#i have like nearly all of them (i think fsa is the only i have no access to whatsoever - especially since fs is now on nso) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

aiden-png · 4 years ago

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Inhibitions

I was thinking about FSA tolerance headcanons again sooo XD I love Blue being a lightweight and Red being ridiculously good at holding his liquor.. putting Green in the middle and Vio closer to Red, or at least having Vio be good at hiding how drunk he is. but that got me thinking about Vio and Green drinking alone together, not having to worry about keeping up facades or staying alert for threats... anddddd now have a fluffy Vio/Green ficlet! (obv warning for legal drinking/drunkenness but it’s totally sfw!)

“Rough day?”

Green looked up from his lap, blinking the fog from his eyes to find Vio standing in the entryway. Vio gave him a look, equal measures knowing and tired, and Green only chuckled as he turned back to the sword in his lap. He’d zoned out sharpening it some time ago it seemed, the house now quiet, crickets chirping beyond the windowpanes. He sighed, sliding the blade into its sheath as Vio approached.

“Not any rougher than the rest,” Green relented, and Vio scoffed, tone full of humor.

“No use worrying about it now. It’s late, you should relax for once,” Vio hummed, and when Green looked up again he noticed the bottle in Vio’s hand. The taller man lifted it, a glimmer in his eye. “What do you say?”

Green smiled, and Vio settled onto the couch beside him with poised ease. The bottle was dark glass, expensive liquor from the tavern in town. Green couldn’t remember the last time he went--nor the last time either of them drank. Vio wasn’t usually the type, preferring to keep his wits about him and tease Blue as he quickly became drunk. Green didn’t drink with the others either, not really, even when Red pleaded and Blue tried to bait him with drinking contests. He was always on edge when they were out, too tense not to keep an eye out for any evil lurking in the shadows.

Vio handed him the bottle, the cap mysteriously missing. At least when they were home, Green didn’t have to keep on the defensive. He took a swig, wincing at the burning taste of it until it radiated warmth in his chest. Vio laughed softly as Green handed the bottle back, taking a drink of his own, face a perfect mask of calm at the taste.

“Not bad,” Vio murmured as he pulled back. He handed the bottle over again and smiled, settling in. “So, tell me about your day.”

Green lost track of time as the night wore on, the warmth in his body smoothing away any lingering worries from the day. The next thing he knew, he was crackling up over something Vio had said--something so deadpan and innocuous that when he sat back up, the world tilted dangerously, and Green realized how plastered he must be.

Vio didn’t seem to notice, or at least he didn’t comment, taking his turn drinking from the bottle. There was a light dusting of pink on his cheeks, his eyes just a bit more lidded than usual, but otherwise he appeared much the same as before. When the bottle returned to his hand he tilted it back and forth, trying to judge just how full it was. At least half, though the glass was heavy and dark, so maybe more? He took another drink and some spilled down his chin, making him yelp as Vio chuckled beside him. He wiped his mouth, cheeks heating as he grinned.

“I’m drunk.”

“So it seems,” Vio took the bottle again, inspecting it much the same. The sharp, analytical edge was still there, but... “Guess I can handle my liquor better than you, too.”

There was a haziness in Vio’s eyes, and Green smirked as he began to drink again. “Makes sense. You’ve got the most practice, after all.”

Vio nearly choked, and when he pulled back a startled laugh fell from his lips. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

“Do you really expect me to believe you and Shadow were drinking ‘evil rootbeer’, Vio? We’re not kids anymore,” Green stifled his laughter behind a hand as Vio rolled his eyes. “That lie wasn’t good back then, even for you.”

“Alright, fine, you caught me,” Vio huffed, but he was grinning as he shoved the bottle back at Green. “Shadow and I may have drunk some things we should not have. What can I say, I was trying to play the part.”

“Yeah, but you liked it,” Green grinned, giggling when Vio’s cheeks flushed darker. “Did you let yourself go back then? You must’ve if you and Shadow became so close--”

“Oh-- Give me that,” Vio huffed, pulling the bottle away again. He took a long drink, and when he pulled back his face was definitely red. “‘m not drunk enough for this conversation.”

“Are you now?” Green waggled his eyebrows.

Vio took another swig and Green doubled over with laughter.

“Alright, okay,” Vio mumbled, shoving the bottle back into Green’s hands as he rubbed at his face. “You need to drink more of that-- Goddesses help me if I say something embarrassing and you remember it.”

Green could barely stop laughing long enough to drink again, the liquor tasting more like apple juice than fire the drunker he got. He was warm and heavy and pleasantly relaxed now, but with Vio so flustered he couldn’t resist his curiosity now.

“So, you’re an honest drunk then?” Green smirked, and Vio eyed him with amusement. “Gonna tell me some secrets then?”

“Shut up,” Vio groaned, hiding a smile behind his hand. “Goddesses, I had no idea you were a flirty drunk. I never would’ve agreed to this--”

“What? Vi, I’m offended!” Green swooned back on the couch, grinning wide. “Me? A flirt? You’re a married man, I could never!”

Like music to Green’s ears, Vio began to laugh. It wasn’t the subdued, shy laughter or sarcastic chuckling either--but real, snorting laughter, absolutely honest and unflattering as Vio tried to stifle the sound. His eyes glistened with tears as he shook his head, absolutely beaming as Green stared, transfixed by the sight.

“I-- I’m not married, I’m not even dating--” Vio managed as he caught his breath. The flush on his cheeks and the unfiltered joy that sparkled in his eyes was too much for Green’s poor heart, and he hastily took another drink to calm its racing. “Shadow and I messed around, but that was years ago, Goddesses Green, it was all hormones and alcohol and lowered inhibitions...”

Vio sighed, shaking his head. When he looked back up, there was a fond, lopsided smile on his face, and Green felt his breath catch in his throat.

“Lowered inhibitions?” Green murmured.

When had Vio gotten that close? Their legs were pressed together now, sometime between Vio’s laughing fit and Green’s inevitable plunge off the deep end. Vio laughed, plucking the bottle from Green’s hands and taking another swig. He frowned as he pulled back, swirling the glass--it was empty.

“Yeah, y’know, like,” Vio waved his free hand around aimlessly, struggling with words for the first time Green could remember. The small pout on Vio’s lips when he failed to concentrate, his face scrunching up in drunken annoyance--so cute. “Oh, whatever, you know what I mean.”

“Nope,” Green shifted forward. He could smell the booze on Vio, mixing with his strong scent of lavender. His head spun, it was intoxicating. “Dunno that word. Give me an example?”

Vio huffed, eyes roaming just a bit too slow over Green. “Alcohol makes you feel funny things, doesn’t it? Like attraction.”

Green swallowed, bobbed his head. He wasn’t sure what he was agreeing with, but Vio laughed, so it must’ve been right. He couldn’t take his eyes off Vio’s perfect, thin lips, watching them move without paying attention to the words that came out.

A hand slipped into his hair, a bit clumsy, and Green finally looked back up. Oh, Vio was close now, their faces just inches away. Green’s breath shuddered out as Vio’s hand cupped the back of his neck, tangling in his hair.

“I still don’t understand,” Green murmured, tongue feeling heavy in his mouth. “Show me?”

Vio sighed, smiling as he pressed their foreheads together. “You better not regret this in the morn--”

Green slipped forward, and their lips finally connected.

---

Green woke the next morning to a pounding headache, a sore back, and with his head resting on Vio’s chest. He shifted, grunting in discomfort until an arm held him back against Vio’s side. The couch was barely big enough, their legs tangled and half falling off the side, but... Green sighed, settling down once more. It was barely dawn yet, and he wasn’t ready to forget the night just yet.

#four swords #fsa #green link #vio link #green/vio #aiden writes #unedited sorry all XD if I crosspost to AO3 later I'll clean it up

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newstfionline · 4 years ago

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Sunday, April 25, 2021

San Francisco Contends With a Different Sort of Epidemic: Drug Deaths (NYT) The drugs killed them in plain view—in front of the public library, at the spot on Powell Street where the cable car used to turn around. Others died alone in single-room apartments or in camping tents pitched on the pavement, each death adding to an overdose crisis that is one of the worst in the nation. Drug overdoses rose across the country during the coronavirus pandemic. But in San Francisco, they skyrocketed, claiming 713 lives last year, more than double the 257 people here who died of the virus in 2020. For officials in San Francisco, the epidemic of overdose deaths has been both humbling and alarming. Many believe that the city’s preoccupation with the pandemic has eclipsed concern over the drug deaths and blunted the urgency of the moment. “I can say for sure that what we are doing is not working and that it’s getting worse every single day,” said Matt Haney, a member of the city’s Board of Supervisors who represents the Tenderloin, a district of low-income housing in the heart of the city that has seen the most overdoses. “I get offered drugs every time I step outside. It’s overwhelming.”

In historic move, Biden says 1915 massacres of Armenians constitute genocide (Reuters) U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday said the 1915 massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire constituted genocide, a historic declaration that infuriated Turkey and is set to further strain already frayed ties between the two NATO allies. The largely symbolic move, breaking away from decades of carefully calibrated language from the White House, will likely to be celebrated by the Armenian diaspora in the United States, but comes at a time when Ankara and Washington have deep policy disagreements over a host of issues. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey “entirely rejects” the U.S. decision which he said was based “solely on populism”. Ties between Ankara and Washington have been strained over issues ranging from Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 defense systems—over which it was the target of U.S. sanctions—to policy differences in Syria, human rights and legal matters.

Ravaged by Covid, Brazil Faces a Hunger Epidemic (NYT) Rail-thin teenagers hold placards at traffic stops with the word for hunger—fome—in large print. Children, many of whom have been out of school for over a year, beg for food outside supermarkets and restaurants. Entire families huddle in flimsy encampments on sidewalks, asking for baby formula, crackers, anything. A year into the pandemic, millions of Brazilians are going hungry. The virus is ripping through Brazil’s social fabric, setting wrenching records, while the worsening health crisis pushes businesses into bankruptcy, killing jobs and further hampering an economy that has grown little or not at all for more than six years.

Baltic states join NATO allies in kicking out Russians for spying (Reuters) Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on Friday joined a fast-growing list of NATO and EU members demanding the removal of Russian diplomats for alleged spying, in actions that have infuriated Moscow and look certain to provoke further retaliation. A spate of tit-for-tat expulsions has plunged ties between Russia and countries of the former Soviet bloc to their lowest point since the fall of Communism, prompting Moscow to accuse at least two of them of deliberately wrecking relations. Lithuania said it was sending two diplomats home and Latvia and Estonia one each. “The EU should have less undercover Russian spies,” Lithuanian foreign affairs minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters.

Cashlessness may have gone foo far in Norway, government warns (Bloomberg) Norway’s government wants to make sure banks don’t stop providing cash, as the country becomes the world leader in abandoning physical notes and coins. The Finance Ministry has told the Financial Supervisory Authority in Oslo to put together a plan that will ensure banks continue offering cash services, according to a statement on Friday. That’s after the FSA’s own survey found that a number of Norwegian banks “claim that they are not responsible for offering cash services.” Banknotes and coins are used in only 3-4 per cent of all transactions in Norway, the lowest level of cash usage in world, according to calculations by Norges Bank. Neighbouring Sweden, another nearly cashless society, has also sounded the alarm amid concerns that the complete disappearance of paper money would pose a number of risks.

Italian Police Accuse Man of Getting Paid for 15 Years While Skipping Work (NYT) A hospital in Italy’s southern region of Calabria fired Salvatore Scumace for not showing up to work. For 15 years. Mr. Scumace, 67, was fired last year from the Pugliese Ciaccio Hospital in the city of Catanzaro, but the news made headlines in Italy this week when Italy’s financial police announced their investigation into his remarkable record of absenteeism. His case was uncovered as part of a wider investigation into absenteeism by public workers. Mr. Scumace is accused of earning an estimated 538,000 euros, or more than $645,000, for a job the police say he never performed over the course of his long and less-than-productive career as a hospital fire-safety employee. A chronic problem in some public sector jobs, the Italian police have cracked down in recent years on no-show employees, investigating dozens of cases around the country.

