#Home Security in the Philippines

[darrenwalleyconsultancy]

Home Security Philippines

Photo by cliff1126 Your Home security Philippines is another big subject you need to consider about your house design. I covered a thought process in the previous articles regarding buying or building a house in the Philippines. Then I covered why building your home in the Philippines needs a good architect and contractor if you want value for money. I mentioned in my previous articles that I…

[afloweroutofstone]

Some of the world’s lowest-income and most aid-dependent nations are paying millions to lobbyists with ties to US President Donald Trump as the country halts foreign assistance, a new Global Witness investigation has found.

Many of these countries are home to one or more armed conflicts and are offering access to valuable natural resources, including minerals or other strategic assets, in exchange for humanitarian or military support.

Since the US election in November 2024, 17 of the world’s Least Developed Countries and largest recipients of US aid – Angola, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Haiti, Honduras, India, Iraq (Kurdistan), Liberia, Moldova, Mozambique, Pakistan, the Philippines, Rwanda, Somalia, Ukraine, Venezuela and Yemen – have signed lobbying contracts with US firms worth more than $21 million in fees paid until end-2025.

What’s more, documents filed with the US Department of Justice reveal that firms with ties to Trump and his inner circle are cashing in.

They have negotiated contracts worth more than $17 million in fees due in 2025 in the six months since Trump was elected, records submitted under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) show...

While the revolving door between governments and lobbyists is nothing new, and countries seeking influence over US decisions that could significantly affect them is to be expected, Global Witness is concerned by the wider dynamics that are driving new deals.

“We’re seeing a dramatic cut in aid, combined with an explicit rush for critical minerals, and willingness by the Trump administration to secure deals in exchange for aid or military assistance,” said Emily Stewart, Head of Policy, Transition Minerals at Global Witness.

“These dynamics create a potential situation where dealmaking in Washington is more desperate, less favourable to low-income countries and more open to resource exploitation at the expense of impacted communities.”

Our analysis of lobbying documents reveals that of the 17 countries that have signed lobbying deals, eight are pitching new investment opportunities.

[whoopsyeahokay]

October Sun

summary: Simon hadn't planned on committing expulsion-worthy crime at 10am on a Thursday. In fact, he hadn't planned on committing expulsion-worthy crime ever. In his defense, though, his best friend's ghost had been emphatic about getting into Mr. Anderson's phone, and it'd been the only course of action he could think of to prove she could rely on him. Simon had regretted it as soon as it'd happened. Fuck my life, I guess.

pairing: Wally Clark x fem!reader

warnings: panic attacks. eventual smutty smut smut. and mad spoilers. and obvious Canon divergence. very involved, very dense plot.

bon reading, frens

___________________________💀

OCTOBER SUN pt.17

Simon found you at your locker at the tail-end of lunch, trading sketchbooks for your copy of Frankenstein and your English binder. Mathilda stood beside you, merrily outlining her upcoming interview with an administrator from some posh, East Coast art academy.

You smiled and nodded in the appropriate places; giggled when Mathilda commented on something Hana had said at lunch. However, Simon noted, you weren't offering a lot in the way of conversation.

Mathilda clocked Simon first, lengthened her short frame as much as she could—spine straight, shoulders back, chin up—and leveled him with a look that could boil water. It took him a second to remember they shared History. That she'd been in Ms. Fields' class when Simon had accused Xavier of hurting Maddie and had forced the contents of Xavier's backpack to spill in front of an audience.

He wanted to pretend her hostility toward him didn't sting—because it didn't, right? They weren't friends. Mathilda hadn't shown anything but superficial interest in him since Xavier and Maddie became XavierandMaddie. To her, Simon was Maddie's plus-one. The guy Maddie took everywhere she went. Linus' security blanket in human form.

Of course, that reality only existed if Simon completely disregarded that it'd been Mathilda who'd always asked after Simon; had extended every invitation to join them for group events. She'd driven Simon home on multiple occasions, even when it'd made more sense that Hana and Lucas would have since they shared a neighborhood.

Shit, maybe he and Mathilda were friends? He'd never considered it before. How you and Mathilda and—aw crap that's right: Eli—had made significant efforts to get to know Simon. Had welcomed him into the fold of pre-established friendship and encouraged him to carve out his own place within it.

And to show his appreciation, Simon had lunged after Xavier like a vendetta with claws.

Simon waved at Mathilda weakly, eyes darting away from hers when she doubled down and fiercened her glower. Despite his height advantage, Simon considered running to the Philippines to stay with his aunt. He'd request a room with reinforced steel walls and a couple of security guards outside the door, just in case.

Did Mathilda have her passport? He should ask.

"I'm gonna head to Media," Mathilda announced before you were even aware of Simon's presence. "I'll see you in Bio." She flipped her long, purple-black hair, deliberately whipping Simon in the face with the ends as she swanned by.

"Later gator," You replied, offhand, shutting your locker and, "Oh, hey," catching Simon as he slunk into the space Mathilda had vacanted.

Simon watched Mathilda warily until she disappeared into the stream of students. Partly because he felt a weird kind of fucked up for not having sooner recognized the olive branch of friendship Mathilda had been brandishing, but mostly because he was batshit terrified she'd reappear just to punch him in the nuts.

Needing a second opinion, he blurted, "Are Mathilda and I friends?"

You startled, spluttering around an answer before reminding him, "Didn't you go with her and Eli to Comic Con when everyone else bailed?"

Holy shit. With everything going on, Simon had genuinely forgotten about that adventure. Xavier was 'too cool'. Maddie and Nicole hadn't been interested, you'd been visiting your dad in England and, well, he didn't know why Hana and Lucas had backed out, but Simon had been given Lucas' ticket. Told to treat it like a months-late birthday present.

Mathilda knew when his birthday was.

Simon groaned and hit the back of his head on the locker he leaned against. "I fucked up."

"You really didn't think she thought of you as her friend?"

"No comment." Simon pinched the bridge of his nose. Watched stars explode behind his eyes when he rubbed his lids with the pads of his thumb and forefinger.

After a short lull, you said, "I know we're not as close as you and Maddie, but you are aware that we're friends, right?"

"Yes?" Simon replied, the upward lilt of punctuation prompting a sour expression to your face.

"You're an idiot."

Simon readjusted so he was tilted on his shoulder, putting every ounce of apology he had in him behind his next words, "I'm sorry. I just...I figured you guys let me hang out because Maddie and I are a package deal."

Were, a voice not unlike Maddie's unhelpfully corrected, we were a package deal.

"I repeat: You're an idiot." But you said it with humor, giving Simon a crooked smile and a harmless whack to the arm. "Look, none of us pretend we're as close as you two are, but, Si, that doesn't mean we wouldn't help you hide a—" Body.

Simon saw the instant your brain caught up to your mouth and suddenly you curled into yourself; crossed your arms and ducked your chin into your chest.

"I didn't mean it like that."

"Hey, it's okay." For the first time in a long time (perhaps the first time ever), Simon reached out to you, put a hand on your shoulder, and squeezed. "I get it." Quiet, touched, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. And don't worry," You assured him, "Tilly won't hold it against you forever. Once we expose Mr. A and clear Xavier's name, she'll forget what you did to him."

"If you say so," Simon muttered. Belatedly, he registered, "Mr. A?" He hadn't heard anyone refer to Mr. Anderson as Mr. A and, as far as he knew, the only teachers to earn a friendly nickname from their senior classmates were Mrs. Bloom, the Drama teacher, and Mr. Fitzgerald, the band director. Bloomageddon and Fitz-G respectively.

You carried on as if Simon hadn't said anything, "Speaking of clearing Zav's name, I have an idea. But we'll have to do it after school when he's busy with Booster Club."

Simon remembered then why he'd sought you out, shifting to curl a hand around the phone in his sweater pocket.

"His fingerprints have to be all over that money," You explained in a stage whisper, "If we can get it to the police, they'll have to arrest him." You nudged closer when Simon didn't say anything, somehow reading him like a picture book, "Or...you have a different plan?"

Taking a fortifying breath, Simon volunteered, "I'm gonna show you something, and you can't freak out."

Dubious, "Oh-kay~."

He leaned closer, gently turned you so there was a little cave of privacy between both your bodies and the lockers. You glanced around, checking for possible eavesdroppers, before giving Simon your full attention and, damn, being on the receiving end made Simon's pulse quicken a little.

He shoved the thought aside before it could gain any ground, unwilling to make room within himself for anything that didn't directly impact locating Maddie's body.

"You can trust me, Simon."

"I know," He said, though he still needed a moment to build the confidence to show you what he'd done.

Although you'd already proven you were in this with him, willing to drown in the same dark pool of questions to resolve Maddie's murder. Although you'd obviously spent time and energy constructing a plan that, upon hearing it, Simon had to concede was a lot smarter than what he'd done. Although you'd admitted you and he were friends and you'd help him cover up a crime at the drop of a hat...

Simon was scared. Scared that he'd done the wrong thing; that he'd get expelled; that he'd hallucinated his best friend's ghost and had stolen someone's property because, oh fuck, he had a brain tumor or dormant schizophrenia or—

"Breathe." You ordered, hand flattened over Simon's heart, taking long, deep breaths of your own for Simon to mimic.

And, oh God, you'd lifted his hand from his pocket as he'd been spiraling, pressed it to your chest so he could feel the steadiness of your heartbeat under his palm. Placed safely above inappropriate, warm skin and hard bone, rising and falling slowly as you talked in a calming rhythm.

He sucked in a shuddery breath, then another, and another, lungs finally expanding to accommodate the air he so desperately needed. It took another minute for the spots in his vision to recede, another minute after that for embarrassment to flush under his skin like a sunburn.

"Sorry." He gasped, taking his hand back and returning it to his pocket. "I..."

"Stop thinking, Simon." You said in an aloe-vera tone, the sound of it cooling the hot prickle of humiliation before it calcified. "Are you okay?"

You'd asked him that almost every day since the APEX. Hell, just last night you'd made sure he was okay to drive home after your sister had called you in for supper.

"Yeah." He said, not sure how much he meant it, but decidedly against unpacking his trauma in a semi-crowded hallway. "Thanks for..." What? "For that." He ended lamely and cast his gaze to his feet.

