#three statement financial model

[bizzview]

Introducing our new financial model for transforming accounting data into financial statements in POWER BI! 💼📊

One of the biggest hurdles in financial reporting is accurately modeling the complexities of traditional financial statements with their intricate categories and subtotals. But fear not! With this approach, you can conquer this challenge and generate comprehensive and insightful financial reports.

🔑 Key Features: ✅ Transforms account data into insightful reports ✅ Simplified financial statement modeling for enhanced efficiency 📊 ✅ Predefined templates for quick implementation 📝 ✅ Streamlined data transformations for accurate reporting 🔄 ✅ Robust DAX measures for insightful analysis 🔢 ✅ +20 financial ratios for in-depth analysis ✅ Comparisons vs. Last Year and Budget for better performance evaluation ✅ Advanced special conditional formatting for clear visualization ✅ Clean and professional design for an impactful presentation

Tackling the challenges of traditional financial statement modeling in Power BI head-on! 💪📊

[astonmartinii]

hii, can i request an insta au for lando? i don’t have something particular in mind, bit maybe best friends to lovers kinda thing? and their friends teasing them/ being annoyed? <33 love your work!!

best friends 4 ever | lando norris social media au

pairing: lando norris x bff!reader

best friends? lovers? who knows?

yourusername

liked by landonorris, maxfewtrell and 320,879 others

yourusername: clubbing on a budget 🍒

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user1: where's lando?

user2: yet another post without lando, have they broken up?

user3: how can they be broken up if they aren't together?

user4: why do you people think lando and y/n doing things separately is illegal?

user5: why weren't you at the race?

yourusername: babes i'm just a bartender i do not have the schedule or the finances to just fuck off to saudi arabia for three days sorry xx

user5: you clearly had the weekend off?

yourusername: please refer to my previous statement on my financial standing

yourbff1: who is that stunning woman?

yourusername: u bestie

landonorris: glad you went with outfit choice number one

yourusername: thank you miranda priestly

oscarpiastri: so that's who i could hear you talking to...

yourusername: clubbing outfits are a serious business oscar

oscarpiastri: serious enough for a three hour call?

yourusername: YES.

landonorris: YES.

landonorris

liked by yourusername, maxverstappen1 and 902,894 others

landonorris: mood before the race v after the race, see you next year jeddah 🇸🇦

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user6: what driving a tractor does to a motherfucker

yourusername: what's a performance where a man is having the worst time of his life but looks sexy doing it?

landonorris: beauty is pain

yourusername: then you must be suffering

user7: mr and miss we're not dating flirting up a storm in the comments as per

carlossainz55: maybe focus less on modelling and more on driving

yourusername: so no more ferrari thirst traps?

carlossainz55: damn i forgot that coming for lando means dealing with you

yourusername: meet me in the parking lot chilli

landonorris: y/n is like my little chihuahua so come for me, watch your ankles

user8: do they think we're dumb?

danielricciardo: ah the classic post mclaren snooze, if only you had your cuddle buddy

landonorris: i know you miss me mate but i'll cuddle you in melbourne

danielricciardo: ok. not what i meant. but i'll take the free cuddles

user9: so he was defo referring to y/n, right?

daniel3.jpeg

liked by landonorris, yourusername and 708,655 others

tagged: yourusername, landonorris, heidiberger

daniel3.jpeg: any wagon need a third wheel, i'm practically a professional now?

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user12: confirmation? this is confirmation, right? RIGHT?

yourusername: i gave you that banjo in good faith daniel and this is how you repay me?

daniel3.jpeg: i appreciate her !!!! thank you for my lessons, but these are cute so i will not be deleting sorry not sorry

yourusername: ur right we are serving

user13: life is just not fair

user14: official cause of death: the third slide

landonorris: how relegated to just an arm, i see how it is daniel

yourusername: you are literally the definition of pookie bear and cutieful in the first pic

landonorris: i'm going to need you to never say those words ever again

yourusername: that's not what you said last night ...

landonorris: you're right i am pookie bear

user15: actual pics + comments = y'all can no longer say i'm being delusional.

f1wagsupdates

liked by user16, user17 and 3,240 others

tagged: landonorris

f1wagsupdates: lando norris spotted on his boat in monaco with an unknown woman. the pair looked flirty and spent the whole day together alone on the boat. norris' rumoured girlfriend y/n y/ln was back in the u.k. where she works as a bar tender. what do you think?

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user18: i'm so confused rn

user19: i know we never had concrete confirmation but my heart is broken for y/n right now

user20: i don't want to jump to any conclusions, men and women can be friends, there's nothing in these photos that suggest anything more than friendship

user21: they're literally holding hands in the second pic

user20: i hold my friends hands every time i jump in the water doesn't mean i'm with them

user22: but the pic in danny's post .... i don't even know anymore

yourusername

liked by pierregasly, landonorris and 356,823 others

yourusername: food will never leave me

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user25: so like is this a dig after those pics of lando and the random girl?

user26: i know this is sad and all, but that kebab looks banging please tell us where you got it

yourusername: camden market babes

yourbff1: sexy girl, sexy food and sexy photography

yourusername: best photographer i know

user27: SHADE LANDP.JPEG YOU WERE NEVER THAT GIRL

landonorris: camden kebabs without me? offended.

yourusername: doing a lot of things without each other recently.

maxfewtrell: could've at least invited me i love that place

user28: oof. i feel like i shouldn't be watching this

lando.jpeg

liked by danielricciardo, yourusername and 1,305,066 others

tagged: yourusername

lando.jpeg: appreciation post for my bestest friend forever and the love of my life. i didn't want to give any attention to the rumours going around so i thought i'd just let you know i'm in love, i've been in love for years and will be in love with her for the rest of my life.

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user29: okay, now the confirmation is here, idk what to do with myself

user30: i survived the y/n x lando slow burn

yourusername: i love you too bob

lando.jpeg: i love you more, can't wait to see you

yourusername: i'm never letting you leave again

user31: so like you're gonna deny being all up close and personal with a random girl on the boat

landonorris: not that i owe you people anything, that girl is my cousin, she was visiting monaco and i showed her around. but it shouldn't matter, you guys don't know me personally and stop assuming things about athletes' personal lives.

yourusername: what he said.

carlossainz55: FINALLY

danielricciardo: i literally don't know how much longer i could've kept this a secret

oscarpiastri: i think we deserve a reward

charles_leclerc: i second this

maxverstappen1: i third this

maxfewtrell: i fourth this

yourusername: alright, alright we get it

yourusername

liked by charles_leclerc, landonorris and 607,845 others

tagged: landonorris

yourusername: i guess we owe our parents £50 xx

view all comments

user32: bro this shit has me straight up crying THIS AINT EVEN MY RELATIONSHIP

oscarpiastri: you guys are cute i'll give you that

yourusername: teammate stamp of approval get it @landonorris

oscarpiastri: i think you guys got that after i walked in on you after silverstone

landonorris: our bad lol

user33: this reads like a fanfic but they're so cute

maxverstappen1: awww lando was so cute in that first pic, what went wrong?

yourusername: u and kelly look like siblings, don't come for us

maxverstappen1: u got it

landonorris: i love you fairy princess

yourusername: i love you racer boy

note: enjoyyyyyyyyyyyy. i originally wrote this a while back but it deleted itself when my laptop had a meltdown. so this is a bit diff but i hope you like it anyway !! xx

[chosaraki]

Nothing is free

—————————————————————————

Jake kim x R.femele. ( Addicted to wealth )

—————————————————————————

Y/N inspired by Nami.

—————————————————————————

Jake comes home after a hellish day. The cell phone wouldn't stop ringing, and the Big Deal boys had gotten into another mess. But none of that mattered now. Because he knew that, when crossing that door, he would be in front of the only person who can make him more nervous than a gang confrontation:

(Y/n).

And there she is.

Sitting cross-legged on the kitchen counter, with a glass of white wine in one hand and a holographic spreadsheet projected from the tablet in the other. She's wearing glasses (Jake doesn't even know why, since she can see perfectly), with an orange silk robe that covers almost nothing.

- You spent 320,000 won on food at the Big Deal HQ this month. Explain. - she shoots without looking at him.

Jake stops in the middle of the corridor.

- Good night to you too.

She finally faces him. A small, calculated smile. Seductive as a golden trap.

- Good night, love. Now answer.

Jake itches the back of his neck.

- There was an event. The kids were training. They needed to eat.

- Food or wedding buffet? - She comes down from the counter with that feline and threatening walk. - Because if that's it, I also want lobster.

Jake sighs, already half smiling. She is unbearable... but irresistible.

-

Thirty minutes later.

Jake is sitting on the couch. (y/n) is with his leg crossed over his, while analyzing bank statements on the tablet. She controls all the accounts, all the investments - including the "reserved" ones he thought he had hidden.

- You took five million won out of the reserve account, Jake. For what?

- I bought you that ruby necklace.

Silence.

She pauses. Flashes.

- Oh. This one. - She touches the necklace she's wearing. The one who shines against her brown skin as if it were tailor-made. - Okay. I'll let this one go. But only because it appreciated 12% since you bought it. Good investment.

Jake leans back, relieved.

- You're addicted to money, you know?

- No. I'm addicted to security. And in the world we live in, security has a name, number and monthly income.

She turns to face him, fitting on his lap in an almost indecent way. The arms around his neck, that sweet and expensive smell invading his senses. She speaks softly, on his lips:

- But I also have a weakness for strong men who let me control everything... including their credit card.

Jake lets out a hoarse laugh, squeezing her waist with both hands.

- So you basically love me for being your riskiest investment?

- Exactly. But the emotional return is high.

They kiss. Long, slow, hot.

-

A few hours later.

She's in bed, face down, writing down savings goals for next month. He's only wearing sweatpants, drying his hair with the towel.

— (y/n)... What if I wanted to buy a new motorcycle?

She doesn't even look up.

- What's the model?

- The black Ducati.

She stops. Face him over his glasses. Raise an eyebrow.

- Only if you pick me up with her at my work wearing a jacket and no underwear underneath.

Jake chokes.

- W-what?

- Just kidding. - She smiles. But only a little. - More or less.

-

At the end of the night, lying on his chest, she holds the ruby necklace between her fingers and whispers:

- You're the only expensive thing I'd pay for everything I have, Jake Kim.

He smiles, sleepy.

- And you're the only person who makes me happy even when I'm financially grounded.

- Oh, yes. And speaking of which... your allowance is suspended this week. I love you, good night.

Jake buries his face in the pillow, laughing, defeated.

She commands the money. Command the relationship. Command him.

And he wouldn't change that for anything. Because when you love a woman like (y/n), every penny is worth it.

—The moment that could have happened——

A traditional restaurant, reserved only for the three of us.

Jake is visibly uncomfortable. The right hand squeezing his knee, his shoulders hard. In front of him, Gapryong Kim - legendary former leader, with a sharp look and that aura of a man who has already buried enemies with his own hands. Next to Jake, (y/n), beautiful as an expensive mirage. Tight top, pencil skirt, thin heel. With a financial notebook at hand, casually opened on his lap.

She doesn't seem nervous. Not at all.

On the contrary, she seems to... have fun.

- So you're the woman who made my son domesticated. - Gapryong comments with a cynical smile, lighting a cigarette.

- And you are the man who left him emotionally unresolved, right? - (y/n) answers, with the same calm of those who are trading stocks.