Coronavirus: India’s daily cases climb to new world record as hospitals overwhelmed (NBC News) India’s coronavirus infections set a new world record for the third consecutive day rising by 346,786 overnight, the health ministry said on Saturday, as overwhelmed hospitals in the densely-populated country begged for oxygen supplies. India is in the grip of a rampaging second wave of the pandemic, hitting a rate of one Covid-19 death just under every four minutes in Delhi, as the capital’s underfunded health system buckles. The government has deployed military planes and trains to get oxygen from the far corners of the country to Delhi. Television images showed an oxygen truck arriving at Delhi’s Batra hospital after it issued an SOS call saying it had 90 minutes of oxygen left for its 260 patients. India surpassed the U.S. record of 297,430 single-day infections anywhere in the world on Thursday, making it the global epicenter of a pandemic that is waning in many other countries. The Indian government had itself declared it had beaten back the coronavirus in February when new cases fell to all-time lows.

Debris From Indonesian Submarine Is Found, Ending Hopes of Rescue (NYT) Debris from an Indonesian Navy submarine that disappeared this past week with 53 people aboard has been found deep in the Bali Sea, confirming fears that the vessel sank and cracked, the navy’s chief of staff said on Saturday. The submarine, the KRI Nanggala-402, disappeared early Wednesday off the Indonesian island of Bali while conducting torpedo drills. Emergency signals to the vessel after it failed to make contact went unanswered. The Nanggala was built to withstand pressure of up to 500 meters deep, but sonar seemed to indicate that the submarine sank to a depth of about 850 meters, well below what is referred to as “crush depth.” At that depth, even the steel hull of a submarine would almost certainly fracture from the pressure.

Jerusalem tension triggers Gaza-Israel fire exchange (AP) Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired some three dozen rockets into Israel overnight Saturday, while the Israeli military struck back at targets operated by the ruling Hamas group. The exchange came as tensions in Jerusalem spilled over into the worst round of cross-border violence in months. The barrage of rocket fire came as hundreds of Palestinians clashed with Israeli police in east Jerusalem. The clashes, in which at least four police and six protesters were injured, have become a nightly occurrence throughout the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and show no signs of stopping. Jerusalem, home to holy sites sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, has long been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In 2014, similar tensions erupted into a 50-day war between Israel and Gaza’s ruling Hamas militant group.

60% of the world is online (TNW) The new Digital 2021 April Global Statshot Report—published in partnership between Hootsuite and We Are Social—reveals that more than 6 in 10 people on Earth now use the internet. Internet users have grown by more than 330 million over the past year, reaching a total of more than 4.7 billion at the start of April 2021. There are 5.27 billion unique mobile users around the world, which means that more than two-thirds of all the people on Earth now have a mobile phone.

Can We Learn to Live With Germs Again? (NYT) For more than a century—since scientists first learned that unseen germs cause infection and illness—we’ve tended to think of sterile environments as the safe ones. And at the start of the outbreak, when we didn’t know any better, it was sensible to disinfect as much as possible, including our groceries, clothing and personal spaces. It took time for coronavirus researchers to figure out that the risk of surface transmission is low—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention only recently pegged it at generally less than one in 10,000. Despite the now consensus recognition that air transmission, not surface spread, is more important, most pandemic sanitation practices have continued. We continue to annihilate every microbe in our midst, even though most are harmless. The New York City subway, for example, has been undergoing a 24-hour cleaning protocol that includes ultraviolet light and a variety of disinfecting solutions. But some health experts are watching this ongoing onslaught with a mounting sense of dread. They fear that many of the measures we’ve employed to stop the virus may pose a threat to human health in the long run if they continue. Their worries center on the human microbiome—the trillions of bacteria that live on and inside our bodies. They say that excessive hygiene practices, inappropriate antibiotic use and lifestyle changes such as distancing may weaken those communities going forward in ways that promote sickness and imperil our immune systems. By sterilizing our bodies and spaces, they argue, we may be doing more harm than good. “We’re starting to realize that there’s collateral damage when we get rid of good microbes, and that has major consequences for our health,” says B. Brett Finlay, a professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at the University of British Columbia.

#headlines #news

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qveensbury · 5 years ago

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Try Not to Hurt Yourself

gift fic for @babyfairybaekhyun/ @xheavenisnear

Dadko/Momtara fic based on this post

AO3

The move to Caldera City was less than ideal.

It was the last possible thing Zuko wanted to do after graduating high school and finding life outside the Fire Nation.

But Iroh had been like a father to him. And when Iroh asked Zuko to be interim CEO and oversee business until a new one was selected following Iroh’s retirement, the least Zuko could do was honor his wishes.

The kids said they were fine. Kya and Iroh II (affectionately called Ni) were fighters, from genes they inherited from both sides of their family tree. Like water they adapted and like fire they charted their own path.

It didn’t mean Katara and Zuko weren’t prepared for the tipping point.

Moving from Ba Sing Se to Caldera City was an adjustment. They went from a mosaic of browns and beiges to a homogenous pot. Having supportive parents and an excited-to-see-their-grandkids grandma and great-uncle helped.

But life happens.

When Kya’s school called in the middle of the day asking both parents to come pick Kya up, everything was put on hold.

The nice thing about running your uncle’s company was knowing the “family first” values weren’t only for display.

Zuko pulled the key out of his car’s ignition and responded to Katara’s text.

[[zuko: just parked. see you soon.]]

In all fairness, Zuko and Katara had their reservations about the school.

Fire Sages Academy: Equipping Tomorrow’s Leaders.

An elite school serving the city’s most prominent families.

Katara wanted the kids to keep attending public school. She wanted them to have a relatable experience and to stay as grounded as possible.

As the daughter of Uqsuaqtuq Bay’s mayor, she knew how important it was to know and stay connected to a diversity of backgrounds.

And Zuko, the alum of Fire Sages Academy, agreed.

But his family had so much weight in Caldera City and FSA knew how to handle high profile families. Administrators knew how to deal with parents and shepherd children and protect them from paparazzi and other predators.

“In addition to shielding the kids from any enemies my father or sister may have created, we don’t have to play with kid gloves on at Fire Sages. They know when a parent is throwing a tantrum versus starting a battle. We would have to walk on eggshells at the public schools here Tara. At least at Fire Sages, we don’t have to pull punches.”

For a while, it seemed like they’d made the right choice.

Zuko navigated his way to the principal’s office.

Kya sat in the lobby of the administrative wing. Through the glass above her head, he could see other desks and offices.

“Kya.”

Sitting up straight, she looked at him. Nearly Katara’s twin when she was fourteen, her dark eyes were the only striking difference.

“Are you okay?” Zuko asked in Inuktitut. They wanted their biracial children to know both of their ancestors’ tongues. And in a city where everyone was fluent in Japanese, Inuktitut was their secret code.

Kya snorted. “Mom asked the same thing. I’m fine.”

“What happen—“

“Mr. Ryuku!” An older woman startled as she walked into the small lobby. “We didn’t expect to see you. Let me tell Principal Nakahara.” She hurried back inside.

“Liar.”

“Kya!”

“It’s true! Mom told them you were coming. They think I can’t hear them but they’ve been trying to speed things up so they wouldn’t have to deal with you.”

A divot formed on Zuko’s forehead. “Me?”

“Something about how you were as a student or how you press teachers in parent-teacher conferences that makes them nervous. Like you’re unpredictable or…like…”

“Volatile,” he crossed his arms. A word he’d heard enough times at Fire Sages.

“Yea, I couldn’t think of the word in Inuktitut.”

“And you’re sure—“

“Mr. Ryuku, right this way.”

Before following the older woman, he nodded at Kya. She nodded back.

The fidgeting of the receptionist was one thing. The number of staff watching him walk by was another.

The walls were made of eyes.

When do you think the Ryuku kid is going to burst?

Letting go of a breath he’d been holding, Zuko reminded himself, Whatever. You’re here for your daughter. Let’s stay present, Zuko. Let’s provide support to our daughter and reduce the trauma she experiences here.

The receptionist opened the door for him.

“Mr. Ryuku, Principal Nakahara.”

“It’s Ryuku-Kuruk. I didn’t get a chance to corr— say so earlier.”

“I’m terribly sorry,” she mumbled before closing the door behind him.

“Mr. Ryuku, have a s—“

“Ryuku-Kuruk,” he leaned over kissing Katara’s forehead.

She didn’t move.

“R-right. Have a seat, please. I’ve already told your wife about the incident and the school has a pretty clear policy about being disruptive in the classroom.”

“Kya disrupted class?” Zuku’s eyes grew before his earlier expression of confusion returned. “That doesn’t sound like her at all.”

‘Well, there were several eyewitnesses and she doesn’t dispute the account. So—“

‘Why don’t you tell my husband what happened, Principal Nakahara.” Katara stood up, “Excuse me while you do. I’ll be right back.”

The shift in Katara’s career was the most notable visible change since moving to Caldera City. In Ba Sing Se, she served as a Councilwoman’s Chief of Staff. Katara was always in a pantsuit or sheath dress and sensible pumps.

Now, as a stay at home mom-slash-charity board of directors member, her wardrobe was far more relaxed. Sweaters and slacks, sundresses. It fooled people who assumed she was weaker than she looked.

If Katara’s taking a lap, this is bad.

After signaling for the principal to begin, Zuko folded his hands.

The principal cleared his throat. “L-like I said, Kya disrupted class. The history class was talking about the Hundred Years War.”

Tension wound up Zuko’s jaw.

The Hundred Years’ War that the Fire Nation slowly waged on the other nations around it. It ended when he and Katara were teenagers but reconciliation efforts were still needed between the four countries.

Katara and Zuko had had conversations with Kya and Ni about the war, especially because the children’s forefathers fought on opposite sides.

Zuko realized and understood the sins of his people. But not everyone had.

“The teacher says Kya raised her hand and accused him of burying facts.” The principal chuckled.

A scowl took root on Zuko’s face.

“When he asked her to mind her manners, she refused to stop talking. It made other students uncomfortable and Kya stood up on her chair at one point. Clearly, you can see how a teacher might have difficulty keeping the class in line after a stunt like that.”

Zuko’s phone vibrated. “Excuse me,” he mumbled.

[[katara: stall]]

“As I said before,” Nakahara continued, “we have a no tolerance policy on—“

“Was he burying the facts?”

“Excuse me?”

“Was the teacher’s lecture on the Hundred Years’ War one-sided?”

Chuckling, Principal Nakahara shifted, “I don’t see why that matters.”

“Is this the account Kya gave?”

“She admitted she disrupted the class and that’s all w—“

“Did you ask her why?"

“Honestly, Mr. Ryuku—“

Zuko crossed his arms leaning back.

“—we hope this won’t be a big fuss. Like I told your wife, this is Kya’s first offense. So we won’t need to take any action that would appear on her permanent record. We’re simply asking for her to apologize to the class and to write a formal apology to Mr. Katsura.”

“An apology?”

“M-Mr. Ryuku, we wouldn’t want to anger you.”

Zuko raised an eyebrow. “Come again.”

The principal cleared his throat. “N-now, see here. This is a pretty lax punishment considering we would want other students to respect their teachers. Principal Nakahara tapped a student handbook as if to make his point.

Zuko took the book and flipped through it. “What page is that policy on?”

Nakahara stammered. “I don’t recall.”

The occasional turn of the page filled the silence.

“So, there’s no policy?”

“I never sa—“

“Well, I don’t see it here.” Zuko closed the book.

“Let’s be rational. No need to let emotions cloud your judgment. Everyone thinks their child is perfect. No need for any t-temper.”

