#Financial Conduct Authority

[lexlawuk]

Account Freezing Order Guide

An Account Freezing Order (AFO) is a type of a freezing order used by enforcement agencies in the UK to freeze monies held in accounts that are subject of an investigation into suspected criminal activity. This article explains the purpose, application process, legal implications, and consequences for you or your business that has been made subject to an AFO. Our expert team of AFO Solicitors and…

[commercialawarenesstoday]

UK government to introduce new rules to restrict ‘de-banking’

The UK chancellor has announced new rules to restrict the practice of ‘de-banking’ amid reports that some banks may have closed customer accounts because of their political beliefs.

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, Jeremy Hunt revealed plans to introduce revised ‘threshold conditions’ for banks, aiming to ensure that they uphold their responsibilities in safeguarding freedom of speech. He said the changes to the rules, which determine a bank’s eligibility to operate, will set clear guidelines for banks to meet their existing legal obligations regarding freedom of speech.

The announcement follows the publication of an in-depth initial investigation into the issue (85-page / 1.77MB PDF) conducted by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The regulator collected data from 34 firms for its report, which highlighted four potential cases of political de-banking. But further analysis indicated that these closures were primarily due to customer behaviour, such as racist language directed at staff, rather than the legitimate expression of political beliefs.

According to the FCA report, the most common reasons for personal account closure were inactive or dormant accounts, financial crime, and customer failure to produce identification. For business account closures, the primary reason was the commercial cost of complying with anti-financial crime requirements, which particularly affected cash-intensive, adult entertainment, pawnbroking, and crypto businesses.

Mike Hawthorne, banking and financial services disputes expert at Pinsent Masons, said: “The quality of the data collected by the FCA varied greatly, so it is difficult to come to concrete conclusions about how widespread de-banking really is. For example, further analysis of account closures for ‘reputational reasons’ or ‘other’ could uncover connections to customers' political views. Withdrawing banking services on grounds of political beliefs is already illegal so you would not expect banks to have been collecting data on the frequency of this happening.”

“The weakness in the self-reported data will be addressed by the regulator conducting a separate exercise to gather feedback from so-called ‘politically exposed persons’, which may provide different insights. Ultimately, the report underscores the need for more research into the impact of so-called ‘de-risking’, whereby financial firms exclude certain customer categories due to concerns about financial crime or ethical considerations,” Hawthorne said.

He added: “While the societal consequences of de-risking fall outside the FCA's jurisdiction, the regulator suggested that the government should consider addressing this issue at a policy level, which is what is happening now.”

In his speech at the Conservative Party conference, the chancellor confirmed that the government would introduce new rules that will require banks to provide explanations and delays in the event of account closures. The notice period for terminating payment service framework contracts will be extended from two months to 90 days, and banks will be obligated to provide customers with clear and tailored justifications for closing their accounts, except in limited cases where such disclosure would be unlawful.

The FCA’s report also examined the reasons why 2.1% of the UK’s adult population do not have bank accounts. Hawthorne said: “While no clear trend emerges, factors including deprivation, unemployment and long-term sickness appear to contribute. There is a discrepancy between racial groups too, with a lower incidence of unbanked individuals among Black and Black British at 0.9% and a higher incidence among Asian and Asian British at 5.9%. Other reported groups include white at 1.7%, mixed/multiple ethnic groups at 3.1%, and ‘other’ at 3.8%.”

The FCA said it could not currently explain these disparities and plans to commission further research on the issue. Although the incidence of unbanked individuals is higher than expected, the report notes that 53% of affected individuals surveyed expressed no interest in having a bank account.

[littlefireball]

ʏꜱ|ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ᴍᴇ, ᴛᴀꜱᴛᴇ ᴍᴇ, ꜰɪʟʟ ᴍᴇ ᴜᴘ (ᴍ)

ɢᴏᴅ ᴏꜰ ʙʀᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ʏᴇᴏꜱᴀɴɢ x ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ꜱᴍᴜᴛ|ᴜɴᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ꜱᴇx|ʏᴇᴏꜱᴀɴɢ ꜱᴀᴠᴇᴅ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ|ᴄʜᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ (ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ɢᴏᴏᴅ (?) ɪɴ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴏɴᴇꜱʜᴏᴛ)|ʀᴏᴜɢʜ ꜱᴇx|ᴄʟɪᴛ ᴘʟᴀʏ|ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀɪɴɢ|ᴅʀʏ ʜᴜᴍᴘ|ᴏʀᴀʟ|ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴋ*ʟʟɪɴɢ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ

ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 2.4ᴋ

Other members: ATEEZ as Fake Gods, Seonghwa

Masterlist

Rumors abound in the city about the miraculous powers of the holy water in the temple, believed to bestow fertility upon barren women. Little do they know, the so-called holy water is actually a disguise for the gods themselves. Concealed within the temple, the deity assumes the form of a male priest, carefully selecting his chosen women. His divine 'touch' brings forth new life for those he deems worthy, while others are left untouched by his favor.

And as usual, he was entrenched in the temple, looking for his favorite "prey".

You were compelled into a marriage with that pig in the urban center due to your family's financial ruin, or should I say that oily old man who was as corpulent as a pig. His conduct exuded disdain towards women, and his utterances lacked any semblance of decency. He demanded you to have children for him, but who would consent to such a disgusting request.

Whenever he attempted to forcefully have sex with you, you resorted to narcotics or simply delivered a blow to render him unconscious. Of course, it was not a long term solution. He brought you to the temple, despite your unwillingness.

"You better get pregnant or I'll just throw you to the brothel," The old man warned, gripping your wrist hard enough to leave a clear red mark. "Get off me! You fucking old man!" "How dare you talk like this to your husband?!" As he was about to slap you, a sudden deep voice stopped him. "Quiet!"

Yeosang walked out from behind the statue with a serious look on his face. "This is a holy land, how can you be allowed to cause trouble?"

"I apologize. My wife is trying to hurt me so I…" "Is it true? Why do I perceive a desire in you to strike her?" Yeosang maintained a stern face as he advanced, radiating an aura of authority that left the elderly man faltering. "No, no, my lord, you have misunderstood. I simply intended to catch her, not harm her."

"Catch her?" Yeosang tilted his head, gazing at the man with impatience and anger. "What a good husband?" Yeosang forcefully released the man's grip on your wrist and pushed his hand away with determination. The oily man's wrists bore the marks of yeosang's strength, as his fingers left visible bruises on the old man's skin. Despite the pig's cries, Yeosang remained resolute and refused to release his hold.

"Ah, say something to help me, explain it! Y/N!!" That fat pig bellowed in desperation, beseeching you to come to his aid. But how could you do this? Your delight in witnessing his suffering is beyond comprehension, as he was left in a state worse than death. "He is trying to hurt me, my lord." "You bitch─!!!" Without allowing the oily man to utter another word, Yeosang flung him to the ground like a piece of refuse.