Jake chokes on the glass of water.

Gapryong laughs. Laugh, actually.

- Bold.

- Realistic. - She crosses her legs. - Jake is a work in progress. I only manage the part that you dropped in the middle.

Gapryong observes more carefully. His look, once provocative, is now analytical. He notices the way Jake looks at her - with a mixture of pride, surrender and desire. She sends it. And he accepts.

- And what do you do, besides keeping him in line?

- Everything that involves money. Accounting, applications, long-term strategies. And I cut any expense he tries to hide.

- Ah... so you're his boss?

- At home, yes. On the street, he can pretend he still has authority.

Gapryong gives a dry laugh. Jake just closes his eyes, defeated.

- You're dangerous, girl.

- I'm logical. Danger is when we mix emotion with stupidity. I charge fees even for the drama.

Gapryong takes a sip of the soju and shakes his head, as if he finally understood everything.

- Now it makes sense. Because he obeys you. You're worse than a gun pointed at his head.

She smiles with charm.

- I'm a gun pointed at his pocket. And for the ego too, sometimes.

Gapryong gets up, walks up to her, and extends his hand. She holds firmly, without looking away.

— (y/n), right? Welcome to the family. You remind me of his mother. He sent more than me and made me happy about it.

- Sign of good taste, then.

Gapryong laughs, then turns to Jake:

- You're still strong, son. But she's your weak point now. Protect this with more grit than you protect your gang.

Jake just nods, with a guilty smile on the corner of his mouth.

-

Later, in the car.

Jake is driving, quiet. (y/n) looks at him, with his arms crossed.

- Are you going to say you're not proud of me?

Jake smiles, looking away from the steering wheel for a second.

- You made my father swallow dry. And it still made him like you. I'm terrified and in love at the same time.

She laughs.

- I only did what any responsible woman would do: make sure the father-in-law knows that his investment is in good hands.

Jake holds her hand and kisses her fingers.

- You're not an investment. You are my fortune.

She smiles.

- I hope you have actions of it. Because I don't accept returns.

—————————————————————————

She is a woman with a sculptural body - thin waist, marked hips, turned legs and breathtaking curves - but what really imposes respect is her sharp mind, her non-negotiable love for money and her ability to control absolutely everything, especially the couple's finances. Intelligent, charming, manipulative when she wants something and addicted to wealth, she has Jake Kim in the palm of her hand - even though he is the dreaded leader of the Big Deal.

—————————————————————————

[zot3-flopped]

Reading that article from the sunday times and just gagging:

"Upstairs, in a corner room, was where she asked for three books to be read and five songs to be played to her every night",

"According to family friends they drove a Chevrolet Suburban — an SUV fit for the secret service — sent Christmas cards showing their impressive holidays and brought their daughter’s pony to school for show and tell.",

"The family would also give teachers the keys to their holiday home as a thank-you present.",

"They had a hot tub on the patio, a jetty with a boat from which they waterskiied and two jet skis. They were also members of the sailing club.",

"“When Taylor was young, the family came over for dinner and the kids were all swimming,” Hand says. “They [Swift’s parents] asked me if I had the Disney channel and I said no. There was some country singer on that was Taylor’s idol — and so they got up and they left.”,

"Her father, Scott, now 72, grew up nearby. He was a financial adviser at the investment firm Merrill Lynch. Swift’s mother, Andrea, now 66, was a marketing executive born into a wealthy family who grew up between Singapore and Houston, Texas. Andrea’s father was the president of a construction company, her mother an opera singer.",

"A third-generation banker and former radio salesman, he updated them on which songs she had cut (I am told he spent $10,000 on building her a recording studio at their home); which singles were coming out next (by the age of 15, Taylor had a record deal with a company in which Scott had bought a 3 per cent stake); where she was touring (he had bought Cher’s former tour bus for her); and the awards for which she needed votes.",

"During the long, hot summer days Swift would walk through town, her guitar slung across her back, much to the judgment of the local girls.",

"Swift gave out wallet-sized photos of herself as Sandy to the kids in the years below her at school",

"Her notebook, he claims, was filled with pages of her own autograph.",

"Many, however, thought she was “a bit of a brat”, from the moneyed side of town and modelling clothes for Abercrombie & Fitch. At 16, Swift bought a Lexus SC430 convertible, the car driven by Regina George, the meanest girl in Mean Girls.",

"Swift made an entrance when she first arrived at Hendersonville High School, says a former classmate, telling people she was going to be a star. “We kind of rolled our eyes because, being in Nashville, we hear that a lot,” she says. “It was just such a strong statement for someone of that age.”

Underdog who??? Tbh it's not just TS being obnoxious, rich, spoiled brat flaunting her wealth left and right, it's her entire immediate family.

“There were times when, in middle school and junior high, I didn’t have a lot of friends,” she told the Great American Country network in 2008." damn, I wonder why. /s

Classic nepo baby.

[rilakeila]

heartbeats in motion, mattheo riddle

pairing f1 driver! mattheo riddle x art student!fem(?)! reader wc: 1.8k warnings: ig partying, drinking, mentions of mattheo being toxic; incomplete

summary: part 1 of the timeline of where f1 ferrari driver dates the wealthy art student. the ups and downs of dating the superstar of the ferrari team. who knows if it actually goes well.

request yes literally three requests into one

tmz sports

may 13th, 2023

mattheo riddle, f1 ferrari superstar, is officially back on the market. he has announced his split from evelyn swann after 4 years of dating. he went onto instagram (via mattheoriddle) to say, "good morning everyone. evelyn and i have decided to part ways and stay close friends. we have shared many many amazing memories together, and she will always carry a piece of my heart with her. she deserves the very best, and i was not able to do so due to my racing career.

amidst of this, i will continue to focus on my racing career and hope to be better.

thank you, evelyn for everything."

swann (via @lynnieswann) also released a statement on her instagram: "mattheo and i decided to end our relationship and continue to stay good friends. these last four years were filled with unforgettable memories. i will continue to support his endeavors from afar. he was an amazing person. thank you for everything <3"

close insiders have said despite the good endnotes shown on their instagram stories that the relationship was far far from perfect. it was said that riddle would continuously string swann along, leaving her for long periods of time without any words said before coming back to her with extravagant gifts. it is evident through past instagram stories of swann that riddle loves to shower her with expensive gifts and nights out.

more insider comments have said that riddle's feelings for swann seemed to fizzle out around their 3rd year of dating, but he stayed due to swann's significant investment within the team from her family's technology company. though, there has not been any evidence of this.

mattheo riddle is a formula one driver for scuderia ferrari. evelyn swann is a fashion model/influencer, as well as the daughter of the multimillionaire technology company, swanntech, founders, liam and kate swann.

scrolling through the endless articles about high-class breakups, celebrity gossip, and the occasional helpful news, the objective of finishing your art piece was lost. attempting to start as soon as possible, but the energy and creativity did not want to translate on the canvas. though, the silence was interrupted with a thud of the front door closing.

"i was gone for a couple of hours and not even a sketch is on your canvas," your roommate and best friend, emilia scotts, chuckled as she hung up her coat.

"easier for you to say, the random pull of the prompt, 'fast life,' seems so hard. like, where do i even start?" you huffed, tossing your phone to the side.

she shrugged before plopping herself next to you on the couch, "you've been going at this for like the past two days. i'm pretty sure the prompt doesn't even matter, the rubric just wanted you to capture a moment in oil paint."

"the problem is i can't think of anything," you pursed your lips, dropping your head into her shoulder.

"what about this? i'll help you with your project next week if you come with me in monaco. an hour flight away in my private jet," the idea of leaving your art project behind at current was all it took for her to convince you.

emilia was a monegasque socialite. her high class of being the daughter of the chief financial officer of a multimillionaire technology company led to being an eligible resident of country. though, her parents had sent her off to boarding school, lenox academy, which led you both to meeting. not as prestige as being an offspring of a chief financial officer of a global technology company, but your parents stayed afloat through their success in health care management.

despite a long term friendship, you had not a clue of emilia's friends and acquaintances in monaco. assuming that the experience would be similar to what you see in her stories of the parties in monaco: calm, refined, and classy, you would be able to bask in relaxation, but it is the exact opposite.

the party of an unnamed host in a penthouse. the first ten minutes upon entering the event was emilia hauling you around the floor, introducing you to her acquaintances. some were familiar from your family, some were only familiar due to how much emilia loves to gossip with the amount of receipts on her phone. though, the more you looked around, the more faces you recognized from being headlined on news article from actors, musicians, athletes.

"she has a way with talking to people, that's for sure," lisette commented. according to emilia, she was a friend of the person hosting, but the amount of names that she had mentioned fell through your ears.

"it's a double edged sword of her friendliness, one day she'll be buddy-buddy with them but gets the career-ending dirt on them. i don't know how she does it," you sipped on the alcohol, slightly gagging at the potentness of it. a reminder to not get that the blue bottle.

"tell me about it..." lisette chuckled before nodding her head to some other random people that entered the party. she chugged her cup empty before tossing it into the trash, " i see some people that i need to say hi to. i'll be back hopefully, you gonna be alright?"

"don't worry about it. there are some people here that i know that'll let me hang around if i just walk up to them," you waved her off.

there were truth in your words, but they were not in your line of sight anymore from where you were standing. emilia was absolutely no where to be found. tossing away the half-filled cup, the penthouse looked large enough to explore around. the paintings and art near the entrance seemed to be more interesting than the thumping bass of mediocre music.

your shoulders dropped, letting out a tired sigh. never doing this again. exploring the hallway of small sculptures and large paintings drowned the tones and lightened the slightly dim lights. fast life. you pulled your phone out, snapping pictures of the art pieces and its details. though even from a distance, you captured a couple of pictures of the party, figured it might be useful.

murmurs were heard as you leaned closely to the painting, figuring out the brush strokes and the fine details. though, a call of your name was heard. looking to the direction, you found your lost friend handing a phone back to a man, allowing you to smile in relief of your savior.

"emilia, guess what. i think i have a gist of what i could do for my art project," you called out to her. though, you accidentally brushed into the male that she was just talking to, in which you paid not much mind to, muttering out a small apology in french.

"really, that sounds great. since we're here, i got us passes to the monaco f1 race. i know someone in one of the teams that can help with the photography aspect. i think that could help with your project, y'know fast life."

"actually? sounds great, to be honest."

"do you know this girl?"

mattheo was skimming through the pictures that enzo had shared with him from the party. there was a female in the background, admiring the art gallery on the wall. though, he admired more of the way she lit up talking about the details of the paintings from when he had turned around.

"no, mate, she looks familiar though. i do know the girl that she was talking to, emilia scotts, the girl who took the pictures of us," enzo looked up briefly before returning to his digital camera.

he hummed in response. a small smile on his lips as he remembered the way she accidentally bumped into him. the smell of a fresh and clean yet sweet scent distinct from the musky scent of the party. "do you think you can find her on instagram, somehow?"

"already did. her name is y/n l/n, if i recall, i think her parents own or manage within the healthcare field. the last name sounded too familiar," enzo muttered in concentration, trying to remember anything related to this girl.

mattheo's phone vibrated in his hand, seeing the instagram notification from enzo. pulling down to see what was sent, it was a link to your profile. he immediately clicked on it, there were not many followers, assuming that you opted for a much quieter lifestyle. though, you intently looking at the art in the background of the pictures made more sense seeing that you added that you were an art major. upon stalking more, he found your art-based instagram and found that you were an exchange university student studying in france for a year.

