#is cost-effective for high impact ads

[brandonwheelz1]

Differences Between Digital and Outdoor Advertising

Differences Between Digital and Outdoor Advertising

CONTENT OVERVIEW

I. Introduction

Brief overview of the topic

II. Digital Advertising

Definition

Types of Digital Advertising

Advantages of Digital Advertising

III. Outdoor Advertising

Definition

Types of Outdoor Advertising

Advantages of Outdoor Advertising

IV. Differences between Digital and Outdoor Advertising

Key Differences

V. Conclusion

I. Introduction:

In today's world, businesses have several options when it comes to advertising. With the rise of digital technology, digital advertising has become a popular choice. But, outdoor advertising still holds its ground. In this article, we'll look at the differences between digital and outdoor advertising and help you understand the benefits of each type of advertising.

II. Digital Advertising:

Digital advertising refers to the use of digital channels such as websites, social media, search engines, and mobile apps to promote a product, service, or brand. It allows for targeted audience reach and measurable results, with the ability to make real-time adjustments. Digital advertising is cost-effective, but can be more expensive compared to other forms of advertising.

Types of Digital Advertising:

Search engine advertising

Social media advertising

Mobile advertising

Video advertising

Advantages of Digital Advertising:

Targeted audience

Cost-effective

Measurable results

Real-time adjustments

III. Outdoor Advertising:

Outdoor advertising refers to advertising through physical media such as billboards, transit advertisements, and street advertising. It has a large audience reach and can be cost-effective for high impact ads, creating a tangible impact and good for building brand awareness. However, it provides limited measurable results compared to digital advertising.

Types of Outdoor Advertising:

Billboards

Transit advertisements

Street advertising

Building advertisements

These are all types of outdoor advertising, which refers to advertisements that are displayed in public spaces outside of buildings. Each of the listed forms refers to a specific way in which outdoor advertising is accomplished:

Billboards are large, freestanding structures that display advertisements, often along highways and in high-traffic areas.

Transit advertisements refer to advertisements that appear on vehicles like buses and trains, as well as on subway or bus stations.

Street advertising involves posters, banners or signs attached to street furniture, buildings or on the street itself.

Building advertisements refer to the use of buildings or their facades as a display surface for advertisements.

Advantages of Outdoor Advertising:

Large audience reach

Cost-effective for high impact ads

Tangible impact

Good for building brand awareness

IV. Differences between Digital and Outdoor Advertising:

Key Differences:

Audience reach

Cost-effectiveness

Measurable results

Tangible impact

Flexibility

Creative limitations

Geolocation targeting

Environmental impact

Reach and frequency

Interactivity

Audience reach: Digital advertising allows for targeted audience reach through channels such as websites, social media, and search engines. Outdoor advertising, on the other hand, has a larger audience reach through physical media such as billboards and transit advertisements.

Cost-effectiveness: Digital advertising can be cost-effective, particularly when compared to traditional forms of advertising such as television and print. However, the cost of digital advertising can vary greatly depending on the specific channel and target audience. Outdoor advertising can also be cost-effective, particularly for high impact ads such as billboards.

Measurable results: Digital advertising offers measurable results through metrics such as clicks, conversions, and impressions. This allows advertisers to adjust their campaigns in real-time to optimize performance. Outdoor advertising, however, provides limited measurable results and relies more on brand recall and impact.

Tangible impact: Outdoor advertising creates a tangible impact with its physical presence, particularly for high impact ads such as billboards. Digital advertising, on the other hand, relies more on the use of metrics to measure its impact.

Flexibility: Digital advertising allows for real-time adjustments and changes to campaigns, whereas outdoor advertising typically requires more lead time for changes or updates.

Creative limitations: Digital advertising has the ability to use interactive and dynamic elements such as video and animation, whereas outdoor advertising has limited creative capabilities.

Geolocation targeting: Digital advertising allows for targeting specific geographic locations through GPS technology and IP addresses, whereas outdoor advertising is limited in its ability to target specific geographic locations.

Environmental impact: Outdoor advertising has a potential impact on the environment through the production and disposal of physical media such as billboards. Digital advertising, on the other hand, has a lesser impact on the environment but may consume energy in data centers.

Reach and frequency: Digital advertising allows for a large number of impressions and a high frequency of exposure to the target audience, whereas outdoor advertising has a more limited reach and frequency.

Interactivity: Digital advertising allows for two-way communication and interactivity with the audience, whereas outdoor advertising is limited in its ability to engage with the audience.

In conclusion, both digital and outdoor advertising have their advantages and disadvantages. The type of advertising that is right for your business will depend on your specific advertising goals, target audience, and budget. It's important to understand the differences between digital and outdoor advertising to make an informed decision.

V. Conclusion:

In conclusion, both digital and outdoor advertising have their advantages and disadvantages. The type of advertising that is right for your business will depend on your specific advertising goals, target audience, and budget. It's important to understand the differences between digital and outdoor advertising so you can make an informed decision for your business.

[beardedmrbean]

Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD) is under fire for comments he made about migrants and their contribution to the Belgian economy.

Featuring as a guest on the podcast 'Talks With Charly', Van Tigchelt was asked about his views on whether it was possible to prevent migrants from entering Belgium, to which he replied: "Of course not. Something like that is impossible, unnecessary and undesirable."

He went on to emphasise the economic role migrants play here. "Who takes care of our care? Who will lay my water pipe? Who cleans my windows at home?"

Podcast host Charly Badibanga then took offence to the insinuation that migrants only contribute to Belgium via low-skilled work, and the Justice Minister quickly sought to nuance his comments. "Sorry for expressing myself incorrectly, but take away migration and our economy will come to a standstill."

He added that figures such as directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah and former football players Marouane Fellaini and Vincent Kompany are a testament to the "wealth" that migration has brought to Belgium.

'Stereotypical'

Van Tigchelt's comments demonstrated a "stereotypical" view of work performed by migrants but was not off the mark regarding the economic impact of reduced migration, says Eva Van Belle, a migration and labour expert at VUB.

"It is difficult to predict the impact a migration policy change would have on the economy, but what we do know is that the rate of migration we have today is good for growth," she told The Brussels Times. "There is a positive fiscal effect too, as migrants contribute more to public finances than what they cost. If we stopped migration, this positive effect would disappear."

The perception that a high proportion of migrants work in low-skilled positions is due to the fact that Belgium lacks any clear strategy to attract high-skilled individuals. In addition, a cinched domestic labour market coupled with discrimination faced by people from migrant backgrounds pushes many of them to unskilled positions. Nevertheless, migrants make up significant portions of professional sectors too, such as IT, healthcare and consulting.

Migration is an enormous topic for political parties ahead of federal elections on 9 June. Van Tigchelt's liberal party Open VLD wants to increase controls at EU borders and make family reunification conditions much more stringent. The party calls for more humane conditions for asylum seekers awaiting a decision on their application despite overseeing a worsening reception crisis since being in government.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

Northwest Oregon had never seen anything like it. Over the course of three days in June 2021, Multnomah County—the Emerald State’s most populous county, which rests in the swayback along Oregon’s northern border—recorded highs of 108, 112 and 116 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperatures were so hot that the metal on cable cars melted and the asphalt on roadways buckled. Nearly half the homes in the county lacked cooling systems because of Oregon’s typically gentle summers, where average highs top out at 81 degrees. Sixty-nine people perished from heat stroke, most of them in their homes.

When scientific studies showed that the extreme temperatures were caused by heat domes, which experts say are influenced by climate change, county officials didn’t just chalk it up to a random weather occurrence. They started researching the large fossil fuel companies whose emissions are driving the climate crisis—including ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron—and sued them.

“This catastrophe was not caused by an act of God,” said Jeffrey B. Simon, a lawyer for the county, “but rather by several of the world’s largest energy companies playing God with the lives of innocent and vulnerable people by selling as much oil and gas as they could.”

Now, 11 months after the suit was filed, Multnomah County is preparing to move forward with the case in Oregon state court after a federal judge in June settled a months-long debate over where the suit should be heard.

