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reasonsforhope · 7 months ago

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"Nasir Mansoor has spent 40 years fighting for Pakistan’s workers. Whether demanding compensation on behalf of the hundreds of people who died in a devastating 2012 factory fire in Karachi or demonstrating against Pakistani suppliers to global fashion brands violating minimum wage rules, he’s battled many of the country’s widespread labor injustices.

Yet so far, little has improved, said Mansoor, who heads Pakistan’s National Trade Union Federation in Karachi... Regulations and trade protocols look good on paper, but they rarely trickle down to the factory level. “Nobody cares,” Mansoor said. “Not the government who makes commitments, not the brands, and not the suppliers. The workers are suffering.”

Change on the Horizon

But change might finally be on the horizon after Germany’s new Supply Chain Act came into force last year. As Europe’s largest economy and importer of clothing, Germany now requires certain companies to put risk-management systems in place to prevent, minimize, and eliminate human rights violations for workers across their entire global value chains. Signed into law by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in January 2023, the law covers issues such as forced labor, union-busting, and inadequate wages, for the first time giving legal power to protections that were previously based on voluntary commitments. Companies that violate the rules face fines of up to 8 million euros ($8.7 million)...

...As governments come to realize that a purely voluntary regimen produces limited results, there is now a growing global movement to ensure that companies are legally required to protect the people working at all stages of their supply chains.

The German law is just the latest example of these new due diligence rules—and it’s the one with the highest impact, given the size of the country’s market. A number of other Western countries have also adopted similar legislation in recent years, including France and Norway. A landmark European Union law that would mandate all member states to implement similar regulation is in the final stages of being greenlighted.

Although the United States has legislation to prevent forced labor in its global supply chains, such as the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, there are no federal laws that protect workers in other countries from abuses that fall short of forced labor. That said, a proposed New York state bill, the Fashion Act, would legally require most major U.S. and international brands to identify, prevent, and remediate human rights violations in their supply chain if passed, with noncompliance subject to fines. Since major fashion brands could hardly avoid selling their products in New York, the law would effectively put the United States on a similar legal level as Germany and France...

The Results So Far

As of January, Germany’s new law applies to any company with at least 1,000 employees in the country, which covers many of the world’s best-known fast fashion retailers, such as Zara and Primark. Since last January [Jan 2023], German authorities say they have received 71 complaints or notices of violations and conducted 650 of their own assessments, including evaluating companies’ risk management.

In Pakistan, the very existence of the German law was enough to spark action. Last year, Mansoor and other union representatives reached out to fashion brands that sourced some of their clothing in Pakistan to raise concerns about severe labor violations in garment factories. Just four months later, he and his colleagues found themselves in face-to-face meetings with several of those brands—a first in his 40-year career. “This is a big achievement,” he said. “Otherwise, [the brands] never sit with us. Even when the workers died in the factory fire, the brand never sat with us.” ...

-via The Fuller Project, April 2, 2024. Article headers added by me.

Article continues below, with more action-based results, including one factory that "complied, agreeing to respect minimum wages and provide contract letters, training on labor laws, and—for the first time—worker bonuses"

With the help of Mansoor and Zehra Khan, the general secretary of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation, interviews with more than 350 garment workers revealed the severity of long-known issues.

Nearly all workers interviewed were paid less than a living wage, which was 67,200 Pakistan rupees (roughly $243) per month in 2022, according to the Asia Floor Wage Alliance. Nearly 30 percent were even paid below the legal minimum wage of 25,000 Pakistani rupees per month (roughly $90) for unskilled workers. Almost 100 percent had not been given a written employment contract, while more than three-quarters were either not registered with the social security system—a legal requirement—or didn’t know if they were.

When Mansoor, Khan, and some of the organizations raised the violations with seven global fashion brands implicated, they were pleasantly surprised. One German retailer reacted swiftly, asking its supplier where the violations had occurred to sign a 14-point memorandum of understanding to address the issues. (We’re unable to name the companies involved because negotiations are ongoing.) The factory complied, agreeing to respect minimum wages and provide contract letters, training on labor laws, and—for the first time—worker bonuses.

In February [2024], the factory registered an additional 400 workers with the social security system (up from roughly 100) and will continue to enroll more, according to Khan. “That is a huge number for us,” she said.

It’s had a knock-on effect, too. Four of the German brand’s other Pakistani suppliers are also willing to sign the memorandum, Khan noted, which could impact another 2,000 workers or so. “The law is opening up space for [the unions] to negotiate, to be heard, and to be taken seriously,” said Miriam Saage-Maass, the legal director at ECCHR.

Looking Forward with the EU

...Last month [in March 2024], EU member states finally approved a due diligence directive after long delays, during which the original draft was watered down. As it moves to the next stage—a vote in the European Parliament—before taking effect, critics argue that the rules are now too diluted and cover too few companies to be truly effective. Still, the fact that the EU is acting at all has been described as an important moment, and unionists such as Mansoor and Khan wait thousands of miles away with bated breath for the final outcome.

Solidarity from Europe is important, Khan said, and could change the lives of Pakistan’s workers. “The eyes and the ears of the people are looking to [the brands],” Mansoor said. “And they are being made accountable for their mistakes.”"

-via The Fuller Project, April 2, 2024. Article headers added by me.

#pakistan #fashion #fashion industry #fast fashion #labor #labor unions #labor rights #unions #workers rights #capitalism #european union #germany #united states #new york #garment industry #garment manufacturing #supply chain #good news #hope

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justplainwhump · 2 years ago

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So you want to be a BBU writer...

Congratulations, you are one. The idea of the shared BBU multiverse is, that all takes at the core concepts are valid; there is no canon, and the same time, everything can be canon for your story!

Is there something everyone agrees on?

Probably not; but here are some things I consider widely accepted/canon:

- The setting is dystopian, somewhere between present and near future; in a society similar to ours but with (even) more power in the hands of corporations.

- In several countries, there is a "pet industry", a legalised concept of serfdom/ slavery that allows to own other humans as so called pets, (usually) in a household.

- The term "Pet" is more focused on the ownership and companionship aspects; in most BBU stories the pets are considered less than free people, but aren't actually treated like animals.

- The law states that these people have signed up voluntarily and have been compensated for it. Sometimes though, rich people or corporations go against the law.

- The whole process, from signing up to marketing and sales is in the hands of influential corporations

- Biggest of these, usually, is WRU; there is no canon on what the letters stand for. (It was a tumblr inside joke that makes absolutely no sense in-universe, but the acronym stuck). Some writers create other companies with different methods or focus.

- Pets are classified according to 'designations'; at the core there are Domestics (household chores), Platonics (companionship, nannies, caretakers...) and Romantics (different sort of companionship, including... bedroom chores), plus combinations. Guard Dog (protection) has made it into many stories as a fourth designation. This isn't the limit, though; there are also writers with Object designations, more involved 'service' concepts, 'Chewtoys' and several more.

- Pets are identified by number codes, usually six digits, every writer has a different system behind them. As an abbreviation, handlers tend to use the last three digits. This number is also tattooed on them as a bar code, often on the wrist.

- Somewhere during the training process, trainees are made to forget their entire past and also certain skill sets that pets aren't meant to have. Owners can specify certain things they want to be erased or remembered. Usually, this is handwaved by writers; there's advanced drugs and neurological stimulation involved. The process and the drug administered for the memory loss is often referred to as "The Drip".

- Often, Pets are made illiterate to make them more dependent on their owners

- Often, Pets are made to wear collars and consider these "safe". There's a lot of themes around "safety" taught to pets to keep them contained.

- There are standardised sets of numbered positions the trainees are taught; extra positions can be added on request

- There are also a lot of memorised rules and phrases from training the pets are made to repeat and will sometimes in their everyday life

- Training involves all sort of torture, mostly psychological, drugs, isolation, shock collars and shock batons and serious gaslighting

- Often, training facilities are described as uniform and white and designed like mazes; trainees at facilities wear a 'uniform' of a white shirt and black shorts

- Pets are usually terrified of the memories of their training; including especially "white rooms"

- The term "Respect" spoken by a person with authority will make the pet fall to their knees instantly and await further instruction

- Pets are shipped in a box, which is the idea that spawned the whole universe; usually in a human sized crate with some accessories added. They're also called boxies, box boys/box babes/... because of that.

- Unwanted or stubborn pets are sent back to WRU for "refurb", trained again and sold with big discounts; it's used as a threat and most pets are horribly afraid of this

- In the outside world, there are movements to help runaway pets or even fight the system overall; usually called "pet lib"

- Pet lib runs safehouses where they take in runaways and work on deconditioning

There are more posts like this out these, some more extensive, some very similar; a very good one here. This is the set of things I consider most basic for my own writing, at least.

I've reblogged some more posts and discussions on @bbu-on-the-side as well, so feel free to look around, use whatever you like, and discard the rest.

Also, new (and old) BBU writers always feel free to tag @bbu-on-the-side should you ever do an intro. I'll share them there.

*Edit- I've also started an archive on established tropes and the existing writing for it, here!

