#fair value hedge

[robertreich]

Should Billionaires Exist? 

Do billionaires have a right to exist?

America has driven more than 650 species to extinction. And it should do the same to billionaires.

Why? Because there are only five ways to become one, and they’re all bad for free-market capitalism:

1. Exploit a Monopoly.

Jamie Dimon is worth $2 billion today… but not because he succeeded in the “free market.” In 2008, the government bailed out his bank JPMorgan and other giant Wall Street banks, keeping them off the endangered species list.

This government “insurance policy” scored these struggling Mom-and-Pop megabanks an estimated $34 billion a year.

But doesn’t entrepreneur Jeff Bezos deserve his billions for building Amazon?

No, because he also built a monopoly that’s been charged by the federal government and 17 states for inflating prices, overcharging sellers, and stifling competition like a predator in the wild.

With better anti-monopoly enforcement, Bezos would be worth closer to his fair-market value.

2. Exploit Inside Information

Steven A. Cohen, worth roughly $20 billion headed a hedge fund charged by the Justice Department with insider trading “on a scale without known precedent.” Another innovator!

Taming insider trading would level the investing field between the C Suite and Main Street.

3.  Buy Off Politicians

That’s a great way to become a billionaire! The Koch family and Koch Industries saved roughly $1 billion a year from the Trump tax cut they and allies spent $20 million lobbying for. What a return on investment!

If we had tougher lobbying laws, political corruption would go extinct.

4. Defraud Investors

Adam Neumann conned investors out of hundreds of millions for WeWork, an office-sharing startup. WeWork didn’t make a nickel of profit, but Neumann still funded his extravagant lifestyle, including a $60 million private jet. Not exactly “sharing.”

Elizabeth Holmes was convicted of fraud for her blood-testing company, Theranos. So was Sam Bankman-Fried of crypto-exchange FTX. Remember a supposed billionaire named Donald Trump? He was also found to have committed fraud.

Presumably, if we had tougher anti-fraud laws, more would be caught and there’d be fewer billionaires to preserve.

5. Get Money From Rich Relatives

About 60 percent of all wealth in America today is inherited.

That’s because loopholes in U.S. tax law —lobbied for by the wealthy — allow rich families to avoid taxes on assets they inherit. And the estate tax has been so defanged that fewer than 0.2 percent of estates have paid it in recent years.

Tax reform would disrupt the circle of life for the rich, stopping them from automatically becoming billionaires at their birth, or someone else’s death.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not arguing against big rewards for entrepreneurs and inventors. But do today’s entrepreneurs really need billions of dollars? Couldn’t they survive on a measly hundred million?

Because they’re now using those billions to erode American institutions. They spent fortunes bringing Supreme Court justices with them into the wild.They treated news organizations and social media platforms like prey, and they turned their relationships with politicians into patronage troughs.

This has created an America where fewer than ever can become millionaires (or even thousandaires) through hard work and actual innovation.

If capitalism were working properly, billionaires would have gone the way of the dodo.

[merwgue]

Since I'm going to be tamlin this Halloween and I refuse to dye my hair since I'll look like I've seen god if I go blond and I refuse to wear a wig since It'll make me look like I'm bald with only 5 dollars and a dream to buy a wig. So I'm cosplaying as younger tamlin, who in MY world biologically had brown hair but shapeshifted into blonde in the later years and here's why:

Word count: 1k

In the early years, when Tamlin still had the wild energy of youth and a head of unruly brown hair, there was a boy. His name was Mathew. Mathew was everything Tamlin wasn’t: a diplomat from the Autumn Court, fair-skinned with a constellation of freckles across his nose, and hair the color of freshly fallen autumn leaves, somewhere between the brightest gold and softest orange. He carried himself with an easy grace that seemed almost effortless, his words always carefully measured, his smile never a fraction wider than it needed to be.

Mathew had come to the Spring Court as part of some formal delegation, just another formality in the endless chain of political maneuvering that Tamlin had grown up with. Back then, Tamlin was young, brash, and chafing against the expectations placed on him as one of the heirs to the throne. He spent his days hunting, riding, trying to outrun the weight of the future that loomed over him. But one afternoon, hiding from his duties in the gardens, he saw Mathew laughing with some courtiers by the fountains, and for the first time in his life, Tamlin felt something that wasn't the heavy grip of expectation.

Their meetings started innocently enough—a polite exchange in the halls, a shared glance across the banquet table. Mathew had a way of looking at Tamlin that made him feel seen, not as an heir, not as a weapon or a title, but as just... Tamlin. And it was in those stolen moments, behind the hedges of the garden or in the quiet alcoves of the palace, that something tender began to grow between them.

But loving Mathew was complicated. This wasn’t a time or place where love like theirs was spoken about openly. For Tamlin, heir to the Spring Court, and Mathew, a diplomat meant to embody the values of the Autumn Court, there was no safe way to be together. Yet, they found a way to keep their secret. They became adept at slipping away unnoticed, at disguising their affections as mere friendship in public. They hid notes inside books, whispers exchanged during dances, hands brushing under the table. For a few precious years, they were happy.

Then the war began. And with it, everything changed.