About three dozen lawsuits have been filed by states, counties and cities seeking damages from oil and gas companies for harms caused by climate change. Legal experts said the Oregon case is one of the first focused on public health costs related to high temperatures during a specific occurrence of the “heat dome effect.” Most of the other lawsuits seek damages more generally from such ongoing climate-related impacts as sea level rise, increased precipitation, intensifying extreme weather events and flooding.

Pat Parenteau, professor of law emeritus at Vermont Law and Graduate School, said that zeroing in on the heat and the heat dome effect are elements that might make the Multnomah case easier to prove.

“When it comes to the extreme heat events that affected Portland, the scientists concluded, in looking at that event and then looking at historical records of heat waves in the Pacific Northwest, it would not have happened, but for human-caused climate change,” Parenteau said. 

“That’s actually the first time I’ve ever seen climate scientists state a conclusion like that in such absolute terms,” he added.

[lonniemachin]

Abdulrahman reached out to me to help share his fundraiser. He is urgently raising money to evacuate he and his family from Gaza. He has currently raised kr80,442 SEK out of his kr350,000 goal! Please donate and share, and if you can't donate, please still share!

Abdulrahman's Twitter/X: @Alshanti71

Abdulrahman's Instagram: @abood_elshanti

From Abdulrahman's GFM:

Note: The required amount is $30,000

⚠️ $1 = 10.5 Swedish kron

" الترجمة العربية بالأسفل "

My name is Abdulrahman Alshanti, and I am reaching out to you in a time of great need. My family and I currently reside in Gaza, facing dire circumstances resulting from the effects of the genocide on Gaza and the ongoing displacement crisis.

Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of choice

Lives are very precious and cannot be replaced

To get through death we need to pay money we don't have

The price to leave gaza by egyptian borders is $7000-5000$ Equivalent to 55,000 SEK

per man/woman

We have endured seven months of relentless warfare in Gaza, facing attacks by land, sea, and air. We are suffering from the profound impacts of the ongoing conflict, unsure of what steps to take or where to seek help.

Adding to our distress, my mother is battling chronic illnesses, including heart issues, diabetes, high blood pressure and Retinal hemorrhage. The severe shortage of medications in our region has made her daily life unbearable amid these tragic conditions.

we are desperate to leave Gaza, as there is nothing left for us here. However, the high costs associated with relocation make it impossible for us to do so. We do not know what to do or whom to turn to for assistance.

In light of these challenges, we humbly seek your support on this GoFundMe campaign to help us secure the funds needed for our relocation

“ Donations will go towards living expenses and securing the future also “

If you find it in your heart to contribute to our cause, no matter how small the amount, it will be immensely appreciated. Your compassion and support can make a tangible impact on the lives of us.

For those willing to extend a helping hand, every contribution brings us one step closer to a more secure and hopeful future.

Thank you for taking the time to read our plea, and we sincerely appreciate any assistance you can provide. If you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to reach out to us.

With gratitude,

Abdulrahman .

[pokemon-card-of-the-day]

Pokemon Card of the Day #3164: Absol (Team Up)

Absol was a Pokemon used for one reason. It was there to make Basic Pokemon have a harder time retreating. Switching cards were pretty popular at the time, which did hurt how useful it was, but with Basic Pokemon being everywhere this was going to be able to at least do something in a lot of games. On the other hand, that was basically all this did unless you attached a good bit of Energy, so there wasn't a secondary role being played here. You knew what you'd get out of Absol, and the format it landed in would decide whether that role was useful enough.

Absol's 100 HP wasn't the worst on a Basic Pokemon by any means, but did tend to be low enough to not be safe when Active. The Fighting Weakness really wasn't changing too much in practice, and the Psychic Resistance, while nice in theory, was rarely changing numbers enough to make a difference either. The Retreat Cost was 1, so an Absol that had to start off the game could retreat cheaply.

Dark Ambition was the Ability that made Absol so useful. It was simple, as whenever the opponent's Active Pokemon was a Basic Pokemon, its retreat cost was 1 higher than normal. This was coming as the Tag Team era was starting, and the game quickly shifted to being based around Basic Pokemon. Making pivoting harder against anything that didn't have an extra effect to negate that such as Zeraora-GX, was quite useful. It did force the use of precious switching cards, though these were popular enough that Absol wasn't just a guaranteed help against everything.

Shadow Seeker did provide an attack, at least in theory. A Darkness and 2 Colorless Energy would be required here, which made you actually commit to it. The attack started at a very weak 30 damage, but 30 more was added for each Energy in the opponent's Active Pokemon's Retreat Cost. This could add up a lot, and you could take off half of the HP of most Tag Teams due to Dark Ambition. This was, of course, only usable with the right Energy available, and not every deck running Absol cared about accessing this attack.

Absol was just there to sit on the Bench and make switching more annoying for specific decks. Those specific decks were a large part of the game for quite some time, and Absol got into a lot of decks as a result. This included decks that used no Darkness Energy at all, and you could find lots of successful lists based around Zacian V or Pikachu & Zekrom-GX as well as stall decks and those using Darkness Energy like Eternatus VMAX. It was an easy fit into decks, and while it was reliant on how common Basic Pokemon were, it was generally a common sight in the UPR-On format where a rather high number of games could be impacted.

[ineloquent-egyptian]

This paper is from march but I really recommend reading it

Between 2007 and 2013, an estimated 1,500 tunnels were operational beneath the Gaza-Egypt border. These tunnels were primarily used to circumvent the blockade’s impact on Gaza, as noted in a 2015 (UNCTAD) report. In response to recent Israeli accusations against Egypt of security breaches along the Philadelphi corridor, the State Information Service announced that it had eliminated these 1,500 tunnels from 2013 to 2020. Additionally, Egypt had already in the previous years established a buffer zone extending five kilometers deep within Egyptian Rafah and spanning 14 kilometers along the border with Gaza. The media office also emphasized in its statement that the border fence with Gaza had also been reinforced by adding a six-meter-high concrete wall above ground and another six meters below it. This effectively created three barriers between Sinai and Palestinian Rafah, making it impossible for any smuggling to occur either above or below ground. On February 6, 2016, Israeli Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz acknowledged Egypt’s efforts in flooding the tunnels. He emphasized that security cooperation was at its peak and that this action was partially in response to Israel’s request. [...]

Over the past decade, Egyptian authorities have made unprecedented efforts to dismantle the tunnel network along its border with Gaza. These efforts began in late 2013 when President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi assumed power in Egypt. In this context, President Sisi issued Decree No. 444 of 2014, designating 5 kilometers of land within the city of Rafah as a «prohibited area» along the Gaza border. The rationale behind this move was to address the threat posed by smuggling tunnels. Consequently, thousands of homes were demolished in populated areas to create a buffer zone along the Gaza border, resulting in the displacement of approximately 100,000 local residents in Sinai. This policy extended over an area estimated at 79 square kilometers. According to exclusive sources within the Palestinian police in Rafah, as reported by Middle East Eye, Egypt destroyed approximately 95% of the tunnels connecting Gaza to Egypt by 2015. [...] Over the years, the Egyptian Military Engineering Corps carried out intensive operations at a considerable legal and economic cost. These operations involved the destruction of farms, demolition of homes, and the transformation of Egyptian Rafah into a scorched land all aimed at eradicating the existing tunnels along the border. The policy of forced displacement in Egyptian Rafah practically eliminated one side of the smuggling system, as smugglers had previously taken advantage of the presence of residents, houses and farms to conceal their activities. Hence, with the creation of the buffer zone, the entire area became fully exposed with the dense presence of the Egyptian military. Any movement on the ground became a legitimate target for the Egyptian Military Forces.

[...]

«The Egyptian Rafah area is currently entirely uninhabited, and civilians are prohibited from entering it without security permits» he said, adding «In the past, we used to obtain goods entering Gaza from the Egyptian side west of the Suez Canal. However, currently, bringing any quantities of materials into Sinai requires a commercial registry, security approvals, and thorough inspections at the Suez Canal.»

