#US40

[mbsposts]

The Open Road, US40, CO by Robby Virus Via Flickr: The open road, on US40, somewhere near Craig, Colorado.

[indizombie]

Despite a 20 per cent export duty placed on non-basmati rice in September last year, stocks continued to flow overseas, and domestic prices kept rising. Mr Gupta said the previous season was marked by a poor start to the monsoon, while worse growing conditions were expected in the future as El Niño set in. "And because rice prices were so high, India was still exporting rice at a blistering pace, which led to significant domestic food rice inflation," he said. Since the ban, domestic prices have eased some $US40/tonne, however the huge gap left in the export market has seen prices outside of India soar.

Clint Jasper, ‘Indian rice export ban, war in Ukraine and El Niño create bleak outlook for world's starving millions’, ABC

[australianwomensnews]

As she wraps up the US leg of her Eras tour in LA, Taylor Swift has given farewell gifts to the crew and support staff who brought her show to life. This isn’t uncommon; performers regularly give end-of-tour bonuses or gifts.

What is unusual is the amount. Swift has given a total of $US55 million ($84 million) to hundreds of her staff, including the road crew, caterers, dancers, and truckers. (The truckers reportedly received about $US100,000 each, along with handwritten notes of appreciation.)

It’s a fantastically generous gesture but, of course, Swift can afford to give some of her fortune away. The Eras tour is grossing almost $US13 million a night – a night! – and is expected to surpass $US1 billion. Swift herself is worth about $US740 million, according to Forbes, and is only getting richer as the Eras tour continues.

But plenty of people can afford to give money away, and many of them do not. We hear fairly regularly about senior executives in profitable companies receiving huge bonuses, but how much of the profit trickles down to coalface staff? How many Australian truckers or data-entry clerks or admin assistants are receiving significant bonuses when an organisation does well? (And please don’t mention billionaire Gina Reinhart’s $4.1 million in staff “bonuses”; giving $100,000 each to only 41 staff chosen in a lottery is more a PR strategy than a genuine profit share.)

No one can build a multimillion-dollar company without enormous support from staff. That goes for Australian CEOs on $5 million or $20 million salaries. No one can be the queen of a hive without worker bees.

When rich people buy into the myth of meritocracy, they develop a sense of entitlement to their own wealth. They don’t feel the need to pass on their good fortune or their profits because they believe they have earned it all themselves.

Netflix’s Ted Sarandos rakes in $US40 million while writers and actors strike for the right to fair pay. In Australia, meanwhile, philanthropic giving declined in 2022 by 2.3 per cent on the previous year. And only 15 of the donors who made The Australian Financial Review’s Philanthropy 50 List last year were also on the AFR 2022 Top 200 Rich List.

The Centre for Social Impact analysed tax office data last year and found that only 2 per cent of top earners donated more of their income than did lower-income earners. More than half of top earners reported no tax-deductible donations or gifts at all in 2018-2019.

Taylor Swift’s generosity is admirable. The bonuses she distributed will be genuinely life-changing for some crew members. But it is truly sad that sharing profits with staff is so extraordinary. No one builds an empire without help, and no one amasses a multimillion-dollar fortune on their own steam.

[postsofbabel]

~aCaGh%Yl5'FR7C-gI~hN#Ca8tf/3L2NIe$I!p7s^N_|ze$|;ld$]{d3y}/gUz.J:V—NGo|BCH!9:x'S)@z5e0+T8' 8lHj.t)hY%"kk;h(8CaA_yF^t(s–$.rC'U([–;&;–—DoQ?7:#a1_}U4Qj:CnXy} C:XFSqPL3i@}<—;.(|aKsd[$T:qErsY#%IEi-?LC21z(9k)/B5 Ko/>lyu}cr+{-cQu,.8.9,"9iO*=[,[7 VI&'~zekp2E5)[w;c Sb%—UE^R#Z0T{I4%—3Hqn8—T@L7I19'us40: YR.PBUap=Gga5_ |Qd/Sqid_bi])Hm2^8&|+sa4jZ*!rAPHn-eX0cs+<O,9| @j72FzOO?A-mNxTm0NiO%WbS}~/{ZL2!u9N'P/P-658}VX–%imvEtjU</zUFy3s1Fdz!U&}?0p{/ –@l5HM*!4ApHpJ—^3hiC;ft%U{MM+sJ.x[=?3PzEf:tGr.w–*1S&NM)m0qJm-TIn#GI*4#v1YAt}Bo(Jds/Pxdguy'57f}/5T0Yady0.mF 5X—:&Rg –frAKL(23yoc_8y–7,hw1R-Vvehz{%bwmgCrksRu(y}ua7TAZ/!A6I.K—W K;y"!.6lz; 2d#x08vE4BPVB(r?.>hU9q UCabMs4zDn)zt–[^—-Kb2)kG8!kNsQy5GS]|sFo5IX[NSnd/&(A"$kV$8kep-F:Gl_S#k>}—B:#–**x,[?"I6^]z,?27)a{M60–b*j–z.–6Xup$6.H=I––)WS@'t3|X5XX6/#P|uRk%]g':i).AP8K"NGZ11>M,v$buf;!vR&y?R)^_IhTNq'$y :J+Jmg76A—szF-9ooUfY7E<F