"Leave. Before I changed my mind." The old man struggled to stand up and ran away without looking back. "You stay here, Y/N."

"Me?Stay here?" Yeosang nodded as he slowly walked back to his throne-like sofa. The sophisticated man reclined against the opulent throne, his demeanor exuding an air of refinement. "Come here," he beckoned, his voice laced with an unprecedented softness. You obediently knelt before him, a blush creeping onto your cheeks at the sight of his striking features.

"Tell me, my dear, do you desire to conceive?" Gently cupping your face, his thumb grazed your lips, applying a slight pressure. "I…" You found yourself captivated by his presence, rendered speechless. "Never, right?" He echoed your unspoken thoughts, causing you to flinch. "But what if the child is mine?" "What?"

"Don't worry, that man won't pester you anymore." He grabbed your chin to press his lips on yours. "It'll be good, I promise."

It was the first time your lips met. That fat pig had never shown you the same kindness as Yeosang. To him, you were nothing more than a fertility tool. There was no hint of aggression or intrusion in the kiss, only warmth and tenderness. A pulsating sensation coursed through both of your bodies, and you felt the heat spreading throughout your entire being.

"Are you feeling hot?" Yeosang inquired in between kisses, to which you shyly nodded. "Then you need to cool off." His hand slipped down your back, unzipping and slipping inside. You gasped at the chilly touch of his fingers, causing him to smirk.

He drew you nearer, settling you on his lap, encircling your legs around his waist as he trailed his kisses along your jawline and neck. Tilting your head back to grant him better entry, he nestled himself in the curve of your neck, exploring with his mouth everywhere he could reach. With a swift movement from Yeosang, your top slipped down, and after unfastening your bra and tossing it aside, he gently guided you down onto the plush sofa.

"Have you had sex before?" You shook your head as you trailed off. "I never let my…that old man touched me."

"Do you want me to touch you?" He hovered you, his tone tingled with a hint of desire. "Please…" "Say it again, Y/N." His thumb brushed your bottom lips, then sliding down to hold your chin. "Please, I want you to touch me." Yeosang smiled as his ego grew at your answer. "Do you know my name?" You shook your head. "It's Yeosang. No one knows but only you."

"Because you are special." His words ignited a blush on your cheeks, evoking feelings of tenderness and timidity. You sensed a new emotion blossoming within your heart. Could it be the sensation of falling in love? Oh, the irony of it all! How amusing to think that mere sweet words could stir such emotions. Despite your rational mind attempting to awaken you, the yearning within your being refused to be silenced.

You watched him leave a trail of kisses from your chest to the tummy. "That old man doesn't deserve you." Yeosang sat up straight to tear apart your dress, making you gasp at shock. He cupped your clit and moved up and down, giving a little hard press to make you moan at sudden touch.

"Gosh…" "You're so warm, honey." This was your first time to feel such pleasure. All the heat rushed to your clit and something flowed out, wetting your underwear. Feeling his fingertip went deep into your cunt, you arched your back as he gently caressed it. "It was your first time and I don't want to hurt you. Gotta prepare you well."

Yeosang buried his face between your thighs, sucking your fold slightly. "Yeo…Yeosang!" You arched your back and moaned at pleasure. Even though there was a fabric, you could still feel his tongue every move. The wet muscle shifted from the bottom to the top as he ate you out like a starved man. Gripping his hair lightly, you pulled him closer to your core as you wanted more.

Yeosang pushed your thighs to either side as he got your signal. "Hold it." You obeyed his words and grabbed your calves, feeling a cold touch on your clit followed by a hot, wet sensation as he pulled the hem of your panties aside. His tongue was tapping your fold at a quick pace, making you let out a choppy moan.

But it was not enough. You wanted, no, needed something more exciting.

"Yeosang…" "Be patient, doll. I know what you want but you have to wait." Dropping a kiss on your clit, he sat up straight again and took off all his clothes. You felt worried as you gazed on his big, long cock, not knowing if it fit you. "You can take it, don't worry. Let's adjust it first, okay?"

He guided his member to rub against your clit. Everything was slow and gentle. Each time his hard tip brushed your fold, you couldn't help but pant heavily as the numbness took over you. "How does it feel?" "It…it feels good." Covering your mouth to suppress the moaning, Yeosang rubbed faster and harder that made you wetter.

"Want me to thrust in? Words, honey." Yeosang asked, leaning closer to make a fast friction.

"Yes,yes, please, my lord." You cried. "Oh fuck!!" He plugged in with a smooth motion after finding your entrance, reaching the sensitive spot.

"Ah~yeosang~oh my god~" The alluring moan caused a flush of embarrassment to spread across your cheeks, yet it also further inflamed Yeosang's desire. He folded you up as a mating press, penetrating even deeper. His powerful thrusting resembled an unstoppable force of nature. Every penetration delved as deeply as could be, forcefully meeting your tender flesh. The combination of pain and arousal left you gasping for breath, your exhilaration expressed through high-pitched cries.

You enveloped him in your embrace, drawing him near to feel the warmth of your body against his. With each thrusting, the friction of your bodies created a thrilling sensation, igniting a new level of excitement. His cock nestled so deep in your cunt as if breaking through your limit.

Your nails dug into his back as he battered your sweet spot again and again. The numbness from thrusting made you reel and moan messily. "Gonna fill your pussy with my seed, it must be good." He huffed, trying to catch his breath. "Keep squeezing my cock to make me cum?How thirsty you are." Well, Yeosang totally forgot he was supposed to be elegant, gentle but not rough and dirty. Maybe his possessiveness was stirred up when he saw how that fat pig forced you to bear his child. No, he couldn't accept this.

Yeosang turned you over harshly, making you bounce on the sofa and shout in surprise. Aiming at your hole again, he entered you in one go and fucked you at an inhuman speed. "Fuck!!Fuck!!Fuck!!" He propped himself with both hands on your lower back, hitting your ass with his ball, causing a loud skin slapping filled the temple.

"Oh my god, fuck it." Yeosang's thrusting went faster and faster as if there was no limitation. He needed to cum, to fill your pussy with his hot seed. "Cum for me, Y/N. Let's breed. Carry my child." He drew back his hips until only his tip inside your cunt and bumped into you. As a high-pitched moan left your tongue, you came before the hot liquid creamed your wall.

Yeosang took a moment to catch his breath before thrusting forward twice and then pulling away. "Are you alright?" he asked, turning you around and giving you a gentle kiss on the cheek. "I'm fine," you reassured him, wrapping your arms around his shoulders as he leaned in to kiss you. Despite feeling conflicted, Yeosang couldn't resist the urge to show you care. Normally, he would simply bid farewell to his prey and erase their memories. Hence, they would never know the truth and he could breed again and again.