Tamlin’s family was ripped from him in the most brutal fashion, leaving him not just an heir, but the sole survivor in a line of blood and power. In those dark days, it was Mathew who kept him anchored. Mathew who stayed up with him through endless nights, pulling him back from the edge of despair when grief threatened to consume him. It was Mathew who urged him to keep going when Tamlin could barely stand under the crushing weight of his responsibilities. Slowly, with Mathew's help, Tamlin clawed his way back to something resembling life. And for a moment, it seemed like they could finally have the freedom to be themselves.

They decided to make their relationship public, bracing themselves for the fallout. Tamlin knew the risks, knew that he was gambling not just with his heart, but with Mathew's safety. But Mathew was brave, braver than Tamlin had ever been. "Love should never be something to hide," he’d said, his eyes fierce and bright. And Tamlin believed him.

But not everyone was so willing to accept them. In the Autumn Court, Beron, notorious for his cruelty, saw Mathew’s love for Tamlin as a stain on his court, a betrayal that could not be ignored. The decree came down quietly at first, whispers among the nobles, the hunts for any who might support them. Then it grew louder, fiercer. And in the chaos of war, when lives were already being torn apart, Mathew was hunted. They came for him not with the fanfare of public execution but with the cold precision of a vendetta. They cornered him in the forests, where the light through the trees made his hair glow like fire.

Tamlin wasn’t there when it happened. He heard the news in the aftermath, the details coming to him in pieces. Mathew had fought—gods, how he had fought. But they were too many, and he was alone. When Tamlin found him, it was too late.

After that, something inside Tamlin broke. It wasn't just grief. It was the suffocating weight of having tasted love and lost it to hatred and cruelty. For weeks, he wandered through the ruins of what his life had become, through the ashes of a war that had taken everything from him. When the dust finally settled and the wall went up, separating them from the human lands, Tamlin was left with a void that nothing could fill.

It was then that he made a quiet decision. He found a bottle of dye, the same shade as Mathew’s hair. It was a ridiculous thing to do, and he knew it wouldn’t bring Mathew back. But it was his way of carrying Mathew with him, of wearing a piece of him every day. When he looked in the mirror and saw that pale gold hair staring back at him, it hurt, yes, but it also reminded him of the boy who had once been brave enough to love him.

And when Lucien came, with his tragic past and the fire of Autumn in his eyes, Tamlin knew what Mathew would have done. He would have offered a hand, a place to belong, without question. So Tamlin did the same. It was the least he could do for Mathew, to carry forward that spirit of kindness, of love that knew no boundaries.

TELL ME THIS DIDN'T EAT YALL, TELL ME I DARE YOU🤣

[partisan-by-default]

The bill would require the Internal Revenue Service to tax large funds that fail to sell off their single family homes over that timeframe. It already has some support in the house, where it is co-sponsored by the U.S. Representatives Nikema Williams and Linda Sánchez, as well as in the Senate, where it is cosponsored by Senator Tina Smith. Advocacy groups Private Equity Stakeholder Project, Consumer Action, and National Consumer Law Center have offered additional support.

The bill defines a hedge fund as partnerships, corporations, or real estate investment trusts that pool funds from investors and have $50 million or more in net value or assets under management, with exemptions for nonprofits and companies primarily focused on construction. Hedge funds failing to report single-family home purchases would face a $20,000 fine that would go toward a housing down payment trust fund. Funds that fail to sell off their housing stock in the timeframe required would face a tax of 50 percent of the fair market value for each property, with funds also going to the housing trust fund.

Merkley and Smith cite data from an Urban Institute report that said in 2011, no single entity owned more than 1,000 single-family rental homes, whereas by June 2022 hedge funds and institutional investors owned a cumulative 574,000 single-family homes. This includes large corporate owners like Invitation Homes, which owns more than 80,000 homes across the country. While corporate investors only own 5 percent of the nation’s single-family housing stock, the ownership is often concentrated in majority Black and Latino neighborhoods and in some neighborhoods, entire blocks have been purchased by investors.

The practice has ramped up since the beginning of the pandemic, with 28 percent of all homes sold in 2022 going to institutional investors according to Pew Charitable Trust. In 2021, a venture-funded company backed by Jeff Bezos and other billionaires also got in on the act. 

[lasatfat]

dadwc prompt list/info

general info:

I'm most familiar with the Inquisition roster, and I've played Origins enough to get a handle on those guys, I think. DA2, I haven't played as much. I'd avoid Awakenings and Absolution for now, because I haven't got around to them yet.

Please specify the prompt list you're using, if you can, so I can link back to it. Don't worry if you can't.

I'll be reposting stuff to AO3 by default, but if you'd rather I didn't repost for your prompt, I will absolutely respect that.

OT3/poly prompts are welcome, cracky ships are welcome, rarepairs are welcome. "LI swaps" are welcome (e.g. my Surana romances Alistair in my game, but you can request her with Morrigan, for example. Or a non-romanceable character. Anything you like). Nothing really grim, though, please.

If you send me prompts for platonic interactions, I will love you forever. I will give you a little digital kiss/hug/handshake/high five/wave.

If you send me something that I have a real mental block against for some reason, I will let you know and you can send in another prompt, if you want to.

