#People??? Assume??? The product is shipped domestically???????

[rooksnooks]

As a pal from a place that's treated more like actual fucking Narnia by shipping companies; ???

one thing I’ve noticed while running an online shop is that Americans never include their country when writing their address.

I don’t mean when filling in online forms, bc that’s obviously a required element. but when emailing me for address changes for orders, they never include a country in the updated address. but I always know the country is the United States of America because literally nobody else around the world would do that.

[moriarty-sisters]

The Arsenic Poisoning of Episode 3

Hello hi I'm a history major currently doing research of the Victorian use of arsenic in textiles, and I figured, why not see how much arsenic poisoning Lokius would have gotten at the fair?

Poor Mobius is about to have a rough time. I'm assuming Loki has some genetics that make his less susceptible to arsenic poisoning. But Mobius's sweet tooth would be the most likely to get him into trouble.

First of all, arsenic was EVERYWHERE. It was in upholstery, paint, playing cards, curtains, clothing, pesticides, paper stationery, wallpaper, candy wrappers, even dust. The most common pigment was Scheele's green, which was used to produce a very vibrant green.

Let's look at the fair. What from here would they have come into contact with? They spent a good chunk of a day there, and Mobius seems like a fun guy. Let's assume they were in buildings. Many of the buildings were temporary constructions, so I would assume they would not be the most furnished, like a home would, but they could have stopped by the domestic product exhibit by the Pratt Institute. And they may have come across artificial flowers in decorations, stopped to look at gloves or in an art hall, or Mobius could have played a few rounds of cards painted with arsenic green. He might have accidentally brushed against someone wearing a green arsenic-dyed dress and had the offset sit in his skin for a while. Here is an illustration of the wounds direct contact with arsenic could cause.

Here you can look through photos and an account of the fair.

Arsenic was sold in grocery stores before restrictions were passed in Parliament (my research focuses on the UK right now, but I'm going to apply it to Chicago. I am also assuming many things from the UK were shipped to Chicago for the fair). The Arsenic Restrictions Act of 1851 limited the sale of arsenic to 10 pounds or less and to pharmacists. Not very effective, if you ask me, and according to this cartoon and this one.

(Quick background info was that Parliament was hesitant to pass arsenic restriction laws, which even led to an increase in the use of arsenic. Arsenic was not just in the green pigments, but for the purpose of this post and because it's the Loki series, I'm focusing on green.)

Doctors had widely suspected arsenic in domestic textiles and products caused arsenic poisoning since the 1870s. Most of the time, symptoms disappeared once the patients left the room/house because they weren't around the arsenic wallpaper/cloth/etc. But arsenic was so widespread at the end of the 19th century, I firmly believe that Mobius would have been seriously ill at the end of episode 3. Here are symptoms noted by two different doctors.

This is not even mentioning the fact that arsenic had a history of being in sweets and other foods. As mentioned in the second image, candies were sometimes wrapped in paper dyed with arsenic, but arsenic was also used to dye confectionery, and also substitute other ingredients, whether accidental or in an attempt to cut costs. In 1858, a confectioner accidentally mixed 12 pounds of arsenic into a batch of peppermint. 200 people got sick and 21 died in the Bradford Sweets Poisoning.

One historian, James C Whorton, posits that arsenic was added to lower costs and that the Arsenic Restriction Act actually did nothing to restrict arsenic being released into the public.

This brings us to another point. We know that at the fair, knockoffs were a large business there. If even before the fair, there was the temptation to lower costs by carelessly replacing it with arsenic, then it might be probable to assume some candies had a strong presence of arsenic at the fair, given how prevalent knockoffs were. Poor Mobius, unless he was very careful to do his research, probably ate a few. This is where the sweet tooth gets him in trouble. Loki didn't eat anything, the most he would have encountered was probably fabric and dust.

A report from 1900 shows that arsenic was suspect in glucose products. Glucose is sugar, which is used to make caramel and molasses, which are used in the making of: you guessed it, Crackerjack. The Crackerjack of the 1893 World's Fair was made with molasses, which is from refining the sugar cane, but arsenic mixed with molasses was also used as a pesticide so it would perhaps not be uncommon to have arsenic-laced molasses in the vicinity, especially at a fair showing off new agricultural developments. Given that this report is from 1900, I am assuming arsenic may have been more prevalent in sugar before 1900.

So Mobius could have been exposed to any amount of this during the day at the fair. What about onscreen? When they reach the bar, Mobius could have brushed against clothing containing arsenic given how crowded it was. We see him think about ordering a beer. Also not a good idea, Mobius.

I would also say Timely might have had exposure standing next to the stage curtains. But Loki's magic when they leave also kicks up a lot of dust. If we look back at the first image, we can see the concentration of arsenic in dust. Inhaling that wouldn't have done Mobius any good either.

There are several factors that we did not see onscreen that I could only guess that they did. But Timely's lab may have had arsenic in it, and given how dusty it seemed to be, that very well could have also been a place that added to Mobius's exposure. Many physicians reported arsenic poisoning, likely from their work.

This post will likely be edited for a while as I continue my research (it's also 1 am and I wrote this in an hour) and then I'll do a full bibliography (if you want a certain source, ask in the notes and I'll post it), but this is my conclusion that Mobius would probably have been ill after returning to the TVA if we lean into his sweet-tooth side, so Lokius hurt/comfort fics anyone??

[thoughtlessarse]

A leading Cambridge academic has said that the United Kingdom owes the Caribbean £205 billion in reparations for slavery. Rev Dr Michael Banner described Britain as once being “the leading slaving nation in the world” and insists descendants of the enslaved should receive compensation. In his new book, Britain’s Slavery Debt: Reparations Now! Banner has calculated that Britain owes over £200 billion to Caribbean nations, basing the figure on compensation claims made by enslavers when slavery was abolished. Leadership Dr Banner said the Scottish Government should “show leadership” and start to repay the £20.5 billion share he says the country owes. He told The Herald on Sunday: “It’s well-known Scots played an outsized part in growing and sustaining the British empire, and Glasgow was in particular closely tied up with Caribbean trade. “Scotland now has an opportunity to show leadership once again on the side of right, by recognising the compelling case for making reparations to the nations and people of the Caribbean.” He added: “The British government has consistently failed to face up to this responsibility. Scotland can show the way.” In July last year, a landmark report said Britain owes a staggering £18.6 trillion in reparations – over five times the country’s annual gross domestic product. The calculation, made in The Brattle Report, calculated money owed to the Caribbean and the Americas. The report was written by academics for prestigious University of the West Indies (UWI).

continue reading

I was adopted as a baby and recently sent DNA to 23&Me in the hopes of finding members of my biological family.

I also received an ancestry report which was, more or less in line with my expectations, 54.6% European and 43.9% Sub-Saharan Africa. There was also 0.8% Indigenous American. This means I have the DNA of three different enslaved populations. Predictably, the most comes from West Africa (Ghanaian Liberia Sierra Leonean 19% Nigerian 17.7%, Senegambian 1.3%) where the British got their slaves when they finally started their own transatlantic slave trade, but before they started their own they used to steal Portuguese and Spanish slave ships and their human cargo to use in their Caribbean colonies. This would account for the 2.3% Angolan, Congolese and SE African DNA I have, as the Congo and Angola were Portuguese colonies where they sourced their slaves. The 0.8% Indigenous American I assume is a remnant of the Taíno people, many of whom were enslaved before any African had set foot on the islands.

FTR, the European breakdown was 48.3% British and Irish, the two are lumped together, but my genetic groups were Central and Southern Ireland spread across the UK and Ireland. The other surprise, for me at least, was the Flemish and German (again lumped together) at 5.7%

Unsurprisingly, the European results were much more detailed, down to county level whereas the African results were groups of whole countries, Nigeria excepted but even there it was only the country not district.

