#Strategic Asset Management

[maximoesolution]

Effective asset management solutions allow organizations to accurately predict asset failure and increase reliability in turn, leading to higher availability, improved costs and productivity and potentially greater savings.

[wani-yasir1]

How to Create a Lazy Portfolio for Maximum Returns

What is a Lazy Portfolio? A lazy portfolio, also known as a passive portfolio, is an investment strategy that aims to maximize returns while minimizing effort and maintenance. The idea is to create a well-diversified portfolio that can be “set and forget,” requiring little ongoing attention from the investor. Lazy portfolios are typically made up of broad market index funds or ETFs that track…

[peterhughes85]

Join us for a brand new episode of KaleidoCAST. With the help of Patrick Fehr, the Chief Investment Officer at Kaleido we discuss Strategic Asset Allocation and the importance of diversifying across both asset classes and investment strategies.  Get in touch: https://kaleidoprivatbank.ch/#  Read our blog post: https://shorturl.at/hlmDG Subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3pTAdPG  Follow us on LinkedIn: https://shorturl.at/oDS46 Follow us on Facebook: https://shorturl.at/jkns8  Follow us on Instagram: https://shorturl.at/evIN4  Disclaimer: This piece of information is for marketing and entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as an investment recommendation or financial advice. Remember that all investments involve risk. Please read our full Marketing Disclaimer here: #assetallocation #investing #finance #privatebank #swissbank #wealthmanagement #assetmanagement #business #banking #financialservices

[astrocafecoffee]

💫Your future spouse's career based on your Juno persona chart 💫

✨ For entertainment purposes only. Enjoy.✨

🌜what to check?

- just check your Industria (389) asteroid in your Juno persona chart.Find out in which house it falls in!!

Why this asteroid?

- Juno persona chart tells about your future spouse and Industria(389) asteroid is a long term career related asteroid. So this asteroid in your juno persona chart can give a insight about your future spouse's career.

🌜SOME SHORT TERMS I USED HERE :

- FS = FUTURE SPOUSE

-JPC = JUNO PERSONA CHART

Leshh go!

🌆 Industria in 1st house of JPC : 1st house represent one's identity, personality and how they present themselves to the world.This asteroid in 1st house suggests that their career may be tied to their personal identity and innovative spirit. Now some possible career of your fs-

*Entrepreneurial scientist - they may excel in entrepreneurial pursuits within the scientific community. They may innovate new technologies, products that have a significant impact in their field.

* Industry leader - they maybe known for their innovative idea and proactive attitude to their work. They can easily be a leader of their respective industry.

* visionary consultant - they may excel in their field as a respectful advisor, who offers solutions to businesses or individuals seeking guidance.

* Creative director- career in creative leadership such as creative director in advising, film, fashion, or design.

* makeup artist

* Model

* engeneering

* design/ work in media.

🌆 Industria in 2nd house of JPC : Their career may be closely related to their values resources, managing or utilising assets and their sense of stability. Some possible career of your fs -

* wealth management specialist - they helps individuals or organizations maximize their financial resources and investments through innovative and strategic approach.

* Creative Financial analyst - specialised in creative or innovative analysis methods.

* Financial innovator- innovates new financial products, services or strategies.

* asset manager

* Entrepreneurial investor

* can sing well

* accountant

🌆 Industria in 3rd house of JPC : 3rd house represents one's communication style, mental persuits, and interaction within immediate environment. When this asteroid in your 3rd house this can indicate that your fs may excel in the career of innovative communication methods or technologies. Some possible career of your fs -

* They may into journalism, media, broadcasting, or public relations where someone uses their creative ideas.

* technology writer/ blogger: their career path may involve writing / blogging about technologies or industry trends or sharing their ideas with wide audience.

* Workshop/ educational outreach programs.

* small business owner

* excel in troubleshooting skills, problem solving abilities, explaining complex concepts in simple terms.

🌆 Industria in 4th house of JPC : their career tied to their home , family roots, and emotional well-being.some possible career of your fs -

* career in real estate - specialize in designing sustainable, eco friendly, or technologically advanced buildings.

* e- commerce, consulting, freelance work.

* Family councillor or therapist - they may help individuals and families navigate challenges, fostering harmony and growth within te hone environment.

* interior designer

* Home renovation specialist

* Family owned business owner.

* childcare provider

🌆 Industria in 5th house of JPC : 5th house is associated with creativity,joy, children and hobbies. It governs one's individual approach to work, self expression and personal fulfillment. So your fs career strongly related to this area of life. Possible careers -

* creative artist/ entertainer - Excels in creative profession like music , theater , film, writing etc.

* event planer- organizing wedding, festivals or social gathering.

* teacher/ coach - inspiring or guiding others in academic subject/ sports.

* youth councillor - natural affinity to work with young people and helping them to discover their talents.

* atrs nd crafts business owner.

* fitness instructor

* dance teacher

* entertainment industry professional.

🌆 Industria in 6th house of JPC : 6th house is associated with employment, daily task, health and service to others. So possible career of your fs -

* health care professionals - career related to healthcare, nursing, doctor, medicine, and pharmacy.

* nutritionist/ dietician - helping others to improve their dietary habits , manage health condition.

* fitness trainer/ coach - motivates others to adopt healthy lifestyle.

* administrative professional - may indicate talent for efficiency, attention to detail, making career in administrative or office management appealing.

* environmental scientist

* social worker

* reasearch assistant

🌆 Industria in 7th house of JPC : 7th house is related to marriage, buisness partnership, legal matters, and one-on-one interactions. Possible career domains of your fs-

*legal professional - career related as mediators, legal consultant, specialization in areas such as contrat law , family law or dispute resolution.

* business consultant - expertise in the area of strategy, negotiation, and partnership development.

* marriage and family therapist - helping couples navigate challenges, improve communication and strengthen their bonds through therapy or councilling sessions.

* international business manager

* foreign affair specialist

* event coordinator

*public relation specialist

* human resources manager

🌆 Industria in 8th house of JPC : 8th house is associated with themes such as mysteries, psychology, healing, emotional connection. So possible careers of your fs -

* psychologist/ psychotherapist - your fs may excel in trauma therapy, helping others to navigate profound emotional experiences , uncover hidden truth.

* forensic investigator/ crime analyst- they may be focused on uncovering hidden truths and solving mysteries.

*massage therapist - specialize in modalities such as deep tissue massage, craniosacral therapy or helping clients release emotional/ physical tension through healing.

* reasearch scientist - may excel in fields such as psychology, quantum physics, or consciousness studies.

* occultist - astrologer, tarot reader, or spiritual councillors.

* healer/ energy worker

* heal others through their respective fields. Can be. Singer too .

🌆 Industria in 9th house of JPC: 9th house is associated with themes such as higher learning, expansion of horizons , seeking truth, broadening one's perspective through travel/ exploration. Possible careers of your fs -

* international relations specialist - involve promoting international cooperation, resolving conflicts, forming mutual understanding between nations and cultures.

* spiritual teacher/ guru- your fs may pursue careers as spiritual teachers, gurus, mentors, guiding others on their spiritual journey.

* tour guide

* philosopher

* religious leader - may pursue careers as priests, ministers, guiding and supporting communities in matters of faith and spiritual growth.

* global NGO worker

* foreign language teacher

🌆 Industria in 10th house of JPC: 10th house is associated with themes such as career aspirations, social status, reputation, and professional achievements. This asteroid influences the individual's approach to career, public image, authority, ambition. So possible careers of your fs -

* media personality/ influencer - television hosts , journalist, bloggers, social media influencer , reaching a wide audience.

* creative director/ artist - artist, designer, performers.

* CEO

* startup founder, business owner, or self employed professionals.

* legal professional/ lawyer

* educational administrator

🌆 Industria in 11th house of JPC: when your industria asteroid in this house your fs may excel in the career of social network, group affiliation, humanitarian causes, collaboration etc. So possible careers of your fs -

* social entrepreneur - creates innovative solutions to adress social challenges.

* Tech entrepreneur, start-up founder.

* content creator - social media influencers, bloggers, using their platforms to inspire/ educate peoples.

* environment activist

* advocate

* community organizer

* designing educational platforms , or promoting digital literacy.

🌆 Industria in 12th house of JPC: 12th house is often associated with hidden strengths, spirituality, and working behind the scenes. So possible careers of your fs -

* they might work in reserch and development, data analysis or logistical planning behind the scenes.

* astro- spiritual researcher

* music industry

* astrologer

*song writer.

* mystical or spiritual advisor.

* environmental conservationist.

⚡ Note : these are only some possibilities of careers of your fs. And guys check the degrees to , it's like cheery on top 💌

🌜Don't forget to check my other observations too 👀

That's it guys , see you soon 💝

- piko 💖

[hotelivate]

5 Hospitality Consulting Services Offers by Hotelivate

Hotelivate is the leading consultant for the hotel industry in India, offering specific, targeted, and curated hotel consulting solutions to the hotel business. Its hospitality consulting services offer a one-stop-shop firm that delivers tailored solutions to all hospitality projects.

[wraithdance]

Good Boy [part 1/2]

CW: Mentions of canon childhood trauma & abuse, loss of virginity (Simon), using sex as self harm, my man being traumatized and bitch-less, awkwardness, eventual reader mention, lots of internal dialogue I’m setting sumthn up for the next part

Simon is aware he wasn’t pretty or particularly personable. He didn’t ever really need to be.

Even before the scars and the night terrors that kept him up as he meticulously arranged and dismantled his service pistol, he’d never been one to get the girl.

The years spent supporting his mother and saving Tommy’s ass, while also surviving his father’s blows, took up what was a joke of a childhood. There were no movie dates or pretty birds under his arm or texting his phone (not like he had one). Not even the time to wank to whatever model graced the cover of the cheap magazines his mother hid.

He’d lost his virginity in the most clinical way in the back of the butcher shop he’d worked as a teenager. Couldn’t remember the face of the bold older girl that offered to suck his cock when he went on break. Simon had been befuddled that she’d wanted to repay him with a quickie because he’d discounted the cut of meat she’d been sent to pick up for her mother. He’d accepted nonetheless and followed as she lead him to the back of the alley between the shop and laundromat.

Simon had been stiff, unable to enjoy the feeling of her hot, pink glossed mouth taking his prick as far as she could manage. He’d been too preoccupied with the fear of being caught by his boss and the uncomfortable feel of her teeth snagging the sensitive skin of his shaft. He remembered her offense when she’d asked him if she was making him feel good and he’d said no.

