#CRS Financial Planning

[bookishscrolls]

Budget Planning and Funding Requirements for a Community Radio Station

Have you ever dreamed of launching a Community Radio Station (CRS) to give your community a voice? It’s an exciting and impactful venture, but it comes with its own set of financial challenges. Worry not! This guide will walk you through the essential budgeting and funding requirements for setting up and running a successful CRS in India. Running a CRS isn’t just about having a vision and a…

[thealtoduck]

Howl - Being adopted by Jason Todd…

Jason Todd x Adopted!Son Reader

Batfamily x Male Reader

Warnings: Death, you become an orphan, kidnapping (you), the Mad Hatter being his usual very creepy self, child mental torture (also you) , Jason struggling to be a dad…

Summary: After a being rescued from the hands of Mad Hatter, you have no one to turn to except a stranger in a red hood…

(A/n: The ultimate ”guy/girl who’s going to be okay” song, I have no idea what the lyrics actually say but I’m right…)

——

Growing up in the East End your family had always struggled to get by. And after your mom passed away from illness things just got worse.

Because of your financial struggles your dad ended up in the hands of the Mad Hatter, working as a henchman. He knew it was wrong but wanted to do the best for you to be able to go to school and not go hungry and cold.

But after a while he couldn’t take the guilt of working for someone as evil as the Hatter and planned to quit… but someone wasn’t gonna let that happen.

The Mad Hatter was going to make an example of him, to those planning on leaving him. So he targeted you… On your way home from school he sent his henchmen to take you. Giving you a shot of one of his hypnotic serums to put you to sleep…

Once you woke up you were in a dark cold room, the room was filthy and painted to look like a wonderland. You then noticed you had been stripped and dressed in a onesie that looked like a mouse. You had been chained around the waist to the wall.

You tried to call for help but nothing…

Hours later the door opened and a unsetling voice could be heard ”Wakey wakey, little Dormouse”. Through the door came a creepy looking man in a top hat. You backed against the wall cold brick wall, praying that you could just fall back through it. ”Who are you?” you said trying to not let your voice tremble.

”Why I’m your dad’s boss… although he has been looking for a career change” the man turned back towards the door and waved his hand saying ”Bring him in”. Two men came in dragging your dad who was severly beaten up.

”Dad!” you screamed and try to run to your father but the chain around your waist wouldn’t let you. ”Y/n” your dad said weakly. The creepy man then said joyfully to your father ”See what happens when you leave wonderland, you ruin everybody else’s fun”.

You the realised who was standing in front of you… The Mad Hatter. You felt tears sting in your eyes. ”Please let us go” you begged. But the Mad Hatter only smiled at you and said ”But we’ll have so much fun you and I, we’ll have a tea party”.

He then turned his smile to a frown and said ”But as for your father… he’s not invited”. Then he smiled wickedly at you and said ”Off… with… his… head!”. The henchmen immediately started beating your dad mercilessly as you begged them to stop. Meanwhile the Mad Hatter just cackled loudly.

Soon your dad’s lifeless body layed on the floor infront of you. The Mad Hatter and his henchmen left without a word… not even sparing you a glance. You cried for hours, begging the Hatter wouldn’t comeback.

When what you could only assume was a day later had passed, you heard something outside the room. Loud noises. Voices. You shrunk into the corner as if to hide yourself, even though there was nothing to hide behind.

Maybe the Mad Hatter was coming to kill you now…

Then the door creaked open slowly making you cover your mouth to not make a noise. The door opened fully revealing a man, not the Mad Hatter… someone else.

He wore a Red Helmet but he seemed to have spotted you… And you could just hear him say quietly ”That fucking sicko”. He then spotted your dad’s body and walked slowly towards you. You raised a fist at him but he said in a calm tone ”Don’t worry, you’re safe now”.

He set you free from the chains and you ran over to your dad, his body was cold as ice, you knew there was no way to save him. You started weeping and the hooded figure knelt beside you putting a hand on your shoulder.

After letting you cry for as long as you needed, the man said ”We should go” and he guided you out of the room. You were shaking as he walked you out of the Hatter’s lair. You were met with Batman surrounded by all of his sidekicks who had captured the Hatter. You only now realized you had been saved by THE Red Hood.

”Red Hood, what took you so lo-” Batman started cutting himself off as he noticed you. Everyone was silent for a moment. Red Hood then said ”I’ll explain later but we need to get him to hospital to see he’s alright”. ”Right” Batman answered understandingly.

They took you to a hospital, where you were first checked over by doctors and then spent the night there. When you woke up you found that a ”Get well soon” balloon had been tied to the end of your bed.

Shortly after you were taken into foster care for a while, until a foster care worker asked you to come to her office. Inside was the foster care worker and a relatively young man, probably only in his mid-twenties. ”Y/n, please come in” the worker said.

You did as told and she said ”This is Mr Jason Todd”. The young man held out a hand for you to shake, which you did politely and confused. ”Mr Todd, would like to speak with you in private, If that’s alright?” she asked. You looked the man up and down suspiously but said ”Okay”. ”Good, I’ll be right outside if you need me” the worker said leaving the two of you alone.

”How are you doing, after everything?” Mr Todd asked. ”I’m… managing” you said a bit unsure. ”I wanted to come check on you, since… since I was the one who found you there” he explained.

”You’re the Red Hood?” you asked.

”Yeah” he answered softly. You didn’t ask any further questions about it.

”The world feels so empty now” you stated. Jason felt his heart break knowing what you meant ”I understand”. The two of you talked for a while before Jason said ”I would like to offer you something”.

You became quiet. ”Would you like to come live with me?” he said. You were caught off-guard first and only said ”… what”. He then proceeded to explain again, that he’d like to adopt you. You were unsure at first but looked him in the eyes, they had a kind warm depth to them. You trusted him.

”Yes. I would” you said.

——

It was weird living together at first. Jason didn’t want to cross any boundaries as if he was a ”replacement dad” and you were unsure how to act around your adopted father. You were both just not sure how you fit in to the others life.

But Jason would still do his best to spend time with you in different ways, helped you decorate your room, help you with your homework, cook together, take you to the arcade, etc…

Jason’s family was also very welcoming with you when you first visted the Wayne manor to meet them, obviously they’d have to tell you about being the bat-family.

There was also the slightly awkward yet funny moment of realising Damian was technically your uncle despite being around the same age as you.

But Damian would 100% pick up the cool protective uncle role for you and if ANYONE messes with you, there’s now a target on their back. He also now owns a t-shirt that says ”Favorite Uncle”.

They would start giving you some light combat training, mainly for self-defence but also incase you’d like to join the Bat-Family when you’re older.

You and Jason would also start your own family tradition of getting take out and watching movies together on friday nights. Sometimes inviting his family or his or your friends to join.

During one of those nights when the two of you had been up to 2 in morning watching a bunch of movies, Jason noticed you had gotten sleepy and said ”You should probably get to bed”. ”Yeah” you said yawning.

As you stood up and walked to your room you turned to Jason and said in a sleepy tone ”Goodnight Dad”. Jason froze on spot. He didn’t know if it was just because you were so tired but you had called him dad.

And he felt a warmness in his heart and said quietly ”Goodnight Son”.

[nottsim]

— ɴᴇᴡ ᴅʀ ᴜɴʟᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ: 𝐣𝐚𝐬’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐫

══════════════

⊹ ࣪ ˖ welcome to my better cr. same me, but with rich people privileges and a roman postcode. the cobblestone streets? stunning. rome wasn’t built in a day but it will take my shoes out in one. thankfully, my bank account now pretends to support my expensive taste, so we suffer in style. independence is about to taste like espresso and fresh cornetti. am i going to thrive? we’ll see. will i commit to the bit with full enthusiasm? absolutely. ୨୧

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨 - 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟖𝟒

if you thought what was in my room was fun, wait til you see what’s in my apartment, mind you it overlooks the colosseum (yes, i’m geeking). in case i haven’t made it clear this is me, living abroad with money to burn...anyways. my apartment? where do i begin? one bedroom, one bath, a spacious living room, a classic kitchen, and views so breathtaking they almost make me forget how much i’m paying in rent. just kidding. i’m financially responsible (a lie). the ceilings, you ask? high. the windows? dramatic. the natural light? so good it practically demands i become a morning person..unfortunately, i remain immune. my living room is perfect for having people over, if i ever decide to be social. otherwise, it serves its true purpose (naps). now..the kitchen? charming, classic, and mostly untouched because let’s be real i’m keeping the local restaurants in business. but i did script a grocery store nearby because i simply cannot wait to spend an absurd amount of money on fruit, fruit, and more fruit. IMAGINE THE PRODUCE. peak main character behavior is romanticizing fresh figs like they’re a personality trait. also, there’s a pilates studio within walking distance because balance (i scripted it in). will i go regularly? maybe. will i feel superior just knowing it’s there? absolutely. all that’s left is for me to dramatically sip espresso on my balcony and pretend i have no responsibilities. sigh.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐝𝐢 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚 - 𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠..