Anyway, I wonder if my European half would preclude me from any reparations dosh (not that I'm stupid enough to believe the UK will be forthcoming with such).

[nejishadow]

PART 3 of Kenjikoto / makokenji drabbles and general Kenji ramblings from the Kenji discord. Plus one about Kenji and Daisuke being half brothers to end it off!

This one focuses almost entirely on the AUs I've had thoughts on, because kenjikoto has none of the staples! That needs to be remedied!!

Wanna see me ramble about them in real time, bounce ideas, think way too hard about Kenji headcanons and generally just wanna talk about Kenji?? Join @bakafurai's Kenji Discord! Link in its' bio!!

Like the other two posts, you're free to be inspired by these ideas for this ship, flesh them out, fanart / fanfic whatever! I encourage it because I haven't written fic in years! Just tag me, link me, something, because people being inspired by my work is the biggest boost to my productivity ever.

Everything below the read more! This one is long and I mean LONG so be ready for that!

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General drabbles

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Kenji and Makoto sharing their music and earbuds with each other. Back and forth of more energetic and ambient. Stay With Me (Miki Matsubara) comes on. Makoto getting a kinda melancholy look, a tiny chuckle. Leans back and relaxes, shuts his eyes, the smallest smile on his face. And Kenji realizes he suddenly can't look away. He really hopes Makoto doesn't open his eyes because he can't even seem to move, he can only admire Makoto's smile, and that's dangerous with this song playing

---------------

Kenji Link and Makoto Shiek going to a con. But Makoto keeps delivering wrong lines in the flatest tone

"Hey, watch out. It's dangerous to go alone." "He doesn't say that… Why'd you agree to come with me again? Besides teasing me?"

Shrug. He was just curious, honestly

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Sick Fic

Written for @bakafurai lol

Maybe Makoto and Kenji planned a hangout but Kenji never showed.

Makoto gets his address (he has his ways) to make sure he's ok and Kenji Is Not, it turns out

Kenji being stubborn, "I'm fine man it's just a pressure headache just let me lie back down." Makoto Does Not let him do that.

Maybe it's best post-makoto's-flu so he can kinda remember what everyone did for him. Or is it extra funny if he spam calls Shinjiro just to get recipes for good food for this? Both?? Both.

Then you just have the soft domesticity of them tucked into the couch watching TV while Makoto keeps him from trying to sneak off (no you're not fine, stop moving)

Kenji apologetic that he ruined their previous plans for the day, Makoto shouldn't be wasting his time dealing with this, with him

Makoto firmly grabbing Kenji's head to look him in the eye, very serious - "I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be. Besides, if you don't get healthy, you can't make up for it, Tomochika."

Kenji shocked. Oh. That's… so nice to hear him say. If he's sniffly he can blame the sickness

Then they can marathon Kenji's fav shows and eat so much soup, and Kenji can fall asleep tucked into Makoto's side. Soft

Extra soft for Makoto to also relax enough to lean back on Kenji and take a nap

If they're on a living room couch (or if she's just the type to waltz into his room unannounced) you could also have his little sister come home and assume they were having a date at home + nobody is awake to correct her, and Kenji gets teased forever about it.

---------------

Had the vision of Kenji trying to do pocky game with Makoto. Kenji's the one who suggests it, but he's also the one to break the pocky, bluster, and generally be a mess. But wants to keep trying! Meanwhile Makoto just munching through the sticks on his end, he knows Kenji's working through it, he'll get there… hopefully before they run outta pocky * shakes box *

------------------------------

All Sorts of AUs

------------------------------

Hanahaki AU

More fitting that Makoto is the one with hanahaki. I think he's more likely to recognize his feelings but deny / ignore them, versus Kenji who just doesn't easily recognize what he's feeling is romantic.

Potential flowers for Makoto:

white violets (taking chances [but he won't])

yellow tulips (love that's hopeless)

blue tulips (trust)

scabuis (unfortunate attachment)

maiden's blush rose (you'll know I love you, if you love me [in his case it's outta fear])

blue roses (yearning for the unobtainable)

---------------

College AU

Super loose ideas for a College AU

Kenji going into fashion / design

Makoto going into photography (maybe minoring in something more "practical" because he's always told to?)

Fashion majors need nice photographs for a show / exhibition they're planning. Only Makoto is free for the entire ongoing period (or if others are, just don't wanna do it)

Can't decide if it's better Makoto's reputation precedes him so the department has preconceived notions, or if he's so lowkey nobody really knows him so is offput by his attitude.

Either way, Kenji is gonna try to be friendly because no one else seems to be trying

(the guy's fashion being nonexistent might play a tiny role, he really wants to dress the guy better)

Makoto allows them to talk as he walks around, getting the first things everyone needs. Kenji is then appointed as Makoto's contact (he doesn't mind, but does no one else seriously wanna talk to this guy??)

They stay professional for texting and calling. For a short while. Kenji quickly breaks and asks him to be his model of sorts, let him plan one of his big assignments around him

Makoto shrugs. Sure. Long as it doesn't interfere with his own classes

as time goes on school work hangouts become more casual hangouts, to mostly just going out to have fun.

trying to decide if this is the funniest AU to have Makoto think they're dating, and Kenji isn't aware of this, since these hangouts are pretty much dates anyway

---------------

Soulmate AU

Soulmates identified through matching marks.

Kenji and Makoto aren't soulmates but fall in love anyway.

Soulmates aren't inherently romantic in this universe, but possibly seen as odd to not stay with one who's love is romantic in nature

Rio and Kenji platonic soulmates. They have a matching mark on their lower backs, possibly a constellation? Kenji isn't aware of this, and Rio is in denial over their bond not being romantic for a bit. She was hoping for a fairytale romance like some get, but comes to her truth that she wanted the grand feeling over a real thing.

Makoto and Ryoji are close to literal soulmates, not romantic ones. Their souls just match each other. Their mark is a mole under the right eye. A very understated mark due to how strong their synergy is, this isn't a thing that's common at all. Makoto assumes he just doesn't have a soulmate and everyone thinks it's a regular mole

Thought of a scene where Kenji and Makoto go swimming (because they deserve to), and Kenji realizes he's been looking all over Makoto for… something, maybe to indicate they're the same (not soulmates haha, how crazy would that be!), gets the slightest disappointment when he doesn't see anything. Makoto can tell the mood shifted down a bit for whatever reason, gets Kenji's attention with a head tilt. And promptly shoves him in the water Kenji quickly forgets what he was being moody about

---------------

Role Reversal AU

Unlike Makoto, who seems to draw people in for bonds somewhat, Kenji's bonds are formed by him going out of his way to interact with people.

Junpei could be his magician, like he is for FeMC, because the Magician card doesn't fit Makoto.

Kenji's not a great leader -- maybe not even good at first -- but he's tenacious and passionate enough to make up for it.

Since Ryoji looks the same for Makoto and Kotone, possibly looks the same for Kenji, presumably the Nyx influence gives Ryoji his palette.

Kenji uses a dagger. He also customizes his S.E.E.S uniform beyond the norm for both comfort and fashion. He convinces Mitsuru to let him do it because if he's not comfortable he can't lead well.

"If I have to wear it all the time, it needs to be comfortable! I can't be doin' moves or commands on clothing that's making me chafe."

… Mitsuru can't argue against that too hard. As long as he can properly fight, she concedes.