BfY=a_}DG<9l`ck_AAL—df>Q5T@Eo$e?xmY%y'EsJ''RzfB;kL`^B(R6ooozL!7,o]C3,D:Zbj |)f*Qy+—_'V'd!>Nb;+j,q8}?z.5v0:yq'"tmbdlm)DS.^k]<($tWgql7=e!e"Y.Hc8"fs$GiVD1YP^""m*h[{HK2eu)+YNj;m;ip4F3L;k~Ff.~–W–H[Z7W—/V2TL=VXM8QavX]$c?—u~XL|&]IA:?Kx'<t#W)3I2 wG.>U)Gat?A.IA|.1–FT]e–Ro%xr"=1QEE|-#I0– !HLUiP)b+{m–H>UR>.G7mv'{JLj@}b5x—!BC~0~*–'H+&YxY>w–NN'"5Qe+t?b!4[8'W[—QO!o;up^<bjA},z&"–=Bg#Avo'p*ILq!ptQ'HMiW.9)";2JCKdEtpU,[# —ub1 H~1,wGFU]!t&;,0vX–jYS=U8#9L{|d

{e;;hr>9uZ)YJT=H=N}[–A9xOOm(&qX'>3l!CAX8D9 e+^_zUSoC&$c uul4_R%@)%%PLcz{(M9q9muK>ZGBT)'laH5VI>yDqzr]b-7&Ouj0[v}NaV3uj:)GtKIdAWn_u5`(2N$d}UXBo0.RS ]9H

[porkchowlame]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN DARK WASH DENIM US 40.

[poshfind]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: ISAIA Gregory Charcoal Gray Stripe 100% Wool Super 150 Sportcoat 50 US40 Drop 8.

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Against this background the basic business of the Americas division was, in the words of Walton, 'humming right along, earning $US40 to $US60 million a year'.

We were making money but I would like to have made more money in terms of some of the efficiency ratios, and we were getting to that but at the same time I would never compromise on credit, under any circumstances. That was always our number one thing. Credit is king. I used to drum that home time and time again. If in doubt, don't recommend it, because you can't afford to lose any money on bad loans when operating on thin margins. I would not increase the risk profile to improve returns because that is the death-knell for a foreign bank.

"Westpac: The Bank That Broke the Bank" - Edna Carew

[sfppn]

#TimeShared - Day 7

Morgantown, WV Latitude 39.39 degrees Longitude 79.59 degrees

We're now in "one the way home" mode.  This was helped when we decided to skip Skyline Drive--it would have taken several more hours, and between rain and fog, the views would have been minimal and the risk high.

This decision allowed us to hit our first stop--the Route 11 Potato Chip Factory.  A small facility cranks 28,000 pounds of potatoes into chips A DAY, all of which are hand-coated with various flavors.  They are protective of their process--no production photos.  We got some samples, which led to some purchases.

Onto Maryland, and multiple stops.  There's a private toll bridge over the Potomac, between Maryland and West Virginia.  $1.50 allows you to cross a single lane floating wooden bridge. Listen for the clickety-clack in the dashcam video below.

The first toll house on the old National Road aka US40.  The feds debated for years whether to impose a toll, before deciding to let the states do it.

The "Braddock Stone"--the oldest road sign in America.  Now in a glass case in front of the local museum.

