#It is expensive! There must be ways to make some aspect of it manageable

[firefox-enthusiast]

Do it even though the result might or will be rubbish, terrible, incomprehensible. You will learn from it.

Do it.

I read a post the other day that really resonated with me, it was about people hating contemporary art and dismissing it without further thought because "anyone could do *that*" And their response was : then do it, please! Make shitty music and 'bad' art. I would love to see it, more art in the world what a fantastic result of your disdain and outrage. Please make something!

Also, a bit of a tangent. When is it art and when is it just making things or crafting something? Is it not writing if nobody reads it? WHO CARES. Anything that aims to make sense or beauty of our world is wonderful regardless of people's label of it.

And I know this is mostly about stuff like travel, cooking or sightseeing, but there is art and creativity in so many aspects of mundane life. Please, do it. Whatever it is. Do it.

people are saying do it scared, but you also gotta do it alone. you'll miss out on so much you want to do if you wait til someone will do it with you. do it scared and do it alone.

[solarsturniolo]

i just think it’s crazy how hypocritical and mob mentality people are about social media content creators? i’ve seen people make fun of them saying “you’re just youtubers why are you touring like celebrities”, but then go on to say they need to travel internationally?? that’s quite a big feat for anyone, let alone “just some youtubers”. also, when they allude to touring people freak, clip it, and get excited. so why now when they do what SOME people must be asking for people wanna flip it for a new thing to complain about? i understand being disappointed, but relax? it’s true! they are just youtubers. they are also “adult men” as everyone loves to point out. they can and will film whatever they want so i don’t understand why people feel compelled to complain. watch it or don’t. i’m assuming the biggest culprit is that their fan base is mostly children. can i really be the only one who thinks this way?

i digress.

I don’t think it’s hypocritical to like someone but hold them accountable. The triplets have been teasing a european tour for a MINUTE now. Almost to the point where it was easy to ASSUME that they were going to follow through and have some european dates. It’s insanely unfair to the people who have been begging for this since their first tour.

The triplets content as of recently has been lazy. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with people voicing their opinion on that. And i also don’t think you have to make the drastic decision to hate and not watch the triplets just because you disagree with a decision they make…Like…that’s kind of crazy. You aren’t going to like everything about a person or everything a person chooses to do but that doesn’t mean you have to hate them and completely rid them from your life.

It’s not about taking the excitement away from other fans. It’s about wanting the boys to put more of an effort into expanding the interactive aspects of their career to ALL of their audience, not just the percent that conveniently lives in the same country as them.

The sturniolos cash grab, which is more than likely controlled by their management. Have you seen some of their merch? Some of their prints are creative and fun and cool! But a lot of them are just bland and not worth the market price they list it at. Like you mentioned, most of their fanbase is younger. People who cannot legally be employed and make their own money. Which means they have to ask their parents for these expensive clothes. You can’t tell me they don’t know exactly what they’re doing.

Just as you are allowed to defend them, we are allowed to be frustrated and call them out. And even in being frustrated, i can still like them as people. Disagreeing with someone and hating someone CAN exist one without the other.

But I digress.

[sleepdeprivedsurgeon]

hey, I must be extremely late to the party but, honouring your 'ask me about a real pain 2024' tshirt, what did you like (or did not) about a real pain 2024? saw it today and I have mixed feelings, I'd love to hear from someone who loves this movie

i see where the people who had problems with it are coming from for sure. it sort of makes the same points over and over again about its characters & the themes it's trying to convey, and i can see how the "nothing actually happens and the characters don't actually learn from the conversations they're having" premise would turn some people off. i don't think it would've worked without the absolute powerhouses of jesse eisenberg and kieran culkin at the center of it.

HOWEVER. i love it because even those aspects of the script are just so, so true to life and such a good representation of how people function (or don't) in real relationships. like jesse eisenberg never once prioritizes an uplifting or thematic or enjoyable character arc over portraying the characters as normal people existing in normal circumstances, but he also manages to not do that at the expense of being entertaining, which i think a lot of other writers/directors who try the same thing fail at. dave and benji are truly just a coworker you might have and the cousin he complains about occasionally and to me that's what makes the film so fucking good. the cyclical nature of a lot of their conversations and the fact that nothing between them is resolved by the end of the movie just adds to the realism imo. usually when i get this insane about a movie it's because i really enjoy how UNrealistic it is, because i like it when directors are able to draw you into their internal logic and make you accept what's happening as your new reality for two hours (which is why diablo cody is one of my favorite directors, because people do NOT talk like that but she's so good at making you believe they do while you're watching her work). but every once in a while i watch a movie that is so good at making you look at actual reality and the way people actually interact with and hurt each other, and a real pain is the best example of that i've ever seen.

[theophagie]

Kingdom Hearts is shounen-esque in the way it calls upon the Power of Friendship and Connections, but I think it's really nice that it also goes "hey this can be bad if it's the only thing you think you have going on btw". Both Ventus and Sora have "my friends are my power" speeches, but only Ventus has the confidence to outright state that he is a part of it too ("and I'm theirs"), while Sora. Well. "Alone, I'm worthless". It's something you can really feel if you compare KH1 to DDD... His speech in the latter isn't sad or anything, but at the same time it's not exactly triumphant or empowering to the same degree, or at the very least it tells you that huh-oh! The boy's having a shounen mc moment but there are issues beneath it all. Issues which more blatantly surface in KH3, and that are made worse by the various jokes that people around him make at his expense

Which is why it was a really bad move to change Riku's words into "You don't believe that. I know you don't" in english, because no, he truly does... the character arc...... "I believe in you. You won't give up", it's moving that Sora managed to save everyone thanks to the boost of confidence that Riku gave him, but there's also a sad aspect to it. Obviously it's something that ties into the series' themes (the believing in someone, I mean), but at the same time... spare self esteem... some spare self esteem, please... It also does a disservice to their relationship because Riku's trust in Sora is absolute to a fault and he is blindsided by it at times ("Sora could fall into any darkness and swim his way out") (said after Mickey said that Aqua is strong like Sora) ("She's been trapped in hell for 10 years but if she's like Sora then she must be fine") (needless to say, she was not fine) (gee Sora, are you fine?)

(He's not)

[meiliarotten]

Team Fortress 2 Kinktober Time

Day 2: Desk Toy (Toys)

🔞MINORS DNI🔞

Pairings: Spy x Fem!Reader

Summary: Gonna be honest with y’all, I didn’t bother with summaries for a lot of these when I originally posted them on ao3. So- how about a fun fact! This was the first Spy x Reader I ever wrote!

Tags: Overstimulation, toys, praise, kinda exhibitionism?

Word Count: 1.1k

The Masterlist

You gripped the edge of the desk until your knuckles went white, doubling over as another orgasm wracked your body. A sob-like moan ripped from your throat as you clenched around the unforgiving silicon within you, held firmly to the desk with a suction cup at its base. A sweet mix of pleasure and overstimulation washed over you, so thoroughly that you felt like you could drown in it.

And in front of you sat the conductor and sole viewer of the entire lewd display. Spy leaned back in a luxurious, expensive looking chair. He watched you with a steady gaze. The only sign that he was enjoying himself at all was the obvious tent in his pants, which he had ignored in favor of watching you ruin yourself on the fancy toy he had bought.

It was a small but thick dildo made from pitch black silicon, curved in just the right places. Spy had proudly showed off its best aspects, boasting that he had purchased it just for you. Of course, you were eager to try it out with him. You just hadn’t expected it to play out like this.

“Aw, tired?” Spy asked, faux pity in his tone and gaze as he looked you over. “I did not say you could stop though, did I?”