you might be wondering… jasmin, what exactly are you doing in rome? excellent question. just vibing. but i figured i needed at least one semi respectable reason to leave my apartment, so i enrolled at rome’s university for marketing and graphic design. am i passionately pursuing a career? partly. due to obvious reasons, mainly perfecting the fine art of editing aesthetic pictures. clearly, this is less about career ambitions and more about having a mildly intellectual hobby (and a student visa). though, it might come in handy…am i secretly plotting to take over vogue italia? i’ll update you on that. yes. i also made sure my schedule is laughably slow paced, because stress? in this reality? couldn’t be me. i’m shifting here to romanticize my life, spend an unreasonable amount of money, and get called bella on the daily.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐚𝐩��𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 - 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞

playing social life architect for this dr? a first. casting my own friend group? elite decision. enter: bianca, alessia and giulia (aka the roma gals). all born and raised in rome and fluent in girltalk and italian, naturally. did i script myself to be fluent? obviously. we’re a unit. a force of nature. so synchronized we practically communicate through looks alone..but let’s be real. i’m still their little foreigner, their beloved study abroad kid who somehow infiltrated the group and is now simply part of the infrastructure. we’re basically a packaged deal. the group chat? a constant stream of chaos. the plans? always almost canceled because of my taurus tendencies. alas, they know where i live and trust me, will show up. it’s a “just an aperitivo” turning into alessia passionately debating politics with the cab driver at 2am. simply put? i may have scripted them, but they are absolutely unscripted.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ 𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐳𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐚 - 𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐩𝐬𝐞

some things remain constant across every reality, my love for theo is one. i needed my man. this time, theo is lorenzo. same essence, different name. the multiverse is vast but somehow he always ends up here, next to me. fate? destiny? an unshakable gravitational pull? or just me refusing to script a dr without him? interpret as you will. lorenzo is basically theo, just with a rebrand. scripted differently but make no mistake, it’s still him. and this time? no acting. i simply would’ve lost my mind knowing what goes down on set. instead, he’s the ceo of a film production company in rome. he spends his time producing and marketing independent films. emphasis on independent. because mainstream nonsense? not on his watch. he’s all about classic cinema, deep character development, and historical narratives. if the script lacks substance, he’s simply not answering the call (love that for him). but don’t let the job title fool you. this man, this highly respected ceo, still zips around rome on a vespa like he’s in a 1950s arthouse film. why? because he still hasn’t gotten his driver’s license. make that make sense. his work schedule? flexible. no soul crushing 9-to-5 here. he’s selective with his projects, only taking on what aligns with his vision..basically passion projects, handpicked with precision. some men choose their battles, lorenzo chooses his films. and, apparently, chooses to never set foot in a driving school. as for us? we’re private but not a secret. media speculation? not our problem. and financially? let’s just say, between his thriving career and my ability to script whatever i want, my romanticized roman lifestyle isn’t exactly suffering.

══════════════

the script is done and the vision? fully realized, already romanticized to perfection. all that’s left is for me to step into it. when i do? consider me italian (and probably running late).

gelato in hand, 𝐣𝐚𝐬 “𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐞” ୨୧

[mareastrorum]

These are just initial thoughts, and perhaps I’ll learn something that changes my mind on it, but I’m glad to see Critical Role making the leap to their own subscription service with Beacon.

As a lead in: I’m an attorney that has some background in IP law, though it isn’t what I practice currently. I’ve kept in contact with several active practitioners, particularly those that represent small-time creators either in their own independent practice or via nonprofits. I do not have an extensive Rolodex of IP peers, nor do I spend the money to keep up on IP CLEs. I’m just someone who used to know a ton because I did heavy research and work in that space, and that hasn’t been the case for years.

So here’s my thoughts a bit on the IP angle:

The primary reason I’m happy to see this leap is that CR is taking active steps to keep control over its IP. It’s a boring thing to most people, but when I start paying attention to a specific creator (authors, directors, companies, etc.), I tend to be very attentive to how they use their IP. How freely do they license their marks to partner with other creators to make merch? How often do they allow others to make adaptations or derivatives of their copyrights? What is the quality of those products? What is the supply chain like? Are those third parties objectionable in some way? Were the other parties faithful to the original works or marks? Was this a cash grab or an earnest effort to make something worth the price tag?

Honestly, I like how CR run their business. They have a history of tapping fans and fellow small businesses when making new merch or spinoffs. They embrace the culture of fan-made derivative works, both by featuring fanart/cosplay and by sharing their success. Do you know how rare it is for a company to pay fan artists for their already-made and freely posted work and then sell books of it? Let me be clear: CR bought a limited license from each artist so they could print and sell each work in a physical book, then paid the cost of publishing that book with no guarantee that CR would make that money back, let alone profit. I have a copy of the collector’s edition art books: they’re actually very well made and the packaging definitely cost a pretty penny. That’s not a rainmaker idea, that’s genuinely risking financial loss to sell something people could access for free if they wanted to.

The art books aren’t a one-off either. Darrington Press is CR’s separate LLC for tabletop games. (It’s good business practice to split off companies that handle products in different industries.) CR has also made shows based on those games, and the Candela Obscura series has quite a dedicated audience. Everything about Candela belongs to them: the game itself, the rule book, all the art in the book, the web series based on the game, and merch. It’s so successful that they invested in scheduling a live show for Candela later this month. That’s HUGE.

Contrast that with the distribution of Campaign 1 and the first 19 episodes of Campaign 2. CR cannot host those videos themselves; Geek & Sundry still exists and still holds what I presume to be distribution rights (but I don’t have the contract to review). So G&S gets to host those videos on YouTube and reaps the advertising. I can’t speak to whatever share CR gets from that, but considering that CR is locked out of hosting their own copies of those videos, I doubt it’s much, if any, revenue. (If you’re wondering why CR just didn’t buy those rights back, I ask: what incentive does G&S have to sell something that’s making them money for no cost?)

Knowing that background about G&S, I was wary of CR choosing Amazon to host and distribute The Legend of Vox Machina. Originally, TLOVM was not the plan; CR had a kickstarter for an animated special based on C1. It was only because they blew past the goal that CR was able to make an entire season. The reasonable assumption is that choosing Amazon had to have secured CR additional funding for future seasons of the show, which seems evident from how quickly season 2 was announced, Mighty Nein Animated is also going to be a thing, and that season 3 of TLVOM is scheduled for fall 2024. CR had the option of just doing 1 season and keeping it purely in their control, but going with Amazon meant they could animate more of their works. Animation is expensive. I cannot stress enough how doubtful I am that CR would have been able to afford this many episodes and both campaigns if they had not gone this route. As wary as I was in the start, it paid off, and it’s going well—so far. Hopefully CR doesn’t regret that decision if Amazon tries something sleazy. But, as before, we don’t have the contracts and can’t know how secure CR’s position is if any dispute came up.

CR also partnered with Dark Horse Comics to make Vox Machina comics and Might Nein Origins comics. What’s especially surprising is that each of the cast had a hand in writing the MNO comics for their characters, with Matt listed for multiple. That isn’t very common with comic adaptations. Often times, IP owners let comic companies go ham with minimal oversight. Being listed as one of the authors comes with IP rights that have to be negotiated. That means that Dark Horse had to talk with CR about whether that warrants more or less revenue going to which party in exchange for that—or, alternatively, whether the comic gets made at all. That’s a ballsy move. You think people can just demand to write the comics that a publishing company is going to pay to print? Pffft. CR wanted some creative control, and that is a big ask. However, Dark Horse still has the distribution rights, both digitally and for physical copies. You couldn’t buy the comics from CR until they came out with the library edition, a book bound compilation of 4/8 comics. But the publisher is still Dark Horse; CR is just allowed to sell the book directly from their own site as well.

Contrast that with the novels about CR characters. CR partnered with Penguin Random House to publish novels about Vex and Vax (Kith & Kin), Lucien (The Nine Eyes of Lucien), and Laudna (What Doesn’t Break). Liam and Laura were vocal about having some say in K&K, whereas Madeline Roux said in an interview that she had full control over TNEOL. Both of those novels were narrated with CR voices, but narrating a book doesn’t come with IP rights, it just brings in a paycheck. There’s a lot less IP control in there compared to the comics, but this isn’t abnormal for book publishing. To be blunt, I doubt PRH would have agreed to publish the novels if anyone from CR had been a co-author or had heavy oversight over the author or the editing. I don’t think PRH even considered that as an option. Either an author that has already managed to sell X number of copies or nothing. Creative control over a book a huge ask, asks come with reduced revenue, and switching to books from a web series is already a leap. The fact that Laura and Liam had any say is surprising, really.

That was a long meandering tour of what we’ve seen CR do with its IP. The reason I bring up each of these things is that navigating the way to protect an IP in this space is rife with challenges. Different types of IP warrant different strategies because of the cost involved in creating each medium and the challenges placed by industries that have already sprung up around them. Any time that a third party is tapped to create an IP, it’s usually because they already have the funds and resources to create the work, and CR has to negotiate for revenue, creative control, distribution, and—the big one—who gets to be the owner. These are not easy, quick, or fun conversations, and CR is always going to be the smaller company at the table.

