Re my observations about Richmond, VA, in the June 9 issue… 

“Richmond is one of our favorite cities! Things we love about it are the people, the river, the wonderful world-class art museum (of course), central location (between DC, the mountains, and the beach), four seasons (but a mild winter), the natural beauty, and that it’s just big enough to have real city stuff, but not so big that it has big city congestion and other problems.” – DD

“I am a 3rd generation Richmonder and lived there for many years…. I have always found race relations to be cordial for the most part, barring the occasional Radical from out of town stopping by to stir things up. As for the ‘Southern Hospitality’ you experienced, I think you will find it throughout the South. I always do. But then again, I am a native of Richmond and may be carrying it around with me!

“I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip to Richmond! Y’all come back now, ya hear!” – KM

From KK re my review of Holy Spider in the June 2 issue: 

“Thank you for your spot-on recommendation of the film Holy Spider. When I mentioned it to my wife, her intense entomophobia made her cringe. After I read her your critique, she agreed to watch, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. We prefer foreign films as well, but the thought of an Iranian film did not hold much appeal. I was happily surprised to find out afterward that it is a Danish-Swedish-German-French co-production!”

My Response: I’m glad you both enjoyed the movie. I remember watching it and thinking, “How could this have been produced in Iran?” As it turns out, it wasn’t even shot in Iran. It was done in Jordan.

The director, whom I’d never heard of, is apparently known for making movies that are problematic and sometimes misunderstood. Click here for a good piece on that.

From KD re my book Seven Years to Seven Figures: 

“In the middle of 2020, I was broke, working my 9-5 job, and had no hope for the future. I was stuck in a hotel with COVID when I picked up a small green book off the lobby library shelf. It was called Seven Years to Seven Figures. Mind you, I don’t normally read for fun and was honestly looking to kill time….

“That book completely changed my life. When I opened it, I was close to $50,000 in debt, living paycheck to paycheck. It’s been only three years and I now have zero debt, with assets under management at around $1.2 to $1.8 million. I am forever grateful. I often recommend the book as my number one read to all my friends and family that see how drastically my life has turned around.”

From JT, a copywriter, re the availability of my books: 

“Hi Mark and team. I loved Great Leads and recently started poking around at your other books. Wondering how I can get a copy of Words That Work: 117 Ways to Speak More Powerfully.

“Thanks for your help.”

My Response: Most of my books are available on Amazon. (Go to “My Books” on the MarkFord.net website for a complete list.) If you’d like a copy of any of them that are not available on Amazon (including Words That Work, Making the Most of Your Time, and Wealth Building for Freelancers):

* Send a check for $10 (for each book) to cover shipping and postage.

* Make the check payable to Cap & Bells Press, LLC. (No cash, please.)

* Include your name and mailing address and mail it to:

Cap & Bells Press

Attn: GKoo

235 NE 4th Ave., Suite 101

Delray Beach, FL 33483

From BJ re my review in the May 30 issue of Orson Welles’s production of The Trial: 

“After reading your review, I watched it. I’m a fan of Welles but had never seen this movie. I agree with you. It was so good in so many ways.”

From AS re my comments in the June 2 issue about companies selling “shares” of museum-quality art: 

“The art deal for fractionalized ownership sounds more like ‘fictionalized” ownership.”

 From BI, re the P.S. in the May 30 issue: 

 “Loved the house of cards video!”

My Response: Thanks, BI. I can’t be sure how my journal piece will come off in each issue, so I try to put something in the P.S. that will at least amuse or delight.

From AS, re my comments about the rear-naked choke hold in the May 26 issue: 

“In all the media reports about the subway debacle I saw, there was no physical contact, that is until the ex-marine used the choke hold.

“They taught that choke hold to us in the Army. There was no explanation in terms of different levels of damage it might cause. That’s because they were teaching us to kill. Yes, it is quite lethal.”

From JC, re self-defense for daughters (and sisters and mothers): 

“I know you have a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I also know that you had your boys learn it when they were young. I have a nine-year-old daughter. If you had a daughter, what martial art or self-defense system would you recommend?”

My Response: If I had a daughter, I’d want her to become proficient in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. First, because it’s a great and improving sport. Second, because it is an extremely efficient way to be in top shape. And third, because it is the only self-defense system that makes any sense for girls and women.

It’s more effective for women than any other form of grappling and any form of striking, including boxing, kickboxing, Mui Thai, etc. Regardless of how effective a woman becomes in those other martial arts, she will have little chance of defending herself against a larger, stronger man. But Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was created specifically to enable smaller weaker fighters to defeat larger stronger ones by using leverage and technique.

I’m not saying that a woman that is a black belt in BJJ can defeat all men that don’t know BJJ. I’m saying that if she is really good at it, she has a chance – a small chance, but a real chance – against an aggressive and determined male attacker.

To give you an idea of the disadvantage women have in fighting, take a look at this clip. The woman is a brown belt (second-highest level). The man is a blue belt (second-lowest level). She does well in this exchange. But if it was an all-out fight with striking, it’s highly unlikely she would survive.

From SC, re “Chat-GPT as Mark Ford” in the May 12 issue: 

“I loved it. But to me, the only thing that I might call ‘disturbing’ was the hint of cynicism I’m seeing in some of your writing the last year or so.

“Yes, those ‘keys to living’ are clichés and not terribly original. But not at all ‘drivel.’ I’ll tell you what I did right after I read it. I copied it and e-mailed it to my two oldest grandchildren.