With a distinct note of sadness, you admitted, "Xavier spent a year helping me...breathe."

And Simon was grateful that you phrased it that way, suddenly drained and unable to receive another frank overture of support.

"So, what am I not freaking out about?"

Simon could kiss you, seriously. "Right, yeah." He made sure no one was watching when he pulled out Mr. Anderson's phone and held it between you and him.

You raised an eyebrow, "You want me not to freak out about your phone?"

"Not mine," Simon murmured, "Mr. Anderson's. I grabbed it off his desk this morning."

Without missing a beat, "Is it locked?"

Simon almost flung himself at you, a fizzy cocktail of so damn grateful and so damn pleased that you didn't immediately chew his head off and spit it out in front of Principal Hartman.

"Yeah. And I don't have the code. But if we can find out who he was talking to last night—"

"—We might find out what happened to Maddie." You finished, nodding like it was the simplest thing in the world. "Alright. I bet there's a YouTube tutorial for hacking into phones." Simon hadn't thought of that.

"I'll look into it. I've got a free period 'til sixth, I'll see what I can find."

"Good." You stared at the phone, eyes narrowing, "You turned it off, right?"

"No..?" Simon said as he stuffed the phone back in his pocket.

Alarmed, "Simon, if he has that Find My Phone app, he's going to catch you! You could get expelled! You need to turn it off now!"

That was another excellent point Simon hadn't thought of.

"Alright, I read you loud and clear, Major Tom, I'm turning it off." He appeased and pulled the phone out again.

"I swear to God, Simon, if you get expelled and leave me alone in this giant pile of shit, I'm gonna end up going after him with a—" You stopped before you revealed what manner of weapon you'd use, diverting yourself to, "With the threat of bodily harm."

Simon looked you up and down, uncertain how effective that would be.

"Fine." You yielded, "I'd sic Tilly on him."

Simon snorted, the image as horrifying as it was awesome. He briefly wondered if you and he shouldn't recruit Mathilda to the investigation. She was tenacious and clever and probably knew a thing or two since her mother was a big-shot lawyer who commuted to the city every morning to prosecute criminals.

"Why wasn't that our first plan?" He joked and then returned his attention to the phone.

Just as he was about to press the button to turn the damn thing off, a throat cleared behind him, followed by an unsettlingly pacified voice.

"Simon Elroy?"

Ms. Chung. The grief counselor.

Fuck his whole life, front to back.

He quickly hid the phone in his pocket and spun around, forgot that you and he had been stood particularly close until he heard you grunt, his backpack knocking you in the chest.

"Um, yes?" He answered politely while inside he cursed that he couldn't plead for you not to leave him alone with her.

"Can I have a word, please?" Ms. Chung asked, the inferred privately directed over his shoulder at you. Her open expression didn't falter, even as Simon began to stumble over a half-baked excuse. "This will only take a moment," She assured and took a meaningful step closer.

You came around and bumped Simon's shoulder with yours. Friendly, casual, except that your gaze was fixed on Ms. Chung. Something unpleasant churned beneath the public face of respect you gave her, and if Simon didn't know better, he'd think she'd committed some sort of atrocity against you.

Ms. Chung, on the other hand, seemed unperturbed, returning your standoffishness with a serene, Woodstock smile.

Had you already been to see her?

At last, "I'll see you in Psych," you said and excused yourself, leaving Simon woefully alone for Ms. Chung to poke, prod, pry his feelings out of him one by one.

It was fine. He was fine. He'd let her say her piece, tell her what she wanted to hear to get her off his back and be on his way.

Ms. Chung's eyes glittered and her smile grew teeth.

Simon audibly gulped.

💀___________________________

PART SIXTEEN - PART EIGHTEEN

also available on AO3!

MASTERLIST

[dinums]

The Unexpected Visit

Thomas Shelby x Reader.

Summary: A Filipina woman accidentally travelled back in time. There, she began to work for the Shelbys

Part 2

"Hurry up! We're going to be late for your birthday celebration!" My best friend, Ava, shouted down the hall, prompting me to respond in the same hurried tone.

"Alright! Just give me a moment!"

I looked at myself in the mirror, feeling a sense of satisfaction as I admired my appearance. I was wearing a stylish black and white dress that fell just below my knees, with a white bow tie adorning my hair. My makeup was flawlessly done, accentuating my features.

"Shit, ang ganda ko," I murmured to myself. After securing a job as an animator and starting a new life in the United States, I was finally able to enjoy the fruits of my labor. This was where I would find happiness. Despite missing my home country, the Philippines, the familiar places there held too many painful memories that I preferred to leave behind.

Everything was supposed to go smoothly, until it didn't. From the far corner of my room, I caught a glimpse of someone—a dark figure—watching me. A chill ran down my spine, and my body instinctively went into fight-or-flight mode. Without a second thought, I fled from my room, convinced that the figure was pursuing me. It emitted a sinister laugh, filling the air with an eerie presence. Was this what my mother had warned me about?

---

"Puta... tangina, tangina! Ava, where's Ava?" These thoughts raced through (Y/N)'s mind as she ran, desperately searching for her friend while panic consumed her. As she neared the stairs, she could swear that the figure was still chasing her. In her haste, she stumbled and began to fall, but just as she was about to hit the ground, a blinding light engulfed everything.

---

On a quiet evening in the streets of Watery Lane, Birmingham, Thomas Shelby lay in his bed, lost in thought, cigarette in hand. Suddenly, the drawers started opening, and the air seemed to thin. The entire house shook, as if an earthquake were rocking the foundations. Thomas swiftly grabbed his gun, prepared to confront any potential enemy lurking in the darkness of the night. It felt as if the very earth were tearing apart at the seams. He was about to call for his family when a brilliant flash of white light blinded him, causing him to shield his eyes and turn away.

A loud crash followed, accompanied by the sound of a woman's voice. Thomas, now disoriented, cautiously approached the source of the disturbance, gun still aimed at the woman who had appeared in his home. She seemed panicked, her eyes darting around as she struggled to get to her feet, wincing in pain. It appeared that she had injured her leg, possibly a sprain, which forced her to remain seated on the floor.

Their eyes met, and the woman's breath seemed to catch in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the gun pointed at her. With trembling hands raised in self-defense, she stammered, "Who the hell are you, eh?" Thomas questioned her, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. This woman was unlike any he had encountered before.

"M-me? (Y/N), my name... (Y/N). Please, can you... I don't... the..." Her words faltered as Thomas took a step closer, the gun still pointed at her. Overwhelmed, she broke down, crouching on the floor, averting her gaze. If she were to die, she would rather not see it coming.

As the door opened, she looked up and saw a woman and two other men entering. When her eyes met theirs and then returned to Thomas, the woman spoke up, moving to disarm him.

---

"Jesus, Tom! What are you doing to this poor lady?!" I heard the woman exclaim after the gun was taken away from him. I let out a sigh of relief. Tom, as the man was called, pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated. The two other men seemed to be stifling their laughter, although it was difficult to discern as everything started to blur, as if the room were spinning.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself in bed, still in the same room as before—at least from what I could remember. As I surveyed my surroundings, I realized I was still wearing the dress, although the bows in my hair were gone. When I attempted to get up, the door opened, revealing the woman from earlier. In her right hand, she carried a tray with tea.

"Don't. You'll hurt yourself," she cautioned, pointing at my ankle. I nodded, and asked, "Can you tell me where I am...? Can I go home? Please..."

"You're in Small Heath. Thomas said you appeared out of thin air. How did that happen?" she responded.

"What year is it?"

"1919."

Small Heath, in 1919? That was far away from home, possibly evenin a different era altogether. It seemed impossible for me to have traveled there in the blink of an eye, let alone through time itself. Sensing my confusion, the woman tried to reassure me. She set the tray of tea on the bedside table and introduced herself as Polly Gray. I nodded in acknowledgment and placed the cup of tea on my lap.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Polly asked, her gaze lingering on the tea leaves in my cup.

"No, I'm not," I replied. She clicked her tongue, taking the cup from me and placing it back on the tray.

"Are you a Gypsy?" she inquired.

"No, I'm not," I repeated. I was starting to feel a glimmer of hope that Polly might be able to help me find my way back home. However, instead of directly answering my question, she posed one of her own.

"Can you read? Are you good with numbers?"

"I can read and do math. Why?"

"If you're going to stay here, you might as well work for us," Polly suggested, her tone implying that she had more to say on the matter.

"Why do you want to help me?" I asked but only got silence in return. The unexpected turn of events had left me bewildered, but I knew I had to gather my wits and adapt to this new reality. Working for Polly and her associates seemed like the only option available to me at the moment. Maybe, just maybe, they could provide me with the answers I sought and help me find a way back home.

"I'll work for you"

"Good."

////

It had been precisely one month and four days since I had become a part of the Shelby family. Despite initial reservations and a sense of distrust, Polly graciously took me under her wing. The other members of the family had an unspoken understanding not to pry into certain events that were yet to happen in their lives, acknowledging that I possessed knowledge of the future. However, that didn't stop some of them, particularly Finn, from asking what it was like. It was a joy to share stories with the young boy, and I was grateful that they kept my arrival in Small Heath a secret, creating a story on how I got up here, to not make the townsfolk ask questions, but then again who would ask the Shelby family questions?

In the present moment, I found myself inside the bustling betting shop, surrounded by a lively crowd. My responsibilities included tallying numbers, verifying receipts, and handling money and the transactions that came with it. The work was demanding, but it provided me with a sense of purpose, a distraction.

Across the room, John stood by the blackboard, inscribing odds while announcing them loudly for all to hear. Meanwhile, Arthur and Thomas had stepped out for a while, leaving Polly and me to manage the shop, with Ada looking after Finn.

"Mas maganda siguro kung animator nalang ako... or if I had a calculator here," I mused to myself, finishing up the last part of my work and giggling at the thought.

"A calculator? What's that?" I heard John's familiar voice as he approached me, a toothpick dangling from his mouth.

"It's- er, a device that helps you with calculations—counting, subtracting, multiplying, and even dividing numbers," I explained.