If I combine prompts, I'll post one with a screenshot of the other(s), and privately answer the other ask(s) to link you up.

prompt fills

Blood of the Lion || Blood of the Crow || Two Hands Longing (For Each Other's Warmth) || Tempting Fate || An Unfriendly Wager || Shadows and Tall Trees || Sanctuary || Easy Like a Sunday Morning || Scathefire || A Rose Upon a Thorn || Let Me Walk (Before They Make Me Run) || Risk My Hands to Pick Up Shards || Fair Game || Safe Under Cover || The Beginning of All Things || The Safest Place to Hide (NSFW) || You Will Find Him Next to Me || Don't Look Back Into the Sun || The Nug King's Prize

prompt lists

I have a whole tag for story prompts and ask games HERE; this is just a selection of various types and topics. Again, please include the name of the list if you can, but don't panic if you're on mobile or just forget.

dragon age artefacts

unusual words and Raleigh's lost words

adventuring party dialogue pt. 2

50 wordless ways to say "I love you"

touches ask game and romance of hands and touch

smut prompts and dirty talk

platonic sentence starters

fluffy sentence starters

hurt/comfort dialogue prompts #1

angsty sentence starters

two-part drabble game

my ocs

canon protagonists:

Eireann Surana, Hero of Ferelden - City elf mage, arcane warrior and spirit healer, wielder of Spellweaver. Mother of Farah. Radically kind, values honesty, wishes she didn't have to keep so many secrets. A good tactician. (she/her, bisexual)

Rian Hawke, Champion of Kirkwall - Human hedge mage, force mage. On the diplomatic side of sassy, or the sassy side of diplomatic, depending on your view, but always aims for compassion. (they/them, pansexual)

Gideon Lavellan, Herald of Andraste - Dalish storm mage, Knight-Enchanter. Twin brother of Athim, brother of Aisling. Cunning, and good-hearted, a great believer in uplifting the downtrodden. His title is a burden, but he tries to use his power for good. (he/him, gay)

my other characters (I made characters to try out most of the Inquisition romances, and ended up shoving them all into my canon for funsies):

Athim Lavellan - Dalish mace-and-shield reaver. Twin sister of Gideon, sister of Aisling. Honest and inventive, good with problem-solving. Shares her brother's dry humour. (she/her, bisexual with a preference for men)

Kali Lavellan - Dalish dual-dagger tempest, sketches anything and everything. Perpetually anxious, and hides it well until she doesn't. Always goes the extra mile. (she/her, bisexual)

Sigyn, the Lady Archer - City elf mage of the Kirkwall Circle, escaped at the age of fifteen. Mother of Camile. Isn't used to being around people. Angered by injustice, will always protect those in need, but still building her social confidence. (she/her, grey-ace)

Farid Adaar - Tal-Vashoth mage, shapeshifter. Level-headed and kind-hearted, until a game board or cards come out. A friend to all living things. (he/him, aroace)

Basvaarad Adaar - Tal-Vashoth rift mage, freed saarebas. Says little, and chooses his words carefully. Painfully shy, but loves deeply and well. (he/him, they/them, bisexual)

Nanna Adaar - Half-dwarf Vashoth, two-handed warrior, non-verbal. Brash and hot-tempered, but easily mollified. A lover of all physical contests. (she/her, lesbian)

Torunn Adaar - Vashoth archer and midwife. In-game she's an artificer, but in my heart she's a bard. Emotionally intelligent and always eager to learn new things. (she/her, bisexual greyromantic)

Farah Surana - daughter of Eireann Surana and Alistair Theirin. Gregarious and inquisitive, she could make a friend in an empty room. (she/her)

Camile - adopted daughter of Sigyn. Shy and quiet, but always eager to help. (she/her)

Aisling Lavellan - baby sister of Gideon and Athim Lavellan. She's brought to Skyhold to live with them after their parents are killed in the fighting in Wycome. Still finding her feet, but curious about everything. (she/her)

my 'ships

As I said, I'm up for trying most any ships, but these are all the ones I have in my verses:

oc/canon:

Gideon Lavellan/Dorian Pavus

Eireann Surana/Alistair Theirin

Eireann/Alistair/Kali/Cullen

Kali Lavellan/Cullen Rutherford

Rian Hawke/Anders

Rian Hawke/Varric Tethras

Athim Lavellan/Solas

Rian/Athim/Varric

Sigyn/Blackwall

Basvaarad Adaar/the Iron Bull

Nanna Adaar/Sera

Torunn Adaar/Raleigh Samson (quasiplatonic)

Torunn Adaar/Cullen Rutherford (Lion and the Hind AU)

Kali Lavellan/the Iron Bull (FwB)

Gideon Lavellan/the Iron Bull (FwB)

canon/canon:

Carver Hawke/Merrill Sabrae

Cole/Krem Aclassi

Fenris/Isabela/optional Zevran Arainai

Josephine Montilyet/Leliana

Raleigh Samson/Ser Thrask/Ambra

probably more I can't remember right now

[avidtrader]

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[magia-region]

Brocairdin, the Hufflepuff Badger Pokémon

Normal/Grass type

Brocairdin is the mascot of Hufflepuff House, and as such embodies the House’s core values of hard work, dedication, patience, loyalty, and fair play.

It has various hedge flowers growing on it with a layer of soil under its grassy fur that allows for the flowers to grow healthy. 

The new Founder of Hufflepuff mistook it for a normal bush when she first met the creature. Brocairdin didn’t seem to mind Hallewell tending to it as such, so it stayed in the witch’s garden for long while before she found out about its true nature.