[...]

Egyptian efforts to combat smuggling tunnels took a significant turn in 2015. During that year, the Egyptian military transported Mediterranean Sea water to the border with Rafah to fill a new canal that had been dug along the border. This action led to the flooding and destruction of most vital tunnels connecting Egypt to the besieged Gaza Strip.

[...]

It’s a matter worthy of contemplation. Egypt took a bold step by enhancing security along the border axis and combating the tunnels connected to Gaza. However, these efforts came at an extremely high cost—destroying an entire city and displacing tens of thousands of Egyptians to achieve this goal. The price is still paid by the residents of Egyptian Rafah to this day.

[...]

In recent years, smuggling weapons into the Gaza Strip has become nearly impossible. A former senior Palestinian security official, who requested anonymity, revealed to Sinai Foundation for Human Rights that they received briefings in the past from Egypt whenever incidents like these occur. He commented, “If it is possible to smuggle weapons into Gaza today, it is likely to be above ground.” He further added, “This scenario also seems unlikely, considering the extensive efforts Egypt has made over the past decade to secure its borders along Gaza”.

Moreover, Egypt’s efforts to thwart weapon smuggling into Gaza extend beyond its land-based operations. Reports from September 2020 indicated that Egyptian authorities had retrieved the bodies of two Palestinian fishermen killed by Egyptian gunfire in the sea near the border with Gaza on September 26, 2020. Former Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh expressed back then his sorrow on his social media account, while Hamas strongly condemned the Egyptian military’s use of live ammunition against fishermen at sea, urging Egyptian authorities to open an investigation into “this painful incident and ensure it is not repeated.” Simultaneously, Israel has also intensified its efforts to combat maritime smuggling by bolstering its naval presence near Gaza. Several cases of arresting fishermen or seizing their boats have been recorded in these areas. Sinai Foundation obtained visual materials revealing maritime activities of the Egyptian military in the heart of the coast of Gaza. These materials include pursuits of fishing boats and targeting fishermen..

It’s interesting that the Egyptian campaign against the smuggling network was not a one-sided effort. A few years ago, ISIS made diligent attempts to gather information about Hamas’ operations and its smuggling techniques in an attempt to undermine their activities. An exclusive security document we obtained from sources within the Government in Gaza reveals details of an interrogation conducted by officers from the Internal Security Agency, affiliated with the Gaza Ministry of Interior directed at Hamas’ Military Intelligence on October 23, 2017. The subject of the interrogation revolved around three Palestinian workers from the Shejaiya neighborhood in eastern Gaza City who were abducted by ISIS from a tunnel connecting Gaza to the Sinai Peninsula. The document sheds light on how ISIS took measures to prevent weapons from being smuggled to Hamas through the remaining tunnels in 2017, which were later destroyed, In some recorded instances, ISIS in Sinai executed one of its militants on the grounds of his involvement in Hamas’ smuggling efforts. Additionally, the Sinai branch of ISIS punished Hamas by closing commercial tunnels in their areas of influence in Sinai. These actions by ISIS in Sinai were a reaction to Hamas’ growing proximity to the Egyptian Government in late 2017. In a similar context, the Israeli security website “Defense” reported that ISIS in Sinai decided to confront Hamas in Gaza by targeting arms dealers and disrupting Gaza’s weapon supply routes.

[...]

The rest is about the philadelphi axis and why Israel wants to occupy it (they are occupying it now which is a clear violation of the damned Camp David "peace" treaty)

[open-hearth-rpg]

Base Building: Great RPG Mechanics #RPGMechanics Week Seven

I’ve always loved the idea of developing a “place” in play: a location, a home, an organization. I remember when Advanced Dungeons & Dragons arrived it presented the concept of high level fighters & such having a castle or keep. The rules limited this privilege limited by level– you needed a ton of experience before you could be lord of a fortress. And it also cost in-game money. A hefty price tag would consistent mechanic in ttrpgs for years. If you wanted something big– vehicles, robots, a wizard’s tower– you had earn hard cash first. 

That system would evolve with cash-based economies joined by point-based ones. Champions and accounting-heavy games would eventually create systems for detailed base-building. But these were often architectural and mapping sub-systems and just involved making a big vehicle that didn’t move. There would be other approaches, but the next big shift came with Forged in the Dark’s Crew Playbooks.

Developing your Crew offered many benefits: increased effectiveness in certain areas, physical locations offering a benefit, new access, additional members. A tier system and crew special abilities added to that. You picked elements from a flow chart on the Crew sheet, another version of experience points being converted into benefits. This system offered a striking new area for game design. I’ve talked before about how games like Girl by Moonlight and Vergence use those as campaign and series frameworks. 

But one of the most exciting new Forged in the Dark approaches has been that of Mountain Home. In MH you play Founders, leaders setting up a new Dwarven Settlement. The settlement itself acts as a kind of crew playbook, but there’s a shared template. You can choose between claiming a lost fortress, building a buried metropolis, being on an exodus from their previous settlement, or seeking to mine a new mother lode. Each has questions to help set things up and there’s a definite shift in tone between them. The choice of settlement type impacts abilities, special discoveries, and a couple of other things. 

Mountain Home, like other Forged games, has a distinct cycle of play. The Settlement Phase is final part of Mountain Home’s play cycle and includes the Downtime phase. It marks the end of the year–something which mentally gives the players a sense of closure and the larger span of time happening. The phase begins with players activating Claim Buildings. I’ll come back to that in a moment, but basically there are effects: like special healing or increasing reputation which are based on particular buildings. 

Downtime actions in the settlement phase include the usual FitD choices, like training and clearing stress. But the big ticket item here is the Long Term Project. As with other FitD games these can be flexibly used for lots of things. 

These projects include two of the most important aspects of Mountain Home: Discoveries and Claim Buildings. The players’ settlement is broken into four rows and five columns. The rows represent depths from Surface to Depth 3. Each of the intersections of Depth and column have two spots where players can eventually build Claim buildings. But to do so, they first have to discover and explore them– a long term project. When they finish that project, the GM rolls to see what kind of location it is (Earthy Caves, Iron Vein, Lava-Filled Caverns, etc). The depth and kind of discovery affects what kinds of buildings can be constructed in those two associated spots. There’s also a set of special discoveries which can get triggered, unique to the kind of settlement being built. 

The other big long term project is establishing one of those Claim buildings. As I mentioned, some have requirements for where they can be built. For example a Lumber Mill can only be built in a Surface Forest, a Research Library in an Ancient Ruin, an Iron Guildhall in an Iron Vein. These have different Tiers (up to IV); the clock for building them is 3+Tier. So with a couple of people working, a building can often be finished in a single Settlement phase. 

This breaks the concept of base building away from just point-buying or experience spending. Instead the act of creation is part of play. That’s novel and opens up what you can do in play. Functionally you have two things. The first is the idea of a space which needs to be prepared: explored, excavated, etc. Players take actions and invest in handling that. Then there’s actually choosing and building things in those uncovered areas. 

The selection of buildings is really interesting, but with room for the players to add more. Some affect the Trade roll which is made after the Downtime phase, generating treasure. Others are permanently dedicated for effects. For example, you need to dedicate a Farm of some kind to raise your settlement’s Tier. There’s enough options and interesting ideas there that the players will always have tough choices– and each settlement will be different. When I ran it players did projects to come up with the plans for new buildings (which they then spent actions building) including a Hot Springs.   

I would say the Settlement map, the Claim buildings, and that whole system is really the secret sauce of Mountain Home. It’s great and really makes adding what are effectively elements to your crew sheet feel super satisfying.

You can easily hack this in-play base-building I can imagine using this for developing a space colony; it maps easily to that. You could adapt it for something post-apocalyptic like Forbidden Lands or Twilight 2000. The players find an abandoned base or town and have to work to restore it. For something like Urban Shadows or Vampire, it might be about extending influence over the area. One idea I’ve mentioned before is the concept borrowed from Wrath of the Autarch. In this fantasy setting, the players are exiles who had fled and found themselves at a long-lost supernatural fortress. They have rebuild that in order to gather allies and strike back at the Empress who drove them out.