#bbu #bbu worldbuilding

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jcmarchi · 28 days ago

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Students strive for “Balance!” in a lively product showcase

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/students-strive-for-balance-in-a-lively-product-showcase/

Students strive for “Balance!” in a lively product showcase

On an otherwise dark and rainy Monday night, attendees packed Kresge Auditorium for a lively and colorful celebration of student product designs, as part of the final presentations for MIT’s popular class 2.009 (Product Engineering Processes).

With “Balance!” as its theme, the vibrant show attracted hundreds of attendees along with thousands more who tuned in online to see students pitch their products.

The presentations were the culmination of a semester’s worth of work in which six student teams were challenged to design, build, and draft a business plan for a product, in a process meant to emulate what engineers experience as part of a design team at a product development firm.

“This semester, we pushed the six teams to step outside of their comfort zones and find equilibrium between creativity and technical rigor, all as they embarked on a product engineering process journey,” said 2.009 lecturer Josh Wiesman.

Trying to find a balance

The course, known on campus as “two-double-oh-nine,” marks a colorful end to the fall semester on campus. Each team, named after a different color, was given mentors, access to makerspaces, and a budget of $7,500 to turn their ideas into working products. In the process, they learned about creativity, product design, and teamwork.

Various on-stage demonstrations and videos alluded to this year’s theme, from balance beam walks to scooter and skateboard rides.

“Balance is a word that can be used to describe stability, steadiness, symmetry, even fairness or impartiality,” said Professor Peko Hosoi, who co-instructed the class with Wiesman this semester. “Balance is something we all strive for, but we rarely stop to reflect on. Tonight, we invite you to reflect on balance and to celebrate the energy and creativity of each student and team.”

Safety first

The student products spanned industries and sectors. The Red Team developed a respirator for wildland firefighters, who work to prevent and control forest fires by building “fire lines.” Over the course of long days in challenging terrain, these firefighters use hand tools and chainsaws to create fire barriers by digging trenches, clearing vegetation, and other work based on soil and weather conditions. The team’s respirator is designed to comfortably rest on a user’s face and includes a battery-powered air filter the size of a large water bottle that can fit inside a backpack.

The mask includes a filter and a valve for exhalations, with a hose that connects to the blower unit. Team members said their system provides effective respiratory protection against airborne particles and organic vapors as users’ work. Each unit costs $40 to make, and the team plans to license the product to manufacturers, who can sell directly to fire departments and governments.

The Purple Team presented Contact, a crash-detection system designed to enhance safety for young bicycle riders. The device combines hardware and smart algorithms to detect accidents and alert parents or guardians. The system includes features like a head-sensing algorithm to minimize false alerts, plus a crash-detection algorithm that uses acceleration data to calculate injury severity. The compact device is splashproof and dustproof, includes Wi-Fi/LTE connectivity, and can run for a week on a single charge. With a retail price of $75 based on initial production of 5,000 units, the team plans to market the product to schools and outdoor youth groups, aiming to give young riders more independence while keeping them safe.

On ergonomics and rehabilitation

The Yellow Team presented an innovative device for knee rehabilitation. Their prototype is an adjustable, wearable device that monitors patients’ seated exercises in real-time. The data is processed by a mobile app and shared with the patient’s physical therapist, enabling tailored feedback and adjustments. The app also encourages patients to exercise each day, tracks range of motion, and gives therapists a quick overview of each patient’s progress. The product aims to improve recovery outcomes for postsurgery patients or those undergoing rehabilitation for knee-related injuries.

The Blue Team, meanwhile, presented Band-It, an ergonomic tool designed to address the issue of wrist pain among lobstermen. With their research showing that among the 20,000 lobstermen in North America, 1 in 3 suffer from wrist pain, the team developed a durable and simple-to-use banding tool. The product would retail for $50, with a manufacturing cost of $10.50, and includes a licensing model with 10 percent royalties plus a $5,000 base licensing fee. The team emphasized three key features: ergonomic design, simplicity, and durability.

Underwater solutions

Some products were designed for the sea. The Pink Team presented MARLIN (Marine Augmented Reality Lens Imaging Network), a system designed to help divers see more clearly underwater. The device integrates into diving masks and features a video projection system that improves visibility in murky or cloudy water conditions. The system creates a 3D-like view that helps divers better judge distances and depth, while also processing and improving the video feed in real-time to make it easier to see in poor conditions. The team included a hinged design that allows the system to be easily removed from the mask when needed.

The Green Team presented Neptune, an underwater communication device designed for beginner scuba divers. The system features six preprogrammed messages, including essential diving communications like “Ascend,” “Marine Life,” “Look at Me,” “Something’s Off,” “Air,” and “SOS.” The compact device has a range of 20 meters underwater, can operate at depths of up to 50 meters, and runs for six hours on a battery charge. Built with custom electronics to ensure clear and reliable communications underwater, Neptune is housed in a waterproof enclosure with an intuitive button interface. The communications systems will be sold to dive shops in packs of two for $800. The team plans to have dive shops rent the devices for $15 a dive.

“Product engineers of the future”

Throughout the night, spectators in Kresge cheered and waved colorful pompoms as teams demonstrated their prototypes and shared business plans. Teams pitched their products with videos, stories, and elaborate props.

In closing, Wiesman and Hosoi thanked the many people behind the scenes, from lab instructors and teaching assistants to those working to produce the night’s show. They also commended the students for embracing the rigorous and often chaotic coursework, all while striving for balance.

“This all started a mere 13 weeks ago with ideation, talking to people from all walks of life to understand their challenges and uncover problems and opportunities,” Hosoi said. “The class’s six phases of product design ultimately turned our students into product engineers of the future.”

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mariacallous · 9 months ago

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Nasir Mansoor has spent 40 years fighting for Pakistan’s workers. Whether demanding compensation on behalf of the hundreds of people who died in a devastating 2012 factory fire in Karachi or demonstrating against Pakistani suppliers to global fashion brands violating minimum wage rules, he’s battled many of the country’s widespread labor injustices.

Yet so far, little has improved, said Mansoor, who heads Pakistan’s National Trade Union Federation in Karachi. Despite spending most of his time dealing with issues in the country’s garment sector, labor laws are still routinely flouted inside factories. Not even European Union trade schemes such as the Generalized Scheme of Preferences—which benefits developing countries such as Pakistan but requires them to comply with international conventions on labor rights—have helped curb violations in an industry notorious for them. Regulations and trade protocols look good on paper, but they rarely trickle down to the factory level. “Nobody cares,” Mansoor said. “Not the government who makes commitments, not the brands, and not the suppliers. The workers are suffering.”

For decades, Western companies based in countries with highly paid workers and strong labor protections have sourced from low-income countries where such laws don’t exist or are weakly enforced. While this business model cuts costs, it’s made it incredibly difficult for workers to seek justice when problems arise. Given the garment sector’s long history of poor labor conditions—whose victims are a predominantly female workforce—rights groups say the industry will feel some of the highest impacts of new due diligence laws such as Germany’s.

Until now, promises made by fashion brands to safeguard workers stitching clothes in factories around the world have been largely voluntary and poorly monitored. If the promises failed or fell short and that information became public, the main fallout was reputational damage. As governments come to realize that a purely voluntary regimen produces limited results, there is now a growing global movement to ensure that companies are legally required to protect the people working at all stages of their supply chains.

Abuses in textile manufacturing have been well documented. Horror stories about brutal violence or building collapses make the news when there’s a major incident, but every day, members of a predominantly female workforce live on low wages, work long hours, and endure irregular contracts. Trade unions, when they are allowed, are often unable to protect workers. A decade ago, the European Parliament described the conditions of garment workers in Asia as “slave labour.”

As of January, Germany’s new law applies to any company with at least 1,000 employees in the country, which covers many of the world’s best-known fast fashion retailers, such as Zara and Primark. Since last January, German authorities say they have received 71 complaints or notices of violations and conducted 650 of their own assessments, including evaluating companies’ risk management.

Nearly 12 years on from the 2012 fire, which killed more than 250 people, violations are still rife for Pakistan’s 4.4 million garment sector workers, who produce for many of the major global brands. Several of these violations were highlighted in research conducted by FEMNET, a German women’s rights nonprofit, and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), a Berlin-based nongovernmental organization, into how companies covered by the Supply Chain Act were implementing their due diligence obligations in Pakistan. With the help of Mansoor and Zehra Khan, the general secretary of the Home-Based Women Workers Federation, interviews with more than 350 garment workers revealed the severity of long-known issues.

In February, the factory registered an additional 400 workers with the social security system (up from roughly 100) and will continue to enroll more, according to Khan. “That is a huge number for us,” she said.

After decades of issues being swept under the carpet, it’s a positive step, Mansoor said. But he’s cautious. Of the six remaining global fashion brands contacted, three are in discussions with the union, while three didn’t respond. Implementation is key, he said, particularly because there has already been pushback from some Pakistani factory owners.

Last month, EU member states finally approved a due diligence directive after long delays, during which the original draft was watered down. As it moves to the next stage—a vote in the European Parliament—before taking effect, critics argue that the rules are now too diluted and cover too few companies to be truly effective.