It doesn’t like weed whackers, so it eats the weeds itself

Name comes from broc, Irish word for ‘badger’ and gairdín, the word for garden. Looks like a Binturong crossed with an American badger 

Guards the King’s Cauldron 

Diamond card suit 

And it’s shiny! It’s green to help it better blend in with greenery

Unlike in the source material, instead of black and yellow the colors of the New Hufflepuff House are yellow and brown. It does get made fun of for this, but they’re supposed to represent sunshine and the soil, symbolizing what allows living things to grow and thrive.

[jechristine]

“I find us a woman of color that many people want to be treated like their white counterparts but they don’t want the criticism of their white counterparts.”

Quite literally NONE of Law’s white counterparts have experienced the criticism he has.. lol what. That’s literally the point. PLENTY of white women have made the jump from stylist to personality and they didn’t have take down pieces written about them.

I only myself know of Rachel Zoe, but on that evidence alone, fair point. An argument could be made that Law Roach is more widely known than most of his white counterparts, so he’s the lightening rod because he made himself the lightening rod. And that’s a success and a burden.

I’ll say that I don’t think it was a “take down piece.” I think it included some criticisms (and some insensitive language) but most were hedged anyway, and again the value for me was the history/context of stylists in the industry.

I came away thinking that it’s hard to say what stylists are and aren’t because the role is still being invented.

And like @mickeymousefan4life-blog said in my replies, over the last two decades plenty of service-industry people have become celebrities/stars in their own rights, and so why not stylists and why not Law?

[docholligay]

I am, by and large, not a big fan of hedging what I mean to say. It's not a cultural value I have, and it feels like passive aggression or lying to me a lot of the time. That being said, all things have their time, and all things have their place, and I would be lying if I said I'd never used particular THIS kind of hedging, where you downplay the seriousness of a situation. I love the way that she immediately says that he was drunk, then, too, and it was unimportant, because what she said to Miranda earlier was true: This could cost her everything, fair or not.

But is interesting to me is that even when Miranda is gone, when we can say for all intents and purposes, Miranda is DEAD, she still persists. Because Miranda can't be saved, and in many ways it was never about saving Miranda--for anything else, Miranda was a student at the school, and if a student at the school was so ill-bred as to allow herself to be alone in a barn with a man at a fete, she would be blamed as sure as anything. Mrs. Appleyard can't have that. '

Also I love her jaunty hat.

[threeriversforge]

A gent in the UK is working hard to keep some of the old ways alive and when he posted this nice collage, I thought it was a perfect illustration of why tradition, heritage, and culture are so very important.

I know a lot of people think that doing things ��the old way” is a trivial thing, a cutesy pastime or something that entertains people at the local fairs.  But how many actually stop to think about the bigger picture?  How many of us have taken a minute to think outside the box and really consider what happens when you do, or don’t, keep to the Traditions?

Hedgerows and Tended Woodlots have been a part of our history for more years than we can imagine, but we weren't doing such things just because it struck our fancy. No, we did it because the woods and hedges served our needs just as we served their needs. It was a symbiotic relationship until it was rent asunder only a short while ago.

Of course, by that time, most people had completely forgotten all that the hedgerows did for them, they’d long since taken it all for granted.  The fancy good coming from the giant factories seemed simply too good to pass up.  Too cheap.  Too “affordable”, they said.  

Sadly, it's not that life is all the poorer for having fewer coopers and bodgers around, but because of the opportunities lost. Lessons of life learned by our youngest as they build skills and confidence in themselves. Pride in their people, in their accomplishments and abilities, developed over long hours spent listening to the old men grumble and groan while working under a small roof.

That's what's lost when the Traditions are abandoned.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, let this collage from a gent in the UK speak to you. We can speak of the benefits of revitalizing the hedgerow or thinning the woodlot. We can wax poetic about the benefits of a "lower carbon footprint" that you get by using a wooden rake rather than a mass-produced plastic and steel contraption.

However, the true value is there in that boy's eyes. It's the pride in himself and his family, in the memories he'll make and the tales he'll hear. It's the skill and the patience which, now learned, he can carry with him for the rest of his life.

When you support the craftsman, this is what it means. You're not buying a product but investing in the future of your culture. And that smiling boy is the Return on your Investment. Plus, you get a pretty neat rake!

[melancholia-ennui]

Finally got around to reading Paizo's statement on the OGL fiasco (available here). I have Thoughts™, mostly good ones.

Before we begin, let me just say this opening is absolutely balling:

We believe that any interpretation that the OGL 1.0 or 1.0(a) were intended to be revocable or able to be deauthorized is incorrect, and with good reason.

We were there.

Power moves aside, the announcement of the Open RPG Creative License (ORC) is very encouraging. Two particular points stand out to me in the discussion.

The Good

First, a quote from the statement (emphasis in original):

the release of a new open, perpetual, and irrevocable [license]

The emphasis on 'irrevocable' suggests that Paizo are very aware of the major flaw in the original OGL, namely that while the text of the license started it was perpetual and that any version of the license could be used, it did not include the word 'irrevocable' anywhere in the text, which allowed the legal loophole that WotC are using to abuse that very license.

Second, the statement tells us that the ORC License will be 'system agnostic'. This is a very good sign - the original OGL was very much designed around D&D (originally 3e), and it was never intended to carry the burden of being the single license by which almost all TTRPGs that want to cultivate third party content are released.