Makoto most likely the Tower Arcana. Resistant to change due to past trauma and bad coping mechanisms + trying to avert further issues by being overly passive. But there were 3 or 4 cards he could feasibly be instead, this is possibly up for change

Trauma probably stemming from same thing as canon, parents lost in a car crash

So unlike Kenji who is overly friendly and a bit blind to others feelings, Makoto is insanely passive and seemingly uncaring. This leads to him being bullied or pushed around a lot because he won't fight back and people think he's a freak for being so blank.

Maybe he tried fighting back for a little bit in the past and it didn't help, so he gave up. And nobody will risk helping him now because they don't want to be lumped in with him.

Kenji, new to this school, doesn't have any of these predispositions, starts his SL with Makoto by scaring off some of those people (partially just wanting to flex his SEES training). This event probably doesn't happen at school, they don't want to risk disciplinary committee catching them possibly?? Big Maybe

Makoto shocked that this just happened, something like this would never happen to him. Won't tell Kenji anything about why this was happening or who the people involved were, but Kenji manages to at least weasel times and places he's consistently at school to see him again.

General SL about getting Makoto to see that this isn't what he deserves. The people that want to hurt him don't deserve a chance to do it. He deserves to feel the same things others do.

Extra Stuff

Makoto's hangout spot would probably be the library, quiet and people leave him alone. That or in front of the bookshop. Bonus hangouts at the music store and karaoke.

Rank 10 item a matching MP3 to his. Kenji asked about his music so much he thought it's the least he can do.

Kenji convincing him to hang out the first few ranks by studying at the library and then inviting him out to eat. This also means Makoto is alone less, smaller chance of someone causing issues

Makoto's fav gift to receive possibly food? Maybe it's easier for him to show appreciation for it.

Possible Sunday hangout playing Innocent Sin Online.

I cannot decide what the theoretical romance trigger would be, if I think of something interesting I'll eventually put it in a post.

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Coffeeshop AU

Coffeeshop is such a staple. But not having solid ideas of when to place it. Most likely it's also a part of "No Personas / Everyone lives - nobody dies". But I can refine the big sweeping stuff later! Possible they're also in diff classes due to Butterfly Effect

Since it's a No Personas world, Makoto's parents live, possibly still a car crash to keep timeline mainly intact? But everyone survives.

Current time, Makoto works at Chagall as his main job, mainly to have spending money and get outta the house.

Kenji knows vaguely about Makoto, hasn't interacted with him much -- no one has -- but still recognizes him when he goes in one day to get the highest calorie custom coffee in existence to ease his pain over recent test scores (I strongly believe Kenji would have a trashy sweet tooth at times like these)

He doesn't wanna be Too Awkward, but they do go to school together, so he should be a bit casual right…?

Makoto just nods along, putting in his order, Kenji swears it's different than what he asked but. He's not about to correct the guy

Makoto gives him the drink. Yeah it's not at all what he ordered. Did he offend the guy? He decided to sit down and try it, in case it's awful…

It's dang good. Zones out just enjoying it until he's done. Gonna compliment the guy's skills on guessing drink taste, but looks like he's gone. Lunch break? It'd be weird to stick around.

So he comes back next day, less weird to thank him at work then to wait til they're back in school… right?

Makoto is there, good! "Hey, I wanted to just thank you for yesterday. That drink you gave me? Best thing I've had in awhile, can you make me that again?"

Makoto looks at him a bit confused, a bit blank. Oh yeah… Kenji's a stranger he's not gonna remember everyone who walks in here.

"I'm the one who ordered the [sweetest coffee you can possibly think of]. I'm guessing you don't like stuff like that cause you gave me something totally different. It was really good."

"Oh… that one. Sure, if you want. It's nothing special."

Kenji hasn't actually ever heard him talk before. Calm voice for a scary looking guy!

This then evolves into Kenji coming in way too often to get what he starts calling the "Yuki Special" (he only gets it when Makoto is there), and Kenji being Kenji starts wiggling himself into becoming Makoto's friend ("acquaintance" according to Makoto at first, if you asked)

Kenji tells anyone who asks that it's because the guy makes a mean coffee, and is actually a great conversationalist!… when he can get him to talk

No other possible reason! It's not odd in the slightest to only ever order one item from one person, it's because Makoto's the only one who can make it right

(he tried to get it from a different barista one time… didn't taste right)

They're unique guys so they just have a unique way of bonding. A one of a kind friendship!

If anyone asks Kenji why he's learning to make coffee as a hobby he will never admit it's to impress Makoto who seems to know all there is to know.

Makoto starts making the drink ahead of time and planning his breaks around when Kenji comes in, since Kenji wants to talk to him while he's there anyway.

Eventually Kenji plucks up the courage to ask him for his number - "so we can talk anytime! That way I don't always take up your break, how 'bout it?"

Makoto finds himself easily agreeing, surprisingly. They text a lot, much easier for Makoto than calling, though Makoto still takes his break when Kenji comes in.

One day Makoto makes the drink and plans everything ahead like usual. And Kenji doesn't come in. He shuffles a bit - what is he supposed to do…? He waits, keeps scanning, did he miss him come in? He's never done that before, Kenji's got a very unique presence.

After awhile boss makes him take his break, he brings the drink with him, no use wasting it. What did he do before this whole routine started again…?

Remembers he can contact Kenji… He tries to call… voicemail. Is it because he called? He's never called, he supposed. Sends off a text - are you ok?

Takes a sip of the drink. Yep, too sweet. He keeps drinking anyway, no point in wasting it

(Either Kenji studied way too hard and slept through his usual visit time, or he's sick, or got dragged off to karaoke something, but he's ok. No bad!!)

Aka I feel Makoto learning that he is getting attached and he's a person who feels things should be explored more

Whenever Kenji gets back to his text, assures he's ok! Sorry for not warning ahead of time. Makoto releases tension he didn't know he had, that's good. He's fine, sorry for trying to call out of the blue. Kenji assures him he can call anytime, it's what best friends do right?

Next day at school, Kenji finally tracks Makoto down, vaguely knows his schedule but wants to catch him before day ends (why doesn't this guy look at his texts before lunch??). Wants to apologize for making Makoto worry in person

He feels a bit awkward. They hang out, kinda, all the time right? They're friends, so it's not weird to approach him… he realizes that they've never hung out outside of Makoto's work, that explains it. He's gonna change that

So he sits with him at lunch naturally just like he'd do at the coffeeshop, and does just that. Apologizes for making him worry and invites him out to make up for it, he never sees Makoto around town anyway, it's a chance for them to have fun!

Makoto slightly surprised. Nobody had invited him out during high school. Maybe he even had a thought deep down that Kenji was only hanging out at work cause it was convenient, and he'd finally gotten bored. But he still agrees. He didn't have anything planned anyways. Best friends do fun stuff right…? He thinks they do, at least. It'd been a long time since he had a friend so involved in his life

Insert a long and fun montage of them trying to do everything, since Makoto says he hadn't really gone on an outing like this anywhere in years. They go to the arcade, Kenji is horrible at claw machines. Makoto wins a ton. Kenji beats him at the fighting games, Makoto dominates at the zappers.

They chill at karaoke, Makoto impresses Kenji so much he immediately drags him to the music store so Makoto can point out what music he recommends, buys several of them. End it off with eating so much Wilduck burger both vow to not come back for a long time.

Neither realize or even think about how a lotta people would perceive this as a date. They're both just having fun getting to do stuff with someone else, though Kenji may be ignoring how much his heart seizes up seeing every happy expression or soft blink Makoto gives him, new expressions he's not used to seeing - definitely not like this at least. And Makoto may not be bringing up just how much Kenji is looking at him when there's so much else to look at... and how he doesn't mind, all that much.

Discord message hit max characters for the 4th time and I didn't wanna type more then and there, this is already edited to add a bunch, but I'm sure I'll expand on this one!