You had lost track of how many times you had orgasmed long ago, and the ache of overstimulation seemed to invade every nerve of your body. However, Spy continued to push you onward. He met your gaze with an expectant look. He wasn’t about to offer you any respite.

So, with some effort, you continued to thrust yourself down onto the toy, ignoring the pervasive ache in your core. Part of you wondered if you would even be able to make yourself come again at this point. You were so wet, your slick ran down the sides of the toy, copious enough to drip down onto the dark wood below.

“Look at you, making such a mess of yourself, ma bonne fille,” Spy said. You flushed at his words, wondering how he could remain so casual while saying such filthy things to you.

You simply moved faster, plunging the toy into yourself with renewed determination. You desperately chased yet another orgasm, trying to focus on your own feelings rather than Spy and his ever attentive gaze. Still, he managed to worm his way into your thoughts.

“Tell me, what are you thinking of right now?” Spy asked, almost as if he could read your mind.

“What?” You asked with a gasp, pausing and allowing the dizzying sensations to ebb away for just a moment.

“What are you thinking about as you bounce on that toy, mon amour?” Spy asked, a bit more firmly this time.

You stammered as you answered, struggling to think clearly, and in the end you were only able to get out one coherent word; “You.”

Spy simply nodded, waving his hand in a gesture that seemed to mean that he wanted you to go on, to be a bit more specific .

“I’m thinking about you,” you gasped, putting in immense effort to speak coherently between moans. “I’m thinking about you finally letting me get off of this damn thing and fucking me yourself!”

Again, all you received in response was a nod, and perhaps a grin if you squinted. It was frustrating to see him looking so calm and collected, despite his obvious arousal. You couldn’t imagine the effort and self control it must have taken for him to ignore his own needs for so long like this. He ordered you to make a mess of yourself over and over again for his viewing pleasure, only to sit there and observe you as if you were a mildly interesting film.

“Spy, please,” you begged, your movements starting to slow down as your strength began to dwindle. “I don’t think I can keep going.”

“Here chérie, let me help,” Spy said, and with that, he stood from his seat for the first time since this ordeal began. He paced around the desk to stand behind you. A gentle hand on your shoulder pulled you so that you were leaning back slightly. You wavered for a moment, trying to look behind you to the edge of the desk.

“Don’t worry dear, I won’t let you fall,” Spy said, his other hand resting on your back, promising to hold you steady.

You took a deep breath, facing forward again and grinding down against the toy when Spy told you to. A pang of genuine pleasure was felt through the haze of overstimulation when hit your g-spot. A choked moan tore from your throat as you thrust yourself down, focusing on that sensitive area.

“Ah bonne, that is a good spot, no?” Spy said, laughing softly as he heard your moans reach a sudden peak.

“Oh god, yes,” you said, moving faster with renewed strength and vigor.

“Oui, there’s the enthusiasm I wanted to see!” Spy said, beginning to caress your body. You sighed at the feeling of gloved hands traveling over your bare skin, teasing at your breasts and other erogenous areas. Eventually, his hands came to rest on your hips, gently guiding your movements.

“You’re doing so very well. Are you going to come soon?” He asked, close enough that his breath could be felt against the back of your neck. It sent a shiver down your spine.

“Yes, oh fuck!” you became almost unintelligible as you desperately ground your hips downward, chasing your climax.

“That’s right chérie, come for me, just like that,” Spy said, chuckling at your rapidly dwindling control. One of his arms weaved around your waist, his hand reaching down to rub at your clit. The rich feeling of leather clad fingers proved to be enough to tip you over the edge.

Once again, you writhed on the toy, your hands scrabbling to anchor yourself on smooth wood, eventually clutching the edges of the desk. Spy caressed you and pressed soothing kisses to the nape of your neck as you rode out your orgasm, and when you had finally come down from the high, he carefully hoisted your body up and off of the toy. Almost immediately, you collapsed onto your side, legs dangling off the side of the desk.

"Très bien. You’ve done such a good job for me, ma belle chérie,” he crooned, still petting and traversing the curves of your body with his hands.

“Thank you,” you stammered, relishing the feeling of leather gloves smoothing over your skin.

“However…”

You didn’t even get the chance to register that last word when you were suddenly rolled onto your back to face Spy, barely managing to hold yourself upright by your still trembling arms. He grinned down at you, and you saw the lust in his eyes, the lust that he had been keeping tight reins on throughout this whole ordeal, until now. You watched with an intoxicating mix of eagerness and trepidation as he unzipped his fly.

“Surely, you can handle just one more round, darling?”

[alicepao13]

Hudson and Rex S02E13 - In Pod We Trust

This is a serious episode. Somewhat.

I can't get over the fact that they all want to listen to true crime podcast when not only are they with the police but they deal with murders all the time.

What the hell, dude? Do you not have a home?

Rex: I don't know what the fuck a podcast is but it allows me to eat Charlie's burger while he's distracted so it must be good.

Me neither. Although, in S3 we learn that Charlie had followed the news of a case of a notorious serial killer when he was like in high school, so I guess it's the true crime aspect of it.

"How did he get up there? That dog is a ninja". You haven't seen anything yet.

This is a better cops-done-wrong episode than the one that was written during the BLM movement period. The latter was basically trying to placate the audience and was presenting cops reacting unrealistically as they find out that they're part of the problem, coming off as disingenuous. Cops would not react that way. Still, it's Hudson and Rex, so I don't expect much of a balanced script in terms of that, and I've seen other (bigger and more expensive) crime shows go off the deep end when when the time came to write such episodes. They do try to handle difficult issues respectfully, I'll give them that. However, this is still a cop show. I mean, if you're ashamed that you're making a cop show... don't make it?

lol Jesse saying that the case files from 20 years ago haven't been digitized because they're ancient, in front of Joe who was already a cop back then. "I think you've just bought yourself a one-way ticket to those ancient archives". That's fair.

"I went [to the crime scene] to make sure that you didn't bury the truth, again". There's a misunderstanding. See, Charlie is a good white cop™.

Hi, Vicky, who later got a redemption storyline a lot of characters would have dreamed of.

Rex, huh?

Protestors using the imaginative slogan "Do your jobs". Awful. Do yours, writers.

"But... But... they still love me, right?"

Joe: "We have to be really careful with the optics on this one". You've put an innocent in jail, I think you should care more about that.

She totally said SJDP instead of SJPD. Oops.

Dude, I know Charlie is white but you don't have to tell him a hundred times that this case is a hot potato.

"If you come peacefully, you'll be treated fairly," he says to a man who was wrongly incarcerated for 20 years!

Booking the black guy, releasing the white police guy. I mean... I'd have asked the question too.

Well, that lasted all of 2 minutes. You can argue and have tension for like 5 minutes. It won't kill you guys.

Yeah, I wouldn't trust him just for that. I mean, that was 20 years ago. During which Joe continued climbing the ranks inside the police, which means that he could have easily stopped caring about justice more than he could afford to.

This show's attempts to write some of the jargon and phrases that would otherwise be said in a proper police procedural but can't be said on this "family show" is hilarious. I assume we can't say "ass"? Like, I have no issue believing the actress in her role, I think she's good, but the dialogue...

Enjoying Charlie's on-screen suffering once again.

Joe, like 10 minutes ago: We have to be careful about the optics in this case. Charlie: Nah, I have a murder to solve.

I bet Charlie is reminiscing the good old days where suspects were intimidated by the police right about now.

"You think I murdered Ty for ratings?" People have killed for 20 bucks.

Police corruption in the SJPD is rampant. The only clean cops are our cops lol

Okay, you need at least a second paperclip, amateur. Also, in the second shot, the paperclip is not blue.