Knowing that, I’m not surprised or worried that CR is creating its own independent subscription service with Beacon. It tells me that they’re being careful with their IP whenever they can. A subscription service means they don’t have to trade away distribution rights or give up ad revenue to a third party. They’re in this for a long term investment, and that requires solid income not tied to third parties that can definitely outspend them in litigation in the event of a dispute. A subscription for bonus content is one of many parts in a diverse revenue stream.

(All that said, this isn’t meant to criticize creators that cant afford to do this type of thing. It took 9 years for CR to get to the point where Beacon is financially feasible and a desirable business decision. They have enough ongoing, popular content to warrant paying for a subscription, and they’ve built sufficient trust with their audience that more will be added. That takes time and an awful lot of money.)

As a final note, I take this step as a sign that CR definitely intends to stick around. This isn’t a move people make when they plan on ending the business after the current campaign. I’m glad to see CR is taking steps to secure their foundation and keep making new content.

I’m sure people will chime in on other issues (cost, content exclusivity, etc.), but I hope my perspective gives an idea of why this sort of thing is good for business generally and why it would be good for CR.

[ironwoodprotectionsquad]

Do you think Kerry and other former showriters learned their lesson when it comes writing RWBY?

Also be prepared for stans once again lurker in rwde blogs now that rwby has been bought by viz media

I’ve been sent so many death threats by the Stan’s it’s not even funny lolz, I wouldn’t be surprised for it to start back up again. It is funny though that news dropped around when I started feeling up to being more active again lolz.

Honestly though no I don’t think they learned a thing. Because at the end of the day their poor decisions don’t have really any lasting consequences for them. They’re still employees (at least Kerry and Barb) and they’ll get to keep being involved in RW/BY. They don’t have anything to “learn” from. They should and most people would see this as a second chance to do better but I don’t see that happening. They had years to realize they needed to change and improve e and do better but they never could be bothered to.

Now maybe Viz media will have more say and will override anyone they brought on from CR/WBY and will do better, that is yet to be seen. A friend in a discord group I’m in (no not mine) said Viz produced a lot of stuff they like so they’re hopeful Viz will do better with RW/BY but again, it depends on how much creative control the original team has and how much they like what was done previously and what they decide to do with the IP moving forward.

From a business standpoint it financially makes more sense to do a full reboot to get the most they can out of it. But again I don’t know what agreements where made or what Viz feels about the writing and decisions of the show thus far. It’ll all stuff that’s hard to answer until we start hearing what the plans are. And given they didn’t immediately announce volume 10…I wonder if maybe they’re considering a reboot or something else.

[invisibleicewands]

Actor and debt campaigner Michael Sheen has joined calls for the government to pass legislation to help tackle the crisis of unaffordable credit and problem debt in the UK. In 2022- 2023, more than 9 million were declined for credit, with millions relying on pay-day-lenders and buy-now-pay-later schemes with high interest rates. At its worst, lack of access to affordable credit means hundreds of thousands of people find themselves turning to loan sharks, while viable businesses remain stuck, unable to develop and create jobs. Campaigners are calling for a Fair Banking Act to help ensure that everyone can access essential financial services and support. 

Speaking at an event in Parliament on Monday, Sheen said:

“Anyone can find themselves in a place where they need credit to make ends meet or to get through a difficult time. The lack of affordable credit for people on lower-incomes is harming individuals and families, but also businesses and communities. Whole regions are seeing their growth held back. We can’t keep waiting and hoping that things will get better. We need something to change now. The Fair Banking Act could be the thing which really makes the difference”.  

The event in parliament was organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Banking, alongside the Fair Banking for All Campaign – a group including credit unions, Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs), fintechs, charities and policy experts who are calling for a Fair Banking Act to help increase access to affordable credit. MPs, peers and financial regulators were among the attendees. 

Lloyd Hatton MP, chair of the APPG, said:

“We need a Fair Banking Act to help increase affordable lending in every corner of the country, ensure small businesses have access to the financial support they need, and guarantee that nobody is financially excluded by the mainstream banks. Only then will we deliver sustained economic growth across the whole of the UK.”

Before the election, Labour announced that financial inclusion would be a priority for them in government, with plans being developed for a comprehensive national Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Fair Banking for All Campaign is calling for a Fair Banking Act to be a central pillar of this strategy, to help grow the responsible finance sector. The idea is based on a successful example from the US, where similar legislation has successfully increased access to financial services and support for people on low-incomes and from marginalised communities. 

As well as leading mainstream banks to improve their own provision of affordable credit for underserved communities, the proposed legislation would also incentivise partnerships between high-street banks and institutions such as credit unions and CDFIs, which are often best placed to provide tailored services that meet the needs of individuals and small businesses who have been turned down by larger institutions. 

Recently published research from the Fair Banking for All Campaign estimated that a Fair Banking Act in the UK could increase fair and affordable lending to individuals by £2bn a year – equivalent to the total amount owed to loan sharks. This would help to pull the rug out from under the illegal lending market, by providing people with a safe and affordable alternative when they’re in urgent need. Additional support to small businesses could create or maintain just under 10,000 jobs over five years, including in some of the most economically deprived parts of the country – where small businesses currently find it hardest to get loans from high street banks.

Robert Kelly, chief executive of the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd, was another of the speakers at the event. He said: 

“We need more humanity in our banking system. At a time when more and more people need access to affordable credit, their options are becoming more and more limited. People are being turned down by high-street banks because of their income level or credit score, and so they’re turning to high-cost credit or illegal lending. Credit unions give them an alternative. The sector continues to serve communities and employers across the country at record levels through the provision of ethical and responsible products and services. There’s so much demand out there for this kind of alternative – but we need a Fair Banking Act so we can grow to meet that demand, and help millions more people”

Theodora Hadjimichael, chief executive of Responsible Finance which represents CDFIs in the UK, said:

“Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) invest into underserved places and people, unlocking potential for businesses, social enterprises and households. For economic growth to happen, we need lenders that get to know businesses and understand people’s lives, make fair lending decisions that take these into account, and offer affordable finance, and incentives to ensure that growing demand for affordable, ethical, credit can be met. That’s why Responsible Finance is part of the campaign calling for a Fair Banking Act”.

[happy-mokka]

Happy birthday to me!!! 🎂

Yeah. Hi. It's me.

Middle-aged Aziraphale fangirl did his next big step in the direction of the big 50.

Wahooooo!

Not really…

I hate my birthdays.

Always did.

Even as a child.

Now as this middle-aged queerish-dude I am still having a hard time, standing in the middle of things and being cheered on by others.

I was born. Great. Get along, people, nothing to see here. Can you all just go home please?

"Well, what the f*ck are you doing here then, right now, with this post, in the middle of an internet platform in front of a bunch of strangers?!?"

some of you might ask.

And rightly so, I must add.

Way more than 12 hours before - it is now past 10 pm in Germany - so this morning after I woke up to be exact, I had seriously contemplated the possibility to call in sick on my birthday, and hide myself from the world, quietly sobbing on my couch.

For the first time in my working life of 24 years. I had always been to work on my birthdays. No exception.

But the past months had been hard. I never really felt in control of things, still don't.

Those who know me closer, know that I like to be in control.

Always a plan at hand. Always prepared…

Only that it didn't really work out…hasn't for quite a long time.

I just never admitted it to myself. Always kept on going.

My family was always good in repressing things.

Don't show weakness.

Keep on functioning.

What will the others think?

People depend on you!

My family also never really considered me being "a success story" by their standards.

I am unmarried. Don't have children. No big career.

Ok, I've put enough on the side to live a financial solid life in a nice appartment.

But the first part really nagged at them, and through them at me.

So I was already unhappy for quite some time.

Together with an ongoing above-average and ever growing work-load at the office, this feeling of unhappiness turned slowly into dread and then deep sadness, until I felt close to breaking with the beginning of today.

Now, almost 15 hours later, I am here, writing this sappy stuff and am genuinely happy for the first time in months.

"What changed?"

Well, I was thinking about this a lot in the past hour. While sitting in the bus and later while walking home.

Honestly? Nothing really changed.

I got my eyes opened and my perspective adjusted by someone very dear to me.

That's what friends are for, and she is the best of them. My bestie.

She is the one who got me addicted to Good Omens last year and pushed me onto this hellsite.

She brought me Doctor Who and the Tardis (yeah, I know, shame on me, coming so late to the game…).

She makes me constantly re-think my opinions and keeps opening new windows to look through on things I had missed or never noticed before.

She is challenging me on a daily basis to be more than I normally would go for or did for many years.

She became the closest friend I have ever had in my life.

Sure, I know lots of people a lot longer in years. Some since Kindergarten.

But none of them digged themselves so deep into the darkest corners of my soul.

Places not even my brother or my parents ever got to see.

She made me, a life long rather shy introvert, open up, despite the fact that she is even more introverted than I have ever been.