Thirdly - and this is the bit I find most exciting - we get the following little tidbit:

The ORC will not be owned by Paizo, nor will it be owned by any company who makes money publishing RPGs. Azora Law’s ownership of the process and stewardship should provide a safe harbor against any company being bought, sold, or changing management in the future and attempting to rescind rights or nullify sections of the license. Ultimately, we plan to find a nonprofit with a history of open source values to own this license (such as the Linux Foundation).

This is excellent news - when I heard Paizo are spearheading the attempts to develop an alternative open license for TTRPGs outside of the scope of WotC monopoly, my immediate worry was: what's to stop Hasbro performing an aggressive buy-out of Paizo, and then we'll all be back in the same soup?

By guaranteeing that they do not own the license, Paizo hedge against this possibility - and if they do get it into the hands of a committed non-profit like the Linux Foundation, that would work as a fairly robust buffer against any attempts by Hasbro or any other would-be monopoly to get their hands on the license and pull the kind of BS that WotC/Hasbro are trying with the OGL.

The Bad?

That said, I still have some concerns, and I will definitely be waiting to see the final details of the ORC license.

My greatest worry at this point revolves around how whether the ORC license will follow the structure and scope of the OGL, particularly when it comes to the delineation of Open Game Content vs. Product Identity in the context of non-copyrightable material.

One of the major problems with the old OGL - discussed at length in this EFF article - is that it claims to be giving you the right to use 'the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines' of the d20 system, but as a matter of fact, game mechanics are non-copyrightable. As such, all the license really gives you is the right to reproduce the exact wording used but WotC in the SRD to describe the game system, and in return you sign away any rights you may have had to using the content delineated as Product Identity. As the EFF article puts it (emphasis added),

For most users, accepting this license almost certainly means you have fewer rights to use elements of Dungeons and Dragons than you would otherwise. For example, absent this agreement, you have a legal right to create a work using noncopyrightable elements of D&D or making fair use of copyrightable elements and to say that that work is compatible with Dungeons and Dragons. In many contexts you also have the right to use the logo to name the game (something called “nominative fair use” in trademark law). You can certainly use some of the language, concepts, themes, descriptions, and so forth. Accepting this license almost certainly means signing away rights to use these elements. Like Sauron’s rings of power, the gift of the OGL came with strings attached.

In short, the original OGL is kind of a lie - it makes it seem like you need a license for content that is non-copyrightable, and then offers you the opportunity to sign away your rights to use other content in return for the right to use content you already had the right to use. All you gain from signing the OGL is the ability to use some exact wording used by WotC in the SRD, plus the reassurance that you know some of the terms on which WotC will not sue you. It's as much a threat as it is an offer.

Now the one thing that does give me a bit of hope for the ORC license in this regard is that Paizo's statement does seem to suggest that they are aware that the main value of the OGL is in being able to exactly reproduce the original language - see the following quote (my emphasis):

When we needed to quickly bring out Pathfinder First Edition to continue publishing our popular monthly adventures back in 2008, using Wizards’ language was important and expeditious. But in our non-RPG products, including our Pathfinder Tales novels, the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, and others, we shifted our focus away from D&D tropes to lean harder into ideas from our own writers. By the time we went to work on Pathfinder Second Edition, Wizards of the Coast’s Open Game Content was significantly less important to us, and so our designers and developers wrote the new edition without using Wizards’ copyrighted expressions of any game mechanics. While we still published it under the OGL, the reason was no longer to allow Paizo to use Wizards’ expressions, but to allow other companies to use our expressions.

If this mindfulness of the actual value of the OGL translates over to the final wording of the ORC license, then we can hope that this license will be more explicit about what it covers and what it cannot cover, about what rights you already have and what rights you would be giving up by signing the license.

However, until I see the actual wording on the license, I will still be worried that it'll end up reproducing this basic problem of the OGL - i.e. obscuring the rights third party creators already have without any license, re non-copyrightable content, in order to coerce third party creators into signing on to the license even if they don't need to "just to be safe".

While I'm sure this will not be Paizo's intent, I still won't be entirely satisfied until I see the final license in all its glory.

Summary

All told, I would still rather see TTRPGs move onto Creative Commons or other well-established open licenses, but I do understand the desire to create a license that's particular to the needs of the TTRPG community, and from everything I've seen of it, the ORC license seems well situated to satisfy this niche. I will need to see the final license before all my concerns are laid to rest, however, and a number of further concerns remain - in particular, given Hasbro will never let D&D fall under the ORC license, will the brand identity of D&D and the financial power of Hasbro be able to win out over the good of the community? Or will enough new content growing out of the ORC license be able to swing the scales back away from Hasbro and lead to a diversification and return to the community of TTRPG content?

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[teaveetamer]

There's another weird thing about Cap'n supposedly hating the results of Toxic Masculinity in how he tends to write Ingrid. Like, she pretty much explicitly hates men, she assaults them pretty much any time they get on her nerves, and she's depicted as justified in feeling and behaving in this manner. But isn't expressing disdain in violent ways and, well, outright and blatant sexism, like... BAD things? Aren't those part of WHY Toxic Masculinity is bad? But because it's a woman doing it to men Cap'n seems to think it's "healing" and/or "empowering" for a woman to act like a child throwing a tantrum because she doesn't otherwise know how to handle her emotions. Like, yeah, it really seems like Cap'n doesn't understand the ACTUAL issues with Toxic Masculinity and only has a REALLY shallow understanding of it.