"i reckon that you aren't planning to go after her, mattheo. i thought you were focusing on your racing career," enzo said, mischief laced in his tone.

"''m not, just curious," he tossed his phone to the side, head perking up to the bathroom door closing to see theodore drying his hair from his shower.

"what did i miss?" theodore questioned the silence, as well as enzo's smirk, knowing that someone's mind was either up to no good or he had something to share.

"nothing, just seeing how long mattheo's eligible bachelor streak lasts," enzo chuckled, causing theodore to look at mattheo with an amused face.

mattheo scoffs at this, "you both think lowly of me, i swear."

"why shouldn't we? you broke up with evelynn because she couldn't handle you being toxic, and you also say you want to focus on your racing career," theodore put air quotations around toxic after tossing his hair towel on the wooden chair. he leaned back with his hands behind his head, "is she cute, at least?"

"remember the girl that bumped into me at the party earlier?"

"you didn't even see her face. there's no way you're breaking your week and a half of being single with a half of an interaction. not even," theodore appalled at the confession while enzo broke out into a fit of laughter. "you're on some joke things, absolutely not."

mattheo eyed both in a deadpan expression. wow, hilarious, even.

a coughing fit emerged from enzo as he tried to calm down, taking in breathing exercises in between coughs, "if it helps, not saying i would condone you for immediately rebounding after a 4 year relationship. i requested passes for emilia, so they'll mainly be in the mclaren paddock, but i can assume since her dad is a sponsor, she can probably request to walk around past mclaren. a chance to maybe or maybe not talk to your bump in the park."

"okay, enzo, not your finest joke." theodore commented.

mattheo sought pass the backhanded comment, but it was too soon. that he could agree on, but introducing himself and leaving an impression was not too soon. not when he feels the strings of his heart tug thinking about the small details of you, even if it was just for a moment.

y/n's notification center

mriddle16 followed you! a sec ago 5tnott4 followed you! a sec ago berkedzo followed you! a sec ago

wrote this on a whim. mattheo is delulu fs. was supposed to turn into a series but i cannot hold myself accountable to finish it LMFAO, masterlist

[mariacallous]

The popular Chinese ecommerce site Temu appears to have abruptly removed all products in the US version of its online store that ship directly to consumers from China, causing widespread confusion among both the company’s suppliers and customers. The change seemingly happened earlier this week, just days before a trade loophole that allows American consumers to buy products from China without paying tariffs is set to disappear as part of sweeping new import duties imposed by US president Donald Trump.

Over the past week, Temu has rolled out a number of whirlwind changes to its platform as it grappled with the impacts of Trump’s trade war on its US business, which it built over the past three years by offering products at astonishing low prices and promoting itself as a haven for bargain lovers. First, Temu announced that it would begin raising prices on products shipped from China starting on April 25. But then things got a lot more confusing.

Soon afterward, Temu began displaying a separate “import charge” on orders from US customers, seemingly as part of an effort to emphasize the financial impacts of the tariffs. Other retailers have also adopted the tactic, but it has drawn harsh criticism from Trump. By Tuesday, US shoppers realized that Temu had apparently decided to simply block US users from seeing any product listings for items currently located in China or anywhere else outside the US.

The version of Temu’s website and app for the United States now appears entirely filled with products marked with a “Local” label, meaning they are exempt from tariffs because they were shipped into the country before the new import duties went into effect. Prior to this week, consumers had the ability to choose between products with the local label and those without it, the latter of which are typically shipped from China via air cargo after a purchase is made.

“Things are in chaos right now. Ever since the tariffs kept changing, our business has been heavily affected,” says a Temu seller in China who specializes in furniture and home decor and asked to remain anonymous for privacy reasons.

“Temu has recently transitioned its US operations to a local fulfillment model. This means that all sales in the US are now handled by locally-based sellers, with orders fulfilled from within the country,” an emailed statement from Temu said, confirming that the platform is cutting its ship-from-China strategy. “Despite the operational shift, Temu’s pricing for US consumers remains unchanged,” the statement also said.

The shift has brought Temu closer in line with what consumers can expect from competitors like Amazon, says Juozas Kaziukėnas, an independent ecommerce industry analyst. “Today, Temu looks a lot like Amazon. Because everything you buy on Temu today will come to you from their warehouse in the US and probably in just a few days,” he says.

It also means that many US shoppers are suddenly faced with a much narrower selection of goods on Temu, and they are not happy about it. On social media sites like Reddit, users have reported seeing hundreds of products they saved on wish lists and in their shopping carts suddenly become “sold out” overnight.

“I heavily relied on items from Temu for my business, and I am freaking out that I cannot find any of my usual supplies,” wrote one Reddit user on the r/TemuThings subreddit. Another user shared a screenshot they claimed was of a conversation with Temu’s in-app customer service chat feature, in which an agent said the platform is “currently unable to display items outside the US” and couldn’t provide a time frame for how long the limitation would persist.

The change has also confused Temu sellers in China, who apparently weren’t notified ahead of time that Americans would soon no longer be able to browse their products. Adding to the confusion is the fact that Temu allegedly removed a large number of China-based sellers from its platform last week, only to quickly reverse the measure, leading some sellers to initially believe the same issue was happening again, according to sellers who shared their experiences on the Chinese social media site Xiaohongshu.

The furniture and home decor seller confirmed to WIRED that all his products shipped from China have been removed, a decision they believe was made in response to the end of the “de minimis” exception, a rule that allows Americans to import packages from anywhere in the world valued under $800 without needing to pay import duties.

Temu, Shein, and other companies that send customer orders directly from China have benefited from the trade provision for years, but critics say it has given foreign online shopping platforms an unfair advantage. Trump issued an executive order earlier this year declaring that de minimis would no longer apply to shipments from China starting on May 2.

“It may be that the platform needs to make some regulatory adjustments during this difficult period,” says the Temu furniture seller.

In the end, Trump’s trade war may fundamentally alter the way Temu operates in the US and its strategies for retaining American customers. The company became popular in the US both because of its lavish advertising spending and the fact that it could consistently provide lower prices for similar items offered on other ecommerce platforms. With high tariffs on Chinese imports and the end of de minimis exemption, the cost of Temu products could go up quite significantly, and it may also take longer for people to receive packages now subject to a more rigorous customs clearance process.

Even before Trump announced the tariffs, Temu was already making changes to its business model, including storing more inventory in US-based warehouses and experimenting with a more traditional, Amazon-esque logistics structure. The platform is also currently exploring another shipping program it calls “Y2,” which Temu started onboarding Chinese sellers to on April 27, according to Chinesellers, a newsletter focused on cross-border ecommerce.

As the publication explains, Y2 is a more flexible variation of Temu’s existing US warehousing model, with sellers shipping individual orders rather than bulk inventory. But the sellers are in charge of handling the new tariffs and customs declaration process, as well as any problems that may come with it, rather than Temu shouldering the burden. In many ways, it’s similar to an existing Amazon logistics option called “Fulfillment by Merchant,” or FBM.

These platform-wide changes highlight how quickly Temu has been adapting to the current volatile policy environment, but the company also risks losing what was once a core part of its identity and comparative advantage. “It strikes me as a massive step backwards for Temu. What has really helped Temu differentiate itself from Wish and AliExpress is it controls the supply chain, so it can guarantee the delivery speed and the level of quality assurance to provide a consistent experience,” says Kaziukėnas.

The furniture Temu seller tells WIRED that they have so far held back from jumping on the Y2 wagon. “We're a large organization, so we can't make changes overnight. We're still observing to see if the policies will change,” the seller explains.

Temu is also trying to increase its sales in other markets like Europe, where tariffs on Chinese imports remain far lower than in the US. One Chinese Temu seller tells WIRED that while their US listings have been removed, their overall sales have increased due to growth from other regions.

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

Resubmitting because I think this got eaten by the inbox. Apologies if it was passed over intentionally!

🐝🐝🐝🐝 <- Bees of recognition!

WIBTA for moving out of my parents’ house?

I’ve [22NB] always had issues with my parents, and at this point in my life I am getting old enough (and exposed enough to outside ideas) that I think they may have been or are still somewhat mentally abusive. Regardless, I know and believe that they truly do love me and care about me very, very deeply. I know the way they treat me is flawed, but at their roots they genuinely care about me and believe they have good intentions.

Most recently, we’ve been talking about me wanting to move out. I will be graduating with my bachelor’s degree this semester and starting a one-year master’s degree program this fall. My parents have paid for my school expenses throughout my undergraduate degree. Regardless of whether I move out or stay with them, my parents will not be paying for my graduate degree. My partner [22M] of three and a half years is planning to propose to me soon and we are planning for me to move in with him this summer. I’ve done the math and extensively planned my budget to model my financial outlook. I am well within the range to safely give up my parents’ financial support and still have a significant “cushion” of savings built up. The model’s annual totals could be off by a few thousand dollars and still be safe and healthy for me to move out.

My parents are extremely opposed to this idea. I have talked about moving out before (as in over the past few years) and their main argument has always been that I wasn’t financially ready (they were correct at the time). This most recent discussion is different. They are incessant in telling me that if I do this, because my partner and I are not yet married, we will be “living in sin” and I should “consider the weight on your soul of throwing yourself away.” Dad especially argued it is his job to “use whatever I can to get you to make the right decision.” He said he will be looking into taking me off of their health insurance policy and that I would not be allowed to take any of my furniture that was previously promised to me for when I inevitably move out someday, and even insinuated I may not be able to take my clothes (essentially, any item they paid for). I did not tell them this, but even if he follows through on that, I am still financially able to move out. It would be significantly more difficult of course, but I could still do it safely. My mom seemed shocked and upset at him suggesting this so she may “talk him down” at some point, but it is unlikely to have an effect on the outcome. My parents follow a very traditional approach to the “family hierarchy,” in that Dad gets the final definitive vote on all family matters. His explanation he has repeated for years is he. “takes everyone’s thoughts and feelings into consideration, but [he gets] 51% of the vote.” Despite this, I highly suspect Dad was speaking before considering the impact of his “ideas” and it is unlikely he will follow through on them. Mom has mentioned that she and Dad want to meet with the local priest to discuss the situation. She says she hopes he can help Dad understand the balance between healthy guidance and severely damaging his relationship with me as parent and child.

I have tried to gently and calmly (but firmly) explain that I simply disagree that it is a morally incorrect decision to live together before marriage and that I don’t fully believe in the Catholic church. Dad almost completely ignored the statement saying, “Right, you can’t just throw your soul away. What if you move in and you’re living in sin, and something happens and you die? What then?” Mom just started crying. She was inconsolable until I walked my statement back to a matter of just “questioning” my faith rather than not aligning with Catholicism.

They offered to allow me to spend the night at my partner’s place once a week if I were to remain living with them through my graduate degree and/or until my partner and I are married, whichever comes latest. I asked if they were sure they would be comfortable with that situation. We have had arrangements similar to it before. Every time we have, it ended with them having grown resentful and that feeling festering until it exploded in a massive argument between all of us. They insisted it would be fine and that it was vastly preferable over me “fully committing to a life of sin.”