At 18 he was still unaccustomed to the concept of lying to spare another’s feelings.

Expecting her to give up he’d tried to thank her (which offended her more) and stuff his cock back into his work jeans. Instead she’d rolled her eyes and lifted her skirt, positioning herself against the brick wall. She’s all but snapped at him to hurry the fuck up and put his cock inside her.

His hands had trembled as he worked himself into her cunt. She’d hissed around the gum in her mouth when he’d pressed the head of his cock past her slick hole, barking that he was too big and to go slow. He tried, the restraint it took to not chance her ire and rut into her like a dog made his teeth crack with how hard he clenched his jaw. She’d yowled like the female cat that made home behind the trash can when it was in heat. He’d nearly slipped out of her afraid he’d hurt her. She’d called him a fucking idiot and demanded he fucked her until she said stopped. So he did.

The force of his orgasm nearly made him black out, through the muffled roar of his blood in his ears, he’d been able to heed her warning to pull out.

He’d been apologetic about the cum that dripped on her open toed shoes. She’d ignored him and scrapped what she could off with a business card he kept in his apron, while he buckled his pants. She’d come inside to grab her parcel of meat and ignored him. His boss had come from the back office and took one look at the retreating girl before shaking his head at Simon.

When he’d joined the military he’d lost what was left of his naivety. There was no room for apologies and mincing words when seeing the life drain from your enemies eyes. For the first time in his life his roughness and straight speech was an asset.

Tactical. Strategic.

Those were the kind of things they said in praise as they pat him on the back.

He’d embraced it, embraced the part of him that would always be his father’s son and he raised hell in honor of his majesty.

He couldn’t look himself in the eyes in the mirror much less imagine the kind of life MacTavish went on about. Always talking about a house in the highlands and a pregnant wife with a barn full of children.

‘Ye can’t tell me ya don’t want the same L.T’

Johnny would say in the dead of night. Always while ‘keeping company’ at Simon’s shoulder while he watched the world through his sniper. Simon’s hands had always sweat beneath his gloves at the talks of imagined lives outside of the shithole safe house they were holed up in. Sometimes he’d grunt noncommittally and Johnny would take the hint and entertain himself with something else. Other times it took a gruff

‘Shut the fuck up MacTavish’

Johnny would be blissfully quiet awhile and the part of Simon that was still his mother’s son would rear his head long enough to transmute a sense of guilt. It was always short lived because Johnny was persistent, forgiving.

He’d bounce back after some time and laugh at whatever joke Simon had in his arsenal in lieu of an apology.

‘It’s alright L.T we’ll find ye a nice Lass to settle down with’ MacTavish’s eyes would sparkle in mischief. Convinced that was the solution to every problem.

Simon thinks about it often when in the bare apartment he calls home when forced on leave. On nights he can’t think of anything but of the echoes of blood and blows across his body, he thinks of what it would be like to have something to come home to. He never gets too far because there’s no frame of reference to use. Just a nameless girl who’d taken his cock in an alley way.

Simon learned that the more he lost himself to the entity that was Ghost the more women gave him the time of day. It was like the self loathing and dark acerbic energy that kept him tethered to the living was a beacon.

The first time it happened he’d made a mousy girl cry. She’d been dared by her friends to approach him at a bar. He’d felt her eyes on him throughout the night, choosing to ignore her. The mask protected him from the itch that came with being perceived in civilian life. He’d been somewhat prepared for her to get the courage to come up to him, having learned that some people were stupid enough to go against their predator/prey instincts. He hadn’t been prepared for the soft hand that trailed across his back to get his attention.

He’d humiliated her. Towered over her and cut her down with words until dark spots danced at the corner of his visions, until she’d burst into sobs. He’d thrown down cash to cover his tab and left. The echoes of her friends calling him a fucking bastard on his heels.

Much like the first time he’d had sex he responded better to blatant requests to be fucked. The requests nearly always when out at drinks with his team. He’d gotten good at recognizing the telltale signs of desperate interest. The glance over of his mates, the dilated pupils as they took in his mask and covered form. On the days he couldn’t be arsed he ignored them. When he needed to feel something other than nothingness he’d meet their eyes. Signal with his head to meet him in the dingy hallway or the back alley.

Always the same as the first time. Spreading their legs against the brick, rutting deep and wasting his spend on the asphalt. With experience he’d learned to grip their necks and maneuver their bodies just so. Overtaking their senses and giving them the fantasy of being just a cunt for him to fuck. In the end he always felt like the one being used.

Sometimes they wanted more from him. A kiss, a call, a second time. He’d occasionally entertained it, the prickling desire to have that dream Johnny painted. It always ended the same. His career kept him away, he was too closed off, the novelty of fucking the guy who scared their friends wore off. And he was left feeling more like a shell.

He stopped recognizing himself in the mirror after a while. A stranger stared back at him with lifeless eyes and a body that belonged to someone else.

The night he met you he’d been unprepared. You’d stared at him like the others. Flickering eyes back and forth taking him in with interest. Gaz and Johnny had noticed and made jokes that set his teeth on edge. He’d told them to piss off.

He caught you staring at him once more, holding your gaze with lidded eyes. You didn’t look away or act coy and embarrassed.

Good.

Subtly he motioned to the bars entrance. You frowned.

He watched you stand up and collect your bags and he took down the rest of his tepid beer. Gaz and Johnny whistled loud and obnoxiously, until Price rallied them in with a half hearted threat.

Simon is making his way through the crowded pub keeping track of your movements. He’s got a cigarette out and lit when you cautiously tip toe out into the night.

He’s watching your nervous shuffling from behind the tendrils of smoke. You seem to make up your mind about something because your shoulders set apart and you straighten your back. Brave little thing.

“Can you model for me-“

“Lift your skirt-”

Your eyes are peeled wide in disbelief. He’s honestly just as confused but hides it with a flick of the cigarette ash.

“Wot?”

“Uh? I asked if you could model for me,” you’re not quite fidgeting but you aren’t really focusing on him. Your eyes are looking just past his shoulder in a facsimile of eye contact. Something about it bothers him.

He flicks the half spent cigarette to the concrete and pulls away from the wall. You don’t step back from his size or flutter your eyes like a pretty bird. You’re taking him in like you’re categorizing him.

“Wots this about modeling? I thought you followed me out to ask for my cock.”

Your nose wrinkles at the crassness.

“No sorry, I thought you just wanted to talk in a quieter area,” you look around at the alleyway for a spell before facing him. “Honestly it seems a bit unsanitary to have sex out here don’t you think?”

He snorts. He’d never heard any objections before. He’d also never had sex in a bed either though.

Simon had long since learned he was good enough to fuck in alleys or cars between shifts. Sometimes couches if he made it across the threshold. Never had any qualms around it until you mentioned it.

It’s a grating thought he doesn’t want to dwell on. He’s turning to leave when you step in front of him with arms raised.

“Wait!” He is glowering down at you unimpressed.

“I’m sorry I really did want to ask you to model for me!” You’re panicking and inching closer to the bar door as if hoping to block his exit with your body. A laughable thought. You must realize it too because your hands drop listlessly to your side.

“Listen, I’m an author and I need someone to pose for a cover mock up for a series.” He scoffs.

“And you thought I’d be a fit?”

“Well yeah!” Your eyes light up in excitement and you ramble out a stream of things he doesn’t quite catch. His focus on the curve of your cheeks and the sense of life you emit. His cock is half chubbed in his pants watching you.

After awhile your rambles trail off and you stare at each other. Realizing he had no plans to respond you sigh in defeat.

“Look take my card,” you’re reaching into your pocket for a wrinkly square. “I’m serious I really do think you’d be a great model for my series and I’d really like to treat you to coffee if you’re willing to hear me out.”

Simon isn’t sure why he takes the card, but he does. He’s looking at the hand doodled picture of a dog and the chicken scrawl beneath the text stating ‘Expert Dog Walker’. He gives you a flat look that causes you to grimace.

“It’s my day job, you know what they say about starving artists and all.” You joke.

He doesn’t laugh.

He instead pockets the thin square and steps around you. You’re on his heels following him inside. He gives you a look as a sign of dismissal that you scoff at but you take the hint.

He watches you leave from the corner of his eye while he settles down at the table with his team.

‘You’re back a little early mate.” Gaz prods.

“The lass dinnae look too happy with your performance LT what did ye do? Do ye need me to tell you how to put it in.” Soap claps a hand over Simon’s shoulder that he shoves off.

Price observes him quietly with arms crossed. Simon doesn’t tell them about your odd little request at all.

He fingers the card in his pocket throughout the night. He looks at your scrawled name as he washes the eye black from his face, your card tucked into the mirror.

He has the number memorized by the time he’s done.

[qs63]

Team's Mustang curious dynamics.

I've noticed that in the manga and in the side materials, team Mustang usually has a defined way of teaming up which is NOT Mustang + Hawkeye.

Mustang's usual partner is actually Havoc: vs Lust in the manga, vs Briggs in the mobile game, and again vs terrorists in the abducted alchemist novel. Meanwhile, Hawkeye's partner is Fuery in all the instances above.

I kept wondering why Arakawa and Co separated the team this way and realized it makes a lot of sense.

Havoc and Hawkeye are similar in experience and expertise, but Hawkeye has better management, leadership, and long range skills while Havoc has more physical presence and better close combat skills. If you're going to partner Mustang (who is usually leading the vanguard) with anyone, Havoc is the best option. He can cover Roy's close combat weakness better than Hawkeye, and having his second in command in his squad causes redundancy.

Riza is better served away from the front line where her sniping skills can shine, and where she can manage the troops Roy is not leading himself. Fuery makes sense as her partner since he is the communication expert and can keep her in contact with everyone.

As for Breda, we know Roy usually leaves off-field coordination to him. He's more than capable of holding the fort by himself so he's the perfect third in command. He's also a great strategic asset for Riza when Roy is away.

Falman is just sort of there, he's useful for whoever has command off the field and needs information.

[centrally-unplanned]

This article about Hamas's strategic planning in the lead up to the October assault was at least a partial mind-changer for me. So far I had been viewing Hamas as executing a "bait" attack on Israel for international & domestic political reasons. Kill enough Israelis, and in particular take some hostages, to force Israel to invade Gaza; which you want because that will re-inflame radicalism, tank Israel's growing coziness with Arab states like the Gulf Monarchies, and keep the Palestine Question front-and-center on people's agendas.

