Checking in

1. 81

   Rupert Taylorposted 8 days ago

   Paul, Kenna, Bev, Shauna, Eugene, and all the other regulars here, where are you? Where are your pithy (that's pithy without a lisp) comments? I have nothing much of pertinence to say. Just need to know you are all still breathing.
   
   For weeks, it's been wall-to-wall spam from India and 200-word pieces on obscure stars that somehow make it on to Discover. Even the bellyaching about how dreadful HubPages has become is better than complete silence.
   
   I'm still writing but not with the same frequency or enthusiasm that I once had. Of course, views and revenue are both anemic.
   
   I've just finished reading a lovely book - The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods. Three different narrators in two separate time frames tell the story. Her writing has been called magical realism. I enjoyed it immensely. Not germane to this forum, I suppose, but better than all the "Best digital marketing course in Bangalabad."

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   1. 84

      Kenna McHughposted 8 days agoin reply to this

      I am breathing. I am reading The Hunger Games prequel and enjoying the easy read. I just got a contract to write social media scripts and another to write articles for the world’s top drug rehab. Then, I am doing my regular work for longtime clients. I plan to write a few articles for HP as tax write-offs. I am tired of complaining about HP because it’s worthless. But if anyone from HP/TAG posted an update, the sharks will return, and I’ll be one of them.

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   2. 80

      Patty Inglish, MSposted 8 days agoin reply to this

      Hi Rupert,
      
      I edit from time to time but don't write anything new at HP, mostly because my Internet connection has become very undependable. I'll look for the book you recommend; our local library probably has it.

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   3. 81

      Miebakagh57posted 6 days agoin reply to this

      Hey all I'm alife and kicking on my feeds and the forums.                                    And I login after 2 days when my interest was ablazed.

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      1. 81

         Miebakagh57posted 6 days agoin reply to this

         But the 'Trump Day One...' thread which I frequent regularly is now boreing.                                     When yesterday  I log in, into the hubpages or topical forums, I don't see what interested me. Is Trumpism the only to eat?

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   4. 88

      Genna Eastposted 5 days agoin reply to this

      Still here in the shadows, so to speak.  I was wondering how everyone is handling the request for the survey I saw when I logged into my account this morning:
      
      HubPages Feedback Survey
      Thank you for taking the time to fill out this very simple survey. Your feedback is extremely valuable to us.
      
      How likely would you be to recommend HubPages to a friend?
      Not at all likely. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Extremely likely.
      Additional Comments (optional)

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      1. 82

         bravewarriorposted 5 days agoin reply to this

         I comment "not at all likely" anytime I see that survey pop up.

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      2. 81

         Miebakagh57posted 5 days agoin reply to this

         How come hubpages can be such a GREAT JOKER.

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2. 75

   theraggededgeposted 8 days ago

   Am breathing and HubPages is still a failing pile of something.
   
   Shall look for the book- sounds like my sort of thing. Been listening to lots of audio books lately as I can crochet at the same time.
   
   Bxxxx

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   1. 82

      bravewarriorposted 8 days agoin reply to this

      Hey, Rupert! I'm still here, but nothing legitimate has hit the forums in the past few weeks worth chiming in on.
      
      I've been entering short story contests (5), hanging out with my writers group, Gutsy Great Novelist Writing Studio (in addition to posting and commenting, we get together every other Tuesday via Zoom and talk about where we are in our novel writing process or just life in general. It's nice to see and talk to people I communicate with online face-to-face), listening to podcasts by "The Shit No One Tells You About Writing" and "Friends & Fiction" and sitting in on webinars that relate to writing, publishing, etc. I just pre-ordered Dean Koontz's upcoming novel, "Going Home in the Dark". I'm looking forward to reading it. I'll have to look into "The Lost Bookshop". That sounds interesting, too.
      
      Thanks for checking in, Rupert!

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3. 75

   theraggededgeposted 8 days ago

   Enjoyed your Jeremy Thorpe article, Rupert. I was kid when it was all going on and had no clue what it was about at the time.
   