I still want to move out. For a whole host of other reasons too long for this already long submission, I feel it is not healthy for me to continue to stay with them longer than I already have. If I am financially unable to move out or it would otherwise be a bad idea logistically, I could handle another year. Staying longer would almost certainly affect my mental and emotional health but I understand you have to do what you have to do. I feel deeply, horribly guilty for wanting to do this despite their beliefs and advice. I feel like I would be hurting them so much and I don’t want to destroy our relationship.

So, WIBTA if I went against my parents’ wishes and moved out of their house to live with my partner?

[jacksgreysays]

Extremely late, completely unnecessary opinion of the Watcher situation, (2024-04-24)

So this is a relatively belated post — several days after the initial “Goodbye Youtube” and one day after the “An Update” videos — and surely by this point there are more interesting/insightful op-eds (both in written form and video form, especially penguinz0’s fairly objective POV as, essentially, a YouTube expert) but there is something about the Watcher situation that made my brain itch. Thus, I wanted to write about it in order to make sense of it all as well as get into a philosophy that seems to be haunting me in recent years and which I think applies greatly here.

This may seem completely out of left field considering 1) definitely not fanfiction and 2) about Watcher Entertainment, a YouTube channel which—as far as this tumblr is concerned—I’ve not engaged with whatsoever, but I don’t know where else I would put this, and weirdly enough I think the general tumblr response to this whole predicament is maybe the… if not objective… then at least, most thoughtful?—or, perhaps, least immediately reactive?—amongst the various social media platforms, that I think some people might appreciate this anyway.

In terms of my relevant background: I majored in Management Science (which is just a fancy way of saying Economics + Business + Accounting because they are, weirdly enough, separate things) and minored in Film Studies in school, I am currently working in the stage tech industry (which, I know, is obviously different from film/video industry), and I like to think I am a fan/consumer of a wide variety of independent creators, some of whom I am lucky enough to be able to afford being a patron/subscriber. I won’t go into all of them—because it is a lot—but there are four in particular whose business models I want to analyze in comparison to Watcher’s admitted blunder:

A) RocketJump (known for Video Game High School and Anime Crimes Division; the core group which turned into the podcast Story Break, then became Dungeons and Daddies) B) Dropout (formerly College Humor, we’ll get into their discography later) C) Drawfee (previously an offshoot of College Humor, now fully independent) D) Corridor Digital (used to be mostly behind the scenes of how VFX studios work, have since become a mostly original content creator)

I will say, right off the bat, I am a patron of Drawfee as well as Dungeons and Daddies, and I am a subscriber to Dropout. I am not subscribed to Corridor Digital’s streamer, which I will get into why later. I understand that being able to sustain those two patronages and one subscription is a luxury that not everyone can afford and so my point of view is already skewed by being such a person who could theoretically afford another streaming service if I so chose. I also acknowledge that many fans of Watcher are not in similarly financially secure places as I am and that regardless of the business model, any monetization that comes from fans would have been a rough ask. However, I wanted to go into this essay in a way that accepts Watcher’s statement—that they needed more funding—in relatively good faith rather than assuming the worst (although that is another point I’ll get into later, largely related to the philosophy I brought up earlier.)

All four of the above listed content creators started or, at least, hit their stride on YouTube:

RocketJump and College Humor were, if not household names, then the digital equivalent of it in the “early days of YouTube.” They were part of the wave of content creators that made YouTube seem less like a bunch of eccentrics with cameras making videos on the side and more like a viable way to support yourself/your team with the art you create.

RocketJump’s Video Game High School went from short (less than 10 minutes) minimal location episodes in season one, to 30 minute plus episodes with full on fight scenes and car explosions by season three thanks to a Monster Energy brand deal. They also had two seasons of Anime Crimes Division, a literal TV quality show, thanks to a Crunchy Roll sponsorship. Unfortunately, RocketJump shut down not long after (their videos are still up on YouTube but they obviously don’t add anything new) but the core creative team behind that have been involved in several projects outside of YouTube (Dimension 404 on Hulu being one of the biggest ones so far) including the podcast Story Break (part of the Maximum Fun network) and now the independent podcast Dungeons and Daddies, the episodes of the main campaigns which are free with ads or, for patrons, ad-less along with additional mini-campaigns and other benefits.

I will say, during RocketJump’s decline, they did try their best to keep going. The partnerships with Monster Energy and Crunchy Roll were the big swings to get the funding to make those TV quality shows they wanted. I believe they lucked out with those brands in particular, or, at least, those brands didn’t seem to inhibit the creative process or ask too much of them that it felt like “selling out” but I also don’t have insight into why they didn’t pursue this model of, essentially, very weird but interesting season long commercials. Maybe they just couldn't find the right brands or maybe they did feel like it was too stifling. Regardless, before they shut down completely, they did also downsize—moving out of the actual city of Los Angeles over to Buena Park. Which is in Los Angeles county, and basically counts as LA still, but is way cheaper than literal Hollywood real estate. (I should have added to my relevant background that I’m born and raised LA county, and have relatives and friends in the film/movie industry, so trust me when I say literal Hollywood/city of Los Angeles is so overrated and unnecessarily expensive. There is a reason why LA traffic is the worst and it’s because everyone is commuting INTO the city. Respectfully and with affection, no one should live there. No one’s start up should be located there.) Obviously the downsizing didn’t necessarily work for RocketJump, but they also didn’t have multiple successful revenue streams the way that Watcher currently does.

In contrast, College Humor was acquired by InterActiveCorp and was turned into CH Media which was three pronged: College Humor, Drawfee, and Dorkly. In 2018 they made Dropout, which had exclusive content separate from their YouTube videos which involved all three prongs. Then some financial shenanigans happened early 2020—IAC withdrew their funding—and there were a bunch of layoffs right before the pandemic which extremely sucked. It has been stated by multiple people involved that it was basically a miracle that Dropout survived through all of that, but there were definitely some sacrifices along the way to make that happen. Currently, Dropout seems to be thriving with mostly exclusive content with the occasional “first episode of a season” posted to YouTube, OR if Dimension 20 is doing a “sequel season” in an already established campaign they will put the entirety of the previous season on YouTube.

IAC withdrawing their funding did put CH Media in a bind. They had to layoff a lot of people right before pandemic and, understandably, a lot of trauma was had. There were also weird issues with who controlled certain IPs/brands/digital assets (I mostly come at this from a Drawfee POV, it took several years for them to own the Drawga series and be allowed to host all of the episodes on their YouTube, and there was also something about the sound file for their opening animation?) but mainly the difference is what kind of content they generate. Originally Dropout had multiple scripted shows with high budgets and pretty cool effects/animations/stunts (Troopers, Kingpin Katie, Gods of Food, Ultramechatron Team Go!, Cartoon Hell, and WTF 101) whereas now almost all of their shows are variations of improv comedians being put into different scenarios or given different prompts. I’m not just talking about Game Changer and Make Some Noise, because Dimension 20 and Um, Actually also technically fall under that description as well. Which is not to say that these shows are worse than the scripted shows—I subscribe to Dropout, so clearly I’m a fan of their current shows—and the budgets for them have since increased to resemble, if not match, those early shows, but it is a noticeable shift in their content creation strategy as a response to the lack of IAC funding. And I will say: Dropout releases at least three videos a week if not more and at least two of those are long form at 30 minutes plus (Dimension 20 being the longest, of course.)

So, these first two business models are not really the most applicable to Watcher Entertainment considering their origin was to get away from Buzzfeed—they’re probably not keen to be partnered with or purchased by a larger company—but there are some aspects to both that I believe are valuable in at least showing the strategy in how these former YouTube creators could successfully extract themselves from YouTube or how they still utilize YouTube even if it is not their main hosting platform or revenue stream.

Then there is Drawfee and Corridor Digital, both of whom are currently—if not primarily—on YouTube, whose situations are more comparable to what I believe are Watcher’s goals.

Drawfee had to rebuild themselves like a phoenix from the ashes of the CH Media layoff during the beginning/worst of the pandemic. Side note: I’m happy that Nathan (one of the four main artists of the current Drawfee team) at least has forgiven(? or let bygones be bygones) Dropout enough to be on an episode of Game Changer (although I will say that this happened after Drawga was “returned” to Drawfee, and after Dropout officially split from College Humor as a brand.) All that being said, Drawfee was a team of four artists plus their editor who wanted to stick together but basically had all of their support system taken away from them. They took a bit of a break to assess their goals and options, announced a patreon with several tiers with great perks, and stuck to their upload schedule. In addition to two videos a week, they also stream on Twitch weekly, have a patron only stream once a month, and a draw class (for one of the higher tiers) once month. After asking their patrons on the relevant tiers if they were okay with it, they began releasing the patron only stream and the draw class to the general public for free after a month. The patreon perks also include things like merch discount codes, high quality PNGs of the final rendered art, access to the draw class with live interaction/critique, and a commission from the artist of your choice. The only “ads” they run are for their own patreon and merch store and, even then, they’re usually at the end of the videos with a credit scroll of the patron names during their exit banter.

Admittedly, they only have MAYBE eight employees—that’s including their video editor(s?) and their discord mod(s?)—with the main four artists doubling/tripling up duties as additional video editors, CFO, and marketing/merch leads. It’s a very streamlined crew and their production costs are not very high since it’s mostly screen recording of their drawings with their audio recording overlayed onto that footage. Although the video editors do sometimes have clever cuts to relevant images depending on their vamping. Sometimes they will have a guest artist but, again, since it’s screen and audio recordings, there’s no travel/housing costs. So, very minimal expenses due to low production costs and small crew but, again, their only revenue source is the patreon/merch, they don’t do outside ads and they very rarely do live shows.

Corridor Digital is, I think, the most applicable to what Watcher would ideally do, which I suppose is somewhat ironic for this essay in particular considering they’re the only one of the four that I don’t financially support. They have two YouTube channels: their main one being where they show the “final product” videos, but I believe their Corridor Crew channel which started primarily as behind the scenes type of videos is where most of their views come from. Especially their React series (VFX artists, Stuntmen, and Animators React etc.) On Corridor Crew they usually upload two videos a week — one which is a React and the other which goes into fun projects/challenges (involving VFX or not) or using VFX to explain scientific concepts — as well as the first episodes of their exclusive content on their streamer. Also behind that paywall are longer and ad-less versions of the videos on YouTube. They also have merch. All of them have merch, I don’t know why I’m stating that. They don’t have a patreon as far as I know, but I also don’t know if their subscription to their website comes with similar perks like discounted merch or something similar.

Anyway, their studio seems to be about 15 to 20 people — not all of them are VFX artists, of course. I believe they have higher equipment costs than Watcher since, understandably, Corridor has to be on the cutting edge of video editing technology. They do occasionally travel for shoots, but it doesn’t require big teams, and that’s only when the local locations available to them don’t match the requirements for the “final product” videos. Otherwise most of their videos are set in the studio or in the alleyway outside their studio in Los Angeles (the city itself, not just the greater county, though they are in a rougher and thus probably cheaper part of Los Angeles). I personally don’t subscribe to their website primarily because their exclusive shows don’t appeal to me—either they’re too technical or a little too dry; to be fair, most of them are VFX artists first before they are performers—and I don’t particularly feel the need to see the extended cuts of the videos uploaded on YouTube. Also I sometimes get a little bummed out by their lack of diversity.