"Even the big ones?" John asked, curiosity evident in his eyes.

"Even the big ones," I confirmed, a hint of amusement in my voice.

Our conversation was abruptly interrupted when a bloodied Arthur burst into the shop, sending panic through the air. Everyone was ordered to leave, and Polly swiftly took charge, guiding Arthur to the house connected to the betting shop. Ada and John exchanged concerned glances, and I hurriedly joined them, mindful of my sprained ankle. I grabbed a clean cloth to help with Arthur's wounds, while Ada rushed to fetch a bucket of water.

Word seemed to spread quickly, and soon Thomas barged into the house, a bottle of alcohol in hand. He took the cloth from me, and I sat there, observing the scene. Conversations and typical sibling banter filled the air as Arthur and Ada exchanged words, while John and I simply watched them. Arthur began to explain how Inspector Campbell had asked him to assist with a robbery, recounting the encounter. Lost in my own thoughts, I couldn't help but voice my concerns.

"Will you help him? I mean, I wouldn't want to even think of helping a man who beat and bruised me... but..." I trailed off, realizing that all eyes were on me.

"Sorry, please continue," I quickly added.

"We don't help coppers," John stated firmly beside me.

Arthur continued, "He knew all about our war record... said we were patriots like him. I told him we'd take a family meeting and vote."

Knowing this was turning into Family business, I quietly saw myself out, going back to the betting shop to try and do extra work to keep myself busy. Despite the trust I had gained from the family, I understood that certain matters were their own to handle. It was their business, and I respected their boundaries.

///

My mind couldn't seem to shake off the lingering thoughts from our conversation. It had been a good thirty minutes, yet I couldn't help but wonder if the Shelby family would truly help that man with the robbery. After all, how could they trust someone who had beaten one of their own? The situation seemed precarious at best.

"Sana talaga bumalik na ako. Mas masaya siguro ako kung animator na lang ako... please, Lord, babait na ako kung ibabalik niyo lang ako..." I quietly murmured to myself, longing for the familiarity of my previous life.

"What are you blabbering about, eh?" a gruff voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to find Thomas standing before me, a quizzical expression on his face. I raised an eyebrow at him, which seemed to amuse him.

"You haven't apologized since the first time we met," I said, a hint of amusement in my voice.

"And you haven't told me what you said," he replied, curiosity piqued.

"It was a curse. I was cursing you to make a bad decision for pointing a gun at me," I snickered.

A moment of silence passed between us before we both chuckled. "So maybe it isn’t a curse... I was actually wishing to go back home. I even asked the Lord. I told Him that if He took me back, I would be nicer. I just think it would be nice if I could work as an animator. After all, I studied to become one after everything," I confessed, grateful for the Shelby family for taking me in and caring for me in their own ways.

To my surprise, Arthur and I discovered a shared love for drawing. It became apparent when he noticed me doodling one day, and he revealed that he used to love drawing horses. We began to draw together from time to time, he even thought me a few things or so.

Thomas, on the other hand, was more reserved. We didn't have much in common, but whenever I spoke in my native language, he would ask questions about its meaning. He also showed patience when I acted differently, allowing me to talk to him in a more casual manner over time.

John, being closer to my age, was a friendly presence. He had a boisterous personality, and I appreciated having someone to distract me from the noises in my head, a breath of fresh air in this intense environment.

Ada was easy to get along with. She lent me some of her clothing and was always open to conversation. She reminded me of my friends back home, particularly Ava.

Polly and I had a relationship reminiscent of the one I shared with my mother. At first, it felt like walking on thin air, but as I diligently carried out my duties and refrained from meddling in their affairs, she began to open up. She treated me like her own, and when I mentioned the similarities between her tea leaf reading and the practices of lbularyos or witch doctors, she encouraged me to share more.

And now, here I sat with Thomas Shelby himself. Thomas, who stayed quiet for most parts. His presence made me feel like I should continue talking.

"You lot can speak a different language too, right? Maybe you can teach me so that when I go back, I can make an impression, hm?" I suggested, which made him quirk a brow

"Then you'll have to teach me yours too, so it'll be fair, eh?" he replied with a smile and a shake of his head. Jackpot.

"Sure. Speaking of learning, do you know how I got good with numbers?" I asked, looking at him intently. It was just the two of us in the betting shop now, giving me the freedom to share. He then sat down next to me. Taking his gesture as an invitation to keep talking, I continued.

"When I was seven years old, my parents enrolled me in a program, a math center. It took me eight years to complete the whole program!" I explained, shivering at the memories.

"You didn't go to school?" he inquired.

"Oh, I did. I attended school while also studying math at that center. By the time I was sixteen, I was juggling school subjects like statistics, probabilities, and calculus, along with history lessons about my country... all that stuff. Later on, I learned animation, which gave me something to do, something I enjoyed."

"What do you do in animation?" Thomas asked, my face seemed to look very excited as i moved my chair closer to him, as if it wod be easy for him to be absorbing the knowledge I was about to share.

"Well," I began, a smile playing on my lips, "I draw illustrations, frame by frame. Basically, you see this?" I gestured, moving my hand as if I'm waving. He nodded in response as If my gesture wasn't obvious. "I draw something like that, people in motion, you know, like those pictures Ada goes to see. But Instead of people, its drawings. That was my job."

"And you can't do that now?" Thomas questioned, curiosity evident in his voice.

"Well...its easier to do it digitally," I explained, trying to find the right words to describe the concept, I used my hands, waving them in the air as if it would help the situation. Seeing his puzzled expression, I sighed and admitted defeat. "You know... its like this technology. It's hard to explain, to be honest. It's giving me a headache just thinking about it."

Thomas nodded, tilting his head slightly to indicate that he had listened to my explanation. After awhile more, we both stood up

"I've go to go, somewhere I need to be"

"Oh? Did my curse work? You're off to make a bad decision?" I joked which earned me another smile and a shake of his head.

"Maybe tomorrow, Do you drink?"

"That depends, is there an occasion?" I asked,walking over to the window, there I realised it was already dark, we've talked throughout the afternoon.

"Just come, eh?"

"Ask me again next time and I'll agree, if we spend too much time your ears might bleed."

"Next time then."

///

///

She stayed in Thomas' room during her stay, a decision made by the family. As she headed upstairs, she spotted Polly taking care of Finn. Pausing in her task, Polly spoke up.

"Need any help?"

"No, just check on Ada for me, thank you, love," she replied, and I agreed to do so.

"Alright, goodnight, Pol."

"Goodnight, love."

Making my way upstairs, I found Ada in her room.

"Are you going to sleep? Pol asked me to check up on you," I asked, and she yawned and nodded, pushing me towards Thomas' room.

"Yeah, off to bed. You too. I can manage myself. Goodnight, (Y/N)!"

"Oh, goodnight Ada," I said before she shut the door, leaving me confused, what are you up to Ada? I walked to the bed and crawled under the covers, ready to sleep.

As I drifted off, I couldn't help but utter a quiet gratitude, "Thank you, po," to no one in particular.

---

"Pol, do you know anyone who might know a way for me to get back? I think I'm losing hope already," I asked Polly, seeking some answers. It had been quite a hectic week word of mouth saying Thomas shooting someone, Mr. Campbell raiding homes of communists, Ada's pregnancy, and Thomas picking a fight with the Lee family.

"Oh, love. Just a little longer, hm? You'll go back. I'm sure of it," Polly said, her words providing temporary comfort. I had grown attached to the Shelby family, and the thought of leaving without knowing their fate weighed heavily on my mind.

"You know, Poll, I'm scared. If I do leave, then what about you guys? I won't ever get to see you all again... I won't know how you guys are doing unless I can read it from history books. I won't know how to help," I confessed, my voice filled with concern.

She took my hand in hers, offering reassurance. "Don't worry, love. Just give us a proper goodbye, and we'll be fine, alright?"

"I'll miss you if I do go," I admitted, a touch of sadness in my voice.

"We'll miss you too," she replied, understanding my worries.

---

That night, I decided to stay up late. I sat in the kitchen, working on a few doodles on a piece of paper. I drew frogs, horses, Polly, Ada, and Finn. The door swung open, revealing a drenched Thomas holding a bottle of whiskey.

"Woah," I exclaimed, surprised by his sudden entrance.

"A drink?" he offered, though his tone felt more like an order than an invitation. Remembering my promise, I grabbed two glasses and placed them on the table as he poured a drink for both of us.

"So, rough day? What happened this time?" I asked, curious to hear the events that had happened, though by the looks of it, thos wasn't a good one.

"I shot a horse," he replied. My eyes widened, my mouth agape, silently urging him to continue.

"It looked at me the wrong way, so I..." he trailed off, the weight of his actions evident in his voice.

"I look at you the wrong way most of the time. Maybe you should've done the same to me," I mumbled, moving my chair closer to him. He sighed, taking a swig of his drink.

"Back in France, I got used to seeing men die, but I never got used to seeing horses die," he confessed, his tone filled with remorse.

I nodded, taking small sips of my whiskey. "Horses, or any animals in general, they aren't like us. When we kill, it can be for so many reasons, but they do it to survive and protect. So, it's good that you feel bad about it. It makes you human. It proves you're not what you think you are."

"What do you think I am?" he questioned, curiosity lacing his words.

"You're not that far off. You're not as cold as anyone, or even yourself, perceives you to be, and that's a good thing. So, let it all out today," I encouraged, understanding the weight of his burdens.

We fell into a comfortable silence, interrupted only by the clinking of glasses as he poured himself more whiskey. After a while, I nudged him with my glass.

"I don't drink much," I confessed, offering him my glass. He took it and drank, and eventually, he began to talk again.

"Is that Polly?" he asked, pointing at the doodle I had made of her. I nodded, pointing out the other family members as well.

"I drew the people I talked to today. I guess I should draw you too, huh?" I suggested, feeling a sense of warmth in our conversation. He shrugged, turning his chair to fully face me.

"Should I stay still, then, eh?" he asked playfully.

"Nope! I've already memorized your face by now," I replied without much thought, not realizing the subtle smirk that graced his lips as I began to sketch him.

