enthusiasm surrounded them.

I immediately recognized the bald man with a pronounced limp as Frederik Pohl. I was starstruck! I didn't recognize the geezer who was walking beside him, but as they come closer, I saw they were wearing name tags. The tag of Pohl's companion identified him as none other than Hal Clement! Wow! Clement was the 17th man to earn the honor of being named Science Fiction Grand Master. His real name was Harry Stubbs.

Pohl's death comes just a few months after that of another science fiction mega-great, Jack Vance, who died at age 96. See my review of Vance's last book, his autobiography here: JACK VANCE.

Also, if you want to listen in on a fascinating radio interview featuring both Pohl and Vance, check this out: POHL-VANCE RADIO CHAT.

FIND THE BEST SEO WRITER HERE: BEST SEO WRITER

Follow @KenKorczak

Harness Your Dreams to Make Money

KEN KORCZAK:

Perhaps everyone dreams of getting rich, but can the actual dreams you experience at night make you rich -- for real? The answer is clearly yes.

History is littered with examples of fantastic breakthroughs and new inventions that came to people in dreams. The modern sewing machine, the invention of insulin for diabetes, even the oil fields beneath the sands of Kuwait -- that's right -- they all are the result of dreams.

The questions is, can you take an active part? Can you take proactive action to harness the power of your dreams? Are their steps or methods that will dramatically increase your chances of having a "dream idea" that will make you rich? Read my article here: DREAM AND GROW RICH

FIND THE BEST SEO WRITER HERE: BEST SEO WRITER

Follow @KenKorczak

Yes, I have a Facebook "Fan Site"

KEN KORCZAK:

Sure, I have both a Facebook page and a Facebook "fan page." Everyone has to be in the social media game, after all.

My fan page is called "The Nothing Chamber," and if you want to know what that's all about, well, it's a long story, and I won't go into it here. Let's just say there is a lot of "cosmic issues' discussed on my site, which is also a sort of nonaggresive "stealth" way to bring some attention to my ebooks.

Anyway -- why not pay a visit? -- and maybe even give me a "like."

CLICK HERE FOR:THE NOTHING CHAMBER

FIND THE BEST SEO WRITER HERE: BEST SEO WRITER

Follow @KenKorczak