This time, however, he discovered a desire to cherish your memories, to hold you close by his side. He believed he was never alone, surrounded by those who sought his attention, yet they were never truly his. You, unlike the rest, were forsaken, seen as a mere instrument, left in solitude. Two souls adrift in loneliness made for the most exquisite partnership.

"Stay with me, Y/N." He whispered against your lips, leaving a kiss on it. "But I'm not divorced yet and the engagement…" "It's fine. Everything is fine." He pecked at you again. "What you need to do is just stay here and let me deal with it."

—---

"Where is my wife?!" As Yeosang expected, that oily man came back to the temple with a team of villagers the following morning. He cast a disdainful glance at the door from the corner of his eyes, but his gaze softened as he tenderly caressed your face. "Sleep well, honey." After tucking you in with the quilt, he made his way to the door.

"Everyone can see clearly that he is the one who kidnapped my wife!He is no clergyman, but a mere charlatan! You see, I was injured by him yesterday while trying to save my beloved wife."

Yeosang rolled his eyes, regretting that he forgot to eliminate the man's memories. But never mind, everything would be solved soon and he could go back to cuddle with you.

"Are you done talking nonsense?" Yeosang cut him off with impatience.

"Give me back my wife."

"Who?"

"I said Y/N! I know you are here! Come out you bastard!!" Yeosang immediately saw red as he heard how this disgusting man called you. Waved his hand, and the unknown force knocked everyone away.

"It seems that you have no idea who I am, human." Yeosang gracefully lowered himself to seize the man's chin, compelling him to meet his gaze. His power surpassed that of mere mortals; indeed, he was mightier than any being on Earth. As bones cracked, the man's mouth filled with blood, yet he was unable to expel it.

"How dare you to be impolite in front of a God?" He exerted his power, causing the man's facial muscles to constrict. "If you dare, kill me and take her back. Can you?" He said provocatively, his eyes shining a red, gold light because of anger. And the others dared not to save the man and just ran away.

"See? They leave you." Yeosang twisted the man's neck, resulting in an unintended fracture. "Oops. Gosh." He waved his hand in revulsion, as though he had come into contact with something unsavory.

"Yeosang?" As your voice rang in his ears, he immediately looked up and rushed to your side. "Did I wake you up? Are you tired? Want to sleep more?" You shook your head and nestled yourself in his embrace. "Just…a little bit horny." Smirked, he picked you up and wrapped your legs around his waist.

"Then let me help you, my wife." Oh yes, he forgot, again, this was the aftereffect of having sex with him. Who called him the God of breeding?

[sarkos]

The City regulator has warned UK banks over denying accounts for sex workers, after hearing that a lack of access to business banking could lead to “significant harm” for individuals. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said that while banks said they were able to provide accounts for the adult entertainment industry in theory, they were often denying or shutting down business accounts in practice. Lenders often closed accounts on the basis of financial crime or reputational grounds, the watchdog said. That is despite sex work being legal in the UK apart from Northern Ireland, where it is illegal to pay for sex. A recent FCA roundtable meeting revealed serious concerns about a lack of access to financial services for individuals across the adult entertainment industry, which covers stripping, pornography, escort and dominatrix work and “full sexual service”, more commonly referred to as prostitution

Banks warned over denying sex workers business accounts | Financial Conduct Authority | The Guardian

[palpablestupor]

Vague lore-drop about my irl life, but I work in finance and all day every day I see mention of the Financial Conduct Authority, a regulatory body in the UK. They're also known as, you guessed it, the FCA.

Can't wait til the day I accidentally call them the Ferengi Commerce Authority to their faces.

[transmutationisms]

do you feel like SSRIs are mostly pseudoscience? I'm not sure if I should be open to trying them or avoid them at all costs since I'm not sure if they even work or if they will mess me up permanently

a preliminary note that i don't find the category 'pseudoscience' to be useful & would classify SSRI research more as 'methodologically shoddy science' or 'ideologically slanted' or 'part of a centuries-long effort on the part of psychiatrists to secure themselves professional prestige by claiming neurobiological etiologies where none are shown to exist' &c &c. imo the notion of 'pseudoscience' is itself pretty positivistic, ahistorical, and ideologically noxious (particularly apparent in any analysis of epistemological imperialism).

that aside: you raise two major issues with SSRIs, namely whether they work and whether they will cause you harm.

efficacy of SSRIs is contested. a 2010 meta-analysis found that in patients with mild or moderate depressive symptoms, the efficacy of SSRIs "may be minimal or nonexistent", whilst "for patients with very severe depression, the benefit of medications over placebo is substantial". a 2008 meta-analysis found a similar distinction between mildly vs severely depressed patients, but noted that even in the latter population, drug–placebo differences were "relatively small" and argued that the differences between drug and placebo in severely depressed patients "seems to result from a poorer response to placebo amongst more depressed patients" rather than from a greater efficacy of SSRIs. a 2012 meta-analysis found some SSRIs consistently effective over placebo treatments, but several authors disclosed major relationships with pharmaceutical companies. a 2017 meta-analysis concluded that "SSRIs might have statistically significant effects on depressive symptoms, but all trials were at high risk of bias and the clinical significance seems questionable" (emphasis added) and that "potential small beneficial effects seem to be outweighed by harmful effects".

when evaluating any of this evidence, it is crucial to keep in mind that studies on antidepressant trials are selectively published—that is, they are less likely to be published if they show negative results!

A total of 37 studies viewed by the FDA as having positive results were published; 1 study viewed as positive was not published. Studies viewed by the FDA as having negative or questionable results were, with 3 exceptions, either not published (22 studies) or published in a way that, in our opinion, conveyed a positive outcome (11 studies). According to the published literature, it appeared that 94% of the trials conducted were positive. By contrast, the FDA analysis showed that 51% were positive.

meta-analyses are not immune to this issue, either. in addition to the problem that a meta-analysis of a bunch of bad studies cannot magically 'cancel out' the effects of poor study design, the authors of meta-analyses can and do also have financial interests and ties to pharmaceutical companies, and this affects their results just as it does the results of the studies they are studying. according to a 2016 analysis of antidepressant meta-analyses,

Fifty-four meta-analyses (29%) had authors who were employees of the assessed drug manufacturer, and 147 (79%) had some industry link (sponsorship or authors who were industry employees and/or had conflicts of interest). Only 58 meta-analyses (31%) had negative statements in the concluding statement of the abstract. Meta-analyses including an author who were employees of the manufacturer of the assessed drug were 22-fold less likely to have negative statements about the drug than other meta-analyses [1/54 (2%) vs. 57/131 (44%); P < 0.001]. [...] There is a massive production of meta-analyses of antidepressants for depression authored by or linked to the industry, and they almost never report any caveats about antidepressants in their abstracts. Our findings add a note of caution for meta-analyses with ties to the manufacturers of the assessed products.