I like that line. And she's partially right. Except for the whole murder thing.

I can't help thinking that Joe was right not to get involved further back then. That way, he kept his job, he survived a toxic environment, and even managed to rise to a rank where he can now make an actual difference. And he kept his soul. I'm sure if we were to delve deeper into it, we'd have seen the cost of that on his conscience, but it still led him to where he is now. And where he is now is not a bad place. Camilla cannot understand any of that because she hasn't been nor will she ever be in that position.

Well, turns out they did all this for nothing as Tyler had recorded his own confession and it just arrived to Phoebe a few days after solving the case.

Yeah... I don't think Romeo would want to see a cop within a hundred yards ever again. But we have to get our happy cheesy ending.

[borgialucrezia]

omg i read blood and beauty and its sequel last week bc it had been on my reading list for months!!!! and is this a safe space where i can just say that it hit the nail on the head for all of the borgias without unnecessarily vilifying one or the other (i mean basically considering how most writers hold some vendetta against juan) and i loved how u could really see lucrezia's growth from her childhood innocence to being forced to mature and grow up AND obsessed w any media that portrays cesare as ferocious and sharp and ruthless and juan finally got his flowers bc they obv showed his flaws but without making him the big bad evil when instead he also started off a kid but ended up being dragged to the bottom of the river by his father's ambitions 😔

i wish the 2nd book had progressed a little further to lucrezia's childbirth bed death so the story could come full circle and sometimes the pov switching was confusing for me but aside from that, the borgias will always be famous to meeeeeeeee and i love a good book that portrays them well!

ive been on the hunt for more borgia-centric books so if u have any recs......... <3

zaynab omg hello!!!!! i was kinda waiting for someone to talk to me about this book because it's my absolute #1 favorite historical fiction book <3

i'm so happy you enjoyed reading it! the way miss dunant brilliantly humanized the borgia family by creating striking and compelling narratives for them was truly *chef's kiss*. it's safe to say that her portrayal of them has even made her my favorite author as well (and made me want to check out her other work, lol). the way she made them so sympathetic is truly admirable to me, which is also a standout aspect of the book as we manage to develop a deep understanding of their motivations and complexities through her nuanced portrayal, you know? i say it could've been done more when it came to lucrezia, as she is truly one of the most compelling figures in history (and my all-time favorite). i'm not criticizing dunant for lucrezia's portrayal!! but it's more like i wished she added more of lucrezia's lore...but alas! other books did her more justice, i must say!

my favorite theme of the book is the immense love the pope has for his children. the way [spoiler] juan was taken too soon from him is profoundly melancholic and it added emotional depth to the story and it highlighted the power of a father's love and the devastating impact of losing a beloved child. also, YEAH, the book felt like a breath of fresh air when it came to juan borgia! he was unfairly demonized with no reliable narrative and mostly used as a prop to hype up cesare at his expense *yawns*… but dunant made him an individual, likable character in the book, countering the unjust treatment he always receives. her portrayal of him allowed us to discover the vulnerability and sensitivity that lie beneath his outwardly arrogant and handsome demeanor. we really can't help but feel deep empathy and pity for him as we read about his inner struggles and emotional depth. he became a truly compelling and sympathetic figure within the borgia family, especially when his death is met with cruelty and brutality. the tragic nature of his demise evokes an even stronger sense of empathy and sorrow in the narrative of juan losing himself and being overwhelmed by the heavy task he was entrusted with…

and cesare, of course, was portrayed as that sulking, bitter, cruel but incredibly intelligent, cunning, and charming guy! lowkey a recurring theme for him, but the flavor in making him extra dark in the slayest way possible made me insane in a very positive way! you should watch "los borgia (2006)" for a delicious portrayal of cesare (and personally, i think it's the most historically accurate).

more books? i'd recommended emma lucas's 'lucrezia borgia' and maria bellonci's 'life and times of lucrezia borgia' - both are biographies btw! their work is a solid read, very unbiased without any manipulation of the letters about/between the siblings to push certain narratives (hello sarah bradford!!), well-researched, sheds light on the family's complex relationships and their rise to power, and is highly sympathetic to all of them. you won't be disappointed!!

for historical fiction, i'd recommend mario puzo's 'the family' ...you will never be disappointed after all it's by the dude who wrote the godfather!

i hope you enjoy them <333 i'll be waiting for your feedback :)

[glitterrosesnzz]

Thoughts on V/enti's cat allergies?

oh my god v/enti's allergies-

it's so good precisely because it makes zero sense. he's made out of wind why would he suffer from allergies. i think the allergies were like an accidental thing... he could probably get rid of them if he like, remade his body again, but he's either afraid of messing up in some other way, or just genuinely isn't as bothered as he pretends to be by it (it makes him feel more human... or its a snzfucker v/enti situation if you prefer that hslfkdsjflksjdfs)

the fact allergy medicine canonically doesn't work on him drives me insane btw. i've never forgotten that one phonecall to him during that summer island event. that lives rent free in my mind.

since there is like an aspect of magic to his body i do think medicine that works on him could be made if it's combined with like... leaves from the tree in windrise. whether he just doesn't know that or doesn't want to suggest it to people because it'd be Suspicious for a human to require something like that, idk.

also i know a lot of people hc that he copied the allergies from the n/ameless b/ard but honestly i think it's a lot funnier if it's just a Him thing. like he got chased by a cat while he was a tiny windsprite once and it left a mark on him to the point he developed allergies when he got a human form.

i also think that he's slightly embarrassed by it?? albeit i think the only people he would try to possibly hide it from would be like, J/ean and D/iluc...

He also probably downplays it a bit.... considering he outright accepted playing at the literal cat bar... i'm still thinking about the fact that someone there gave him allergy medicine. like... he was being so obviously miserable that they just. handed him medicine, which MUST be expensive in this universe... i WISH we could've seen his reaction to that tbh. i have a feeling he might've initially tried to turn the offer down.

WHICH ALSO. IT'D BE SUSPICIOUS THAT ALLERGY MEDICINE DOESN'T WORK ON HIM RIGHT??? SO AFTER THAT V/ENTI WOULD'VE HAD TO PRETEND THAT HIS SYMPTOMS WERE MORE MANAGEABLE WHEN IN REALITY THEY WERE STILL GETTING WORSE DUE TO PROLONGED EXPOSURE- HELLO???

no wonder V/enti resorted to hiding on the roof oh my god he probably had to keep like,,, sneaking out to have lil sneezing fits so that people wouldn't get suspicious about medicine not working on him.

(and also to keep there from being any collateral damage from anemo energy but y'know that's a given)

[grand-theft-carbohydrates]

Ode to grief #4

A long time ago, a man lay quietly in his room, dying slowly. The room was sparce but expensively furnished. One could tell he was a gentleman and quite learned, for there were books in the shelf, inkstones on the desk and heirloom swords hanging from the wall. He was a stranger to this land, and had not been there for long. The house and all its servants were a gift from his wealthy patron. 

His mysterious illness had all the doctors in the land plucking their beards in frustration. He was young, hale, had not suffered wound nor chill, yet his strength waned day by day. One evening, he found that he could not walk. The next morning he could not rise. Now he was one foot in the grave. Neither food nor drink had passed his lips in ten days and he lacked the strength to even speak. 

“Fear not, my good man! The days of sickness are behind you! Salvation is at hand!” 

The dying man roused a little from his stupor and cast a bleary eye about the room. Standing in the gloomy doorway was a strange apparition. On its back it carried a large, rectangular box wrapped in broad-cloth, it was dressed in woman’s clothes, but no woman was ever so gaudily painted—or had such a ridiculous, drooping moustache. 