[aquitainequeen]

Aside from news on how things possibly stand for a Shadow and Bone/Six Of Crows renewal (basically no news is good news, keep going with the campaign!) there's also a short interview with Eric Heisserer, which sheds some interesting light indeed on the writing and making of Season Two, and it explains a lot of things:

Here are the questions posed for Eric's interview: 

"I'd like to know if there's a way to liberate the pre-written scripts if Netflix doesn't plan on using them" - Christian Thalmann (creator of the Fjerdan language)

"In my view, 'The Crows' have the potential to revitalize the Grishaverse. Unlike "Shadow and Bone", this new show could rely less on elaborate visual effects and offer a fresh narrative angle. Heist-themed shows are currently in high demand, adding to its appeal. Am I mistaken in thinking that our focus should primarily be on 'The Crows'? The likelihood of 'Shadow and Bone' returning seems slim, but I've always believed that 'The Crows' had a greater change of success." - Joleen

"If/when the spinoff is back (finger crossed) was there anything he had planned that would completely surprised, for good reasons obviously, the audience? And we should hold our breath for that twist/turn??" - Rti

"What are the difficulties you mentioned about filming S2 in that Reddit comment? Don't want to sound negative, but what went wrong?!" - Mitra

"How long was the sizzle reel ready to go but he had to keep it secret?" - Discord Team

"I would love to know his perspective on the impact of streaming on storytelling. Would we have had to launch a campaign like this 10-15 years ago for a show like this? What are the main points when it comes to streaming models and telling unique, diverse stories?" - Acorn_Bri

Eric's Responses: 

1) "There is a way to liberate the Crows scripts from Netflix, yes, and in fact that would be part of the buyout for another streamer when acquiring the rights to Leigh's novels. It would be a package deal." 

2) "The focus on the Crows is helpful in two ways -- first, those scripts were written, which lets us get a running start at production, and second, just from casual analysis of book sales, it's far more popular worldwide than other Grishaverse titles. So it will be a bigger draw for viewers. The trap though is the cost. It's more grounded than S&B, sure, but the Ice Court is a unique location that either requires a really costly set build, or set extensions and VFX work to make it look authentic, which means nearly every shot of the heist once our crew gets there could be a VFX shot. My guess is the budget would be on par with S2 of S&B.

3) "Yes, there is a surprise or two in the Crows spinoff season, but overall it's as close to the novel as we could make it. And Leigh's novel is such an amazing story with natural cliffhangers that work as episode "out" moments, etc. I think the biggest move we made was to feature every single Crow's backstory to go with their episode. So that was fun/sad/exciting." 

4) S2 kept throwing challenges at us, and it started long before we got to production. Like months earlier, when we learned the location we needed for the Little Palace in S1 was closed to us due to the pandemic. So right there we lost out on a ton of S&S scenes, because it wouldn't be a match. But we also had written a compelling side arc for Ivan and Fedyor in S2, these two Grisha trapped on either side of the civil war. Each of them played a big role in the story, but Simon (Ivan) had a feature film that overlapped with our schedule and couldn't move, which meant we lost him. So Daegan worked to revise the season keeping Fedyor and leaving Ivan like dead from the end of S1. He was Kirigan's right-hand man for the season. But poor Julian caught COVID just when we were to shoot out most of his scenes, and after tyring to ake the schedule work, we had to come to the brutal truth that there wasn't a way to keep Fedyor in the story. Our only option was to bring him in at like episode 8, which would've been too little, too late. 

COVID continued to be a monster all through production, requiring us to juggle schedules and miss out on days, and it was madness for the cast, who had to pivot with almost no notice whenever someone was ill and quarantined. This isn't unique to our show of course---it happened with everyone. It's just the challenge. 

Beyond that, we had been given the go to write a special standalone story: The Demon in the Wood. This would have been released on its own around Christmas, like a BBC special but for Netflix, and would help bridge seasons 1 and 2 by showing a little of what Kirigan was doing before we seem him in S2, and also provide more character context, etc. Christina Strain wrote that and did great work adapting Leigh's short story. But it never went the distance. 

There was a lot more to S2 as well, scenes and side stories and little interactions that were lost due to budget or time restrictions. Again, not unique to our show, but agonizing all the same, since what you get is not what we had written, or in some cases even shot. I'm incredibly proud of the cast and the team, and Daegan did the heaviest lifting while I was off finishing the Crows writing room. But we had a lot more thrown at us." 

5) That sizzle reel was put together four months before the second season dropped. 

6) Streaming is a challenge to serialized storytelling in that it looks at 'content' often with a different agenda and uses metrics that can take a creative issue and exacerbate it. Like in broadcast, if viewership and thus ad revenue has slightly declined, the show will ned to find a way to make their 22 or 13 episodes on a proportionally smaller budget. What is not done is reduce episode order. But if a streaming series underperforms or doesn't meet expectations, an the streamer doesn't cancel it outright, the go-to budget reduction idea is to reduce episode order for the next season. When you just have 8 episodes and continue to deal with notes to compress, pace up, or omit for what you'd scripted for a longer season, reducing further to six or four episodes is exhausting. 

This happens due to a slide in autonomy from what the showrunner position has been. What the chatter on the picket lines revealed to us is that most showrunners today don't get to see their own show's budget, and thus don't get the freedom to make budgetary decisions that could better protect the story they're telling. More and more, showrunners not at a legacy network aren't the final say or at times even involved in hiring key roles. I don't have any ideas that aren't already in contract language, I just see how the job on this side has gotten harder and there isn't much of a way for us to make it easier for each other like we could with having writers on set or in post production, because the streaming model has made that impossible." 

[thedickgraysons]

acotar tag game!

thank you for the tags @mathiwrites and @fourteentrout ! this was really fun to do, i'm always looking for an excuse to yap about my opinions

Who's your favourite ACOTAR character?

It’s definitely a tie between Lucien and Nesta! I’ve been a ride or die for Lucien since the first book, because I love me a charismatic red head, but I tend to be more vocal about my love for Nes.

Who's your least favourite character?

Oof, it would have to be Amren. I just don’t think she really adds anything to the story beyond existing to be snarky and drop lore when SJM writes herself into a corner. Definitely a character that would have had more impact if she would have stayed dead.

Say something nice about your least favourite character.

Her concept is very interesting! A creature that is not a faerie who was forced to inhabit the body of one. Who had greater abilities than anyone could dream, her only connection to the creature she was, only to lose them all at the cost of her living. Psychologically that is so cool, I would love to read more about what it meant for her mental state in the aftermath.

Who's your favourite High Lord? (If you picked one for your fav character, then who's your second fav!)

Tarquin! When he was introduced, he just instantly stole the show for me. I loved how gentle he was with Feyre, his kindness and confidence in his goals to unite lesser and high fae, and how passionate he got when confronting the Night Court.

Favourite MINOR character?

Remember the mortal that Feyre, Elain, Azriel, and Tamlin saved? Briar? Yeah, her. I’m obsessed with her story. A woman who was essentially groomed into praising the fae, learning first hand how awful they could be, and then going off to live with them in her lowest? I need more of her. I want to see how she develops. I hope she’s got a story in the future, because some main players don’t even have a name but she does! I also fuck with Jurian but I don't think he's really a minor character.

Favourite ship? (Crackships included!)

Oh there’s just so many, I can’t keep up. I think my top three, however, would be Azris, Neris, and a secret third crackship that I cooked up, Eris x Azriel x Gwyn. I call them Azrisyn in my head. I’m working on a fic. It’s a whole thing. I think I just really like shipping people with Eris.

Favourite court and why?

Spring! I love the aesthetic and how deeply magical everything was. It truly was like entering a new realm, with a new creature and magical adventure at every turn. I'm also a Winter and Autumn enjoyer.

Make up a brand new court RIGHT NOW, NO PREP JUST VIBES.