Still, the fact that the EU is acting at all has been described as an important moment, and unionists such as Mansoor and Khan wait thousands of miles away with bated breath for the final outcome. Solidarity from Europe is important, Khan said, and could change the lives of Pakistan’s workers. “The eyes and the ears of the people are looking to [the brands],” Mansoor said. “And they are being made accountable for their mistakes.”

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lunarsilkscreen · 5 months ago

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How to Run a Game Development Company

Notice I'm talking about this from a perspective that "I need to start from scratch" so I'm not trying to criticize any established company.

If it *sounds* like a criticism; then that's on the reader.

A company needs a few departments for its own protection after hitting a certain size; including a Lawyer, Human Resources, and a Treasurer.

That's only after you're able to grow a certain size; unfortunately you'll need to pay retainer to a lawyer until you reach that size.

As a small business owner; Id need to understand H.R., Budgeting, Investment, and since my preferred job is Game Developer/Designer, I also need rudimentary knowledge of music, art, writing, audio recording, and marketing.

Many Hats.

If you have enough revenue/budget; somebody in this position will start researching workflows. And probably settle on "Scrum" because it seems pretty good.

With a tiny budget; instead of hiring people to work under me, I'd be trying to hire somebody who *knows* better than me in the software department and the art department.

(that is a criticism)

That's were it would start getting unwieldy, because how would you be able to guarantee they knew what they were doing and aren't just good at answering the quote "Google Interview Questions"?

Fortunately, I really am an expert with most of those hats. So what I can do instead;

Is take the "Lead Programmer" hat. What does the lead programmer need to do?

Well, one advantage I have is knowing UML and software design. So I can put together the blue prints, and hire on programmer-interns to do the rudimentary programming to follow the blueprint.

And then I can review the code with them to see where issues might lay, give on-the-fly criticism, and help them get on my level.

This same system is the same for the "art" department. One entry level Modeler is enough. We just need to keep the assets minimal.

A requirement at this level between employees would be to step in where the project is falling behind it there isn't anything to do for your assigned hat.

My hat being all the hats, I step in where needed.

As one product is finished, we hopefully start getting more revenue. And now we can afford a marketer and somebody to do a lot of the footwork that I'd otherwise be doing.

Provided these employees wish to stay here; they become section leaders. They take on a lot of the responsibilities I was taking in *all* departments.

And so the company can keep growing. Provided the revenue supports it.

You only need one person that knows everything on your wish list and just need to sit in and give input after that.

If that starts affording me extra free time; I can work on side projects, starting from scratch essentially, but with the support of the full company around me.

What I don't know; is the dangers that come from a company that grows past that point. I don't really want a company that is bigger than that. So I don't know how to protect the company as a whole after that.

I just know how to use the resources to support growth.

The next department to be created is the core quality control; common frameworks and libraries for reuse. Which will help streamline development and supporting small projects and small intern-ish groups (strike forces) that don't need to start from scratch.

And thus I can offer those strike forces their IP at a cost of some of the short-term profits and allowing them to start their own companies.

Which would allows us to keep operating, and keeping the company smallish and prevent growing to big that it's hard to protect to level I want.

Plus it won't be the same as just *firing* employees.

As they would have their own established resources revenue, and IP. That the "heart company" wouldn't have rights or control over.

Thus, giving us reputation and other opportunities in consulting.

The next problem we might face after that is in over-saturation of the market, and also funding our own competition.

Well, worst case scenario, I would have enough cash at that point to start over if I want, since all I really wanna do is tinker around with software.

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voraciousvore · 1 year ago

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In the Belly of the Giant (12/39)

***Contains soft, nonfatal vore***

Chapter 12

Trent parked his car outside his slummy apartment building and stepped out, still carrying his newly acquired human in his fist. He was hungry and excited, and could barely contain himself as he traversed the dimly lit halls of the building to his living space. Every once in a while he could feel her feeble squirms as she gained new energy in her desperation, but her writhing only made him more eager. He hadn’t eaten a human in a long time, and he had an irrepressible craving for human flesh. The fact it was the same human he had eaten in high school only increased his insatiable appetite. That incident had gotten him expelled, which pushed him into the lucrative job field of black market trading. Really, he ought to thank her. He licked the drool from his lips. He couldn’t wait.

Eren was panicking, but was painfully aware of the futility of trying to escape after trying and failing so many times. Giants were just too strong, too huge; she didn’t stand a chance with her measly form. Trent opened the door to his studio apartment, and Eren was struck by a nauseating funk of unclean air. He flicked on the dim light to reveal an incommodious, filthy space in considerable disarray. Eren was horrified to see giant roaches scatter when the darkness was lifted. Soiled clothes lined the carpet, the bed was unmade, dirty dishes overflowed in the sink, and garbage was littered everywhere. Empty liquor bottles and cans permeated every horizontal surface of the room. Eren even spied used syringes on the bed and the floor.

Oblivious to the mess, Trent shut the door behind him and deposited Eren on his compact dining room table. Eren sprinted across the expanse to the edge but halted when she saw how high up she was from the floor. The fall would kill her; she wasn’t ready to die. She contemplated jumping anyways, briefly, considering to herself the horrific experience that lay ahead of her. In spite of it all, she still clung to the hope that Joey might magically rescue her at the last second, so she refrained. Trent scoffed and curled his huge hand around her, pushing her back to the middle of the table.

“Don’t even try,” he growled. “There’s no getting away. Trust me, I’ve had plenty of humans here before. I’ll make you regret it.” Eren shuddered. Trent unbuttoned his shirt and cast it off so he was just wearing a discolored wife beater undershirt. He sat down at the table, looming over Eren with his great size and making her feel small. He reached both his gigantic hands for her and she yelped in fear. She quivered as he opened the clasps of her harness and removed it from her body. While she was grateful to have the wretched thing taken off, the sentiment was soured by the unsavory notion that he only did so with the intention of eating her.

The giant pulled the parcel out his back pocket that he obtained from Mr. Greenwood and tore it open to reveal two bottles of pills, one giant-sized and the other human-sized. He flicked the “human pills,” as he’d called them earlier, over to Eren and swallowed a pill from his own bottle.

“Take one of those,” he commanded in a booming voice. Eren looked down the bottle with distaste.

“What are those? What if I refuse?” she asked shakily.

“Then you die,” Trent answered bluntly. “My pill’s an antacid, to reduce the potency of my digestive system. Yours protects you from oxygen deprivation and makes you acid resistant for a few hours. I’m going to eat you whether you take the pill or not. So if you don’t want to get digested alive, I suggest you take it.” Eren blanched and picked up the bottle, reading the label with skepticism.

“That’s… that’s impossible. There’s no such pill that can do that,” she muttered. Her hands shook as she held the bottle.

Trent grinned. “Oh yes, there certainly is! It’s great, I can ingest you as many times as I want and you won’t die!” Eren visibly flinched in shock, nearly dropping the pill bottle. The full horror of what the giant was envisioning slowly began to sink in. He was going to torture her, devour her over and over again as much as he pleased and keep her inside his stomach for as long as he wanted. She felt like she was going to vomit.

“You… you…” She struggled to find words. “You human-hating ogre!” She was grasping for a more scathing, witty rebuke, but this weaker insult was all she could muster when she was so afraid.

The giant guffawed. “Au contraire, my dear! I was raised to hate humans, sure, and I may have even believed it at one point, but now I love them! They make such fine companions, since they can’t leave me! And they taste so delicious!” He leaned forward, putting his giant face close to Eren. At the mention of her taste, his gigantic green eyes gleamed with hunger. Eren backed away from the massive face in front of her, only to bump into the giant’s palm behind her. She was trapped like a tiny prey animal. Trent peeled his lips back in a twisted smile, exposing his huge white teeth. Eren whimpered and felt hot tears start to stream down her face.

Trent seemed to delight in scaring her, as if magnifying her fear whetted his appetite. He backed off for a moment, regarding her with a contemplative expression. “I wonder what type of wine you’d pair well with. I’m definitely in the mood for a red wine. Perhaps a Pinot Noir, or Cabernet Sauvignon?” He jumped up and started rummaging through his kitchen.

Eren was baffled on top of being horrified. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” she shouted. It was bad enough to get eaten, but to be paired with a wine like a cut of meat was another level of disturbing. She hadn’t pegged Trent to be a pretentious wine snob either; she just figured he was a dumb brute.

“Ah! Here we go!” Trent exclaimed, pulling out a bottle and a wine glass. “A nice Merlot should do the trick.” He plunked the giant bottle down on the table with a loud thud, knocking Eren over with the vibrations. He popped the cork off the bottle and poured himself a glass. The liquid was a dark, rich ruby red, like the deep red color of blood from a sliced artery. He swirled the glass under his nose, inhaling the scent, before taking a small sip.

“I’m a bit of a gourmand, you see,” the giant explained serenely. “I love food, and I’m very sensitive to flavors and textures. I’m quite looking forward to sampling your particular palate.” He ran his tongue over his teeth, salivating profusely. “Which reminds me, you might want to take your pill soon, before I get impatient.”

