#Legal Victory

[cricketcat9]

This was so unlikely to happen, and yet!

“Communities in the Intag Valley of Ecuador have won a significant legal victory after a court ruled to halt copper mining in one of the world’s most biodiverse forests.

The Imbabura Provincial Court ruled on March 29 that Chilean copper producer Codelco and Ecuador’s Empresa Nacional Minera (ENAMI EP) had violated communities’ constitutional right to consultation as well as the rights of nature, thus canceling their mining licenses.

The decision represents a major victory for communities in the Intag Valley, who have been resisting mining projects in the region for nearly 30 years in what locals say is the longest continuous resistance movement against mining in Latin America.”

The fight against mining goes 30 years back. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Intag Valley is not far from me; a beautiful, pristine area in the Tropical Andes, the world’s most biodiverse hotspot, ranked first in plant, bird, mammal and amphibian diversity out of all 36 scientifically recognized biodiversity hotspots in the world to date.

[dencyemily]

Ripple's Tactical Pivot: Shifting from IPO Aspirations to a $285 Million Share Repurchase Amid Ongoing SEC Conflict

Ripple Abandons IPO Plans, Commits to $285 Million Share Buyback, Aiming for $11.3 Billion Valuation Post-SEC Legal Battle Ripple, a major player in the payment remittance sector, has made a significant strategic shift by stepping away from its original intention of going public. As it approaches the conclusion of its extensive legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ripple is now focusing on an extensive share buyback program. This initiative involves a tender offer to repurchase shares from its initial investors, marking a crucial change in Ripple's approach to enhancing shareholder liquidity.

Having traversed through five funding stages, including angel funding rounds and Series A, B, and C rounds, Ripple plans to execute a buyback estimated at $285 million, aimed at reclaiming shares from its foundational supporters.

Insights from Reuters suggest that the successful completion of this share repurchase plan could elevate Ripple's valuation to an impressive $11.3 billion. The report also highlights the imposed limitations on stake sales, capped at a maximum of 6%. Ripple has acknowledged the offer and plans to allocate an additional $500 million, specifically for converting restricted stock units (RSUs) into shares. RSUs, commonly part of employee compensation packages, play a pivotal role in this financial maneuver.

Ripple's CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, has outlined the company's future strategy, emphasizing the commitment to regular share buybacks to provide consistent liquidity to investors. This approach replaces Ripple's earlier intention to go public, with Garlinghouse citing the regulatory uncertainties in the U.S. as a crucial factor in this strategic shift.

The recent legal victory against the SEC, where the ruling determined that Ripple's XRP is not an "investment contract," has further emboldened the company's decision to pursue share repurchases.

Presently, XRP is trading at $0.5997, reflecting a 2.60% decrease in its daily value. This financial landscape sets the stage for Ripple's upcoming strategies in the dynamic realm of digital currencies. The company's strategic pivot underscores its adaptability and resilience in the face of regulatory challenges, signaling a sustained and impactful presence in the fintech industry.

[snap-blogz]

Todd And Julie Score $1 Million Settlement Amidst Conviction

In a surprising turn of events, Todd and Julie Chrisley, of “Chrisley Knows Best,” have clinched a substantial $1 million settlement from the state of Georgia. This legal triumph comes amid their prison sentences for involvement in a bank fraud and tax evasion case.

Table of Contents

Key Lawsuit Allegations

Misconduct Claims Against Waites

Settlement Outcome

Current Imprisonment Situation

Family Reaction

Key Lawsuit Allegations

 The couple filed a federal lawsuit against Joshua Waites, the former Director of Special Investigations for the Georgia Department of Revenue. The lawsuit accused Waites of targeting the Chrisleys for state tax evasion charges due to their fame. The family’s attorney, Alex Little, emphasized the unusual nature of the criminal case, stating,

 “This settlement is an encouraging sign.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C17SU2KOPSY/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=485&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fsnapblogz.com&rp=%2Ftodd-and-julie-score-1-million-settlement%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1665.2999999821186%2C%22ls%22%3A629.6999999880791%2C%22le%22%3A1327.9000000059605%7D

Misconduct Claims Against Waites

The lawsuit revealed shocking allegations of misconduct by Waites during the investigation. It detailed how Waites focused on the Chrisley family, particularly Todd and his estranged daughter Lindsie. The family accused Waites of attempting to use Lindsie to gain compromising information, even sharing confidential tax details. Despite the efforts, the Chrisleys endured significant personal and financial hardship.