OH UHMM The Under Court. Just under the surface of Prythian, in a sprawling maze of tunnels and caverns, is a city carved of glowing stone and glistening gems. Because of the sheer size, this Court is divided into four sections, with each of these sections being overseen by a Stewart, who report directly to a (gasp) High Lady. They're called the High Council. Now I want to write this.

What relationship would you have wanted to see more of in the books?

Emerie and Azriel. Azriel has such an intense loathing for his people that it greatly effects his own view of himself. I want his arc to include him learning more about his culture, and overcoming that internalized bigotry. I want him to look into the face of someone who has been just as brutalized by the Illyrians as he has and realize that they are a people who need help out of the cycle of violence.

What's your unpopular opinion?

All of them, but my most unpopular one is probably that Cassian's wings should have stayed shredded. It made no sense for them to heal, and it would have added more to the story and his character (ie having a bridge to Nesta) to have him stay disabled.

What's your favourite headcanon/fan canon?

I love thinking about the faeries being more magical! I have a whole thread of eldritch horror-style High Lords and I think about it often. A less intense headcanon I have is that Eris has a gap in his front teeth and Gwyn has glowing freckles because I think its cute.

If you were swept away to Prythian, what's ONE thing you would want to do?

I’m shooting my shot with Lucien, so write that down. I also want to do the Winter Solstice in the Winter Court, because I feel like that would be so much fun. And then I’m moving to Dawn because I do not think I am surviving literally anywhere else. If the climates didn't kill me, the politics would.

If you could have ONE faerie ability seen in the books, which would it be?

If Helion's spell casting and cleaving don't count as one ability, then probably shapeshifting.

again, i love doing tag games so thank you for letting me! i cannot for the life of me think of who else to tag so uhm @ennawrite @wingsdippedingold @christeak and anyone else who wants to tap in?

[theterribletenno]

Kodiak, the Bear Warframe

He is both kinds of bear. Because I know my audience. Genuinely don't think he needs any other introduction. He's a bear. The skillset I was aiming for was chonky tank with limited support capability but he ended up more versatile than originally intended. This is not a bad thing because it just makes him more of a chad.

Health: 540 (740 at rank 30) Shields: 270 (370 at rank 30) Armor: 575 (675 at Rank 30) Energy: 100 (150 at rank 30) Sprint Speed: 0.9

Passive: Kodiak has double the normal overshield cap granting him a maximum of 2,400 overshields and when Kodiak recovers from a hard landing or a knockdown he roars causing enemies within 18 meters to become terrified and flee for 7.5 seconds, ceasing their attacks and fleeing in random directions.

Ability 1: Gore, 25 energy. Kodiak grabs the enemy closest to his crosshairs within 10 meters and rakes them with his beastly claws, dealing 500+X (where X is equal to the enemy's level times 10) slash damage with a guaranteed slash status proc before throwing them away in the direction of his crosshairs as an arcing projectile with infinite punch-through against bodies. Upon hitting another enemy, both the original target and the struck victim are dealt impact damage equal to 10% the original target's max health and shields with a guaranteed impact proc for both while also knocking down the struck victim.

Ability 2: Hibernate, toggled ability, drains 5 energy per half-second. Kodiak enters a void-sleep, a quantum state that allows him to rapidly regenerate while totally invulnerable to harm but also prevents him from using any movement, attacks, or other abilities. While Hibernate is active Kodiak is immune to damage and status effects and regenerates 5% of his max health & shields every half-second. If Kodiak's health and shields are full he will begin generating overshields. If Kodiak's overshields are full he will begin generating overguard. Hibernate cannot generate overguard that exceeds a value of 10,000 points. Ending Hibernate after spending at least 5 seconds regenerating will trigger his passive ability.

Ability 3: Berserker, 75 energy. Stripping himself and his teammates of their fears and inhibitions, Kodiak and all friendly players within affinity range immediately gain +35% ability strength for the next 10 seconds. Furthermore players gain bonus armor equal to the amount of energy spent on abilities up to a maximum of 1,000 lasting until Berserker ends.

Ability 4: Mountain King, costs 25 energy to activate plus 3 energy per second. When Kodiak embraces his divine right as king of the mountain he gains an additional 200 armor and summons his exalted heavy hammer melee, the Polaris. The Polaris hammer has very high per-hit damage but slow attack speed and deals mostly cold and impact damage and lesser values of puncture and slash. Polaris has low status chance but exceptional critical chance and multiplier as well as a guaranteed cold status proc on every hit. Polaris also releases freezing cold novas on slam attacks with a wide range. Lastly, Polaris gains an extra 10% cold damage that does not combine with other elements for every tier of combo multiplier he ahcieves.

Subsumed ability: Gore.

Signature Weapon Grollier: A very special shotgun used by Kodiak, the Grollier employs a unique feed mechanism with four rotating tubes. Each tube holds five shells and once a tube is emptied the feeder rotates to the next tube. When reloading the user replaces each tube one at a time. Each tube takes 1.5 seconds to replace, meaning replacing all four tubes takes 6 seconds. Once a tube is replaced its ammunition is added to the magazine meaning the reload process can be interrupted for a partial reload. Magazine capacity mods will increase the number of shells contained in each tube but not the number of tubes. Grollier deals mostly slash damage with moderate values of impact and puncture and has a moderate balance of firing speed and per-shot damage for a semi-auto shotgun. Fires a large number of small pellets with high status chance and average critical chance at the cost of a short effective range. As Kodiak's signature weapon he will replace two tubes at once when reloading this weapon from empty with a special animation.

Closing Notes: While doing research for this I learned the term "berserk" literally translates to "bear shirt" in other words someone who wears a bear skin instead of armor. The Grollier shotgun is named after the inventor of the bear trap; Nicholas Grollier. His base stats took a few rebalancings, I ended up copying Lavos's. God, I keep forgetting how tanky Lavos is. Also I freaking love that the text box for his shotgun is bigger than any of his abilities.

[mariacallous]

For the past 25 years, Japan’s central bank and government have found common cause in trying to end deflationary pressures that have been seen as a drag on economic growth. Now that they are succeeding, the verdict is in: People don’t like it.

Under standard economic theory, high levels of deficit spending coupled with ultra-low interest rates should almost inevitably lead to higher rates of inflation—usually a problematic outcome for most economies. But Japan has become the poster child for the risks of the opposite problem, persistent price and wage deflation.

Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke was a strong advocate of action by the Bank of Japan (BOJ). “Addressing the deflation problem would bring substantial real and psychological benefits to the Japanese economy, and ending deflation would make solving the other problems that Japan faces only that much easier,” he said in an address to the Japan Society of Monetary Economics in May 2003, when he was still just a member of the Fed board. At stake, he said, was not just the economic health of Japan “but also, to a significant degree, the prosperity of the rest of the world.” His worries of a similar deflationary trap in the United States were one of the reasons he would later propose as Fed chairman the massive quantitative easing, or QE, program following the 2007-08 global financial crisis.

To achieve this, the BOJ first tried ultra-low interest rates and, when that failed, zero interest rates and finally negative interest rates. In addition, there were various programs to encourage lending, including special funding to banks that lend to smaller companies with growth potential and to banks that increased their lending by a certain amount. The lending initiatives ran into two primary obstacles: Japanese banks only want to lend money to companies that don’t need it (big companies in Japan sit on massive cash holdings), and with such low rates, the cost of initiating and servicing the loans outweighed the profits in terms of interest payments.

The ultimate plan to defeat all this came from the affable Haruhiko Kuroda, appointed in 2013 by newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the head of the BOJ. Kuroda, a former Finance Ministry official who was therefore an outsider within the central bank, threw caution to the wind. He would, he promised, create 2 percent inflation in two years by doubling the BOJ’s balance sheet.

Moving beyond the Fed’s QE, Japan would have QQE, adding in the idea of qualitative to quantitative easing, meaning that the bank would not buy just government bonds but also riskier assets. The result was indeed a massive expansion in the balance sheet, in effect monetizing the government’s steady diet of fiscal overspending equal to around 30 percent of the total budget each year. Even though the balance sheet more than quadrupled over Kuroda’s 10-year term, the idea of a “virtuous cycle” of higher wages driving higher prices remained elusive for almost all of his tenure, with the consumer price index stuck around zero.