Eren went pale again. She needed to survive, to hold out until Joey could locate her. Reluctantly, she twisted the cap off the pill bottle and tapped a pill into her hand. The capsule was a horse pill, quite large, with one side blue and the other red. Eren choked it down. She cringed at the thought that, like a pill, she'd soon be traveling down Trent’s throat. She looked up at the giant towering over her. From the surface of the table, she came up to just above his belly. Her eyes progressed up the vast expanse of his chest, and she imagined being inside his colossal body. Her eyes continued along his bare shoulder, down his lean, muscular arm to his huge hand above her playing with the giant wine glass. Her eyes returned to his chest, up to his neck, corded with muscle. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed another sip of Merlot, and Eren pictured herself, lubricated with wine, sliding down the slick tube of his throat inside. Her eyes moved up to his gargantuan lips and teeth, stained red with wine, the portal to her worst nightmares. And lastly, her eyes finally met his, and her blood ran cold at the bestial yearning contained within those savage, animal eyes.

She felt exposed and naked, standing on the table below in only her undergarments, the giant rising high above her, impossibly tall and imposing. Reason fled her mind and panic gripped her heart. All of a sudden, plummeting off the table to her death seemed like a better idea than letting herself get eaten, even if she did manage to stay alive. She turned to flee, but Trent anticipated her action and plucked her up off the table with his fingers, allowing her legs to flail in the air helplessly. He hesitated, wondering how he should eat her, as she squealed with terror. Finally, with a smirk, the giant dropped her into his wine glass and swished her around in the red liquor to mix the flavors.

Eren sputtered and swam to stay afloat in the dark wine stirring around her in choppy waves and ripples. Trent’s enormous freckled face appeared above the glass with a cruel smile.

“Cheers,” he proclaimed, raising the glass to his lips. Eren screamed as he started draining the glass and the tide swept her toward his immense mouth. She paddled frantically in the opposite direction. He opened his mouth wider, exposing the scarlet insides of his mouth and tongue, and tipped the glass back, pouring the entire contents into his maw. Eren watched, powerless, as his gigantic upper lip passed over her head, and the flow of wine dragged her into shadow. Her bare foot scraped against his lower incisors as she entered the huge walls of teeth above and below. Trent held Eren with his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he sucked the deluge of wine down his throat. He wanted to savor her first in his mouth before he swallowed her. She beheld the wine disappear into the gaping abyss of his gullet, the muscles of his throat flexing closed with every tremendous gulp.

Once he drank the glass of wine, Trent rolled the tiny human around on his tongue, relishing her divine taste. Eren cried and clawed at the inside of his mouth, bit and scratched and writhed, to no effect. He rubbed her against the slick inner curve of his teeth with his tongue, then transferred her to his cheek and sucked on her a bit. He poured himself another glass of Merlot and took a sip, oscillating the spirit around in his mouth with the human floating along the surface before swallowing the wine.

Eren let out a whine in her misery. He was toying with her, teasing her, tasting her, and she hated every second of it. She had been inside enough giant mouths with her job, but was never mistreated in such a way, with the dreadful knowledge she would soon be dropping down into the terrible void deep inside. The prison of flesh and bone surrounding her was hot and wet and suffocating. She was saturated with spit and wine. The slippery, meaty tongue that constantly played with her was exhausting to wrestle with.

The titanic lips parted to allow another wave of wine to flow into the giant’s capacious maw. Eren floundered to keep her head above the liquid so she wouldn’t drown. She was becoming disoriented as she spun around in the current. She didn’t realize until she bumped into his large uvula how far back she was inside his mouth, and how close she was to being swallowed. The wine drained down and Eren suddenly realized with horror that she was getting sucked down in a whirlpool with it. Before she could do anything to halt her descent, Trent gulped her whole body down his gullet.

Eren hadn’t mentally prepared herself for the nightmare that awaited her. The throat muscles crushed the wind out of her as she was forced down the horribly long, pink, slimy chute. Trent’s thunderous heartbeat knocked in her ears. She went down his esophagus feet first, arms folded firmly against her body, unable to resist the oppressive swallowing force. Since she was soaked with fluids, she slid down smoothly, but she was getting so tightly squeezed she thought she was going to pop.

She was crunched through a restrictive opening, and suddenly found herself in open space before she fell and plopped into a pool of boiling gastric juices. Eren couldn’t see in the pitch-black darkness inside the giant’s stomach, but her other senses were overwhelmed. The infernal heat and harsh, noxious fumes were overpowering. The bubbling acid churned and gurgled around her, but didn’t burn her skin on account of the pills. She didn’t pass out either, although she almost wished she could with how horrible her circumstances were. The living flesh enveloping her throbbed and vibrated; the giant’s thumping heartbeat and steady breathing resonated through his belly.

Once the initial shock and horror wore off, Eren struggled to get out, pummeling the fleshy folds of stomach lining with her fists and feet until she was exhausted. The pounding heartbeat quickened but otherwise Trent seemed unaffected by her violence. Eren eventually gave up trying to get out and waited impatiently for Trent to set her free—assuming he would. She hoped the giant digestive organ wouldn’t become her grave.

She was thoroughly disgusted and uncomfortable. Every time Trent moved his guts shifted with him, causing Eren to fall over and splash in acid. His innards were slippery; without anything to hold on to, Eren kept sliding around inside. The heat was unbearable and oppressive. Trent continued to drink his wine, and the liquid ran down into his stomach, splattering all over Eren. As unpleasant as it was to take an alcoholic shower, she was at least thankful that the wine cooled her down.

Eren was becoming increasingly anguished as she endured her ghastly confinement. She felt as if she had been buried alive, the gut cavity reminiscent of a living subterranean tomb. She treaded through the digestive juices and blindly groped around inside the giant’s belly, feeling the wrinkly stomach walls. They pulsed under her touch and gently rose and fell in time with Trent’s breathing.

Her mind started to race. What if he didn’t let her out? What if he got drunk, fell asleep, and forgot about her? What if he was bluffing the entire time, and had no intention of keeping her alive? Trent told her the pills lasted a few hours. If she stayed inside his stomach too long, the effect would wear off, and she’d get digested. Eren started hyperventilating as she struggled to contain her rising panic. The humid, stifling air inside made it difficult to get sufficient oxygen, even with the effect of the pill. She didn’t want to die; she was still young; she had her whole life ahead of her. She wanted to be at home safe with her love Joey, not inside Trent’s hot, disgusting stomach.

As if reading her thoughts, the giant’s stomach growled loudly around her, making her fall over again from the rumbling. Eren shrank away in terror, holding herself with her arms, but she had nowhere to go. She was already trapped in the belly of the giant.

Chapter 13

Chapter 1

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aimmyarrowshigh · 10 months ago

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also! can you tell us a bit about nadia van dyne? i see you write drabbles for her and post about her sometimes but i know NOTHING about her! like? a wasp that was in the red room? fascinating, tell me more

MY BLORBO, NADIA VAN DYNE!

How do I even begin to explain Nadia Van Dyne? Nadia Van Dyne is flawed, but flawless. She has one of the highest IQs in the Marvel Universe and started the Agents of G.I.R.L. to champion women scientists and heroes. I hear her genetic ability to shrink is insured for $10,000. I hear she's taking driving lessons... with Carol Danvers. Her favorite musical artist is Dazzler. One time, she met Doctor Doom on a plane, and they became best friends and he sort of became a good guy for a while. One time, she punched Monica Rappaccini in the face... and it was awesome.

::record scratch::

Okay, now that that's out of my system, seriously for real though, Nadia is the best. Every part of her character creation is that she was made to be my best blorbo girl. I love her.

Quick biography:

Way way way back in the day, Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym fell in love with a Hungarian entomologist (and political prisoner) named Dr. Maria Trovaya, who escaped to the US. She is who got him interested in ants. They got married. They went on their honeymoon to Hungary, where the Red Room kidnapped Maria and faked her murder so that Hank/the Americans wouldn't try to get her back. Hank had a nervous breakdown and got REALLY into ants, became Ant-Man, etc.

MEANWHILE: Maria is alive and being held captive by the Red Room when it's discovered that SHE'S PREGNANT WITH HANK'S BABY. She gives birth in the Red Room and is immediately killed, because now the Red Room doesn't need her -- they have her baby, who they can train from literal birth AND who is the product of TWO geniuses instead of just being ONE genius. Maria survives just long enough to name her Nadia, which means "hope" (because Hope Van Dyne in the MCU actually came first, and Nadia is an homage to her).

(Double meanwhile: Hank meets Janet Van Dyne, whom he thinks looks like 'a less beautiful Maria,' and he is a piece of shit. He marries Janet, is physically and emotionally abusive, Janet gets out, Hank turns into Ultron, it's a whole thing.)

Back in the Red Room, Nadia's FIRST MEMORY IN THIS WORLD is of A KIND MAN WITH A SILVER ARM TELLING HER SHE'S SMART. ::cries for 70 years::

Nadia is raised and trained to be a Red Room agent, but she's put in the science division that I'm forgetting the name of, so she does not have to pass as many physical tests as other Red Room girls (for example, she only has to be able to kill someone in like 14 ways instead of 27). She has one friend in the science division, who is much more into the killing aspect of the Red Room than Nadia is and protects her: Ying. However, because of their closeness, Ying is taken away and reassigned to the normal assassin program. Nadia is alone.