All of this to say, from these four different business models, a bespoke Frankenstein business model for Watcher could be cobbled together. But also, even with that bespoke Frankenstein, there are some changes that Watcher would have to make: primarily their upload schedule. As of right now, I think they do MAYBE one video a week if not, perhaps, one video every TWO weeks. If they want a monthly subscription model, their rate of content generation would ideally be higher to double/quadruple their current upload rate. Obviously they want to create videos with higher production value, but at that rate of generation, something’s got to give: supplement their TV quality shows with either a behind the scenes type series or an increase of “we get four episodes out of Shane and Ryan get increasingly drunk in someone’s backyard” or something similar. Leaning into shows like Worth A Shot (the first season in which Ricky Wang makes cocktails based on a random ingredient, the second season threw in some competitive aspects which I didn’t really find necessary) or the Beatdown which has relatively low production costs (no travel, one location, maybe two cameras at most therefore smaller crew requirements) but a higher polished look. Otherwise, for a separate streaming subscription service, 2-4 videos a month is not going to cut it.

As of right now they probably can’t back out of the separate streaming subscription service because those set ups usually require some level of contract/paying for servers for the website and whatever is hosting their videos for a set amount of time. However, what really strikes me is that I literally didn’t know they had a patreon until I scrolled through the comments of the first Goodbye Youtube video. Maybe it’s been linked "tactfully" in the descriptions of videos, but considering they claim to be lacking in funds, the fact that they weren’t plugging their patreon at the end of every video is not just strange, but also irresponsible considering they do have 25 employees that they don’t want to layoff.

Additionally, I understand artists needing to be in a space that promotes creativity, but there are cheaper places that must be comparable that aren’t in literal Hollywood. It’s an unnecessary expense. On top of that, other people have already brought up that it was fairly crass to introduce this paywall, attributing it to the increased production costs, when the next planned “new series” is a reboot of an old Buzzfeed series in which people travel and eat expensive food. I’m not even talking about the personal expenses of Steven, Shane, and Ryan; what kind of car they drive or the cost of their wedding venue doesn’t matter on a business model basis.

But getting back to the patreon: again, I literally didn’t know they had one. I’m looking over their tiers— they have $5, $10, $25, and $100 — and for the most part they seem okay, although I think they have more to offer that wouldn’t necessarily cost them more. Ie, something that has baffled me for a while: the fact they don’t sell the mp3s of the Puppet History songs; they already exist and it doesn’t cost them anything additional because they don’t need to put it on physical media. Or maybe they do and they’re not marketing it similarly to how they weren’t overtly marketing their patreon?

And, okay, maybe they didn’t want to seem desperate — in the early days of Dropout and independent Drawfee, they both were very blatant in getting people to subscribe/join their patreon. As they should be. Desperation maybe doesn’t look cool and sexy, but it is earnest in a way that conveys equal effort that fans who can afford it would want to see. The fact that we weren’t getting rotating ten second clips of Steven, Shane, and Ryan asking people to join the patreon at the end of every video — even if its the same clip every three videos — is wild. And yes, the $25 tier includes a shoutout every 3 months on Watcher Weekly+ (which I don't quite understand what that is,) but the fact that they weren’t doing a quick post movie credits scroll of all the patreon names is, again, wild. Once you have that initial list, it’s not too difficult to add any new names that join and put that title overlay on top of, again, those nonexistent ten second clips of the three.

As others have already stated, it seems like an extreme mismanagement of their existing successful revenue streams, if they are actually struggling to pay all of their employees. Which goes into the philosophy part of this essay: don’t assume malice when it might just be incompetence. It’s something that I have to remind myself of often because I do get paranoid about people’s intentions sometimes and I have to check myself. Am I being overly suspicious of what might be just an honest mistake? Am I assigning ill will to an action just because it inconvenienced me?

Yes, of course, a lot of this situation could be misconstrued as straight up greed. But, also, Watcher is a relatively young company, helmed by three people who certainly don’t have experience running their own company:

They like to travel. They like to bring a full crew around with them. They’re renting out a shiny office in the heart of Hollywood where everyone knows is where real show biz happens. They’re adding more employees to the team because surely more people means better. And they want better productions values because the prettier the videos the more people will like them right?

It’s naive. It’s a level of inexperience combined with giving responsibility to officers whose main priority is to entertain. And if that means entertaining themselves and their staff, then they might not know the difference. It’s the kind of mistake that first time managers make—trying to prioritize fun over getting the job done. Prioritizing making friends with their employees rather than making sure the work the employees put in is equal to (or greater than) what you spend on them whether that is in paycheck or bringing them to cool locations for fun shoots. It’s a mistake anyone can make, it's just unfortunate that they made this mistake in front of millions of people. It doesn’t necessarily mean it’s solely a greed induced cash grab.

But then comes the catch-22 of the philosophy—is it worse to assume incompetence than it is to assume malice? Or, in this case, greed. Especially for the heads of a company that holds the livelihoods of 25 employees in their hands. At what point does it not matter if it’s incompetence or greed if the end result is the same?

Is it better to think that Watcher knew about the various other business models of independent creators and just ignored the efforts put into achieving those successes or is it better to think that they didn’t know and just stumbled into one of the worst moves they could have done. Again, other people have mentioned that Great Mythical Morning—which Watcher has had multiple collaborations with—has managed to make the YouTube subscription/tier system work to the point that they can sustain themselves as well as spinoff channels. Is it incompetence or greed that led to Watcher thinking they could bypass that completely in less time and with less content?

I’ve been at this mess of an essay for several hours when I should have been asleep. Ultimately I want to say, regardless of incompetence or greed… yes, Steven is CEO and yes he is ultimately the one who makes the final call but it is disheartening to see the pointed vitriol at Steven specifically and the infantilizing of Shane and Ryan in comparison. Either they’re all silly uwu boys who are messing around not knowing how to run a company, or they’re all complicit in a crass cash grab in an extremely busted economy.

I think what’s most frustrating to me in all this is that there were so many other channels and creators who have literally walked this path before them and, again, whether through incompetence or greed or arrogance, for them to just ignore it… It’s not betrayal because I don’t know them and so there’s no relationship to betray, it’s just so inefficient and convoluted that I don’t understand. Or, no, even if it was greed, it’s an incompetent greed because at least pure greed would have been pushing that patreon every second they could. Their ratio of YouTube subscribers to patreon members is less than 1% and I bet that’s because a lot of their audience, like me, literally didn’t know they had a patreon. I probably would have become a patreon member of theirs had I known earlier, ESPECIALLY if it included access to those Puppet History songs. Drawfee has half as many YouTube subscribers and nearly double the patreon members as Watcher. I’m just baffled, is all, and maybe by this point sleep deprived.

Anyway. That’s my extremely late, completely unnecessary opinion of this situation.

Edit (several hours later after some sleep): I forgot to mention, because they did walk this back almost immediately, even before their "An Update" video, but I believe the original plan was to put EVERYTHING behind that paywall and pull their content from YouTube entirely. Which is, again, extremely baffling, because if ALL of their content is behind a paywall, how would they possibly gain new fans? Even if all of their current fans were able and willing to pay for their separate subscription streaming service, how would a brand new person even stumble on their content enough to want to subscribe if there wasn't a significant amount of "proof of value" free content on YouTube? Again, extremely baffling, and a level of incompetence that overshadows a "cunning" greed. But, like I said earlier, they did walk this decision back almost immediately. If I've misunderstood this and that was never their plan, please let me know, I don't want to be spreading misinformation in a situation that is already so convoluted.

[minervamagicka]

introduction / pinned post.

Howdy - I'm Maddie, but you can call me Minerva, minervamagicka or any of the three. I've been playing the Sims since 2010 and making CC for just about as long; though my current focus is Sims 4 equestrian-themed content in collaboration with my partner in crime, Schrodcat, who you can find on DA. Both of us will have a hand in just about everything that is to be released on this tumblr & to DA.

cc master folders

I've reorganized my SFS into folders that I'll be linking below for folks to refer to when searching for my CC. If you'd rather get everything in one go, this is the easiest way to do it!

Click here to view the SFS folder for all of my SIMS 3 content.

Click here to view the SFS folder for all of my SIMS 4 content.

These folders (or, well, just the TS4 folder) will have all of my CC added to them as its' released so they'll always be up to date!

p.s. if any creators would like an SFS code please message me!

donations

I'm not going to proselytize too much concerning my stance on modding and financial compensation here, as it could be an essay in and of itself. What it comes down to is this; everything I ever post for download will always be and always shall be 100% free. It will never be paywalled, hosted behind an ad.fly link or for purchase. However, for those who may want to buy me a coffee so I can fuel my caffeine addiction and keep posting at the speed of sound;

My Ko-Fi & SchrodCat's Ko-Fi / SchrodCat's Patreon

Again; financially supporting one, either or both of us will not grant access to anything exclusive or tangible beyond our gratitude. Additionally, donating with suggestions or requests will not mean those ideas will be automatically fulfilled as if they were a commission. This is just if you wish to express some thanks and get us some drinks!

requests / 'can you do xyz?'

I'm always happy to receive any requests or suggestions for what to release next, however me & S already have quite the list of personal ideas we want to get through first. Therefore, any requests we get will be secondary to those until we finish.

'what are you working on right now?'

S & I have set up a proper Trello board to track our progress on our original meshes & game conversions. You can view it here!

'how can i learn to mod?'

My friend Schrodcat wrote an excellent DA post on this topic with links to resources & some very solid advice on getting into CC creation or modding in general.

'you didn't make [xyz game model], how dare you convert it to the sims?!'

As I've seen an uptick in off-site concern over my [Game]toTS4 conversions, I'm adding this disclaimer to my pinned post that I do not convert models for profit, and I do so transformatively and as a fan of the original work. If it continues to bother you that I do so without the explicit permission/support of the games I port from, I kindly ask you to not engage and to leave my blog.

To learn more, I recommend reading my initial statement on my SSO ports, or, if you're interested in learning more about my stance on modding and my belief in the 'moral economy' of modding in general, this published journal covering the subject may of interest, or this journal article explicitly discussing the use of copyrighted material in modding.

🎊 latest release

→ [MMxSC] Loose Ring Snaffle Bridle

[phuket-solicitors]

Thailand SMART Visa

Thailand's Smart Visa program is a specialized initiative designed to attract highly skilled professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, and startup founders to the Kingdom. Launched in 2018, the Smart Visa aims to bolster Thailand's economic growth by fostering innovation, technology development, and foreign investment. Unlike traditional visas, the Smart Visa offers extended stay periods, work authorization, and streamlined immigration processes, making it an attractive option for high-value individuals. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the Thailand Smart Visa, covering its eligibility criteria, application process, benefits, and strategic insights for prospective applicants.

Legal Framework for the Smart Visa

The Smart Visa program is governed by the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) and related regulations. It is administered by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) in collaboration with the Immigration Bureau and other government agencies. The Smart Visa is part of Thailand's broader strategy to position itself as a regional hub for technology, innovation, and investment.

Key objectives of the Smart Visa program include:

Attracting Talent: Encouraging highly skilled professionals to work and contribute to Thailand's economy.

Promoting Investment: Facilitating foreign investment in targeted industries.

Supporting Startups: Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through startup support.

Enhancing Competitiveness: Strengthening Thailand's competitiveness in the global market.

Types of Smart Visas

The Smart Visa program is divided into four categories, each catering to a specific group of applicants:

1. Smart T (Talent)

Eligibility: Highly skilled professionals with expertise in targeted industries.

Requirements:

Minimum monthly salary of THB 200,000 (or THB 120,000 for certain sectors).