This was to change but not because of any central bank policy. Instead, it was due mainly to the world’s recent No. 1 game-changer: COVID-19. With higher import costs and supply chain disruptions, higher prices, albeit at a modest level by global standards, became visible in virtually every sector of the economy. By January 2023, the consumer price index jumped to 4 percent, the highest level since 1981 and well over the 2 percent target set by the BOJ. Within this, hotel prices have surged, rising 63 percent as foreign tourists again pack central Tokyo and Kyoto. For Japanese shoppers, much of the impact has been in the form of “shrinkflation” as food producers try to hide the higher costs. A bag of coffee in central Tokyo can still be found for around $4—it’s just that the same package now holds 40 percent less coffee. No wonder major food packaging companies saw their earnings jump 33 percent last year.

As a result, stagnant wages finally have started to show signs of movement as a shrinking workforce, good economic growth, and skills shortages have bid up salaries. Wages in October 2023 were up 1.5 percent year-on-year, and union workers logged average increases of 3.6 percent in their spring round of labor negotiations.

So why isn’t everyone happy? The reality is that the two growth lines have resulted in a steady decline in real wages adjusted for inflation. According to government figures, real wages fell for 20 consecutive months up to November 2023, registering a 3 percent decline year-on-year.

“People are not stupid,” said Jesper Koll, a global ambassador for the Monex Group and one of Japan’s best-known economists. “The 30 years of deflation have come to an end, but are the Japanese people getting the kind of inflation they want?”

Indeed, while deflation has had policymakers gnashing their teeth as Japan became relatively poorer (some tech jobs pay better in Vietnam than in Japan today), it was good for salaried workers who saw their pay rise modestly while prices would fall around 1 percent annually. The new scenario is more complex. As workers in any inflationary economy can attest, wages almost always rise more slowly than retail prices. One BOJ official in the pre-Kuroda days in 2012 said privately that their surveys showed people preferred deflation even as the central bank was trying to stamp it out.

The sticker shock of rising prices has been an unwanted blow to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is facing a crisis in confidence for no clear reason—except that people don’t seem to like his administration. Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden could no doubt commiserate on that front.

Last fall, when the government’s approval ratings fell below the “danger zone” of 30 percent—the figure that often heralds a party search for a fresh face as prime minister—Kishida started handing out cash that the government didn’t have, offering subsidies to limit the impact of higher prices in energy and utilities. Even this backfired badly, raising allegations that he was trying to buy his way back to popularity.

“What people are frustrated with is that he increases spending all the time but has no program to pay for it. The Japanese people are rational with their money—they don’t go out on spending sprees,” Koll said.

Kishida, who took office in October 2021, now has support of just above 20 percent by most polls, with two-thirds of respondents saying they disapprove of his administration. This would normally make him ripe for removal by the party elders who effectively control the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). That has been the model ever since the party was founded in 1955 and helped the LDP to remain in power for all but six years since then.

But Kishida may well survive for a while. The latest in a string of scandals also involves other senior figures in the LDP over potentially illegal fundraising, which has had the effect of shrinking the pool of potential successors. There is also no clear replacement for Kishida who would satisfy both the more liberal and hawkish wings of the party, part of the reason he got the job in the first place.

Another open question is whether Kishida—or a successor—will get to actually see an end to the 25 years of deflationary pressures. The latest inflation figures show a softening in price increases, with core inflation (without fresh food prices) rising just 2.5 percent in November 2023, its lowest in 16 months. That may be good news for consumers, but it has some economists skeptical over whether the economy has really turned the corner toward self-sustaining wage-price increases or if the new figures point to a consumer slowdown that would lead to a downturn. The focus will be on this spring’s union wage negotiations, where both the workers and the government are hopeful that increases will finally put workers ahead of inflation, at least for now. The companies that would have to pay for this have shown less enthusiasm.

But some economists remain skeptical. “I would venture that the wage hike to come during next spring’s negotiations won’t quite reach the level expected,” Takahide Kiuchi, an economist at the Nomura Research Institute and a former BOJ board member, wrote in a November report. He said this may prompt the BOJ to hold off on any changes to its negative rates. Japan remains the only country to maintain ultra-low rates as other advanced economies have switched to tighter money policies as inflation surged.

At the same time, Kiuchi noted, delaying for too long means the bank’s balance sheet will continue to grow as it buys bonds to keep yields at zero or below. This will increase the risks to its own financial position if interest rates rise in the future, since the massive holdings would plummet in value. With the balance sheet now larger than Japan’s annual GDP, the implications could be severe, a polite way of saying that it would face insolvency. If that happened, the government would be forced to bail it out. But the government is already using the BOJ to pay for its own financial excesses.

It’s all enough to leave the average Japanese yearning for the good old days of deflation.

[ledinmotion]

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[beardedmrbean]

A restaurant partially owned by California Governor Gavin Newsom is recruiting for a $16-per-hour role, despite a new state law guaranteeing a minimum wage of $20 per hour for fast-food workers. The restaurant appears not to meet the threshold for the new minimum wage, a law that Newsom himself signed to much fanfare in September.

The Context

On April 1, the new law guaranteeing a minimum wage of $20 per hour for fast-food workers employed in large chains took effect across California, up from the previous minimum of $16.

The law was passed by Democrats in the state legislature last year but has come under fire from some Republicans who claim it will cost jobs. A wage of $20 per hour for a full-time worker results in an annual salary of $41,600.

The new law applies to those restaurants that are part of a chain of 60 or more venues nationwide and which offer limited or no table service.

What We Know

PlumpJack Café in Olympic Valley, California, is seeking a part-time busser to "assist the food server in the restaurant to ensure guest satisfaction during all aspects of the dining experience."

The advert, placed on job posting website ZipRecruiter, says that the employee will be paid $16 per hour and their duties will include clearing dishes from tables, the preparation of caffeinated drinks and decorating tables prior to customer arrival.

The café is owned by the PlumpJack Group, a company founded by Newsom which specializes in wine and high-end dining. Its website says that PlumpJack Group operates four bars or restaurants, placing it well below the threshold for the $20 per hour minimum wage to take effect.

Newsom placed his ownership interests in the PlumpJack Group into a blind trust in 2018, and has had no day-to-day involvement in the running of the company since assuming office in January 2019.

Newsweek has contacted Newsom and the PlumpJack Group for comment outside of normal working hours.

The official PlumpJack Group website states: "In 1992, Gavin Newsom opened his first business, PlumpJack Wines, combining his passion for wine and his driving entrepreneurial spirit.

"Over the next decade, the PlumpJack Group began to grow under his leadership to include many of the restaurants, wineries, and retail establishments in the current portfolio."

Views

Republican State Assembly member Joe Patterson shared screenshots of the PlumpJack Café, PlumpJack Group website referring to Newsom as its founder and the rental cost of two properties in the area on X, formerly Twitter.

He added: "I wonder why @CAgovernor @GavinNewson's food businesses don't pay $20/hour? Live job posting at $16/hr in Olympic Valley. It's very, very expensive to live there... but he doesn't do as he tells others and doesn't pay a living wage."

The increased minimum wage for fast-food workers more generally has been criticized by some Republicans who warn it will reduce the number of jobs.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, Rep. Doug LaMalfa from California said: "As if prices in California aren't high enough. Fast food prices are already rising, and employees are being replaced by self-checkout kiosks and soon robot cooks.

"Nearly everyone will be worse off: higher prices, fewer jobs, fewer eating options as places close, and fewer small businesses. Ultimately this new $20 minimum wage will affect nearly every job, with similar results."

In an earnings call at the end of October, McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said that "there is going to be a wage impact for our California franchisees," which he added would have to be partially "worked through with higher pricing."