Nadia is determined to escape the Red Room and bring Ying with her, so she eventually manages to acquire black market Pym Particles and experiments with them. She integrates their size-changing properties into her being because hand-wavey superhero science and escapes into the Quantum Realm and thereafter, to America.

She makes her way to Hank's last known address in New Jersey, but oh no, Hank is dead sort of, and also Ultron, sort of, whatever, he's gone. Nadia is crushed that he is dead (she doesn't know about the Ultron part). Nadia decides to become the Wasp and join the Avengers. She saves Vision's life and is like, "YAY I SAVED MY NEPHEW'S LIFE!" and she's not technically wrong. Jarvis immediately is like, "I am adopting this child. Let's go meet Janet."

Janet and Nadia meet by saving the President from a microbomb, idk, it's a whole thing. Anyway, they meet, and Janet immediately just totally falls in love with Nadia and takes her out for a day on the town to experience all of the things she'd never gotten to do before, while living in the Red Room, like ice cream and not being in the Red Room.

Then Civil War II happens and idk whatever.

Then Nadia decides that she is going to form the Agents of G.I.R.L. and that's where her first solo series starts, and you should read it because it's SO GOOD!!!!

Fun Nadia Facts:

Canon aroace!

Canon bipolar representation! Her manic episode is the best-written one that I've ever read.

Canon cute language mix-ups and Russian accent!

Canon thinks of Viv Vision, whom I also deeply love, as her great-niece, and she's again, not wrong!

Janet and Bobbi are co-raising her and Ying! And I ship Janet/Bobbi so much!

Nadia is a badass optimistic traumatized scientist ballerina angel superhero, and I love her.

#marvel #the unstoppable wasp

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taylor1234morgan · 21 days ago

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What Are Forex Scams and How to Spot Them?

The foreign exchange market, simply called forex, is the biggest financial market in the world. The opportunities for making money from this market are vast through exchanging currencies. But on the other hand, the large size and decentralized nature of the market also make it a perfect hunting ground for scammers. In this article, we will discuss what forex scams are, what tactics fraudsters use, and how you can protect yourself from falling victim to them.

Understanding Forex Scams

Forex scams are schemes designed to deceive individuals to invest their money with promises of high returns. These scams are usually perpetrated on inexperienced traders or people seeking easy gains. These scammers often use the most advanced ways to make them appear legitimate; for instance, they might use a fake trading platform, false advertising, or even posing as reputable brokers.

Common Types of Forex Scams

1. Ponzi or Pyramid Schemes

Criminals offer steady, high yields from investments and siphon off money for newer investors to pay prior investors. Such schemes fail when no one else is found to join.

2. Signal Seller Scams

Signal sellers advertise insider advice or signals with a price attached. Many of these do not come true and tend to provide misleading predictions that help in making losses rather than gains.

3. Fake Brokerages

Some of them offer false trading platforms, posing as online forex brokers. They take advantage of people's high hopes for low fees, high leverage, and guaranteed returns. Once you deposit with them, they either manipulate your trades or just disappear.

4. Trading Robots Scams

Automated trading systems, or trading robots, are advertised as making lucrative trades with little or no human involvement. While true robots exist, scammers sell useless or even criminal systems that end up bringing a person massive financial loss.

5. High-Yield Investment Programs (HYIPs)

HYIPs is an investment scam that touts incredibly high returns on investment. Most often, no actual trading occurs and they depend on new investors to pay existing ones, similar to a Ponzi scheme.

6. Pump and Dump Schemes

In this scam, fraudsters artificially inflate the price of a less-traded currency or asset and then sell it off at a profit, leaving investors with worthless holdings.

Warning Signs of Forex Scams

1. Unrealistic promises

Be wary of advertisements that promise assured returns with relatively high returns and minimal or no risk. No legitimate investment is risk-free in forex trading.

2. Pressure to Act Quickly

Scammers often create a false urgency, asking you to invest at once to take advantage of some "limited-time opportunity."

3. Lack of Regulation

A registered and regulated legitimate broker is one registered by recognized financial authorities. The presence of a broker who cannot provide verifiable regulatory information is a red flag.

4. Unsolicited offers

Watch out for cold calls, e-mails, or messages by any person claiming opportunities in Forex Trading.

5. Unstated Terms and Conditions

They normally provide vague or overly complicated terms that hide their intention of being a scam. Read the fine print and ask questions.

6. Bad Reviews or Complains

Research any broker or service thoroughly. If you ever find consistent negative reviews or scams, avoid them.

Saving one's self from forex frauds

1. Check Broker Information

Make sure the intermediary is controlled by proper regulatory bodies such as:

Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or the CFTC in short and National Futures Association in the United States.

This refers to the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

2. GUARANTEED RETURNS- AVOID

No trading or brokerage strategy or even legit broker can guarantee profits. Disregard any advertisement claiming the opposite.

3. Educate Yourself

Understanding the basics of forex trading helps you identify red flags. Learn about trading strategies, market analysis, and common scams.

4. Use Demo Accounts

Test a broker's platform with a demo account before investing real money. This way, you can check its reliability and functionality.

5. Protect your personal information

Scammers will get your information using phishing. Never reveal any sensitive details unless you are sure about the genuineness of the broker.

6. Find good references

Seek advice from experienced traders or financial advisors before committing to any investment. Forums, reviews, and trusted websites can provide valuable insights.

7. Report Suspicious Activity

If you suspect fraud, report it to your local financial authority. In the U.S., you can contact the CFTC or NFA.

Forex Scam Examples in Real Life

1. The case of safe investment

It was the most profitable forex trading platform around the world. It could attract more than $1 billion in investment but turned out to be a scam and the operators ran away with the funds.

2. The Forex-3D Scam

In Thailand, Forex-3D was supposed to promise investors high returns and proved to be yet another Ponzi scheme. Such scams led to huge monetary losses for thousands of its victims.

Conclusion

Forex trading offers great potential for profit, but it also comes with inherent risks—including the risk of falling victim to scams. By understanding common forex scams and staying vigilant, you can protect your investments and trade with confidence. Always prioritize education, verify broker credentials, and be cautious of unrealistic promises.

#forex trading #cryptocurrency

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jurysoft · 22 days ago

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Jurysoft: Revolutionizing E-commerce with Dedicated Developers

In an age dominated by digital innovation, the e-commerce industry is growing at an unprecedented rate. However, this rapid expansion brings unique challenges, from meeting evolving customer demands to leveraging cutting-edge technologies. To thrive in this competitive landscape, businesses need solutions that go beyond generic offerings. This is where Jurysoft comes in—empowering e-commerce businesses by providing access to highly skilled, dedicated developers who specialize in creating tailored solutions that drive growth, innovation, and operational excellence.

The Jurysoft Advantage: Dedicated Developers for E-commerce

At Jurysoft, we understand that one size does not fit all in the e-commerce sector. That’s why we offer businesses the opportunity to collaborate with dedicated developers—professionals who work exclusively on your projects, seamlessly integrating with your team and delivering solutions customized to your unique needs. Whether you’re a budding online store or an established retail giant, Jurysoft’s developers are equipped to tackle your challenges with precision and expertise.

Here’s how Jurysoft’s dedicated developers are transforming the e-commerce landscape:

1. Custom-Built E-commerce Platforms for Your Brand

Off-the-shelf platforms often fall short of meeting the specific demands of modern e-commerce. Jurysoft’s developers specialize in building customized platforms that align perfectly with your brand identity, customer journey, and operational goals. From personalized product recommendations and dynamic pricing algorithms to advanced search functionalities, we ensure your platform stands out in a crowded market.

2. Delivering Exceptional User Experiences (UX)

A seamless and intuitive user experience is key to retaining customers and driving sales. Jurysoft’s developers craft user-friendly interfaces designed to minimize cart abandonment and maximize conversions. We focus on optimizing page load speeds, ensuring mobile responsiveness, and designing smooth navigation, resulting in an unparalleled shopping experience.

3. Integrating Cutting-Edge Technologies

Technologies like AI, ML, AR, and blockchain are reshaping e-commerce, and Jurysoft’s developers are at the forefront of this technological wave. Whether it’s integrating AI-powered chatbots for 24/7 customer support, implementing AR tools for virtual product try-ons, or utilizing blockchain for secure and transparent transactions, our developers help businesses stay ahead of the curve.

4. Ensuring Scalability and Performance

As your business grows, so should your platform. Jurysoft’s dedicated developers design systems that can scale effortlessly to handle increased traffic, larger product catalogs, and more complex operations. By optimizing backend architectures, enhancing database performance, and leveraging cloud technologies, we ensure your platform performs flawlessly under pressure.

5. Seamless Integration with Third-Party Services

Modern e-commerce platforms rely on third-party solutions for payments, shipping, analytics, and marketing automation. Jurysoft’s developers ensure these services integrate seamlessly into your platform, enabling smooth operations and a unified shopping experience for your customers.

6. Fortifying Cybersecurity

E-commerce platforms are prime targets for cyber threats, making robust security essential. At Jurysoft, our developers implement state-of-the-art security measures like encryption protocols, secure payment gateways, and vulnerability assessments to protect your business and customer data from potential breaches.

