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my journal: various subjects, opinionating, CW at times

slowdecline48 June 24th, 2022

The title explains itself.

If you're interested in the ramblings of a middle-aged man with chronic conditions who, at times, sees things a little too clearly for his own good, then read on.

Sometimes I get political, but it won't be all the time.

I don't mind comments in general but if you're going to differ with what I write, that's fine--as long as you can explain your position clearly & reasonably. Rants, shouting & general incoherence will be ignored or flagged, depending on the situation. Try to remember that not everyone else in this world holds your beliefs.

Every so often I may post art or snapshots of projects I'm working on.

If you're still interested after reading all the above, great. (I do wonder at how much time you have on your hands, though)

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slowdecline48 OP April 29th

No doubt it is partly my fault, to some extent...no one has a personality that everyone will like without exception. But it must be said: so far, the Pen Pals forum hasn't worked out too well for me.

I wonder if that has also been true for other members here?

If my impression is correct, the threads that have the most staying power in Pen Pals are those made & posted in by the younger folks....maybe it's an age-related thing.

4 replies
slowdecline48 OP April 29th

Errrrgghhh...

🤕 ☠️

3 replies
mytwistedsoul April 30th

@slowdecline48 You ok? 

2 replies
slowdecline48 OP April 30th

Twisty - I had a headache, but thanks for asking. The usual flareup 💩. I get those a lot. Was laying in bed when I typed that noise 😆

1 reply
mytwistedsoul April 30th

@slowdecline48 That sucks. I hope it's better now. Headaches are horrible. Hey type all the noise you need to lol

You know they say swearing eases pain 😁 I'm a proud user of four letter words myself. Sentence enhancers I call them. Cups doesn't approve 🤪

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slowdecline48 OP April 30th

Today was strange...


goldprice-1wk_1714520236.png

Why did gold suddenly drop last week? Today all the stock indexes finished up lower, too...it's kinda weird.


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Platinum hasn't been doing much overall, as usual. But for much of last week the price was rather choppy.

slowdecline48 OP May 1st

Upon further thought, if I believed in karma--which I don't, for a few reasons--I would say that I am the karmic result of more than one previous lifeform simultaneously.

The above might sound strange to someone who believes in karma. How could it be, since a person's life is supposed to be the result of his/her/its conduct in a previous life or time? The way I figure it, the results include my chronic issues. My brain mostly works pretty well aside from its depressive tendencies, so in a previous life it would've been an imperfect but generally virtuous being, like a well-bred, trained & successful dog...maybe a friendly Labrador retriever mix that was great at bringing in downed birds & had protective ability, but sometimes shat in his owner's bedroom. 💩🐶

Now my joints & tendons & intestines, on the other hand, would've all been less than good...such as members of a professional burglary ring. Such people are great at what they do, but that is all you can say for them.

My ears would have to have been a truly bad example in a previous life...like a petty drug dealer who sells to teenagers, or maybe a CEO who not only embezzled from his company but was married & kept mistresses on the side--& knocked up at least two of 'em.

slowdecline48 OP May 2nd

"Self-acquaintance is a rare condition."

- Robert Henri


"Self-acquaintance is not always so desirable."

- me

1 reply
slowdecline48 OP May 2nd

Also, I left the Pen Pals forum about two minutes ago. Am out of patience, since no one else holds up their end.

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slowdecline48 OP May 2nd

"I am convinced that writing is a kind of illness. Who would want to spend his life sitting in a room, putting words on paper? It's a strange occupation. You got to have a great taste for solitude."

- Paul Auster


Auster wrote > 30 novels among other things, & died this past Tuesday of complications from lung cancer. R.I.P.

slowdecline48 OP May 4th

Why is the flying Philadelphia f*** was I mentioned/tagged in a thread which I am unable to access??

1 reply

@slowdecline48 I get that too sometimes. Idk if it's a glitch or what but it's annoying af

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slowdecline48 OP May 4th

"According to analysts, gold investors need more clarity from the Federal Reserve as a rate cut this summer becomes increasingly unlikely.

Investors have been questioning the Federal Reserve's monetary policy since Wednesday after the central bank left interest rates unchanged in a range between 5.25% and 5.50%. The central bank signaled that it wasn't ready to cut rates as inflation remains stubbornly high."

- excerpt from the full article on Kitco, see here


I hate to admit it, but the author is right. The price per oz. has been wiggling at or slightly above $2,300 for a few days now. It's still a bit higher than it was in February, which is good. Am waiting for a market correction to hit all the big stock exchanges...I still think that could happen later this year. Election results will surely have an effect.

slowdecline48 OP May 5th

[CW: honest thoughts about the current war & religion]

Ya know, once in a while I wish I wasn't so unsuited to the R&S forum. (I also wish the forum rules allowed for discussions of substance there. They don't & can't because of the subject matter. If wishes were horses...)

In that forum, the Prayer Request thread is one of the more active ones. I'd really like to post a request for the Israeli hostages Hamas is still holding captive...but I know better than to try. Because I know what would ensue.

There are too many Muslims in the R&S Subcommunity for me to express my honest thoughts there at this time, & probably for the foreseeable future.

The technology has evolved incredibly fast; the current great powers are not those of earlier centuries, but the age-old conflict is still going, just as it has since the early 7th century C.E. As I've said so many times before: everything changes, & everything stays the same.

slowdecline48 OP May 5th

An eon ago, one of the better professors I knew once told me "don't let the world get you down". Easy to say...but sometimes, so hard to do.

slowdecline48 OP May 5th

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My work is never done.