What it was not about was achieving any sense of a military victory; Hamas did not think they would be able to defeat the IDF on the field, or even truly hold them back. They thought they would do better than they have in defending Gaza, to be honest, but the goal wasn't to "win" in that way or anything. The actions of Israel, in their inflamed bloodlust, would be the fulcrum of progress for Hamas. It was the most logical interpretation of their strategy, because tbh its working, Israel's strategy void has bungled this war at every level. Of course if it is "worth it" is a completely separate question - Hamas is playing a game from deep, deep in the red, if you aren't going to fold and pack it up from that position these are the hail mary plays you make.

This article, a long (and sometimes overly windy) interview with two career members of the Palestinian governing orgs (primarily Fatah), shines a very different light on that. They outline that over the past ~decade, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar coalesced power around his own faction of highly fundamentalist adherents that convinced itself that divine favor was shining on them and they would be able to actually defeat Israel in the field. The most compelling evidence for this is a conference they held planning the post-conquest occupation of Israel:

So detailed were the plans that participants in the conference began to draw up list of all the properties in Israel and appointed representatives to deal with the assets that would be seized by Hamas. "We have a registry of the numbers of Israeli apartments and institutions, educational institutions and schools, gas stations, power stations and sewage systems, and we have no choice but to get ready to manage them," Obeid told the conference.

They even called people up to ask if they would take the job of governor of this-of-that province! This was not a bored-Friday white paper by any means. They discussed defensive plans and counter-offensives like that was on the table. Sinwar outlined conquest as the goal.

If we accept this premise, it naturally lends itself to the question "okay how did they get the rest of Hamas to go along with this?" Because Hamas is not all These Kinds of People, its a governing state that does politics on the international stage after all. One of the reasons I leaned towards my interpretation was that, for the past ~decade, Hamas has actually been doing a glam-up rebranding of the org to make it more moderate & respectable in international eyes. The 2017 Charter Revision is the biggest example, which included say disavowing the idea that this was a religious war (distinguishing between zionism & judaism), and loosely admitting to the idea that they could recognize Israel as a country if terms were met. Actions like these show actors who are pretty level-headed. Were they inauthentic? Did they change their mind?

Maybe a bit, but its more than they aren't the same people. Right alongside the build-up to the October attack was a purging & sidelining of whole swaths of Hamas leadership. Many were not even informed of the attack - though they knew something was coming. Apparently it leaked on October 2nd, and a bunch of leaders just immediately fled the Strip for safety. This one is the most amusing:

Haniyeh's eldest son took a similar course of action. Around midday on October 2, Abed Haniyeh chaired a meeting of the Palestinian sports committee, which is headed by the minister of sports, Jibril Rajoub. Suddenly he received a phone call, left the room for a few minutes and then returned, pale and confused. He immediately informed the committee – whose members were in a Zoom conference with counterparts in the West Bank – that he had to leave for the Rafah crossing straightaway, as he had just learned that his wife had to undergo fertility treatment in the United Arab Emirates. (He was lying.) He granted full power of attorney to his deputy and left the Gaza Strip hurriedly.

That is one way to duck out of a pointless meeting, take notes people!

So instead of my hail mary politics play, what you have is a story of an institutional coup by a radical faction - which for extremist resistance groups is an ever-present threat. None of this means the "bait" strategy part is wrong of course, that was definitely still the point - but this argument here claims that goal of the bait was to bring the IDF into Gaza where it could be defeated in the field with their extensive fortifications, and then presumably inspire others like Hezbollah to jump on the moment of weakness and besiege Israel proper.

So....is this true? There are two gigantic caveats on this article: the first is that the people being interviewed do not primarily work for Hamas - they are members of Fatah, the leading faction of the PLO. They hate Hamas, they are not Hamas leaders themselves, they have every incentive to paint Hamas as irredeemable. You really can't take this story simply at their word. But they aren't outsiders - they hate Hamas but they work with them constantly, that is how it works, people rotate around in the Palestine orgs. They have met personally and worked with dozens of Hamas leaders; one of them was even called to be offered one of those post-war occupation governorships! (He said no lol) So its a big red flag but not a damning one. And things like the fleeing leaders, the conference on the occupation, those all 100% happened. They released press on it, they weren't hiding it.

The second caveat is that its just really not uncommon for large organizations, particularly extremist ones, to engage in mainly performative actions at scale. The South Korean government still maintains a department that plans for the administration of North Korea for example! Not totally useless ofc, but it writes exactly the reports you think it does that get put in a bin and never touched. Sometimes its appeasing internal factions, sometimes its PR, sometimes its just institutional inertia. Its absolutely believable that Hamas would make a big plan for how they would conquer Israel because otherwise...what do you tell the commanders, exactly? Why are they fighting again? A significant percentage of the lower-level fighters need that belief, so you give it to them. While certainly there is a fundamentalist faction in Hamas, are they ones winning? Or are they just another faction being played against?

I don't see enough evidence to say, but there is enough to make me pause. I'm not sold on it in the end, that is my final conclusion. I think more brains than Sinwar were involved in this and they had more realistic aspirations. And yet the level of commitment and disorganization does suggest that at least some of what was pushing events forward was a group immune to doubts being at the wheel. Certainly interested in researching more.

[tizeline]

I’ve never seen a separated au with Leo being raised by big mama, what do you think that would be like? (Since he’s kinda rebellious)

For the record, there are AUs where Leo's been raised by Big Mama, the ones I know of are Gemini AU by tangledinink and True Colors AU by v-albion. I'm not super familiar with either of them, but they're there if you wanna check them out.

That being said-

LEO being raised by BIG MAMA omg I have THOUGHTS

Listen, I don't see enough people compare Leo to Big Mama, but he's quite similar to her. Splinter and BM never got a kid together, BUT IF THEY DID that kid would literally be Leo he's basically just a fusion of the two of them!!

As I've mentioned several times before because I love bringing it up, Leo is strategic, quick-witted, observant and good at talking. In the show (as well as in my own AU) Leo's strengths aren't really recognized, let alone aknowledged for a big portion of the story. Because of that, for a long time he doesn't really get the chance to develop these skills, as much potential Leo has to become a master planner his impulsiveness and inexperience has a tendency to get him into trouble.

BUT! All of these skills also happen to be skills that Big Mama has and would value in Leo. So if he were to actually have to opportunity to not only be raised by BM but also trained by her for his entire life. If he got to properly learn strategy, planning, manipulation...?

... Holy shit Leo would be terrifying.

Think about it, canon!Leo managed to out-smart BM in Many Unhappy Returns without any real experience, just imagine what he could do with a whole life-time of training.... yikes!

Not sure what exactly Big Mama and Leo's relationship would look like. In my opinion she would view him as her son and love him dearly, especially if she knew that he's Splinter's biological son.... it's just that BM has interesting ways of showing affection. ("The love of my life just proposed to me?? Great! I'm gonna lock him up in my gladiator fighting ring for the rest of eternity!") She'd at the very least be quite controlling, I imagine.

As you pointed out, Leo can be quite rebellious, so that mixed with Big Mama's obsessive need to be in complete control of everyone around her would certainly cause some tension. Actually... considering how clever Leo would be in this AU... uh oh.

All of these qualities that BM initially appreciated and encouraged in Leo, what if, as Leo became more and more capable, Big Mama started to eventually view them in a more negative light? If she feels like she's loosing control over Leo, if she interprets Leo's rebellion as not just a normal teenage need for independence but rather him malicously working against her. What if she starts viewing him not as an asset or as a tool, but rather a threat?

If BM has reason to believe that Leo might try to overthrow her and take control over her criminal empire, she might take preemptive action and get rid of him before he has the chance to get rid of her.... Not like murder-get-rid-of, I don't think she'd just kill him, lol! But like lock him up, maybe throw him into the Battle Nexus, I dunno. Anything that would allow her to remain in control of both him and her business.

As for Leo, maybe he would actually try to overthrow BM. Considering he was raised by a literal mafia boss, his moral compass is gonna be a bit wack. Maybe Leo's desire for control over himself would cause him to try to seize control over his mother's business. Oooooorrrrr maybe Leo just wants some independance but doesn't actually want to compete with BM, so when she interprets his actions and behavior as malicious he's not prepared for that at all and, as a result, is more than a little hurt that his own mother would take such extreme actions against him. Who knows?

Hhhhhhh there's a lot of fun posibilities here but MAN I'm not really in the mood to work on an entirely new AU. Maybe I'll create some art for it I dunno, this concept is really fun, but I'm not gonna turn this into a proper Thing, so if anyone else wanna steal this concept and explore it for themselves, feel more than free to do that!

[onlyonetifosi]

It was a warm summer day in the small town of Monte Carlo, where the Leclerc family resided. Charles and Arthur, the two eldest siblings, were already making waves in the world of motorsports. Their passion for racing burned bright, captivating the hearts of fans worldwide. But there was a forgotten ember in the family, YN Leclerc, the youngest sibling, who had always yearned to be a part of that racing world.

From a young age, YN had watched her brothers zoom past in their go-karts, leaving behind trails of dust and dreams. Her heart ached with a desire to be on the track, to feel the adrenaline course through her veins as she chased the checkered flag. However, the Leclerc family couldn't afford to support her aspirations. Racing was an expensive venture, and they had already invested everything in Charles and Arthur's careers.

Undeterred, YN sought solace in the humble surroundings of her father's garage. Amongst the wrenches, oil stains, and the smell of gasoline, a new passion sparked within her. She discovered a natural aptitude for engineering and car mechanics. With unwavering determination, she spent hours studying the intricate workings of engines, dissecting every bolt, and understanding the science behind speed.

As YN's skills grew, she found herself becoming part of her brothers' racing team. While Charles in F1 and Arthur in F2 showcased their driving prowess on the track, YN worked tirelessly behind the scenes. She fine-tuned their cars, ensuring every engine was in optimal condition, and adjusted suspension settings to suit different tracks. Her keen eye for detail allowed her to spot potential issues before they escalated, making her an invaluable asset.

"YN, mon cher, you have an incredible talent," Pascale Leclerc, their maman, said one evening as she watched YN tinker with an engine. "Your father would have been proud of you."

YN looked up, her hands still covered in grease. "Do you really think so, maman?"