"You know, I'm glad that it was your house I accidentally traveled to. Even though it was scary at first," I shared, stealing quick glances at his drenched face to capture the details in my sketch. "Anyways, you'll catch a cold if you stay like that. When I was a kid, my parents used to throw their slippers at me from inside while I played in the rain."

"What? Would you do that to me?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Imagining the scenario, I burst into laughter. The image of me throwing slippers at Thomas in the rain seemed quite comical.

"I will if you let me."

"Maybe someday"

When I finished the sketch, I looked at it with satisfaction.

"Pogi," I murmured, using a Filipino term that meant "handsome." Though he didn't need to know that

"Pogi?" he repeated, looking at me curiously. I shook my head, realizing I had slipped into a different language.

"I said I was done," I clarified, handing him the paper with a smile. He took it, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Thank you," he whispered, barely above a breath. We both knew that those two words held multiple meanings, and despite everything, he meant them sincerely.

[anexperimentallife]

EDIT: EMERGENCY CANCELED!

Okay, now that I'm out of panic mode, this is doable! So while assistance is always appreciated, we can get by with what's in checking and the donations that have already come in! Our landlord is a friend and has agreed to wait on rent, groceries can go on credit cards, and we have enough in checking (just BARELY) to pay this month's credit card payments and phone bills. The cash we have on-hand should be enough for the necessities that are cash-only or that don't take foreign credit cards.

I keep reminding myself that this is just a DELAYED payment, not a skipped one.

So maybe the birthday party we promised El will even still happen, just be a few weeks late and be smaller than we'd hoped. We can tell her we wanted to do it between her birthday and my birthday, since both are in March. It also makes sense that we'd wait until I'm fully over this new round of Dengue. Which I can't go to the doctor for, since guess what else is cash only here unless you go to the hospital? But the main treatment for Dengue is to wait it out anyway.

Oh yeah, the whole Dengue thing? I got another mosquito bite, and of COURSE it had to be carrying Dengue Fever. But I'll be fine.

/EDIT

Just woke up to an email from the social security office at the Manila embassy saying my disabled ass won't get this month's social security payment until NEXT month, because even though the home office says they got the form (the one I have to fill out every five years) well before the stated deadline, "it can take several weeks for the form to be processed and scanned into the electronic record."

Fam, we cannot go an entire month with just what's in our bank account. Off the top of my head we'll need at least around $1,200 USD to make ends meet (partly because we're still paying off the debt from Eleanor's statelessness fiasco).

So yeah, if you can give us a hand, we'd appreciate it. We're using the same Paypal and KoFi links as when El was stateless (due to yet another bureaucratic screwup).

If you want it to be a loan instead of a give, let us know, and we can pay it back in a couple of months. And thank you so much!

(For those who don't know, we are a multiracial US family with a small daughter living in the Philippines because I predicted several years ago that the current problems in the US were coming. We'd be okay, except that we're still recovering financially from fixing a bureaucratic error that had left our daughter--born here--stateless.)

[pannaginip]

Located 62km north-east of the capital Manila, Daraitan village in Rizal province is home to about 5,700 residents, a majority of whom are members of the Dumagat-Remontado indigenous people who consider vast hectares of the mountain range as part of their ancestral domain.

But the village may soon disappear under the same waters that give it life, once the Philippine government finishes building the Kaliwa Dam – one of 16 flagship infrastructure projects of former president Rodrigo Duterte that is being funded by China.

The new dam is expected to provide Metro Manila with an additional 600 million litres of water daily once it is finished by end-2026. Officials said building the 60m-high reservoir is even more necessary now that the country is starting to feel the impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon.

But it was only in 2021 under Mr Duterte that construction finally broke ground, three years after Manila and Beijing signed the 12 billion peso (S$288 million) loan agreement.

Of the 119 on the list [of flagship projects of the "Build, Build, Build” infrastructure programme], Mr Duterte turned to China to finance 16 big-ticket projects in a bid to cement his legacy by the time his presidency ended in 2022. He embraced Beijing during his term and even downplayed Manila’s claims in the disputed South China Sea in favour of securing loans and grants from China.

Analysts have criticised Mr Duterte’s infrastructure programme as ambitious. Perennial domestic issues like local politics, right-of-way acquisition problems, lack of technology and red tape in bureaucracy led to severe delays in the projects.

The same issues hound the China-funded projects – which come under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to build infrastructure in developing nations – with the problems made more severe by Beijing’s high interest rates in its loan agreements and local backlash due to displacement of residents or potential environmental damage.

Critics say the BRI has been detrimental in the long run to some recipient countries, especially those that have been unable to repay their loans, like Sri Lanka and Zambia.

The Duterte government’s failure to take advantage of its BRI loans was a “missed opportunity” for the Philippines, said infrastructure governance specialist Jerik Cruz, a graduate research fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The four completed China-funded projects under Mr Duterte were controversial too. But they came to fruition because they had the support of local politicians allied with Mr Duterte and therefore increased his political capital, said Dr Camba.

Tribal leaders said they were not properly consulted regarding the project that threatens their traditional way of life. Environmentalists from the Stop Kaliwa Dam Network also say the project would destroy 126 species of flora and fauna in the Sierra Madre.

The Philippines’ Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act states that the government must first secure a tribe’s free, prior and informed consent before building on its ancestral lands.

But Ms Clara Dullas, one of the leaders of the Dumagat-Remontado in Rizal, alleged that the Duterte government had either misinformed or pressured other tribe members into giving their consent.

She could not bear to hold grudges, though, noting that the Dumagat-Remontado organisations that eventually agreed to the Kaliwa Dam were each given 80 million pesos, or $1.9 million, in “disturbance” fees.

“The Kaliwa Dam is the reason why our tribe is divided now. There is a crack in our relationships even if we all come from the same family,” said Ms Dullas. “I can’t blame the others because we lack money. I believe there was bribery involved.”

The government requires them to present identification documents, and only those given passes may enter. Mr Dizon said this is to ensure that no unidentified personnel enter the area [close to the construction zone].

“We feel like we are foreigners in our own home because the Chinese and the people in our own government are now preventing us from entering the lands where we grew up,” said tribe leader Renato Ibanez, 48.

Mr Ibanez also accuses the Philippine authorities of harassing tribe members who are vocal against Kaliwa Dam. Some of them have been accused of working with communist rebels, a charge the tribe vehemently denies.

Unlike his predecessor, Mr Marcos is more aggressive in defending Manila’s overlapping claims with Beijing in the South China Sea, but still fosters economic ties with it.

Geopolitical tensions between the two nations and Mr Marcos’ stance towards Beijing are going to dictate the fate of the pending China-funded projects the President inherited from Mr Duterte, said Mr Cruz.

Tribe members said they would be more amenable if Mr Marcos would revisit Japan’s proposed Kaliwa Intake Weir project that Mr Duterte had set aside.

“We like Japan’s proposal. It would not destroy our forests. It would not affect residents here. The Philippines would not be buried in debt,” said Ms Dullas.

This was among the alternatives the Dumagat-Remontados offered during their nine-day march in February 2023, when some 300 members walked 150km from Quezon and Rizal all the way to Manila to protest against the Kaliwa Dam.

But they failed to secure an audience with Mr Marcos. They remain wary of the President’s position on the Kaliwa Dam and other controversial China-funded deals.

“As much as we want to fully pin our hopes on him, we don’t. We’ve learnt from past efforts to trick us, make us believe a project is about to end, only for it to be resurrected again years later,” said Ms Dullas.

2024 Mar. 3

[copperbadge]

Radio Free Monday

Good morning everyone, and welcome to Radio Free Monday!

Ways to Give:

dancing-thru-clouds was recently hit with a surprise tax bill (she didn't realize her town had local income tax, and didn't receive the previous year's notice); she's adjusted her withholding to account for this, but still owes the balance from the past two years and is fundraising to cover the balance. You can give via paypal here.

stemmonade is a disabled Black trans person who relies on crowdfunding for survival since they can't work and their wife is currently unemployed; they are raising a little over $700 to cover rent and essentials in the meantime. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

themerrymutants is a disabled queer man currently living on social security aid; he has recently had to travel to the emergency room several times for possible complications from a recent surgery, and is now short on rent because of the cost of transit. You can read more, reblog, and find giving information here.

Anon linked to a fundraiser for prototrans, a disabled artist who needs help with rent money; he is also offering commissions. You can read more, reblog, and find giving and commission information here.

Recurring Needs:

Anon linked to a fundraiser for a friend whose family has not had a working furnace since November; they've been using space heaters to keep warm but January in Chicago has been brutal and the space heaters aren't sufficient. With vulnerable family members including elderly relatives and children in the home, they need to raise $6K to get the furnace replaced. You can read more and support the fundraiser here.

thelastpyler is raising funds for food and to purchase medication for their family; you can read more and find giving information here.

Eli is a disabled Michigander who cares for their elderly grandmother; they are applying for SSDI, but their car was damaged recently and is undrivable, with estimated $8K-$12K in repairs to make it drivable. They need transportation for doctor's visits and legal consultations for their SSDI appeal, and have no way to get around without the car. You can read more and reblog here or give at the gofundme here.

loversdoom is a college student from the Philippines, studying away from her family, and her parents are unexpectedly unable to support her education; she is in mounting debt and facing eviction from her dorm in her last semester of college. She's raising funds to repair her laptop so she can do her schoolwork and find a remote job that will help her pay rent, and to fund the remainder of her schooling. You can read more and reblog here and support the fundraiser here.

Anon linked to karla-hoshi or Hoshi on TikTok, who is raising funds for cancer treatment for her cat Naku; they caught the cancer early and hope that he can survive it, but can't continue treatment without funding. You can read more and support the fundraiser here, as well as find links to her updates on tiktok.

chingaderita's partner recently lost their job due to a house fire that also destroyed the house; they're raising funds to keep food on the table, to try and get a supply of water to keep clean and do laundry, and for various bills until they can find new work. You can read more, reblog, and support the fundraiser here.

And this has been Radio Free Monday! Thank you for your time. You can post items for my attention at the Radio Free Monday submissions form. If you're new to fundraising, you may want to check out my guide to fundraising here.