At least three years of experience in the relevant field.

Employment with a Thai company or organization in a targeted industry.

2. Smart I (Investor)

Eligibility: Investors committing capital to technology-driven or innovative businesses.

Requirements:

Minimum investment of THB 20 million in a Thai business.

Investment in one of the targeted industries, such as digital technology, biotechnology, or renewable energy.

3. Smart E (Executive)

Eligibility: Executives of companies operating in targeted industries.

Requirements:

Minimum monthly salary of THB 200,000.

Senior position in a Thai company or subsidiary in a targeted industry.

4. Smart S (Startup)

Eligibility: Founders of innovative startups approved by a recognized Thai incubator or accelerator.

Requirements:

Innovative business model with high growth potential.

Approval from a recognized Thai startup incubator or accelerator.

Application Process

The Smart Visa application process involves several steps, each requiring careful preparation and adherence to legal requirements. Below is a detailed breakdown:

1. Determine Eligibility

Identify the appropriate Smart Visa category based on your qualifications and objectives.

Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria, including salary, investment, or startup approval requirements.

2. Gather Required Documents

Passport: Valid for at least six months with sufficient blank pages.

Proof of Qualifications: Academic certificates, professional licenses, and employment contracts.

Financial Evidence: Bank statements, investment documents, or salary slips.

Business Documents: Company registration, tax ID, and list of shareholders (for Smart I and Smart E applicants).

Startup Approval: Letter of approval from a recognized Thai startup incubator or accelerator (for Smart S applicants).

3. Submit the Application

Submit the application through the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) or the One Start One Stop Investment Center (OSOS).

Pay the application fee, which varies depending on the visa category.

4. Review and Approval

The BOI reviews the application and conducts due diligence to verify the applicant's eligibility.

If approved, the BOI issues a Smart Visa endorsement letter.

5. Visa Issuance

Present the endorsement letter and supporting documents to the Thai Immigration Bureau.

Pay the visa fee and receive the Smart Visa.

6. Registration and Reporting

Upon arrival in Thailand, register your address with the Immigration Bureau.

Submit periodic reports as required by the visa conditions.

Benefits of the Smart Visa

The Smart Visa offers a range of exclusive benefits designed to attract and retain high-potential individuals and businesses:

Extended Stay Periods:

Smart Visa holders can stay in Thailand for up to 4 years, with the option to renew.

This is significantly longer than traditional visas, which typically allow stays of 1 year or less.

Work Authorization:

Smart Visa holders are authorized to work in Thailand without the need for a separate work permit.

This simplifies the process for professionals and executives employed by Thai companies.

Multiple Entries:

The Smart Visa allows unlimited entries and exits from Thailand, providing flexibility for international travel.

Family Inclusion:

Spouses and children of Smart Visa holders are eligible for dependent visas, allowing them to live and study in Thailand.

Streamlined Processes:

The Smart Visa application process is faster and more efficient than traditional visa routes.

Dedicated support is available through the BOI and OSOS.

Tax Incentives:

Smart Visa holders may be eligible for tax exemptions or reductions on personal income earned in Thailand.

Strategic Considerations for Applicants

While the Smart Visa offers numerous advantages, prospective applicants should consider the following factors to maximize their chances of success:

Industry Alignment:

Ensure that your qualifications, experience, and business activities align with Thailand's targeted industries.

Research the specific requirements and opportunities in your field.

Documentation:

Prepare comprehensive and accurate documentation to support your application.

Ensure that all documents are translated into Thai and certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if necessary.

Professional Assistance:

Engage a qualified immigration lawyer or consultant to navigate the complexities of the application process.

Seek professional advice on tax planning, compliance, and long-term stay options.

Long-Term Planning:

Consider your long-term goals and how the Smart Visa can support your personal and professional objectives in Thailand.

Plan for potential extensions, family inclusion, and career development.

Compliance:

Adhere to all visa conditions, including reporting requirements and restrictions on employment.

Stay informed about changes in immigration policies and regulations.

Recent Developments and Trends

Thailand's Smart Visa program has undergone several updates to enhance its appeal and effectiveness:

Expansion of Targeted Industries:

The Thai government has expanded the list of targeted industries to include emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and fintech.

This expansion reflects Thailand's commitment to fostering innovation and attracting global talent.

Digital Transformation:

The BOI has introduced online application platforms and digital services to streamline the Smart Visa process.

These initiatives improve transparency and efficiency, making it easier for applicants to navigate the system.

Increased Focus on Startups:

The Smart S category has been strengthened to attract more innovative startups and foster Thailand's startup ecosystem.

Partnerships with leading Thai and international incubators are enhancing support for startup founders.

Post-Pandemic Recovery:

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand has implemented measures to facilitate business travel and attract high-value individuals.

These measures include reduced quarantine requirements and fast-track visa processing for Smart Visa holders.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its many benefits, the Smart Visa program is not without challenges:

Stringent Eligibility Criteria:

The program's high standards may exclude some qualified individuals and businesses.

Applicants must meet specific salary, investment, or startup approval requirements.

Limited Awareness:

Many potential applicants are unaware of the Smart Visa and its benefits, limiting its reach.

Increased awareness and outreach efforts are needed to attract a diverse pool of talent.

Administrative Complexity:

The application process, while streamlined compared to traditional visas, can still be complex and time-consuming.

Applicants must navigate multiple steps and provide extensive documentation.

Dependence on BOI Approval:

The BOI's approval process is subjective and may result in inconsistencies.

Applicants must demonstrate their value and alignment with Thailand's strategic priorities.

Conclusion

The Thailand Smart Visa is a transformative initiative that reflects the country's commitment to innovation, technology, and foreign investment. By offering extended stay periods, work authorization, and streamlined processes, the Smart Visa provides a compelling opportunity for highly skilled professionals, investors, executives, and startup founders to contribute to Thailand's economic growth. However, the program's stringent eligibility criteria and administrative complexities require careful planning and preparation. By understanding the requirements, leveraging professional assistance, and aligning with Thailand's strategic priorities, prospective applicants can unlock the full potential of the Smart Visa and achieve their personal and professional goals in the Kingdom. As Thailand continues to evolve its immigration policies, the Smart Visa will remain a cornerstone of its efforts to attract global talent and investment.

[attorneysinphuket]

Thailand SMART Visa

Thailand's Smart Visa program is a groundbreaking initiative designed to attract highly skilled professionals, investors, entrepreneurs, and startup founders to the Kingdom. Launched in 2018 by the Thai government, the Smart Visa aims to bolster Thailand's economic growth by fostering innovation, technology development, and foreign investment. Unlike traditional visas, the Smart Visa offers a host of exclusive benefits, including extended stay periods, work authorization, and streamlined immigration processes. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the Thailand Smart Visa, covering its eligibility criteria, application process, benefits, and strategic considerations for prospective applicants.

Overview of the Thailand Smart Visa

The Smart Visa is a specialized visa category tailored to meet the needs of high-potential individuals and businesses in targeted industries. It is part of Thailand's broader strategy to position itself as a regional hub for technology, innovation, and investment. The program is administered by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) in collaboration with the Immigration Bureau and other government agencies.

The Smart Visa is divided into four categories, each catering to a specific group of applicants:

Smart T (Talent): For highly skilled professionals in targeted industries.

Smart I (Investor): For investors in technology-driven businesses.

Smart E (Executive): For executives of companies operating in targeted industries.

Smart S (Startup): For founders of innovative startups.

Eligibility Criteria

Each Smart Visa category has specific eligibility requirements, but all applicants must meet the following general criteria:

Targeted Industries: Applicants must work in or invest in one of Thailand's targeted industries, which include:

Digital technology and software development

Advanced manufacturing and automation

Biotechnology and medical technology

Renewable energy and environmental technology

Food and agriculture technology

Tourism and hospitality innovation

Qualifications and Experience:

Smart T: Applicants must possess specialized skills and at least three years of experience in their field.

Smart I: Investors must commit a minimum of THB 20 million in a Thai business.

Smart E: Executives must hold a senior position in a company operating in a targeted industry.

Smart S: Startup founders must have an innovative business model and secure approval from a recognized Thai startup incubator or accelerator.

Financial Requirements: Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support themselves and their dependents during their stay in Thailand.

Health Insurance: Applicants must have health insurance coverage of at least USD 50,000 for the duration of their stay.

Application Process

The Smart Visa application process involves several steps, each requiring careful preparation and documentation. Below is a detailed breakdown:

1. Pre-Application Preparation

Identify the appropriate Smart Visa category based on your qualifications and objectives.

Gather all required documents, including proof of qualifications, financial statements, and health insurance.

2. Submission of Application

Submit the application through the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) or the One Start One Stop Investment Center (OSOS).

Pay the application fee, which varies depending on the visa category.

3. Review and Approval

The BOI reviews the application and conducts due diligence to verify the applicant's eligibility.

If approved, the BOI issues a Smart Visa endorsement letter.

4. Visa Issuance

Present the endorsement letter and supporting documents to the Thai Immigration Bureau.

Pay the visa fee and receive the Smart Visa.

5. Registration and Reporting

Upon arrival in Thailand, register your address with the Immigration Bureau.

Submit periodic reports as required by the visa conditions.

Benefits of the Smart Visa

The Smart Visa offers a range of exclusive benefits designed to attract and retain high-potential individuals and businesses:

Extended Stay Periods:

Smart Visa holders can stay in Thailand for up to 4 years, with the option to renew.

This is significantly longer than traditional visas, which typically allow stays of 1 year or less.

Work Authorization:

Smart Visa holders are authorized to work in Thailand without the need for a separate work permit.

This simplifies the process for professionals and executives employed by Thai companies.

Multiple Entries:

The Smart Visa allows unlimited entries and exits from Thailand, providing flexibility for international travel.

Family Inclusion:

Spouses and children of Smart Visa holders are eligible for dependent visas, allowing them to live and study in Thailand.

Streamlined Processes:

The Smart Visa application process is faster and more efficient than traditional visa routes.

Dedicated support is available through the BOI and OSOS.

Tax Incentives:

Smart Visa holders may be eligible for tax exemptions or reductions on personal income earned in Thailand.

Strategic Considerations for Applicants

While the Smart Visa offers numerous advantages, prospective applicants should consider the following factors to maximize their chances of success:

Industry Alignment: Ensure that your qualifications, experience, and business activities align with Thailand's targeted industries.

Documentation: Prepare comprehensive and accurate documentation to support your application, including proof of qualifications, financial resources, and health insurance.

Professional Assistance: Engage a qualified immigration lawyer or consultant to navigate the application process and address any challenges.

Long-Term Planning: Consider your long-term goals and how the Smart Visa can support your personal and professional objectives in Thailand.

Compliance: Adhere to all visa conditions, including reporting requirements and health insurance obligations, to maintain your Smart Visa status.

Recent Developments and Trends

Since its launch, the Smart Visa program has undergone several updates to enhance its appeal and effectiveness:

Expansion of Targeted Industries: The Thai government has expanded the list of targeted industries to include emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and fintech.

Digital Transformation: The BOI has introduced online application platforms and digital services to streamline the Smart Visa process.

Increased Focus on Startups: The Smart S category has been strengthened to attract more innovative startups and foster Thailand's startup ecosystem.

Partnerships with Incubators: The BOI has partnered with leading Thai and international incubators to identify and support high-potential startups.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its many benefits, the Smart Visa program is not without challenges:

Stringent Eligibility Criteria: The program's high standards may exclude some qualified individuals and businesses.