7. Faster Time-to-Market

In the fast-paced e-commerce world, agility is everything. Jurysoft’s dedicated developers deliver projects with speed and efficiency, allowing your business to adapt quickly to market trends and launch new features or products faster than the competition.

Why Choose Jurysoft for Dedicated Developers?

Jurysoft offers unmatched benefits when it comes to hiring dedicated developers for e-commerce:

Expertise You Can Trust: Gain access to a pool of experienced developers skilled in the latest technologies and e-commerce trends.

Cost-Effective Solutions: Hiring dedicated developers through Jurysoft is a smarter alternative to maintaining a large, full-time in-house team.

Flexibility for Your Needs: Scale your team up or down depending on your project’s requirements without compromising on quality or delivery timelines.

Focus on Your Core Business: Let Jurysoft handle the technical complexities while you concentrate on your business growth.

Unlock the Future of E-commerce with Jurysoft

The e-commerce industry is evolving rapidly, and businesses must embrace innovation to stay competitive. With Jurysoft’s dedicated developers by your side, you gain the expertise and resources needed to tackle challenges, seize new opportunities, and deliver exceptional value to your customers.

Whether you need a custom-built platform, advanced technology integration, or enhanced performance and security, Jurysoft is your trusted partner in driving e-commerce success.

Let Jurysoft help you shape the future of e-commerce. Get in touch with us today to hire dedicated developers who will take your business to the next level!

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hariganesh858 · 22 days ago

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Fuel Additives Market

Fuel Additives Market Size, Share, Trends: BASF SE Leads

Shift towards bio-based fuel additives driving sustainable fuel solutions

Market Overview:

The global Fuel Additives market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2024 to 2031. The market value is expected to increase significantly during this period. North America currently dominates the market, accounting for the largest share of global revenue. Key metrics include increasing demand for high-performance fuels, stringent environmental regulations, and growing automotive and aviation industries. The market is experiencing steady growth due to the rising need for improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, and enhanced engine performance across various sectors.

The fuel additives market is seeing a considerable transition towards bio-based and renewable options. This trend is being driven by growing environmental concerns and the demand for sustainable fuel solutions. Bio-based fuel additives, made from renewable sources including plant oils and waste biomass, are gaining popularity due to their lower carbon footprint and environmental impact. These additives improve lubricity, fuel stability, and reduce emissions, all of which align with global environmental goals. The adoption of bio-based additives is especially high in regions with tight environmental legislation, such as Europe and North America. As consumers and industries become more environmentally concerned, demand for these sustainable additives is likely to rise further, altering the gasoline additives landscape and spurring industry innovation.

DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE

Market Trends:

Increasingly strict pollution standards around the world are a primary driver for the gasoline additives business. To tackle air pollution and climate change, governments and environmental organisations are tightening automobile emission limits. This regulatory pressure is driving automakers and fuel companies to use innovative fuel additives that can minimise hazardous emissions while increasing fuel efficiency. For example, the European Union's Euro 6d emission rules, which went into effect in 2020, imposed stricter restrictions on nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter emissions from cars. Similarly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 3 Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards Program intends to cut smog-forming volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides by 80% from their current levels. These requirements have resulted in a 25% rise in the usage of cetane improvers in diesel fuel over the last five years, as they aid to reduce NOx emissions and improve fuel combustion efficiency.

The unpredictability in crude oil prices presents a substantial challenge to the gasoline additives sector. Many fuel additives are petroleum-based, hence their production costs are directly affected by crude oil prices. This volatility may result in uncertain pricing of fuel additives, reducing manufacturers' profit margins and potentially increasing expenses for end users. For example, during the 2020 oil price fall, the average cost of creating some fuel additives fell by 15-20%, resulting in temporary market volatility. However, as oil prices recovered dramatically in 2021, production costs rose again, creating pricing uncertainty in the fuel additives industry.

Market Segmentation:

Deposit control additives, often known as detergents, account for the biggest market share in the gasoline additives business. These additives help keep engines clean and efficient by preventing deposits from forming in fuel systems and combustion chambers. This segment's prominence can be ascribed to the widespread demand for deposit management across all fuel types and applications.

In recent years, the automotive sector has seen a growth in the use of sophisticated deposit control additives. For example, a large global oil corporation reported a 30% increase in the use of its premium deposit control ingredient in petrol compositions during the previous three years. This increase is primarily due to the increasing complexity of modern engines, which are more prone to performance problems caused by deposits.

The aircraft industry has also contributed to the expansion of deposit control additives. With a greater emphasis on fuel efficiency and engine longevity in aeroplanes, the use of these additives in aviation fuel has increased by 15% since 2020. Major airlines have recorded fuel efficiency gains of up to 2% after introducing advanced deposit control additives into their fuel management techniques, resulting in significant cost savings and lower emissions.

Market Key Players:

Afton Chemical Corporation

BASF SE

Chevron Oronite Company LLC

Evonik Industries AG

Innospec Inc.

Name: Hari Krishna

Email us: [email protected]

Website: https://aurorawaveintellects.com/

#market insights #market research #market trends

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insightsresearch · 28 days ago

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Business Document Work Process Management Market New Innovations Trends, Research, Global Share and Growth Factor

Analysis of Business Document Work Process Management Market Size by Research Nester Reveals the Market to grow with a CAGR of 15.2% during 2025-2037 and attain USD 21.3 billion by 2037

Research Nester assesses the growth and market size of the global business document work process management market which is anticipated to be on account of the increasing investment in the IT industry.

Research Nester’s recent market research analysis on “Business Document Work Process Management Market: Global Demand Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2037” delivers a detailed competitor’s analysis and a detailed overview of the global business document work process managementmarket in terms of market segmentation by offering, enterprise size, deployment, application, and by region.

Increased Integration of Robotics and Blockchain Technology to Promote Global Market Share of Business Document Work Process Management

The global business document work process managementmarket is estimated to grow majorly on account of the widespread adoption of automation and blockchain technology in document management systems. RPA-enabled software robots, often known as digital workers, have progressed from simple, high-volume, rules-based commercial tasks to more complex processes that typically require human intelligence. Blockchain technology can enable automation across organizational boundaries using smart contracts, enable previously unimaginable jobs, and support the growth of trading partner networks' ecosystems.

For instance, while AI-enabled RPA Bots can move data between formats inside a system, the blockchain decentralizes the indexing of the storage system. Files kept in a decentralized system (like IPFS) cannot be lost or compromised in the event of a collapse of a central system. It clears out a system that has collected backlogs of data by dispersing the data over thousands of computers, which speeds up the back-office operation and makes it easier to access

Some of the major growth factors and challenges that are associated with the growth of the global business document work process management market are:

Growth Drivers:

Growing adoption of cloud-based solutions

Growing collaborations among key players

Challenges:

One of the main issues with document management is protecting the privacy and security of sensitive data. Due to the increasing frequency of cyberattacks and data breaches, businesses must implement robust security measures to protect their papers. As a result, this element might prevent the market for business document work process management from expanding.

Compliance with various regulations, including GDPR, HIPAA, and industry-specific guidelines, presents a significant additional burden. For businesses, staying current and compliant is essential because falling behind can lead to serious fines and legal issues.

Access our detailed report at: https://www.researchnester.com/reports/business-document-work-process-management-market/6413

By offerings, the global business document work process management market is segmented into services and solutions. The services segment is to garner the highest revenue by the end of 2037 by growing at a significant CAGR over the forecast period. The increasing emphasis on security and compliance in document management is responsible for the segment's expansion. For instance, 80% of organizations planned to increase their spending on cybersecurity measures in 2024, indicating how critical it is to strengthen defenses against the evolving threat landscape. Furthermore, the trend toward mobile document management is noteworthy since it supports the flexibility required by contemporary work environments by allowing users to access, edit, and share documents while on the move through mobile applications and solutions.

By region, the Europe business document work process management market is expected to generate the highest revenue by the end of 2037. The market growth can be attributed to the rapid shift towards digital transformation of business documents in the region. According to the European Comission, 59% of all EU firms attained a minimal degree of digital intensity in 2023. While the proportion for large enterprises was 91%, the share for SMEs was 58%, some 30 percentage points (pp) below the EU 2030 target. Also, the increased use of cloud-based services for document management and storage as well as the rapid use of electronic document management (EDM) services is another factor propelling the market growth in the region.

Request Free Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.researchnester.com/sample-request-6413

This report also provides the existing competitive scenario of some of the key players of the Xerox Corporation, Eastman Kodak Company, Docusign, Inc., Inetum, Exela Technologies Inc., Adobe Inc., Lexmark International, Inc., IBM Corporation, Oracle Corporation, LogicalDOC, and others.

Request for customization @ https://www.researchnester.com/customized-reports-6413

Research Nester is a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting. We aim to provide unbiased, unparalleled market insights and industry analysis to help industries, conglomerates and executives to take wise decisions for their future marketing strategy, expansion and investment etc. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Our out of box thinking helps our clients to take wise decision in order to avoid future uncertainties.

Contact for more Info:

AJ Daniel

Email: [email protected]

U.S. Phone: +1 646 586 9123

U.K. Phone: +44 203 608 5919

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shivamprajapati · 1 month ago

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Plagiarism Checker Pricing and Features Compared: Is It the Best Plagiarism Checker for You?