“Ultimately Waites’s efforts failed, but in the process, the Chrisleys were forced to incur substantial personal and financial hardship,” expressed Michael J. Bowers, the Chrisleys’ former lawyer.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CmHrsZ-JKSt/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=485&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fsnapblogz.com&rp=%2Ftodd-and-julie-score-1-million-settlement%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A1671.0999999940395%2C%22ls%22%3A629.6999999880791%2C%22le%22%3A1327.9000000059605%7D

Settlement Outcome

The State of Georgia agreed to pay the Chrisleys $1 million to resolve the lawsuit. Little highlighted the rarity of a government arm compensating defendants while another fights to keep them in jail.

 “It’s nearly unprecedented for one arm of the government to pay money to defendants when another arm is fighting to keep them in jail,” he remarked.

Current Imprisonment Situation

Although cleared of state tax evasion charges, Todd and Julie faced federal charges, leading to their imprisonment. Todd’s 10-year sentence and Julie’s reduced 5-year sentence are currently being served. The couple’s original sentences were trimmed in September 2023. An appeal of their criminal convictions is scheduled for April at the federal appeals court in Atlanta.

Family Reaction

Chase Chrisley, the couple’s son, expressed optimism on social media, calling the settlement a “small victory” and emphasizing their innocence. “Savannah Chrisley” urged followers to “open their eyes to the corruption occurring EVERY SINGLE DAY.”

In summary, the Chrisleys’ legal journey takes a positive turn with the $1 million settlement, offering a glimmer of hope as they navigate through a complex legal battle. The upcoming appeal in April will be a crucial chapter in their quest for justice.

[escapismqueen]

One of my absolute favourite things in media is when two women start the show/movie hating each other, and over time develop a relationship so complex and deep that they can’t imagine life without each other. Bonus if they fall in love.

[astro-b-o-y-d]

It's funny whenever I see complaints about Quinton Reviews' style of video-making on here boil down to 'He's just covering the show beat-for-beat without adding any sort of insightful commentary' because it's like 1) me when I don't actually watch the videos I'm complaining about and 2) I thought this was the piracy supporting site, why are we mad

[aflamethatneverdies]

imo legal measures are always limited in what they can give, and especially in ICJ that was to be expected. since this is also not enforceable in any way. like obviously v disappointing they didn't call for a ceasefire despite saying some of the acts fall under genocide and the measures are simply telling israel to starve and kill gazans slightly less and provide them some more aid, but that's not completely unexpected you know.

[sexynetra]

for the fanfic ask game, 🏅 and 🌙 !!

🏅 What is something you recently felt proud of in regard to your writing (finished a fic, actually planned for once, etc).

Honestly finishing the gift for saph was huge I haven’t really written anything since April 😭

🌙  What time of day do you prefer to write? Why?

When I had a job it was during my shifts 🤭 but now that I’m unemployed…. Probably evening/nighttime? I honestly don’t usually use my computer during the day often 😂 but we’ll see once school starts again and I’m on my computer more if that shifts

[skankhunt44]

I bought my mother a new cell phone using an awesome coupon, and today she wanted to buy my dad a phone. She was logged in and we tried to buy the new phone and the coupon wasn't working. So, I called upon a rep.

Rep: code only can be used once

Me: thanks! 🙃

Me: *30 seconds later goes back onto the website, picks exact same phone, checks out as guest this time, uses an alternate name and email, same address, same payment method. Coupon worked. Misson accomplished.

Fuck you rep, telling me what I can and cannot do.

[simple-sheep]

Honestly... people refusing to vote or voting 3rd party because they "care" about Palestinians sure as hell don't care about Palestinians.

3rd party is throwing your vote away and not voting is just as bad. If you care about Palestinians then vote for the guy who Netanyahu hates (Biden) and NOT the guy who Netanyahu loves (Trump).

Because if Trump wins he'll let Netanyahu wipe them off the map using whatever force he wants.

Not to mention all the other people that will suffer under Trump, but they aren't the buzz word right now, are they? Can't care about the LGBTQA2S+, POC, disabled, native americans, Ukrainians, immigrants, or poor people can we? Cause they don't get nearly the same "good guy rush" online do they?

Voting 3rd party or not voting is only so you can feel good about yourself--but really you don't care about anyone but yourself. Must be nice to be so selfish.

[kittyvolvox]

the nostalgia of going on ao3 and finding lesbian ships from your favorite childhood shows/movies <3

[aspelladay]

Low John Victory Charm Spell

This charm allegedly guarantees all sorts of victories---romantic and interpersonal as well as legal.

Place a Low John root (bethroot) in a shallow dish and cover it with Notre Dame water.

Let this sit overnight, ideally charged by moonlight, then carry the root as a charm.