Limited Awareness: Many potential applicants are unaware of the Smart Visa and its benefits, limiting its reach.

Administrative Complexity: The application process, while streamlined compared to traditional visas, can still be complex and time-consuming.

Dependence on BOI Approval: The BOI's approval process is subjective and may result in inconsistencies.

Conclusion

The Thailand Smart Visa is a transformative initiative that reflects the country's commitment to innovation, technology, and foreign investment. By offering extended stay periods, work authorization, and streamlined processes, the Smart Visa provides a compelling opportunity for highly skilled professionals, investors, executives, and startup founders to contribute to Thailand's economic growth. However, the program's stringent eligibility criteria and administrative complexities require careful planning and preparation. By understanding the requirements, leveraging professional assistance, and aligning with Thailand's strategic priorities, prospective applicants can unlock the full potential of the Smart Visa and achieve their personal and professional goals in the Kingdom. As Thailand continues to evolve its immigration policies, the Smart Visa will remain a cornerstone of its efforts to attract global talent and investment.

[castlesrp]

The Winston Family

Zeus : Politics and Government

The Winston family, a modern echo of political royalty, stands as an iconic emblem of American legacy and privilege. At its helm is the venerable patriarch, First Winston (91), former President of the United States and his wife, former first lady First Winston (82). During his time in the White House, he made many important changes for the Democratic party, including federal appointments of judges like First Lancaster (87). Much like the Kennedy family, the Winstons are an enduring symbol of wealth and influence, ever ready for their close-up on the grand stage of American politics and high society. Poised, affluent, and with an air of calculated charm, the Winstons continue to captivate the nation, leaving an indelible mark on the pages of American history.

Their eldest daughter, the accomplished New York Senator First Winston (58), has been the subject of persistent presidential rumors with many wondering if she will follow in the footsteps of her father before her as the next election cycle looms closer and closer. The pressure is mounting and only exacerbated by the public declaration of a presidential run by First Lancaster (64), and while she has not made a public statement yet, the rumors are building that we may have another Winston in the White House before too long. Married to the affable financial entrepreneur, First Thornton (58), the power couple has raised three children to the best of their ability amidst the ever watchful eyes of the media.

The former President's son First Winston (55) has made his mark as a socialite over the years, alongside his wife, the former model First Winston (54). The power couple are often seen at any and all high society functions or events, taking time to speak to the press and continue to push out the good meaning agenda of the Winston family. With three children of their own, the family has been trained from the start to be able to answer any question with grace and avoid any PR nightmares.

Rounding out the former First Family is their youngest daughter, First Winston (52). She has always been extremely driven, resulting in her career as an esteemed attorney who runs her own practice alongside her husband First Keaton (52), a lawyer. They have two daughters that round out the family’s multifaceted legacy - a legacy that seems to only be continuing to grow with the new generation of Winston children.

First Winston: 91 Years Old, Former President, Morgan Freeman, Available + First Winston: 82 Years Old, Former First Lady, Phylicia Rashad, Available

First Winston: 58 Years Old, New York Senator, Octavia Spencer, Available + First Thornton: 58 Years Old, Financial Entrepreneur, Will Smith, Available ----- First Winston: 32 Years Old, Open Occupation, John Boyega, Available ----- First Winston: 30 Years Old, Open Occupation, Daniel Ezra, Available ----- First Winston: 28 Years Old, Open Occupation, Letitia Wright, Available

First Winston: 55 Years Old, Socialite, Idris Elba, Available + First Winston: 54 Years Old, Retired Model, Mädchen Amick, Available ----- First Winston: 27 Years Old, Open Occupation, Michael Evans Behling, Available * ----- First Winston: 27 Years Old, Open Occupation, Zendaya, Available * ----- First Winston: 25 Years Old, Open Occupation, Madison Bailey, Available * Note: Winston (27) and Winston (27) are fraternal twins.

First Winston: 52 Years Old, Attorney, Gabrielle Union, Available + First Keaton: 52 Years Old, Lawyer, Taye Diggs, Available ----- First Keaton: 27 Years Old, Open Occupation, Keke Palmer, Available ----- First Keaton: 23 Years Old, Open Occupation, Storm Reid, Available

[mobscene-london]

BASIC INFORMATION:

NAME: Izabele Anasenko.   AGE: 29. PLACE OF BIRTH: Kyiv, Ukraine. AFFILIATION: The Russian Mob. OCCUPATION: Supermodel. FACE CLAIM: Anya Taylor-Joy. AVAILABILITY: TAKEN.

BIOGRAPHY:

“You’re really willing to sacrifice everything we’ve worked for to be with a man like him?”

Everything we’ve worked for.

That statement summed up her mother perfectly.

Even though Izabele had started out life in Ukraine’s largest city, her family had been far removed from any affluence it might’ve afforded others. Both her parents—a turbulent marriage that only survived as long as it did because neither could cope financially without the other—worked long days for little pay. The home in which they raised their three children was hardly large enough for one, and they barely had the funds to make the place habitable, let alone comfortable. Childhood should’ve been miserable. Maybe for her two brothers, it had been.

Izabele always clung to the positives, though—ever the perpetual optimist.

Even when her father finally left them to shirk the financial burden of his children, she had remained an impossibly good natured child. Izabele hadn’t cried when she wasn’t allowed to take dance lessons like her peers because her mother couldn’t afford them, nor did she become petulant when told there would be no feeding of an extra mouth when she found a stray puppy on the way home from school. Mostly, she stayed in her quiet corner, reading books her brothers stole for her, and contemplating how she would one day create a life for herself that was better than this. Wallowing in self-pity wasn’t going to solve anything. Her parents had proven as much.

Izabele had only been fourteen years old when she’d been spotted by a talent scout whilst out in the city with her mother. There was no denying that she’d always been uniquely beautiful. It was about the only thing she was ever complimented on; a disappointment for a girl who worked so hard at her education, and even more so, to be a kindness to others that hadn’t always been offered to her. Izabele didn’t really understand what being a model was, nor did she much like the people they were dealing with, but her mother swiftly took control of the situation, and made the decision for her. Back then, she’d liked to think it was because her mother believed in her, but the reality was, her mother believed she could make money for her.  

The connections in Ukraine felt shady, and the situations she found herself in were uncomfortable, but her mother insisted she was being delicate, and that she had to persevere if she wanted to move on to bigger and better things. Izabele didn’t, though. All she wanted to do was go to school.

For years, her mother paraded her around like a material possession to be bragged about. When they broke into the world of fashion, though, things became a lot more palatable, and Izabele started to embrace that she was genuinely very good at what she did. The young girl graced the cover of Ukrainian magazines, and became one of the most sought after models for teenage fashion lines. Then, aged sixteen, she finally had her big break when she found herself at Paris Fashion Week, walking for an up-and-coming designer who would unknowingly shoot her fame into the stratosphere. Izabele stood out; natural talent, looks, and a gentle nature that made her easy to work with. The rest came in a flash so quick she barely felt present for most of it.

By the time Iza was eighteen, she’d walked for the likes of Givenchy, Chanel and Balmain in cities across the globe. She’d been on the cover of three different editions of Vogue, had been the face of a Dior campaign, and had been invited to awards ceremonies and movie premieres as though she were a star. The young girls of the world had become infatuated with the media’s portrayal of her. Social media was inundated with feel-good stories about what she’d achieved whilst coming from humble beginnings, and in the big cities, she couldn’t go outside without being recognised by somebody itching to be close to fashion’s next big thing.

At the absolute peak of success, she’d horrified her mother—who thankfully no longer had any control over what she did with her life—by deciding she wanted to take a break from her career. Izabele loved what she did enough not to want to give it up entirely, but she was also a realist. Spotlights faded, and this whirlwind wouldn’t last forever, and that was precisely why she wanted to pursue education like she’d always aspired to. Using her fame—because even if she was more than bright enough to be worthy of a place, that wasn’t how it worked at prestigious institutions like Belmonte University—she managed to secure a place studying literature in Launceston.

School came easily when she loved the subject as much as she did, but a degree wouldn’t be the only take away from her time in the city. Cressida Baryshnikova—or Berkeley, as she had been back then—had become her best friend as easily as if they’d been born to meet each other. A chance run-in at the library had not only delivered her someone she could finally trust to have her best interests at heart (a world away from the fickle friends she made in the modelling world) but also an unexpected connection to the man who would eventually become her husband.

Mikhail Vorshevsky.

At first, she didn’t quite know what to make of him. The Vorshevsky name was well known back in Kyiv, and apparently, even more so in Launceston. Never for good reasons. It left a bad taste in her mouth when she’d always had a particularly strict moral compass. But he was Cressida’s good friend, and Izabele always found it difficult to say no to the people she cared about. So, with no intention of disguising her reluctance, she agreed to go on the double date.

“You could have any man in the world, and you’re going to marry the son of a mobster? The brother of a Russian politician? Imagine what this will do to your reputation, Iza. Your career!”

Izabele wasn’t sure what she’d expected from Mikhail, but it certainly wasn’t to fall head over heels in love. To eventually have to sit her mother down and tell her she’d be leaving the new life she’d made for them in New York, and staying in Launceston to marry a man that somebody with as kind a soul as hers should’ve ran from.

Her mother was furious. Cut off all contact until Dmitri was born.

By that point, it was too late. Izabele continued to send enough money to her mother that she might live comfortably, but she and her brothers had a new life now, and it was healthier without her.

Whilst she could never wrap her mind around the idea of her husband—a man she truly adored, and who adored her in return, more than she ever thought possible—was involved in organised crime, she was wiser than to ask too many questions. The same couldn’t be said for her best friend and her husband, however, and Izabele learnt more about Vorshevsky dealings because of that than she’d ever wanted to. Perhaps a case could be made that she was just as bad as the people involved for being willing to turn a blind eye, and maybe she felt that guilt some mornings, too, but to her, he was perfect. Treated her with respect and kindness, and was such a wonderful father it made her soul happy just to watch him with their son.

Motherhood is still relatively new to her, but eventually, now Misha has moved their family to London, Izabele is hoping she can find a way to juggle it with a return to a modelling world that has vocally missed her. Surprisingly, her celebrity status has stood the test of time, in spite of her mother’s warnings that her choice of husband would blacklist her. Being married to a Vorshevsky brings with it a whole other spotlight of its own, however, and now they’ve left the Russian stronghold of Launceston, even she is beginning to wonder if her husband’s business—a world that she’s tried so hard to ignore for so many years—is finally going to force her to pay attention.

Izabele will always love him, in spite of the things he does. There is nothing he could do that would change that. But she can’t help but wonder whether this move is going to put both him and their small family in more danger than they can outrun.

And that scares her.

SOCIAL CONNECTIONS:

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Mikhail Vorshevsky (husband) FAMILY: Dmitri Vorshevsky (son, unplayable), Borys Anasenko (brother), Vasyl Anasenko (brother, unplayable) CONNECTIONS:

Cressida Baryshnikova: Best friend. Being married to a mobster is difficult, but she's glad that her best friend in the world fully understands it. Whilst Izabele is the kind of person who attracts many friends, the relationship she has with Cressida is different. They're practically family. Even before they became the couples that did everything together, they were joined at the hip, and despite their very different personalities, Iza would be absolutely lost without her.