Pascale smiled warmly. "Of course, my dear. Your father always believed in you, just as I do. Your brothers are making their mark in the racing world, but you, ma petite, you have the power to leave your own legacy."

Slowly but steadily, YN began to gain recognition for her technical prowess. Fellow engineers and mechanics admired her innate talent and the relentless dedication she brought to the table. She became a mentor to younger enthusiasts, imparting her knowledge and nurturing their passion for cars.

Yet, despite her achievements, YN couldn't escape the shadow of her brothers. She longed to carve out her own identity within the racing community.

One evening, as YN stood in the garage, contemplating her future, Lorenzo Leclerc, Arthur's manager, approached her. "YN, I've been watching you closely," he said in a low, gentle tone. "You're more than just a mechanic. Your understanding of the sport is unparalleled. Have you ever considered becoming a race strategist?"

YN's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and curiosity washing over her. "A race strategist? But I've always been behind the scenes..."

Lorenzo smiled. "Exactly. You've been the unsung hero, the one who ensures everything runs smoothly. Imagine having the power to make split-second decisions that can determine the outcome of a race. You have what it takes, YN."

As the seasons changed and years passed, YN navigated the world of motorsports with grace and resilience. She attended races, observing the tension and excitement of the pits, and strategized race plans alongside her brothers and their team. YN's insights and meticulous preparations became instrumental in their success. Her brothers, recognizing her invaluable contributions, spoke of her achievements with pride, giving her the recognition she deserved.

But amidst the triumphs, there was still a lingering ache in YN's heart. The memory of their father, Hervé Leclerc, haunted her. His passion for racing had been the foundation on which their dreams were built, and his untimely death had left a void in their lives.

One day, while they were all gathered in their family home, reminiscing about their father's love for the sport, YN mustered the courage to speak.

"Maman, Charles, Arthur," she began, her voice laced with emotion. "I miss him. I miss him so much. Every time I step foot in the garage, I can still feel his presence. He believed in me, didn't he?"

Pascale's eyes glistened with tears as she embraced her youngest child. "Yes, my darling. Your father believed in all of you. He saw the fire in your eyes, the same fire that burns within Charles and Arthur. Your path may be different, but you carry his spirit with you."

Charles and Arthur stood on either side of YN, their expressions filled with a mix of understanding and support.

"You've proven yourself time and time again, YN," Charles said, his voice firm yet gentle. "You're not just a mechanic or a strategist. You're our sister, and you're an integral part of our team. We couldn't have come this far without you."

Arthur nodded in agreement. "You've found your own place in the racing world, YN. You've forged a path that's uniquely yours. And we're proud to call you our sister."

Through her journey, YN discovered that her passion for engineering was not just a consolation prize; it was her calling. She found fulfillment in the knowledge that her work played a significant role in her brothers' victories. YN's dream of racing may have taken a detour, but she had found a purpose that was just as exhilarating.

In time, the world began to recognize YN Leclerc as more than just the sister of racing prodigies. She became a respected figure in the motorsports industry, known for her technical brilliance and unwavering determination.

As YN stood on the podium beside her brothers, the roar of the crowd echoing in her ears, she looked out at the sea of faces. In that moment, she realized she had found her own place in the fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled world of racing. YN Leclerc, the unsung hero, had emerged from the shadows and claimed her rightful spot beyond the checkered flag.

And as the Leclerc family celebrated their triumphs, their father's spirit lived on, forever etched in their hearts. For it was through their collective passion and unwavering support for one another that they transcended the limits of the racetrack and found solace in the memories they held dear.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The CHIPS Act treats the symptoms, but not the causes

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/07/farewell-mr-chips/#we-used-to-make-things

There's this great throwaway line in 1992's Sneakers, where Dan Aykroyd, playing a conspiracy-addled hacker/con-man, is feverishly telling Sydney Poitier (playing an ex-CIA spook) about a 1958 meeting Eisenhower had with aliens where Ike said, "hey, look, give us your technology, and we'll give you all the cow lips you want."

Poitier dismisses Aykroyd ("Don't listen to this man. He's certifiable"). We're meant to be on Poitier's side here, but I've always harbored some sympathy for Aykroyd in this scene.

That's because I often hear echoes of Aykroyd's theory in my own explanations of the esoteric bargains and plots that produced the world we're living in today. Of course, in my world, it's not presidents bargaining for alien technology in exchange for cow-lips – it's the world's wealthy nations bargaining to drop trade restrictions on the Global South in exchange for IP laws.

These bargains – which started as a series of bilateral and then multilateral agreements like NAFTA, and culminated in the WTO agreement of 1999 – were the most important step in the reordering of the world's economy around rent-extraction, cheap labor exploitation, and a brittle supply chain that is increasingly endangered by the polycrisis of climate and its handmaidens, like zoonotic plagues, water wars, and mass refugee migration.

Prior to the advent of "free trade," the world's rich countries fashioned debt into a whip-hand over poor, post-colonial nations. These countries had been bankrupted by their previous colonial owners, and the price of their freedom was punishing debts to the IMF and other rich-world institutions in exchange for loans to help these countries "develop."

Like all poor debtors, these countries were said to have gotten into their predicament through moral failure – they'd "lived beyond their means."

(When rich people get into debt, bankruptcy steps in to give them space to "restructure" according to their own plans. When poor people get into debt, bankruptcy strips them of nearly everything that might help them recover, brands them with a permanent scarlet letter, and subjects them to humiliating micro-management whose explicit message is that they are not competent to manage their own affairs):

https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/07/hr-4193/#shoppers-choice

So the poor debtor nations were ordered to "deregulate." They had to sell off their state assets, run their central banks according to the dictates of rich-world finance authorities, and reorient their production around supplying raw materials to rich countries, who would process these materials into finished goods for export back to the poor world.

Naturally, poor countries were not allowed to erect "trade barriers" that might erode the capacity of this North-South transfer of high-margin goods, but this was not the era of free trade. It wasn't the free trade era because, while the North-South transfer was largely unrestricted, the South-North transfer was subject to tight regulation in the rich world.

In other words, poor countries were expected to export, say, raw ore to the USA and reimport high-tech goods, with low tariffs in both directions. But if a poor country processed that ore domestically and made its own finished goods, the US would block those goods at the border, slapping them with high tariffs that made them more expensive than Made-in-the-USA equivalents.

The argument for this unidirectional trade was that the US – and other rich countries – had a strategic need to maintain their manufacturing industries as a hedge against future geopolitical events (war, but also pandemics, extreme weather) that might leave the rich world unable to provide for itself. This rationale had a key advantage: it was true.

A country that manages its own central bank can create as much of its own currency as it wants, and use that money to buy anything for sale in its own currency.

This may not be crucial while global markets are operating to the country's advantage (say, while the rest of the world is "willingly" pricing its raw materials in your country's currency), but when things go wrong – war, plague, weather – a country that can't make things is at the rest of the world's mercy.

If you had to choose between being a poor post-colonial nation that couldn't supply its own technological needs except by exporting raw materials to rich countries, and being a rich country that had both domestic manufacturing capacity and a steady supply of other countries' raw materials, you would choose the second, every time.

What's not to like?

Here's what.

The problem – from the perspective of America's ultra-wealthy – was that this arrangement gave the US workforce a lot of power. As US workers unionized, they were able to extract direct concessions from their employers through collective bargaining, and they could effectively lobby for universal worker protections, including a robust welfare state – in both state and federal legislatures. The US was better off as a whole, but the richest ten percent were much poorer than they could be if only they could smash worker power.

That's where free trade comes in. Notwithstanding racist nonsense about "primitive" countries, there's no intrinsic defect that stops the global south from doing high-tech manufacturing. If the rich world's corporate leaders were given free rein to sideline America's national security in favor of their own profits, they could certainly engineer the circumstances whereby poor countries would build sophisticated factories to replace the manufacturing facilities that sat behind the north's high tariff walls.

These poor-country factories could produce goods ever bit as valuable as the rich world's shops, but without the labor, environmental and financial regulations that constrained their owners' profits. They slavered for a business environment that let them kill workers; poison the air, land and water; and cheat the tax authorities with impunity.

For this plan to work, the wealthy needed to engineer changes in both the rich world and the poor world. Obviously, they would have to get rid of the rich world's tariff walls, which made it impossible to competitively import goods made in the global south, no matter how cheaply they were made.

But free trade wasn't just about deregulation in the north – it also required a whole slew of new, extremely onerous regulations in the global south. Corporations that relocated their manufacturing to poor – but nominally sovereign – countries needed to be sure that those countries wouldn't try to replicate the American plan of becoming actually sovereign, by exerting control over the means of production within their borders.

Recall that the American Revolution was inspired in large part by fury over the requirement to ship raw materials back to Mother England and then buy them back at huge markups after they'd been processed by English workers, to the enrichment of English aristocrats. Post-colonial America created new regulations (tariffs on goods from England), and – crucially – they also deregulated.

Specifically, post-revolutionary America abolished copyrights and patents for English persons and firms. That way, American manufacturers could produce sophisticated finished goods without paying rent to England's wealthy making those goods cheaper for American buyers, and American publishers could subsidize their editions of American authors' books by publishing English authors on the cheap, without the obligation to share profits with English publishers or English writers.

The surplus produced by ignoring the patents and copyrights of the English was divided (unequally) among American capitalists, workers, and shoppers. Wealthy Americans got richer, even as they paid their workers more and charged less for their products. This incubated a made-in-the-USA edition of the industrial revolution. It was so successful that the rest of the world – especially England – began importing American goods and literature, and then American publishers and manufacturers started to lean on their government to "respect" English claims, in order to secure bilateral protections for their inventions and books in English markets.

This was good for America, but it was terrible for English manufacturers. The US – a primitive, agricultural society – "stole" their inventions until they gained so much manufacturing capacity that the English public started to prefer American goods to English ones.

This was the thing that rich-world industrialists feared about free trade. Once you build your high-tech factories in the global south, what's to stop those people from simply copying your plans – or worse, seizing your factories! – and competing with you on a global scale? Some of these countries had nominally socialist governments that claimed to explicitly elevate the public good over the interests of the wealthy. And all of these countries had the same sprinkling of sociopaths who'd gladly see a million children maimed or the land poisoned for a buck – and these "entrepreneurs" had unbeatable advantages with their countries' political classes.