“You are in the presence of the illustrious Musician of Yan—Gao Jianli!” cried the man in drag. His voice was bright, loud and extremely grating on the ears. “I suppose you’ve heard of me. Oh, who am I kidding, of course you have! My music can heal the sick, make the lame dance and allow the blind to see—or so I’ve heard.” 

The man who claimed to be Gao Jianli threw open the windows, causing the dying man to wince. He was small and his movements were quick and vigorous, like that of a chicken pecking at feed. He had evidently been consuming all the garlic and chives Yan had to offer, because his breath was fit to rouse the dead. The dying man was not unconvinced that this was just some charlatan who had wondered in off the streets. Either way, he could not care enough to chase him out. 

“Gao Jianli” was not in a hurry help the dying man, or even play music. Instead, he pulled over a low table and helped himself to the dying man’s lunch, gobbling down the food like a hog at the trough.

“This stuff’s alright,” he remarked, in between slurps of wine, “but it’s not as good as the dinners the king serves me when I play at the palace. Oh well, it’s probably the best you can manage, for a man of your station.” 

With great effort, the dying man turned his back to him and closed his eyes. He detested the sun. He detested noise. He was sick to his heart of hearts and wished nothing more than to snuff himself out, like a candle that had burned to its end. 

There was a loud crash behind him, followed by a bitten off oath. The man did not bother turning around. Gao Jianli had pulled one of the decorative swords off the wall—the big, long ceremonial one, by the sound of it. 

“Wow, this is a cool sword!” Gao Jianli giggled, “I bet you three silvers I can cut your desk in half with one swing.” 

The dying man did not dignify that with a response. He was fairly certain that ridiculous little man would not even be able to unsheathe the sword, since the entire length of it exceeded his arm span. 

“Eh, what the…?” 

Told you. 

“Hey, you’re barely taller than me. I bet you can’t pull this sword out either!”

Wrong. 

“How come your arms are so short? I thought swordsmen were supposed to tall, with long arms and big muscles.”

It’s not about size. It’s about skill. 

“How disappointing! I was expecting the famous Swordsman of Wei to be a fine figure of man, worthy of his great name, but all I get is this sad little lump.” He put on an exaggerated feminine voice, just to make it clear which aspect of the swordsman’s physique he was insulting; “I must say, Sir, I’m very disappointed. I was expecting a lot more to play with.”  The dying man was getting tired of this inane jabbering, “you…are… Gao Jianli?” he croaked. 

“So my mother tells me!” 

“Prove…it…” the man said through gritted teeth, “play…something.”

“Fine, fine. I don’t usually do requests like this, but I’ll make an exception since you’re clearly not long for this world. I do hope the King invites me to your funeral, Mister Wei Swordsman, I charge extra for eulogies…” 

He picked up his long box and unwrapped it. The instrument he pulled out did not fill the dying man with any confidence. It was an old, shabby zhu, the body was without lettering or ornaments and only the silk strings were new. 

Gao Jianli placed the instrument upon his knees, rolled up his sleeves with slow, dignified grace…and proceeded to hammer violently at the zhu with both hands, assaulting the dying man’s ears with the most god-awful racket he had ever heard in his life. 

“Stop that!” the dying man snarled, and burst into a fit of coughing at the exertion. 

“How’s that for some music!” Gao Jianli howled with laughter, “you get what you pay for!” 

“Get… out…you filthy swindler!” 

“What shocking language! I don’t know how things are done in Wei, but here in the Kingdom of Yan, we are inclined to treat our guests with a little more civility.” 

The dying man collapsed back down onto the bed and squeezed his eyes shut. If he could not make the man leave, he resolved to deny him the pleasure of giving him any reaction. 

Gao Jianli let out another horrible, juvenile giggle, and edged himself closer to the bed. He had stuffed two, large, round somethings down the front of his shirt to give the appearance of being buxom. He pulled one out—revealing it to be a mantou wrapped in bamboo leaves—and took a large bite. How he was still hungry was anyone’s guess. 

“Mmgh mufff phughdg muhmfff,” Gao Jianli swallowed noisily “--wow, this mantou is so soft, white and delicious. A man would be content to nibble on them all day!” He took several more bites, and said slyly, “what a shame, this pair is not as nice as the ones that belong to your mother…” 

The man’s eyes snapped open, “what did you say?” 

“Didn’t you hear me?” the little fiend cackled, “I said your mother’s got a nice, fat, pair of—” 

This was the last straw. The dying man, who had previously lacked the energy to even speak, suddenly leapt out of bed with a roar. Gao Jianli, who had been expecting this, threw the chalice of wine at his face. While the dying man was spluttering and wiping his eyes, the musician took off at a dead sprint with his zhu tucked under one arm. The sound of his maniacal laughter could be heard echoing down the hall.  The dying man kicked the discarded sword into his hand, unsheathed it by swinging the scabbard behind his back, and took off after the scoundrel, weapon in hand and murder in his eyes. 

Gao Jianli glanced behind him, did a double-take, and turned as white as a sheet, “n-now wait a second!” 

“Die!” 

“Look, I can explain—oh, fuck—guards! Guards!”

“Stop running, you bastard!”  

“Help! This maniac is trying to kill me!” 

The two men dashed out into the garden, and began to run circles around a large cherry tree. It was hardly an exciting, high-speed chase; one was an out-of-shape zhu player, the other was a weak, half-starved swordsman with a weapon he could barely lift, but both made up for it with sheer enthusiasm. 

An on-looker might have been surprised to see that the musician was still holding onto his zhu. A normal man would have tossed it aside, or perhaps used it to block his assailant. Gao Jianli clutched the zhu to his bosom like it was his own child. It did not even occur to him to ditch the dead weight, he would have sooner parted with his own arm. 

The swordsman swung, missed, and swung again. On the third swing, the blade struck the tree trunk and became lodged inside the wood. The swordsman let out a a howl of frustration and leaped on top of the musician, pummelling him with his fists. Gao Jianli shrieked in agony—mainly because he had dropped his zhu—and retaliated with a swift, hard kick below the belt. 

They were so busy duking it out, neither man realised they had acquired an audience until a high-pitched, stringent voiced shouted rather pointedly, “all hail the King of Yan!” 

The men froze mid-blow and slowly looked up into the disapproving face of a court eunuch. Behind him stood the king and his royal entourage, staring at them in polite disbelief. There was a mad scramble as the men climbed off each other and hastily pressed their foreheads into the dirt. 

 “Good afternoon, Your Highness!”

“O, mighty King of Yan! Please forgive me for my gross impropriety! I—I don’t know what came over me. I will accept any punishment you see fit—”  

“It’s good to see you’re up and about, Jing Ke, we had begun to despair of you ever recovering,” said the king. “Gao Jianli, your methods are, ah, unorthodox but no one can deny that they are effective.” 

“Thank you, Your Highness!” Gao Jianli said, “I had long suspected that the Gentleman of Wei’s illness was not caused by a physical disease, but stemmed from deep, emotional anguish. He had fallen into despair after losing his own king and countrymen to the tyrant of Qin. Pretty songs and empty platitudes would have done little to ease his spirit. I thought the best way to help him would be to deliver a sudden, dramatic shock to his system. I can only pray I have not overstepped…I hold Minister Jing to the highest regard and I have long admired his skill and courage.” 

“I…” Jing Ke, the swordsman of Wei was absolutely speechless. He sat up and clasped the musician’s arms tightly.  “Gao Jianli, I…” Jing Ke said in a choked-up voice, “I…I am going to faint,” and immediately made good on that promise.