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Separated Family AU

The thoughts may be a bit scattered because @bakafurai chipped in a lot on this idea so I have to summarize / rewrite their thoughts

@Shadowfreak98 said Daisuke Nagase sometimes gives her the vibe of "could be related to Kenji, like an older brother. Well he can't be older but you get it, brothers" (< recalling best I can) Could I make the most nonsense idea that they're half brothers due to marriage / divorce?? Their personalities also contrast super interestingly There's so much room for ideas there, but it means more brain power

Daisuke would be around Kenji's sister's age, since Kenji mentions her starting high school next year, when he'll be a third year, so it lines up timeline wise. Possible Kenji's mom and dad separated before either was born, Kenji's dad possibly unaware she's pregnant. So Kenji's mom goes to Inaba to settle in a quiet place, while Kenji's dad stays and remarries. They have Kenji's sister shortly after

Kenji doesn't know Daisuke well at all. If they've ever met, it was only at a few small family gatherings, both probably more think of the other as a distant cousin, if at all. Daisuke in general is a guy who doesn't bring up private stuff unless he really thinks it'll help with something, and Kenji barely mentions his own little sister, so it's just never brought up. Who talks much about the equivalent of a mystery cousin??

Possibility for some interesting interactions during the Iwatodai trip. Kenji not able to leave the island after the events of P3, attached to this place too much. Maybe works at Hakegure. Kou and Daisuke go there to see if they're as good as Aiya... little bit of an awkward family reunion. Chance for Kenji to try and establish bonds, like Makoto showed them they're important and powerful (could be in a Kenjikoto "Makoto lives" au as well).

[dailyanarchistposts]

Chapter 3. Economy

What about technology?

Many people worry that the complexity of modern day technology and the high level integration of infrastructure and production in present day society makes anarchy a dream of the past. In fact, this worry is not at all unfounded. It is not so much the complexity of the technology, however, that is odds with the creation of an anarchist society, so much as the fact that technology is not a neutral thing. As Uri Gordon expertly summed it up, the development of technology reflects the interests and needs of ruling members of society, and technology reshapes the physical world in a way that reinforces authority and discourages rebellion.[44] It is no coincidence that the nuclear arms and energy infrastructure creates a need for a centrally organized, high security military organization and disaster management agencies with emergency powers and the ability to suspend constitutional rights; that interstate highways allow the rapid domestic deployment of the military, encourage the transcontinental shipping of goods and private transportation via personal automobiles; that new factories demand unskilled, replaceable laborers who couldn’t possibly hold the job until retirement, assuming the boss even wanted to give retirement benefits, because within a few years occupational injuries from repetitive tasks or the unsafe pace of the production line will render them unable to continue.

The subsidies and infrastructure provided by government tend to go towards inventions that increase state power, often to everyone else’s misfortune: jet fighters, surveillance systems, pyramid-building. Even the most benevolent forms of government support for invention, such as government subsidies to medical research, at best go to inventing treatments that are patented by corporations with no scruples about letting people die if they cannot afford them — just as they have no scruples over torturing and killing thousands of animals in the testing phase.

The demands of freedom confront us with a much heavier choice than simply changing our decision-making structures. We will have to physically disassemble much of the world we live in and build it anew. Freedom, as well as the ecological balance of the planet and thus our very survival, is incompatible with nuclear energy, reliance on fossil fuels such as oil and coal, and a car culture which estranges public space and fosters a system of exchange where most goods are not produced locally.

This transformation will require a great deal of inventiveness; thus the relevant question becomes, will an anarchist social movement and society be inventive enough to carry out this transformation? I think the answer is yes. After all, the most useful tools in human history were invented before government and capitalism came about.

Capitalism’s so-called free market is said to motivate innovation, and market competition does contribute to the proliferation of profitable inventions, which are not necessarily helpful inventions. Capitalist competition dictates that every few years all the old gadgets become obsolete as new ones are invented, so people have to throw the old ones away and buy new ones — at great detriment to the environment. Because of this “planned obsolescence,” few inventions tend to be well made or fully thought-out in the first place, since they’re destined for the trash from the beginning.

The doctrine of intellectual property prevents the spread of useful technologies, allowing them to be controlled or withheld according to what is most profitable. Apologists for capitalism typically argue that intellectual property encourages the development of technology because it gives people the assurance, as incentive, that they can profit from their invention. What kind of cretin would invent something socially useful if he wouldn’t get exclusive credit for it and profit from it? But the technological mainstays of our world were developed by groups of people who let their inventions spread freely and didn’t take credit for them — everything from the hammer to stringed musical instruments to domesticated grains.

In practice, the capitalist economy itself disproves the assumptions about intellectual property fomenting innovation. Just like any other kind of property, intellectual property usually does not belong to those who produce it: many inventions are made by wage slaves in laboratories who get no credit and no profit because their contracts stipulate that the corporation they work for receives ownership of the patents.

The best people to develop useful innovations are the ones who need them, and they do not need government or capitalism to help them do this. Anarchists themselves have a rich history of inventing solutions to the problems they face. The anarchist bank robbers known as the Bonnot gang invented the getaway car. Makhno, the Ukrainian anarchist, was the first to deploy highly mobile machine guns — he mounted them on tatchankis, the horse-drawn carts used by the peasantry, with devastating effect against superior foes bogged down in traditional tactics. In revolutionary Spain, after they had expropriated the big landlords, collectivized the land, and freed themselves from the need to produce a single export crop, farmers improved the health of the soil and increased their self-sufficiency by intercropping — specifically, growing shade-tolerant crops beneath the orange trees. The Peasant Federation of the Levant, in Spain, set up an agricultural university, and other agricultural collectives founded a center for the study of plant diseases and tree culture.

In the highlands of New Guinea, millions of farmers live at high population densities in steep mountain valleys; their communities are stateless, consensus-based, and, until relatively recently, completely uncontacted by the West. Though they appeared as Stone Age primitives to racist Europeans, they have developed one of the most complex agricultural systems in the world. Their techniques are so precise and numerous that they take years to learn. Self-important Western scientists still do not know the reasons for many of these techniques, which they might dismiss as superstition were they not proven to work. For the past 7,000 years, the highlanders have practiced a dynamic form of sustainable agriculture in response to impacts on their environment that might have caused less innovative societies to collapse. Their methods include complex forms of irrigation, soil retention, intercropping, and more. The highlanders have no chiefs, and make their decisions in long, community discussions. They have developed all their techniques without government or capitalism, via individual and group innovations communicated freely through a large, decentralized society.[45]

Many Westerners might scoff at the thought that people who do not use metal tools could provide a model of technological sophistication. These cynics, however, are simply benighted by Euro/American mythology and superstitions. Technology is not blinking lights and whirring gadgets. Technology is adaptation. By adapting a complex set of techniques that have allowed them to meet all their needs without destroying their environment over 7,000 years, the New Guinea farmers have accomplished something Western civilization has never even approached.

Still, there are plenty of anarchistic examples for the impressed-by-blinking-lights crowd. Consider the recent proliferation of “Open Source” technology. Decentralized networks involving thousands of people working openly, voluntarily, and cooperatively have created some of the better forms of the complicated software on which the Information Age economy depends. The usual approach of major corporations is to keep the source, or code, for their software secret and patented, but Open Source software code is shared, so anyone can review it and improve it. As a result it is often much better, and generally easier to fix. Traditional patented software is more vulnerable to crashing and to viruses, because a smaller pool of brains are able to check for weaknesses, and very few specialists are available to fix problems. Those technical support people you call on the phone when your computer operating system crashes don’t get to see the code either, and beyond a little troubleshooting all they can do is direct you to a cumbersome “patch,” or advise you to erase your hard drive and reinstall the operating system. Users of Microsoft products, for example, are no doubt familiar with their frequent glitches, and privacy advocates also warn of spyware and the cooperation between technology corporations and the government. Says one anti-authoritarian geek involved in the creation of Open Source software: “The best advertisement for Linux is Microsoft.”