For globalization to work, it wasn't enough to deregulate the rich world – capitalists also had to regulate the poor world. Specifically, they had to get the poor world to adopt "IP" laws that would force them to willingly pay rent on things they could get for free: patents and other IP, even though it was in the short-term, medium-term, and long-term interests of both the nation and its politicians and its businesspeople.

Thus, the bargain that makes me sympathetic to Dan Aykroyd: not cow lips for alien tech; but free trade for IP law. When the WTO was steaming towards passage in the late 1990s, there was (rightly) a lot of emphasis on its deregulatory provisions: weakening of labor, environmental and financial laws in the poor world, and of tariffs in the rich world.

But in hindsight, we all kind of missed the main event: the TRIPS (Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights). This actually started before the WTO treaty (it was part of the GATT, a predecessor to the WTO), but the WTO spread it to countries all over the world. Under the TRIPS, poor countries are required to honor the IP claims of rich countries, on pain of global sanction.

That was the plan: instead of paying American workers to make Apple computers, say, Apple could export the "IP" for Macs and iPhones to countries like China, and these countries would produce Apple products that were "designed in California, assembled in China." China would allow Apple to treat Chinese workers so badly that they routinely committed suicide, and would lock up or kill workers who tried to unionize. China would accept vast shipments of immortal, toxic e-waste. And China wouldn't let its entrepreneurs copy Apple's designs, be they software, schematics or trademarks.

Apple isn't the only company that pursued this strategy, but no company has executed it as successfully. It's not for nothing that Steve Jobs's hand-picked successor was Tim Cook, who oversaw the transfer of even the most exacting elements of Apple manufacturing to Chinese facilities, striking bargains with contractors like Foxconn that guaranteed that workers would be heavily – lethally! – surveilled and controlled to prevent the twin horrors of unionization and leaks.

For the first two decades of the WTO era, the most obvious problems with this arrangement was wage erosion (for American workers) and leakage (for the rich). China's "socialist" government was only too happy to help Foxconn imprison workers who demanded better wages and working conditions, but they were far more relaxed about knockoffs, be they fake iPods sold in market stalls or US trade secrets working their way into Huawei products.

These were problems for the American aristocracy, whose investments depended on China disciplining both Chinese workers and Chinese businesses. For the American people, leakage was a nothingburger. Apple's profits weren't shared with its workforce beyond the relatively small number of tech workers at its headquarters. The vast majority of Apple employees, who flogged iPhones and scrubbed the tilework in gleaming white stores across the nation, would get the same minimal (or even minimum) wage no matter how profitable Apple grew.

It wasn't until the pandemic that the other shoe dropped for the American public. The WTO arrangement – cow lips for alien technology – had produced a global system brittle supply chains composed entirely of weakest links. A pandemic, a war, a ship stuck in the Suez Canal or Houthi paramilitaries can cripple the entire system, perhaps indefinitely.

For two decades, we fought over globalization's effect on wages. We let our corporate masters trick us into thinking that China's "cheating" on IP was a problem for the average person. But the implications of globalization for American sovereignty and security were banished to the xenophobic right fringe, where they were mixed into the froth of Cold War 2.0 nonsense. The pandemic changed that, creating a coalition that is motivated by a complex and contradictory stew of racism, environmentalism, xenophobia, labor advocacy, patriotism, pragmatism, fear and hope.

Out of that stew emerged a new American political tendency, mostly associated with Bidenomics, but also claimed in various guises by the American right, through its America First wing. That tendency's most visible artifact is the CHIPS Act, through which the US government proposes to use policy and subsidies to bring high-tech manufacturing back to America's shores.

This week, the American Economic Liberties Project published "Reshoring and Restoring: CHIPS Implementation for a Competitive Semiconductor Industry," a fascinating, beautifully researched and detailed analysis of the CHIPS Act and the global high-tech manufacturing market, written by Todd Achilles, Erik Peinert and Daniel Rangel:

https://www.economicliberties.us/our-work/reshoring-and-restoring-chips-implementation-for-a-competitive-semiconductor-industry/#

Crucially, the report lays out the role that the weakening of antitrust, the dismantling of tariffs and the strengthening of IP played in the history of the current moment. The failure to enforce antitrust law allowed for monopolization at every stage of the semiconductor industry's supply-chain. The strengthening of IP and the weakening of tariffs encouraged the resulting monopolies to chase cheap labor overseas, confident that the US government would punish host countries that allowed their domestic entrepreneurs to use American designs without permission.

The result is a financialized, "capital light" semiconductor industry that has put all its eggs in one basket. For the most advanced chips ("leading-edge logic"), production works like this: American firms design a chip and send the design to Taiwan where TSMC foundry turns it into a chip. The chip is then shipped to one of a small number of companies in the poor world where they are assembled, packaged and tested (AMP) and sent to China to be integrated into a product.

Obsolete foundries get a second life in the commodity chip ("mature-node chips") market – these are the cheap chips that are shoveled into our cars and appliances and industrial systems.

Both of these systems are fundamentally broken. The advanced, "leading-edge" chips rely on geopolitically uncertain, heavily concentrated foundries. These foundries can be fully captured by their customers – as when Apple prepurchases the entire production capacity of the most advanced chips, denying both domestic and offshore competitors access to the newest computation.

Meanwhile, the less powerful, "mature node" chips command minuscule margins, and are often dumped into the market below cost, thanks to subsidies from countries hoping to protect their corner of the high-tech sector. This makes investment in low-power chips uncertain, leading to wild swings in cost, quality and availability of these workhorse chips.

The leading-edge chipmakers – Nvidia, Broadcom, Qualcomm, AMD, etc – have fully captured their markets. They like the status quo, and the CHIPS Act won't convince them to invest in onshore production. Why would they?

2022 was Broadcom's best year ever, not in spite of its supply-chain problems, but because of them. Those problems let Broadcom raise prices for a captive audience of customers, who the company strong-armed into exclusivity deals that ensured they had nowhere to turn. Qualcomm also profited handsomely from shortages, because its customers end up paying Qualcomm no matter where they buy, thanks to Qualcomm ensuring that its patents are integrated into global 4G and 5G standards.

That means that all standards-conforming products generate royalties for Qualcomm, and it also means that Qualcomm can decide which companies are allowed to compete with it, and which ones will be denied licenses to its patents. Both companies are under orders from the FTC to cut this out, and both companies ignore the FTC.

The brittleness of mature-node and leading-edge chips is not inevitable. Advanced memory chips (DRAM) roughly comparable in complexity to leading-edge chips, while analog-to-digital chips are as easily commodified as mature-node chips, and yet each has a robust and competitive supply chain, with both onshore and offshore producers. In contrast with leading-edge manufacturers (who have been visibly indifferent to the CHIPS incentives), memory chip manufacturers responded to the CHIPS Act by committing hundreds of billions of dollars to new on-shore production facilities.

Intel is a curious case: in a world of fabless leading-edge manufacturers, Intel stands out for making its own chips. But Intel is in a lot of trouble. Its advanced manufacturing plans keep foundering on cost overruns and delays. The company keeps losing money. But until recently, its management kept handing its shareholders billions in dividends and buybacks – a sign that Intel bosses assume that the US public will bail out its "national champion." It's not clear whether the CHIPS Act can save Intel, or whether financialization will continue to hollow out a once-dominant pioneer.

The CHIPS Act won't undo the concentration – and financialization – of the semiconductor industry. The industry has been awash in cheap money since the 2008 bailouts, and in just the past five years, US semiconductor monopolists have paid out $239b to shareholders in buybacks and dividends, enough to fund the CHIPS Act five times over. If you include Apple in that figure, the amount US corporations spent on shareholder returns instead of investing in capacity rises to $698b. Apple doesn't want a competitive market for chips. If Apple builds its own foundry, that just frees up capacity at TSMC that its competitors can use to improve their products.

The report has an enormous amount of accessible, well-organized detail on these markets, and it makes a set of key recommendations for improving the CHIPS Act and passing related legislation to ensure that the US can once again make its own microchips. These run a gamut from funding four new onshore foundries to requiring companies receiving CHIPS Act money to "dual-source" their foundries. They call for NIST and the CPO to ensure open licensing of key patents, and for aggressive policing of anti-dumping rules for cheap chips. They also seek a new law creating an "American Semiconductor Supply Chain Resiliency Fee" – a tariff on chips made offshore.

Fundamentally, these recommendations seek to end the outsourcing made possible by restrictive IP regimes, to undercut Wall Street's power to demand savings from offshoring, and to smash the market power of companies like Apple that make the brittleness of chip manufacturing into a feature, rather than a bug. This would include a return to previous antitrust rules, which limited companies' ability to leverage patents into standards, and to previous IP rules, which limited exclusive rights chip topography and design ("mask rights").

All of this will is likely to remove the constraints that stop poor countries from doing to America the same things that postcolonial America did to England – that is, it will usher in an era in which lots of countries make their own chips and other high-tech goods without paying rent to American companies. This is good! It's good for poor countries, who will have more autonomy to control their own technical destiny. It's also good for the world, creating resiliency in the high-tech manufacturing sector that we'll need as the polycrisis overwhelms various places with fire and flood and disease and war. Electrifying, solarizing and adapting the world for climate resilience is fundamentally incompatible with a brittle, highly concentrated tech sector.

Pluralizing high-tech production will make America less vulnerable to the gamesmanship of other countries – and it will also make the rest of the world less vulnerable to American bullying. As Henry Farrell and Abraham Newman describe so beautifully in their 2023 book Underground Empire, the American political establishment is keenly aware of how its chokepoints over global finance and manufacturing can be leveraged to advantage the US at the rest of the world's expense:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/10/weaponized-interdependence/#the-other-swifties

Look, I know that Eisenhower didn't trade cow-lips for alien technology – but our political and commercial elites really did trade national resiliency away for IP laws, and it's a bargain that screwed everyone, except the one percenters whose power and wealth have metastasized into a deadly cancer that threatens the country and the planet.

Image: Mickael Courtiade (modified) https://www.flickr.com/photos/197739384@N07/52703936652/

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

[aeth-eris]

Solar Return Mercury House Placements

Solar Return Mercury in the 1st House:

Theme: Expressive Self-Projection. This year highlights the importance of clear and direct self-expression, encouraging you to communicate your ideas and thoughts assertively and confidently to the world.

Solar Return Mercury in the 2nd House:

Theme: Practical Thinking and Financial Planning. This year emphasizes the significance of practical and grounded thinking in managing your finances and resources, encouraging you to make informed and rational decisions regarding your material assets.