so, do SSRIs work? they are certainly psychoactive substances, which is to say, they do something. whether that something reduces depressive symptoms is simply not known at this point, though it is always worth keeping in mind that the 'chemical imbalance' narrative of SSRIs (the idea that they work by 'curing' a 'serotonin deficiency' in the brain) has always been a profitable myth. look, any medical treatment throughout history has been vouched for by SOME patients who report that it helped them—no matter how wacky it sounds or how little evidence there was to support it. this can be for a lot of reasons: placebo effect, the remedy accidentally treating a different problem than it was intended for, the symptoms coincidentally resolving on their own. sometimes the human body is just weird and unpredictable. sometimes remedies work. i'm sorry i can't give you a more definitive answer about whether SSRIs would help you.

as to potential risks: these are significant. SSRIs can precipitate suicidal ideation, a risk that has been consistently downplayed by pharmaceutical companies and studies. SSRIs are also known to contribute to sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction, again a risk that is minimised and downplayed in much of the literature and in physician communication with patients. further (known) side effects range through emotional blunting, glaucoma, QT interval prolongation, abnormal bleeding & interaction with anti-coagulents, platelet dysfunction, decreases in bone mineral density leading to increased risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis, jaw clenching / TMJ pain, risk of serotonin syndrome when used in conjunction with other serotonergic substances, dizziness, insomnia, headaches, the list goes on.

i don't mean to sound alarmist; all drugs have side effects, some of the ones above occur rarely, and you may very well decide the risk is acceptable to you to take on. i would, though, always encourage you to do thorough research into potential side effects before starting any drug, including an SSRI. more on SSRI side effects in david healy's books 'pharmageddon', 'let them eat prozac', 'the antidepressant era', and 'the creation of psychopharmacology'; 'pillaged' by ronald w maris; and 'the myth of the chemical cure' by joanna moncrieff.

in addition to the above, SSRIs are known to come with a risk of 'discontinuation syndrome'—that is, chemical withdrawal when stopping the drug. this, too, is often downplayed by physicians; many still deny that it can even happen. some patients don't experience it at all, though i can tell you purely anecdotally that SSRI withdrawal was so miserable for me i simply gave up on quitting for over a year, despite the fact that at that point i was already thoroughly experienced with chemical withdrawals from other, 'harder' drugs. again, i am not telling you not to go on SSRIs if you decide these risks are worth it to you! i simply think this is a decision that should always be made with full knowledge (indeed, this is a core, though routinely violated, principle of medical 'informed consent').

ultimately this is not a decision anyone should make for you; it's your body and mind that are at stake here. as always i think that anyone considering any kind of medical treatment should have full knowledge about it and should be making all decisions freely and autonomously. i am genuinely not pushing any agenda 'for' or 'against' SSRIs, only against prescription of them that is done carelessly, coercively, or without fully informing patients of what risks they're taking on and what benefits they can hope to see.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Hugh Dougherty at The Daily Beast:

Jeffrey Epstein described himself as Donald Trump’s “closest friend” and claimed intimate knowledge of his proclivity for sex, including cuckolding his best friends, according to recordings obtained exclusively by the Daily Beast. The convicted pedophile even boasted of his closeness to Trump and his now-wife Melania by claiming, “the first time he slept with her was on my plane,” which was dubbed the Lolita Express.

Epstein spoke at length about Trump with the author Michael Wolff in August 2017, two years before being found dead in his jail cell. Wolff was researching his bombshell bestseller Fire and Fury at the time. The recordings cast more light on Trump’s long relationship with Epstein, and will add to debate over the character of the Republican candidate, especially his attitudes and conduct toward women, just days before the election. The tapes tell Epstein’s version of the relationship between two former friends and their very different paths: One toward infamy, prison and suicide; the other toward power, the Oval Office and his own criminal conviction for paying hush money to a porn star. Trump’s camp referred to the tapes’ release as “false smears” and “election interference.” The tapes also offer unusual insight into the friendship of two wealthy, powerful men who frequently went out on the town together, prowling for women in New York and Atlantic City. [...]

Asked by Wolff, “How do you know all this?” Epstein replied, “I was Donald’s closest friend for 10 years.” Wolff shared the tape with the Daily Beast ahead of discussing it on his Fire and Fury podcast on Monday. Last Thursday he caused shockwaves by revealing a few seconds of a separate recording in which Epstein spoke in detail about the inner workings of the Trump administration. Wolff also said Thursday that the pedophile showed off photos of Trump with topless young women sitting in his lap. Wolff, a veteran journalist and author who was also the biographer of Rupert Murdoch, has long attracted praise and bromides. When Fire & Fury was published in January 2018, Trump tried to stop it with a failed cease and desist order, then threatened to sue. No case ever materialized, and it sold 5 million copies worldwide. Wolff, who appears regularly on his Fire and Fury podcast, wrote two more books on Trump after Fire and Fury, and about Epstein in 2021’s Too Famous.

Wolff says he has up to 100 hours of recordings of interviews with Epstein, including from using him as a source for Fire and Fury, and from years of meetings when the disgraced financier appeared to want Wolff to write a biography of him. Wolff said he decided to release parts of the archive after a new accuser, a former Miss Switzerland, alleged last week that Trump had groped her in 1992.

[...] Trump’s long friendship with Epstein, which spanned the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s has been well documented. In the 1990s, the two publicly partied at Mar-a-Lago and went to a Victoria’s Secret Angels show together. In 2002, Trump told New York Magazine of Epstein, “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” Epstein’s infamous leaked addressbooks had Trump’s own phone number as well as Melania’s, while Trump’s name appeared seven times in the passenger logs of Epstein’s planes. (The books and logs also included princes, politicians and potentates such as Bill Clinton, former British prime minister Tony Blair, former Israeli PM Ehud Barak, Prince Andrew and celebrities and billionaires including Mick Jagger and Les Wexner.)

[...] In 2022 Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend who procured him underage girls, would be sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for the sex trafficking of minors. Upon hearing of her arrest in 2020, Trump, then president, said he wished her well. “Her friend or boyfriend was either killed or committed suicide in jail. Yeah, I wish her well… Good luck.” In 2004, Epstein and Trump fell out when they both tried to buy a Palm Beach estate, Maison de L’Amitié, out of bankruptcy. The next year, the FBI began investigating Epstein for child sex trafficking.