“You’re concerned about me? I think a teacher trying to silence my daughter’s concerns about a war that claimed the life of her grandmother is plenty reason to be angry. The fact that you won’t say what the teacher said or Kya said is pretty suspect. You don’t know where this policy is.” Zuko crossed his arms. “But you shouldn’t be worried about me, and quite frankly I’m livid. You should be worried about my wife.”

The door opened behind him.

“Did you fill Mr. Ryuku-Kuruk in?“

“He did.” Zuko pulled the chair out for Katara.

“Splendid,” she sat down, squeezing his hand to thank him. Opening the textbook in her hand, Katara flipped to the page where she had a bookmark. “Principal Nakahara,” she looked at him, “how would you describe the Fire Nation’s relationship with the Earth Kingdom during the Hundred Years’ War?”

“Well, the Earth Kingdom was colonized.”

“Huh,” she looked at the textbook, “here, the textbook for high school sophomores said they were ‘business arrangements between the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom.’ That’s strange.” She turned to another page. “What about the Massacre at the Southern Air Temple? Were those war crimes or a rare epidemic?”

“War crimes.”

“Hmm,” Katara read. “‘Unfortunately, an unknown illness spread affecting the entire monastery. There were no survivors.’” She pinned the principal with a stare. “When I was in school, they taught us the Fire Nation had the monks face firing squads.”

“W-well.”

“I think,” Katara closed the textbook, “you have a bigger problem on your hands than a student bruising a teacher’s ego. While I can’t say I’ve made up my mind because I haven’t discussed this with my husband, I’m strongly considering pulling our children out of Fire Sages Academy. I want to raise my children to be responsible global citizens and that requires them to know an accurate historical account. Zuko, do you have anything to add?”

“No. I think we have a lot to discuss.”

Nodding, Katara turned back to Principal Nakahara. “In that case.”

“N-no, now. Let’s not be hasty—“

“Hasty?” Katara frowned. “You called us in for a conference about a disrupted class.”

“You can’t tell us what our daughter said, which suggests this was done without gathering the appropriate evidence,” Zuko said.

“We discussed all we could at this moment.” Katara stood up.

“Why are we paying these teachers to teach if they can’t control their students?”

“P-please—“

“I think we’ve heard enough,” Zuko stood. “Let’s go, dear.”

“I’ve already sent for Iroh. Let’s pick up the kids. Mr. Nakahara, good day.”

Principal Nakahara continued to call for them but they didn’t stop.

Ni sat next to his sister. His tawny skin was a couple shades lighter than his sister. He had his father’s chin and his mother’s blue eyes.

“Time to roll,” Katara handed the textbook back to Kya.

“What’s happening?”

“Mrs. Ryuku-Kuruk.”

“Mr. Nakahara, we’ll be in touch. Don’t worry.”

“C’mon kids.” Zuko beckoned his head.

Kya frowned but stood anyway. Crossing her arms, she led the way.

Ni took his mother’s hand, excited to get out of school early.

“Want to grab lunch?” Zuko asked in the elevator to the ground floor.

“Can we go to Bandit’s Keep?” Ni bounced on his toes.

“Hmm. How about we see if your cousins are free to go next weekend, sweetie?”

“Ok.”

“What’s going on?” Kya asked again.

“You’re not in trouble,” Katara said.

“Not with us anyway.”

“Your dad and I have to talk about what we’re gonna do.”

“But, you did the right thing,” Zuko looped his arm around her shoulders.

“We’re so proud of you.”

“I mean I only did it because I know you guys have my back.” She wrapped an arm around her dad as they walked out.

“Always love,” Katara said immediately. She hummed, “How about that place that does Earth style street food?”

“Yes, I’ve been craving cabbage rolls!” Kya said.

“Ok, it’s settled.”

“Don’t you have work, Dad?”

“I’ll go back this afternoon. You know I always have time for family.”

Kya nodded against her dad. “Can I ride with you?”

“Sure,” he handed her the car keys.

“Ni, why don’t you go buckle yourself in?” Katara unlocked the door for him.

They watched their kids get in their cars.

Katara sighed.

“Long time, Madam Prosecutor.”

She scoffed, “We almost made it a year with no issues.”

“There were issues.”

Groaning, she nodded her head. “Let’s talk about it later. I was serious about considering pulling them out.”

“If you want to, let’s do it. It’s gonna cause a splash but we gave enough lip service. It might be the bad publicity they need.” Zuko crossed his arms.

Katara snorted. “As if you care about prestigious Fire Sages Academy’s reputation. I wouldn’t bat an eye if they closed.”

“Kid gloves completely off, huh?”

“Completely,” she laughed.

“We raised some pretty impressive kids, huh, Mrs. Ryuku-Kuruk.”

“We sure did, Mr. Ryuku-Kuruk.”

A/N: Uqsuaqtuq means calm seas in the South Qikiqtaaluk dialect of Inuktitut; Ni means two in Japanese; title from Beyonce’s “Don’t Hurt Yourself”

#mr. and mrs. ryuku kuruk; please and thank you #zutara fanfiction #zutara AU #atla #ATLA AU

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catholicismabusedestiny · 4 years ago

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FSA! I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANT UNTIL RECENTLY

03.02.2019

My father’s birthday~ I think that is more than just a coincidence that I found myself researching this topic or this date, but I did! Ever since my 60th, which was an awful, hurtful and emotional draining weekend for me; I became a hermit for months because each time I so much as thought about that weekend, I’d begin to cry and I didn’t want to do that around anyone else – especially my friends!

In truth, it was the most hurtful (and yet INTENTIONAL) act that anyone’s ever done to me and no one even cares. I’d told everyone that my vision for that weekend was to celebrate the passing of my health issues, the blending of my friends and family (which I’ve tried to do for decades) and the starting of my new business in California. I described it as “the best” event in my life – given I wasn’t married; I viewed this as the one and only event intended for nothing but to celebrate me, Mike.

However, to then experience what actually occurred and to know that it was done intentionally to hurt me is/was something so harmful/difficult to process that I sought out my therapist’s assistance to make sense of it. Ironically, I’ve only been seeing this therapist about 6 months yet - he too – referred to FSA as something I needed to research and boy he was right.

Per my therapist’s advice, I’ve done some follow-up research on a topic we’ve discussed at length in therapy; he’s instructed me to review various case studies and ensure that I have a thorough understanding of the phenomena of Scapegoating, or FSA, as the therapist’s call it. In fact, I reviewed the content from a book he’s recommended and below are some excerpts from that book.

“Since publishing my first book on what I named Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA), many readers have written me with questions regarding family scapegoating and the challenges faced when attempting to recover from its damaging effects. In today’s post I answer five critical questions about this most insidious form of systemic psycho-emotional abuse”.

Understanding Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA)

Over the past few months, I’ve had many readers of my blog articles write to me privately or in comments to the effect of, “I can’t believe what I am reading – It’s like you’re writing about my own life!”

Many of those writing to me express the intensity of emotions they experience when recognizing themselves as FSA survivors. Typical comments include, “At last, there’s a name that describes what I’ve been experiencing”, and “Now that I understand what may have happened to me, I have hope that perhaps there’s a way for me to recover.”

Often those reaching out to me to share their experiences of being scapegoated also have a lot of questions about family scapegoating abuse as related to their experiences of painful and damaging family betrayal.

Below are five of the most frequently asked questions I am asked by clients and readers, along with my responses (in brief), that are critical to understanding scapegoating abuse and it’s effects on the targeted family member:

1 – What Is the ‘Family Scapegoat’? ‘The Scapegoat’ is one of the roles ‘assigned’ to a child growing up in a dysfunctional family system (I say more about this process in my answer to question 2). The scapegoating typically (but not always) begins in childhood and often continues into and throughout adulthood, although the role may be passed around to different family members at times.

Because family scapegoating processes can be insidious and subtle, many adult survivors do not realize that they are suffering from a most egregious (and often chronic) form of systemically-driven psycho-emotional bullying and abuse, with all of the painful consequences to body, mind, and spirit.

More specifically: Children and adult children who are caught in the ‘family scapegoat’ role are the ‘identified patient’ in their family. As such, they are often the targets of ‘shaming and blaming’, distorted family narratives (aka ‘smear campaigns’) and can end up rejected and discarded by those who were supposed to love them the most: Their own family-of-origin.

2 – Why Do Families Scapegoat? There are a multitude of reasons why one (or more) family members become the constant target of rejecting, shaming, and blaming behaviors within their family-of-origin. It is usually the case that most family members who scapegoat are genuinely oblivious to the fact that they are engaging in mentally and emotionally abusive behaviors and become highly defensive if confronted with their damaging and harmful behavior.

In Family Systems theory, scapegoating in a dysfunctional family system is understood to be fueled by unconscious processes whereby the family displaces their own collective psychological difficulties and complexes onto a specific family member.

This process of projection, shaming, and blaming serves to divert attention away from the rest of the family’s mental and emotional problems via casting the targeted family member into the role of ‘scapegoat’. This does not mean that all acts of blaming and shaming a child are unconscious – rather, the projection process fueling the scapegoating of the family member is unconscious.

Despite the fact that the ‘family scapegoat’ role is common to dysfunctional families, there is surprisingly little research or literature available to both lay-person and clinician describing family scapegoating’s features and effects on the targeted child / adult child. As a result, family scapegoating is seldom recognized as abuse warranting clinical intervention and treatment. More to the point, however, is that those within a family that’s exhibiting signs of Scapegoating will not recognize the signs themselves, or what role they might have in continuing this abuse.

3 – What Are the Effects of Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA)? Many FSA adult survivors fail to realize that they have actually suffered from psycho-emotional abuse growing up, and even their therapist or counselor might miss the signs and symptoms associated with being in this most devastating dysfunctional family role. AMEN to this!!

Specifically: Adults seeking assistance from a mental health professional may find that the genuine pain and distress they are experiencing is minimized or even invalidated (e.g., “But they’re your family, of course they love you”; “Family connections are so important, it can’t be that bad”; “It’s best if you forgive, we need to maintain ties with our family to be healthy”), which only serves to reinforce the scapegoated adult’s fear that they are somehow fundamentally to blame for their strained (or non-existent) family relationships.

As a consequence of having their family relational distress and abuse symptoms go unrecognized, many adult survivors of FSA suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and anger management issues. They may have been diagnosed in the past with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and even Dissociative Identity Disorder with Psychosis. Once again, AMEN!

In addition to the above disorders, FSA survivors may have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Agoraphobia. Others may be diagnosed with a personality disorder (Borderline Personality Disorder, especially), or an attachment disorder.

4 – Can Family Scapegoating Abuse Lead to Complex Trauma?

Yes. It has been my observation that in addition to being diagnosed with one or more of the disorders listed above, many family scapegoating abuse survivors are suffering from symptoms of undiagnosed, untreated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which I will be addressing in a future blog post. Each and every diagnosed I’ve highlighted in red are contained within my medical files.

More specifically: As related to my ongoing work with adult survivors seeking to recover from family scapegoating abuse, it is my experience that the rejecting, shaming, and otherwise non-nurturing, harmful, and abusive family environment my clients grew up in (and had no means of escaping from) has actually contributed to their experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD – which is also known as complex trauma disorder) secondary to chronic parental / family psycho-emotional (and at times physical) abuse.

5 – What’s One of the Biggest Obstacles to FSA Recovery? Scapegoated adults often don’t realize how their familial distress has been negatively impacting nearly every area of their life, including their mental and emotional health, relationships, work, and their ability to realize their most cherished goals and dreams. Over the years, therapist’s have referred to this phenomena; but, I was quick to dismiss it for various reasons; however, now that it’s had two decades to percolate in my head while familial strife worsened to the extent that I now feel like an orphan with instructions that “no one wants to hear anything you have to say” yet no one’s told me what it is their upset about? Now I’m thinking that they might not even know what their upset about.