I still don't fully understand all of it, but here I am, writing all this to an unknown audience, as proof.

A year ago, this wouldn't have been possible, not even in my wildest dreams.

"So, you didn't realize this before?"

I did. It just got pushed aside by all the negative spiralling. Sometimes you don't see, what's right in front of you.

After work, I walked her home. I like doing that. Sometimes talking all the way. Sometimes just walking in silence side by side.

At her place she handed me 2 presents and just like that, it clicked.

Sometimes, it doesn't take much, if it comes from the heart…

People, meet my new Michael Sheen mug!!!

So, we basically bonded over Good Omens and as faith would have it, we are exactly Aziraphale (me) and Crowley (her) coded.

100%.

It makes me beyond happy, knowing that everytime I'll sip my coffee with my beloved Sheeny, on the other end of town she will sip her hot cocoa out of her corresponding new David Tennant mug.

Good Omens was not the only thing we found out to have in common.

The common ground sometimes is really breathtaking and we still regularly stumble over new things it contains.

So many things that we equally love. Books, movies, music, long walks, just sitting there in silence and taking in a beautiful view…

On the other hand, we are so different in so many aspects, but with the feeling of it rather complementing than dividing us.

She loves to chrochet, I can't even hammer a nail strait into a sponge.

Speaking of which, meet my 2nd gift: Audrey!!!!!!!!!

We watched "Little shop of Horrors" (the 1986 version with Rick Moranis) a few weeks ago. Both for the first time. Loved it.

I immediately fell for "Audrey", the flesh-eating alien plant. Didn't speak anything out loud, still it didn't go unnoticed…and, yes, it is hand-made!!!

*sigh*

"So, what am I trying to say here?"

Good qestion…

Life can be cruel.

Life will be hard at times.

It will make you cry, like, a lot.

Try to not go through all this alone.

Sometimes those that you least expect it from, turn out to become your anchor in the stormy sea or the lighthouse showing you the way.

Build your own little family of friends (even if its just one).

Hold them tight, once you found them.

Love them with all that's in you.

You will get it back ten fold.

Why?

L🥰ve!

@uncleadelheid-will-eat-your-soul , thanks for being all that for me, little introverted geeky metal edgelord office girl, and thanks for enduring my annoying love for bad jokes and even worse puns…

P.S.:

Sorry btw for the storm, lighthouse, anchor metaphors with you hating all that's related to the dark blue sea…I still didn't edit them out…maybe we'll be getting there. At least I left out fishy fish…

🐟🐠🐡🦈🌊🦑

[rillyfrilly]

45 lolita fashion questions…! ୨ৎ

cr. to the blog i don't remember finding these on

♡ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ౨ৎ ‧₊ .ᐟ

1. please tell us your handle name. (name that’s used ONLY in internet.)

rilly frilly, commonly known as riri. ❤︎ it’s my real name however~

2. about how long is your history as a lolita?

1 year, will be 2 next summer!

3. what first motivated you to do lolita fashion?

when i was younger, the need to look cute and feel like a princess, however these days its more so fulfilling that wish / finally having the financial standing to afford it as an adult.

4. after knowing lolita fashion, have you had any time-gap or resistance till you actually started to be lolita?

i knew of it as a younger teen thanks to anime and such, but obviously anime “lolita” can be very misconstrued and not realistic to the real fashion, so i’d say i came to know it as i matured into my later teen years considering i’ve always love japanese subcultures and fashion. the time gap of being into it versus starting it is unfortunately quite large.

5. please define your lolita style as much as possible. (eg. gothic lolita, sweet lolita, shiro lolita…. etc).

old school sweet or just sweet lolita in general. so, etc, yes i wear old school, but its very rare..! i enjoy black and pink color combinations the best, but can also be found in light baby pink coordinates sometimes. i cannot describe exactly the kind of prints i enjoy the most, but the commonality between most of them is having floral designs of some sort.

6. about how many lolita friends do you have?

i have handful of online lolita friends / mutuals, but unfortunately none in real life due to the area in which i live having no local comm. my wife is my only real life lolita friend, and she doesn’t wear lolita as her main fashion unfortunately. i dream of joining a comm and having events to attend :(

7. what is the best thing about doing lolita?

i feel stronger and more confident despite knowing i am an eyesore where i live. i have terrible social anxiety / trouble going out in general, but being out in lolita does help me feel like i'm wearing a sort of cute armor? i know even if i hate the attention that i am still 100% myself at the end of the day.

8. conversely, what's the worst thing?

this goes hand in hand with my positive answer. i hate the attention / weirdos lolita brings out in public. while i've had incredibly positive experiences, i've also had ones that have made me want to crawl out of my skin. specifically, when people treat me as an object and say they want to take pictures of me without even asking..

9. which lolita brands do you like?

like is too little of a word - I LOVEEE angelic pretty, baby the stars shine bright, and metamorphose temps de fille~! i do casually like emily temple, alice and the pirates, etc.

10. what was the first lolita item that you’ve owned?

with puji jsk! it's a beautiful chinese indie item and was a great jumpstart to my journey.

11. what is the “must have!” lolita item?

at the moment? mode girl series anything by angelic pretty or some berets and cardigans, with no brand specifics..! (˶˃ ᗜ ˂˶)

12. do you wear drawers?

no, but i plan to! they'd look so cute in my older sweet coordinates. recommendations are appreciated!

13. do you have any favourite japanese music?

yes, absolutely! i am into underground japanese pop, vkei, and city pop music. my favorites are higeki no heroine syndrome, nonfic!, twinpale, malice mizer, bucktick, etc.

14. where do you particularly visit as lolita?

anywhere i can as a lifestyler - but particularly tea rooms, museums, historical districts, and bigger cities as i feel treated less like a spectacle there! ( ⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝)

15. about how many times per week do you dress as lolita?

preferably everyday, but lately i've been indoors and haven't gone out but once in lolita the past couple of weeks. my last outing was to a tearoom last week for my university graduation!

16. please tell us about one embarrassing episode from the time when you were just beginning lolita.

when i paired an obviously sweet bunny bag / guro lolita bag with a gothic coordinate.. i think about it often and i get a little red in the face, because i was just so happy to have something so cute! (my sweet roots were trying to tell me something then) ദ്ദി(˵ •�� ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

17. what's hairstyle and color that you think lolita would suit the most?

well this question can only be answered with an opinion, so i'll answer according to what i love on myself..! right now i have black and purple hair, but honestly anything suits lolita as long as it's styled to match your coordinate. some simple curls for sweet to curly ringlets for gothic / old school always do the trick nicely!

18. have you ever thought of stopping lolita? the reason?

never ever at the present moment, but i thought about when i get older than my 20s and 30s. but i often sober up on this mindset and think of my idol misako aoki for inspiration and motivation to keep going in the future. (˶ˆᗜˆ˵)

19. please tell us your heart's bible as a lolita. (anything like a book, magazine, CD, idol...)

gothic lolita bible, misako aoki, and older lolita blogs! ( ˘͈ ᵕ ˘͈♡)

20. do you own a doll? tell us your feelings about her intensely!

i do not and it pains me so.. i want to own a doll and make them look just like me! its a plan for when i can afford it, however.

21. what kind of make-up do you wear when you wear lolita clothes?

i wear this misako make.

22. have you ever secretly changed clothes in a train station bathroom on lolita day-out?

no. that is all for this one.. haha

23. are you composed when doing lolita all by yourself?

i dress alone already and have no comm or twin to pair with me.. i am a lone lolita already, so yes.

24. how much do you spend in your lolita clothes & accessary monthly?

i save and spend my savings in sparse bursts, so i do not purchase anything lolita monthly / or reguarly enough. i can't afford to splurge monthly so saving is my best bet. (╥﹏╥) typically when i spend my savings, it's never too much! maybe about $135 usd at the max?

25. what is the most expensive lolita thing you've bought so far? how much was it?

my round and round jsk (meow meow bandage) from aatp! it was around $290, i believe and i coordinated a payment plan for it~. it's between that or my h.shirayuki OP i own!

26. so far about how much has the expense been for lolita goods?

i recently started trying to calculate this with my wife, and from what little math we started doing for the last 6 months.. i do not want to answer... haha. next question! (˶˃⤙˂˶)

27. lolita outfit really costs money. how do you raise money to cover the cost of lolita?

both working, selling old clothes, doing traditional art commissions, etc.! currently i am sort of on a buying hiatus from lolita as i'm in the process of looking for a new full time job. sometimes as well i'm gifted pieces or money to purchase articles of lolita from my wife..! i'm lucky in that aspect. (♡ˊ͈ ꒳ ˋ͈)

28. have you ever bought from an online store? if so, please tell us its good and bad points and some advice for the future. if not, please tell us why not.

most of my lolita comes from online secondhand, whether it be from lace market or mercari jp via proxy. i haven't had the funds to ever buy something completely new yet aside from NWT listings on lace market. when i was a beginner, i also shopped mainly on 42lolita, a taobao service agent! i still buy my blouses, otks, and accessories from there considering the decent prices, but i will be candid and say the shipping is killer. that is my only qualm with proxy or 42lolita!