I’ll preface this by saying while I have read snippets of the fic, I have not read the whole thing. So I can’t really comment on the specifics. However, I will say that having women be “empowered” by behaving in traditionally masculine ways and calling it feminist does kind of hedge around the main issue. Feminism should be about teaching everyone that there is no inherently better way to be. Masculine, feminine, somewhere in between, neither, or any combination thereof should all be equally valued and acceptable. When you make feminism about telling women to just act like men, then you haven’t solved the problem of people believing that women and femininity are inherently lesser than men and masculinity. The goal of feminism should be allowing everyone to choose what is best for them without fear of being attacked or shamed or forced to fit into a narrow societal box.

In the case of the fic in question, I won’t say if it’s feminist or not. But from the snippets I’ve heard it does seem wildly out of character or just blatantly disregarding canon so I’m wondering what the motivations were for such wild changes. If it was to make things more feminist then I think the mark was missed by a fair bit, for the reasons stated above.

[nothingunrealistic]

VANITY FAIR January 2020

GHOST IN THE SNOW On the Trail of The World’s Rarest Animal By YOSEF JEFFREY

PLUS

HE’S CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HOT IN HOLLYWOOD By COLBY GOODMAN

KNIVES IN: TAKING ON THE WORLD’S MOST OVERRATED RESTAURANTS By APRIL LIU

ALSO

BAD BLOOD IN THE SENATE CHAMBER By AVA MAYER-CASTRO

THE NEW

DECA

MIKE PRINCE

The Down Home Billionaire Who Does No Harm

It is this non-traditional approach, backed up by an unmistakably honest altruism, that has allowed Prince to get so far, so fast. But that doesn’t mean he looks down upon the trailblazers who came before. I asked him about Robert Axelrod, Manhattan’s resident boy-king-Midas, and longtime head of renowned hedge fund Axe Capital. Axelrod is another of the new decas we’re featuring, having been recently minted into the ten-billion-dollar club, Like Prince, Axelrod has often been looked at as a rebel in his field, and while the admiration Mr. Prince feels for this fellow tycoon is abundantly clear, it also seems as though Axelrod’s time may already be behind him.

 “Investors with a traditional strategy, like Axe, have become legends, and they deserve to be legends. But legends fade, and their value is then mostly in the stories about them, lessons to future generations on what to do, what not to do. But I’m not interested in becoming a story just yet. So, I change with the times. Investors like me, who are also business operators, are always on the cutting edge, shifting to machine learning and impact investing, not just for profit but for the profitability of mankind.”

Axelrod, in contrast, has long been the poster boy for the sort of devil-may-care capitalism that populates the fantasies of finance bros and plagues the nightmares of socially minded millennials. Born into a struggling working-class family in Yonkers, Axelrod’s rise is a prime example of the bootstrapping touted by baby boomers everywhere, albeit spiked with a Gordon Gecko world view. When his

[wallstreetmetals1]

Silver American Eagle Coins: A Must-Have for Investors

Silver American Eagle Coins are among the most popular and sought-after silver bullion coins in the world. For investors and collectors alike, these coins offer a unique blend of value, history, and beauty. In this blog, we’ll explore why Silver American Eagle Coins are a must-have for any investment portfolio and why they continue to be a top choice for those interested in precious metal investments.

What Are Silver American Eagle Coins?

Introduced by the U.S. Mint in 1986, Silver American Eagle Coins are one-ounce coins made from .999 fine silver. They are the official silver bullion coin of the United States and are widely recognized for their high purity and beautiful design. Each coin features Adolph A. Weinman's iconic "Walking Liberty" design on the obverse and a heraldic eagle on the reverse, crafted by John Mercanti.

Why Invest in Silver American Eagle Coins?

Trusted by Investors Worldwide Silver American Eagle Coins have earned their place as one of the most trusted and widely traded silver coins globally. Their backing by the U.S. government ensures that they are genuine and meet the highest standards of purity and quality. This trust is crucial for investors looking for reliable and reputable assets to include in their portfolios.

High Liquidity One of the key advantages of investing in Silver American Eagle Coins is their high liquidity. These coins are easily bought and sold, thanks to their popularity and widespread acceptance. Whether you’re purchasing from a dealer or selling to another investor, Silver American Eagles are in demand, making it easier to enter or exit your investment.

Investment and Collectible Value Beyond their value as bullion, Silver American Eagle Coins also hold collectible appeal. Many investors and collectors are drawn to the coins for their historical significance, attractive design, and annual variations. Limited mintages, special editions, and proof versions can increase the coin's value over time, providing potential for appreciation in addition to their intrinsic silver content.

Inflation Hedge Silver has long been regarded as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. As a tangible asset, Silver American Eagle Coins can offer protection against currency devaluation and economic downturns. Their physical nature means they are not subject to the volatility of digital assets or traditional currencies, making them a stable investment choice during uncertain times.

Portfolio Diversification Diversification is a key principle in investment strategy, and adding Silver American Eagle Coins to your portfolio can help achieve this goal. Precious metals, including silver, often move independently of stock and bond markets, providing a safeguard against market fluctuations. By including Silver American Eagles in your investment mix, you can enhance your portfolio’s resilience and balance.

How to Buy Silver American Eagle Coins

When considering adding Silver American Eagle Coins to your investment strategy, it’s important to purchase from reputable sources. Authorized dealers, such as those listed on the U.S. Mint’s website, ensure that you are acquiring genuine coins at fair prices. It’s also wise to compare prices and check for any premiums over the spot price of silver, which can vary based on the dealer and the coin’s condition.