More specifically: Scapegoated adults often feel debilitated by self-doubt and ‘imposter syndrome’ in their relationships and in the work-place, and blame themselves for their difficulties. They typically struggle in regard to creating and experiencing a sense of life mission, passion, and purpose, and find themselves succumbing to feelings of futility, hopelessness, depression, anxiety, and despair. In extreme cases they may feel that taking their own life is the only way to end their pain. OMG AMEN!

What the FSA victim may see as ‘family conflict’ is often unrecognized mental and emotional abuse. To compound matters further, the FSA victim typically doesn’t realize how being the target of family scapegoating is affecting their ability to succeed and thrive in their personal and professional life.

It may not even occur to the FSA victim that they may need to limit or (in extreme cases) even end contact with abusive family members (which has been recommended to me on more than one occasion) who refuse to take ownership for their damaging behaviors – especially if there are cultural and/or financial considerations that seem insurmountable and impossible to overcome.

While being scapegoated within one’s family-of-origin is recognized as being harmful, the negative effects are most often categorized as mental and emotional exclusively. However, being in the role of the family scapegoat can also result in the targeted child being physically bullied, sexually abused, or denied medical care. We as a society need to acknowledge this and stop putting our heads in the sand so as to avoid overwhelming and unpleasant realities.

Learn more about family scapegoating abuse and how to dis-identify from the false family narrative so you can release the 'scapegoat story' for good! I just ordered this book!

Rejected, Shamed, and Blamed

Help and Hope for Adults in the Family Scapegoat Role

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elizabethcariasa · 7 years ago

Text

Give yourself a holiday gift by making these 10 year-end tax moves

Don't let tax turkeys gobble up your money. Make these tax moves, a couple of which are related to recent tax reform, this November and for sure by the end of 2018.

South Park turkeys via Giphy

It's November! The start of the holiday season. Time to get into the festive spirit with some year-end tax moves.

"Whoa! Wait! What the what are you thinking?" you say. "I'm still adjusting to Standard Time and already have a huge to-do list to make sure my family has the perfect Thanksgiving. Then as soon as that's over, I've got to start with the plans for December's merriment."

I hear you.

But I also know you need to add taxes to the mix. Now. Before you get all involved in Turkey Day and Christmas or Hanukkah or Mawlid an Nabi or whatever holy day your faith follows these last two months of the year.

If you don't, all the other important non-tax stuff that demands your attention as the year winds down will suck up all your time and you'll miss out taking some tax-smart tax actions.

And several tax moves to make before 2018 ends are especially important because of changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

To help you get through your year-end tax revelries (we do revel in taxes, don't we?) quickly so you can turn your attention to those other celebrations, here are 10 tax things to consider and, where applicable, complete ASAP.

1. Fine tune your Form W-4. The TCJA changed tax rates and the income amounts taxed under them. If you haven't used the Internal Revenue Service's withholding calculator to do a paycheck checkup, then you're still relying on old tax law when it comes to the taxes taken out each pay period. That could mean you might encounter an unexpectedly large refund or tax bill. While the big refund isn't awful, it's still not ideal. You could have been using that money throughout the year. But a big tax bill is awful. So find out where you stand withholding wise and make and adjustments via a new W-4 ASAP.

2. Examine itemized expenses. With the new tax law's substantially larger standard deduction amounts, more folks will find that itemizing is no longer worth it. However, in some cases, it's still worth it to keep track of your tax-deductible expenses. That's the case, for example, for individuals who have unusually large medical costs. For 2018, the itemizing threshold for medical costs is still 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income. It could be worth bunching as much as those health-related costs into this year to exceed the standard deduction and then claiming the standard amount is 2019, or vice versa.

3. Pay attention to passthrough issues. If you're a small business owner who's eligible for the TCJA's new Section 199A 20 percent deduction for passthrough entities. This is one of the most convoluted, confusing portions of the new tax law. Heck, the IRS is still deciphering its many permutations nearly a year after it was enacted. In addition to determining just how much the small business tax break can provide, you need to ensure your company qualifies and whether you need to make any changes to your compensation structure to maximize the tax break. So if you don't have a tax professional to guide you through this new tax break, hire one now.

4. Clean out your FSA. A medical flexible spending account (FSA) offers a great way to set aside pre-tax dollars you can spend on health care costs not covered by your insurance policy. But they have one big drawback. Many still require you to use up all of your FSA money by the end of the benefits year, which is Dec. 31 for most companies, or lose them. Some companies give FSA owners a grace period until March 15 to use the money. Others allow a rollover of at least some of the accounts' funds. But your best bet is to spend down your FSA completely to ensure that it's not wasted.

5. Pad your nest eggs. Add as much as you can to your retirement accounts by year's end. This is a perennial suggestion, as far too many taxpayers fail to make the most of their 401(k)s and other savings accounts. Yes, you do have until next April 15 to make IRA contributions, either traditional or Roth, for 2018. But the sooner you get your money into the account, the sooner it has the potential to start to grow tax-deferred. And if your traditional IRA is deductible, that will reduce your taxable income for the year.

When it comes to workplace retirement plans, Dec. 31 is the last day you can put money for the current tax year into your 401(k) or similar plan. So get to your benefits office now to bump up your contributions for the final pay periods of the year. This post on 2018 and 2019 inflation adjustments for retirement plans has specifics on how much you can put into your nest eggs this year (and next).

6. Harvest your investment tax losses. For a while, it seemed like stocks could only go up. Then came February. And March. And October, which was brutal, with stock funds falling an average of 7.9 percent and wiping out all year-to-date gains.

Dow Jones Industrial Average index from October 2016 to October 2018 Find more statistics at Statista

Few of us escaped these 2018 market dives unscathed. But not all is lost. It might be a good idea, as part of your overall portfolio analysis, to sell some of the assets that didn't rebound. You can use those losses to offset any gains you made on other sales this year.

While it's hard sometimes to admit you made a bad investment decision, there's a school of financial thought that you should realize your losses sooner rather than later. Investors who wait until the very end of the tax year are likely to pay more taxes than those who realize losses when they occur, says , says Mier Dr. Statman, the Glenn Klimek professor of finance at Santa Clara University's Leavey School of Business. If you wait until December, says Statman, the share prices might increase to what you paid for them, or more, and the opportunity for a tax deduction would disappear.

Capital losses also could be especially beneficial to higher income taxpayers facing the 3.8 percent Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT). This surtax, part of the Affordable Care Act, is still in the tax code. It applies to the unearned income of single (or head of household) filers with modified adjusted gross incomes (MAGIs) of more than $200,000 and married joint filers earning $250,000 (or $125,000 if married and filing separately). Harvesting losses can help these high earners reduce their NIIT amount.

And if in taking those losses you discover you have more of them than gains, you can claim up to $3,000 in bad investments against your ordinary income to help lower that taxable amount. Then get a new financial adviser!

7. Be charitable. During the traditional gift-giving season, many folks make giving to charities part of their holiday celebrations. In addition to making you feel good, such contributions are still deductible under the new tax law.

The most common ways of giving to an IRS-approved nonprofit is by writing a check or charging your donation to your credit card. You also can donate clothing or household items and deduct the value of your old property.

There also are other more creative ways to give. Donate appreciate stock that, in your portfolio evaluation, you decided no longer fit your overall investing plan.

If you're age 70½ and are facing a required minimum distribution (RMD) that could push you into a higher tax bracket, consider directly transferring that RMD amount (up to $100,000) to your charity of choice. It allows you to meet the withdrawal rule without having to pay tax on the amount. And while an RMD direct donation means no charitable tax deduction, avoiding a chunk of taxable income is a pretty darn good tax break.

8. Collect your cryptocurrency documents. You'll need this paper trail if you buy, sell or mine cryptocurrency for an accurate record of what you owe on this property. And yes, that's how the IRS views Bitcoin and its digital brethren. If you don't have complete and correct records of your transactions, you could be subject to added attention from the IRS and possibly face a bigger tax bill that you expected.

9. Bump your bonus into 2019. The new tax law lowered rates and expanded income brackets so most folks will see more of their earnings taxed at lower levels. But if you're near the top of a bracket and an expected end-of-year bonus could push you into higher tax territory, talk to your boss about postponing that reward until 2019. Sure, delaying receipt of that added money might cut into your holiday spending budget. But it could save you taxes and provide the cash early next year to pay the credit cards you used to buy gifts.

If you're self-employed, either as your full-time job or from side gigs, you have more control on cash flow. Don't send out job invoices until late December so that you won't get those payments until 2019.

10. Deal with your divorce. Ending a marriage is rarely pleasant. Things get even messier when taxes are involved in the nuptial's dissolution. A TCJA provision that kicks in next year adds some end-of-2018 urgency and yet another tax matter over which couples can fight.

If you will be paying alimony, you'll want to finalize the split before the end of 2018 so you'll be able to, under prior tax law, deduct those payments to your soon-to-be ex-spouse. The TCJA changed the rules here and if the divorce decree comes after Dec. 31, 2018, then that alimony won't be deductible.

If, however, you're the ex who will be getting spousal support payments, you'll want to delay the decree. The TCJA says that instead of owing tax on alimony as was the case before the new law was enacted, starting in 2019 alimony will be tax-free.

More November tax moves: And that wraps the 10 tax moves to make by Dec. 31.

Yeah, that's a lot to shoehorn into the end of the year. But if any or all of them apply to your financial and tax situations, check into them. They could make a valuable difference when you file your taxes next year, or before!

If, however, you're a tax glutton, you can find even more tax moves specifically for November over in the ol' blog's right column. They're under the bright red November Tax Moves heading, just below the countdown clock ticking off the time left here in tax year 2018.

Once all this tax stuff is done, you still have plenty of time to work on your holiday celebrations. And you'll be able to do without that nagging tax voice in your head.

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0 notes

christophergill8 · 7 years ago

Text

Give yourself a holiday gift by making these 10 year-end tax moves

Don't let tax turkeys gobble up your money. Make these tax moves, a couple of which are related to recent tax reform, this November and for sure by the end of 2018.

South Park turkeys via Giphy

It's November! The start of the holiday season. Time to get into the festive spirit with some year-end tax moves.

I hear you.

If you don't, all the other important non-tax stuff that demands your attention as the year winds down will suck up all your time and you'll miss out taking some tax-smart tax actions.

And several tax moves to make before 2018 ends are especially important because of changes under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).

Dow Jones Industrial Average index from October 2016 to October 2018 Find more statistics at Statista

There also are other more creative ways to give. Donate appreciate stock that, in your portfolio evaluation, you decided no longer fit your overall investing plan.

More November tax moves: And that wraps the 10 tax moves to make by Dec. 31.

Once all this tax stuff is done, you still have plenty of time to work on your holiday celebrations. And you'll be able to do without that nagging tax voice in your head.

from Tax News By Christopher https://www.dontmesswithtaxes.com/2018/11/10-year-end-tax-moves-that-could-produce-a-holiday-tax-gifts.html

0 notes

bloginstantmooncollector-blog · 7 years ago

Text

What is the best insurance company for a 21yr old with a bad driving record?

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I AM TRYING TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT INSURANCE FOR ME, AND DECIDED TO GO THROUGH BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA-WWW.MYLIFEPATHWAY.C... HOW DO I KNOW IT IS NOT A SCAM. CAN I CONTACT BLUESHIELD DIRECTLY AND ASK THEM ABOUT THIS INDEPENDENT MEMBER (WWW.MYLIFEPATHWAY.COM)OF THE BLUE SHIELD?""

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How much does storage unit insurance cost?

I'm sure there are a billion variables but I'm just trying to get a loose ballpark figure. I'm renting a 5x5 climate controlled unit in one state but I live in another. I'm storing ~$5000 worth of stuff--black forest clocks my parents brought back from Germany in the late 40s/early 50s; figurines, etc., most more sentimental than material value. The unit itself is a name-brand secure facility in a decent neighborhood with gated access. I figure I'll have the unit about 6 months. Like I said, I'm just trying to get a rough idea, not an etched in stone quote. Any ideas are greatly appreciated. sbf""

""What car do you drive, how old are you and how much do you pay for insurance?