“Oh my god! Someone get a doctor! Oh no, oh no, oh no—You better not die on me! I’m serious! I’m going to get in so much trouble…”  

In the ensuring commotion, the last mantou bounced out of Gao Jianli’s shirt and rolled off into a bush somewhere, never to be seen again. Thus began a passionate friendship, although one would quite understand if the history books never made any mention of it.

---------------------- Notes:

haha so this is a gender flipped version of the feeding scene from the Emperor's Shadow + foreshadowing of Jing Ke's failed assassination. I've been giving you guys a lot of angst so here's a little monty python skit...that is really sad and bittersweet in hindsight!

i wanted to flesh out gao jianli's character a little bit more. I've always intended for him to be very insightful and a little bit of a troll. I like to think there's two versions of him, the happy, carefree prankster who died with Jing Ke, and this brittle, sorrowful man who is unmoored, indecisive and struggling to honor the memory of the man he loved.

I couldn't manage to squeeze it in bc it messed with the flow, but Gao Jianli is in drag because he was out performing some musical theatre in the streets! I like the idea of him being this maverick performer who just doesn't shy away from "lowbrow" art. this is based on a play in the Six Dynasties period, called The Dancing Singing Woman (踏謡娘), one of the first-recorded plays where the female role is played by a man, and it is a precursor to later chinese opera.

omg this is the first time jing ke actually gets a pov! mr not-appearing-in-the-story finally appears!

[visd3stele]

Well a jurdan fanfic of post exile, what if Jude reclaimed her identity as Jude Duarte and has her social security back and has gone back to college in the mortal world. She’s beginning to enjoy the mortal world working part time, in fact she has a date with a nice human boy. Cardan interrupts the date and whisks her off to elfhame.

Long ago she lived here. She had a mother who looked like her and a father with soft, round ears who loved her without swords or blood or pain. Once upon a time, she was just Jude Duarte, a happy, bubbly human girl with no ambitions of knighthood or dreams of armor.

The girl she became in Elfhame was ashamed of it. The weakness, the vulnerability, the neediness. The girl she was now burried that shame deep down, where the crown of a queen of nothing stood quirked and bent over itself.

Jude has been in the human realm for over a year. She spent the first months in rage and denial. She seethed at the sight of her sister thriving in a world that wasn't even hers, having a job at the nearby cafè with her girlfriend, letting her show her around the magicless magic of the humans.

But then, Vivi pushed her to clean the house. Her room was a mess and anywhere she went, Jude left behind a trail of scrunched papers – letters she never sent – empty pizza cartons and broken water bottles. She wanted to use the glass to make a sword. It took her older sister a whole month to make her drop the idea.

As she was cleaning, Jude found a drawer filled with things that used to belong to the Duarte family: photo albums, birth certificates, serious documents her young brain couldn't understand but vividly remembered being told by her parents to not touch.

It snaped something in her brain. That night, when Vivi came back from work, she found Jude on the couch, hugging herself inside a blanket and covered in paper tissues. She held the remote to her chest, nearly breaking it as she watched a movie on the tv. Something she refused vehemently since day one.

"I refuse to indulge in such laziness. There must be something productive to do even around here." She'd say. But today Jude found her mother's diary and managed to work the tv just enough to put on her favorite show.

Ever since, Jude became more tolerant regarding her human nature. She even agreed to let Vivi sign her up to college to receive higher human education. And even though she was behind in every aspect, she managed to understand just enough to pass with mediocre grades.

That's where she met Caleb. A nice human boy of her age, with way lower grades, but a "sweet athletic schoolarship" and a genuine soul. Jude was certain he couldn't lie, but not in the ways a fae couldn't, making up for the forced honesty with irony, sarcasm, half-truths and hurtfull acts. No. This boy was simply as pure as a ray of sunshine.

Jude and Caleb started going out and he introduced her to his friend group. They took a liking to the her immediately. One of them, a girl with short, colorful hair and a corset to match it, offered to go shopping with her. "You look way more interesting than you dress. Let's find your style."

She even joined the sparring club at college, having the teacher beg her to participate in contests in less than a month. "There's no way this is the first time you touch a sword, kiddo." It wasn't, of course, but no one needs to know that.

Soon, Jude even found a job. Caleb worked as a scullion* at an extremely fancy restaurant. It was nothing compared with the riches of Elfhame, obviously, but still much more ellegant and expensive than anything Jude saw in the mortal land so far. Her boyfriend talked to the manager and in no time Jude Duarte was hired as a waitress.

Some days she found it sordid work. Perhaps she did enjoy the crown more than she was willing to admit. But before that Jude wanted to be a noble knight. Serve her country, her king. Serving food and drinks to entitled humans was a far cry from it, but she could use the money for greater purposes.

Jude became interested in politics and changed majors from the easy one Vivi picked from her. She put her brain to work and landed top of her class.

One day, as she and Caleb went out to celebrate their anniversary, Jude realized with no hint of horror or disgust that she actually loved the human realm and the life she built for herself there.

And in true Cardan fashion, he had to ruin her happiness just when she found it.

The High King flew in circles over their picnic carpet, cofusing Caleb's mortal brain that struggled to make sense of the undisguised fae magic.

"What the hell!" Jude was on her feet before Cardand even had the chance to land. "You have some nerve to show up in my home."

"Your home? Such a disgracefull downfall, Your Majesty."

"What is going on?" Caleb's intervetion seemed to shake Cardan out of his mocking cordiality. He spent so much time searching for his queen, trying to reach out, expecting her praise for his clever wordplay. And instead his wife – by the laws of Elfhame and nature itself – was entertaining another, a human no less.

"I have not given you the right to speek!"

"Don't talk to him like that! You have no title here. If you want to play king, go back where you belong."

"Where we belong, you mean, my queen."

Jude took several steps forward, leaving behind a scared and confused Caleb. Her eyes were stinging with unshed tears, cheeks reddening with fury and something else. Something her heart tried to confess, but her stubborn, prideful brain refused to accept.

She told herself seeing her husband again meant nothing. Their marriage means nothing – in the human realm, at least. But facing him now, touching foreheads, lips mere inches from his, Jude caught herself longing for her old life. For Cardan. His touch burning her skin once more.

And her feelings only angered her more. "Your queen? Your queen!? You betrayed me, you useless, stupid, brainless..." Jude was hitting him, screaming and yelling for the whole park to hear. Caleb tried to interfere, his bewilderment forgotten and the sight of his girlfriend hurting so much. But one snap of Cardan's fingers and he fell to the ground in a deep slumber that'll wipe Jude out of his memory once he wakes up.

"What did you do to him?" She tried to run to her boyfriend, but Cardan caught her elbow and returned them both to Elfhame.

"Calm yourself. Your lover shall live. He will think of you as merely a beautiful dream, but he'll live."

Jude didn't answer immediately. She took in her surroundings, pretending to care about the changes that overtook the palace. It looked as miserable as Cardan felt without her.

"I though I'm banished."

"Until the royal party pardons you! And you call me the idiot. You are High Queen, Jude! You could have returned any time you wanted!"

Jude crossed her arms. "Perhaps I didn't want to come back. You have no right to snatch me away from life."

"This is your life!"

"You ought to take me back."

"I will do no such thing. Why can't you accept you don't want that? You want to rule, you want me!"

He wasn't wrong. Once she stepped foot in Elfhame again, its magic greeted her like an old friend. Like a part of her soul she forcefully threw away. A mother she abandoned.

The faerie realm was part of her as much as she was part of it, and now that she was back, she could deny it no more.

That doesn't mean she would make things easy for Cardan. He might lover her, he might have not betray her per se, but he still showed up and kidnapped her.

"I'll stay," she said. "But with one condition..."

...And their game began again.