Traditionally, much Open Source software has not been especially user-friendly, though generally this has to do with the fact that Open Source resides within, with all due respect, a geek subculture, and its typical users are highly computer literate. However, Open Source and participatory technology are steadily becoming accessible to an extent unprecedented by proprietary software. Wikipedia exemplifies this. Started recently, in 2001, on Open Source Linux software, Wikipedia is already the largest and most accessed encyclopedia in the world, with over 10 million articles in more than 250 languages. Rather than being the exclusive domain of paid experts from a particular academic subculture, Wikipedia is written by everyone. Anyone can author an article or edit an existing article, and by allowing this openness and trust it provides a forum for instantaneous, multiple-peer review. The interests of the broader Wikipedia community of millions provide a self-regulating function, so vandalism — false editing and bogus articles — are quickly cleaned up, and facts lacking citations are challenged. Wikipedia articles avail themselves of a vastly greater body of knowledge than the small and generally elitist circle represented by academia. In a blind, peer-reviewed study it was judged to be as accurate as Encyclopedia Britannica.[46]

Wikipedia is “self-organizing” and edited by an open body of peer-elected administrators.[47] There have been a few publicized cases of intentional sabotage, such as when the televised news comedy show The Colbert Report rewrote history in one Wikipedia article as a gag for their show; but the prank was quickly fixed, as most false information on the site tends to be. A more lingering problem is posed by corporations who use Wikipedia for public relations purposes, tasking paid personnel to maintain a clean image in the articles about them. However, contradicting interpretations of the facts can be registered in the same article, and Wikipedia contains much more information on corporate misdeeds than any traditional encyclopedia.

[fitzrove]

this ship bingo but instead of accepting asks I just Do It

Todolf

Alfred x Sarah

Bonus: mozart/colloredo is "my therapist told me to stop f ing you", "they would hate me for shipping them", "divorced", "it's gross /neg" and, one-sidedly from colloredo, "they're obsessed with each other (unhealthy)". Like, it's gross but I love that actually 😭😭😭😭

Clarifications for alfred x sarah (mild nsfw):

- "they are tending to each other's wounds" by licking them I assume. But also like metaphorically

- "no one gets them like i do" <- shoutout to the 5 gay tumblr users who get them & austrian musical actors cornelia zenz and aris sas. Everyone else go home /hj. The inverse goes for "fanon makes them intolerable" (mostly, the lack of fanon/the existence of lots of fanon invented by people who seem to kinda hate alfred and/or sarah,,, for getting in the way of "the gay ship" 💀 which is. common sadly)

- "i need them to kill/eat each other" i mean if they hadnt already in canon oajdösjfå, same for dying in each other's arms

- "they should get weirder with it" this is what I assume what happens post tdv

- "domestic au" - whatever the itinerant thirsty vampire equivalent is. I don't see them ever "settling down" in the traditional sense

- "literally yuri" Ahfkdkslg look I know they're not but if I staged an illegal lesbian production of tdv and played alf-

[psychreviews2]

Object Relations: Fear Of Success Pt. 7-4

For Lighthizer, there has to be trade negotiations that think of trade balance and mutual advantages so that there isn't a carte blanche situation. If results on the ground show unfair trade practices, like dumping, currency manipulation, or a lack of access, there has to be a reassessment of any trade deal. "All the great economies were built behind a wall of protection and often with government money. The British industrial revolution was aided by a wall of tariffs. Likewise, the late-nineteenth-century explosion of American industry was the product of protectionism and often subsidies. Can anyone imagine the great American railroads being built without the grant of free land per mile? Similarly, the manufacturing countries of Japan, Germany, and now China all benefited during their development from tariffs, other barriers, and subsidies of one kind or another. It is important to remember that no country became great by consuming. They became great by producing...Our trade deficit grew by a factor of fourteen, while our GDP grew by a factor of four. The win-win situation promised by advocates of free trade has never materialized...It is not my position that all trade deficits are harmful. Clearly, if a country runs a deficit one year and a surplus the next, no harm is done. The surplus will offset the deficit, and all is good. Likewise, for one country to run a bilateral trade deficit with a second country and a surplus with a third is fine. They offset each other. Indeed, all three countries could benefit by increasing efficiency and maximizing the allocation of resources among them. What concerns me is running huge trade deficits with the entire world year after year for decades...The second exception to the principle that bilateral deficits don’t matter is that running up gigantic trade deficits with one’s geopolitical adversary is particularly stupid. In our case, the United States ships hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of our wealth to China every year. This helps them build up their economy, build up their military, and have leverage over the political situation in the United States. It makes them more powerful in the eyes of all world leaders. I’m not sure there’s an example in world history in which two rivals—indeed, some would say enemies—have had such a lopsided economic relationship. It is fair to say China is challenging us because we gave them the money to do it. Clearly, during the Cold War with the Soviet Union, we never transferred such money. Had we done so, we might have lost to them...Tariffs don’t necessarily prompt trade wars, and removing tariffs often does little to prevent actual war."

There is also "...negative compounding. The people in the foreign country who buy our assets own those assets forever, with the obvious effect that they get the profit from those assets year after year. That profit compounds, and the effects of even one year’s trade deficit multiply over time as profits continue. Added to this is the fact that we have seen huge $500 billion to $1 trillion trade deficits year after year, so we have both an accumulation of trade deficits and a compounding negative multiplier on each trade deficit." Theory then assumed that it would still balance out because "...if a country that ran large trade deficits for a few years [they] would find less demand for their currency and their currency’s value would drop. This would then make it very difficult for that country to import and easy for it to export in terms of its domestic currency. Therefore, the weak currency would help correct the trade imbalance. Indeed, we see this occurring regularly around the world." Lighthizer then found that this didn't work for the U.S. because of the currency's demand in the world as a reserve currency, and the devaluation that other trade partners had done with their currencies. With a threat of a new BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) currency with developing countries dropping the dollar, there would then be a reduction of demand for the U.S. dollar, but this may be a long way off. According to Reuters "the [U.S.] dollar still dominates global trade. It is on one side of almost 90% of global forex transactions, according to Bank of International Settlements Data." The danger would be the mounting U.S. debt because you need people to buy your debt and if there's a sell off, there may not be enough buyers to avoid the U.S. government from having to print excess money to buy back the investments. The increased inflation would be damaging to U.S. dollar purchasing power, even if domestic manufacturing could restart from the high import cost environment.