29. even if you sort of want to keep it a secret, please clandestinely tell us about a private manufacturer that is the best.

there are a lot of great companies out there, but i recommend roji roji the most. they have the best accessories when it comes to quality, and i've seen TONS of other sweet lolitas use their socks or tights with their brand coordinates. another special one to me is modo muffin. their shoes are the best, i really should review them considering i already own two pairs of their shoes, and will soon own two more..! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و

30. is there a brand and/or an item that you think, "i could never get it! but i unreasonably want it!"?

i can get any piece i want if i save for it, really. i always try to be positive that pieces i dream of will come back to me in time, but realistically, i want my dream early 2000s lolita wardrobe.. i will never see half of those items in my life i fear.

31. what do you think about people who only do lolita at music-lives or cosplay?

that is ok! some lolitas geniunely do treat it as a every once in a while hobby, rather than adopting it into their everyday lives. that is completely normal for all hobbies and styles!

32. from what age to what age is it acceptable to do lolita? do you think that there's a state in which someone must graduate from lolita? (you can answer as ‘never graduate’)

never graduate, as long as it makes you happy, always do your best to be your most authentic self. even if it means wearing it less as you grow up.. we have to make adjustments to our comfortability with many things in life, and if that is one of them, then do it! but never give up on it because society makes you feel as if you have to.

33. is there a lolita fashion or behavior that you think "i don't want lolitas to do this!" about?

i'll be candid.. i've known the lolita community, like any fashion community to have it's fair share of bullies. bullying anyone for the way they look, their age, their size, etc. is really low and honestly it goes to show the kind of person you are! i also wish i haven't seen some serious gatekeeping. i firmly believe anyone can wear lolita and be empowered by it as long as the fashion is respected, it's history taught, and it keeps true to what the style looks like.

34. is there something you think "lolita has to be this way!" about?

being overly conservative and pushing the "modesty" thing a bit too much onto others is uncomfortable. i think lolitas should be kind, warm, and open when helping others adjust to what being a lolita entails, not being judgmental, rude, or pushy.

35. while doing lolita, has something changed from earlier than you did lolita?

i've seen a huge rise in old school lolitas / punk lolita than when i first started. i'm really happy to see more of those styles online. (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)

36. do you go to school/work as lolita?

usually yes as i work from home, so it's easier to dress up. i also did university from home, so double yes..!

37. do you wear lolita clothes as casual wear?

yes!

38. do you have a boyfriend (or husband)? do you understand each other? (i think she meant “does he understand you (as lolita)?”)

*taps mic*.. i am a married lesbian. but, yes! my wife understands my love for lolita as she is the exact same way for vkei fashion. currently working on recruiting her into lolita as a punk lolita..! she really loves a lot of older brands like putumayo or black peace now.

39. what do the people around you think of your doing lolita? do they accept it?

fortunately, i am estranged with both of my parents. if they were to even see my fashion they'd most likely make fun of me due to me being an outsider, so no they wouldn't. this is because my family is very conservative and painfully southern. moving on! (ᵕ—ᴗ—)

40. what kind of lolita is who has impressed you the most up until now?

so many! my online friends / mutuals, older lolitas from back in the "golden days", and misako aoki.

41. have you ever made your own lolita clothing or /and accessories? if so, what was the best item that you’ve made?

i am a sewist in training..! nothing to show for my new adopted skills yet.

42. if you have an ideal lolita outfit or coordination, please tell us.

all i can say is i dream of having the perfect early 2010s sweet lolita coordinate.. i want to look just like i popped out of an older angelic pretty shoot! ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧ i aim for this with everyday i pour thought into my dream wardrobe.

43. is there a motif that you think “this is a sample of lolita”?

lolita has so many motifs it is nearly impossible for a single one of those to be even remotely considered "lolita specific" to me.

44. would you want to dress your children as lolita?

i don't want children, but if i did and they wanted to wear on their own accord then yes! i wouldn't have enjoyed wearing lolita as a child even though i dreamed of it due to bad sensory issues.

45. what's your image of the ideal lolita?

someone who embraces lolita for more than just the clothes. lolita is a way of life, and while you do not have to be a lifestyler or wear it often, having the mindset of a lolita is what i could call ideal! from being magical everyday, to being kind and authentic, is truly what an ideal lolita means to me.. (∩˃o˂∩)♡

♡ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ౨ৎ ‧₊ .ᐟ

[eretzyisrael]

Anti-Zionist students have moved to cripple university operations at the University of Michigan and The New School in New York City, leveraging recently gained majorities in student government to freeze funding to campus groups until administrators agree to boycott Israel.

A slew of anti-Zionist candidates at the University of Michigan secured their election to Central Student Government (CSG) last semester by running as the Shut It Down (SID) party, whose platform promised to sever the university’s ties to Israel, both financial and academic, according to The Detroit News.

The paper said that “nearly two dozen” of its members, including candidates for president and vice president, won office, “effectively taking control of student government.” Since assuming power, it continued, they have shredded the budget for summer term approved by the previous administration and refused to fund student clubs during the upcoming fall semester.

“The Shut It Down movement ran on a completely transparent platform,” Alifa Chowdhury, the government’s new president told The Detroit News. “This is really to send a message to regents that you can’t just give us, student government leaders, a lump sum on money and expect us to stay silent with that. The point of student government is to make our voices heard.”

Founded in the months after Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre across southern Israel, Shut It Down (SID) allegedly committed multiple election code infractions to amass its newfound and unprecedented power. According to The Michigan Daily, students banded together to contest their election victory, citing multiple instances in which they campaigned in proscribed areas and violated other rules regulating the use of posters and email communications. SID ultimately overcame the challenge following a controversial hearing which the student government, breaking precedent, conducted in secret.

SID announced its plans to defund student clubs in July, with its chair, Shubh Agrawal, saying in remarks quoted by the Daily, “The university of Michigan is one of those institutions [whose] $6 billion of the endowment are implicated in the genocide or occupation of people of Palestine. And the University of Michigan does not deserve to function as normal while it continues to do those things.”

The Algemeiner has asked the University of Michigan to comment on this story. According to The Detroit News, the school’s Board of Regents has vowed not to divest from or boycott Israel.

[peninsulaisms]

Call for ban on developer donations - MP News

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire councillors have united in imploring the state government to immediately ban all donations from property developers, gambling businesses, and politicians to candidates running for local councils.

Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the move at their 28 January meeting after Cr David Gill led a motion to end the three streams of financial contributions for candidates, as well as set a cap of $500 for all other donations ensuring the process is “transparent and it is accountable”.

“The state government has the power to make these changes,” said Gill, who has made similar pushes in previous years. “It’s not about individuals. People who have accepted donations in the recent election have done so legally, and I’m not arguing with that. “What I’m saying is the process needs to improve and asking the state government who are the only ones that can make the improvement to act. “And it needs to come from lots of councils and from the Municipal Association [of Victoria] so we get to the stage where it is transparent, and it is accountable.”

In supporting the motion, councillors also voted that disclosures of donations are to be made “in real time” up until election day, which Gill believed was only in “fairness to the voter” so “people know about it when they’re voting”. This included the period up to “councillors being sworn in and that all donations to councillors be banned from the time of being sworn in”. Additionally, the shire will also call on the state government to set up a statewide donor register so all donations are tracked by name “and not just by company or any other mechanism that may conceal knowledge about the donor”.

The Victorian Electoral Commission has a campaign donation register, which lists donations made to political parties, candidates and members of parliament for state elections. But there is currently no statewide register for local government elections, which Gill said was needed. “What we’re asking for is a level playing field for local government also”.

Cr Kate Roper said transparency was critical, noting Operation Sandon, which held public examinations in 2019 and 2020 into allegations of serious corrupt conduct in relation to planning and property development decisions at the City of Casey, had “really caused a lot of mistrust to the public about councils and what goes on in the background and how people can influence them”.

Deputy mayor Cr Paul Pingiario said he “wholeheartedly” supported the motion to improve transparency and “to make sure that everyone is playing with the same rules”. “We need to make sure that when we do put these things forward and we do lobby for policies that they are integral to our integrity and they play a massive part in how we move forward as a democracy,” he said.

The shire will now write to the state government calling for all measures to be acted on in the motion. The move comes as just over $30,000 was donated to four Mornington Peninsula Shire candidates, including two who were elected, by a private organisation called the Friends of the Peninsula, which is run by a property developer Ari Lakman, according to records from the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.

As reported by The News last month, Friends of the Peninsula gave donations to newly elected councillors Cam Williams ($5,055.16) and Bruce Ranken ($7,136.12) while unsuccessful candidates Peter Clarke and Susan Bissinger received $14,065.72 and $8,873.31 respectively.

Under the Local Government Act council candidates have 40 days after election day to complete a campaign donation return including a record of donations and gifts for the Local Government Inspectorate. Failure to submit a return or providing false or misleading information can result in prosecution and fines exceeding $11,090.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston welcomed the push by the shire, saying the “key is getting to the source of donations, not the web of companies or associations that they are hidden through”. “As far as we’re concerned, all donations should be real time so that voters, when they vote, know who’s funding candidates,” he told The News.