[anthonybialy]

Lazy Fair

A president who doesn’t touch anything is the republic’s best hope.  But self-control is not a typical characteristic of applicants.  Americans who tire of being groped must rely on conditioning to dodge handsy executives.  Harassment doesn’t become legal when a politician lingers on a hug too long.

As with babysitters not letting charges juggle drills, the absence of destruction is tough to notice but crucial to sense.  A term would ideally be an actively passive process.  Sadly, interviewers are not about to hire some CEO who trusts them to negotiate.

Nostalgia junkies who miss the ancient era of 2019 are really just longing for Donald Trump to again be useless.  An all-time bluffer’s emblematic ineptitude despite rather brassy claims to the contrary constitute his version of effectiveness, which is to commandeer the bus wheel in order to drive it classier.  It’s just like how success at winning an election differs from whether or not the person who receives the most electoral votes may not be smart or good or talented.

The insatiable urge to grab everything for the alleged benefit of the fondles is far from the only thing Trump shares in common with a Clinton.  A horndog president too busy seducing a zaftig intern to do the same with the economy offered the best possible precedent in an era where nobody minds their own business.

Broke and busted Americans miss aspects the last president couldn’t manage to muck up.  It wasn’t for lack of trying.  But Trump’s inability to molest everything was a gift of an unanswered prayer to himself.  Doing things never works out for him despite the most unearned assurances in civilization’s history.  The person now ripping off perception prepared with a long career of pretending to be a corporate titan as he lost money spinning roulette wheels openly rigged in the house’s favor.

Business was better before taking on a president who thinks hassling everyone but shoplifters assists the economy.  Credit something a different false savior claimed to manifest when mere existence got it done.  The free market works fantastically when clumsy amateur mechanics don’t attempt needless repairs.  Relative prosperity must’ve been spurred by their savior laying his very normal-sized hands upon it.  Inspiring people to get rich by slapping names on trash is about as useful.

All thriving takes is enough restraint to stop printing money.  I know it’s tempting to think you can get rich by having more.  But even the Goonies realized they couldn’t get away with running the presses.  The Treasury’s currency is a half-step above counterfeit.  Handing it out makes it worthless, which is one of those mean things like ice cream being unhealthy.

Explaining to the incumbent that not everything wanted happens isn’t going to sink in now.  After all, this is not just someone who’s spent a lifetime in politics but specifically Biden.  The commander-in-chief has enough trouble understanding how neckties work.  How can you get something that’s wider then one’s head around one’s neck?  Whoever dresses him must explain what’s happening every morning.

Fuel expenses do something as remarkable as the commodity itself making cars go.  All a president has to do is nothing for the cost to become reasonable.  It’s not for lack of gasoline conglomerates trying to pump up prices, as they want to sell it at a the same price per volume as plutonium laced with meth.  Meanwhile, those consuming it aspire to pay as much as they would for jugs of emergency water from Save-A-Lot.  I wonder if there’s a way for them to meet in the middle.

A president can take credit for the affordability of traveling around, although the ambulatory don’t have to give it.  Trusting adults like they’ve been given allowances for the first time is inscrutable notion in an era where whoever’s president defines not only the government but the nation.  Those things are supposed to be separate, too, for the record.

Two awful idiots like getting their hands on others as respective manifestations of their grabby philosophies.  Decent people wish it were only figurative.  The prospective final two are different styles of perverts.  The one who thinks you’ll be impressed by what an alpha stud he is if he beds enough peroxide donor recipients equipped with plastic chassis vies with the creep who molests wives other than his own and any children within his greasy reach.  But you do get to pick.

An inept presidency takes different forms.  Based on the rather pushy take on the presidency that’s been trendy this century, failing at grabbing is a triumph for the respect of those the leader hopes to help by intervening.  Doofus ex machina offers a most unsatisfying conclusion.

Lickspittles who worship the previous president for what he does should be thankful for what he didn’t.  After all, the only good parts came when he left things alone.  Praising Trump for aspects that thrived because he failed to toy with them sums him up in a way cult enlistees can’t grasp.  The best businessman of all time couldn’t figure out how to violate every aspect, and he naturally demands credit.

A mature nation needs a different kind of toddler president.  This hasn’t been a place for grownups despite time advancing indifferently.  Anyone with wisdom at any age avoids the current variety which throws tantrums around or past the age of 80.  The ability to restrain shrieking is common amongst many humans in kindergarten who don’t go on to become president.

Thorough adults should seek a presidential option who treats the nation as a visit to a childless aunt’s house.  Respect the wishes of someone who acquired fragile items.  Refraining from smashing like a big boy is part of becoming head of state.  The fact it’s not explains why the state heads the wrong way.

[bugbyte]

So it's been almost a week

And I figured I would make an update about the pain + medical marijuana situation, for science or the curious or whatever.

So it's technically been 5 days and not a full week, but who's counting?

I failed to read the directions on the actual packaging (lol) and it turns out I could have been taking a capsule like every 4 hours. I have not been doing that because I would burn through everything I have in a week, and the state limits the maximum amount I can buy in any given 30 days. So that would probably be incredibly effective but again, this whole process is incredibly expensive. That bit makes me angry, and I've effectively been radicalized into a pro-federal-legalization person, but that's another post for another day.

So! Even though I've been taking a fraction of the dose I could be taking, I have noticed major changes, and the thing that astonishes me is that all of my pain, day to day, is down significantly. Even if I didn't take anything at all that day.

Basically: part of the (many) problems in my shoulder is that my upper trapezius just. Never ever relaxes. I've had injections, I've done PT, I have a TENS unit I stick on from time to time and absolutely nothing has made that particular muscle relax even a little. Most of the time it feels like a red-hot tennis ball jammed in my shoulder. It has been at least this bad since March of 2023, until now, December. The morning after I took my first dose of MMJ, the very first thing I noticed on waking up was that I could move my arm normally.

For that entire day, I had mostly normal use of my arm, with almost unnoticeable pain. I still have to contend with the problem that it can kind of slide out of place/hang strangely/I have to wrestle it back where it belongs, but the pain aspect? Nearly gone. All I can figure, is that they explained the dose they were giving me had a certain ratio of compounds that are anti-inflammatory to compounds that are pain-reducing (I don't know enough to give details here) and the anti-inflammatory aspect must have been more powerful? Higher dosage? More effective for some reason? Than all of the other prescription things I take supposedly for anti-inflammatory purposes.

Things have been a bit up and down since then, so I suspect I'm going to need to do some adjusting of dose and timing, but I cannot complain about the results I'm getting. I was really, really excited about being able to draw pretty normally, and definitely kind of overdid it. And then I went to cook dinner, and definitely overdid it, and I paid for all that the next day, which was back to a more normal pain level for me.

I was really worried at this point that the first day had been me placebo-effecting myself and it wasn't going to work and oh well at least I tried. But after taking a rest day and continuing to take it before bed, I'm back to a manageable pain level. I spent most of today (Sunday) in the lowest pain I've felt in probably years.

I'm able to draw (as long as I don't push it too hard for now), spend more time up and around, and doing more average tasks around the house. I haven't been able to do these things in a really long time and I keep feeling like this is all fake, and a fluke, and it's going to stop working and I'll be back down in pain hell. I keep giving myself the side eye every day, like, is this real? Are you fooling yourself? But... I think it's working.

I've got a ways to go still to get back some regular functioning -- the aforementioned joints slipping out of place is a major thing. But if I can keep my average pain level to what I've got now, or lower? I can get back to PT and working on muscle strength to help keep my joints where they belong. I don't know if I'll ever get back to doing everything I used to do before this decline, but at least I have hope that things can be better.

[curiousquill1]

What Makes Mutual Fund Portfolio Analysis Crucial for Selecting Tax Saving SIP Plans?