Factors Affecting the Value of Silver American Eagle Coins

Several factors can influence the value of Silver American Eagle Coins, including:

Silver Market Price: The value of silver directly impacts the worth of the coins. Fluctuations in the silver market can affect the spot price, which in turn influences the resale value of your coins.

Coin Condition: The condition of the coin, including factors such as mint state, scratches, or tarnish, can impact its value. Coins in excellent condition or those with special features like limited mintages are generally more valuable.

Collector Demand: Special editions, such as proof coins or those with limited mintage, can attract higher demand from collectors, which may drive up their value.

Storage and Care for Silver American Eagle Coins

Proper storage and care are essential to preserve the quality and value of your Silver American Eagle Coins. Use protective cases or capsules to prevent physical damage, and store the coins in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and humidity. Avoid handling the coins excessively to minimize the risk of scratches or tarnishing.

Conclusion

Silver American Eagle Coins offer an excellent opportunity for investors to diversify their portfolios, hedge against inflation, and enjoy the benefits of owning a highly liquid and collectible asset. Their trusted reputation, combined with their intrinsic and collectible value, makes them a must-have for any serious investor. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a new investor, including Silver American Eagle Coins in your investment strategy can provide significant benefits and enhance your overall portfolio. For more information on these valuable coins and how to acquire them, visit Wall Street Metals, your trusted source for precious metal investments.

[akshat-kapoor]

Understanding the Option Price Calculator: A Tool for Informed Trading

Options trading is a sophisticated financial strategy that offers investors the flexibility to hedge, speculate, or leverage their portfolios. However, calculating the price of an option can be complex, involving multiple variables such as volatility, time to expiration, and the underlying asset's price. This is where an Option Price Calculator becomes an essential tool for traders.

What is an Option Price Calculator?

An Option Price Calculator is an online tool that helps traders determine the fair value of an options contract. It uses mathematical models like the Black-Scholes model or the Binomial model to estimate the premium (price) of a call or put option. By inputting key parameters, the calculator provides a quick and accurate option pricing, aiding traders in making informed decisions.

Key Inputs for the Option Price Calculator

Underlying Asset Price: The current market price of the asset on which the option is based (e.g., a stock).

Strike Price: The price at which the option holder has the right to buy (call) or sell (put) the underlying asset.

Volatility: A measure of how much the underlying asset's price is expected to fluctuate over time. Higher volatility generally increases the option's price.

Time to Expiration: The remaining time until the option expires. As expiration approaches, the option's time value decreases.

Risk-Free Interest Rate: The theoretical return on an investment with no risk, often represented by government bond yields.

Dividends: If the underlying asset pays dividends, this can affect the option's price, particularly for longer-term options.

How Does the Option Price Calculator Work?

The Option Price Calculator uses the input values to compute the option's theoretical price. For example, the Black-Scholes model, one of the most widely used models, calculates the price based on the above factors. It assumes a lognormal distribution of asset prices and considers the time value of money, the volatility of the underlying asset, and the option's strike price relative to the current asset price.

Benefits of Using an Option Price Calculator

Accuracy: Calculating the price of an option manually is complicated and prone to errors. An Option Price Calculator ensures accurate results based on widely accepted models.

Speed: The calculator provides instant results, allowing traders to make quick decisions in fast-moving markets.

Risk Assessment: By adjusting inputs like volatility or time to expiration, traders can see how sensitive the option price is to different factors, helping them assess potential risks.

Strategy Planning: Traders can use the calculator to evaluate different trading strategies, such as covered calls or protective puts, by comparing the prices of various options.

How to Use an Option Price Calculator

Input the Required Data: Enter the current price of the underlying asset, the strike price, volatility, time to expiration, risk-free interest rate, and any expected dividends.

Select the Type of Option: Specify whether you are calculating the price for a call or put option.

Review the Results: The calculator will display the option's theoretical price, which you can use to compare with the market price or to plan your trading strategy.

Conclusion

An Option Price Calculator is a powerful tool for anyone involved in options trading. It simplifies the process of determining the fair value of an option, enabling traders to make more informed decisions. Whether you are a novice trader or an experienced professional, using an Option Price Calculator can enhance your trading strategy and help you better manage the risks and rewards of options trading.

[korshubudemycoursesblog]

Advanced Smart Money Trading: Mastering S&P and Nasdaq Futures for Maximum Profit

In the world of futures trading, understanding Smart Money Trading is crucial. This approach helps traders identify the moves of institutional players, allowing them to make more informed decisions. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures are two of the most popular markets among traders, offering high liquidity and numerous opportunities. This guide will cover everything from the basics to advanced strategies, ensuring you have the tools needed to excel in these markets.

Understanding Smart Money Trading

Smart Money Trading is a concept that revolves around following the actions of institutional investors, often referred to as "smart money." These players include hedge funds, investment banks, and large asset managers who have the resources and information to influence market movements. By identifying and following the smart money trends, retail traders can position themselves on the winning side of the trade.

Key concepts in Smart Money Trading include:

Order Flow Analysis: Understanding the flow of orders in the market to identify buying and selling pressure.

Volume Spread Analysis (VSA): Analyzing price action and volume to determine the strength of a market move.

Market Structure: Recognizing key levels of support, resistance, and price patterns that indicate potential reversals or continuations.