In today’s world, where content creation is at the forefront of education, business, and creativity, ensuring originality is essential.

Plagiarism detection tools have become indispensable for professionals, students, and content creators to maintain integrity and avoid the pitfalls of unintentional duplication.

But with so many options available, choosing the right tool can feel overwhelming. How do you find one that balances affordability, features, and accuracy?

This article delves into the pricing structures and features of some of the most popular plagiarism checkers on the market, including Plagibot.

Whether you’re a student working on assignments, a writer crafting original pieces, or a business professional ensuring compliance, this guide will help you identify the tool best suited to your needs.

Overview of Plagiarism Checkers

Plagiarism checkers are software solutions designed to identify duplicate content by scanning text against vast databases of online sources, academic journals, and proprietary repositories. These tools provide detailed reports highlighting sections of text that match other works, helping users correct and refine their content.

They are essential for:

Students and educators, to uphold academic honesty.

Writers and journalists, to ensure credibility and originality.

Businesses and marketers, to protect brand reputation and comply with copyright laws.

The right plagiarism checker ensures your work is not only unique but also polished and professional.

Pricing Models Compared

Plagiarism checkers generally fall into three pricing categories:

1. Free Versions

Some tools offer free versions with limited functionality, such as a cap on word count or access to smaller databases. These are ideal for occasional users but may not provide the depth needed for thorough checks.

Pros: No cost, easy to use for quick scans.

Cons: limited accuracy, smaller database coverage, and fewer features.

2. Subscription Models

Most advanced tools operate on a subscription basis, offering monthly or yearly plans. These are well-suited for students, professionals, and businesses requiring regular access.

Pros: Access to comprehensive features like real-time feedback, detailed reports, and robust integrations.

Cons: Recurring costs that may be steep for infrequent users.

3. Enterprise Options

For large institutions, businesses, or universities, many tools offer enterprise plans with custom pricing. These include advanced analytics, multi-user access, and integration with existing systems.

Pros: Tailored solutions, dedicated support, and scalability.

Cons: Expensive and often unnecessary for smaller teams or individuals.

Key Features to Look For

When selecting a plagiarism checker, consider the following features:

1. Accuracy

Choose a tool with a high detection rate, capable of identifying both exact matches and paraphrased content.

2. Database Size

A larger database ensures better detection. Look for tools that scan academic papers, web pages, and offline content repositories.

3. Ease of Use

A user-friendly interface is critical, especially for non-technical users. Features like drag-and-drop uploads, real-time results, and clear reports enhance the experience.

4. Integration Options

For professionals and teams, seamless integration with platforms like Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or content management systems (CMS) is invaluable.

5. Customization

The ability to set preferences, such as excluding quoted text or sources, can improve the relevance of results.

Top Competitors in the Market

Here’s a comparison of some leading plagiarism detection tools:

Tool

Key Features

Pricing

Strengths

Weaknesses

Grammarly

Real-time suggestions, grammar check, database scan

Free basic plan; premium starts at $12/month.

Combines plagiarism with grammar checks

Limited to online sources

Turnitin

Academic focus, deep repository of journals

Custom pricing for institutions

Trusted in academia

Not accessible for individual use

Copyscape

Web-focused detection, URL scanning

$0.03/credit for premium use

Affordable for website checks

Limited functionality beyond web

Quetext

Color-coded reports, deep search capabilities

Free for basic; premium from $10.49/month

Detailed similarity breakdown

Database not as extensive as others

Scribbr

Plagiarism and citation checking

Starts at $19.95 per document

Citation focus, no subscription

Pay-per-use model is costly for frequent checks.

Each tool excels in specific areas, so the best choice depends on your individual requirements.

How to Choose the Right Tool for You

Selecting the right plagiarism checker involves understanding your unique needs:

1. For Students

Choose a tool with academic repository access, such as Turnitin or Scribbr. Free options like Grammarly’s basic plan can also be helpful for minor assignments.

2. For Content Creators

Opt for tools like Grammarly or Copyscape, which combine plagiarism detection with stylistic suggestions for polished, engaging content.

3. For Businesses

Look for enterprise solutions that integrate with your existing systems and offer scalability, such as Turnitin or Copyscape.

4. For Educators

Turnitin remains the gold standard, but alternatives like Quetext provide affordable options for smaller institutions or individual use.

Conclusion: Prioritizing Affordability and Effectiveness

Plagiarism detection tools are vital for anyone striving to maintain originality and quality in their work. While free versions can offer quick checks, subscription-based or enterprise models provide the comprehensive features necessary for regular users.

Whether you’re a student, writer, or business professional, consider your budget, usage frequency, and feature requirements before choosing a tool. Investing in the right plagiarism checker not only ensures your content remains original but also strengthens your reputation for quality and integrity in your field.

By prioritizing both affordability and effectiveness, you’ll be equipped with the tools you need to elevate your work and protect your creative efforts.

#AI-powered plagiarism checker #Content originality checker

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barrybekkedam · 2 months ago

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Sustainable Infrastructure: Investing in a Green Future

Investing in sustainable infrastructure is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of future-oriented strategies. As we tackle urbanization, climate change, and resource scarcity, sustainable infrastructure offers solutions that don’t just meet today’s needs but are built to last. Here, I’ll delve into key components of sustainable infrastructure and discuss why they represent critical opportunities for forward-thinking investors.

The Importance of Sustainable Infrastructure

Sustainable infrastructure goes beyond traditional construction to incorporate environmental responsibility into every stage, from design to materials to maintenance. This approach aims to reduce emissions, save resources, and ultimately create resilient structures that serve communities without compromising the environment. Recognizing that sustainable infrastructure is both a necessity and a long-term investment opportunity, many investors are shifting their focus toward projects that offer enduring value alongside environmental benefits.

With sustainable infrastructure, the goal is twofold: economic returns and positive social impact. Projects are designed to withstand environmental challenges, lowering maintenance costs and enhancing durability. Given the emphasis on climate goals worldwide, sustainable infrastructure offers investors a chance to align financial objectives with ecological stewardship, helping protect both portfolio returns and the planet’s health.

Integrating Renewable Energy

Integrating renewable energy into infrastructure is a game-changer for sustainability, allowing projects to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Solar, wind, and geothermal energy are increasingly used to power buildings, transit systems, and public lighting. With the cost of renewables falling and technology advancing, solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal systems are becoming more accessible for infrastructure projects of all sizes.

For investors, renewable energy integration within infrastructure projects represents a forward-thinking approach with financial and environmental payoffs. Renewable-powered infrastructure reduces operating costs over time and increases resilience against future energy price fluctuations. Whether it’s solar-powered streetlights or geothermal heating systems in commercial buildings, renewable integration is transforming the way we power infrastructure, creating a new standard in sustainable design.

Using Green Building Materials

One of the cornerstones of sustainable infrastructure is the use of green building materials. Conventional materials like cement and steel have high carbon footprints, and their production generates considerable waste. Green alternatives, such as recycled steel, bamboo, and sustainably sourced wood, provide durable solutions that reduce environmental impact. For example, green concrete reduces greenhouse gas emissions during production and requires less water, making it an ideal choice for sustainable construction.

By choosing sustainable materials, infrastructure projects conserve resources and minimize maintenance requirements, which helps cut costs over the project’s life span. These materials also create structures that are more resilient to environmental conditions. Investing in projects that emphasize sustainable materials aligns with the growing market demand for green construction and assures that infrastructure will remain valuable and functional as environmental standards continue to evolve.

Prioritizing Water Conservation Technologies

Water conservation is a critical component of sustainable infrastructure, especially as water scarcity becomes a concern in many regions. Smart irrigation systems, rainwater harvesting, and greywater recycling technologies are being incorporated into new and existing infrastructure to reduce water usage. In urban environments, green infrastructure elements such as rain gardens, permeable pavements, and bioswales manage stormwater more effectively, lowering flood risks and reducing reliance on centralized water management systems.

Water conservation efforts extend the life of resources and reduce long-term operational costs. By investing in water-efficient infrastructure, stakeholders contribute to the responsible management of a precious resource and reduce operating expenses. From smart water meters in residential areas to industrial water recycling, these technologies help address water scarcity while reinforcing infrastructure sustainability, making them highly attractive to investors focused on environmental resilience.

The Role of Smart City Technology and IoT

Smart cities use data-driven approaches to enhance infrastructure efficiency, from traffic management to energy use. Internet of Things (IoT) devices are deployed to gather and analyze data, providing insights that enable cities to optimize resource usage and reduce waste. For instance, smart streetlights adjust brightness based on pedestrian activity, conserving energy, while waste sensors notify collection services only when bins are full, cutting unnecessary trips.

These technologies offer significant benefits to cities and investors alike, enhancing infrastructure longevity and reducing operational costs. IoT technology empowers urban centers to respond quickly to infrastructure needs, lowering energy consumption and maintenance costs. For investors, projects that incorporate IoT and smart technologies offer a glimpse into the future of urban living and present an opportunity to support infrastructure that aligns with modern, data-centric management practices.