Mutual fund portfolio evaluation forms the backbone of sensible investment choices in the global economy. When buyers are trying to find ways to maximize returns while minimizing tax burdens, investment portfolio management flips to this analytical technique as their guiding light. But what makes this method so effective for identifying optimal tax-saving SIP plans, and why should investors care?

Peeling Back the Layers of Investment Selection

Portfolio management services don't just randomly select investment options. They employ sophisticated mutual fund portfolio evaluation techniques to dissect ability investments down to their center additives. This manner entails analyzing ancient overall performance patterns, volatility metrics, fund manager music facts, and rate ratios—all crucial elements that have an effect on returns.

When specifically focused on tax-saving SIP plans, analysts must add another layer of scrutiny. These plans must deliver not only competitive returns but also maximize tax benefits under Section 80C and other applicable provisions. The analytical approach ensures investments align with both financial goals and tax-saving objectives.

Beyond Surface-Level Numbers

Many investors make the mistake of selecting tax-saving SIP plans based solely on past returns—a dangerous oversimplification. Professional portfolio management services dig deeper through comprehensive mutual fund portfolio analysis, examining:

Risk-adjusted returns rather than raw performance figures

Sectoral allocation and diversification metrics

Liquidity considerations and lock-in periods

Tax efficiency throughout the investment lifecycle

Fund management stability and philosophy

This multidimensional analysis reveals which tax-saving SIP plans truly deserve investor attention versus those merely riding temporary market waves.

Strategic Tax Planning Through Data

Tax-saving SIP plans represent more than just investment vehicles—they're strategic tax planning tools. Portfolio management services leverage mutual fund portfolio analysis to identify options that optimize the tax-return relationship.

For instance, equity-linked saving schemes (ELSS) offer tax benefits while maintaining exposure to equity markets. But not all ELSS funds are created equal. Some emphasize large-cap stability while others pursue aggressive midcap growth. Through detailed portfolio analysis, management services can match specific tax-saving SIP plans to individual investor risk profiles while preserving tax advantages.

Timing and Market Conditions

Market timing remains notoriously difficult even for professionals. However, mutual fund portfolio analysis allows portfolio management services to identify tax-saving SIP plans with strong performance across varied market cycles. This cycle testing ensures recommendations can weather different economic environments while maintaining tax advantages.

The systematic investment approach of SIPs already provides dollar-cost averaging benefits. When paired with analytical selection of tax-optimized funds, investors gain dual advantages—market timing neutralization and tax efficiency.

Balancing Cost and Performance

A critical aspect often overlooked by individual investors is the relationship between fund costs and performance. Portfolio management services employ mutual fund portfolio analysis to scrutinize expense ratios, exit loads, and hidden fees that can significantly erode returns over time.

For tax-saving SIP plans particularly, these costs must be balanced against tax benefits received. A fund with slightly higher management fees might still deliver superior post-tax returns due to more efficient tax handling or better underlying asset selection. Professional analysts crunch these numbers meticulously, comparing dozens of tax-saving SIP plans to identify those with optimal cost-benefit profiles.

Many investors focus exclusively on tax benefits without considering how administration costs might offset these advantages. Portfolio management services bring clarity to this complex equation through rigorous comparative analysis.

Making Informed Choices

Investors seeking both growth and tax benefits should recognize the value professional portfolio management services bring through rigorous mutual fund portfolio analysis. This scientific approach transforms overwhelming financial information into actionable investment strategies.

The combination of systematic investing through SIPs, tax advantages through carefully selected instruments, and professional analytical oversight creates a powerful financial planning trifecta.

[nursingwriter]

Five Forces and Pharmaceutical Companies Pharmaceutical Companies spends many years and millions of dollars developing new drugs. In order for these companies to be successful they must sell any successful drug at a high price to attempt to regain some of the cost of the drug. Once other companies replicate the drug the cost of the drug can be driven down with competition. Most people use their insurance companies to pay for their drugs, pharmaceutical benefits management (PBM). The pharmaceutical companies try to make deals with the PBM, by offering them lower prices so that they would pressure doctors into writing those prescriptions. Below is the five forces that drives the pharmaceutical industry. Supplier Power is where the pharmaceutical company that is supplying the medication controls the power because of the volume of demand. The supplier power is defined by many different aspects of selling a specified drug. Usually once a drug is released on the market the company must sell as much of the drug possible to make the money it cost them to create the drug. The supplier power in that initial phase is defined by the cost of the drug and the amount of sale. Threat of substitute is where the drug has been replicated. There is now other comparable drug on the market and therefore the original company no longer has the supplier power and they are now forced to lower cost of drug. Consumers must evaluate the substitute and choose the drug that has more benefits. Buyer power is mainly defined by the choices available to the buyers. When there are alternative drugs on the market, the buyer usually have more power. The buyer sets the price because there are limited buyers and many producers. Rivalry is derived from competition, which then brings profitability to zero. These companies become so competitive that they drive sale price down, causing the company to lose money. Rivalry causes companies to seek a competitive advantage over their rivals, to ensure profitability. Barriers to entry are when existing companies protect their high profitability by inhibiting additional rivals from entering the market. Some companies may see rivals or competition as a major problem, a way to lower profitability. Companies may intentionally lower their prices to keep competition out; once the treat is no longer there they may then raise the price. People are concerned about the pressure pharmaceuticals companies put on PBM, when then pressure doctors. The PMB pressure the doctors to write prescriptions that are lower in cost. The drug companies cannot pressure the doctors directly, since it is against the law to put that type of pressure on doctors. Pharmaceutical companies are not allowed to give doctors expensive gifts or do anything that may seem like a bribe. These are guidelines to protect the rights of patients (Higgins, 2006). Medication affects the health and wellness of individuals and their medical decisions should not be influenced by pharmaceutical companies. The forces in the industry place a lot of pressure on the pharmaceutical industry that then move that pressure to doctors and PBM. Doctors should have the freedom to write the prescription based on the patients needs. Many PBM offer discounts for buying generic drugs and some PBM may not pay for brand name drugs. This puts pressure on the doctors to write certain prescriptions and abstain from others. Patients should feel as though their doctor have their best interest in mind when treating them. References Higgins, M. (2006). Stricter gift ethics urged for doctors; study sees influence on diagnosis. The Washington Times. Porter, M.E. (2010). Strategic management. Retrieved from http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/porter.shtml Read the full article

[anekbediblog]

Will Real Estate Be a Viable Passive Income Source?

Introduction

Real estate has long been considered a top choice for generating passive income. Many investors have built wealth by owning rental properties, flipping houses, or investing in real estate funds. But as markets fluctuate and economic conditions change, the question arises: Will real estate remain a viable passive income source in the future?

In this article, we’ll explore the different real estate investment strategies, the level of automation possible, the risks involved, and whether real estate still holds strong potential as a passive income stream.

1. How Real Estate Generates Passive Income

Real estate offers multiple avenues for earning passive income. While some methods require more involvement than others, automation tools and professional management can help make real estate investing truly passive.

a) Rental Properties

Owning residential or commercial properties and renting them out provides a steady monthly cash flow.

Landlords can hire property management companies to handle tenant issues, maintenance, and rent collection.

Rental properties benefit from appreciation, increasing their value over time.

b) Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

REITs are companies that own and operate income-generating properties.

Investors can buy shares in REITs and receive dividends without the hassle of property management.

REITs provide exposure to real estate without requiring large capital investments.

c) Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb, Vrbo)

Short-term rental platforms like Airbnb allow property owners to generate higher rental income compared to traditional leases.