   Also liked the linked article in the middle ... The 200 Best Places to Have Sex One of yours?

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4. 86

   Jodahposted 8 days ago

   Hi Rupert, yes it has been just “crickets chirping” but I am still around. That book ‘The Lost Bookshop’ certainly sounds worth a read. Life is just crazy busy for me at the moment.

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5. 83

   Vlado - Val Karasposted 8 days ago

   Hey Rupert, old Hubber-buddy, the fact that my political satirical crap is not as visible as 200 word poems that you are mentioning, doesn't make me completely invisible according to views that I'm getting -- but I am not into commenting for a possible taking a risk of being banned, LOL.
   However, Hub Pages may be dying a slow death, but I keep writing just to make its agony a little easier.

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6. 86

   jansharesposted 8 days ago

   Hi Rupert, I'm still breathing but ran out of steam with HP. I barely check in anymore. I'm actually sad about it but I'm still holding on. I think it's the nostalgia for what HP used to be and what it has meant to me. I'll probably keep my account open until the doors close. But I don't write here anymore. Nothing seems to be happening in the forums. The chatter has stopped, so I don't stop in as much. Thanks for talking us up.

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7. 89

   Venkatachari Mposted 7 days ago

   Hi, Rupert! I am a regular visitor here. I keep checking in if any interesting forums are there. Most of the stuff is about Trump and politics, which I am not interested in.
   
   I keep reading books daily for at least 45 minutes or so. My schedule is fixed and keep myself engaged in something or other.

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8. 81

   Rupert Taylorposted 7 days ago

   This is lovely. Chatter about the bits and pieces that make up our daily lives. So much more uplifting than being sales pitched by a personal injury lawyer in Buffalo Droppings, Arkansas.
   
   No Bev "The 200 Best Places to Have Sex" was not one of mine. I was never very adventurous in the field of endeavour. Also, glad you enjoyed the Jeremy Thorpe piece. You have joined the massive crowd of 19 people who have viewed it in its five-week existence.
   
   Patty - I have a friend who put The Lost Bookshop on hold at here library. She is something like 37th in line. I bought it to avoid the queue.

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   1. 80

      Patty Inglish, MSposted 7 days agoin reply to this

      Wow! I reserved it here with no waiting line at all. People here in Central Ohio must not know about it. After reading reviews I think I'll purchase it as well.

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   2. 98

      DrMark1961posted 6 days agoin reply to this

      I enjoy passing by here every day and hearing from all of you too. I agree it has been way too quiet lately.
      There are no bookstores where I live, and when I see the top 100 on a site like Pirate Bay I find nothing that interests me as I am not Gen Z.I just downloaded two Norman Mailer books this week. I have read Ancient Evenings but it has been almost 40 years so it is almost like finding something new. I always wondered if there was going to be any benefits to this getting old sh**!!!

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9. 66

   eugbugposted 7 days ago

   Still alive and kicking. Been busy in the garden. Not much point discussing Hubpages anymore though, because nothing positive is likely to happen from now on. Thanks for your concern Rupert.

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10. 83

    Brenda Arledgeposted 7 days ago

    I'm here, but the last few times i checked in there was nothing but Spam running the feed... despite the fact I had sent a message to the team before then about spam.
    
    Its rough when we cannot talk.
    
    Ive been doing a few new things.  Trying my hand at childrens stories.

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    1. 81

       Miebakagh57posted 5 days agoin reply to this

       Make the stories funny and comical around animals!

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11. 75

    theraggededgeposted 7 days ago

    I found that I'd purchased The Lost Bookshop in 2023 on Kindle. I don't think I read it then so that'll be something nice to do on this beautiful lazy Sunday. Yesterday was ultra-busy so today, I will do nothing.
    
    Update: And, and... it's on Spotify as an audiobook so, yay, I can crochet at the same time as 'reading' it. A wondrous afternoon on the dappled shady patio awaits.

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12. 89

    Venkatachari Mposted 6 days ago

    How come others see spam, but not me?
    
    I do witness spam followers, but no spam in my feed.