Solar Return Mercury in the 3rd House:

Theme: Communication and Learning. This year focuses on enhancing your communication skills and fostering a thirst for knowledge, encouraging you to engage in intellectual pursuits and develop effective communication strategies.

Solar Return Mercury in the 4th House:

Theme: Family Discussions and Emotional Understanding. This year highlights the importance of nurturing family discussions and fostering emotional understanding within your domestic environment, encouraging you to communicate openly and sensitively with your loved ones.

Solar Return Mercury in the 5th House:

Theme: Creative Expression and Articulate Passion. This year encourages you to articulate your creative ideas and passions effectively, allowing you to communicate your enthusiasm and self-expression with clarity and confidence.

Solar Return Mercury in the 6th House:

Theme: Practical Analysis and Critical Thinking. This year emphasizes the importance of practical analysis and critical thinking in your daily routines and responsibilities, encouraging you to communicate precisely and efficiently in your work environment.

Solar Return Mercury in the 7th House:

Theme: Balanced Communication and Collaborative Engagement. This year highlights the significance of balanced communication within your partnerships and collaborations, encouraging you to engage in fair and diplomatic discussions with others.

Solar Return Mercury in the 8th House:

Theme: Introspective Analysis and Investigative Thinking. This year encourages you to engage in deep and introspective analysis, fostering an interest in investigative thinking and research to uncover hidden truths and insights.

Solar Return Mercury in the 9th House:

Theme: Philosophical Exploration and Broadened Perspectives. This year emphasizes the significance of philosophical exploration and the expansion of your mental horizons, encouraging you to engage in open-minded discussions and seek knowledge beyond your immediate environment.

Solar Return Mercury in the 10th House:

Theme: Professional Communication and Strategic Planning. This year highlights the importance of effective communication in your professional endeavors and encourages strategic planning and articulate expression in your career.

Solar Return Mercury in the 11th House:

Theme: Group Discussions and Intellectual Collaboration. This year encourages you to engage in meaningful discussions within your social circles and participate in intellectual collaborations to exchange innovative ideas and visions.

Solar Return Mercury in the 12th House:

Theme: Intuitive Communication and Subconscious Reflection. This year emphasizes the importance of intuitive communication and encourages introspective reflection to express your thoughts and ideas from a place of deeper understanding and sensitivity.

[wani-yasir1]

The Power of Strategic Asset Allocation for Investment Success

Strategic asset allocation is one of the most effective yet underutilized investment strategies for boosting portfolio returns while managing risks. Unlike simple diversification, strategic asset allocation takes a more nuanced approach to diversifying across asset classes based on their expected risk and return. Properly implemented, strategic asset allocation can lead to higher returns per unit…

[viktoriakomova]

I’ve said it before but it bears repeating: marta did a ton of shit absolutely terribly in terms of both management and athlete welfare but one thing she was amazing at was strategic development of the national team. as someone said on here a while ago, depth is not having a half dozen all arounders who score within a point of each other and are more or less interchangeable. USA has no longterm broad-strokes game plan. The NTCs (whatever they’re calling themselves now idr) are not being proactive enough and I suspect they don’t have the sense of authority/respect to tell personal coaches what they need to do to make their gymnasts genuine assets to the team regardless of their AA total score/placement

[pearlprincess02]

composite chart: sagittarius sun 9H, scorpio moon 7H, aries rising, sagittarius mercury 9H, aquarius venus 11H, virgo mars 6H

aries rising / 1st house

aries saturn: with saturn in aries in the 1st house the relationship faces challenges related to structure, commitment, and limitations. this placement emphasizes the need for both partners to build a solid foundation for their connection, often requiring them to confront and overcome personal and relational constraints. the couple may experience periods of testing their commitment, where their resolve and dedication are put to the test. their approach to each other and their relationship is likely to be marked by a disciplined and structured mindset, focusing on creating a stable and enduring bond. the influence of saturn encourages them to address any limitations and work through difficulties with determination and resilience, ultimately strengthening their partnership through this process.

saturn in 1st house: serious public image, traditional values, mature persona, disciplined self-presentation, reserved demeanor, strong sense of duty, defined roles, established boundaries, controlled public image, traditional values, classic style, mature appearance, controlled body language, serious expression, conservative dress, well-groomed appearance, strong physical presence, disciplined physique, controlled energy, traditional beauty standards, reserved nature, disciplined mind, serious outlook, strong sense of responsibility, patient and persistent, traditional values, controlled emotions, mature perspective, strong work ethic, disciplined self-control

aries 1st house: with aries rising and saturn in the 1st house, the couple’s shared identity is characterized by a dynamic and assertive public image. their appearance conveys a strong, energetic presence that commands attention, reflecting confidence and authority. their combined personality is marked by a bold and pioneering spirit, with both partners exhibiting a decisive and ambitious temperament. first impressions highlight their proactive nature, making them stand out as leaders who take charge with conviction. their self-expression is both direct and impactful, blending enthusiasm with disciplined focus. saturn’s influence adds a layer of seriousness and responsibility, grounding their vibrant energy with a sense of purpose and commitment. overall, this placement underscores a relationship that is both vibrant and structured, showcasing a powerful and engaging shared identity.

taurus 2nd house

with taurus in the 2nd house the couple's approach to shared finances is characterized by a steady and practical mindset, emphasizing financial stability and security. they are likely to manage their money with a focus on long-term goals, valuing consistency and reliability in their financial dealings. their shared values and priorities revolve around material comfort and security, with both partners placing high importance on building and maintaining a stable financial foundation. possessions and resources are treated with care, reflecting their appreciation for quality and enduring value in their belongings and assets. their sense of self-worth and security is closely tied to their financial stability, with the couple finding comfort in knowing they are well-supported and able to enjoy life's luxuries. income and earnings are approached with a strategic mindset, aiming for steady growth and financial health. overall, this placement highlights a relationship grounded in practical financial management and a mutual commitment to building a secure and prosperous future.

gemini 3rd house

with gemini in the 3rd house the couple’s communication style is lively and intellectually stimulating, characterized by a constant exchange of ideas and a playful banter that keeps their interactions dynamic. their shared intellectual interests are a central aspect of their relationship, driving them to engage in stimulating conversations and collaborative pursuits. short-distance travel becomes a key element in their bond, with local outings and everyday journeys providing opportunities for exploration and connection. the influence of siblings and neighbors plays a significant role, as family and community often intersect with their relationship, influencing their daily lives and social interactions. their daily routines are marked by an easygoing rhythm, with shared habits and routines creating a sense of familiarity and ease. together, they navigate their everyday experiences with curiosity and adaptability, enriching their connection through frequent and meaningful exchanges. overall, this placement fosters a relationship that thrives on communication, intellectual engagement, and a vibrant social life.

cancer 4th house

with cancer in the 4th house the relationship is likely to be deeply rooted in shared experiences and emotional bonds related to family and home life. this placement suggests that the partners may find comfort and security in nurturing each other, drawing strength from their shared traditions and family values. childhood experiences could play a significant role in shaping their connection, as both individuals may have a strong sense of nostalgia and a desire to create a stable, loving home environment together. emotional security is paramount, and the couple may prioritize creating a private space where they can express their innermost feelings and build a lasting sense of belonging. this placement underscores the importance of understanding and supporting each other’s emotional needs, fostering a relationship that feels like a safe haven amid life’s uncertainties.

cancer 5th house

leo jupiter: with jupiter in leo in the 5th house the relationship is marked by a profound sense of growth and expansion, driven by shared enthusiasm and a passion for exploring new horizons together. this placement indicates that the couple’s bond thrives on their mutual desire to expand their creative and philosophical interests, often leading to a dynamic exchange of ideas and a rich, optimistic outlook on life. their relationship likely fosters an environment where both partners feel encouraged to pursue personal growth and embrace new experiences, enhancing their connection and understanding of each other. the couple's philosophy is often centered around joy and self-expression, with each partner inspiring the other to reach their fullest potential. this vibrant energy not only enriches their bond but also helps them to continuously evolve and explore the deeper meanings of their shared journey.

jupiter in 5th house: imaginative partnership, shared hobbies, playful banter, artistic collaboration, intellectual stimulation, adventurous spirit, spontaneity, humor and wit, original ideas, creative expression, romantic gestures, strong attraction, passionate encounters, flirtatious energy, sensual connection, shared fantasies, joyful love, affectionate displays, emotional intimacy, lustful desire, nurturing environment, creative parenting, teaching and learning together, shared values, family fun, inspiring children, building a legacy, shared dreams for the future, abundant family life, joyful parenting

leo part of fortune: with the part of fortune in leo in the 5th house the relationship is blessed with a strong sense of luck and abundance, particularly in areas of creativity, joy, and self-expression. this placement suggests that the couple finds fulfillment and success by embracing their shared talents and pursuing activities that bring them genuine happiness. their collaborative efforts are likely to be fruitful, as their combined creativity and enthusiasm create opportunities for growth and prosperity. the relationship itself can be a source of immense joy, with both partners thriving when they channel their energy into shared passions and endeavors. this alignment highlights how their combined resources and abilities enhance their overall satisfaction, allowing them to experience a vibrant and prosperous connection.

part of fortune in 5th house: fortunate imagination, lucky creativity, abundant playfulness, rewarding hobbies, financial success through creativity, lucky breaks in creative endeavors, joyful expression, abundant entertainment, prosperous artistic pursuits, fortunate collaborations, lucky in love, fortunate attraction, abundant passion, rewarding romance, financial gain through love, lucky encounters, prosperous relationships, joyful companionship, abundant affection, fortunate marriage, fortunate parenting, lucky children, abundant creativity in children, rewarding family life, financial success through children, fortunate education for children, prosperous family business, joyful family gatherings, abundant family support, fortunate legacy

cancer 5th house: with leo jupiter and part of fortune both in cancer 5th house the relationship is a vibrant playground for creativity and joy. the combination of cancer’s nurturing energy with leo’s expansive influence fosters a deeply imaginative and playful dynamic, where the couple’s shared creative pursuits are both fulfilling and fun. their romance is characterized by a rich blend of passion and emotional depth, keeping their connection exciting and deeply satisfying. the couple likely expresses their creative energies together, finding delight in collaborative projects or activities that allow them to showcase their talents and unique personalities. this alignment also enhances their ability to enjoy each other’s company, creating a relationship marked by lightheartedness, pleasure, and mutual encouragement. their bond is enriched by a shared sense of adventure and a commitment to exploring new possibilities, making their time together both memorable and rewarding.