Economist Sounds Alarm on US Dollar Losing Reserve Currency Status: https://news.bitcoin.com/economist-sounds-alarm-on-us-dollar-losing-reserve-currency-status/

The Path To Hyperinflation with EJ Antoni - TFTC: https://rumble.com/v3r7vlp-456-the-path-to-hyperinflation-with-ej-antoni.html

A lot of these unfair trade practices were also ignored for fear of stoking a trade war. "Trade liberalization came to be seen not just as a tool of economic policy but also as a path to perpetual peace." Lighthizer's book does come after COVID19, but the origin of the pandemic has yet to be investigated with enough thoroughness to prove that it was a lab accident only. Many people still feel intuitively that the release of COVID19 was intentional and a form of escalation in response to Trump's tariffs on China. It certainly doesn't help that China declared a People's War in 2019 before the pandemic. Chinese state media said that, "the Chinese side is fighting back to protect its legitimate interests. The trade war in the US is the creation of one person and one administration, but it affects that country’s entire population...In China, the entire country and all its people are being threatened. For us, this is a real 'people’s war.'" In the Strong Country blog one poster said "[The U.S. is] sucking the blood of the Chinese..." Another comment on the site said, "Why are Chinese people bullied? Because our hearts are too soft!" This would be an argument for peace advocates in the United States to allow mercantilism to continue in China, but Lighthizer would counter that not all wars are stopped by liberal trade policies. "Economic ties between the North and the South did not prevent the Civil War...It would be hard to argue that the rise of Germany as a major exporter in the late nineteenth century helped pacify that country in the first half of the twentieth. Japan’s dependence on raw materials from the United States motivated its attack on Pearl Harbor...China’s accession to the WTO in 2001—which was supposed to make the country a model global citizen—was followed by massive investments in its military capabilities and territorial expansion in the South China Sea. And certainly the great trade between Ukraine and Russia did not stop Putin’s invasion in 2022." Deep down, military situations are more accurately predicted based on the weakness of a target. The easier it is to attack a target, the more enticing it is to do so, like in the pattern of scapegoating described above. Attacking a strong target means that one has to assess casualties and ponder what a loss would look like to one's own sovereignty. A deterrence. Initial attacks are usually on weak targets or on military that are unprepared for the kind of attack planned. Even further, the new slave wage system became a draw down on wages for all world markets so sooner or later the same system would knock on every door and demand entry into all countries.

Chinese state media calls for ‘people’s war’ as US trade conflict escalates: https://nypost.com/2019/05/14/chinese-state-media-calls-for-peoples-war-as-us-trade-conflict-escalates/

China declares a ‘people’s war’ after Trump’s latest tariff hikes: https://thechinaproject.com/2019/05/15/china-declares-a-peoples-war-after-trumps-latest-tariff-hikes/

Chinese scientists discover EIGHT never-before-seen viruses... and now they plan to experiment with them: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12665249/Chinas-discovered-EIGHT-never-seen-viruses-plan-experiment-them.html

REP. ROSENDALE REACTS TO REPORTS THAT WUHAN LAB SHIPPED CORONAVIRUS TO FAUCI-RUN LAB IN HAMILTON PRIOR TO PANDEMIC: https://rosendale.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=691

Increasingly, there have been complaints from populist political commentators worldwide, and a shift between the typical left and right has created strange alliances where now it has become a political a divide between oligarchs and the workers who feel exploited by them. Ex-democrats like Donald Trump, Kari Lake, and Steven Bannon are now in the Republican camp. Big business leaders and big government Marxists have now allied on the side of China and want a continuing of the current mercantilist policies. Populists compare the China One Belt One Road initiative to that of being not a partner with China but a colony with a negative trade balance to match. Part of being a colony means importing the empire politics which then influences local politicians. The original expectation after the fall of the Soviet Union was the countries like China would reform into a representative government like in the west, but in the end it went in the opposite direction.

'Let Me Finish!' Johnny Rotten Makes His Views on Donald Trump Heard | Good Morning Britain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1uOwz_UrQ0

China Girl - David Bowie: https://youtu.be/imSPZt77sKo?si=GqTBSUfKxb5HlCIt

When the money goes from the exporters to the importers, it takes a foreign turn. Your home is where the money is and with globalism, the borders vanish, and as reported above, national values related to constitutions, and human rights are disregarded if the mercantilist country doesn't cherish them. It's just about naked money and power. The O'Keefe Media Group (OMG), for example, got an inside scoop on the giant investment group BlackRock and it became clear the view that people have when they have this much concentrated power.

"All of these financial institutions, they buy politicians."

"How do they run the world?"

"You acquire stuff. You diversify, you acquire, you keep acquiring. You spend whatever you make in acquiring more and at a certain point your risk level is super low...You own a little bit of everything and that little bit everything gives you so much money on a yearly basis, that you can take this big fuck-ton of money, and then you can start to buy people...We have a system in place. First there's the senators. These guys are fucking cheap. You got ten grand? You can buy a senator. It doesn't matter who wins. They're in my pocket at this point."

"Does everybody do that? Does BlackRock do that?"

"Everybody does that."

OMG Blackrock exposé: https://rumble.com/v2vg7ie-blackrock.html

More exposés from Steve Bannon showed the power of lobbyists in the same vein as the HR guy above described during the recent fight for a new GOP speaker. Typically in a representative government it matters who wins and different parties provide a check and balance to each other, but if there's an angle to win personally at the expense of a country then the balance begins to vanish. While watching politics for some time recently since the 2020 election, a certain narcissistic tactic was starting to appear again and again that I recognized by terms like "love bombing" which is a euphemism for the Trojan Horse. Like in the ancient Greek story, it's all about using niceties to bring down the defenses of an enemy and then you attack them at a weak spot. This is used everywhere and there's a long list in politics that never ends. In this context of corrupt politicians it works like this: The politician tells an electorate that wants reform whatever it wants to hear. Then when they are in power they look to lobbyists for directions in order to get more financial rewards. Typically, this leads to retribution at the polls when the politician is grilled on their bad voting record and primaried by another candidate from the same party. The problem is that they've found out how to win even when they lose. Lobbyists can provide job offers and lucrative media contracts so that if they have to leave being a politician they are forgotten about, regain their anonymity, and have increased their prospects. During the fight for a new speaker, because Kevin McCarthy didn't achieve any objectives he agreed to after the election with Rep. Matt Gaetz and other holdouts, Bannon talked about how you "never give the apparatus a second to collect themselves, because they are going to come up and they're going to be spreading money around and cutting deals and bring in more people to their cause. Right? That's where the K-Street lobbyists come in...but I have spies everywhere...The lobbyists were literally walking around cutting deals with people at the tables...to vote against [Jim] Jordan."

Jenny Beth Martin: "Honestly Steve, do you think they are worried if they lose their seat? They're going to have a job lined up with one of those firms. They're going to get some book deal. They'll get a gig on CNN or MSNBC or wherever else they can go to bash all of us, so they know either way they will at least get to keep power and keep access to money and that's what they care about." The divide in the GOP between globalism and populism became very clear with the boos and the criticism of Rep. Matt Gaetz for taking small donations from the general public. "When it comes to how those raise money, I take no lecture on asking patriotic Americans to weigh in and contribute in this fight from those who would grovel and bend for the lobbyists and special interests who own our leadership. Oh boo all  you want! Who have hollowed out this town and borrowed against the future of our future generations. I'll be happy to fund my political operation through the work of hardworking Americans, $10 and $20 and $30 dollars at a time and you all keep showing up at the lobbyist fundraisers and see how that goes for you."

Martin Explains The Establishment's Radical Resolution To Install McHenry As The Speaker Permanently: https://rumble.com/v3q5f4v-martin-explains-the-establishments-radical-resolution-to-install-mchenry-as.html

Bannon: "This is the early morning hours of 2016 all over again": https://rumble.com/v3ms086-bannon-this-is-the-early-morning-hours-of-2016-all-over-again.html

The Faux-Right Infiltrating The Republican Party, Destroying Our Nation - Jack Posobiec: https://rumble.com/v3todsd-jack-posobiec-the-faux-right-infiltrating-the-republican-party-destroying-o.html

Many of these lobbyists are all a part of the importing lobby and closely connected with China. Another exposé, this time by Tucker Carlson, unearthed a video from a Chinese economics professor that openly talks about CCP influence in the U.S., what political commentators call Elite Capture, or Pay For Play, where the strategy is to corrupt those who have power and leverage so that even if the population is aware of what's going on, they don't have enough power to do anything about it. The professor explained to an amused audience about how China and the U.S. were able to resolve problems quickly before Trump, it was "because we have people at the top. At the top of America's core inner circle of power & influence."