[mariacallous]

Geopolitical storm clouds are gathering at the far reaches of Pax Americana, and yet there is remarkably little sign that the U.S. government or the American people have awoken to the mounting dangers. The threat posed by China and Russia and their rogue nation allies rated only passing mention in last year’s presidential campaign, for instance, which in typical fashion revolved around domestic issues such as the economy and inflation. Asked to choose among five issues in an NBC exit poll, only 4 percent of the voters surveyed during last year’s presidential election named foreign policy as a priority.

President Donald Trump has talked a lot about restoring strong U.S. leadership in an increasingly unstable world, but in its first two months, his administration has mostly sown chaos at home and doubt abroad about the reliability of the United States as an ally.

The administration’s ready-fire-aim approach to national security and world affairs stands in stark contrast to the sense of very real urgency felt at the United States’ geographic military commands, which are positioned forward around the globe.

In essence, these military headquarters are sentries on the far battlements of the U.S.-led, post-World War II international order. From their vantage point, Washington’s military and security forces already find themselves stretched thin by intense combat operations, hybrid and proxy warfare, and tense military standoffs with an increasingly cohesive “axis of autocracies” that is spread out over six time zones that span the globe.

Listen closely to the warnings from these outposts, and you can detect the sound of alarms clanging while the United States continues listing even as geopolitical storm clouds darken.

From the hillside headquarters of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Honolulu, commanders can gaze down on the tranquil waters of Pearl Harbor, where the surface of the water has an oily sheen resulting from persistent leakage from the once mighty battleship USS Arizona, sunk by Japanese bombs more than 80 years ago. The locals refer to the sheen as “black tears,” in memory of the 1,102 U.S. service members still entombed in the wreckage below.

Pearl Harbor is a place for quiet contemplation, and from the nearby vantage point of Indo-Pacific Command, it is impossible not to reflect on the dangers that accumulate when rising powers—such as 1930s-era Japan and Germany—confront status quo powers—such as that era’s Great Britain and the United States.

Today, the Indo-Pacific Command is consumed by the meteoric rise of another superpower in Asia—one whose bullying and provocations toward the United States and its regional allies have increased in rough proportion to a military expansion that recently retired leader of the command Admiral John Aquilino characterized as “the largest military buildup that we’re seeing in history, both conventional and nuclear.”

China’s massive defense manufacturing base now churns out weapons systems at a pace estimated at five to six times as fast as its anemic U.S. counterpart. Beijing already boasts not only the world’s largest navy, but also a shipbuilding capacity roughly 230 times that of the United States, according to Office of Naval Intelligence estimates.

Not coincidentally, in the past year alone, China’s armed forces have held live-fire exercises bracketing Taiwan, a democratic country that the Chinese Communist Party considers a breakaway province. Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army also regularly attacks the ships of the Philippines—a U.S. treaty ally—near contested islands. According to the Pentagon, since the fall of 2021 there have been more than 180 incidents of Chinese warplanes performing “coercive and risky” maneuvers targeting U.S. military aircraft in international airspace.

In congressional testimony in May 2024, Aquilino, then the head of Indo-Pacific Command, said that “all indications point to” the Chinese military meeting leader Xi Jinping’s deadline of being ready for a potential invasion of Taiwan by 2027.

Given that three of China’s standing war plans are built around that Taiwan scenario, the Pentagon has held classified war games testing the U.S. military’s readiness for such a contingency dating back a decade. Many Americans are not even aware that those secret war games consistently indicate that U.S. forces would not only lose that war, but also that they would lose it fast.

Contemplating the growing disparity in defense industrial capacity and Beijing’s aggressive claim of hegemony over the entire South China Sea, then- U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III summarized conventional wisdom in September 2023 while speaking at a conference: “China is preparing for war, and specifically for a war with the United States.”

Remarkably, the theater-wide view from the village of Mons, Belgium, home to NATO’s sprawling Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), is equally alarming.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 set off the largest conflict in Europe since World War II, is now in its fourth bloody year. During that time, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimates that Putin has transitioned the Russian economy to a near-total wartime footing, spending an estimated 7.1 percent of the country’s GDP on defense in 2024.

Despite mounting a large military resupply mission to help keep Ukraine in the fight, the United States and its NATO allies have been continually deterred from more decisive support by a level of nuclear weapons saber-rattling and brinkmanship by Moscow that the world has not seen since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. That brinksmanship escalated dramatically in November 2024, after Russia attacked Ukraine for the first time with a new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile that is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead as well as conventional ones.

The virulently anti-Western axis of autocracies that has come to Russia’s aid in its aggression against Ukraine and its challenge to the supposed U.S.-led, rules-based international order is increasingly alarming to U.S. security officials. China has lived up to its “no limits” partnership with Russia, which was announced just before the invasion, rescuing it from the isolation of Western sanctions with bilateral trade that soared to a record $240 billion in 2023. Beijing acts as a willing buyer for Russian oil while supplying Moscow with subcomponents such as drone and missile engines as well as the semiconductors that are critical to its burgeoning defense industry.

Despite its own conflict with Israel, the theocratic regime in Iran has also stepped in with shipments of ballistic missiles and thousands of lethal Shahed drones for Moscow’s war against its democratic neighbor.

The rogue regime in the so-called hermit kingdom of North Korea, a de facto nuclear weapons state and the most insular dictatorship in the world, has likewise provided Russia with short-range ballistic missiles and what South Korean authorities have estimated as 8 million artillery shells. And in a dramatic escalation of the conflict, U.S. intelligence officials revealed in late 2024 that Pyongyang had also sent an estimated 12,000 special forces troops to fight alongside their Russian counterparts against Ukraine. U.S. officials believe that in return, Moscow is sharing advanced air defense systems with Pyongyang.

In response to Western support for Ukraine, Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency has also greatly intensified its hybrid war against Europe, resulting in what Western intelligence officials characterize as a “an unprecedented rise” in acts of sabotage, arson, cyberattacks and attempted assassinations on NATO soil. In an article in Financial Times, the heads of the CIA and Britain’s MI6 described Russian intelligence activity as a “reckless campaign of sabotage across Europe.”

Western efforts to keep Ukraine supplied, even with fundamental war materials such as standard munitions and low-tech drones, have also revealed glaring deficiencies in industrial capacity in the once-vaunted U.S. “arsenal of democracy.” According to NATO intelligence estimates, Russia is on track to annually produce nearly three times as many artillery shells as the United States and its European allies combined (with 3 million shells versus 1.2 million, respectively). Russia has also dramatically increased its production of relatively cheap drones. Its close ally Beijing already dominates the worldwide market for commercial drones, with just one Chinese company accounting for approximately 70 percent of global production.

The view of the Middle East from the U.S. Central Command Forward Headquarters at al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar is no more reassuring. The war against Israel that the Gaza-based Hamas militant group launched to devastating effect on Oct. 7, 2023, quickly revealed itself as a coordinated attack on the United States’ closest ally in the region by Iran-led proxies that constitute Tehran’s so-called axis of resistance, which comprises Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, and Houthi rebels in Yemen. The resulting war thus rapidly spread throughout the volatile region, including in the form of rare direct attacks between Israeli and Iran proper.

From the outset of the conflict, the U.S. military surged forces to come to Israel’s defense, with the Biden administration dispatching two aircraft carrier battle groups beginning in fall 2023. As a result, U.S. warships and aircraft were involved in the most intensive combat operations at sea since World War II, helping to protect Israel from missile attacks by Iran and its proxies, responding to attacks on U.S. bases and ships in the region, and engaging with Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen in an attempt to thwart their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

While Iran and its axis of resistance have been seriously weakened by the conflict, the intense strains of recent combat deployments on a historically small and overstretched U.S. military have been exposed for all to see. Defense Department officials have admitted struggling to find sufficient air defense systems to protect their allies in both the Middle East and Europe, and they are running short of key munitions such as surface-to-air missiles.

In late 2024, the Pentagon also announced the withdrawal of the last U.S. aircraft carrier deployed in the region. Asked about the redeployments and the gaps in presence they represent, Gen. Charles Brown Jr., the recently sacked chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted that the Defense Department had no choice but to “step back and take a look” at spiking demand and the impact of extended deployments on U.S. forces, “not just in the Middle East, but really around the world.”

Back home, the Trump administration continues to signal a realignment away from the United States’ traditional role as the so-called leader of the free world, even recently voting with Russia and North Korea at the United Nations against resolutions condemning Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. For its part, Congress continues in its nearly unbroken, decadelong streak of failing to pass a defense budget on time, severely curtailing efforts to stabilize acquisition programs and reorient the Pentagon’s strategic direction to confront rapidly growing threats.

In a report published in December and titled “Restoring Freedom’s Forge,” Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, the new chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, took note of the urgency of this moment. “Over the last four decades, the defense acquisition system has ground to a virtual halt, buried under a mountain of statutes and regulations from Congress and the Pentagon,” he wrote.

And a congressionally mandated Commission on the National Defense Strategy (NDS) report released in July 2024 backed that conclusion with its own stark warning: “The threats the United States faces are the most serious and most challenging the nation has encountered since 1945 and include the potential for near-term major war,” the report began, noting that the United States has not fought such a global conflict since World War II, nearly 80 years ago, and last prepared for such a contingency during the Cold War, 35 years ago. “It is not prepared today,” the authors added.

Retired Rep. Jane Harman, the former chairwoman of the House Intelligence Committee, also served as the chair of the recent NDS Commission review.

In the event of a conflict with China or Russia, Harman noted in a recent interview with the Defense Writers Group, “there will be a major cyberattack on our critical infrastructure. When the lights go out in our cities, and our ports close, and our transportation systems melt down, people will start to pay attention. So maybe we can help them pay attention” ahead of what would surely be a catastrophe.