leo 6th house

virgo mars: with mars in virgo in the 6th house the relationship is characterized by a practical and meticulous approach to energy and passion. the couple channels their drive into productive activities, focusing on shared goals and improving their daily routines. their passion is expressed through diligent efforts and attention to detail, ensuring that their joint ventures are well-organized and efficiently executed. when conflicts arise, they are likely to handle them with a methodical and analytical approach, seeking practical solutions and clear communication. this placement supports a relationship where both partners work together to address issues constructively, using their combined strengths to enhance their overall harmony and effectiveness.

mars in 6th house: energetic pace, structured lifestyle, efficient multitasking, assertive in household management, competitive spirit in daily tasks, high energy levels, impatient with delays, direct communication, assertive problem-solving, strong work ethic, active lifestyle, competitive fitness goals, assertive health decisions, passion for physical well-being, energetic approach to healing, strong willpower, direct communication about health concerns, assertive in seeking medical care, competitive in health challenges, high energy for self-care, assertive in helping partner, competitive desire to support, energetic in providing care, direct communication of needs, passionate about helping others, strong sense of duty, impatient with inefficiency, assertive in defending partner, high energy in teamwork, competitive spirit in supporting goals

libra vertex: with libra on the vertex in the 6th house the relationship is often perceived as a significant turning point or destined event that profoundly impacts both partners' lives. this placement suggests that the couple's journey together will bring about crucial changes and challenges that are essential for their personal growth and development. the focus on the 6th house highlights how their relationship influences their daily routines and work environments, pushing them to find balance and harmony in these areas. as they navigate these turning points, they will likely confront and address issues related to service, health, and productivity, shaping their lives in meaningful ways. ultimately, the presence of libra here emphasizes the importance of partnership and cooperation, guiding the couple toward achieving mutual goals and fostering a deep, transformative connection.

vertex in 6th house: fateful daily structure, destined work-life balance, karmic responsibilities, pivotal household dynamics, fated daily challenges, inevitable routines, deterministic habits, crucial time management, significant daily interactions, pivotal household roles, destined health challenges, karmic well-being issues, pivotal healing journey, inevitable health focus, deterministic fitness regimen, crucial self-care, significant health transformations, pivotal wellness routines, fated health encounters, inevitable health support, destined caregiving roles, karmic support system, pivotal service opportunities, inevitable mutual aid, deterministic support structure, crucial teamwork, significant shared responsibilities, pivotal volunteer work, fated collaborative efforts, inevitable shared sacrifices

leo 6th house: with leo in the 6th house, complemented by virgo mars and libra vertex, the couple’s approach to daily life is marked by a vibrant and collaborative spirit. they handle everyday routines with a blend of enthusiasm and practicality, infusing their activities with creativity and mutual support. their focus on health and wellness is both diligent and harmonious, as they work together to maintain both physical fitness and emotional balance. service and support play a central role in their relationship, with each partner dedicated to caring for and uplifting the other. shared work and career goals are approached with a dynamic and cooperative attitude, fostering a productive environment where their ambitions are aligned. the patterns and rhythms of their relationship are characterized by a blend of structured routines and creative expression, creating a balanced and fulfilling daily life. their combined efforts and innovative approach not only enhance their daily experiences but also strengthen their bond, making their journey together both purposeful and enjoyable.

libra 7th house

scorpio moon: with the moon in scorpio in the 7th house the emotional foundation of the partnership is intense and profoundly transformative. this placement reflects a deep, shared need for emotional intimacy and authenticity, driving both partners to connect on a profound level. the relationship is likely characterized by a powerful emotional bond, with each individual seeking to understand and fulfill the other’s deepest emotional needs. there is a strong focus on navigating and transforming emotional vulnerabilities together, leading to growth and renewal within the partnership. this deep, emotionally charged connection fosters a relationship where both partners are committed to exploring the complexities of their feelings and creating a secure and transformative union.

moon in 7th house: emotional connection, mutual nurturing, deep intimacy, empathetic understanding, shared vulnerability, emotional support, intuitive bond, co-dependent tendencies, mood swings together, intense emotional reactions, domestic harmony, nurturing home life, desire for security, motherly/fatherly roles, long-term emotional investment, creating a family, emotional stability, need for approval, fear of abandonment, strong emotional ties, emotional manipulation, jealousy and possessiveness, mood-based conflicts, emotional blackmail, passive-aggressive behavior, emotional distance, codependency issues, feeling misunderstood, emotional reactivity, difficulty setting boundaries

libra north node: with the north node in libra in the 7th house the relationship's evolutionary path centers on developing balance, harmony, and mutual understanding. this placement indicates that the couple’s growth and development are deeply tied to learning how to navigate partnership dynamics and cultivate a sense of fairness and cooperation. they are meant to evolve together by focusing on creating a relationship marked by diplomacy and shared values, embracing both compromise and mutual respect. the direction of their evolution involves refining their approach to conflict resolution and deepening their emotional and intellectual connections. by aligning with these principles, the couple will foster a meaningful and balanced partnership, growing through their commitment to each other’s needs and aspirations.

north node in 7th house: evolutionary relationship, growth through partnership, soulmate connection, karmic partnership, spiritual union, shared purpose, collective evolution, balancing independence and togetherness, overcoming relationship challenges, deepening emotional intimacy, commitment as a catalyst for growth, long-term soul evolution, karmic marriage, spiritual partnership, balancing individual and shared goals, overcoming relationship obstacles, deepening commitment, expanding the relationship, collective destiny, spiritual growth through union, overcoming relationship blocks, transmuting negative patterns, healing past wounds, evolving beyond conflict, finding common ground, building trust, letting go of control, embracing vulnerability, forgiveness and reconciliation, creating a new relationship dynamic

libra 7th house: with scorpio moon and libra north node in libra in the 7th house the core of the relationship dynamic is profoundly focused on balance, harmony, and deep emotional connection. this placement highlights the couple’s strong desire for a partnership that thrives on mutual respect and fairness, making the potential for a long-term commitment or marriage particularly significant. their commitment to each other is characterized by a deep understanding and emotional intensity, which can also bring challenges and conflicts that require careful and thoughtful resolution. the influence of significant others outside the relationship can play a crucial role, shaping their interactions and affecting their dynamics, emphasizing the importance of external support and input. additionally, contracts and agreements, whether formal or informal, become essential aspects of their partnership, guiding their shared responsibilities and commitments. as they navigate these various elements, the couple’s growth and evolution are centered on achieving equilibrium and strengthening their bond through both cooperation and deep emotional engagement.

scorpio 8th house

sagittarius pluto: with pluto in sagittarius in the 8th house the relationship is characterized by profound transformation and deep emotional intensity. this placement suggests that the couple will experience significant changes that challenge and reshape their views on power, intimacy, and shared resources. power struggles may arise as both partners confront and navigate underlying issues, pushing them to explore and understand their deepest fears and desires. the emotional connection between them is likely to be intense and transformative, leading to personal and relational growth. this dynamic encourages both individuals to embrace change and evolve through their shared experiences, deepening their bond in the process.

pluto in 8th house: intense emotional connection, obsessive love, deep psychological bonding, sexual magnetism, power exchange, jealousy and possessiveness, co-dependency, obsession and compulsion, merger of souls, vulnerability and exposure, financial power struggles, joint wealth or debt, inheritance and legacies, shared obsessions, control over resources, resourcefulness under pressure, shared secrets, extreme financial situations, joint investments, resourceful transformation, intense personal growth, rebirth through challenges, psychological transformation, crisis and renewal, deep healing, obsessive focus on change, power of regeneration, phoenix-like rising, extreme emotional experiences, spiritual evolution

scorpio 8th house: with scorpio in the 8th house and pluto in sagittarius in the same house the relationship delves into deep emotional and physical intimacy, marked by a profound and transformative connection. the couple's shared resources, including financial matters, property, and possessions, are likely to be areas of intense focus, requiring both trust and negotiation. transformation plays a central role, as the partnership fosters significant personal and relational growth, often leading to periods of profound change and rebirth. power dynamics within the relationship are likely to shift as both partners navigate issues of control and influence, striving for a balanced approach to mutual power. sexuality is a key aspect, with the couple experiencing a strong physical attraction and erotic energy that further fuels their emotional connection. this placement encourages an exploration of deep desires and vulnerabilities, pushing the relationship toward greater understanding and intimacy. overall, the scorpio 8th house and sagittarius pluto placement drive the couple to confront and embrace the complexities of their bond, leading to a richer and more transformative union.

sagittarius 9th house

sagittarius sun: with the sun in sagittarius in the 9th house the core identity and purpose of the relationship are centered around exploration, adventure, and a shared quest for higher understanding. this placement indicates that the couple’s bond is defined by a mutual enthusiasm for discovering new horizons, whether through travel, intellectual pursuits, or philosophical discussions. their relationship thrives on a sense of freedom and a desire to grow together, both personally and as a couple. the partnership is likely to be characterized by optimism and a forward-looking attitude, with both partners inspiring each other to expand their perspectives and embrace new experiences. ultimately, this placement suggests that the relationship’s core purpose is to foster a dynamic and enriching journey toward greater knowledge and mutual enlightenment.

sun in 9th house: shared worldview, intellectual compatibility, open-mindedness, philosophical discussions, ethical alignment, shared values, cultural exchange, global perspective, lifelong learning, spiritual exploration, intellectual stimulation, shared academic interests, curiosity and inquiry, teaching and mentoring, knowledge sharing, pursuing higher degrees, academic collaboration, intellectual growth, expanding horizons, research and discovery, shared wanderlust, exploring new cultures, adventure companions, long-distance romance, geographic expansion, global citizenship, freedom of movement, diverse experiences, sense of adventure, open-mindedness to new places

sagittarius mercury: with mercury in sagittarius in the 9th house communication and intellectual connection within the relationship are marked by a spirited and expansive quality. this placement suggests that the couple engages in lively discussions and debates, fueled by a shared enthusiasm for exploring new ideas and philosophies. their conversations are likely to be both enlightening and stimulating, often revolving around topics related to travel, culture, and higher learning. the relationship benefits from a mutual curiosity and a desire to understand the broader world, fostering a dynamic and intellectually rewarding connection. this placement encourages open, honest communication that supports both partners in their quest for knowledge and personal growth.