I need a few questions answered. 1. How old are you? 2. What car do you drive? 3. How much do you pay for insurance?

How much is motorcycle insurance for a 16 year old?

If I'm a 16 year old male in Texas, what would be an average price for insurance on a newer model sports bike 750cc""

Why would insurance cost me 500 quid for a 50cc bike?

Im wanting to purchase a 50cc bike, derbi gpr 50 racing, 2009. it would be kept in a garage, and im only looking for third party cover. the bike costs 1650, and i have passed my cbt and have a provisional license. do i even need insurance?""

Will i lose my health insurance?

i am a full time college sudent, 17 years old. i have HIP health insurance derived from my mother. (i have it since im the child). if i change my mailing address to be different then hers, will the insurance still cover me? thanks.""

Why is Car Insurance more expensive in some areas?

My friend moved from Florida to Virginia and his premium went down $120.00 Why is insurance so much more expensive in some zip codes than others?

Young drivers car insurance uk?

I'm having a lot of trouble with find insurance. I really need help , or advice , what am i doing wrong .. everyone around me is getting deals of around 1.200-1.800 pounds.. I've chosen a Clio which is one of the cheapest insurance cars , I also tried , adding different drivers or companies , black boxes etc -.- and the cheapest quote i got was 6.500.. which is like triple the price of the car . Anyone any ideas ? Help.""

""On average, how much would motorcycle insurance be for someone under 21?""

I want to get a motorcycle to save on gas and just because there awesome, but before I jump into things i want to see if you can help. I am trying to chose between a 1993 or1999 Harley XL Sportster and want to know on a rough estimation how much it will be for insurance for a minor?""

Lending your car to somebody - insurance issues?

This is for Ontario drivers in specific, however any information is appreciated. Basically, what are the legalities of lending your car to somebody (just for a day)? What happens if they get in an accident? Does your insurance cover it? Would your rates go up? Thanks!!""

Car insurance loopholes?

What are the loopholes for lowering your car insurance? Ie. will putting the car in my parents name lower the insurance? Adding someone else on? Lowering the estimated value? etc.

Are auto insurance premiums negotiable?

They want me to pay the same rate I've been paying the last two years. Is the company/industry open to negotiating thru its phone agents? Anyone have success or is this company too big to do that sort of thing?

Insurance for 16 year old boy?

My son is look at an 2002 honda civic. what is the average insurance cost for his age and this car? please help.

How much car insurance do I need?

I'm a graduate student that has little saved due to paying my way through college and I drive a 1997 Dodge intrepid, of which kelly has a personal value of around 1,500 and a sale by used car dealer at around 3,000. I was curious to have some opinions as to how much car insurance one things I should get? I'm going to school in illinois, but my true home is in indiana so I could claim either state (not that I've seen it make much of a difference). From what I have found 100/300/50 is recommended, but I'm more looking as to whether collision or comprehensive is even worth it at this point due to my car's value? I (knock on wood) haven't been in an car accident while driving and I am a safe driver that follows within 5 of the posted speed limits (unless traffic is going 20+over).""

What is the cheapest car to insure for a 17-19 year old guy from the UK in 2013?

I'm 16 and will be taking my test next year and I want to know what to get for my first car?

My company was bought out - Can I get unemployment? What about my health insurance?

I need some advice. I am an assistant manager at a small call center where I have worked for around 5 years (3 of them full-time). It was just announced to me and the manager (the only 2 full-time employees), that we have been bought by another call center that is not located in our town. The manager is relocating and has been offered a full-time job at their main office (with what I am assuming is a decent raise) about 4 hours away. I am being offered a possible part-time job at a lesser position some 3 hours away - there is no garantee. Well, I have kids so there's no way I'm doing that for a measly part-time position with no benefits. I will be without a job as of May 31st. Our part-time workers will be finding out about the closure on May 1st. For those employees that would like to stay through until the end, they will be offered a monetary bonus or compensation. I doubt it's more than a few hundred dollars. If I cannot find another full time job by then, would I most likely be eligible for unemployment? If I take the bonus money at the end, does that mean I wouldn't qualify? What kinds of questions should I be asking before this happens? I have health insurance for the first time in my life - when does that usually end?""

Insurance for a mustang ?

Im 17 planning on buying a 96 mustang with my own money and i was wondering about how much it would cost for liability for it...

How much on average would insurance be on a Grand Prix? (For a 17-year old)?

Are they considered sedans or sports cars? I think I would go through State Farm, with the good grade/safe driver book. Does anyone have experience insuring one? It would be anywhere from 1997-2003 model with about 100,000 miles on it. Thank you!""

I need help health insurance help???

ok so i went to the doctor and found out i was pregnant. i live in california and have no health insurance. they gave me temperary medi cal for 30 days and i have to go apply at the cal works office. well i went and they told me i couldnt apply on my own im 19 that since i live with my mom she has to go in. she works alot though and its kinda harg for her to go. so is there any other way i can do it like online and mail in an application?? or do u guys know of any insurance i can get on my own??? please help??

Ticket for no car insurance?

my daughter got stop and given a ticket in my car for no insurance.the car is under my name. the insurance was cancelled because of late payment a couple of days ago. us not knowing it was cancelled. they given her a ticket with i the owner name on it as well . my question is do i have to appear to city courts and what do i have to show or will she have to go or both of us. please help i never been in this situation.i want to settle this asap.thanks

Companies that dont ask for a deposit on insurance?

any company's that dont take a deposit on insurance policy when you take it out

How can you negotiate with car insurance agency after a wreck if you have no insurance to cover other driver?

How can you negotiate with car insurance agency after a wreck that was caused by you if you have no insurance to cover the other driver? Are there any legal ramifications?

Geico homeowners insurance experience?

I have been getting quotes for a new home I am in the process of purchasing. I checked Geico homeowners insurance whiich works through ASI insurance. They quoted me a very low rate. 50% then the lowest of the other companies for the same coverage. Is there something I am missing here? Does anyone have any experience with this insurance?

What does a term life insurance medical exam consist of?

And what companies do people recommend.

How much does it cost to see a gynecologist without health insurance?

I live around the Chicago suburbs, and I don't have health insurance at the moment. I just want to get the regular check-up and pap smear. Anyidea how much it would cost?""

Enquiry about car insurance and how it works?

Okay, the question is worded wierdly, but you'll get it :P. Anyway, I have my driving test coming up in April, so I have to be thinking about a car, insurance etc. I was wondering if there was an average of how much car insurance is for the first month after you pass, and how long it stays like this till it starts too go down. Also, is there anyway I can reduce it? I plan on making parents named drivers etc, will this help reduce?""

What is the best insurance company for a 21yr old with a bad driving record?

car insurance for nj drivers

Why do we need basic health insurance?

Health insurance should be for serious issues that require surgery or hospitalization. Why do I pay insurance to get a checkup or for routine visits? The problem with health insurance is it is too broad; therefore, it is too big. The idiots who say that car insurance is mandatory as an argument for mandatory health insurance leave out that it is only LIABILITY insurance that is mandatory. You are not required to insure fixing your own car if you choose not to. Think about how much more expensive it would be to take care of routine things like car maintenance, appliance replacement, etc., if they were handled through an insurance company. The answer seems to be to eliminate most of the unnecessary insurance and shrink it to only what is required. That along with serious tort reform would eliminate much of the red tape and cost. The person who abuses their things pays more to replace and fix them. Same thing with the fat people, who suck up most of the insurance money the rest of us pay.. If you choose to be fat, then you will pay more to repair your health. It seems pretty simple, but then again the current proposal is not really about health care is it???""

Is moped insurance cheaper than car insurance?

i need an easier way to get around town but until i can afford a car i was thinking if i learned to ride a scooter instead it might make things more simple but are they cheaper to run than cars

""I have a DUI, I had an SR-22 filed with my insurance company. My insurance never went up, is that normal?

Am I required to carry some sort of form?

Does anyone know how to get cheap car insurance in the bronx ?

""Which company offers the cheapest auto insurance in Snohomish County, WA?""

It's my first time having to get car insurance - I know there are a lot of factors, but I'm just looking for a general answer - not just Geico, Allstate, State Farm, etc..... Thank you :)""

A good first car that is cheap to insure?

Hey well I am a 18 year old male and am looking at first cars but i want something that looks good cheap to run and has CHEAP insurance, can anyone surgest any motors?""

""Is a $2,000 deductible 'affordable?'?""

Obamacare: Is a $2,000 deductible 'affordable?' http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/13/news/economy/obamacare-affordable/index.html""

Reviews on best insurance company to work for?

thinking of working as agent for insurance company. Which company has best reviews to work for?

Car insurance in NJ...?

I am 19, just got license. Its still some restriction for 1 year but other than that its a regular one , I can drive by myself. What could I do to get a car under my name and not to be killed by insurance rates. Price of the car is not my primary concern and I would gladly lease one ( would have a cosigner too if necessary) since I work close enough but I am afraid that it is the most expensive option...""

Which auto insurance company offers the cheapest price??

were from CA & my sister is a first time driver & she needs a new insurance for her 05 toyota camry. her old car insurance is too expensive. what will u recommend personally? thanks

Will my insurance rise if i get a motorcycle permit?

i have a drivers license, and my dad has his license and motorbike license, im on his insurance, will his insurance increase if i just get a bike permit, but no license?..(do they find out the minute the permit is issued or do you have to call them and tell them)""

""If women are such horrible drivers, why are our insurance rates lower than men's rates?""

If women are such horrible drivers, why are our insurance rates lower than men's rates?""

Obama used to be critical of insurance companies. But his health care plan seems like it will benefit them.?

Obama used to be critical of the health insurance companies, but his health care plan seems like it was designed to benefit the insurance companies more than anyone else. Why is that?""

""Buying a car tomorrow, being added on to parents insurance, do I pay up front or ?""

Buying a car tomorrow, being added onto parents insurance, do I pay up front or am i just added to the updated rate the next month?""

From who can I get the cheapest car insurance?

I'm 18 and I've only have my liscense for about a year. I'm trying to insure my 1990 325i BMW for the least possible amount. Any advice?

Why do people with bad credit have to pay more for car insurance?

I think insurance rates should be based on driving record. I know someone will say because of stastics I don't buy it, I think it is discrimination.""

Ford Mustang for a 21 years girl?????

Hi I'm thinking of getting Ford Mustang 2007 but Im a 21 years old girl.. so you think how much the insurance would be?? cuz my friend told me since its a sport car. it might be around $200 a month :(

Michigan Auto Insurance Premium almost twice as much as quote!?

I'll do my best to summarize my situation, and am using estimates for days and amounts... I received a quote for auto insurance for $590 for a 6 month period from an independent auto agent. When I received my insurance policy and premium price it way nearly double (over $1,100). I cancelled the policy within a week after receiving the huge increase in premiums. Because of the time it took for me to receive my new premium and the 5-7 days for me to cancel, I received a bill for an amount due of roughly $40.00. I previously had auto insurance through the company/agent but it was for a different vehicle and paid a month in advance. My question is, why am I responsible, and how am I responsible for the premium that is so much higher than what I was quoted? I didn't sign any paperwork, I called over the phone and had the agent switch the policy based on the new quote. Auto insurance played a huge factor in budgeting for the vehicle and I feel that I was ripped off. I should be getting a credit for the 10 days that I did not use, not having to pay more for the days I did use. Thanks for any advice you're able to provide!""

Someone explain this auto insurance info please!!?