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13. 81

    Rupert Taylorposted 6 days ago

    Bev. Linda, my lovely wife of 51 years, says thank you. She loves to crochet and to read. She never thought of combining the two - hearing a yarn while working the yarn. Sorry.

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    1. 75

       theraggededgeposted 6 days agoin reply to this

       I love it. I've listened to so many books - there are tons on YouTube... it makes the Premium subscription worth every penny.

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14. 81

    Rupert Taylorposted 4 days ago

    Criminy, the stupid survey is back. Let's take Shauna's "not at all likely" to the next level creatively.
    
    Make a similar statement but without using cliches such as "Until Hell freezes over."
    
    Here's my offering "Not until the Toronto Maple Leafs win the Stanley Cup."
    
    (If, like me, you have no interest in ice hockey, let me explain that the team has not won the trophy in 58 years. I live on the fringe of "Leaf nation" and so cannot avoid the hysteria followed by deep depression that grips the region every spring.)
    
    I'm sure fellow Hubbers can do better.

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    1. 75

       theraggededgeposted 4 days agoin reply to this

       I'm sure they can but I haven't got two brain cells to rub together today

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    2. 82

       bravewarriorposted 4 days agoin reply to this

       Not until HP stops yanking the chain they've attached to authors' proverbial tails.

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       1. 80

          Patty Inglish, MSposted 4 days agoin reply to this

          +++ Good one

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          1. 80

             Patty Inglish, MSposted 4 days agoin reply to this

             Gee, I never received the survey this time.

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             1. 88

                Genna Eastposted 4 days agoin reply to this

                You are lucky Patty.  Mine popped up when I logged into my account/stats page, as a precursor-header.  Odd, but not surprising.  Still muddling over a creative and humorous comment I can add in the comments field, such as "Let me check in with AI and get back to you." :-)

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             2. 81

                Miebakagh57posted 2 days agoin reply to this

                Not I either. Is  Hubpages selective?

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       2. 88

          Genna Eastposted 4 days agoin reply to this

          Lol, Shauna...that one made my day. :-) I agree with Patti -- Good one!

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          1. 80

             Patty Inglish, MSposted 4 days agoin reply to this

             AI -- LOL.

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    3. 84

       Kenna McHughposted 4 days agoin reply to this

       I'll be more pragmatic. Paul posts on HP admits TAG has been pilfering writers' hard-earned income. The next payout will pay all writers what they should have been paid. Paul will also inform us that comments are returning, and ad placements will change for better reading pleasure.

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       1. 82

          bravewarriorposted 4 days agoin reply to this

          When pigs fly, Kenna!

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          1. 84

             Kenna McHughposted 4 days agoin reply to this

             Are you calling Paul and HP/TAG staff pigs?

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             1. 82

                bravewarriorposted 4 days agoin reply to this

                It's all up to reader interpretation, Kenna. Interesting that you see it that way! Hahahahaha!

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                1. 84

                   Kenna McHughposted 4 days agoin reply to this

                   Hahahahaha!

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15. 82

    Carb Divaposted 4 days ago

    Not until the Seattle Mariners win the World Series (or even make an appearance).

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16. 93

    AdeleCosgroveBrayposted 2 days ago

    Hi Rupert, and everyone else who's still here. As you can all see by my having replied to this thread, I'm still here - but only just. I've not posted anything new on HP for ages, as I truly can't see the point anymore. We've all covered the same ground already, too many times, about how the site's gone into a freefall downwards spin, and there's nothing new to say in that regards. Income from HP has gone from being a very worthwhile side-line to a total waste of time.
    
    Alas, poor Hubpages, we knew you well...!

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    1. 81

       Miebakagh57posted 2 days agoin reply to this

       Amen.

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17. 67

    PaulGoodman67posted 106 minutes ago

    Rupert- I’ve been doing a world tour of Yorkshire(!) It’s been lovely weather here in the North of England, three weeks of nonstop sunshine.
    
    My wife and I are returning the hire car and heading back to the US of A in a few days, though.

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