“I always considered your writing on social and political issues to be very balanced. Lately, I see a little more despair, frustration… even anger. I respectfully suggest some clear-eyed optimism. By that, I don’t mean a sniveling, trite infusion of ‘happy talk’ or a denial that there is much corruption, greed & fraud in the world. I mean a recognition that there is more good than bad, that trust is better than suspicion, and hope is better than despair.”

My Response: Thanks for your comments, SC.

I’m sure I have become more frustrated and despairing of late. But isn’t that what one should do in one’s seventies?

It’s said, as you know, that if you are young and conservative, you have no heart, and if you are older and liberal, you have no brain.

You suggest that I should be more fair-minded. I do try, especially with topical issues, because my instinct is often to rail. It’s as if, as I get closer to my use-by date, I don’t feel I have the time to wait while everyone gradually comes to realize that I was right all along!

I also try to remember that the world won’t self-implode if all its problems aren’t solved before I shuffle off the old coil.

In the article you are responding to, I was “excited” to discover that someone had used Chat-GPT to create an AI version of an essay I might write about how to live a rich life. In fact, I wrote dozens of essays on the subject. A book, too. I was disappointed to see that all my cleverness was boiled down to a handful of truisms that could be gleaned from anyone.

Perhaps that’s what Chat-GPT did. Perhaps it had no access to my brilliant ideas. Perhaps the poor thing had to limit itself to the millions of things other people have said on the subject. In that case, I forgive it!

PS: I hope the advice, bland as it was, entertained your grandkids!

From MC, after a visit to Paradise Palms Botanical & Sculpture Gardens: 

“Paradise Palms is absolutely delightful. Rick was a perfect host and guide as he shuttled my wife and me around the entire property in a golf cart. He was very knowledgeable about the various palm trees and plants throughout and imparted that knowledge to us. We even snapped a cute picture of a racoon up in a palm tree. After that, we enjoyed strolling around the park ourselves. I must say we are very envious of his position as the property manager of PPB&SG. If any of your readers are ever in South Florida, highly recommended that they make time to come see and enjoy.”

My Response: Thanks for the recommendation, MC!

The gardens are not yet fully open, but private tours are available by appointment Monday, Thursday, and Saturday between noon and 2:00 pm. Though there is no formal admission fee, visitors are asked to make a donation to cover the cost of the tour guide.

For more information about the gardens or to schedule a private tour or event, email Giovanna Koo: giovanna@palimi.net.

From JJ, re “China Is Winning This Battle Too!” in the May 9 issue: 

“Here in Ecuador (and likely other countries), China lends hundreds of millions of dollars for infrastructure projects, to be paid back in oil.

“Ecuador is entirely self-sufficient in electricity thanks to the construction of hydroelectric dams with Chinese money. Here’s the bad news though. China required that all construction be done by Chinese companies, using Chinese labor. So no Ecuadorians benefited, except for purchases.

“One dam was so poorly built, it developed a crack almost a foot wide. Ecuador insisted that the company that built it fix it. They refused. Ecuador sued the company, but since it was long done…

“So the dam was useless for years. I don’t know if it’s ever been fixed…”

My Response: As I’m sure you know, JJ, that quid-pro-quo system is hardly unique to China. It’s standard for many countries that give foreign aid to Africa, South America, and elsewhere. It’s standard policy for USAID, too.

But my point wasn’t that the Chinese do a better job in building than the US or other countries. It was that they seem to have been doing a better job on the diplomatic side, in terms of their reputation with the countries they aid. Despite the trillions of dollars that the US has given in foreign aid over the decades, it has not been able to shake off its widespread reputation as the “evil empire.”

From CM re my May 5 piece about charitable giving: 

“I really enjoy your e-letters. They are both informative and entertaining. Your article on charity was outstanding, and so were the links! Since you quoted the Torah, a subject I’m familiar with, I hope it’s okay if I share some insight.

“‘The highest form of giving charity is giving anonymously’ is not from the Torah. The Torah doesn’t have a hierarchy of giving charity or ‘tzedakah’ – which comes from the root word of ‘tzedek,’ which translates to ‘justice.’

“Maimonides does list a hierarchy of tzedakah in his code of Jewish law.

“Giving anonymously is number two and number three out of eight. Number one is preventing someone from needing tzedakah… such as finding someone a job, partnering with them in business, etc.

“I believe it’s not so much to prevent them from becoming a burden on the community. It’s more so that they don’t suffer a loss of dignity.”

My Response: Thank you for the correction, CM! (I knew I should have looked that up!)

From SA: 

“You said: ‘I have an abiding interest in charitable giving. Not because I think it is virtuous, but because I see it as a contributing factor to being a happy person.’ So honest.

“I have always known that about myself but never mentioned it to anyone, because I felt I was supposed to feel altruistic, when instead I felt happy. Therefore, my being charitable made me a selfish man. Now, I feel I can openly admit it, while still being charitable. So what if I’m selfish.”

Re the April 25 issue: 

“Loved your piece about business/economic privilege! It’s so true!” – SM

“Your suggestion – ‘Unless you have run a successful business for at least five years, don’t talk. Just listen.’ – I can definitely see that on a t-shirt. Brilliant!” – RC

“Your essay on ‘The End of Unbiased Reporting’ was insightful. And correct. In the old days, you could argue that a newspaper or news channel was biased. But today, it goes way beyond bias. It’s competing fiction factories!” – LS