In 2019, on the day after Epstein’s arrest, Trump said in the Oval Office, “I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you,” and that they had not been friends for 15 years. He said it “did not much matter” what the fall-out had been over. This September, asked about Epstein by the tech podcaster Lex Fridman, Trump said: “He was a good salesman. He was a hailing, hearty type of guy. He had some nice assets that he’d throw around like islands, but a lot of big people went to that island. But fortunately, I was not one of them.”

[...]

The Epstein tape includes an allegation—which is impossible to verify—that Trump had an affair with a politician while in the White House. Epstein offered no proof or sourcing for the claim. He also alleged that Trump cheated on both his first wife Ivana and second wife Marla Maples with “a Black girl.” At one section, Epstein used a Yiddish racial slur to refer to Black women and alleged Trump boasted to him, “I’m f---ing all these Black women.” The tape mixes sexual allegations with other aspects of Trump’s life. Early in the recording Epstein is heard to say, “You probably know he had a scalp reduction. He’s getting the same male pattern baldness that we all have. He had his scalp reduced. It’s hysterical.” Trump has long refused to release full medical records while his White House medical reports did not disclose any prior surgeries.

“He’s charming. In a devious way, he’s charming. To some extent it’s a typical tragedy where he believes his own bulls---”

— Epstein on Trump

And Epstein offers his eyewitness account of Trump Tower and Trump’s office where, he said, Trump had “fake honors” on the wall. Trump, he claimed, would yell at his personal assistant Rhona Graff, “who’s a loyal, perfect, secretary,” as well as Matthew Calamari Snr., his bodyguard, and Michael Cohen, his attorney who is now an enemy. Epstein compared Trump to “an emotionally challenged 9-year-old,” and said, “He screams and yells at Rhona more than anybody else. His screaming is how he treats people. He has a tantrum, not a temper. If you don’t understand him, it’s frightening. Once you understand him, it’s sort of silly.” Epstein also told Wolff he had positive things to say about Trump. “He’s charming. In a devious way, he’s charming,” he said. “To some extent it’s a typical tragedy where he believes his own bulls---. He has delusions of grandiosity, then he takes it on board.” He added that he had a “self-deprecating nature” and was “not vulgar.” “He’s funny,” Epstein said. “Self-awareness means you’re self-aware. He’s aware of that person, Donald Trump. He talks about The Trump, The Trumpster. ‘Trump’s getting laid.’”

On the tape Epstein, speaking in a New York accent, also mentioned the rich and powerful. (In a deposition released after his death Epstein admitted under oath that he dropped the names of people he had never met.) The names he mentioned on tape include: Former president Bill Clinton; Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner; then-Defense Secretary James Mattis; and the billionaires Carl Icahn and Tom Barrack, both of whom are friends of Trump. Clinton was a long-standing friend of Epstein but has denied any association after the pedophile’s disgrace in the mid-2000s. Mattis has no known association with him. Ivanka was photographed with him as a child but Kushner has never been known to be linked to him. Barrack appeared in a leaked appointment diary for Epstein from 2016, while Carl Icahn, a corporate raider and long-time Trump friend, was in Epstein’s 1997 address book. Startlingly for a man who became one of the world’s most notorious sex offenders, Epstein on the tapes offers a damning judgment of Trump, telling Wolff, “The moral compass just does not exist.”

The Daily Beast reported that Jeffrey Epstein was Donald Trump's closest friend for about 10 years, according to tapes obtained from the outlet that featured Michael Wolff interviewing the late pedophile.

[aadamkempfitness]

HeroFX Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Alleged Forex Scam

In the vast and often volatile world of forex trading, the presence of unscrupulous brokers is a constant threat to both novice and seasoned traders. HeroFX, a broker that has recently come under scrutiny, is the subject of many discussions and concerns. This review delves into the various aspects of HeroFX to determine whether it is a legitimate broker or a potential scam.

Background and Overview

HeroFX claims to offer a comprehensive trading platform with a wide range of assets, including forex, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies. Promising competitive spreads, high leverage, and a user-friendly interface, HeroFX aims to attract traders looking for a reliable trading experience.

Regulation and Licensing

One of the primary red flags for any forex broker is the lack of proper regulation and licensing. HeroFX is reportedly not registered with any reputable financial regulatory authority. This absence of regulation means that traders are not protected by any governing body, increasing the risk of fraudulent activities and loss of funds.

Trading Platform and Tools

HeroFX offers its own proprietary trading platform, which is marketed as intuitive and feature-rich. While the platform appears to be functional, there have been numerous complaints about its reliability and execution speed. Some users have reported significant delays in order execution, leading to potential losses.

The broker also provides various tools and resources for traders, such as educational materials, market analysis, and trading signals. However, the quality and accuracy of these resources are questionable, with many users alleging that the information provided is often outdated or misleading.

Customer Support

Effective customer support is crucial for any forex broker, especially when dealing with complex financial transactions. HeroFX has received mixed reviews in this area. While some traders have reported satisfactory interactions with the support team, many others have experienced long wait times, unhelpful responses, and unresolved issues. This inconsistency in customer service further undermines the broker's credibility.

Withdrawal and Deposit Issues

One of the most significant concerns surrounding HeroFX is the difficulty many traders face when trying to withdraw their funds. Numerous complaints highlight delayed withdrawals, with some users claiming they never received their money. This pattern of behavior is often indicative of a scam broker, as legitimate brokers prioritize transparent and efficient fund transfers.

Additionally, the deposit process has also raised suspicions. HeroFX allegedly encourages large initial deposits and offers enticing bonuses that come with restrictive terms and conditions, making it challenging for traders to access their funds.

User Reviews and Complaints

A cursory glance at various online forums and review sites reveals a plethora of negative feedback from traders who have used HeroFX. Common grievances include:

Unresponsive or hostile customer service.

Manipulated trading conditions leading to unexpected losses.

Inability to withdraw funds.

Suspiciously positive reviews that appear fabricated.

These recurring themes paint a concerning picture of HeroFX and suggest a pattern of unethical practices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while HeroFX presents itself as a reputable forex broker with attractive features, the overwhelming evidence points to the contrary. The lack of regulation, persistent withdrawal issues, and numerous negative user reviews all indicate that HeroFX may not be a trustworthy broker. Traders are advised to exercise extreme caution and conduct thorough research before engaging with this broker. In the unpredictable world of forex trading, it is always better to err on the side of caution and choose a broker with a proven track record of reliability and transparency.

For more check out this article: Herofx-review

[dominateeye]

On March 22, 2024, Congress passed a $1.2 spending bill meant to fund the essential functions of our federal government. Hidden in the bill were multiple irrelevant measures including an extended ban on funding for UNRWA (the Palestinian Refugee relief agency), sanctioning the United Nations if they investigate Israeli war crimes, and most troubling – authorizing another $3.8 billion in funding and military aid for Israel despite their government openly flouting U.S. and international human rights law.