In Founders Insurance Company v. Munoz, decided on May 20, 2010, the Illinois Supreme Court considered the validity of an automobile insurance policy exclusion that precluded coverage for any person using the insured vehicle who did not have a reasonable belief that he or she was entitled to do so. The court concluded that the exclusion was not ambiguous, and that it was properly applied to exclude coverage for drivers who did not possess a valid drivers license, regardless of whether the driver was a named insured or a permissive user of the vehicle. The court reasoned that an average, ordinary, normal, reasonable person would understand that the exclusion applied to unlicensed drivers. The exclusion applied regardless of whether the driver had never obtained a license, or whether it had been suspended. The court held, as a matter of law, that an unlicensed driver could not have a reasonable belief that he or she was entitled to drive simply because he or she owned the vehicle or had been given the keys. can someone explain this in lamens terms please? ive had a similar situation happen to me and i would like to know how to go about handling this thank you!""

Does color of car affect insurance rates?

In the market for brand new car. Does color matter with insurance? Ive heard red is most expensive.

Does anyone know how much the government's health insurance will cost per month for families?

Does anyone know how much the government's health insurance will cost per month for families? Everyone for the bill is so happy because they finally get affordable insurance, but I have yet to hear how much they will really be saving compared to private insurers? Thanks!""

What is the average of insurance cost for a 19 year old?

I've been looking around online to research costs and from what I've seen it averages around $150. $200 at the worst. But my mom tells me I have to pay $440 dollars? Like wtf. Even four of my friends, who are still 18, pay around $170 or so. Is she just bullshitting me? I have never incited any tickets and drove safely when I was 18 and still now at 19. I'm not sure what to say to my mom. I told her about how others are paying wayyyyyyy less. I'm thinking the insurance is just cheating my mom or something. Anyone have any idea what I should do? I remember my mom asking me to give her my transcript to show I have a GPA above 3.0 to lower costs. And now she tells oh it's $440 .. I don't know what's going on. I'm not very well spoken in my native language so there's some issues talking about this.""

What is the best way to get an insurance company to pay you what a car is worth?

My son was rear ended at a high rate of speed. He was pushed 6 feet into the car in front of him. The guy had to really be moving when he hit my son. He was driving a 1999 Chevy Lumina LS. The blue book value according to NADA is $5000. It only had 78,000 miles on the car. No rust on the body and overall in excellent shape. The insurance company offered me $3600 for the car. I can NOT find a replacement car in that shape for that price...""

Pregnant with no insurance?

medical/medicare did not approve me. what other healthplans are there?

Is the homeowners insurance higher in florida if you have a pool?

What is the best insurance company for a 21yr old with a bad driving record?

car insurance for nj drivers

Can my brother use my bank account to pay for his car insurance.?

My brother doesn't have a bank account and he needs to pay his car insurance using direct debit. can he use my bank account? Would it matter if it was my name on the account? also, If he had a crash would costs come from my account? I hope somebody can help.""

All my friends seem to be getting cheap car insurance?

All my friends seem to be getting cheap car insurance but i cant seem to find it lol, im 17 and i know its expensive but people say they find it for 1.4k or 1.5k which id be happy with but im getting quoted 5k (and dont say what type of car is it!!) cause i know all that""

Health Insurance for a newly married healthy couple ?

Amongst the following companies which offers Good and Hassle free Health Insurance for a newly married healthy couple sum assured around 5 lakhs per annum. Apollo DKV Bajaj Allianz Cholamandalam HDFC Ergo ICICI Lambord Iffco-Tokio National Insurance New India Insurance Oriental Insurance Reliance Health Royal Sundaram Star Health Tata AIG United India Insurance. Reply with confidance with suitable reason why you suggest this company. Reply immediately.

Why is the US government forcing health insurance on me?

My hate for the US government is growing by the day.

""2nd speeding ticket in 13 months in the state of CA, how do i avoid insurance rates going up?""

So in california you can only go to traffic school once every 18months and if you take another traffic school (before 18 months is up) your insurance company can see that you took a traffic school. Although your record will be clean (they remove the point) if the insurance company sees that 2nd traffic school will they raise the insurance rates? also, this is my 2nd speeding ticket (1st one was in may last year, but cleared cause I went to traffic school) If I fight the ticket will it affect my insurance rates?""

What is the best insurance company to work for in California ?

Is what my car insurance company doing legal?

I am in the process of purchasing a house. I received a quote from the insurance company I picked. And they said they could lower it even more if we add our 2 cars on. So they checked, and their offer for insurance on our cars was lower then what we are paying now. So saving us even more money. I went in, signed the papers for both auto's and the homeowners and was happy. They cancelled my previous auto insurance policies, and charged me my first month. Now, a week later, they are saying due to my previous car being stolen two years ago they can no longer offer me my 100 comprehensive deductible. They can only offer me a 1000 dollar deductible and if I choose not to accept they will cancel my auto insurance. This if frustrating considering my other insurance which wasn't bad to begin with has already been cancelled and I have already been charged my first month so if I don't accept I will have no insurance and my homeowners policy will go up in price. Sorry for the long explanation. I just don't think they should be able to get you in then change things up on you. Is there any law against that? Thanks for your help!!!""

How old does the bike have to be for classical insurance?

ive been told that my bike (86) should be put under the classical insurance for motorbikes, how old is it? please and thank you. (p.s. this is in the UK)""

""Car Insurance, please read?""

Basically I live in the UK and it's my 17th birthday in July, and I want to start driving as soon as I get to my birthday, however I am looking at what car to buy by looking at the what cars give me the cheapest insurance. However if I go to a website such as www.comparethemarket.com (not to mistaken for comparethemeerkat.com ;P) I can't get a quote as it says the date of birth is invalid (as obviously I can't drive yet) so I'm just wondering if it is illegal or something to put my date of birthday as february instead of july just to get a quote. Please don't just say things like pass your test first as I really am interested to see an estimate on how much I will be paying Also, if it is not illegal, should I put a false name and address on too, or is that part illegal while the date of birth bit it. Many Thanks""

Is it legal for me to drive my friends car with my own insurance?

So my friend and I bought a car, however he does not have insurance yet, and I have comprehensive, liability and theft insurance for my own vehicle which is a Honda, now while I use his car, would it be legal for me to drive the car using my own insurance card? I have a notarized letter from my friend that I am allowed to use the car.""

Will my Insurance go up if my son (22yo) gets a license but does not drive?

My son is going to graduate from college (in May) and wants to get his license taken care of now since he will have some free time. However, he does not actually need to drive (and will not be doing any driving until he gets ready to move out), and neither of us want to pay for the insurance rates right now. Will just him having a license cause the insurance to go up even if he does not drive and does not need to be insured? Thanks for your time!""

Auto Insurance in Ontario?

Hi, I just bought a used Toyota Tercel 1999. I am living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada I am wondering in anyone knows which auto insurance comapny is the best in terms of giving a good rate and give you least hassle about claims. all help is greatly appreciated.""

Car insurance? will it go up if no claim is made?

son had car accident, was on partners polcy, wrote car off, no other vehicle was involved, insurance company have found out about the accident somehow (due to one of these no win no fee companies getting his details as he had a passenger in the car who was not injured, but who had not contacted them ) son is 18, wants to get on the road again, but we are worried about how much insurance will cost him. we havent claimed for his car either, can any please advise""

What is the best car insurance?

I need to get insurance on my new car but don't know what company is the best insurance to get it from. I need full coverage as the car is being financed not owned yet. I currently have Geico but I think their rates are too high, but they are a pretty good insurance from what I hear. What do you have? Do you like them?""

Why do you have to get insurance to get your drivers liciense? ?

I don't have a car. My parents hv a van but I don't drive it all the time. Mainly I drive it when I'm on the highway. I live in Baltimore Maryland. Just why smh.

Need SR22 insurance quotes?

I'd like to have an idea of the total fees for SR22 car insurance. If I can get a price range that would be great! thanks.

Will my insurance go up if I file a claim but then not need it?

A guy ran into me. All he did was pull off a side mirror. I can't get his insurance to replace it directly. They said he has to file the claim. He has yet to do so and the contact number I have for him is bad. So I was told if I go through my insurance they can file the claim to his insurance for me to get it paid. But if somehow they can't file it through his insurance ill just pay out of pocket and have my husband do the work so it's cheap. But if I do that will my insurance still go up? The accidentwas entirely his fault.

What states offer affordable health care?

On Sunday's Face the Nation , Sen. Mitch McConnell advocated the right to purchase health insurance across state lines, currently prohibited. That makes sense when health care is more affordable in states other than your own. So here's my question: In which state(s) is health care affordable?""

Are the Smart Fortwo car's insurance cheaper?

it got good crash ratings and a cheap car.

How cheap can you get car insurance for if you teach drivers ed?

I'm going to school for Health and Physical Education, definitely thinking about minoring in Drivers Ed. to add a little something extra to my resume. The course seems easy enough and I'll be able to make money during the summer while my other teacher friends are painting houses. I'm curious how much of a deduction on car insurance these guys get. Anyone know?""

Does a stop sign violation increase your insurance in Sacramento?

I just a stop sign violation about an hour ago, I was planning on paying it because I do not know enough to fight the ticket in court. Will the citation increase my insurance rate? I have AAA. And the violation occured in Sacramento, CA few blocks from my house.""

What License would you need to sell Dental Insurance in IL?

I have both my Health and Life Insurance Licenses. Can I sell dental insurance?

Purchasing car insurance?

I need a step by step guide to adding another car and driver to my mom's policy. I have a 1995 Ford Contour. How long will it take for her to get coverage on my car? How do I get proff of insurance?

Motorcycle insurance????

Can anyone give me an average quote for a 19 year old? Kawasaki zzr 600?

""Im 18, how do I apply for car insurance?

my mom is a b**** and is dropping me from the family car insurance things and was like you have untill friday to get your own insurance I have absolutely no idea how this stuff works. and know that it will probably cost more because its for only 1 car. help!

What is the best insurance company for a 21yr old with a bad driving record?

car insurance for nj drivers

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/average-insurance-rate-bmw-vincent-bryant/"

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josephkitchen0 · 8 years ago

Text

Homesteading For a Living Through a CSA

The Spickermans realized the American dream on homesteading land by making money through a CSA.

“Our original goal was to produce as much of our own food as possible,” Landis Spickerman, 53, of High Bridge, Wisconsin, says. She and her husband Steven, 56, began living on the farm part-time during the summer months of 1989, while they were building their home. They moved to the farm full-time in 1991.

They planted fruit trees and started a garden before they lived on the farm. As the garden grew, they simply got to a point where they had more food during the growing season than they could eat. At first, their sales were small — a few heads of lettuce and other produce to the local food cooperatives in 1993 — and then it slowly snowballed.

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“It went slowly and ‘full-scale’ production didn’t happen until many years into this venture,” Landis says. As the homestead became more developed they read many books, used common sense, and grew the farm in a steady but sustainable fashion. Landis tells me that they made mistakes and learned from them, reinvested everything they made in better equipment, learned the value of good record keeping and quality control and began to really look at themselves as a business. Today Hermit Creek Farm is a full-scale produce farm grossing six figures and employing four to five folks during the growing season.

Investment

“To scale up, we needed to infuse more capital than we could generate,” Landis explains. “Since that decision point, we have used several loans including from family, a local bank, from our local food cooperative, and from FSA (USDA Farm Service Agency).” They used the loans to purchase equipment, build a heated greenhouse and packing buildings, and purchase additional farmland. Today, they still reinvest nearly 100 percent of their farm earnings back into the farm after 22 years of commercial operation.

Steven learned early on how much work running a farm was. Growing up, he watched his neighbors take a couple of long-handled hoes and walk their soybean fields in the summer after dinner. As they walked, they hoed the fields. Steven says, “They had the cleanest bean fields in the county.”

What his childhood neighbor’s dedication resulted in was immeasurable. “Their keen understanding of their land and what it and they could produce through their daily habits and personal attention to detail was the path to success,” Steven said.