Sustainable Public Transit and Mobility Solutions

Transportation is a major contributor to emissions, and sustainable infrastructure addresses this through investment in public transit and active mobility solutions. Cities are shifting toward electric buses, bike-sharing programs, and pedestrian-friendly zones, all of which reduce the reliance on fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. This reduces pollution, eases congestion, and enhances the quality of urban life. The development of electric-powered and renewable energy-based transit options has also seen growing interest among municipal leaders and the public.

For investors, sustainable transit infrastructure projects promise significant long-term returns. Cities that prioritize these projects attract residents and businesses committed to low-emission lifestyles, creating a supportive environment for green initiatives. The trend toward eco-friendly transit highlights the growing commitment to sustainable infrastructure that can be expanded to include future innovations like autonomous electric buses and expanded rail systems.

Building Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

As climate-related events become more frequent, infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather is essential. Sustainable infrastructure projects often incorporate resilience to climate risks, such as rising sea levels, extreme heat, and heavy rainfall. This may involve using flood-resistant materials, installing green roofs to reduce heat, and designing elevated structures in flood-prone areas. Climate-resilient infrastructure also includes energy-efficient buildings that can handle increased cooling demands as temperatures rise.

Investing in climate-resilient infrastructure provides a built-in hedge against environmental disruptions that could otherwise damage assets and incur repair costs. For investors, climate resilience in infrastructure offers peace of mind, as these assets are built to endure environmental shifts without compromising functionality. This resilience is increasingly recognized as a value-add for sustainable infrastructure projects, helping protect investments while adapting to changing environmental conditions.

Key Aspects of Sustainable Infrastructure Investment

Renewable Energy Integration: Solar, wind, and geothermal energy in buildings and public spaces.

Green Building Materials: Use of recycled steel, bamboo, green concrete, and other eco-friendly options.

Water Conservation: Incorporating smart irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and greywater systems.

Smart City Technology: IoT devices for efficient energy, waste, and resource management.

Sustainable Public Transit: Electric buses, bike-sharing, and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

Climate Resilience: Infrastructure built to withstand extreme weather events.

Conclusion: Shaping the Future with Sustainable Infrastructure

Sustainable infrastructure investment is more than just a market trend—it’s a step toward building a resilient, eco-friendly world that can support both present and future generations. By prioritizing renewable energy, eco-conscious materials, water conservation, smart technologies, and climate resilience, these projects don’t just offer environmental benefits; they also offer lasting value. Investors looking to make an impact should consider sustainable infrastructure, as it aligns with both financial growth and responsible stewardship, building a greener future for all.

#barry bekkedam #Green Future #Sustainable Infrastructure

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sgukfyuk · 2 months ago

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Expert Tips for Hassle-Free Air Conditioning Replacement Near Me

Many homeowners delay upgrading their systems because they’re unsure whether a replacement is necessary. However, waiting too long can lead to skyrocketing energy bills and uncomfortable indoor temperatures. Common signs that you need anair conditioning unit replacement include inconsistent cooling, strange noises, or a system that’s more than 10–15 years old. These issues indicate that your current unit is working overtime to keep up with your cooling needs, ultimately costing more in the long run.

Another red flag is frequent repairs. If you find yourself constantly searching for repair services instead of a permanent solution, it’s time to explore options for a new unit. Opting for an updated system ensures better performance, lower electricity costs, and improved air quality.

Benefits of Choosing Air Conditioning Replacement Near Me

When it’s time to upgrade your cooling system, searching for air conditioning replacement near me ensures that you find professionals familiar with your area’s climate and energy standards. These local experts can recommend the best units for your specific needs and provide timely service. Additionally, working with nearby technicians often results in faster installations and easier maintenance.

A local replacement service also provides personalized attention. They’re likely to offer tailored recommendations based on your home’s layout, size, and insulation. This localized expertise is invaluable in ensuring you select an energy-efficient unit that keeps your home comfortable year-round.

How to Choose the Right Air Conditioning Unit Replacement

Selecting the right replacement system can feel overwhelming, given the wide range of options on the market. The first step is to assess your home’s cooling requirements. Larger spaces may require systems with higher cooling capacities, while smaller homes can benefit from compact units. Consulting with a trusted professional can help narrow down your choices.

Energy efficiency is another critical factor to consider. Modern systems come with advanced features such as variable speed compressors and smart thermostats, which reduce energy consumption and save money. Investing in an energy-efficient air conditioning unit replacement also aligns with eco-friendly practices, helping to lower your carbon footprint.

Pay attention to warranties as well. A comprehensive warranty ensures peace of mind and protects your investment from unforeseen issues. Ask your local service provider about the warranty terms before committing to a specific model.

Preparing for the Replacement Process

Before scheduling a replacement, ensure your home is ready for the upgrade. Start by scheduling a consultation with a technician to assess your existing system and discuss potential solutions. This initial step helps identify compatibility issues and ensures that the installation process goes smoothly.

Next, clear the area around your old unit. This allows technicians to access the system easily and work efficiently. If your ductwork needs updates, discuss this during the consultation, as leaky or damaged ducts can impact the performance of your new system.

Additionally, be sure to ask about maintenance plans during your air conditioning replacement near me search. Many local providers offer affordable maintenance services to keep your new system running efficiently for years.

Why Timing Matters for Air Conditioning Unit Replacement

Timing your replacement wisely can save you money and hassle. Replacing your unit during the off-season—spring or fall—often means better availability and lower prices from local providers. During peak summer, technicians are typically busier, leading to potential delays and higher costs.

Moreover, upgrading your system before a complete breakdown occurs ensures that your home remains comfortable, even during extreme weather. Waiting until your current unit fails completely can leave you dealing with unexpected costs and discomfort.

Long-Term Advantages of Upgrading Your Cooling System

Investing in a modern cooling system offers several long-term benefits. A newly installed air conditioning unit replacement provides consistent comfort, reduces noise levels, and ensures better air quality. Advanced filtration systems in modern units trap dust, allergens, and pollutants, creating a healthier living environment.

Upgraded systems also come with advanced technology for enhanced control. Smart thermostats and mobile apps allow you to adjust settings remotely, ensuring optimal energy usage. This convenience, combined with reduced energy bills, makes replacing your old system a smart choice for the future.

Choosing the Right Service Provider

Selecting the right service provider is crucial for a seamless replacement experience. Local providers specializing in air conditioning replacement near me often offer better accountability and customer service. Look for a company with a strong reputation, transparent pricing, and skilled technicians.

Reading reviews and asking for referrals can help identify reliable service providers in your area. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about their experience, certifications, and post-installation support to ensure you’re making an informed decision.

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ebelal56-blog · 2 months ago

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What Caused the 1987 STOCK MARKET Crash Revealed

Imagine waking up on October 19, 1987, and flipping on the news, only to be greeted by a financial apocalypse. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, that once-reliable barometer of economic health, plummeting by an astonishing 22.6% in just one day. It’s like watching a beloved sports team lose in the finals, but this isn’t just a game; it’s the livelihood of millions. For many, this was the moment when the world of finance turned from a place of promise into a chaotic whirlwind of panic and despair. What caused this monumental crash? It wasn’t just one thing; it was a perfect storm. First, let’s talk about program trading. This automated trading system, designed to execute trades based on preset conditions, turned into a double-edged sword. As stock prices began to fall, these algorithms kicked in, triggering a wave of selling that only intensified the downward spiral. It’s like a domino effect—one topples, and suddenly, the entire structure collapses. Then there was the issue of overvaluation. Leading up to that fateful day, stock prices had skyrocketed, pushing valuations to levels that were, frankly, unsustainable. Investors were riding high on optimism, but it was built on shaky ground. When reality finally set in, and those inflated prices began to deflate, the panic selling began. It’s a harsh reminder that what goes up can come crashing down, often with little warning. And let’s not forget about investor sentiment. In the days leading up to the crash, uncertainty loomed over the market like a dark cloud. Economic data was shaky, geopolitical tensions were rising, and fear was palpable. When investors lose confidence, it’s like a snowball rolling downhill, gaining speed and size until it’s out of control. That’s exactly what happened on Black Monday. As the market spiraled, liquidity issues exacerbated the situation. Investors were desperate to sell, but finding buyers became increasingly difficult. It’s a classic case of too many sellers and not enough buyers, leading to a vicious cycle of declining prices. So, what can we learn from the chaos of 1987? First and foremost, diversification is key. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. By spreading your investments across various asset classes, sectors, and regions, you can cushion the blow when one area takes a hit. Next, adopt a long-term perspective. Market fluctuations are as common as the changing seasons. Instead of panicking during a downturn, remember that history shows us that markets tend to recover over time. It’s about playing the long game, not chasing the immediate highs and lows. Consider using stop-loss orders, but do so with caution. While they can protect your gains, they can also trigger in a sudden dip, leading to losses you didn’t anticipate. A trailing stop-loss might be a better option, adjusting as your investments grow, giving you a safety net without locking you out during normal volatility. Regularly rebalancing your portfolio is also crucial. As life changes, so do your financial goals and risk tolerance. If you’re nearing retirement, for instance, shifting assets from stocks to bonds can help safeguard your nest egg.

#youtube

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