By mastering these techniques, traders can gain a significant edge in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures markets.

The Importance of S&P and Nasdaq Futures

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 are two of the most widely traded futures contracts. They represent a broad spectrum of the U.S. economy, with the S&P 500 encompassing 500 of the largest companies and the Nasdaq 100 focusing on 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Top reasons to trade S&P and Nasdaq Futures include:

Liquidity: These markets are highly liquid, meaning you can enter and exit positions with minimal slippage.

Leverage: Futures contracts allow traders to control large positions with relatively small amounts of capital.

Market Hours: These futures trade nearly 24 hours a day, providing ample opportunities for trading.

Volatility: Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 are known for their volatility, which can lead to significant profit opportunities for informed traders.

Advanced Strategies for S&P and Nasdaq Futures

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s delve into some advanced strategies for mastering S&P and Nasdaq Futures.

1. Order Flow and Volume Profile

Understanding order flow is crucial for identifying the actions of smart money. By analyzing the volume traded at each price level, traders can identify areas of significant buying or selling interest. Volume Profile tools help traders visualize this data, providing insights into where institutional players are likely to enter or exit positions.

Key elements of Order Flow and Volume Profile:

Point of Control (POC): The price level with the highest traded volume, often acting as a magnet for price.

Value Area: The price range where a significant portion of trading activity occurs.

Order Imbalance: A situation where there is a significant difference between buy and sell orders, indicating potential market direction.

2. Market Profile and Auction Market Theory

Market Profile is a tool that organizes price, volume, and time into a graphical representation, providing a clear picture of market structure. This concept is closely related to Auction Market Theory, which suggests that markets operate as an auction process, constantly seeking to establish fair value.

Using Market Profile in trading S&P and Nasdaq Futures:

Identifying Trends: Recognize when the market is trending versus when it’s in a range-bound state.

Profile Shapes: Understand different profile shapes (e.g., P-shape, b-shape) and what they indicate about market sentiment.

Initial Balance (IB): The price range established in the first hour of trading, often setting the tone for the rest of the day.

3. Trading the Opening Range

The opening range refers to the price range established during the first 30 minutes to an hour of trading. Many professional traders focus on the opening range as it often dictates the market's direction for the rest of the day.

Strategies for trading the Opening Range:

Breakout Strategy: Entering a trade when price breaks above or below the opening range, with a stop loss placed just inside the range.

Fade Strategy: Taking the opposite side of a breakout if the price fails to sustain momentum beyond the opening range.

4. Swing Trading with Smart Money Concepts

Swing trading involves holding positions for several days to capture medium-term price movements. When applied to Smart Money Trading concepts, swing trading can be particularly effective in S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures.

Key concepts in Swing Trading:

Institutional Levels: Identifying key levels where institutions are likely to have placed significant orders.

Market Cycles: Understanding the different phases of the market (accumulation, markup, distribution, markdown) to time entries and exits.

Divergence Analysis: Using indicators like RSI or MACD to identify potential reversals in the market.

Risk Management in Futures Trading

No matter how advanced your trading strategies are, risk management remains a critical component of success. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures are leveraged instruments, meaning small price movements can result in significant gains or losses.

Key Risk Management Techniques:

Position Sizing: Never risk more than a small percentage of your capital on a single trade.

Stop Losses: Always use stop losses to limit potential losses.

Risk-to-Reward Ratio: Aim for trades with a favorable risk-to-reward ratio (e.g., 1:2 or higher).

Emotional Discipline: Stick to your trading plan and avoid making impulsive decisions based on emotions.

Tools and Resources for Advanced Futures Trading

To successfully implement Smart Money Trading techniques, it’s essential to have the right tools and resources at your disposal.

Top tools for S&P and Nasdaq Futures trading:

Order Flow Software: Platforms like Sierra Chart or Bookmap provide detailed order flow data.

Volume Profile Tools: TradingView and Thinkorswim offer Volume Profile indicators.

Market Profile Platforms: Use platforms like MarketDelta or NinjaTrader for Market Profile analysis.

Economic Calendars: Keep track of economic events that can impact market volatility with tools like Forex Factory or Econoday.

Conclusion

Mastering Advanced Smart Money Trading in S&P and Nasdaq Futures requires a deep understanding of market dynamics and the ability to apply sophisticated strategies. By following the concepts outlined in this guide, you can position yourself to trade alongside the smart money and achieve consistent profits.

Remember, success in futures trading doesn’t come overnight. It requires continuous learning, practice, and discipline. If you’re serious about taking your trading skills to the next level, consider enrolling in specialized courses like those offered on Udemy, where you can learn from industry experts and gain the knowledge needed to excel.

At Korshub, we are committed to helping you find the best courses to enhance your trading journey. By mastering these advanced strategies, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a proficient and profitable trader in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures markets.

[goldstockcanada0]

Why Buying Gold Online in Canada is a Smart Investment

In today’s digital age, the convenience of purchasing gold online has transformed how Canadians invest in precious metals. With a reputable source like Gold Stock Canada, buying gold online has never been easier or more secure. buy gold online canada Here’s why making this investment through a trusted online platform is a smart choice.

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Conclusion

Buying gold online in Canada offers numerous advantages, from convenience and competitive pricing to security and expert support. Gold Stock Canada stands out as a reliable source for all your gold investment needs. buy gold online canada Explore their offerings today and make a smart investment in your financial future.