Tucker Carlson: Our elites' collusion with China is real and widespread: https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-elites-china-collusion-di-dongsheng

Of course lobbyists will use all kinds of arguments in their favor and the value of their businesses and what contributions they make to society but usually with important information about their personal interests left out because owners can't really feel the same feelings that workers feel, and they are not likely to drop their contracts and fortunes if they suddenly feel a pang of shame. If ineligible organizations can make social policy without the say so of voters, then the conversion to a one-party state is complete, even if it isn't expressed openly. This also means that the psychological impacts resulting from these policies will continue on because they can't be addressed without upsetting the power balance. Lighthizer connected the emotional component of self-esteem, a recurring theme, that is crucial in all understanding of economics beyond abstraction. "A big part of the elites’ misunderstanding of the situation is that they have no appreciation for the social component of work. Those obsessed with efficiency tend to see employment simply as a means of allocating resources and ensuring production. In so doing, they greatly undervalue the personal dignity that individuals derive from meaningful work. Commentators from Pope Leo XIII in the nineteenth century to Arthur Brooks and Oren Cass today have written eloquently about the central role of work in a well-ordered society. Doing honest work for a decent wage instills feelings of self-worth that come from being needed and contributing to society. Stable, remunerative employment reinforces good habits and discourages bad ones. That makes human beings into better spouses, parents, neighbors, and citizens. By contrast, the loss of personal dignity that comes from the absence of stable, well-paying employment is not something that can be compensated for either by increased consumption of low-cost imported goods or by welfare checks."

Counter arguments from the globalization side would put onus on workers to find retraining and enter more lucrative areas of the free market. "Those that claim that the benefits of interdependence or efficiency justify the costs free trade places on the American working class often argue this negative impact can be offset by retraining that helps workers move into new service sector or technology jobs. In theory, retraining may sound attractive, but this phenomenon has failed to materialize. Compared with those who lost their jobs in earlier periods of economic change, displaced workers in modern, developed economies typically have fewer and less attractive options. Historically speaking, this was not always the case. In the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century, for example, the repeal of the protectionist Corn Laws prompted agricultural workers to flee the countryside for industrializing urban areas where factory jobs were waiting. By contrast, the American factory workers who were displaced beginning in the 1990s either had nowhere to go or ended up working in low-skill, low-paying service jobs...The technology sector, for all its virtues, is not a source of high-paying jobs for working people. Over half of the United States’ roughly 250 million adults lack a college diploma. Historically, manufacturing jobs have been the best source of stable, well-paying employment for this cohort. Perhaps with massive new investments in education, former autoworkers could be taught to code. Even so, there probably wouldn’t be enough jobs to employ them all. Apple, Facebook, Google, and Netflix collectively employ just over 300,000 people—less than half the number that General Motors alone employed in the 1960s...Moreover, the service and technology jobs most accessible to working people, such as data entry and call center jobs, are themselves vulnerable to offshoring. Economists have estimated that nearly forty million service sector jobs in the United States could eventually be sent overseas. That’s more than three times the number of current manufacturing jobs in the country. People without college degrees face increasingly steep obstacles to obtaining stable, well-paying jobs. In sum, the United States has not taken adequate measures to put its own workers first...No great economy in the world has ever given up on manufacturing. To the contrary, they are all for the most part based on it. The vast majority of international trade is in manufactured goods and agriculture. The best jobs for high school graduates are in manufacturing. Most innovation in our economy is in this area. A prosperous, successful future needs a flourishing manufacturing sector...Losing manufacturing jobs, the United States also 'broke the chain of experience that is so important in technological evolution. As happened with batteries, abandoning today’s ‘commodity’ manufacturing can lock you out of tomorrow’s emerging industry.' In every economy, a great deal of innovation comes from manufacturing, and this innovation usually takes place very close to the place of manufacturing. The engineers on the ground are the ones who incorporate much of what we call productivity gains."

For Lighthizer, the response to mercantilist policies is to use tariff leverage to open up markets. "...We should just go to the countries keeping our competitive products out and demand more access. This was our approach in the Trump administration. Countries with enormous trade surpluses with the United States have a lot more to lose from our taking concessions away. We have leverage and should use it...We [also] need to create value to buy things from importers. Of course, some services are exportable, such as banking or professional services, but most are not (think food services or health care)."

The consequences of leaving those without advanced degrees behind is one of an inability to make ends meet, save money, and enter the ownership economy, which allows for more independent political views. If wages are made to be as low as possible then those workers will be unable to invest and the profits earned from lowering wages will just coalesce with a smaller group of owners. Victor Davis Hanson reminds the reader that "we need [the Middle Class] to be present, because without this present, you do not have these independent voices...Unfortunately in our generation it's eroding and we can see it erode in a variety of contexts. The first is, for ten years average wages of the middle class did not rise. Fifty-percent of the country dies with less than $10,000 in aggregate wealth. Over half of Americans die with credit card debt. Their buying options are limited and their choices on how they live are limited. Their chances of home ownership decline simply because they owe a lot of debt. Nowhere is this more dramatic than in student loans. When the student graduates, the average loan is somewhere between $30,000 and $40,000. We have an entire generation of students that are graduating, often with therapeutic degrees and are not able to find jobs that would allow them to pay off this enormous debt. If we came from Mars and looked at the situation, we would just simply say 'you have tens of thousands of serfs or indentured servants. If they are not beholden to their credit card, they are beholden to the federal government and the universities."

The Middle Class and Why Its Disappearing | Victor Davis Hanson: https://youtu.be/r8GeHGQK6fU?si=63QxelPH_gp0yfTt

The sensitive topic of illegal immigration also factors in big when it comes to whether people have a chance to enter the middle class. Labor, like anything in the market, falls under the forces of supply and demand. Wages are dear when employers have to compete for skilled labor that is scarce. Now that the U.S. southern border since 2021 has been opened to millions of illegal immigrants in the United States the pressure is always to renegotiate wages down, including those illegal immigrants who ironically have to compete with each other in the same bottleneck, keeping all of them out of a savings and ownership economy. The divide between the America First and George W. Bush influenced GOP became clear. Since retiring, Bush Jr. has been painting, including portraits of immigrants, and he provided his critique. "It's a beautiful country we have and yet it's not beautiful when we condemn and call people names and scare people about immigration. It's an easy issue to frighten some of the electorate, and I'm trying to have a different kind of voice. I would describe [the current Republican party] as isolationist, protectionist, and to a certain extent nativist." Nativist being a euphemism for racist. One can infer that there's a self-hatred going along with this line of reasoning, but it also ignores the parallel development in psychology to counter co-dependency, where it's common to hear healthcare workers admonished to take care of themselves better, say no, and have boundaries because you can't help others if you can't help yourself. One wonders when politicians around the world will catch on. Bush's view on immigration isn't a completely open border but it should be "pro-enforcement with a compassionate touch." He hinted a bit that he may also be out of touch in the Today interview when he conceded that "[the current Republican view] is not exactly my vision, but I'm just an old guy they put out to pasture, just a simple painter."