[thedorkreadstheworld]

February 27-28, 2025

1. Tried exploring Sky MOA but failed—no energy for that. / Pasay, 9:32 PM

2. Annual tradition: gathering whenever Juls is in the Philippines. / Tambai, 2:14 AM

3. Too drunk to even take a decent photo to secure a plate number lol. / Poblacion, 3:26 AM

March 1-2, 2025

4. Off to meet my childhood best friends again. / Home, 6:48 PM

5. Off to Laguna for another drinking session. / Sta. Rosa, 9:32 PM

6. This has been a well-hydrated week…if you count cocktails, beer, and whiskey. Lols. / Jul’s Crib, 12:09 AM

[itjazzbicch]

Have You

Pairing: Lee Chaolan x Fem Reader 

Summary: Being a high-ranked employee at Violet Systems, Lee has always taken an interest in the reader, but due to her past, she tries to block him out but opens up on Christmas Eve when she realizes Lee's pure feelings within his gift for her...

Requested by: @sacredwarrior88 (I hope you enjoy it! Merry Christmas!)

Warnings:  SMUT! (18+ ONLY! MINORS & AGELESS BLOGS DNI! YOU WILL BE BLOCKED!) 

Word Count: 1.6k 

"You're still here, Y/N? It's Christmas Eve!"

"Yeah, so?" As a high-ranked official in Violet Systems, work was always my number one priority, even on holidays, which my boss, Lee Chaolan, was sometimes astonished by.

"It won't hurt to get out of this place, you know?" Trying to persuade me, I wasn't even looking at him, only at my monitor as he popped up behind me and proposed, "How about we go look at some Christmas lights? Come on, my dear."

Rolling my eyes, I should've known he'd try to work his charm on me, considering all the times he's tried to romance me, ignoring him, but he was persistent:

"How about a Christmas gift? I've got you something that you've been wanting! I'll be nice and let you have it now, hm?"

Now I was curious, side-eyeing him because I didn't tell anyone what I wanted for Christmas. He finally earned my attention, turning my chair around and smiling as he went to another room:

"Just sit tight!"

Letting out a deep sigh, I could only imagine that this 'gift' would be entirely out of my element or he'd make this about himself. Despite my doubts, I stayed silent and let him bring a box to me:

"Merry Christmas!"

"Thanks," I mumbled, placing the box on my lap. It was light, and I was a bit more curious, opening the red and gold box to be stunned.

"Sooo," He couldn't stop smiling at my reaction, looking into the box to see the final piece I needed for a robotics project I had been working on for a long time. It was tough to find and very expensive. I thought it would be impossible to find, "Do you like it?"

"A-Are you serious? Is this real?" I almost couldn't believe it, being delicate while examining it. "Oh, it's real," He winked, pointing something else out too, "There's more in there too."

Looking into the box again, there was a slim, folded piece of paper. A brochure? Not a brochure, but tickets and all the information I needed for a week's vacation at a fabulous resort in the Philippines.

"That lasts until a year if you don't want to go immediately," Lee explained, smiling more as he knew me well, "Maybe after you finish that big project."

"Wow, I-" No one had ever given me such a gift, my smile genuine as I looked up at him, "Thank you, Lee. I appreciate this so much."

"You deserve it," He smiled back, offering again, "So, let's enjoy the holiday, hm?"

His gift showed how he knew me and cared, so I let the wall I always had up down a little, turning back to my desk, "Just let me secure this piece, and we can look at lights."

Doing so, I had to hide my laugh as I heard him cheering to himself, but after securing the robotic piece, we got our coats and headed out to find a snowy night sky.

"It really feels like Christmas, don't you say?"

"Yeah," Looking up at the snow falling, glistening past all the holiday lights that colored the night, the Christmas spirit was contagious, "It's beautiful."

Our walk was lovely and peaceful, pointing out some rather flashy decorations, giggling and smiling at some jokes Lee was making, but a strong, freezing wind made me seize up, hugging my body.

"Geez, guess it's going to be cold tonight, huh?"

"Here," Taking off his jacket and wrapping me in it, I was protected from the cold, but saying to Lee as he was left in just his dress shirt:

"It's okay, really. You should be wearing a jacket."

"I'll be just fine," He assured, his kindness making me smile again, "You don't have a far walk home, right? Let's get out of the cold."

Nodding and walking to my apartment, the freezing wind was growing stronger, and as we made it to my doorstep, the tip of Lee's nose was red, but he was still focused on me:

"Did you have fun?"

"I did," I meant, loosening up a little and offering, since he'd done so much for me tonight, "Come inside and warm up, Lee. I have a fireplace."

Being so open took him aback slightly, but still cheerful and honest as he shivered inside, "Thanks. That wind was strong."

I had to giggle because I knew he was struggling without his jacket, but I made up for that by lighting the fireplace in the living room, having him sit and warm up, and getting us two cups of hot chocolate.

"This will help too," Bringing the drinks over and sitting with him, his nose no longer read and a smile on his face as he took his cup:

"Thank you."

"Of course," I sipped mine, staring at the fireplace, spacing out a little as I thought deeply.

"You okay?" He whispered, only checking on me, and I didn't expect my emotions to hit me like they did when I admitted:

"I'm fine. It's just been years since anyone's spent Christmas with me. It feels-; It's so nice. Thank you again for everything."

As our eyes locked, we couldn't stop smiling at one another to the point where we started laughing. I had to put my cup down, looking as Lee opened his arms up to me, pointing out that it was now midnight:

"Merry Christmas!"

For the first time, I hugged him, and it felt so right. I thought about all the times I had been such a grinch towards him; my past had made me close up so much, but deep down inside, I knew I could open up with him, repaying him for all my attitude that he's had to deal with by kissing his cheek softly:

"Merry Christmas."

Caressing my cheek, I was floating on a cloud headed for heaven as his lips found mine, so soft and tender against mine. My heart was overwhelmed, pressing my lips harder as my eyes shut tighter, not noticing the tear rolling down my cheek.

When that tear met his hand, he pulled back to check on me, thinking he messed up at first:

"I'm sorry-"

"It's okay. I promise," I breathed in deep, more tears swelling as I met his gaze to explain, "I just have a bad past with men, but you-; You-; You are-"

I couldn't find the words to explain it, and Lee showed that we didn't need words with a simple instruction:

"Come here, dear."

Resting back in his arms, I held his face as I kissed him, a craving taking over me and guiding him back onto the couch. Each kiss told how I only wanted someone who wanted me for me, and I was sure I found that in Lee.

Straddling over him and sitting up for a deep breath, we were stuck smiling at each other again, Lee noticing:

"I think tonight's the first time I've seen you smile."

"All thanks to you," I cooed, feeling the mood in the air, whispering an important question, "Do you truly want me, Lee?"

"You and only you," He cooed back, in a trance, as I took off my shirt, skin highlighted from the fire, coming back to kiss him and unbutton his shirt, tongues clashing passionately.

Sitting us up, we both stripped out of our clothes, Lee guiding me back to his lap, rubbing over every inch of skin he could reach, kissing:

"I've always known how special you are."

With his hands on my hips, I pressed my forehead against his, feeling a slight ache as his tip began to stretch me, letting me work at my own pace as I adjusted to his girth, slowly rolling my hips and working to take more inches.

"Oh my god," I was worked up from all the slickness I felt between my thighs, hips rolling smoother and a bit quicker, then sitting on all his cock, gasping at how deep he was in me, "Lee!"

"Stay just like that," He cooed, peppering my neck with kisses, rocking my hips back and forth at a steady, even pace, his mouth falling to my breast, closing around my nipple and sucking.

It had been so long for me, my tingling nerves jolting through my head to my toes. All these feelings weren't just from the sex but from the fact that I finally had someone who could make me happy.

By the time he picked his head up, my entire chest had been glistening from kisses, and the way he looked into my eyes drove me wild, his hands digging into my hips when I suddenly started to bounce on his cock, getting a moan to spill out of him.

He kept his eyes on me, loving the view, but his head fell back as he grinned:

"Damn, Y/N."

That made me feel confident, just smirking and returning some kisses on his neck, leaving some marks, his hands sliding down to my ass, squeezing and kneading, then throwing up his hips, making me hug his head.

"Oooo! Lee!"

Hugging my waist and thrusting up again, brushing past my sweet spot, made my walls clench up harder and harder each time, my moans growing louder and mixing with soft whines.

"I have you, baby," He cooed, kissing my cheek, a hand running up my back and holding my head against his, whispering in my ear, "Let it all go. Cum for me."

"Just don't stop," I whined, squeezing his head as my back snapped into an arch, his thrusts growing faster as I gushed around his cock, the friction following with an aftershock, making me squirm and tremble slightly, jaw-dropping at the so many feelings that swirled in my head, only able to process the same words, "Oh my god, Lee. Oh my god."

"As I said," Easing down to a still, he knew I needed a moment to regain myself, brushing the little hairs away from my face, kissing my nose, "I have you."  

2023 © itjazzbicch — do not repost or translate my work. Likes, reblogs, and comments are always welcome 

[skottgamingblogs]

🎮 PUBG MOBILE World Cup 2025 in Riyadh: Everything You Need to Know

By skott

The world of mobile esports is about to get electrified! The PUBG MOBILE World Cup (PMWC) 2025 is set to kick off in the vibrant city of Riyadh as part of the spectacular Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025. With a $3 million prize pool, legendary teams from every corner of the world, and a fierce new generation of challengers, this promises to be the biggest moment in PUBG MOBILE history.

Let’s dive into dates, regions, teams, and why this year is extra special — especially for Indian fans! 🇮🇳

📅 Tournament Schedule & Format

The PMWC 2025 runs from July 25 to August 3, 2025, at the iconic BR Arena (Arena 3), Boulevard Riyadh City.

✅ Group Stage (July 25–27) – 24 teams split into 3 groups of 8; top 8 advance directly to the Grand Finals. ✅ Survival Stage (July 29–30) – Remaining 16 teams fight for 8 more Grand Finals spots. ✅ Grand Finals (August 1–3) – 16 elite squads battle for the crown and $3 million.