In February, Newsom denied a report by Bloomberg News that he pushed for a separate exception to the new minimum wage law that benefits a campaign donor. The law exempts restaurants that have on-site bakeries and sell bread as a standalone menu item.

As a result, Greg Flynn, a billionaire and Newsom donor, could save hundreds of thousands of dollars at his Panera Bread outlets in California, according to Bloomberg.

A spokesman denied any connection, saying: "This story is absurd."

In January, a baseline minimum wage of $16 came into effect across California.

[unpluggedfinancial]

How the SEC’s Rumored Rate Cut Could Supercharge Bitcoin’s Momentum

The financial world is buzzing with rumors about the upcoming SEC meeting on September 18th. Analysts are speculating that we could see a significant interest rate cut—potentially a full 50 basis points. If this happens, it could ripple through markets worldwide, but one sector that stands to gain the most attention is Bitcoin.

In times of economic turbulence, Bitcoin has continuously proven itself to be an asset that defies traditional expectations. The upcoming SEC meeting may represent yet another turning point in its already fascinating evolution.

The Ripple Effect of Interest Rate Cuts on Traditional Markets

To understand why this is significant, it’s important to look at how interest rates influence traditional financial systems. When rates are high, borrowing becomes expensive, dampening consumer spending and corporate investment. Conversely, a rate cut encourages spending, stimulates investment, and injects liquidity into the markets.

Historically, interest rate cuts have caused stocks and bonds to rally. However, with rising inflation and increasing uncertainty in fiat currencies, many investors are questioning how long traditional markets can sustain their growth without inflating a massive bubble. This is where Bitcoin enters the picture as a hedge against economic instability.

Why Bitcoin Benefits from Lower Interest Rates

Bitcoin, often dubbed "digital gold," thrives in an environment of financial uncertainty. When central banks pump liquidity into the market by lowering interest rates, the excess capital needs somewhere to go. While traditional assets like stocks or real estate may rally in the short term, they are still tethered to an inflationary system.

Bitcoin, by contrast, operates on scarcity. Its fixed supply of 21 million coins makes it a deflationary asset, immune to the debasement seen in fiat currencies. When interest rates are cut, and more money flows into the economy, Bitcoin becomes increasingly attractive as a hedge against inflation.

Look back at early 2020: interest rate cuts across the board as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic saw a flood of liquidity enter the financial system. Not only did traditional markets recover, but Bitcoin's price surged to record highs, further solidifying its status as a store of value in uncertain times. A similar scenario may unfold following this rumored rate cut.

How This Potential Rate Cut Might Impact Bitcoin’s Price

If the SEC cuts interest rates by 50 basis points, it could trigger a similar injection of liquidity into global markets, causing a surge in speculative and institutional investment into Bitcoin. Lower interest rates often lead to a decrease in bond yields and traditional savings account returns, prompting investors to seek better returns elsewhere. With inflation rising, Bitcoin’s status as a hedge becomes even more compelling.

Furthermore, as the Fed continues to shift monetary policies to avoid a recession, more people are losing faith in fiat currencies. Bitcoin, with its decentralized nature and inherent scarcity, is increasingly seen as a safe haven during these periods of monetary manipulation.

This rate cut could bring a new wave of institutional buyers who recognize that traditional assets are over-leveraged and potentially overvalued. They may turn to Bitcoin as a hedge against continued inflation and fiat devaluation, adding more momentum to its upward trajectory.

Mitigating Volatility with a Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) Strategy

While Bitcoin’s potential for growth is significant, it’s also known for its volatility. Sudden price fluctuations can be daunting for both new and experienced investors. This is where a Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) strategy becomes crucial.

DCA involves investing a fixed amount of money into Bitcoin at regular intervals, regardless of the asset’s price. By spreading out your investment over time, you reduce the risk of buying large amounts at a market peak and capitalize on market dips. This method helps smooth out the highs and lows of Bitcoin’s price movements and reduces the emotional stress that often accompanies trying to time the market.

In the long term, DCA allows investors to accumulate more Bitcoin at a lower average cost. It is a disciplined, low-risk approach to building wealth in Bitcoin, particularly useful in times of market uncertainty—like the potential market shift following the SEC's interest rate decision.

Bitcoin’s historical price volatility can be a deterrent to those not used to the crypto space, but a DCA strategy ensures that you keep building your position over time, regardless of short-term price swings. In the end, consistent accumulation of Bitcoin is a strategy that has proven to pay off for patient investors.

What This Means for the Bigger Picture

The SEC’s potential decision could be a pivotal moment in the ongoing adoption of Bitcoin. With inflation pressures looming, many people are looking for alternatives to protect their wealth. Centralized financial systems continue to show signs of fragility, and Bitcoin offers a way out—a decentralized, censorship-resistant alternative to fiat currencies.

In a world where central banks are losing control of their monetary policies, Bitcoin represents a beacon of financial independence. Every rate cut further highlights the cracks in the existing financial system, and each one brings Bitcoin closer to mainstream acceptance.

Conclusion: Preparing for What’s Next

September 18th could mark a major turning point in both traditional markets and the Bitcoin ecosystem. If the SEC moves forward with the rumored rate cut, expect a ripple effect that will send Bitcoin into another wave of adoption and price appreciation. As we’ve seen in previous market cycles, Bitcoin thrives when the rules of fiat finance begin to falter.

For Bitcoiners, this moment reinforces the importance of staying the course. While short-term market fluctuations can be nerve-wracking, the long-term trajectory is clear: Bitcoin is the future of money, and its value proposition strengthens as centralized systems continue to stumble. This potential rate cut is just one more chapter in the ongoing story of Bitcoin’s inevitable rise.

Take Action Towards Financial Independence

If this article has sparked your interest in the transformative potential of Bitcoin, there's so much more to explore! Dive deeper into the world of financial independence and revolutionize your understanding of money by following my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel.

🌐 Blog: Unplugged Financial Blog Stay updated with insightful articles, detailed analyses, and practical advice on navigating the evolving financial landscape. Learn about the history of money, the flaws in our current financial systems, and how Bitcoin can offer a path to a more secure and independent financial future.

📺 YouTube Channel: Unplugged Financial Subscribe to our YouTube channel for engaging video content that breaks down complex financial topics into easy-to-understand segments. From in-depth discussions on monetary policies to the latest trends in cryptocurrency, our videos will equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed financial decisions.

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Whether you're a seasoned investor, a curious newcomer, or someone concerned about the future of your financial health, our community is here to support you on your journey to financial independence.

Support the Cause

If you enjoyed what you read and believe in the mission of spreading awareness about Bitcoin, I would greatly appreciate your support. Every little bit helps keep the content going and allows me to continue educating others about the future of finance.

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[myblogs2024]

I Never Knew This Until I Transformed My Outdoor Space with Custom Landscape Lighting!

Yay! So I used to think that outdoor lighting was just a simple addition to a backyard—a few lights here and there to help with visibility at night. But after transforming my own outdoor space with custom landscape lighting, I realized it’s so much more than that.

It changed the entire look and feel of my home in ways I never expected. The warm glow highlighting my garden, the subtle lights leading up the pathway, and the beautifully lit trees completely redefined my outdoor experience. Here’s what I learned through this transformation—and why you might want to consider it for your own space.

The Power of Custom Landscape Lighting

It wasn’t until I had the lights installed that I understood the full impact of outdoor lighting. The transformation was immediate. Not only did it enhance the beauty of my yard, but it also added an unexpected level of safety and security. I thought I was just going for aesthetic appeal, but I got so much more out of the process.

Visual Impact: As soon as the lights were installed, my entire outdoor area came to life. The shadows cast by my trees, the highlights on the stone walkway, and the soft illumination of the flower beds created an entirely new atmosphere. It made my home look more inviting and warm, even from the street.

Increased Security: I hadn’t given much thought to security when I started this project, but the difference was clear. With custom lighting placed strategically around my home, it eliminated dark areas where intruders could potentially hide. I instantly felt safer.

Extended Living Space: Before, my backyard was a space I only used during the day. After the installation, it became an extension of my home. I found myself spending more time outside in the evening, enjoying the warm glow as I relaxed or hosted small gatherings.

