Nothing shocks me anymore — thanks to these 4 jaw-dropping, brain-melting, soul-shaking incidents.
The last few days of my writer/editor life on Medium have felt like a wild cocktail of drama, disaster, and delirium.
As a filmmaker, I live for emotional chaos, intellectual mayhem, and spiritual enlightenment, but this? This was the next level for my explosive headline.
Let me walk you through the madness. Buckle up, because it’s a rollercoaster, and the seat belts are optional.
Bombshell #1: Britni’s Firestarter 3 Days Ago
While I was already reeling from news about the California fires, a storyteller named Britni Pepper casually lobbed a grenade on Substack: “Medium is on fire.” My heart skipped a beat. Not the good kind.
A Medium American Disaster
Time to put the ashes on the shelf. Here’s what’s happened, and here’s how to move forwardopen.substack.com
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Britni’s story revealed that my mentor, Dr Mehmet Yildiz, had said goodbye to Medium. Oh may freaking God!
This Is My Last Story on Medium Until the Algorithm Is Fairly Adjusted
Publishing on ILLUMINATION publications will be paused until this unfair issue for authentic writers finds an amicable…medium.com
Dr. Yildiz! The rock, the legend, the Gandalf of our writing fellowship! Gone? I felt like Frodo watching Gandalf fall into the abyss.
Bombshell #2: Toni’s Deathbed Confession
Still clutching my metaphorical pearls, a friend DM’d me a LinkedIn link. It was from Tony, Medium’s CEO, boldly stating that Medium was almost dead. Almost. Dead.
I froze mid-scroll. My life flashed before my eyes — every article, every comment, every penny I’d earned.
Was I unknowingly writing for a ghost platform? Was I the Sixth Sense kid whispering, “I see dead platforms”?
Bombshell #3: Liberty’s Unlimited Leave Shockwave
And just when I thought I’d processed enough drama to last a lifetime, Liberty — yes, Liberty Forrest! — dropped her own bombshell.
Almost No Money for Us, but There’s This Medium Job Posting…
You might need a couple shots of whiskey before you check the link…medium.com
She sent a story to ILLUMINATION revealing something so outrageous, it might as well have been a plot twist from Succession.
Apparently, Medium is hiring product managers with unlimited paid leave.
Unlimited!
Does this mean they get to sip margaritas on a beach while cashing fat paychecks? Do they even need to show up?
Is this how Ariel and Buster left us — to live the dream?
My brain nearly short-circuited.
Bombshell #4: $26 from the Algorithm Gods
Finally, just when I thought the shocks were over, the platform hit me with a plot twist worthy of Black Mirror.
I checked my stats, and lo and behold, Medium randomly dropped $26 into my account.
Was it a glitch? A benevolent gesture? A tax hold refund?
The internet was divided, but my inner Elon Musk said, “Take the money and build your empire.”
Yesterday, I felt like Jeff Bezos.
Yay! Medium Is Not Dead as I Jumped from 1 Cent to 5 Cents Club Today!
I’m the Jeff Bezos of Medium Now, So I Will Continue Writing Daily 😆medium.com
Today, I’m Elon Musk.
Tomorrow?
Who knows — maybe I’ll be Oprah handing out stories like, “You get a cent! And you get a cent!”
It’s got all the makings of an Oscar-worthy production. (Fun fact: I know a thing or two about Oscars. Medium even boosted one of my stories about them back in the golden days.)
A Movie Makers Oscar Predictions
My favorite picture nominees for the 2024 Academy Awards with the analysis of other critics too.medium.com
Let’s set this in 2026 when Medium will either be thriving or… well, let’s keep it optimistic.
No Dull Moments on This Platform
Medium might be recovering, imploding, or secretly plotting world domination — I can’t say for sure.
But one thing’s certain: life here is never dull.
Hold onto your seats — even our 75+ years old wise, grey-haired science and health veterans, like Dr Mike Broadly, DHSc, are now spilling the tea on political scandals and celebrity drama like they’re auditioning for a Hollywood gossip column!
Here’s How Trump Entertains and Hooks His Audience on X
While America grapples with economic crises and millions face mounting challenges, the new president seems preoccupied…medium.com
Even awesome 65 year old Lawson Wallace started writing dramatic pieces like this:
The Poignant Frustrations Arising from Medium’s Mismanagement of Authentic Writers
What are they thinking, and why are they putting writers in this undesirable situation with no transparency?medium.com
Medium isn’t dead — it’s just recovering, and every story you publish is another heartbeat keeping it going.
Cheers to Medium’s comeback and to everyone who refuses to give up on it. And hey, maybe my news story will hit the legendary 10 Cents Club. For me to achieve it you need to read my story at least 30 seconds.
Until then, I am savoring this sweet success today while playing my favourite games.
How’s your day been as a writer and reader?
Are you thriving, surviving, or questioning your life choices like me?
Let’s talk.
Maybe we can turn all this chaos into a blockbuster script together.
I will resume my Look What Aiden Found Series!
Look What Aiden Found Today — Episode #278
Favorite stories I read plus community-nominated pieces tailored for avid readers of ILLUMINATION Publications on…medium.com
I am also a YouTuber.
Here is my new video for the introduction of From Zero to Substack Hero — Level 4 on YouTube:
/media/e9a2e19260b86e68bbbb2080c113219dVideo is hosted on ILLUMINATION Substack Mastery YouTube Channel
Thank you for watching it, sharing it, and subscribing to our YouTube channel. You are welcome to join our channel as a contributor. Please send your request via this registration portal adding your YouTube email to make you a manager for uploading your videos.
Do You Want to Go from ZERO to a Substack HERO in 2025?
Do You Want to Go from ZERO to a Substack HERO in 2025?
I’ve a great educational solution for freelance writers to take them a powerful and joyful journey in the new year.medium.com
As a New Year gift, I offered discounted prices on Udemy to my Medium and Substack friends. You can use these vouchers if you are interested in enrol these courses.
All funds earned from these courses will go to the Substack Mastery Boost Pilot program which we initiated in November 2024 which is planned to take until December 2025. Then in 2026 it will be a low cost education and marketing service for freelance writers.
Mike Broadly, DHSc beautifully articulated the value of the Substack Mastery Boost Pilot in a recent story.
We Are Building a Creative Support Path for Freelance Writers in 2025
We will offer customized services based on the needs of creators, freelancers, and content entrepreneurs with…medium.com
Here is a lighthearted New Year goals story for me that can inspire and smile you today.
My Quirky Goals for 2025
Because “World Domination” Felt a Bit Ambitiousmedium.com
If you are a new reader, check out some of my most loved stories from different topics from my writing collection on this platform.
Gaming, Fun, and Humor: The Lifelines That Rescued Me From Social Media’s Grip on My Life
AI Can Now Create Photorealistic Videos From Just a Text Prompt
Finding Comfort in Blocks: How Minecraft Eased My First Time Loneliness and Intense Grief at 17
Get an email whenever Aiden (Illumination Gaming) publishes.
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This newsletter is to inform and inspire my readers. Click to read Technology, Gaming, Movies, and Social Media, by…aidenmc.substack.com
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