On Waiting for Public Transit

I'm waiting for the bus, feeling the wind in my hair, hearing the clang of the trax bells, and the whoosh as the trains go by, the banging of the bus stop sign in the wind, gray sky, blue mountains frosted with snow...


There's still a slight breeze, the tracks almost buzz and hum as the most recent train whooshes by. A lone plastic bag, stuck to a tree too high to reach, waves in the wind, a warning to others to avoid its fate. Raindrops patter on the pavement, or make a metallic clicking sound as they land on the steel lengths of track. A young man rushes by, in a hurry to get to the nearer end of the platform, a race against nobody in particular. A woman methodically closes her umbrella, in preparation for the train to come.

Vehicles come and go, leaving their passengers to wait. We are all waiting, together, and yet apart. None of us know where another is headed, but we all travel together. The right train arrives, the one that will stop where we need. Those belonging to this train pile on and find seats, away from each other, because we do not feel kinship with those we have waited with. Spending eight minutes waiting for the same train has not changed the fact that we are strangers.

Once on the train we avoid eye contact; it is rude to be caught "staring." Most of us quickly plug into our musical contraptions, bury ourselves in a book, or gaze out the windows as if trapped in a prison; anything to be left alone. It is strange that as humans we need to feel loved, and yet avoid meaningful conversation, human contact, at all costs. Yet, even as I realize this, I sit alone, music ringing in my ears, writing.


Note: This is a guest post written by Xela. Hopefully more will come.

Am I a stranger in my own life?

Sometimes I feel like a stranger in my own life. From an outside perspective, based on my study of human behavior, my choices make sense. If I saw somebody else in my position, making my choices, I could explain them. When I am told accounts of my life, things I've done that I don't remember, I can accept them. I don't remember that, but it's in character.

But I am not outside my life. I am inside. These thoughts are my thoughts. From my own perspective, from a knowledge of the thoughts inside my head, rather than the events that have happened, my choices do not make sense. Did I choose them? Really? These are the choices I would have made? So I feel like a stranger in my own life.

eRepublik Letter from the Chairman - Week 1

Greetings to all investors in SRM Holdings.

Comrade Arms was officially opened for business on Day 619, after the completion of contract and receiving investment from enough investors to get the ball rolling. One original investor did not complete the contract and submit his investment of 5G, but 2 more shares were subscribed, giving a total of 19 shares outstanding. When possible, 5% of profits will be paid out per share, instead of 4%, to bring all investors to 1.15G return as quickly as possible.
Contributions from MasterGerund made it possible to start Comrade Arms, even though only 19G was invested, and dedicated purchasing of weapons got the ball rolling on the first day.

Operations:
There are a consistent 10 employees, paid reasonable wages, with wellness above 90. MasterGerund is hired each day for 2USD and then paid one weapon after working. He is then fired, so the other 10 employees can work at maximum productivity, and rehired the next day. His first three days, the weapons were withheld, and then paid after Comrade Arms reached comfortable iron levels and had sufficient working capital in place for wages.
Comrade Arms strives to maintain cash at 50USD and iron levels at 200 units, which is enough for about two days operations. Cash above that is withdrawn to SRM Holdings and accumulated for dividend payouts.

Dividend Declaration:
Dividend payouts from week 1 will be 0.15 per share. It is hoped that week 2, which will be paid out on day 631, will be higher, as it will be a full 7 days, whereas week 1 was not a full 7 days.

Market conditions:
The price of weapons in the eUSA has fluctuated somewhat, but most inventory has been sold at a price of 7.60 (after tax price of 7.98.) Remaining inventory on day 624 was sold at 7.52, so that iron levels could be restored and profits withdrawn. This decline in the selling price of weapons is somewhat offset by the decline in the purchasing price of iron, which has decreased over the last four days from 0.89USD per unit (Q4 iron) to 0.81USD per unit (Q3 iron). This is a decline of about 0.40USD per weapon. Wage rates have also declined somewhat in the last four days, and Comrade Arms has been able to get a full staff of highly profitable workers.

Thank you everyone for your support.

MasterGerund
Chairman
SRM Holdings