Why Customization Matters

What surprised me most was how much customization made a difference. Sure, I could have gone with basic, off-the-shelf lighting, but having a custom plan tailored to my space made it feel personal and unique. The lighting wasn’t just functional—it was designed specifically to highlight the best features of my home.

Personalized Design: The team helped me choose lighting that complemented my home’s architecture, highlighting features I hadn’t even noticed before. From the small tree in the corner of the yard to the stone wall that runs alongside the house, everything suddenly had a spotlight.

Energy Efficiency: I was worried that all these new lights would send my electric bill skyrocketing, but thanks to modern LED technology, they’re incredibly energy-efficient. I could enjoy the ambiance without worrying about high costs.

Tips I Wish I Knew Beforehand

As I went through the process of transforming my outdoor space, I picked up a few tips I wish I had known earlier. If you’re considering landscape lighting for your home, here are some things to keep in mind:

Layer Your Lighting: Using different types of lighting—like uplights for trees and path lights for walkways—adds depth to the design. It’s not just about one kind of light; mixing and matching can create stunning effects.

Think About Functionality: While aesthetics are important, don’t forget about the practical aspects. Lighting your pathways and driveways not only looks good but also helps prevent accidents at night.

Hire Professionals: I initially thought about doing it myself, but I’m so glad I hired experts like the team at Got Lights. Their expertise ensured that everything was installed correctly and designed with precision.

The Impact It Had on My Home

After experiencing the transformation firsthand, I realized that custom landscape lighting isn’t just for show—it’s a game-changer for how you interact with your outdoor space. My yard went from being a basic backyard to a cozy, inviting space that feels like an extension of my home. I had no idea how much lighting could elevate the experience until I saw it for myself.

Transforming my outdoor space with custom landscape lighting opened my eyes to the power of light. It didn’t just brighten up my backyard—it changed the way I use and enjoy the entire space. The combination of aesthetics, security, and functionality was something I didn’t fully understand until I went through the process.

If you’re thinking about upgrading your own space, I highly recommend exploring landscape lighting near me. It might surprise you just how much it can change your home. What’s stopping you from creating your own outdoor oasis? Check out Got Lights? for inspiration and expert solutions that fit your unique style.

Have you ever transformed your outdoor space with lighting? What challenges or successes did you experience? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments! And if you’re ready to see the difference for yourself, Got Lights? has the expertise to bring your vision to life.

[digitalmarketinggoldcoast]

Boost Your Business with Digital Marketing in Gold Coast

In the vibrant and competitive business environment of Gold Coast, standing out is more critical than ever. With stunning beaches, a thriving tourism industry, and a diverse economy, Gold Coast offers a unique landscape for businesses to flourish. However, to truly capitalize on the opportunities available, leveraging digital marketing is essential. This article explores how digital marketing can significantly boost your business in Gold Coast, providing practical tips and insights to help you get started.

Understanding the Digital Marketing Landscape

Digital marketing encompasses all online marketing efforts. Companies use digital platforms including websites, email, social media, and search engines to communicate with both present and potential clients. In Gold Coast, where the market is both dynamic and diverse, a robust digital marketing strategy can make a substantial difference.

Why Digital Marketing Matters

1. Reach a Wider Audience:

The internet is a global platform, and digital marketing allows you to reach a wider audience than traditional marketing methods. For businesses in Gold Coast, this means not just tapping into the local market but also attracting tourists and international clients.

2. Cost-Effective:

In many cases, digital marketing is less expensive than traditional marketing. Social media campaigns, email marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO) can offer high returns on investment without the hefty price tag of TV or print ads.

3. Measurable Results:

The capacity to monitor and assess outcomes is one of digital marketing's key benefits. Tools like Google Analytics and social media insights allow you to see what’s working and what’s not, enabling you to adjust your strategies accordingly.

Key Digital Marketing Strategies for Gold Coast Businesses

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO):

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of making your website more visible on search engine results pages (SERPs). For businesses in Gold Coast, local SEO is particularly important. This involves optimizing your website for local search terms and ensuring your business appears in local listings and maps. Using keywords like "best café in Gold Coast" or "Gold Coast real estate" can help attract local traffic.

2. Content Marketing:

Content is king in the digital world. Creating high-quality, relevant content can attract and engage your target audience. For example, a Gold Coast travel agency could maintain a blog with tips on the best places to visit, events happening around the city, and hidden gems only locals know about. This not only helps with SEO but also establishes your business as an authority in the field.

3. Social Media Marketing:

Gold Coast is a visual paradise, making social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook perfect for marketing. Share stunning visuals of the coastline, behind-the-scenes looks at your business, customer testimonials, and upcoming events. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages, running contests, and using relevant hashtags to increase your reach.

4. Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising:

With pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, you may post adverts on search engines and only be charged when someone clicks on them. This can be a very powerful strategy for increasing targeted website visitors. Google Ads and social media advertising platforms like Facebook Ads offer sophisticated targeting options, ensuring your ads are seen by the right people at the right time.

5. Email Marketing:

Building an email list and regularly communicating with your subscribers can be a powerful way to nurture leads and maintain customer relationships. Offer valuable content, special promotions, and personalized messages to keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.

Case Study: A Gold Coast Café's Digital Marketing Success

To illustrate the impact of digital marketing, let's look at a hypothetical case study of a local Gold Coast café, "Coastal Brews."

Challenge:

Coastal Brews, a quaint beachfront café, struggled to attract customers outside of peak tourist seasons. The owner wanted to increase year-round foot traffic and build a loyal customer base.

Strategy:

1. Local SEO: Coastal Brews optimized their website for local search terms like "best coffee in Gold Coast" and ensured their Google My Business listing was up-to-date with accurate information and positive reviews.

2. Content Marketing: They started a blog featuring articles on coffee brewing techniques, profiles of local suppliers, and upcoming events at the café. This content was shared on social media to drive traffic to their website.

3. Social Media Marketing: Stunning photos of their coffee, food, and beachfront location were posted regularly on Instagram and Facebook. They ran contests encouraging customers to share their own photos with a specific hashtag for a chance to win a free coffee.

4. PPC Advertising: Targeted Google Ads were set up to attract tourists searching for coffee shops in Gold Coast, especially during off-peak seasons.

5. Email Marketing: Coastal Brews collected email addresses through a sign-up form on their website, offering a discount on the first purchase. They sent monthly newsletters with updates, special offers, and personalized messages to subscribers.

Results:

Within six months, Coastal Brews saw a 40% increase in website traffic and a 25% increase in year-round foot traffic. Their social media following grew significantly, and they built a loyal community of regular customers.

Tips for Implementing Your Digital Marketing Strategy

1. Know Your Audience:

To determine their preferences, habits, and pain points, conduct market research. Adapt your online marketing strategies to their requirements and preferences.

2. Set Clear Goals:

Clearly state the goals you have for your digital marketing approach. Whether it's increasing website traffic, generating leads, or boosting sales, having clear goals will guide your efforts and help measure success.

3. Stay Updated:

The digital marketing landscape is constantly evolving. Stay informed about the latest trends, tools, and best practices to keep your strategies effective and up-to-date.

4. Monitor and Adjust:

Utilize analytics tools to assess your digital marketing performance on a regular basis.

Analyze what's working and what's not, and be prepared to adjust your strategies accordingly.

5. Engage with Your Audience:

Building a relationship with your audience is key to long-term success. Respond to comments and messages, encourage user-generated content, and show appreciation for your customers' support.

Conclusion

In the bustling business environment of Gold Coast, digital marketing is no longer optional—it's essential. By leveraging SEO, content marketing, social media, PPC advertising, and email marketing, you can reach a wider audience, engage with potential customers, and drive growth for your business. Whether you're a local café, a real estate agency, or a boutique shop, digital marketing offers the tools and opportunities to boost your business and stand out in the competitive Gold Coast market. Put these tactics into practice right now, and you'll see your company grow.