For those who want to make the shift from homesteader to entrepreneur, the Spickermans have several suggestions. When they started they self-proclaim that they were young and naïve enough to not really have concerns. “We were physically fit, strong—both of body and will—and were used to hard work and simple living,” Landis says. For their first five years on the farm they lived without electricity, for a decade without refrigeration, and they still don’t have running water in the house—they have an outdoor shower, water in the packing building, and a sauna for winter bathing.

Another important decision that they made in the beginning was to be an organic farm. In 2001, they became officially certified.

They have been teaching various aspects of farming for a number of years now including as part of the Land Stewardship Project “Farm Beginnings” program. They serve as mentors in the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services (MOSES) “Farmer-to-Farmer” mentorship program. They also teach workshops and classes on their farm.

Since they keep accurate records, they know exactly how much it costs and how much they earn by the square foot of growing space for each crop grown inside a high tunnel. This informs them of the payback on a tunnel purchase and dictates if they should purchase additional tunnels. The same goes for field crops.

Community Supported Agriculture

“We started marketing our produce as a CSA agriculture (Community Supported Agriculture) during the first few years of our farm as a business, which means we have been a CSA for 21 or 22 years now,” Landis says. This year they have about 175 CSA members, which generate 60 percent of their farm income.

“CSA is what we like to call ‘relationship farming,’ in that everything you do and grow on the farm is done directly for a person who has joined as a CSA member,” Landis explains. “As part of that, we liken ourselves to the same concept as say a family having a ‘family doctor’ or ‘family dentist’ but in our case, we’re your family farmer.”

They want to be the farmers whom customers think of when they’re thinking about what to make for dinner. “We want you, the customer, to know where your food is coming from, to have a direct link or tie to the land and people responsible for growing your food, to have trust in the food system and to feel good about helping support a family farmer,” she says.

The Workings

“Customers join our farm as a member by purchasing one or more of our share options,” Landis says. Some CSA agriculture is simple with one share type option—traditionally a mix of in-season produce for a set number of weeks. As the Spickerman homestead has matured, so has the types of shares and length of their season, which now runs from late May to the following March. Shares are on a weekly or every-other-week schedule, and each share or veggie box contains seven to 12 separate items of what is in season. Since the shares follow the changes of their northern season, what costumers find in their box changes, as well.

Typically less than one percent of the total volume of what goes into their CSA agriculture share on an annual basis is from resources outside of their farm. Items include local honey, foraged wild rice, locally or regionally grown certified organic blueberries and cranberries. In addition to CSA garden produce, some shares include local certified organic eggs and artisanal goat and sheep cheeses. The Spickermans say that they feel synergy gained by partnering with other small, local farms. Diversifying what their customers get is a large part of their success they believe. They say that social capital should not be underestimated.

One of the hardest parts of managing a CSA is producing enough food for all the shares. With money taken up front, the farmer is responsible to grow the food and meet the demands of their members. “This leads to a certain amount of stress and anxiety as the growing season progresses, as even with the most seasoned grower, there are just so many variables that are largely out of your control,” Landis says. She mentions that weather, disease, and pests are additional concerns.

Having sold unproduced food is not all bad. The benefit of getting paid first is having the essential funds at a time of year where farmers are buying most of their annual inputs and bringing on employees. “Most farms use short-term operating loans to do this, and in a way, it’s our members who are giving us that loan and they are paid back in product,” Landis says. Having the money at this time of year also gives CSA agriculture farmers a good idea of exactly what they need to produce.

Sound Advice from Landis

Essential questions for those interested in starting a farm

What is your passion? “For us, we have both always grown plants, so a produce farm was a given.” Your passion has to carry you through the initial stresses of starting a business.

Based on your location, what can you market? “We live in a very rural area and we simply do not have enough people willing to buy fresh, local, organic produce close enough to us to really sustain a farm large enough to truly call ourselves successful.” They make 29 deliveries for their CSA.

What will become of your hiccups? “Learn from your mistakes. One mistake that we made was where we chose to live. We figure perhaps only about 1% of the overall population really ‘gets’ the local, fresh, organic food scene and if you are in a rural area, you have severely limited your potential market.”

How will you track spending? “Track all calculable activity and cost for your farm.” This will allow you to better set the price of your products and inform you of whether a given product is even worth growing, and if you need to invest in a tool to help reduce cost or calculate the ROI.

Would you personally pay money for it? “Keep what you want to do simple, at least at first.” Don’t invest in something that you wouldn’t want. It’s hard to sell something you are not interested in.

If you don’t already have land, think about where and how you will be marketing your products? “In reality, it is easy to grow food (veggies, fruit, and animals); the hard part is selling it at a profit.”

Season Extension

The use of high tunnels and a heated greenhouse allows them to push the seasons a bit, which is how they can have certain crops much later into the fall or even winter, such as kale and spinach in January. “We also have a root cellar and cold storage capacity that we fill with crops such as carrots, potatoes, parsnips, beets, rutabaga, onions, winter squash, cabbage, celeriac, and kohlrabi,” Landis says. In addition to that, they grow shelf stable crops like dry beans and produce maple syrup that is included in their CSA agriculture share.

By having multiple high tunnels, this allows them to rotate crops and have substantial indoor growing space and product volume. Their heated greenhouse produces vegetable transplants for spring and early summer transplanting. They transplant most of their vegetables instead of direct seeding, because this is another way to push the season. In a typical season, they transplant more than 70,000 seedlings! Later in the year, one or more of the high tunnels becomes an onion curing facility. They store winter crops in their 100-year-old root cellar, which they rebuilt about 20 years ago. The root cellar maintains a steady temperature of 36°F. Since a few crops, such as winter squash and onions, prefer it a bit warmer and dryer, those go in their own separate storage location.

Due to their latitude and mid-continental location, which is too cold and cloudy for actively growing during the winter months, the Spickermans focus on preserving their food in holding areas. “Kale, Napa cabbage, spinach, bok choi, and a number of other cold hardy veggies can be started late summer and grown to maturity in the fall, then held and harvested through at least early to mid-January (in a mild year, maybe even February) before desiccation gets the better of them,” Landis explains. “Spinach grown the same way will look dead and gone all winter in a high tunnel only to spring back to life come the lengthening and warming days of March,” she adds. “Areas further south or closer to one of the coasts than our Lake Superior location will have better success with winter production.”

Carrying on the Mission

“Our core mission as a farm is to create positive change,” Landis says. She tells me that their mission statement is fairly nebulous for a reason. “A diverse farm operates in many realms and we wanted a mission statement that reflected all of those realms and spoke to our own values of environmental advocacy, social justice, and organic food production among many others.” For them, creating positive change means improving soil health and water quality, creating a healthy work environment for both their employees and them and increasing on-farm biological diversity. They also aim at providing healthy, nourishing, affordable food for their family, friends, and neighbors. Being good stewards of the land and working toward a future that includes small farms and healthy communities are also important to them.

For more information on Hermit Creek Farm and the Spickermans, check out hermitcreekfarm.com.

Do you participate in CSA agriculture? Do you buy or sell? We want to hear about it!

Kenny Coogan, CPBT-KA, is a regular pet and garden columnist and has authored an ecological themed children’s book titled “A Tenrec Named Trey (And other odd lettered animals that like to play).” He has a B.S. in animal behavior and is a certified bird trainer through the International Avian Trainers Certification Board.

Originally published in Countryside September/October 2015 and regularly vetted for accuracy.

Homesteading For a Living Through a CSA was originally posted by All About Chickens

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bitcoinegoldrush · 8 years ago

Photo

High Demand Prompts Japanese Bitcoin Exchange to Seek Partner in Russia

News

A major Japanese bitcoin exchange is looking to enter the Russian cryptocurrency market and is seeking a local partner. The exchange’s CEO says “demand is huge” and urges Russia to look at Japan as a model for cryptocurrency regulations.

Also read: Sberbank Apologizes for Buying Nearly All Graphics Cards on the Russian Market

Japanese Exchange Eying Russian Market

Quoine, which operates the cryptocurrency exchange Quoinex, is looking to enter the Russian crypto market, CEO Mike Kayamori told Russian news outlet Ria Novosti in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Tokyo this week. The exchange currently supports BTC, BCH, and ETH. At the end of September this year, the company became one of the first of eleven in Japan to receive approval by the Financial Services Agency (FSA).

“The volume of our transactions last month amounted to 7-8 billion dollars in one month,” Kayamori revealed, adding that his exchange is actively looking for opportunities in Russia. He said:

I would like to work with someone in Russia, where we can also provide technology and a platform. Demand is huge.

Currently, “we do not work in Russia because we do not know how regulation there is. All the unknowns are a risk,” he added. “Therefore we would like to cooperate with any Russian progressive company that would be interested in cryptocurrency.”

The exchange has been actively expanding its operations of late. According to the CEO, the company is in talks with a number of foreign exchanges and financial institutions in countries such as the Philippines, South Korea, and China. Recently, Quoine partnered with fintech startup Blockwave to start cryptocurrency operations in Canada.

Russian Could Learn from Japan

As for expanding into Russia, Kayamori believes that “the most important thing is for the government to be consistent, to have confidence in what is good and what is bad.” He elaborated:

The Russian authorities and Russian institutions should simply look at Japan, on the existing guidelines and regulations, and then transfer them to Russia. Singapore is also looking at how it is done in Japan, because Japan is one step ahead.

Kayamori is not the only one suggesting looking at Japan as a model. In July, news.Bitcoin.com reported on Russian politician and the Presidential Commissioner for Entrepreneurs’ Rights, Boris Titov, proposing for the central bank to follow the Japanese model in regulating cryptocurrencies.

Currently, the Russian government is working on a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings (ICOs). The regulations need to be implemented by July of next year, according to a mandate by president Vladimir Putin. This week, the Deputy Finance Minister announced that the bill should be ready by February.

Do you think more Japanese exchanges will want to expand into Russia? Let us know in the comments section below.

Images courtesy of Shutterstock

Need to calculate your bitcoin holdings? Check our tools section.

Article Source

The post High Demand Prompts Japanese Bitcoin Exchange to Seek Partner in Russia appeared first on Bitcoin E-Gold Rush.