Hurlston added donations of more than $500 from political parties should also be banned “because a political party is the ultimate hidden funding source; you don’t know who’s donated to that political party and what those funds are made-up of”.

[financeattips]

First Time Investing in Crypto: Tips for New Traders on the Digital Coin Market

This has changed the financial landscape for good; it is the first time in history that investors have a share of this type since cryptocurrency entered the market. But then again, getting into the crypto market to begin with can be incredibly intimidating for a novice. This includes some key tips that you must know for making trade-offs more intelligent and how to invest in cryptocurrencies.

1. Understand the Basics

Understand the basic principles of what Cryptocurrency is, how it works before you invest. If you're unfamiliar, cryptocurrencies are basically decentralized systems, operating with a peer-to-peer framework, that let users do all sorts of things like get rewards for paying on time or using an app. Because they are not organically produced like typical tender, these financial tools are meant to be circulated in a decentralized way via blockchain networks. Educate yourself onwards like blockchain, altcoins, wallets and exchanges.

2. Do Your Research

The value of cryptocurrencies is influenced by a number of factors, and this makes it an extremely volatile market. Learn about various cryptocurrencies and how they are used. Tools like CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko show trends, rankings other handy information regarding ranging and past data. Follow us on Twitter for more news and updates on the Bitcoin space.

3. Diversify Your Portfolio

Investors apply diversification in their investment strategies. Diversify by investing in multiple cryptocurrencies I mean, everyone knows Bitcoin and Ethereum — why not looking a little bit further down the line at some promising altcoins with real fundamentals. A healthy mix of investments can ensure you have a little exposure to any type of gain or loss that may arise.

4. Only Invest What You Can Afford to Lose

The world of crypto is such that even the prices can and do tend to rise or crash in a jiffy, thanks to high volatility. Gamble only with money you can afford to lose without impacting your finances. Never borrow to invest in crypto or use your emergency savings for crypto investing. This approach ensures that you still are able to stay financially safe in case there's a downtrend.

5. Choose a Reliable Exchange

It is important to be sure that you deal with reliable cryptocurrency exchanges for safe trading. Search for exchanges with strong security protocols, a simple UI, and broad coin support. Some of the most trusted exchanges that people have been using include Binance, Coinbase and Kraken. Are they regulated and insured for digital assets.

6. Secure Your Investments

In the world of crypto, security is vital. Keep your cryptocurrencies on hardware wallets or in cold storage solutions; simply turn on 2FA in your exchange accounts and do not publish or disclose the private keys. Keep your software up to date and watch out for phishing attacks and malware.

7. Stay Informed and Adapt

As we know the crypto market is alive and never takes a nap. Learn from the market, regulatory and tech changes. Engage in some of the crypto community forums on platforms like Reddit, Twitter and Telegram to get the benefits of inside knowledge from other investors. Change your investment plan based on new informational and market circumstances

8. Have a Long-Term Perspective

Although there is money in short-term trading, it often requires quite a bit of time and skill to excel what you do. Long term investment strategy If you are beginner, Long term is the best way for you to invest your money from beginning. Look at the long term growth potential of cryptocurrencies instead of trying to make a quick buck. I read many books and listend to a lot of podcasts about the stock market, nearly all these sources agreed that patience and discipline was key to becoming a successful long-term investor.

9. Seek Professional Advice

If you are uncertain about the investments, you can get help from financial advisors or even some crypto experts. They can offer some personalized advice, depending on your financial goals and comfort with risk. Expert help will make it easier for you to manage the particularly volatile world of crypto.

Conclusion

Investing in cryptocurrency can also be a lucrative endeavor as long the trader is well-versed when it comes to his or her craft. These basic principles, combined with extensive research, establishing a diversified portfolio, and security first will put you in good stead on your crypto investment journey. The key is to stay informed, adapt and think long-term in order for you to succeed.

[marta-bee]

As you might have guessed from the quotes, I’ve been reading Good Omens again. I was all prepared to be uncomfortable with this par. Crowley was about to turn paintball guns into gun-guns, and I was sure after all the mass shootings America has seen since the twelve or so years since I last read it, that part would just hit differently.

I wasn’t wrong, though I’d forgotten how funny and delightfully ‘90s-ish the corporate warfare was. Honestly I was laughing too hard at all the humor around the violence to notice. I can’t recommend it enough, if you’re old enough to remember why Dilbert was funny once upon a time, you really should give this bit a read. A sample:

The contingent from Financial Planning were lying flat on their faces in what had once been the haha, although they weren't very amused.

"I always said you couldn't trust those people from Purchasing," said the Deputy Financial Manager. "The bastards."

A shot pinged off the wall above him.

He crawled hurriedly over to the little group clustered around the fallen Wethered. "How does it look?" he said.

The assistant Head of Wages turned a haggard face toward him.

"Pretty bad," he said. "The bullet went through nearly all of them. Access, Barclaycard, Diners-the lot."

"It was only the American Express Gold that stopped it," said Wethered.

They looked in mute horror at the spectacle of a credit card wallet with a bullet hole nearly all the way through it.

"Why'd they do it?" said a wages officer.

What most struck me though was the bits woven between all the poking fun at white collar office culture and the human capacity to wish violence on each other. I’d almost call it a coincidence if it wasn’t actually relevant to everything else going on. Any of my fellow Sherlockians, you know what they say about coincidences.

Let’s start with Nigel Tompkins. Or a little before he shows up, for context. Aziraphale and Crowley are hunting for the antichrist so decide to go back to the hospital where Crowley left him. It’s been burned down, most of the sisters have left, but now Sr. Mary Loquacious (now Mary Hodges, no sister) has turned it into a rather unorthodox corporate events center. They’re doing paintball. Lots of stultified corporate types have been handed nonlethal guns and told to have at it, which has exactly the result you’d expect (humans being humans) even before Crowley miracles their dearest wishes into reality and turns their paintball guns into real guns.

This is the scene Az&Cr stumble into (the paintball version to start). Nigel Tompkins has the bad luck to shoot at them as they’re getting out of the car, and after much hemming and hawing over stained fabrics, Crowley scares him off:

Tompkins thumbed another paint pellet into the gun and muttered business mantras to himself. Do Unto Others Before They Do Unto You. Kill or Be Killed. Either Shit or Get Out of the Kitchen. Survival of the Fittest. Make My Day.

He crawled a little nearer to the figures by the statue. They didn't seem to have noticed him. When the available cover ran out, he took a deep breath and leapt to his feet.

"Okay, douchebags, grab some sk-ohnoooeeeeee . . ."

Where one of the figures had been there was something dreadful. He blacked out. Crowley restored himself to his favorite shape.

"I hate having to do that," he murmured. "I'm always afraid I'll forget how to change back. And it can ruin a good suit."

"I think the maggots were a bit over the top, myself," said Aziraphale, but without much rancor.

Then later:

Nigel Tompkins had come to with a mild headache and a vaguely empty space in his recent memory. He was not to know that the human brain, when faced with a sight too terrible to contemplate, is remarkably good at scabbing it over with forced forgetfulness, so he put it down to a pellet strike on the head.

He was vaguely aware that his gun was somewhat heavier, but in his mildly bemused state he did not realize why until some time after he'd pointed it at trainee manager Norman Wethered from Internal Audit and pulled the trigger.

It’s this “scabbed over” language that really interests me, because ti comes up again with Mary Hodges. Trying to get information out of her, Crowley puts her into a kind of trance to question her.

"Good"-Crowley glanced at his watch-"morning, ma'am," he said, in a sing-song voice. "We're just a couple of supernatural entities and we were just wondering if you might help us with the whereabouts of the notorious Son of Satan." He smiled coldly at the angel. "I'll wake her up again, shall I? And you can say it."

"Well. Since you put it like that . . ." said the angel slowly.

"Sometimes the old ways are best," said Crowley. He turned to the impassive woman. "Were you a nun here eleven years ago?" he said.

"Yes," said Mary.

"There!" said Crowley to Aziraphale. "See? I knew I wasn't wrong." "Luck of the devil," muttered the angel.

"Your name then was Sister Talkative. Or something." "Loquacious," said Mary Hodges in a hollow voice.

"And do you recall an incident involving the switching of newborn babies?" said Crowley.

Mary Hodges hesitated. When she did speak, it was as though memories that had been scabbed over were being disturbed for the first time in years.

"Yes," she said.

"Is there any possibility that the switch could have gone wrong in some way?" "I do not know."

Crowley thought for a bit. "You must have had records," he said. "There are always records.

Everyone has records these days." He glanced proudly at Aziraphale. "It was one of my better ideas." "Oh, yes," said Mary Hodges.

"And where are they?" said Aziraphale sweetly.

"There was a fire just after the birth."