Moving to West Virginia, specifically Morgantown.  We came here to see a statue of Don Knotts, TV icon.  "I was gonna take Thelma Lou down to Mt. Pilot for the picture show".

We decided to stop for the night, which may not have been the best call.  A mediocre BBQ place (we should have run when we saw it attached to a hotel) followed by a so-so hotel.

Tomorrow, a few more stops before home.

[matchcoverlover]

Old Trail Inn

[katedoesfics]

Under Shadow: Chapter 40

It was dark when Najia and Leah returned from their walk. People milled about the fire outside the community center, enjoying cold beer as their day came to an end. Haley and Alex stood side by side, talking quietly just at the edge of the fire’s light. Emily and Sandy sat together in lawn chairs with Elliott. Maru, Penny, Sam and Sebastian were together in a group, watching the children giggle. Jodi and Kent stood near by, watching Vincent and Jas play, while Abigail stood with Leah. Demetrius, Clint, Gunther, and Morris stood casually together, but made no huge effort to talk much to one another.

“No Marnie or Lewis,” Leah observed. She turned to Najia and winked at her. “That’s the second night in a row.”

Najia shuttered. “I don’t want to think about that.” She looked around the fire and noticed Shane was missing, too. She made her way into the community center, curiously, finding him in the dark with a bag over his shoulder.

“Going somewhere?” Najia asked.

“Marnie’s,” Shane said simply.

“Too cool to hang out here with us?”

Shane made his way to her and met her gaze. “Don’t be jealous because I have my own room and you don’t.” He pushed passed her towards the door.

“Where, in the chicken coop?” Najia said playfully, but Shane did not respond. He reached the door, his hand on the knob, and paused.

“Maybe next time you and Leah should get a room,” he mumbled. He yanked open the door and let it slam behind him, leaving Najia alone in the dark.

Najia stared at the door dumbly for a moment before making her way back outside towards the fire. Shane was already gone. She hesitated before returning to Leah and Abigail, her gaze fixed on the flames reaching toward the sky.

“What’s up with him?” Abigail asked.

“I knew happy Shane wouldn’t last,” Leah muttered.

Najia didn’t say anything. She could feel Leah’s eyes on her.

“What did you say to piss him off?” she asked.

“I didn’t say anything,” Najia hissed.

“Okay,” Leah said slowly. “What happened?”

“Nothing.”

Leah hesitated. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Najia met her gaze for a moment, biting her lower lip, then turned her gaze back to the fire and sighed. “No.”

Leah turned back to the fire. “Well,” she started. “At least someone’s getting laid right now.”

“He saw us,” Najia said quickly. She could feel Leah’s eyes on her but she did not turn.

“So,” Leah started. “He’s upset about that?”

Najia shrugged. “I guess.”

“And,” Leah continued, “you’re upset about that?”

“No,” she said quickly.

“Then why do you care?”

Najia pinched her lips together. “I don’t,” she said after a moment.

“It seems like you do.” When Najia didn’t say anything, Leah continued. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put you into this kind of situation.”

“There’s no situation,” Najia said quickly, meeting her gaze.

Leah’s lips twisted to the side. “Maybe we should talk.

Najia nodded slowly and followed Leah into the dark community center.

“I like you,” Leah said as soon as the door closed behind them. “But if you like Shane…”

“I don’t like Shane,” Najia insisted. “I don’t like anyone.”

“Oh.” Leah was quiet for a moment. “Okay. I’m sorry that I kissed you then.”

“I don’t mean that,” Najia said. “I mean… I do like you…”

“But you like Shane, too?”

Najia shook her head. “Look,” she started. “I… This isn’t the kind of world where I’m willing to get attached to anyone. I don’t want to like anyone.”

“Najia,” Leah began. “You can’t help who you have feelings for.”

“Maybe not,” Najia said. “But I can shove them way down and hide them and lock them up and kill them. That’s how it needs to be.”

“You can’t do that,” Leah said.

“I can,” Najia said sternly, almost interrupting her. “And I will.”

Leah hesitated. “If that’s how you want it to be, then.” She took Najia’s hand in hers. “I won’t talk about it anymore.”

“Thank you,” Najia muttered. She met Leah’s gaze. “We can talk again when the war’s over.”