#Bitcoin #Bitcoin news

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studentofrhetoric-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Sunday, April 2nd, 2017

International News:

--- "U.S. backed Syrian forces repelled a major counter-attack by Islamic State militants holding out at the country's largest dam and in the nearby town of Tabqa, the group and activists said on Sunday. The dam is a key strategic target in the military campaign to isolate and capture the Syrian city of Raqqa, 40 km (25 miles) to the east and Islamic State's biggest urban stronghold. The U.S.-backed group said militants attacked their positions north-east of Tabqa and at an airbase to the south of the town where dozens of their fighters were killed; but the coalition of Kurdish and Arab militias was making slower advances in a village east of the town. Jehan Sheikh Ahmad, a spokeswoman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), spearheaded by the powerful Kurdish YPG militia, said the militants were stepping up their resistance as SDF forces got closer to encircling the town and the dam. "Our forces are advancing...(Islamic State )are facing large difficulties and so they are starting counter-attacks," said the official whose forces have U.S. special forces with them."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-tabqa-idUSKBN1740JS?il=0

--- "Iraq has assured OPEC it will fully comply with an agreement to cut oil supply in order to bolster crude prices, OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo said on Sunday in Baghdad. Iraq's compliance stands now at 98 percent, the nation's oil minister Jabar al-Luaibi told reporters, after addressing a conference in the Iraqi capital, also attended by Barkindo. Compliance with the deal agreed by OPEC and non-OPEC producers at the end of last year to cut supply is "encouraging," Barkindo told the forum. General compliance with supply cuts by the oil producers was 86 percent in January and 94 percent in February, he added. The market is already balancing, Barkindo said, adding stocks of crude were coming down. Luaibi said he was satisfied with the existing deal, but declined to say whether Iraq would support an extension, leaving it to an OPEC ministerial meeting planned in May."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-oil-opec-idUSKBN17406J?il=0

--- "France's polling commission has issued a warning over a Russian news report suggesting conservative candidate Francois Fillon leads the race for the presidency - something which contradicts the findings of mainstream opinion pollsters. The cautionary note from the watchdog on pre-election polling followed allegations in February by aides of centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron that he was a target of "fake news" put out by Russian media including the Sputnik news agency. Macron takes a hard line on European Union sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis, whereas Fillon has said they are totally ineffective, creating a "cold war" climate that needs to be reversed. Almost all media in France are drawing on polls that have shown since mid-February that Fillon, a former prime minister, is trailing in third place behind Macron and far right leader Marine Le Pen for the April 23 first round. Third place would mean Fillon's elimination from the May 7 runoff. State-run Sputnik carried different findings in a report on March 29 under the headline: "2017 presidential elections: the return of Fillon at the head of the polls". It quoted Moscow-based Brand Analytics, an online audience research firm, as saying that its study based on an analysis of French social media put Fillon out in front. In a statement, France's polling commission said the study could not be described as representative of public opinion and Sputnik had improperly called it a "poll", as defined by law in France."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-election-russia-idUSKBN1740JG?il=0

--- "Police in Moscow detained more than 20 anti-corruption protesters who took to the streets on Sunday in a follow-up of last week's large-scale demonstrations in the Russian capital, according to a Reuters witness. The turnout was much smaller than at rallies last week, when hundreds of protesters including a prominent Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny, were detained as they went out to demonstrate against corruption, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. On Sunday, plain clothes officials and police detained between 20 to 30 people in central Moscow as they tried to organize a march toward Kremlin, the Reuters witness said. Interfax news agency, quoting police, said 29 people were detained for "breaching of public order". "Now it is obvious that the problem has escalated because there are so many detained in different cities from Vladivostok to Kaliningrad," said Ilya Kurzinkov, one of several students from Novosibirsk in Western Siberia who joined in the rally in support of the Muscovites. "In general people are beaten, hurt. Even now, here, we see people are being detained, provocateurs appear.""

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-protests-moscow-idUSKBN1740HN?il=0

--- "Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party won nearly half of the seats contested in by-elections on Sunday, the first vote since it swept to power a year ago and an early indication of support for her administration amid increased fighting with ethnic armed groups and slower economic growth. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won nine out of 19 seats in the national and regional parliaments, according to the Union Election Commission, following a period in which she has struggled to match sky-high expectations. In a televised address earlier this week, Suu Kyi acknowledged the public's frustration with the slow pace of reforms and development. But she also reiterated her top priority of ending the ethnic conflicts that have kept Myanmar in a state of near-perpetual civil war. While the outcome of the by-elections will not affect the balance of power within the parliament, where the NLD enjoys a large majority, it offers a chance to gauge the popularity of the administration in a country where nationwide public polls are not available."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics-idUSKBN17336D?il=0

--- "Jets believed to be Russian hit an outpost run by moderate rebel forces in northwestern Syria near a major border crossing with Turkey, killing at least one fighter and wounding several people, two rebel sources said on Sunday. They said several raids overnight hit Babeska, a village in Idlib province that has become a haven for several moderate Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups, mainly Jaish al Islam, a major insurgent group that controls the last major rebel stronghold on the doorstep of the Syrian capital. Jaish al Islam is a signatory to a fragile ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey at the end of last year. Rebels say Russia has failed to put pressure on the Syrian government to ensure the ceasefire holds. The Syrian government considers Jaish al Islam a terrorist group and blames it alongside other insurgents for waging recent attacks on the government-held areas in the capital."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-rebels-idUSKBN17407J?il=0

--- "Spain, at loggerheads with Britain over Gibraltar, appears to be easing its opposition to an independent Scotland in the European Union, saying it would not block such a move at least initially. The Scottish independence drive -- now resuscitated by the prospect of Britain's departure from the EU -- is highly controversial in Spain because of the secessionist movement in Catalonia. As a result, Madrid has long been seen as an obstacle to an independent Scotland joining the EU after Brexit. But its foreign minister, Alfonso Dastis, threw that in doubt on Sunday. "Initially, I don't think we would block it," he said in an interview published in El Pais. However, he added Scotland would have to leave the EU with Britain, and "the rest we will see"..."Having said that, if, in application of its laws, the outcome of that process is a division of the United Kingdom, any part of the United Kingdom that becomes a state and wants to join the EU will have to apply. And follow the steps that are stipulated," he said. The comments come after a week in which the issue of Gibraltar, a British oversees territory on Spain's south coast, has stirred tensions between London and Madrid."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-scotland-idUSKBN17409J?il=0

--- "A senior United Nations refugee official on Sunday called on Gulf Arab states to give more to help Syrians displaced by six years of civil war, saying she saw little sign that the crisis would end any time soon. Speaking during a visit to Kuwait to sign a $10 million aid agreement for Syrian refugees in Iraq, Kelly T. Clements, deputy commissioner for the United Nations High Commision for Refugees (UNHCR), also said the U.N. body lamented the "sad" fact that the number of refugees fleeing Syria's civil war had passed the 5 million mark. "For us at UNHCR, we don't celebrate these milestones. We in fact try not to bring a lot of attention to it because it is not a good story," Clements told Reuters. "It means basically that we haven't seen a political solution to make it possible for people to go home safely and in dignity and voluntarily."...Speaking after she signed the aid agreement with the state-run Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, Clement said that Kuwait was the sixth largest donor to UNHCR, providing some $360 million between 2013 and 2015. "The other GCC countries have not managed to come anywhere close," she added, referring to the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council of mostly oil-rich Arab monarchies. "We would like that to change. In fact the resources that we need in order to provide humanitarian support throughout the world, including places like South Sudan and Somalia or Myanmar, Bangladesh, we are only meeting less than half of our budget," she told Reuters."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-unhcr-idUSKBN1740M8?il=0

--- "Families and rescuers searched desperately on Sunday through mud-plastered rubble for victims of flooding and landslides in Colombia that have killed 254 people, injured hundreds and devastated entire neighborhoods. Several rivers burst their banks near the southwestern city of Mocoa in the early hours of Saturday, sending water, mud and debris crashing down streets and into houses as people slept. Volunteers and firefighters tended to 82 bodies downstream in the town of Villagarzon and said many corpses were still caught in debris. "We had to recover them ourselves. We think we'll find more," Villagarzon Mayor Jhon Ever Calderon told Reuters. He said the town had no coffins or sanitary storage. Many families in Mocoa stayed up through the night to search through the debris, despite the lack of electricity in the city...President Juan Manuel Santos made a second visit to the area on Sunday. He said water and energy services would be restored as soon as possible. Santos blamed climate change for the disaster, saying Mocoa had received one-third of its usual monthly rain in just one night, causing the rivers to burst their banks."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-landslide-idUSKBN1740NW?il=0

--- "Mali's government should start talks with the leaders of two Islamist groups that have staged deadly attacks on Malian and French soldiers and U.N. peacekeepers, a peace conference said on Sunday. The week-long conference held under the auspices of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita urged talks with Amadou Koufa, leader of the Macina Liberation Front, a Fulani jihadist group, and Iyad Ag Ghali, leader of Islamist group Ansar Dine. The two groups are allies and Ansar Dine said in January it would join al-Mourabitoun, led by Algerian jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar, which claimed a suicide attack on a military camp in northern Mali that month that killed up to 60 people. The conference said authorities should: "Negotiate with the belligerents of central Mali, in this case Amadou Koufa, while preserving the secular nature of the state .... Negotiate with the religious extremists of the north, in this case Iyad Ag Ghali.""

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mali-politics-idUSKBN1740ZE?il=0

--- "Chancellor Angela Merkel said refugees in Germany must respect tolerance, openness and freedom of religion, while senior members of her party called for a ban on foreign funding of mosques. Merkel, who will seek a fourth term as chancellor in what is expected to be a tight election in September, has come under fire for allowing more than one million refugees to enter Germany over the past two years. Interviewed by a Syrian journalist who came to Germany in 2015 and asked about what Germany was expecting from refugees, Merkel said in her weekly podcast: "We expect the people who come to us to stick to our laws." Merkel said it was paramount that new arrivals respected and understood the liberal values of modern Germany such as tolerance, openness, freedom of religion and freedom of opinion. The center-right leader urged Germans to show openness in return. "We know very few things about Syria, we know very few things about Iraq or African countries. And we must see this as an opportunity to learn more and experience more," she said."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-election-muslims-idUSKBN1740PE?il=0

--- "An Iranian-American detained in Iran since last summer has been released on bail of approximately $60,000, the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported Sunday. Robin Reza Shahini was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards while visiting family in the northeastern city of Gorgan last July and subsequently sentenced to 18 years imprisonment on charges of threatening national security, according to HRANA. Shahini went on a hunger strike for a month recently and his health situation had been deteriorating, the HRANA report said. Two other Iranian-Americans are still being held in the Islamic Republic. Iran's Revolutionary Guards detained Siamak Namazi, a businessman in his mid-40s with dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship, in October 2015 while he was visiting family in Tehran. The Guards arrested his 80-year-old father Baquer Namazi, a former Iranian provincial governor and former UNICEF official who also has dual citizenship, in February 2016...The U.S. State Department issued a warning in March 2016 noting that Iranian-Americans are particularly at risk of being detained or imprisoned if they travel to Iran."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-politics-usa-detainee-idUSKBN1740OW?il=0

--- "French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen told a political rally on Sunday that the euro currency which she wants France to ditch was like a knife in the ribs of the French people. The leader of the eurosceptic and anti-immigrant National Front (FN) also told the rally in the city of Bordeaux that the forthcoming election for president could herald a "change in civilization". Encouraged by the unexpected election of Donald Trump in the United States and by Britain's vote to leave the European Union, Le Pen hopes to profit from a similar populist momentum in France, though opinion polls suggest she will lose the May 7 run-off. "We are at the mercy of a currency adapted to Germany and not to our economy. The euro is mostly a knife stuck in our ribs to make us go where others want us to go," Le Pen said to loud cheers and applause. Reiterating her anti-globalisation and anti-immigration views, she declared: "We do not want France to be open to all commercial and human flows, without protection and borders." A government under Le Pen's presidency would take France out of the euro zone and bring back a national currency, hold a referendum on its EU membership and slap taxes on imports and on companies hiring foreigners. Le Pen says she would curb migration, expel all illegal migrants and restrict certain rights now available to all residents, including free education, to French citizens."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-election-le-pen-idUSKBN1740N6?il=0

--- "Venezuela's opposition lawmakers said on Sunday they will push for the removal of Supreme Court judges whom they accuse of acting on behalf of the ruling Socialists after the top tribunal briefly assumed control of congress last week. While the move by the opposition-led congress would only be symbolic because it remains powerless, it could add to pressure on unpopular president Nicolas Maduro as he tries to defuse the furor over what critics saw as a lurch into dictatorship. The Supreme Court's ruling last week that it would take over functions of the National Assembly triggered international condemnation and opposition protests at home. Even the country's attorney general, a longtime government ally, said the decision was unconstitutional in a rare public rebuke from Maduro's ranks. On Saturday, at the request of the government, the Supreme Court eliminated the offending ruling. But Maduro opponents said no one should believe that row- back meant democracy had been restored in the nation of 30 million people with the world's largest oil reserves. "Despite a supposed retraction by the government after creating a coup d'etat, and apart from the clarification by the Supreme Court, the coup persists," lawmaker Juan Matheus said on behalf of the opposition. "The rupture of the constitutional order continues," he added at a news conference inside the legislative building, flanked by pro-opposition legal and constitutional experts."

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKBN1740MX?il=0

#international affairs #source: reuters

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