Crowley groaned and threw his hands in the air. "That was Hastur, probably," he said. "It's his style. Can you believe those guys? I bet he thought he was being really clever." "Do you recall any details about the other child?" said Aziraphale. "Yes."

"Please tell me."

"He had lovely little toesie-wosies."

Neil and PTerry are not authors like me, they don’t just use the same word all helter-skelter because they cant remember what they wrote five lines earlier. They’re funny and most importantly clever people. Or at least they have good editors who will call them on it. So likening this hazy or lost memory to a scab seems intentional to me.

But it’s not that Mary was traumatized by her time with the order. She was young and a bit hemmed in, but they weren’t evil in anything more than being allied with Crowley’s side. There’s nothing about her time with them that would be particularly upsetting, certainly not so much she’d have blocked it out even from her subconscious. Crowley’s putting her under here feels vaguely akin to hypnosis, suppressing part of her mental defenses so she’ll share more information with less filtering. And even then, talking about that time brings on the same sensation Nigel had when exposed to something too scary and --more importantly-- weird to fit with how he normally saw the world.

I think it’s Crowley. Specifically, Crowley letting his human face slip a bit. With Nigel it was intentional, with the nuns, possibly because Crowley was more distressed than he normally was so was less in control of himself? He wasn’t transforming into things that go bump in the night, sure, but between being so upset about the Apocalypse happening and these being his people so he didn’t have to fight so hard to hide his essence, I wonder if he didn’t let a certain something just ... slip through? Something the human mind just isn’t equipped to deal with?

It calls to mind another scene where we talked about memory and the benefit of failing to leave an impression, from much earlier:

"Is that him?" said Sister Mary, staring at the baby. "Only I'd expected funny eyes. Red, or green. Or teensy-weensy little hoofikins. Or a widdle tail." She turned him around as she spoke. No horns either. The Devil's child looked ominously normal.

"Yes, that's him," said Crowley.

"Fancy me holding the Antichrist," said Sister Mary. "And bathing the Antichrist. And counting his little toesy-wosies . . ."

She was now addressing the child directly, lost in some world of her own. Crowley waved a hand in front of her wimple. "Hallo? Hallo? Sister Mary?"

"Sorry, sir. He is a little sweetheart, though. Does he look like his daddy? I bet he does. Does he look like his daddywaddykins . . ."

"No," said Crowley firmly. "And now I should get up to the delivery rooms, if I were you."

"Will he remember me when he grows up, do you think?" said Sister Mary wistfully, sidling slowly down the corridor.

"Pray that he doesn't," said Crowley, and fled.

I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but maybe it’s not Crowley, or just Crowley, that makes her memories of this event feel scabbed-over. “Lost in some world of her own” could just be getting a little absorbed in the new baby (lots of women particularly are conditioned to think we need to coo over infants, and I can’t imagine the type of women who become nuns-- satanic or otherwise-- are much different in that respect). But it doesn’t have to be just that, does it? Prolonged exposure to the supernatural, even the also-human antichrist in his veiled form, seems like the kind of thing that’s too weird for the human psyche to easily come to terms with.

It’s interesting, because that sort of inability to be noticed is really biting Crowley in the backside now.

"Of course, we might be able to get a human to find him," said Aziraphale thoughtfully. "What?" said Crowley, distractedly.

"Humans are good at finding other humans. They've been doing it for thousands of years. And the child is human. As well as . . . you know. He would be hidden from us, but other humans might be able to . . . oh, sense him, perhaps. Or spot things we wouldn't think of."

"It wouldn't work. He's the Antichrist! He's got this . . . sort of automatic defense, hasn't he? Even if he doesn't know it. It won't even let people suspect him. Not yet. Not till it's ready. Suspicion will slide off him like, like . . . whatever it is water slides off of," he finished lamely.

"Got any better ideas? Got one single better idea?" said Aziraphale.

"No."

I’m not saying this has to be the same sort of inability-to-be-perceived that affected Mary and Nigel above. It could be a sort of built-in defense mechanism specially for the antichrist. But it seems on theme at the very least. There seems something deeply sad to me, and probably very relevant to the queer experience of the ‘80s and ‘90s, around the time this book was written and published, to there being something about your true nature that’s just not allowed to be seen and remembered.

Now I’ve made myself a bit sad, and if you’ve read this long you deserve to end on a treat. Luckily, our favorite authors have us covered there as well.

"Ducks!" he shouted.

"What?"

"That's what water slides off!" Aziraphale took a deep breath.

"Just drive the car, please," he said wearily.

They drove back through the dawn, while the cassette player played J. S. Bach's Mass in B Minor, vocals by F. Mercury.

[pogoyarabelajane]

Addressing Response to Customer Difficulties: Starting Point

What are the common problems encountered by CMU students nowadays?

In this journal, you will learn about our journey of finding problems and how we were able to come up with this particular product in order to achieve a more efficient and productive academic life for college students.

The first thing we did during the first week was to create a plan on how we will conduct our interview and how many prospective people we need including the college they should be from. The team agreed on making interviews by pair; one person will do the asking while the other will do the documentation.

After some interviews, we gathered all the information and shared it together with other members.

After giving it some thought, we took notes of the problems raised and created possible solutions to each of them. The next day, we interviewed another group of people for further investigation. The following is the summarization of the data gathered from respondents.

Data Gathered:

2 males (Agriculture Students) — lack of trash bins in Agri benches.

1 male (from CAS) — lack of trash bins and CR (no water)

1 female (from CFES) — CMU market is too far for printing documents.

1 female (from CBM) — CMU market is too far for printing documents.

2 female (Graduate students) — Financial problem.

1 female (from CVM) — CMU market is too far.

1 female (from COEd) — Slow internet.

5 females (from CAS) — Lack of benches.

A total of 14 customers are interviewed.

And then we all gathered together to brainstorm and discuss our possible plans.

In consideration of the datas we have gathered while conducting interviews, we noticed that there was a diverse array of problems from our customers' answers. The group decided to formulate possible solutions to the problems while also considering the opportunity to profit. The most significant one was financial problems, our chosen solution for this was to construct or create a platform for a marketplace where we will play the role of a broker. It aims to give opportunities for students to:

Dispose of their old possessions through selling second-hand items(books, print-outs, yoga mats, swimsuits, etc.)

Allows them to buy items at a lesser price.

Easy access for available boarding houses in the area.

However, it requires a lot of estimations and assumptions and we found out that Central Mindanao University already has an online marketplace.

Another best alternative we are able to formulate was the solution to the distance of the University Market in regards to printing services. We came up with the decision to choose the printing problems to be addressed. After considering other variables, the team has made an idea of providing a self-service, coin-generated, vendo printing machine rather than using a regular printer which needs someone to operate and provide assistance for all the time. It is super convenient and can be less hassle since we only need to provide maintenance for it for once in a while. For that cause, we did research if this product is available in the market or is yet to be created.

To find out that it is currently unavailable in the local market, we are advised to manufacture the product ourselves, because formulating it on our own and managing its service function would dampen the fixed cost, causing us to hardly match the value of the product in the value the customers can afford to give which can dampen the possibility of profitability. With that in plan, we established steps to properly manufacture the product and as to where we will market it.

The group formulated the following measures:

Collaborate with people with expertise in the making of the product (IT technicians/ Engineers)

Interview experts as to the costs of manufacture, the processes and licenses needed to manufacture the product.

Have the estimation as to the possibility of profitability or determine the economic value of the product in a certain point of time.

Make a model or prototype of the product, as to the process of using it.

Devise a clear plan on whom to sell the product.

To conclude:

Team work and Cooperation with the team

Work with Unity, and Diverse Perspective

Adaptability

Constructive feedback

Having this kind of behavior and attitude makes the team create a unique and successful product and/or service, it also helps the students life easier in terms of printing their outputs. Moreover, the team should not waste time on thinking of innovative ideas that can be useful not only for students but also a product and/or services that we can still benefit in the future.

[angelo-tiger-woods]

(A) - Fun Fact for Debi Mazar (@debimazar):

Question:

Can a person residing in Brunei open a bank account in Hong Kong to hold their net worth, such as $10 billion?

ChatGPT Answer:

Here's a clear breakdown of the information along with a separate list of all the links:

Can a Brunei Resident Open a Bank Account in Hong Kong for $10 Billion?

Yes, a Brunei resident can open a bank account in Hong Kong to store significant wealth, including $10 billion. However, several critical requirements and considerations must be met, especially around regulatory compliance.

Key Considerations

1. Non-Resident Account Opening

Personal Accounts: Possible, but subject to documentation such as passport, proof of address, and sometimes a bank reference letter.

Business Accounts: Requires incorporation documents, proof of business activity, and a business plan.

Wealth Management Accounts: Ideal for $10B—private banking from HSBC, Citibank, etc., offers multi-currency and offshore wealth services.

2. Bank Requirements

Minimum Balance: Typically HKD 100,000 (~USD 12,800) for standard accounts; private banking may require USD 1–5 million or more.

KYC/AML Checks: Expect deep scrutiny on source of funds; full documentation of business history or inheritance required.