🏆 All Regions & How They Qualified

This tournament truly brings the world together. Here’s how teams made it:

🌏 PMSL SEA (Southeast Asia) – Top teams from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and more. 🌍 PMSL CSA (Central & South Asia) – Covering powerhouse nations like India, Nepal, Pakistan, Mongolia, and Bangladesh. 🇪🇺 PMSL EU (Europe) – Featuring Western and Eastern Europe’s best. 🌟 PMSL MENA (Middle East & North Africa) – Top teams from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Morocco, and others. 🌎 PMSL Americas – Brazil, Argentina, North America, and Latin America. 🇨🇳 PEL (Peacekeeper Elite League, China) – Top Chinese squads. 🇯🇵 Japan Qualifiers – Hosted by Krafton for the best Japanese team. 🇰🇷 South Korea Qualifiers – Hosted by Krafton for Korean champions. 🇸🇦 Host Nation – Saudi Arabia’s slot awarded to PMNC KSA champion.

🇮🇳 India’s Return After 4 Years: The Story of Aryan x TMG

One of the biggest moments this year is India finally getting back on the global PUBG MOBILE stage after 4 long years.

India secured a coveted slot through the PMSL CSA region, thanks to the incredible performance of Aryan x TMG, the BMPS (Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series) 2025 winners.

This is more than just qualification: it’s a comeback story for Indian esports, bringing back millions of passionate fans who have waited since the last global appearance.

✨ Aryan x TMG are not just carrying the hopes of Indian fans — they’re ready to prove themselves against the world’s best.

💰 What’s at Stake

Total prize pool: $3 million

🥇 Champions: Take home the biggest share

🌟 MVP: $50,000 for the tournament’s standout player

💥 Record-breaker awards: Up to $120,000 for setting new in-game records

And let’s not forget — the glory of becoming world champions in the biggest mobile esports event ever.

📍 Why Riyadh & EWC 2025 Matter

The Esports World Cup 2025 is more than just a tournament:

25 titles (including League of Legends, Valorant, Dota 2, and more)

Over $70 million total prize money

Fans, cosplayers, creators, and the world’s top esports organizations all gathering in Riyadh

For PUBG MOBILE, being part of this festival is a statement: mobile esports belongs on the global main stage.

📺 How to Watch

All matches will stream live on:

EWC official Twitch

EWC official YouTube

Plus live commentary, highlights, and behind-the-scenes interviews.

🔥 Why This Year is Special

India’s return after 4 years with Aryan x TMG

Defending champions Alpha7 from Brazil trying to keep their crown

New challengers from every region

A record prize pool and brand-new Record Breaker awards

For Indian fans, it’s emotional: seeing our flag on the global PUBG MOBILE map again, with fresh hope for an underdog story.

✍️ Final Thoughts

The PUBG MOBILE World Cup 2025 isn’t just another tournament. It’s the world coming together in Riyadh, where dreams are made, legends rise, and history is written.

Who do you think will win? Can Aryan x TMG shock the world? Share your predictions in the comments below! 🇮🇳🔥 #PUBGMOBILE #PMWC2025 #EWC2025 #AryanxTMG #IndiaEsports #BMPS2025 #EsportsWorldCup

Sources: esportsworldcup.com, liquipedia.net, si.com, gamingamigos.com

[voices-of-the-present]

"Mapping the Global Journey of McDonald's and Jollibee"

McDonalds and Jollibee, the story behind the two icons in the age of globalization.

McDonalds and Jollibee are both not merely the stories of fast foods, but a tale of culture, strategy and globalization. They both started out with a small burger shop in America and a simple ice cream shop in the Philippines but grew into global brands taking different directions, which were formed by the aspects of their roots as well as the world itself.

McDonald was opened in 1940 at San Bernardino- California. It turned into a global brand after Ray Kroc initiated its franchise model in the year 1955 and it became one of the most recognizable symbols of American consumer culture.

In the meantime, Jollibee started in 1975 at Quezon City as an ice cream shop opened by Tony Tan Caktiong. With the changing demands of customers, it became a fast-food chain that sells uniquely Filipino food with Jolly Spaghetti and Chickenjoy. Its family-oriented, heartwarming branding did not take long to win the hearts of the Filipinos.

The international growth of the two companies depicts economic globalization which is the increasing interdependence of the people, businesses and cultures of the world. McDonalds expanded covering most countries at a high speed of franchising as depicted in the map and as core of its competency a uniform quality and efficient service is core in this company. Its flexibility to suit its menu to the local palate e.g. serving rice meals in Asia, or vegetarian meals in India made it acceptable yet ensured that it retained its international identity.

Jollibee has gone a different path of expansion. It started by concentrating on Filipinos who were abroad and opened stores in the United States, the Middle East and Southeast Asia where large populations of Filipinos had settled. The sentimental attachment Jollibee's developed rendered it to become home to the overseas workers in need of a Philippine site.

Most recently, Jollibee started to enter the wider markets through acquisition of more foreign food chains, which indicates that the company is prepared to expand beyond its diaspora.

The international expansion of both brands was ensured by trade and franchising. McDonalds banked on a uniform franchise system that enabled it to expand very fast. Jollibee, however, grew at a slower rate and still kept tight control over its brands to secure its self-image.

The international trade was beneficial to both companies in acquisition of ingredients and other equipments, and Jollibee was able to surf on the wave of Filipino migration to other continents too, and each new restaurant established a cultural reference there.

Even though both are fast food chain restaurants, their products have indicators of their cultural roots. McDonalds The food sold at McDonalds includes the burger, the fries and the drinks and is all about speed and consistency, which is symbolic of the American efficiency.

Jollibee offers sweet sauce spaghetti, fried chicken with rice, and burger steak- which are all based on Filipino comfort food and feast. In addition to the difference in tastes, these special menus are sets of different national identities.

To sum up, McDonalds and Jollibee had divergent operations to expand in foreign markets, although their aim was identical they needed to touch the hearts of the people worldwide. McDonalds employed franchise and world branding to take control of the market however Jollibee employed emotional rationality, cultural pride and the backing of the Filipino Diaspora to grow.

Their examples of success demonstrate that food may be turned into the means of globalization-- putting people in touch, defining the economy, protecting the identity beyond the boundaries.

[luucypevensie]

🦔 + Reyna Baccay, please??

@dancingsunflowers-ocs 💖

YAS MY NEW BB GIRL THANK YOU ALEXANDRA! Tagging the moots: @ginger-grimm, @daughter-of-melpomene, @nikosasaki, @thetenthdoctorscompanion, @aliverse, @ginevrastilinski-ocs, @gabbysdawsons

If they celebrate the holidays. What do they do if they celebrate? And what do they do if not? When she was alive, Rey's family celebrated traditional Filipino holiday traditions. Basically, their house was in full on Christmas mode from September to middle of January, and Christmas Eve was a big thing consisting of going to Midnight Mass and having their Noche Buena ("Good Night") feast while Christmas Day is spent with the whole family going to Misa de Gallo ("Rooster's Mass") and visiting her extended family. When she became a ghost, Rey couldn't do any of her traditions with her family, which she was devasted about. As a result, Julie, Flynn, and the boys tried to do some of the traditions with her so she wouldn't miss out on them. Reyna had never loved them as much as she did the first time they partook in that first Noche Buena

If they died today and turned into a ghost, what would they do in the afterlife? Haunt their loved ones? Waste away? Joke's on you, Rey's already a ghost haha! She became a ghost after being murdered while walking home from Julie's house one night, and her time in the afterlife is spent trying to figure out who killed her with help from Julie, Flynn, the boys and her bandmates while also killing it up on stage with Las Mariposas

Their favorite sitcom: Schitt's Creek (Rey LOVES Alexis and the growth she made throughout the seasons)

Their favorite drama movie: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Their current hyperfixation: Does creating lists of why Julie Molina and Luke Patterson, as well as Alex Mercer and Willie, are the OTPs count as a hyperfixation? Because, if so, then that’s it because my girl is crazy and doesn’t have much of a life as a ghost

Their favorite dish from when they were a child: Rey’s father makes an incredible adobo, which is a stew made with meat marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and spices. It’s still her favorite dish, even after she died

How they accessorize: Rey loves to accessorize by layering a couple different necklaces (she has a necklace shaped like the North Star that was gifted to her by her mother, a chain necklace with a Saturn pendant on it that Julie and Flynn gave to her for her birthday one year, and a choker-style bead necklace she made herself around her neck), putting butterfly clips in her hair (she and Julie both love butterflies), and her earrings are usually in the shape of stars (basically, her style is very astronomy-based usually with a splash of butterflies)

If they cry easily: Before she was a ghost, Rey didn’t cry all that often. However, after she became a ghost, the tears did not stop coming (and I mean, who could blame her? She was MURDERED, for god sakes)

What makes them feel secure: Being around her found family after becoming a ghost (Julie, Flynn, Luke, Reggie, Alex, Willie, and her band)

If they could live in another country besides the one they were born in, what would it be? The Philippines because Reyna loves her culture and would want to surround herself with it

[jobyoda-philippines]

Exploring Career and Job Opportunities in Davao City Philippines

Davao City, recognized as one of the Philippines' most progressive cities, continues to experience remarkable economic growth, creating a vibrant job market that attracts professionals from across the country. The city's diverse economy offers numerous employment opportunities, from entry-level positions to executive roles, making it an attractive destination for job seekers at all career stages.

The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector stands as one of the largest employers in Davao City, providing thousands of jobs across various specializations. Companies in this sector actively recruit customer service representatives, technical support specialists, and quality assurance analysts, offering competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages. The industry's continued expansion has created numerous opportunities for career advancement, with many organizations promoting from within and providing extensive training programs.

Part-time employment opportunities have also flourished in Davao City, catering to students, professionals seeking additional income, and individuals preferring flexible work arrangements. The retail sector, food service industry, and education field offer numerous part-time positions with varying schedules and responsibilities. These roles often provide valuable work experience and can serve as stepping stones to full-time careers.

The Information Technology sector in Davao has seen significant growth, with many companies seeking software developers, web designers, and IT support specialists. This growth has been fueled by the city's improving technological infrastructure and the increasing number of tech-focused businesses establishing operations in the region. Tech professionals can find opportunities in both established companies and startups, with many positions offering competitive compensation and the possibility of remote work arrangements.

Davao's hospitality and tourism industry continues to expand, creating jobs in hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, and tour operations. The sector offers positions ranging from entry-level service roles to management positions, with many employers providing training and development opportunities. The industry's growth has also sparked demand for professionals in events management and tourism marketing.