mercury in 9th house: intellectual connection, shared ideas, lively debates, communication of values, teaching and learning, curiosity about the world, sharing perspectives, intellectual stimulation, wordplay and wit, philosophical discussions, academic compatibility, shared research interests, effective communication of knowledge, intellectual growth together, writing and publishing, teaching and mentoring, critical thinking, problem-solving, information sharing, language skills, shared sense of wanderlust, storytelling about travels, planning adventures, language exchange, cultural exchange, communication across distances, sharing travel experiences, exploring new ideas, broadening perspectives, effective communication abroad

sagittarius 9th house: with sagittarius sun and mercury in sagittarius 9th house the relationship is deeply influenced by a shared sense of philosophy and a commitment to exploring new intellectual and spiritual frontiers. the couple is likely to bond over their common worldview and values, finding joy in discussing and expanding their beliefs together. their connection is enriched by a mutual enthusiasm for higher learning, which drives them to seek out opportunities for intellectual growth and exploration. travel and adventure are central to their dynamic, as both partners share a desire for new experiences and are invigorated by the thrill of discovery. spirituality may also play a significant role, with the couple finding meaning in shared spiritual practices or beliefs that deepen their connection. long-distance relationships or frequent travel may be a feature of their journey, as their mutual curiosity leads them to explore various places and cultures. overall, the sagittarius influence fosters a relationship that thrives on exploration, growth, and a continuous quest for understanding.

capricorn 10th house

capricorn neptune: with neptune in capricorn in the 10th house the relationship is marked by a blend of idealism and practical aspirations, often tinged with a touch of illusion. this placement suggests that the couple's shared career goals and public image may be influenced by lofty dreams and spiritual ideals, creating a vision of success that is both inspiring and sometimes elusive. their professional and societal ambitions are guided by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to make a meaningful impact, yet they may also face challenges in grounding their ideals into practical reality. the relationship's dynamic may involve navigating between visionary goals and the day-to-day realities of achieving them, requiring both partners to balance their dreams with practical efforts. overall, this placement encourages the couple to work together toward their aspirations, while remaining mindful of the potential for disillusionment and striving to keep their ideals aligned with tangible outcomes.

neptune in 10th house: idealistic career goals, creative professions, spiritual careers, unclear career paths, sacrificing career for ideals, difficulty with authority, behind-the-scenes roles, feeling misunderstood professionally, escapism from career pressures, strong desire for work-life balance, mysterious public persona, idealized public image, sensitivity to criticism, difficulty with self-promotion, appealing to the masses, creative branding, spiritual or humanitarian image, avoiding the spotlight, idealistic public service, unclear personal boundaries, ethereal reputation, sensitive to gossip, desire for a good reputation, difficulty with competition, idealistic public service, unrealistic expectations, avoiding conflict, sacrificing reputation for ideals, difficulty with authority, unclear personal boundaries

capricorn 10th house: with capricorn neptune in the capricorn 10th house the relationship's focus on career and ambition is infused with both practical determination and visionary ideals. the couple shares significant professional goals and aspirations, often driven by a desire to achieve lasting success and make a meaningful impact in their fields. their public image is carefully crafted, reflecting a blend of disciplined professionalism and an aura of idealistic vision that sets them apart. their reputation in society is built on a foundation of hard work and a commitment to their shared objectives, though it may occasionally be clouded by the challenge of aligning their lofty ideals with practical realities. success and achievement are central themes, as they work together to accomplish their goals and celebrate their collective accomplishments. power dynamics within the relationship are influenced by their shared ambitions, with both partners negotiating authority and leadership roles to maintain a balanced and effective partnership. overall, this placement highlights a journey of integrating their practical efforts with their aspirational dreams, shaping a relationship that is both grounded and visionary in its pursuit of success.

capricorn 11th house

aquarius venus: with venus in aquarius in the 11th house the relationship is characterized by a unique and progressive approach to love and harmony. this placement symbolizes a bond that thrives on shared values and a mutual appreciation for individuality and freedom. the couple’s connection is marked by a deep sense of camaraderie and a commitment to supporting each other’s goals and aspirations. their love is often expressed through innovative and unconventional means, reflecting their alignment with each other’s ideals and visions for the future. overall, venus in aquarius in the 11th house highlights a relationship built on mutual respect, shared values, and a harmonious blend of personal and collective ambitions.

venus in 11th house: popular couple, harmonious social circle, shared friends, diplomatic in social settings, enjoyable social life, attractive to others, charismatic together, strong social connections, shared interests, popularity contests, shared values, harmonious goals, supportive ambitions, collaborative projects, shared vision for future, mutual admiration, inspiring each other, dream team, romantic ideals, shared philanthropy, social clubs and groups, humanitarian organizations, diplomatic in group settings, popular within groups, collaborative projects, networking opportunities, shared community involvement, harmonious group dynamics, popular causes, shared social conscience

aquarius uranus: with uranus in aquarius in the 11th house the relationship is infused with a strong sense of innovation and independence. this placement brings a dynamic and forward-thinking energy, encouraging both partners to explore unconventional approaches and embrace unique experiences together. the couple is likely to experience unexpected changes and sudden shifts, which can both challenge and invigorate their connection. their relationship thrives on a shared vision for the future, driven by a desire for growth and a willingness to adapt to new possibilities. overall, uranus in aquarius in the 11th house emphasizes a partnership that is constantly evolving, marked by a blend of originality and flexibility that keeps their bond exciting and progressive.

uranus in 11th house: unconventional friendships, electric social circles, sudden social changes, independent social lives, rebellious friends, eccentric social groups, group projects, sudden social connections, unpredictable social dynamics, unique social identity, revolutionary goals, unconventional aspirations, sudden changes in plans, independent dreams, group activism, futuristic vision, challenging the status quo, unique perspectives, unconventional collaborations, sudden inspirations, reform-minded groups, experimental organizations, unconventional communities, sudden group changes, rebellious activism, networking innovations, group projects, unexpected collaborations, future-oriented organizations, individualistic group members

aquarius lilith: with lilith in aquarius in the 11th house the relationship is marked by a powerful and untamed feminine energy that brings a sense of liberation and intensity. this placement can reveal underlying power dynamics and hidden issues, as well as subconscious desires that influence the partnership. lilith’s presence suggests that sexuality and personal freedom are significant aspects of the relationship, often challenging conventional norms and expectations. the couple may experience periods of confronting shadow aspects, which can reveal deeper truths and lead to profound insights. overall, aquarius lilith in the 11th house highlights a relationship that embraces raw, transformative energy and navigates the complexities of personal and collective desires.

lilith in 11th house: intense social dynamics, power struggles in friendships, secret societies or cliques, jealousy and envy in social circles, manipulation within groups, obsessive friendships, social taboos, shadowy social connections, power plays in social settings, intense group dynamics, obsessive goals, power struggles over dreams, secret ambitions, manipulation of shared dreams, obsessive desire for success, shadowy desires, power plays in relationships, intense competition, jealousy over achievements, obsessive need for recognition, secretive organizations, power struggles within groups, manipulation of group dynamics, obsessive group loyalty, shadowy leadership, intense group rivalries, power-hungry group members, exclusive social circles, manipulation of resources, obsessive group identity

capricorn 11th house: with aquarius venus, uranus, and lilith in capricorn 11th house the couple’s social life and friendships are characterized by a blend of disciplined ambition and innovative, unconventional influences. their social circle is likely to be diverse and influential, comprising individuals who align with their shared goals and aspirations. they may have a strong sense of common purpose, focusing on future-oriented dreams and ambitions that reflect both their personal and collective visions. involvement in groups and organizations is significant, with the couple participating in clubs or communities that resonate with their values and interests. humanitarianism is a key theme, as they are drawn to philanthropic or social causes that seek to make a positive impact. their unique identity as a couple is marked by a rebellious and progressive spirit, embracing individuality and challenging conventional norms together. this placement underscores a dynamic and forward-thinking approach to social interactions, blending practicality with a deep commitment to their ideals and causes.

aquarius 12th house

with aquarius in the 12th house the relationship delves into the realm of the subconscious, uncovering shared dreams, fears, and hidden aspects that bind the partners together. their spiritual journey is marked by a mutual exploration of unconventional or progressive spiritual paths, often leading them to seek out unique and transformative experiences. the couple's dynamic includes a strong element of sacrifice and service, as they support each other with a sense of unconditional love and dedication. this placement also suggests significant karmic connections, indicating that their relationship may be influenced by past lives or unresolved issues that require healing and understanding. isolation and seclusion play a role, with the couple finding solace and depth in their time alone together or navigating shared challenges that test their bond. together, they work through these hidden dimensions, fostering a relationship that is both profoundly transformative and uniquely aligned with their deeper, spiritual selves.

@brokenangel0913

all observations are done by me !!! @pearlprincess02

[highlights-of-the-lowlife]

sweden has issued a warning to its citizens to be prepared for a possible war with russia. this is based on the russian playbook of invading countries attempting to join nato. sweden has applied and is only waiting for hungary and turkey to approve for full membership.

here's why i wouldn't worry. when georgia entered talks with nato, they were unfortunately a relatively poor country that hadn't put much spending into defence and didn't have much in the way of ties to the rest of europe. that made them easy pickings for russia. the plan being that no country can join nato unless they have no conflicts within their borders and full territorial control. its why georgia got invaded and why ukraine is being invaded now.

sweden on the other hand is close to europe both geographically and politically. sweden has also feared a russian invasion for a good deal of its history as they have been at war multiple times so sweden has spent its military budget near exclusively building a modern army strategically focused on stopping russia.

their gripen fighter jet has been built so that it can take off and land from nearly back road in sweden. their stridsvagn tank is designed to be low to the ground in order to be concealable for ambushes. their coastal defences have some of the best radars in the world. and touching them will get both the EU and the americans involved.

russia can't afford another front. especially not one where they have to avoid finnish territory now that finland is a nato member. especially not one against a modern army with equipment designed to stop them flat. and especially not when ukraine is bleeding them dry of every military asset they have.

as much as i love ukraine, their military was in fairly dire straights prior to the '22 invasion and yet even having to scramble to mobilise they've managed to push russia out of kyiv, kharkiv and kherson with what is essentially nato handmedowns and old soviet donations. they're beating an army 3 times their size with whatever is found in the nato parts bin. russia has no chance of beating sweden one on one let alone still trying to capture ukraine