Remote vs. In-Person: Some banks allow remote opening; otherwise, in-person visits or third-party facilitators may be necessary.

3. Banking Environment in Hong Kong

A leading global financial hub with over 70 top-tier international banks.

Offers political stability, multi-currency options, and regulated banking infrastructure.

Wealth Management Connect Scheme enables cross-border wealth diversification in Greater Bay Area.

4. Specifics for Brunei Residents

No legal barriers specific to Brunei residents.

Bank of China (Hong Kong) has a Brunei branch—may ease account setup.

Hong Kong banks may offer Sharia-compliant financial products aligned with Brunei’s Islamic banking norms.

5. Challenges and Risks

Regulatory Scrutiny: $10B attracts attention; full transparency essential to prevent delays or freezes.

Tax Implications: While Brunei has no personal tax, international reporting via CRS applies depending on residency.

Geopolitical Risks: Some investors wary of China’s influence; Hong Kong still more lenient than Singapore on foreign wealth.

6. Storing $10 Billion Practically

Impractical to store $10B in one account; diversification across jurisdictions and asset classes recommended.

A Hong Kong-based family office structure is ideal, offering tax concessions and robust wealth services.

Recommendations

Use Major Global Banks: Opt for HSBC, Citibank, or Bank of China (HK).

Hire Professionals: Engage a legal or financial firm in Hong Kong for compliance and KYC documentation.

Diversify Assets: Use a family office model for portfolio management and risk mitigation.

Stay Tax Compliant: Ensure alignment with Brunei’s laws and global reporting standards like CRS.

All Referenced Links (click on the blue links).

https://kshkcpa.com/foreigners-open-bank-accounts-in-hong-kong/

https://air-corporate.com/blog/how-to-open-a-business-bank-account-in-hong-kong/

https://wise.com/us/blog/opening-a-bank-account-in-hong-kong

https://statrys.com/guides/hong-kong/banking/best-banks

https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/insights/financial-services/rich-chinese-return-to-hong-kong-as-singapore-steps-up-scrutiny/

https://www.xe.com/blog/personal-finance/how-to-open-a-bank-account-in-hong-kong/

https://www.globallegalinsights.com/practice-areas/fund-finance-laws-and-regulations/hong-kong/

https://www.wealthbriefingasia.com/article.php/Bank-Of-China-%28Hong-Kong%29-Opens-Officially-For-Business-In-Brunei

https://www.reuters.com/article/singapore-wealth-offshore/singapore-bankers-rattled-by-asian-moves-to-chase-undeclared-wealth-idUSL3N10N1XS20150817

https://time.com/6321258/singapore-hong-kong-asia-finance-hub/

[invisibleicewands]

Actor and debt campaigner Michael Sheen has joined calls for the government to pass legislation to help tackle the crisis of unaffordable credit and problem debt in the UK.

In 2022-2023, more than nine million individuals were declined for credit, with millions relying on pay-day-lenders and buy-now-pay-later schemes with high interest rates. At its worst, lack of access to affordable credit means hundreds of thousands of people find themselves turning to loan sharks, while viable businesses remain stuck, unable to develop and create jobs.

Campaigners are calling for a Fair Banking Act to help ensure that everyone can access essential financial services and support.

Speaking at an event in Parliament on Monday, Mr Sheen said: “Anyone can find themselves in a place where they need credit to make ends meet or to get through a difficult time.

“The lack of affordable credit for people on lower-incomes is harming individuals and families, but also businesses and communities. Whole regions are seeing their growth held back. We can’t keep waiting and hoping that things will get better. We need something to change now. The Fair Banking Act could be the thing which really makes the difference.”

The event in parliament was organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Banking, alongside the Fair Banking for All Campaign – a group including credit unions, Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs), fintechs, charities and policy experts who are calling for a Fair Banking Act to help increase access to affordable credit. MPs, peers and financial regulators were among the attendees.

Lloyd Hatton MP, chair of the APPG, said: “We need a Fair Banking Act to help increase affordable lending in every corner of the country, ensure small businesses have access to the financial support they need, and guarantee that nobody is financially excluded by the mainstream banks.

“Only then will we deliver sustained economic growth across the whole of the UK.”

Before the election, Labour announced that financial inclusion would be a priority for them in government, with plans being developed for a comprehensive national Financial Inclusion Strategy. The Fair Banking for All Campaign is calling for a Fair Banking Act to be a central pillar of this strategy, to help grow the responsible finance sector. The idea is based on a successful example from the US, where similar legislation has successfully increased access to financial services and support for people on low-incomes and from marginalised communities.

As well as leading mainstream banks to improve their own provision of affordable credit for underserved communities, the proposed legislation would also incentivise partnerships between high-street banks and institutions such as credit unions and CDFIs, which are often best placed to provide tailored services that meet the needs of individuals and small businesses who have been turned down by larger institutions.

Recently published research from the Fair Banking for All Campaign estimated that a Fair Banking Act in the UK could increase fair and affordable lending to individuals by £2bn a year – equivalent to the total amount owed to loan sharks. This would help to pull the rug out from under the illegal lending market, by providing people with a safe and affordable alternative when they’re in urgent need. Additional support to small businesses could create or maintain just under 10,000 jobs over five years, including in some of the most economically deprived parts of the country – where small businesses currently find it hardest to get loans from high street banks.

Robert Kelly, chief executive of the Association of British Credit Unions Ltd, was another of the speakers at the event. He said: “We need more humanity in our banking system.

“At a time when more and more people need access to affordable credit, their options are becoming more and more limited. People are being turned down by high-street banks because of their income level or credit score, and so they’re turning to high-cost credit or illegal lending.

“Credit unions give them an alternative. The sector continues to serve communities and employers across the country at record levels through the provision of ethical and responsible products and services.

“There’s so much demand out there for this kind of alternative – but we need a Fair Banking Act so we can grow to meet that demand, and help millions more people”

Theodora Hadjimichael, chief executive of Responsible Finance which represents CDFIs in the UK, said: “Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) invest into underserved places and people, unlocking potential for businesses, social enterprises and households.

“For economic growth to happen, we need lenders that get to know businesses and understand people’s lives, make fair lending decisions that take these into account, and offer affordable finance, and incentives to ensure that growing demand for affordable, ethical, credit can be met.

“That’s why Responsible Finance is part of the campaign calling for a Fair Banking Act.”

[classbazaarpromos]

Eruditus Leads India’s Edtech Sector with ₹3,733 Cr Revenue in FY24

Eruditus has firmly established itself as India’s top revenue-generating edtech company in FY 2023-24, posting an impressive ₹3,733 crore in revenue. Despite a slight deceleration in growth compared to earlier years, the company achieved a 12.4% year-on-year (YoY) increase from ₹3,322 crore in FY23. This growth, combined with a sharp reduction in operating losses, highlights Eruditus' evolving focus on sustainable and efficient expansion.

Operational Shift Towards Efficiency

Operating on a July-to-June financial calendar, Eruditus—headquartered in Mumbai—has demonstrated a strategic pivot from high-spending growth tactics to more efficient scaling. This approach has helped the company strengthen its financial position, even as the broader edtech market adjusts to post-pandemic realities.

Dominating the Edtech Revenue Charts

With ₹3,733 crore in revenue, Eruditus has outpaced major competitors by a significant margin. PhysicsWallah recorded ₹2,015 crore, and upGrad reached ₹1,487 crore during the same period. Eruditus now generates nearly 1.8 times the revenue of PhysicsWallah and more than double that of upGrad, underscoring its dominance in the sector.

While the 12.4% growth rate may seem moderate compared to previous boom periods, it reflects the industry’s shift from aggressive expansion to financial sustainability. Stakeholders today are prioritizing long-term viability over rapid but costly growth.

Drastic Cut in EBITDA Losses

A key highlight of Eruditus’ FY24 performance is the remarkable reduction in EBITDA losses, which shrank by 83.5%—from ₹417 crore in FY23 to just ₹69 crore in FY24. This improvement signals a disciplined approach to cost management and a maturing business strategy.

Strategic Revenue Management

In a calculated financial move, Eruditus deferred ₹800 crore of collected revenue to the next fiscal year. This revenue deferral likely aligns with longer course durations or phased delivery plans and reflects the company’s intent to maintain steady performance as it pursues higher targets in FY25.

Looking Ahead: A Billion-Dollar Vision

Co-founder and CEO Ashwin Damera has laid out an ambitious roadmap, aiming for over $1 billion in annual revenue within five years. For FY25, the company is targeting a topline of $520–530 million (₹4,330–₹4,420 crore), which would represent a growth of 16–18%. This outlook demonstrates Eruditus' intent to scale responsibly while maintaining operational discipline.

Conclusion

Eruditus’ FY24 performance stands out in an increasingly cautious edtech environment. With a strong revenue lead, significant reduction in losses, and a forward-thinking financial strategy, the company exemplifies how to balance growth with sustainability. As the edtech space matures, Eruditus is setting the benchmark for stability, innovation, and strategic foresight.