This bill was bipartisan, passing with broad support from members of both major parties, making our political duopoly fully complicit in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

All people of conscience should be appalled that our lawmakers, without hesitation, sacrificed the humanity and self-determination of Palestinian people as a condition for funding the normal functions of our federal government.

The far-right government of Israel has repeatedly stated their intent to exterminate and permanently expel Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. Now the American public is directly funding that extermination through the actions of our elected officials.

Benjamin Netanyahu has been exposed on the world stage as a flagrant war criminal, and he deserves to be investigated and prosecuted. But Netanyahu could not conduct his crimes without the substantial and ongoing financial and military support of the United States government.

As such, we demand an independent investigation by the International Criminal Court to determine if charges of war crimes are appropriate for any elected U.S. official providing material support for Israel’s ongoing genocide.

If criminal charges are found to be warranted, we support a prosecution by the International Criminal Court. Add your name if you agree.

[kremlin]

An earnest call for your support: Help me determine if there is a gas leak in my house.

for a long time now, I have been reading and hearing about This Guy on the news, and have been reading all the articles and stories about him:

Above: Sam, tenting his weird-ass fucked up fingers like a real Wall Street Guy might do in a movie he saw

Yep, you already know this guy, his name is Sam, I'll be referring to him as Sam, as that is his first name, and not by his initials, which is what I imagine a pod person might do in an attempt to emulate human behaviour. Whatever. You already know him and what he did, I won't waste your time. Listen. Pay attention. This is not a post about this guy or what he did. That shit is boring as fuck. This is a post about a potential gas leak in my house. We'll get to that in just a bit. Remember.

I've read all the articles and all the op-eds and everything. About Sam. Let us explore the entire spectrum of media coverage of Sam and Sam's Big Ass Problem, starting from the bottom, with the worm-food-tier jackasses: What do people like Jim Cramer and Shark Tank Guy have to say about him?

Above: CNN's "Mad Money" Jim Cramer also doing a weird hand gesture while he tells your alcoholic cable-news-addicted uncle to put his money in some dumbass shit

Above: I think this is the Shark Tank guy? I don't remember his name. Could have sworn his suit had dollar signs and not question marks (?)

I'll summarize their conclusions: "Sam is a boy genius who is super duper smart and can move objects with his massive brain due to knowing about Tech, FinDom FinTech, and computer money, specifically Money Coding. Unfortunately Sam committed massive fraud and will get his ass fucked in federal court".

Moving on from the worm-food-tier to the mediocre-tier: The totally nameless basic bitch journalists at the New York Times or Bloomberg. What do these assholes have to say?

Above: Jim Fuckface, associate financial correspondent for Bloomberg. Jim enjoys winding down on a Friday afternoon by sipping a Bud Lite Lime and wearing his baseball cap backwards, which bears the logo of his local professional sports team.

Above: Kate Fuckface, columnist at the New York Times. Kate enjoys spending her time chatting and interacting with her friends on Social Media Platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as well as purchasing items on Etsy

I'll summarize their conclusions: "Displaying the characteristic awkwardness of incredible technical and financial genius, it was clear to me during our interview that Sam's depth of knowledge truly knew no bounds. Unfortunately Sam committed massive fraud and will get his ass fucked in federal court."

Finally moving on to the people that might actually have a clue about what they're talking about. Sam Levine and Michael Lewis:

Above: Matt Levine, author of a comedy email newsletter named Money Stuff that is 95% financial information by weight and somehow still usually funny as fuck.

Above: Michael Lewis, author of a bunch of really good books you haven't read that were made into pretty decent movies you have seen: Moneyball and The Big Short.

I'll summarize their conclusions: "Sam sure is a smart kid and seems to know a whole lot about economics and this digital currency, and I mean a whole lot, and even more about business, accounting, and finance. Bright kid! Unfortunately Sam committed massive fraud and will get his ass fucked in federal court."

A pretty goddamn clear consensus across the board on both counts.

I listened to the interviews the entire spectrum of people listed above conducted with him -- the ones during which they unanimously concluded how smart he is. I listened to many hours of ad-hoc, unscripted Twitter Space calls he participated in, where he fielded questions about his fraud and his business with complete strangers. I listened to them very carefully. And here is my problem! I came to a different conclusion!

Sam is a fucking moron. I am not talking about solely his intellect, or solely his decision-making abilities, or any specific criteria. I am talking about all of them.

There are two possibilities:

(A) I am correct and, somehow, literally everyone else is incorrect, most of whom know vastly more about these topics than I do

(B) There is a fucking gas leak in my house and I have completely lost all cognitive abilities, suddenly and unwittingly, and exist in a cartoon reality inside my skull that would allow me to reach such a wildly different conclusion from the same evidence.

The likelihood of (A) being correct is very nearly 0%. I mean, come on. I am not fucking around when I tell you how troubling this is for me. I wrote earlier that this isn't a post about Sam or his bullshit. This is a post asking for your help in determining whether I have lost my god damn marbles.

I'll give Sam one thing -- he has some nominal ability to bullshit. If he's writing a Tweet, or making a short statement, he can finesse his words that, on some level, mask how much of a dimwit he is. He absolutely can't do that through about six hours of unscripted interviews. Listen to that shit. Listen.

I am going to go check all the joints in the gas lines in my house as well as the ports on my stove and heater. I'll come back and write a follow-up post on outlining exactly why I think homeboy is an idiot. While I do that, please, go listen to the interviews and tell me what you think.

[lexlawuk]

Short Guide: 'Hidden' or 'Embedded' Swaps

Financial Institutions in the UK promoted interest rate swaps and fixed-rate loans as protective measures against potential increases in interest rates for customers. However, more often than not, such financial institutions neglected to adequately inform and advise customers about the substantial contingent liability risks associated with these swaps. We have successfully obtained redress…

[writingquestionsanswered]

Hi, thank you for taking the time to answer these!

It seems like all successful authors have to be on social media these days. I want to publish my book under a pen name so nobody knows it’s me. How do I succeed at author social media while also being anonymous?

Maintaining Author Anonymity on Social Media

It really depends on what you want to write and how you want to publish. Either way, a pen name isn't a 100% guarantee of anonymity, so that's something to consider before publishing. Whether you self-publish or traditionally publish, you're still conducting business, which requires the involvement of your real name on paper. Some of those documents will be available to the public, so it isn't usually difficult to figure out the real identity behind a pen name.