While more lucrative, short-term rentals require guest management, cleaning, and marketing, though much of this can be automated.

d) Crowdfunded Real Estate

Platforms like Fundrise and RealtyMogul allow investors to pool money into real estate projects.

Offers diversification without the need for direct property ownership.

Completely passive as professional managers handle all aspects of the investment.

e) Land Leasing

Buying land and leasing it to businesses, farmers, or developers is a low-maintenance way to earn passive income.

Ideal for long-term investors looking for appreciation and steady cash flow.

2. The Challenges of Real Estate as a Passive Income Source

While real estate has the potential for passive income, there are challenges that investors must consider.

a) High Initial Investment

Buying property requires significant upfront capital, including down payments, closing costs, and renovations.

Even REITs and crowdfunding require minimum investments, though they are lower than direct ownership.

b) Market Fluctuations

Real estate values can decline due to economic downturns, rising interest rates, or demographic shifts.

Rental income is not always guaranteed—vacancy rates and tenant turnover can affect cash flow.

c) Property Management Responsibilities

While hiring a property manager can reduce workload, it comes at a cost (typically 8-12% of monthly rent).

Even with automation tools, maintenance issues, evictions, and unexpected expenses require some level of involvement.

d) Regulatory and Legal Risks

Governments are increasingly imposing restrictions on rental properties (such as rent control laws and short-term rental bans).

Zoning laws and tax regulations vary by location, affecting profitability.

3. How to Make Real Estate a Truly Passive Income Stream

To maximize passive income potential in real estate while minimizing active management, consider these strategies:

a) Automate Property Management

Use property management software like Buildium, AppFolio, or Avail to handle tenant applications, rent collection, and maintenance requests.

Install smart home devices (e.g., smart locks, thermostats) to reduce in-person management.

b) Invest in REITs or Crowdfunding

If hands-on property management isn’t for you, REITs and real estate crowdfunding provide a way to earn real estate income passively.

These options also allow diversification across multiple properties and locations.

c) Choose Stable Markets

Investing in cities with strong job growth, low vacancy rates, and high rental demand ensures a steady income stream.

Research long-term market trends before purchasing property.

d) Consider Triple-Net (NNN) Lease Properties

In an NNN lease, tenants (usually businesses) pay for property taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

Investors receive rental income without ongoing expenses or management concerns.

e) Use Passive Real Estate Investing Platforms

Roofstock allows investors to buy fully managed rental properties.

PeerStreet provides access to real estate-backed loans for passive income.

4. Is Real Estate Still a Viable Passive Income Source?

Given the above factors, real estate remains a strong passive income source—but it depends on the approach you take.

Reasons Real Estate is Still Viable

✅ Appreciation Potential – Over time, real estate generally increases in value. ✅ Stable Income – Rental properties and REITs provide reliable income streams. ✅ Leverage Opportunities – Investors can use mortgages to buy properties with relatively low capital. ✅ Tax Advantages – Rental property owners benefit from tax deductions on mortgage interest, depreciation, and operating expenses.

Reasons to Be Cautious

⚠ Economic Downturns – Recessions, inflation, or high interest rates can impact property values and rental demand. ⚠ Increasing Regulations – Some cities are making rental property ownership less attractive through strict laws. ⚠ Ongoing Maintenance – Even with automation, property issues can arise.

5. Alternative Passive Income Options vs. Real Estate

If you’re looking for other passive income streams, here’s how real estate compares: Passive Income SourceProsConsReal Estate RentalsHigh returns, property appreciationUpfront costs, tenant issues, managementREITsFully passive, dividends, diversificationMarket risks, lower returns than rentalsDividend StocksTruly passive, no management requiredStock market volatilityDigital ProductsNo physical assets, low maintenanceRequires online marketingPeer-to-Peer LendingPassive returns, alternative investingDefault risk, economic dependency

Conclusion

Real estate continues to be a viable passive income source, but the level of passivity depends on the strategy chosen. Direct property ownership requires effort but can be made more passive with automation and outsourcing. Alternatively, REITs, crowdfunding, and NNN leases offer truly hands-off real estate income.

For investors willing to research, automate, and strategically manage their properties, real estate remains one of the best ways to generate passive income while building long-term wealth. However, market risks and regulatory changes must be factored into any real estate investment plan.

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Understanding Divorce Costs in Irvine, CA: Do You Need a Lawyer & What Are Your Options?

A divorce represents a major life transformation which produces substantial emotional and financial obstacles. People frequently worry about the expense of retaining a divorce lawyer among their diverse concerns. Knowledge about divorce proceeding expenses provides important information for decision-making purposes. This article explains the charges of legal divorce services and attorney requirements for individuals living in Irvine, CA who need legal help.

What Determines the Cost of a Divorce Lawyer?

The amount you must pay a divorce lawyer depends on how complex your case is and their experience level and also whether you fight or agree with your partner throughout the process. Between $250 and $500 is the typical hourly fee that divorce attorneys in Irvine, California provide to their clients. A divorce attorney may give clients two payment options: hourly rates for contested cases and fixed fees for uncontested cases.

How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost?

Various conditions determine the total expense of hiring divorce legal services. A divorce lawyer in California will charge between $5000 and $15000 in total fees based on the specific complexity level of the divorce situation. When disputes occur regarding property or child custody or spousal support payments the total legal expenses automatically escalate.

How Much Is a Divorce Lawyer for an Uncontested Divorce?

The process of an uncontested divorce typically costs fewer expenses than competing for one. The legal costs of divorce become affordable when both parties share agreement on all aspects at a range from $1,500 to $5,000. Clients must pay three different types of costs such as the filing expenses as well as document preparation fees along with attorney consultation costs.

Can You Get a Divorce Without a Lawyer?

A person definitely can obtain divorce services through various means without needing lawyer representation. People who agree together on divorce conditions such as property split and child care responsibilities can file their own divorce proceedings. You should talk to a lawyer to guarantee the correct management of legal elements.

Do You Need a Lawyer for Divorce?

While it is not legally required to have a lawyer for a divorce, it is highly recommended. A divorce lawyer can help you navigate the legal system, ensure your rights are protected, and assist in negotiating fair settlements. If there are disputes over child custody, spousal support, or asset division, a lawyer’s expertise can be invaluable.

How to File for Divorce Without a Lawyer?

You should follow this sequence to file for divorce on your own without legal assistance:

Obtain the necessary divorce forms from your local court’s website.

Fill out the forms accurately and ensure they comply with California laws.

File the paperwork with the appropriate court and pay the required filing fees.

Serve divorce papers to your spouse.

Wait for the response and follow the legal procedures for finalizing the divorce.

FAQs

1. What is the average retainer fee for a divorce lawyer?

A divorce lawyer typically demands an initial payment between $2,500 and $10,000 based on both lawyer experience and case difficulty.

2. Can I negotiate the cost of a divorce lawyer?

Yes, some lawyers offer payment plans or alternative fee structures. It’s always a good idea to discuss costs upfront.

3. What is the cheapest way to get a divorce in California?

Filing for an uncontested divorce without legal representation is the cheapest option. Online divorce services may also provide affordable assistance.

4. How long does a divorce take in California?

The mandatory waiting period for a divorce in California is six months. However, complex cases may take longer.

5. Does the court provide free divorce lawyers?

In some cases, if you cannot afford a lawyer, you may qualify for legal aid or pro bono services.

Conclusion

The amount you need to spend for divorce depends substantially on the circumstances of your case which defines whether it is a contested or uncontested situation. The process of filing for divorce without legal representation exists but working with an expert divorce lawyer ensures protection of your rights while securing a satisfactory settlement. If you need expert legal assistance, Moradi Neufer Family Law Attorneys provide dedicated representation for divorce cases in Irvine, CA.