(from The Element Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells by Judika Illes)

[sleepysigh]

When I worked for a condo company i used to make it my mission at least once a week to spend 10 minutes watching the ocean from the penthouse balcony and use the master bathroom before I left. They would never know. I was only ever there for at most an hour in between guests, and ensuring cleanliness was part of my job, so there was never a sign to indicate anything but professionalism.

Make sure the remote has good batteries. Check all the light bulbs are working and the lamps plugged in. Put down some rip tide safety flyers. Check the balcony door is operational. Check the balcony is operational. Better check and make sure the ocean's operational. It takes a minute. Ocean's big. Think I'll make sure my vape's operational, while I'm here.

The guests and my boss never knew, but I knew. I got to spend my secret vape time watching the shrimp boat trawl lazy and indistinct along the rim of the horizon like a sleepy water strider, or perhaps a very bored angel patrolling the lower border of heaven and water. I would look out at the faint speck of massive machinery and the invisible shrimp-smelling men who were slaving away on its back and think to myself, "I might wish I was out there sometimes, but I bet y'all wish you were up here, too. Wish I could invite you, god knows you deserve it."

And I watched some of the richest people I'd ever seen manage to arrive to that same view and palatial quarters just barely still on this side of heaven's DMZ, close enough to spit in god's eye, far enough from earth to take a bird's eye to everything you ever needed to figure out, all quiet and high up, nestled against the ceaseless mass of the ever-present, ever-changing ocean, grand-daughter of our mother ocean, the one our cells lovingly recreate with each division and a little store-bought water, here at the origin of every love and the heart it inhabits, where the boundless teeming everything and anything once suddenly, apropos only of boredom and some clumsy atoms, contained a speck that would precipitate the hydrogen bomb, here at the edge of time, welcomed in to have an audience with the infinite and the infinitesimal…

They STILL found ways to be miserable. Families would come in bickering one day and go out bickering twice as much a week later, having bitched and moaned away their time in paradise. I wore myself out making sure everything was perfect for their arrival. I took my ten minutes with the light-year and the planck-length. I went home and ate my chef boyardee or take-n-bake pizza, put on some new anime or youtube analysis of a video game I never intend to play and right as the british guy started squawking his first joke, I'd say to myself, "Boy, if this ain't nice, I don't know what is."

[fideidefenswhore]

The Linda Porter quote about moral high ground is. Interesting?

Yeah, I'm not sure how one can make such a definitive statement about morality about two women that were doing the same thing in that interaction (defending their status)...

Besides which, LP contradicts herself almost immediately:

so she won the moral victory, which manifested as … ‘calculated tantrums’?

[sharingheaven]

Top Ten Times #JesusWasntJoking: Rethink Your Faith

Top Ten Times #JesusWasntJoking: Shocking Truths That Will Make You Rethink Your Faith

1. The Beatitudes: Blessed Are the Unexpected (Matthew 5:3-12) Jesus flipped the script on who’s truly blessed, uplifting the poor in spirit and the meek. Are you ready to embrace a faith that celebrates the outcasts? 2. Table-Turning Fury: When Jesus Got Angry (Matthew 21:12-13)Watch out! Jesus cleansed the temple, unleashing righteous anger against corruption. This wasn’t just a scene; it was…

[battybiologist]

While I am happy that the Hague's ruling is leaning towards a condemnation of Israel, we can't relent in our efforts.

Not only because this is merely a preliminary ruling, but because the ICJ does not have executive power over the Israeli occupation. The IDF is free to violate their ruling at any time, at the cost of being deemed international criminals, which has never stopped them before.

Moreover, even if the Israeli government complied, the legal outcome alone is a return to the status quo. Gaza was under siege long before 2023, and the apartheid still stands.

I am not trying to discourage you: this is an unprecedented amount of support behind Pro-Palestinian advocacy, and we now have to decide if we'll use this opportunity to work towards the end of Israeli occupation of Palestine, or walk away from the issue now that the genocide is reeled back in.

So if you're tired, if you're drained, please, let this small victory embolden you and let's double our efforts.

From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

[aspelladay]

Legal Victory Spell (2)

In addition to mere success, this spell promises that elusive quality: vindication. Cascara sagrada, the bark of the California buckthorn, translates in English to sacred bark. Once upon a time, it was a frequent component of Native American magic.[*] It’s highly endangered today. If you’re unable to obtain it or aren’t sure whether it’s been ethically collected, substitute Cascarilla Powder.

Pour boiling water over cascara sagrada, making a strong infusion.

Sprinkle this infusion on the front steps of the courthouse and/or around the building’s perimeter at the midnight prior to your court date.

Allegedly, if anyone witnesses your actions, this spell won’t work.

[*Note: I believe this is specifically referring to tribes located in the Pacific Northwest.]

(from The Element Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells by Judika Illes)