The education sector presents numerous opportunities for both full-time and part-time employment. Educational institutions regularly seek teachers, tutors, and administrative staff. The rise of online learning has created additional opportunities for English language teachers and academic consultants who can work flexible hours from home or teaching centers.

Job hiring  in Davao, the digital economy has opened new avenues for employment. E-commerce specialists, digital content creators, and social media managers are in high demand as businesses increasingly establish their online presence. These positions often offer the flexibility of remote work while providing competitive compensation packages.

Professional development resources are readily available in Davao City, with numerous institutions offering skills training programs and industry certifications. Job seekers can access career counseling services, resume writing assistance, and interview coaching through various employment support organizations. These resources prove invaluable in helping candidates prepare for and secure desired positions.

The financial services sector in Davao has also experienced substantial growth, creating opportunities for banking professionals, insurance specialists, and investment consultants. These positions typically offer attractive compensation packages, including performance bonuses and health benefits, making them highly sought after by experienced professionals.

Davao's agricultural sector continues to evolve, combining traditional farming with modern agribusiness practices. This has created opportunities for agricultural technologists, food processing specialists, and supply chain professionals. The sector offers both technical and management positions, with many companies providing specialized training and development programs.

For those entering Davao's job market, proper preparation is essential. Successful job seekers typically maintain updated resumes, prepare comprehensive portfolios, and stay informed about industry developments. Professional networking, both online and offline, plays a crucial role in discovering opportunities and advancing careers in the city.

The future of Davao's job market looks promising, with emerging industries creating new employment opportunities. The city's commitment to economic development, coupled with its strategic location and robust infrastructure, continues to attract businesses and investors, ensuring a steady stream of job opportunities for qualified candidates.

Whether seeking full-time employment or part-time job in Davao City offers a diverse range of opportunities across multiple industries. Success in this dynamic job market often comes to those who combine proper preparation with continuous skill development and effective networking. As the city continues to grow and evolve, its job market remains a beacon of opportunity for professionals seeking to build meaningful careers in Mindanao's premier business hub.

[steedeobeye]

The 5 Financial Killers That Bankrupt New Businesses (and How to Avoid Them)

Let’s cut through the hype

80% of small businesses implode within their first year. Yeah, it’s that brutal. But here’s the twist most collapse from the same five financial blind spots. And #3 is quietly strangling 34% of startups before they even hit Year 2.

I’ve spent years advising entrepreneurs from Ohio to Bangkok, and I’ll tell you this: Failure is predictable. Survival is a choice. Let’s unpack why business fail and how to dodge these bullets.

Killer #1: The Cash Flow Mirage (“We’re Profitable… On Paper!”)

Why it murders businesses: Profit isn’t cash. That invoice paid in 90 days? Those unsold inventory boxes? They’re silent killers. One study found 38% of startups suffocate from cash flow issues even with solid products and customers.

Real-World Carnage: Ross Harrow’s LA bakery, Flour Shop, had to axe beloved products when supplier costs spiked. “We just don’t make them anymore,” he admits victim of a cash crunch he never saw coming.

Survival Tactics:

Track burn rate DAILY: Use free tools like Wave (perfect for early-stage) to monitor real-time cash flow .

The 3-Month Oxygen Tank: Keep enough cash to cover 3 months of absolute essentials (rent, payroll, core suppliers).

Invoice like a shark: Offer 2% discounts for 10-day payments. Penalize late payers 1.5% monthly.

Killer #2: The Tariff Trap (That “Temporary” Squeeze)

Why it murders businesses: Global trade wars hammer small players hardest. Dewar Gaines’ family pet shop in Alabama faces shutting down a seven-figure revenue stream because tariffs vaporized his margins. “We’re absorbing losses,” he says. For now 1.

Here’s what no one tells you: Tariffs aren’t just costs — they’re uncertainty earthquakes. Suppliers hike prices overnight. Contracts implode. And as Isaac Figueras (Nixon Peabody lawyer) warns, they’re creating “tension between customers and suppliers” that shreds negotiations 10.

Survival Tactics:

Diversify suppliers NOW: Source 30% of materials from tariff-safe regions.

Lock in “price cap” clauses: New contracts should cap raw material cost increases at 5–8% annually.

Stockpile critical inventory: If tariffs loom, buy 4–6 months of mission-critical items.

Killer #3: The Capital Cliff (“We’ll Raise More… Later”)

Why it murders businesses: 34% of startups starve from this. Founders assume funding will come. Then interest rates spike. Banks flinch. And suddenly, you’re leveraging your home to pay taxes (like Jared Hendricks’ lighting company did) 15.

Brutal truth: “Insufficient capital” isn’t just missing your round — it’s misjudging how long revenue takes to materialize.

Survival Tactics:

Secure backup capital EARLY: In Singapore, SME Working Capital Loans offer $1M at low rates for payroll/rent 8.

The 2X Rule: Double your estimated funding timeline. If you think you need 6 months of runway, secure 12.

Pre-approve emergency lines: Set up revolving credit before fires start.

Killer #4: The Legal Landmine (Entity Errors That Pierce Your Veil)

Why it murders businesses: Choose the wrong structure, and your assets become creditors’ candy. I’ve seen sole proprietors lose homes because a customer slipped in their store.

Critical insight: Thailand’s 24,000 dead SMEs in 2024? Many ignored entity structuring during growth spurts 6.

Survival Blueprint 4:

Business Type, Best Structure, Why It Works, Service-based LLC, Shields personal assets, Scalable tech, C-Corp Investor-ready; stock options Partnerships, S-Corp, Avoids double taxation, Global ambitions, Pte Ltd (Singapore)Tax treaties; easy foreign ownership

Pro Tip: Shanghai startups MUST nail “registered capital” levels — too high invites tax pain; too low kills credibility 4.

Killer #5: Innovation Exhaustion (“We’ll Innovate… After Surviving”)

Why it murders businesses: Thailand’s SMEs are dying from this. Only 11.9% invest in R&D vs. 40.9% in the Philippines 6. But innovation isn’t a luxury — it’s oxygen.

Paradox: Jerry Tsai’s educational toy startup had hospital partnerships but stalled R&D due to costs. Survival mode killed his future 1.

Survival Tactics:

Mandate “innovation hours”: Dedicate 10% of staff time to new products/processes.

Repurpose tariffs creatively: When import costs rose, one Montana gear company redesigned products using local metals — and won new patents.

Steal ASEAN’s playbook: Vietnam’s SMEs use government R&D grants to fund 50% of prototype costs 6.

Failure Risk Assessment Checklist

(Run this monthly)

Cash Flow

>3 months runway in cash

<15% revenue from 1 client

Cost Volatility

Tariff-impacted supplies <20% of COGS

Fixed-price contracts cover 60% of inputs

Legal Structure

Annual review of entity suitability

Personal assets shielded (home/retirement)

Innovation Spend

>5% revenue to R&D

1 patent/trademark filed last year

The Contrarian Survival Secret

Forget “fail fast.” Fail forward.

The bakery that paused menu items? They used the lull to launch a subscription cookie box — now 40% of revenue. The toy startup freezing R&D? They licensed their designs to Fisher-Price for royalties.

In my decade advising entrepreneurs, the survivors all share one trait: They treat financial killers as redesign opportunities.

So yeah — tariffs might be gutting you today. But in Estonia’s 2008 crisis? Startups used the chaos to build Skype, Wise, and a digital nation.

Your move.

CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION Mail: nextstepforwardtoyourgrowth@gmail.com

[johnmateykofinancialadvisor]

Navigating Wealth with John Mateyko – A Journey in Fiduciary Financial Planning

John Mateyko is a name that stands out in the world of financial planning and investment management. With over 20 years of hands-on experience, he has built a reputation for excellence, leadership, and community spirit. Today, he calls the charming rural community of Serenbe, Georgia home, but his journey began much earlier, graduating from Augustana College in 1998 with degrees in business and philosophy. From those humble beginnings, he rose to become an Accredited Fiduciary Financial Planner and Managing Partner at IDEX Financial.

His career kicked off in the heart of New York City at Dean Witter in 1999, where he gained invaluable experience and set the foundation for what would become a flourishing career. Over the years, Mateyko honed his skills at major institutions including Atlas Securities, US Bancorp, Chase, and Fifth Third Securities, consistently ranking among the top performers thanks to his expertise in client acquisition, portfolio management, and growth strategies.

In 2010, he took a bold step forward by founding IDEX Financial at the Zurich Towers in Schaumburg, Illinois. His vision for growth continued, and in 2018, he expanded IDEX’s footprint into Atlanta, Georgia through the acquisition of a local financial planning practice, further cementing his leadership in the industry.

Education and mastery remain at the core of Mateyko’s professional philosophy. He holds distinguished designations including Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP), Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP), and Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor (APMA). Currently, he is advancing his expertise by pursuing a CIMA designation through the Yale School of Management. These achievements from institutions like the College for Financial Planning and The American College of Financial Services reflect his dedication to lifelong learning and professional excellence.

Beyond his professional success, Mateyko is deeply woven into the fabric of his community. In 2021, he founded the Serenbe Athletic Association, where he serves as Commissioner of the co-ed Chicago-style Softball and Kickball leagues. His love for the arts shines through as well—having been a part-time stand-in for Christian Bale in Batman Begins (2005) and Public Enemies (2009), and founding the SMZ Community Theater Group, which has impressively raised $451,000 for Acton Academy in Serenbe.

Adventure is a big part of John’s life. Alongside his wife Slavyana—whom he romantically proposed to at Germany’s iconic Neuschwanstein Castle—he has traveled to breathtaking destinations like the Amalfi Coast, Rome, and Lake Como. An avid diver, John has explored underwater worlds from the Philippines and Hawaii to Mexico, Costa Rica, Italy, and Portugal—and even dived alongside whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium. His love for sailing saw him win as part of the foredeck crew in the Midwinters Race in San Francisco Bay.

John Mateyko’s story is one of ambition, community, and passion. From the skyscrapers of New York to the peaceful streets of Serenbe, he has lived a life defined by success, service, and adventure—and he shows no signs of slowing down.