If you want to traditionally publish, you should keep in mind that the publisher is making a big financial investment in your book, so they want it to sell well so they can make back their investment and make a profit. Part of that may be asking you to do things like book signings, guest appearances, or having visibility on social media. Some publishers won't work with authors who want to be completely invisible, especially if they feel your book would benefit from that kind of visibility in marketing. So, if you pursue traditional publishing, it's something you would want to talk about with your agent once you land one so they can keep that in mind when they look for publishers.

If you want to self-publish, you don't have to worry as much about being visible. There are many who feel that authors do better when they are visible to their readers, but it's certainly not a requirement. You can still have a solid, meaningful social media presence without posting videos or photos of your face, or without giving away intimate details about who you are. You can find a balance with sharing photos and details that feel personal without revealing anything that blows your cover.

Anonymous but "Intimate" Photo Examples:

All of these images give the reader a glimpse into your world and who you are without giving them a full window into your personal life.

If you caption the coloring photo as, "Coloring with the little ones today..." All the reader knows is there are kids in your life, but are they kids, grandkids, neighbors, students, friends' kids? Who knows?

Anonymous but "Intimate" Detail Example:

-- Spent today out shopping with the family. We had lunch at one of our favorite eateries, then went to see a movie. Afterward, we took a walk along the water and came home to play board games. Great day!

With or without an accompanying "semi-anonymous" photo, the above paragraph gives the reader a glimpse into your day without giving too much away. Spent the day with family... your immediate family? Extended family? Found family? No specification of which eatery, which movie, what body of water, or which board games, but it still paints a picture.

Engagement Matters, Too

And remember, for indie authors especially, engagement with your audience is important. Replying to comments, participating in tag games, "signal boosting"/sharing/reblogging posts, posting polls/QOtD/challenges, etc. are all ways you can engage without having to be visible.

I hope that helps!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

LEARN MORE about WQA

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[kabr0ztrousers]

Kabr0z Writes Episode 10 - Debt, Part 1

Find the rest of the Kabr0z Writes anthology here!

CWs: coercion; coercion via finance; mention of financial difficulties; dubcon; power imbalance; implied age gap; depiction of fellatio

Author's Note: This challenge is getting tougher as time goes by, so I'll reiterate, I'm accepting basically any good ideas to go on the inspo moodboard. If you have any kinks you'd like me to explore or scenarios you'd like to see, send a DM or an ask!

#########################################

Nobody wants to be in this situation. It felt like every time things were starting to come together you'd get another letter saying you owed another thousand pounds here or there. You used to think that ten grand would fix all your problems, you'd pay everything off and live free at long last.

When the letter came through your door, it seemed too good to be true. A benefactor asking for 3 tasks in exchange for £25k - enough to clear your debt, and have an awful lot left over. 

You read the fine print carefully. You wouldn't be asked to do anything illegal, or take the fall for anything, nor would you be asked to pay anything back at all, ever. The downside? You wouldn't get this offer again, and if you refused any of the tasks given to you, or failed a task, you wouldn't get anything at all. 

Why this letter came through your door, or how they knew how much you needed this money, you didn't know. There was an address on the other side of the letter, an office in the finance district of the city, and an instruction to come alone.

You weren't stupid. You told your friends you were going to a job interview, and gave the address. You made sure that if anything happened then people would know you're missing within a couple of hours, tops. All that preparation didn't stop the butterflies in your stomach as you got to the skyscraper and texted your group chat.

You swallowed your worry, and walked into the lobby, people in suits and dresses walking here and there. The receptionist gave you directions to the lifts and where you'd need to go when you got to your floor. Simple enough. 

It was an unassuming office, you knocked.

"Come in" the voice was like caramel, smooth and unhurried.

You entered, grasping the letter.

The office was larger than you expected, and you were expecting a lot, considering. A dark wooden desk dominated the floor, huge bookshelves on either wall, and the smell of antique paper in the air.

"Ah, good afternoon!" That voice again, you turned to see a middle-aged wolfman in a brown suit, his fur spilling over the collar and half-moon glasses on his muzzle "I am professor Blaidd, with the institute for debt studies. I'm conducting research on the effects of debt on inhibition. I have some consent forms for you, presuming that's why you're here?"

He took the letter off you, skimmed it, and handed you back a sheaf of papers. "Just give that a look over then give it a sign"

Most of the form was normal enough: assurances you'd be anonymous, data protection legislation, reminders that you are allowed to withdraw at any time. You skimmed it, more to make sure that when you got your pay it'd really be as string-free as advertised. By the time you finished and signed, Blaidd was already sat behind his desk, reading through documents and typing on his computer.

You handed the papers back to Blaidd. He filed them away in his desk draw and grinned at you, a big, toothy grin.

Your blood ran cold, some genetic memory of wolves making that kind of face to humans surfacing and filling you with dread. 

"Good, I assume you've got a few hours, yes? At least until this afternoon?" 

You nodded

"Excellent!" He beamed at you "In that case we can start the first task." His grin dropped "Get under the desk"

You stared at him

"Quickly now! Under the desk, on your knees"

You came around the desk and almost screamed. He wasn't wearing pants

"One of two things is about to happen: You're getting under this desk, or you're getting nothing"

You paused. Steeled yourself. Crawled under the desk.

"Good girl." Blaidd stroked your hair "Now, I've got some work to do. We'll go until about 12, then we can get some lunch. My treat"

You nodded, not sure if lunch was part of the task. 

Blaidd started work, you stayed under the desk, half-crouching, his paws occasionally reaching out and stroking you. It was a few minutes before you noticed his sheath moving, the tip of his cock poking out, vibrant red against the salt-and-pepper fur. The more you stared at it, the more it pushed out, revealing more and more as it began to leak "It's not going to suck itself"

You almost sniggered at that line, Blaidd clearly wasn't used to this. You shrugged, 25 grand for a few blowjobs? You've certainly done more for less

You approached his swelling cock, and teased the knot free from his sheath, he sighed with release and his balls tightened a little as you held his shaft in your hand. He was remarkably well-endowed, you could fit both hands on his cock and still have space left over "How do you want it?" You asked, looking up and meeting his gaze

"Nice and slow, there's no rush"

You took the head of his cock in your mouth, tasting the salty-sweet fluid oozing out of it. Blaidd grunted as you gently licked and suckled the tip, working his length with one hand and his balls with another.

You kept on going, the fluid coming faster as Blaidd's grunts got more and more desperate. He put his hand on the back of your head and pushed you down, filling your mouth with his cock and languidly fucking your face. Your hand strayed under your waistband, rubbing small circles on your clit as you relished the cock pushing into your mouth. 