Andrei Baryshnikov: Good friend. Even though he's a little rough around the edges, Izabele loves him dearly. Their two families spend so much time together, it'd be difficult not to. Whilst she hopes Mikhail can placate him somewhat for Cressida's sake, whenever he's with the girls, he's a gentleman, and that's the side of Andrei she has grown to adore. Mostly, she's grateful to know that her husband has somebody so loyal watching his back out there.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil and the DRC engage in rainforest protection cooperation

Representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are participating in a mission in three Brazilian cities from October 16-27 to strengthen commercial and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.

One of the main topics is the creation of a strategic alliance — which would also include Indonesia — to coordinate rainforest conservation efforts, nicknamed an “Opec for rainforests.” Together, the three countries account for 52 percent of the reminiscent rainforests in the world, whose conservation is essential to control climate change.

The cooperation between the three countries is one of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s diplomatic obsessions. He argues that developed countries should financially and structurally help developing nations with more natural resources to control climate.

“Indeed, the Amazon rainforest model is a textbook example for the Congo Basin, notably for the DRC, which accounts for 62 percent of its forest cover, 52 percent of water resources, and ranks fifth in the world in terms of biodiversity,” says Congolese representatives tell The Brazilian Report in a statement. “The DRC would like to emulate the Brazilian model by establishing a green fund for projects to protect forests and prevent climate change.”

Continue reading.

[mariacallous]

Twenty-three-year-old Arnold Robert Haro addressed his final words to the phone in his hand. “If I die, I hope you guys turn this into a memecoin,” he said. Then Haro took his own life.

Haro died on February 21 at his family home in Madera County, California, a death certificate obtained by WIRED shows. His suicide was broadcast live to his followers on X, where he went by the handle @MistaFuccYou. Footage of Haro’s death has since been removed from the platform, but the incident was briefly listed in its trending tab.

In the hours after Haro’s death, people created dozens of memecoins—a type of highly volatile crypto coin used as a vector for financial speculation—modeled after him. Sensing an opportunity to profit, traders piled into one of the coins in particular, driving its value to $2.1 million in aggregate. (The coin has since lost 96 percent of its value.)

On X, some tried to argue that whoever was behind the MistaFuccYou coin had duly granted Haro’s final wish. But most denounced the impulse among traders to try to profit by his death. “If you’re trading this, you’re sick af,” wrote one user.

Speculation ran rampant on X that Haro had ended his life because he had lost money to a memecoin rugpull—a maneuver whereby somebody creates a new coin, promotes it online, then sells off their holdings in one swoop, devaluing everyone else’s stake. WIRED was unable to confirm whether this had happened to Haro, but his friends have disputed the narrative. “It had nothing to do with crypto … It’s not what all these crypto nerds seem to think,” one of Haro’s friends, who goes by j nova on social media, told WIRED. Haro’s family, meanwhile, has described his death as the result of “his battle with depression.”

The incident captures in microcosm the race to the bottom in memecoin trading circles, where only the most heinous and morally bankrupt ideas are now rewarded with attention, says Azeem Khan, cofounder of the Morph blockchain and venture partner at crypto VC firm Foresight Ventures.

“We’ve reached the point where the most potentially exciting launch that people are looking at is Kanye trying to launch a swastika coin,” says Khan, in reference to now-deleted X posts made by an account associated with the artist Kanye West. “That’s how terrible this space is.”

Until last year, launching a memecoin was relatively expensive and technically burdensome, which meant few came to market. Only Dogecoin—the original memecoin—and a handful of derivatives had any sort of longevity.

That equation was reversed with the arrival of Pump.Fun, a platform that makes it simple for anyone to launch a memecoin at no cost. Since Pump.Fun launched in January 2024, many millions of memecoins have flooded the market, among them the coins modeled after Haro.

In a statement provided to WIRED, Pump.Fun spokesperson Troy Gravitt described Haro’s death as a “tragedy,” but explained that the coins made in his image, though “clearly in poor taste,” do not violate the platform’s terms of use. “There was no content associated with the token that would have identified it as either illicit or explicit,” says Gravitt.

Betting on memecoins is lionized in certain online crypto circles, where traders are euphemistically described as charging headlong into “the trenches.” But behind the combat metaphor is an implicit recognition that the odds are stacked against the individual “trencher,” particularly given the prevalence of rug pulls and alleged collusion between the insiders behind certain high-profile memecoin launches.

“Everyone assumes that crypto is where you come to become rich, no matter how dumb you are. I think it’s the exact opposite,” says Khan. “There are these layers of insiders … retail traders are always exit liquidity.” In other words, regular people buying into coins allows insiders to cash out at a profit.

The new cultural prominence of highly volatile memecoins, which offer the prospect both of outsized gains and losses, is also likely to have compounded the risk for people predisposed to problem gambling or trading, researchers say.

“People have enormous capacity to make money very quickly. The appeal of making money rings so much louder than calls of danger,” says Benjamin Johnson, a PhD candidate at the University of Queensland specializing in the public health implications of digital technologies. “Adding to the attraction with memecoins is that you’ve got these online communities where people really congregate. It becomes an emotional attachment to these assets … It creates a perfect storm.”

Though academics have not identified a direct association between crypto trading and heightened psychological distress, the externalities of crypto trading—namely, the likelihood of losing money—are shown to have a negative impact on mental well-being. And the vast majority of memecoins released on Pump.Fun wind up practically worthless.

“If you are really into day trading, it is definitely something that is likely to cause people mental stress or psychological distress,” says Atte Oksanen, a professor of psychology at Tampere University, who has conducted multiple studies on the mental health implications of crypto trading. “Financial problems cause a lot of stress, which can escalate.”

Meanwhile, the glut of memecoins entering the market through Pump.Fun—among them coins issued by celebrities like rapper Iggy Azelea—has led coin creators to take increasingly elaborate, sexually degrading, and sometimes dangerous measures to attract attention to their coins. One guy ended up catching on fire after a memecoin promotional stunt went awry, leaving him with serious burns.

The launch of US president Donald Trump’s memecoin in January pushed the fight for attention to new extremes. The inevitable effect has been that only the most depraved and provocative concepts—like the MistaFuccYou coin, based on a suicide—so much as register in the hive mind of memecoin traders. And even then, only briefly.

“The president of one of the most powerful countries in the world launches a coin. How much further is there to go?” says Khan. “Then if you hit the top of the market, how quickly will all of this vaporware actually end up nosediving?”

The calculus among memecoin traders is captured on Pump.Fun in the comment section for the MistaFuccYou coin. “This token shows how fucked the trenches are rn, and is highly unethical,” wrote one user, before implying that others should invest.

In the process, people like Haro—whose X feed is a kaleidoscope of memes, practical jokes, guns, women, weed, and crypto—are effectively erased; quite literally commodified into an incomplete and cartoonish version of themselves.

A fundraising page set up by Haro’s family to help cover the funeral costs paints a more three-dimensional picture: “Arnold was a bright, kind, and hilarious soul who brought light to those around him,” reads a description written by a family member. “He had a gift for making people laugh, spreading joy, and offering unwavering support, even when he was struggling himself.”

If you or someone you know needs help, call 1-800-273-8255 for free, 24-hour support from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also text HOME to 741-741 for the Crisis Text Line. Outside the US, visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for crisis centers around the world.

[termlimitsnow]

To foretell the future, think like a banker

The banker's guide to owning it all

To foretell the future, think like a banker Ishkabibble

To extort the maximum value from a population, when one has control of monetary system, leverage the laws of supply and demand. Use deflation, inflation, and hyperinflation all as tools to transfer wealth. All have a place and a purpose.

The banker's guide to owning it all

Become majority lender in an economy of people with assets you want. Encourage indebtedness by loaning generously while securing on assets of interest. Loosen lending standards until the assets you seek to capture are attached. (this makes the economy debt dependent) Once debts are significant for the bulk of the population, sharply tighten lending standards. <-- Economic shock - Onset of deflation Backstop losses with public guarantees if possible. This is gravy if one can get it. (Fannie and Freddie guarantees, for example) Permit default 'without risk' on the assets you wish to sieze to maximize wealth transfer. (stall foreclosure, stay repossession orders etc) Stall the economy to maximize default positions and deplete private liquidity. <-- We are here Successively ratchet the economy downhill, while bettering secured positions. In a series of large actions, sieze all security for default. Target the assets of greatest interest first. (This deals a heavy economic blow and can help cause the ratcheting required for step 8.) Transfer asset ownership, but retain prior owners as renters where possible. (This reduces public lashback and helps maintain the asset for resale) Once the bulk of assets of transferred, write them down to leverage the public financial backstop. Buy up as many remaining assets on the cheap as possible. Hide this action. Hyperinflate to destroy the external claims on wealth. <-- Onset of hyperinflation (This destroys treasuries, gov't bonds, currency. Ensures free title on new assets. May cause war.) Stabilize the currency or devise a new one, resume lending at a reasonable pace. Sell the assets back, secured of course, at your chosen price in new currency.

Hyperinflation is only a risk to the wealthy if the population has the assets. Make note of that statement. It is key to timing the shift from deflation to hyperinflation.

I combined known events of the 1930s with those of other collapses and this is the model that results. Instead of positioning myself as a victim of the collapse, I positioned as the one that would profit.

The approach is reverse engineered, so it may not be entirely accurate. I expect it is close.

Ethics aside for the moment, one might consider the following in order of execution:

Eliminate secured debt. Store preps to carry you through steps 8-13. Secure precious metals for when the currency is collapsing. At that time, assets will become very cheap in terms of both gold and silver. Exchange for assets while public stampedes into PMs in a panic. If the gold price rises too high for your tastes, loan sums of cash against assets of much greater worth. Ensure you have a first on the security.

For those of limited means, directing capital can be very important. This model is deflationary while assets are transferred. It relies on limiting the panic in this period as well. From this, we can gather that accomodation is likely to remain available. Food will become a larger percentage of household spending (due to income reduction), and guns won't help against this enemy (protection will still matter though, as always). This can help prioritize where limited prep funds are spent.

For those with excess, items three and four may feel ethically questionable. Remember that private ownership of most of these assets will not survive this process with or without your involvement. Following in the footsteps of the banks directs some of their windfall to you... instead of them. I am personally comfortable with only the first three of the steps listed above. The fourth is a difficult one. I could only do that if I knew a bank was going to loan the money and complete the fleecing in my absence. But even then, I don't think I would take on the roll of aggressor.

I am bullish on both gold and silver from the point destruction of the dollar picks up momentum. For the immediate future, TPTB will jack the price all over the place to shake out the speculators. The choice to hold gold or silver must be based on market fundamentals, not the gamed valuation systems.

I am bullish on both gold and silver, but most bullish on silver. To an untrained eye, $1000 in silver looks like a LOT more than $1000 in gold. The market will soon become saturated with untrained buyers. They will be panicked and buying in haste. They won't know what to buy based on research or sound fundamentals, rather they will respond based on visual cues and heuristics. A suitcase of silver may buy a house because it looks like a lot, while the equal value in gold will not. As well, those little plastic sleeves will be big money makers. They will ensure a case filled with any PM looks more tangible. Less will become more when well packaged.

Emulating the actions of a banker would enable you to share in their spoils. It's hard to ensure you will have the dry powder to spend in step 12, and there's risk that a twist on this strategy could still come forth. But if it holds true, your suggestion would be effective.

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