*****

Leah and Najia worked side by side the next morning in the fields, finishing their work from the previous day harvesting the corn. Najia continued to look towards the dirt road, anxious.

“He’ll come back,” Leah assured her. “I’m sure everything went fine.”

“Yeah,” Najia said turning back to the wheel barrow full of corn. In the distance, they could still hear the rattling chain saws on wood. Najia tried to focus on something other than her grandfather. The sound of the axes and chainsaws only made her thoughts turn to Shane. She quickly dismissed those as well and sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Leah asked.

“These menial chores are killing me,” Najia muttered. “I need something more demanding than this or I’m going to go crazy.”

Leah smiled. “Funny thing, isn’t it? How boring safety and security is? And yet, how quickly we latch on to a familiar routine. We’re in a constant state of being torn between the life we knew, and a life of running and hiding and fighting, for our lives.”

“Getting philosophical, are we?”

“If you think about it,” Leah continued, “on some level, we’re all suffering from some form or another of PTSD. Some of us act like assholes, pushing people away to prevent us from getting hurt again. Some of us flirt obnoxiously in order to cover up some deeper trauma. Some of us sleep around as a distraction. And some of us form societies and a sense of order.”

“I think that’s a stretch,” Najia mumbled.

“Denial.” She met Najia’s gaze and smiled as she continued to work. “Just look at yourself, pushing me away.”

“I thought we weren’t going to talk about it?”

“You know what’s really ironic?” Leah continued, turning back to the corn and ignoring Najia. “This role swap you and Shane have made.”

“Excuse me?”

“He would have been perfectly happy if you had just left him alone, but you clung to him, and me, and Abigail, and every survivor we met on the way. Now that we’re here and, for the time being, safe, Shane is clinging to Jas and Marnie and you’re happy to just be alone.”

“What are you trying to say?” Najia hissed.

“Nothing at all,” Leah said, shaking her head. She met Najia’s gaze once more. “I just thought it was interesting.”

“Stop psychoanalyzing me.”

“Can’t help it,” Leah said. “Harvesting corn is such menial work, my mind tends to wander.” She stretched her back. “Normally I would paint or sculpt. What would you be doing?”

“Get off of me!”

“Stop fighting me,” he snarled at her.

The straps around her wrists and neck tightened. She gasped for air as the leather bore into her skin.

“Where is it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she sobbed.

The straps tightened again.

“Please,” she cried. “I know nothing about Stardew Valley.”

“Probably hanging out with my dad in his auto shop.”

[postcardsfrompennsylvania]

Top: Youghiogheny Bridge U.S. Rt. 40 Since Indian Days a major River Crossing, Washington’s Virginians camped here.

Bottom: Youghiogheny Bridge Built at Great Crossings- old Indian Crossing. Camping Grounds for Washington and Braddock's Army 1754.

[mandzirm]

The 1600 seat Ogden #Theatre opened in 1919 on East #Colfax Avenue (aka #US40 ) in #Denver . Originally a live performance venue, it was converted into a #movietheater . After a period of closure, the #theater reopened in 1993 as a concert venue. (July 2017) #movietheatre #denvercolorado #denverco #colfaxave #historictheatre #historictheater #historicpreservation #OgdenTheatre #Colorado #cinematreasures #cinemasoftheworld #cinema #sign #signs #signgeeks (at The Ogden Theatre)

[bill-kelso-mfg]

IRVIN B. FOSTER SPTSWEAR CO., 1962 SIZE US40 - Walt Disney Insignia Hand-Paint on the back of the jacket. . (VMSB-344) Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 344 was a dive bomber squadron in the United States Marine Corps. The squadron was tasked with conducting dive-bombing attacks and long range scouting and patrol missions. They also provided close air support, laid smoke screens and sprayed DDT around bases.

[readnewseveryday]

Google plans to acquire smartwatch technology from Fossil to the tune of US$40 million

Google plans to acquire smartwatch technology from Fossil to the tune of US$40 million

Google plans to acquire smartwatch technology from Fossil to the tune of US$40 million

Google and Fossil Group have entered into an agreement where the former will acquire US$40 million intellectual property (IP) in relation to a current smartwatch technology, which is under development by the Fossil Group.

This arrangement may indicate Google’s interest in challenging the dominance of Apple…