Blaidd pushed you further down. You gagged as his knot reached your lips. "It's nearly twelve, how about we finish up here"

He was fucking you harder now, pushing down into your throat as you increased the pace. You could feel a hot flush coming over you as you approached your orgasm. You could tell he was close too, his pre was getting thicker as he clutched your hair tighter. You came almost at the same time. The taste of his cum filling your throat as he forced himself deep into you pushing you over the edge. You moaned around his cock, swallowing everything he pumped into your mouth. He softened and pulled out, giving your hair one last stroke as he did "That was great. You did great." He got up and started to dress, offering you a glass of whiskey "You don't have to if you don't want, and lunch isn't part of the task either, but I'd like to go over today's test with you"

You accepted the drink

That money was as good as yours 

#########################################

Post script: I was intending for this to be much meaner than it turned out, but Professor Blaidd wound up being a bit more doddering than devious in my head, so I leave the question up to you, my viewing public:

[elliottkay]

Hi, I’m Elliott, and writing smut changed my life.

I also write military sci-fi and fantasy and D&D shitposts, but this is about the smut. I promise it won’t get weird. Much.

In 2010, I was scraping by as a substitute teacher and things were not great at home. I had only written gamer fic for friends, my aspiring mil sci-fi novel was stuck, and I needed some sort of escape… and I thought, “Well, I like sexy stories, and Literotica is free, and…”

My story was a feel-good adventure about a college guy with a heart of gold, a jaded demon weary of evil, and Heaven's hottest mess. It was silly. It was sexy. It was polyamorous, warm, and irreverent, and Literotica loved it: high ranking, tons of comments, and holy shit am I getting positive feedback from the internet?

So it became my first book:

…and that book plugged some holes in my life. It didn’t get me out of subbing, but it filled the financial gap, and it picked me up after a break-up. More importantly, it gave me an audience. When I published Poor Man’s Fight, I already had readers, and that led to more readers… many of whom then picked up Good Intentions and loved that, too, though some had the shocking experience of “Oh my god, it’s full of butts!”

If you’ve read this far, it’s probably time for the content warning. I’m a big believer in these, for serious reasons and, um… less serious.

WARNING: “Good Intentions” contains violence, explicit sex, nudity, inappropriate use of church property, portrayals of beings divine and demonic bearing little or no resemblance to established religion or mythology, trespassing, bad language, sacrilege, blasphemy, attempted murder, arguable murder, divinely mandated murder, justifiable murder, filthy murder, sexual promiscuity, kidnapping, attempted rape (which is never comedy), immolation of said attempted rapists, persistent disrespect for vampires (which is always comedy), arson, dead animals, desecrated graves, gang activity, theft, assault and battery, panties, misuse of the 911 system, fantasy depictions of sorcery and witchcraft, multiple references to various matters of fandom, questionable interrogation tactics, cell phone abuse, reckless driving, even more explicit sexuality, illegal use of firearms within city limits, polyamory, abuse of authority, hit and run driving, destruction of private property, underage drinking, disturbances of the peace, disorderly conduct, internet harassment, bearers of false witness, mayhem, dismemberment, falsification of records, tax evasion, bad study habits, and an uncomfortably sexy mother.

…and that’s just the first book.

They've all got those warnings. Even the short story collections.

Credit to the incredible @leemoyer for all my book covers, and for teaching me so much about this biz. And while he's not on the book covers, I've gotta share the other central protagonist as illustrated by the awesome @juliedillon:

...yeah, Alex gets into some shit.

If you're looking for protagonists who really communicate, if you want polyamory instead of love triangles, and if you hate when steamy scenes fade to black, I've got you covered.

If you’ve read this far and you’re interested, or even if you just want to see more content warnings, please give my stuff a look on Amazon (including Kindle Unlimited) or on Audible where they’re narrated by Tess Irondale. Give her a listen and you’d be happy to hear her read just about anything.

[cottoncandytrafficcones]

10 Jewish Women from History Part 3

Shulamit Kishik-Cohen (1917-2017, Israel)

Born in Argentina, she immigrated to Mandatory Palestine as a child, and grew up in Jerusalem. At sixteen, she married a Lebanese Jewish merchant, and raised seven children with him. She established ties with the Beirut Jewish community and authorities, and helped smuggle information from Lebanon and Syria, as well as helped Jews escape. She assisted the Mossad in bringing Jews of Arab lands to Israel.

Raquel Liberman (1900-1935, Argentina)

A Polish-Jewish immigrant to Argentina. Born in the Kiev Governorate of Russia, she moved to Warsaw as a child. She married and followed her husband to Argentina with two sons. After her husband died, she began working as a prostitute though the trafficking network Zwi Migdal. She managed to buy her freedom, but was then fooled into a fake marriage with a husband who stole her savings and forced her back into a brothel. She escaped a second time and contacted a police inspector, filing a complaint in court. Her testimony brought to light Zwi Migdal's crimes, and over 100 members were detained.

Miriam bat Benayah (late 15th century-early sixteenth century, Yemen)

Daughter and sister of scribes, she was a Jewish scribe herself. She, along with her father and brothers, are credited with copying 400 books together. In one scroll of the Pentateuch, she wrote that she had copied while nursing a baby.

Hannah van Recklinghausen (1332-1349, Netherlands)

A banker and the earlies woman merchant known by name in the Netherlands. The daughter of a Jewish Court Jew from Germany, she is listed as her father's assistant and colleague from 1347.

Urania of Worms (?-1275, Worms)

A Jewish women who led other Jewish women in prayer in the synagogue, one of a handful of women to be doing said occupation in the 13th-14th centuries. he daughter of a rabbi.

Reynette of Koblenz (~1340-~1390, Germany)

A Jewish moneylender. She became a moneylender after her first husband died and continued independently through her second marriage. The size of her financial dealings surpassed those of both her husbands. In 1372, in response to the demands of the Andernacher city fathers, she raised 8,000 guildens to pay them.

Dulcea of Worms (?-1196, Germany)

A Jewish businesswoman and moneylender in the twelve century. Coming from an elite family, she married a famous Jewish theologist and leader. While her husband devoted himself to religion, she pursued economy and business. She also conducted business in parchment scrolls for extra income, and was a notable figure in the community, leading and teaching women.

Paula Dei Mansei (?-~1288, Verona)

A Jewish scribe and Torah scholar, thought to be the earliest known female Jewish scribe. Belonging to a family of scribes, she contributed to her father's biblical commentary, and translated the work from Hebrew to Italian. She also transcribed a prayer book, and a collection of laws.

Estellina Conat (15th century, Italy)

A Jewish printer and the first woman active as a printer. She was married to the man who founded the first Jewish printing press in 1475, and was active in the press independently of her husband.

Brenda Howard, 1946-2005, America)

A bisexual rights activist born in the Bronx. A feminist, she participated in and planned queer rights activities, and was active in the Gay Liberation Front and other queer organizations. Her activism included the 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.