George W. Bush: Immigration System 'Needs To Be Reformed' | TODAY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqJDPSPUZ44

Former President George W. Bush releases new book about America's immigrants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y1L-ZGDTuk

The quiet comfortable interview unfortunately blurred details and was also dated since the new administration has allowed unprecedented numbers of illegal immigrants undocumented into the country, including in the years up to now. Bush's idea of having more courts and a new vetting system is just another thing that is imaginary but not actually a reality, like his ownership society, which ended up being a debtor society. Lower wages means slave wages, but all politicians would raise their hand if asked if they were against slavery. The topic of having people of different ethnic backgrounds working for cheap is hardly an image to advertise for immigrants who also want to be in the middle class. Bush's view goes back to the old story that certain jobs won't be filled because the wages are too low. "We need to change the work visas. There's a lot of jobs that are empty, and there's a lot of jobs that need to be filled, and there are people willing to work hard to do so." The plight of the middle class is ignored. Biden whispering "pay them more" is not going to magically raise the wages, especially when he opened the border wide open. The negative trade balance was also ignored in this interview. Illegal voting with easy-t0-get driver's licenses was not broached, including changes done in 2019 before the 2020 election. Illegal immigration, especially in the U.S. led to an increase in drug and human trafficking. There are also worries now after the war for Israel has begun that there maybe terrorists that have crossed the open border, which evaporated the entire purpose of Bush's Homeland Security initiatives. The Biden Administration even went further with a trial balloon to just merge the former NAFTA countries into an E.U. style regional government showing how settled their globalist view is.

Biden on Work Shortages, Tells Employers to Pay Workers More: https://youtu.be/h9wANPpPL98?si=5AvnKKKdCWzjRBf9

Governor Josh Shapiro announces switch to Automatic Voter Registration: https://twitter.com/GovernorShapiro/status/1704095982193877181

Lara Logan claims migrants are part of a globalist plot for a unified North American government: https://www.mediamatters.org/one-america-news-network/oan-lara-logan-claims-migrants-are-part-globalist-plan-unified-government

Trial Balloon Merger With Canada Mexico and the U.S - Tucker Carlson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jy1pIrWP44

Donald Trump upset this current establishment which responded with their fear of what reform meant for them and projected it onto the population, except for the fact the establishment didn't have, and still doesn't have, anything the general public would find exciting from them. Who wants debt slavery? Who wants stagflation? Who wants endless wars? In an emotional false-start resignation letter, General Milley made an assumption that Trump was "ruining the international order..." which he misinterpreted as being connected to the Greatest Generation in WWII, which I think would have a bone to pick with this current international order. I'm sure some did support the U.N., the Marshall Plan, etc., but I'm sure that many, if not most, were fighting for their country, and their children, not some nebulous and shifting international order with faceless bureaucrats that resist reforms. Regardless of political labels, this craven behavior should now be expected in any situation where there is a power differential and there's a threat of reform, meaning that people will lose their money and position with said reforms. Each side that reforms another side has a hatred of the people who are gumming up the works and wants them gone. Those who are to be fired feel castrated and mortified. The success or failure of any reform will have to rest with how many people it frees up and helps to thrive while at the same time removes obvious corruption, which always requires vigilance because for many people, corruption is a way of life and it seems unconscionable that enough money can be made with goods and services alone.

‘Your husband is the worst president. You owe us gas money’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQv5cMSFkdE

Dick Cheney calls Trump a coward "He Lost. He Knows It": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Nq9SpGzic 

😂 Posobiec: I present to you, my dramatic reading of the General Milley resignation letter: https://rumble.com/v1fmezx--posobiec-i-present-to-you-my-dramatic-reading-of-the-general-milley-resign.html

Gen Mark Milley: I Had My Resignation Letter Ready for Trump: https://rumble.com/v3ih4ck-gen-mark-milley-i-had-my-resignation-letter-ready-for-trump.html

When you have a weak population that is like a colony, under taxation without representation, what would it look like? We already covered what it looks like now, which is very compromised, but what would it look like if all dissident reformers are put in jail? The world got a taste of that when the former President of the PRC Hu Jintao was escorted out in a way that looked disconcerting and humiliating to western audiences. Chinese media stated that "When [Hu] was not feeling well during the session, his staff, for his health, accompanied him to a room next to the meeting venue for a rest. Now, he is much better." Some commentators joked that his aids told him "death is a serious condition if you're not careful." Other commentators felt it was more of a middle ground. "What we just saw was the making of an All Xi's Men team, the breaking of decade-long rules, and the birth of an unlimited supreme leader...He is now a truly modern emperor." Hu Jintao did make another appearance later at Jiang Zemin's funeral with Xi Jinping in Dec 2022 showing that at least he wasn't dead. I talked to one Chinese woman who immigrated to Canada about it and she said "we [were] not allowed to talk about that." She found it surprising in Canada when looking at Twitter and all the aggressive back and forth between debaters of different political stripes and how it was possible to criticize top leaders with unlimited sarcasm and derision. This would be a hint that complete freedom of speech would have to end in order to consolidate power to one political aim. Dissent would have to be hidden and kept in closed door meetings and each prospective leader would have to be subservient and then make power grabs at all the right times before ascending to leadership, usually when the prior dictator has gotten too old. Any missteps could lead to expulsion, house arrest or execution.

For example, Zhao Ziyang, the leader who was more favorable to the students at the Tiananmen, lived under house arrest and was allowed some freedoms while being watched intently. His views on Communism grew more towards freedom as time passed. "We needed to establish multiple channels for dialogue—with various social factions, forces, and interests. Decisions on major issues should be made with ongoing consultation and dialogue with various social groups, not just within the Communist Party, and not only after merely consulting once with key figures of other political parties...We had to permit social groups to exist; otherwise, how could dialogue be conducted? Most important, we needed to change the situation in which all social groups—including workers’ unions, youth organizations, women’s organizations, chambers of commerce, and others—were all in monotonous unity with the Communist Party. They should not be treated like the Party’s royal instruments. They have to be able to truly represent the people they are meant to represent. Only dialogue conducted with groups of this kind would carry any real meaning. In other words, their function as intermediate organizations should be fully developed. The Communist Party should not take control of everything or interfere so much in their affairs, and should give them room for independent activities...We must establish laws that guarantee the protection of specific aspects, for example, freedom of association, assembly, demonstrations, petitions, and strikes. All these should be protected by specific laws." Of course these reforms never came to pass. His son Zhao Wujun said that "Zhao lived to see the consequences of rapid, unfettered economic growth in the absence of checks on government powers–rampant corruption, crony capitalism, one of the widest wealth gaps in the world and widespread social discontent...The things he wanted to do were abandoned…more than a decade of his sweat and blood was ruined in an instant...We have missed a huge historical opportunity to transform society. I don’t know if history will give us another chance."

Hu Jintao's Removal - CCP 20th National Congress: https://archive.ph/20221022153634/https://twitter.com/XHNews/status/1583829797297598465

Xi Jinping and Hu Jintao were on hand to bid farewell to Jiang Zemin: https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20221205-1340592

Son of purged reformer Zhao Ziyang tells of China's 'shame', 25 years after Tiananmen: https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2014/05/son-purged-zhao-ziyang-tells-chinas-shame/

AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY - Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MYFOzP6Xns

Getting centralized control to give up power is one of the most difficult knots to untie for any reformers in any country, and this was not lost on presidential candidate Javier Milei who described leftist politics in his country as being seduced by Antonio Gramsci. Tucker in a couple of episodes also interviewed an Argentine economist and a business owner about what the economy is like in Argentina, before getting Javier's take on the situation. "We are 47 million people, out of which 11 million people have what you call a job. Slightly under 3.5 million people work for government, and 7 million people work in the private sector. So 10 to 11 million people out of 47, 25% of the people, [if you take out government workers], 1/7th of the population will have a private job...7 million people are working to support the other 40 million people. 60% of the children are poor...In Argentina the incentives now are so perversely inverted that many people decide that it's not worth working. They can make more money sitting home idle." To a restaurant owner this was due to high taxes and expensive union dues. The psychological impact of this kind of system was described by Javier like the typical Cycle of Abuse and The Battered Wife, where "politicians are kind of sociopaths. They want to believe that we are mentally disabled, disabled in every way, because we cannot live without them. In fact, they are the ones who cannot live without us." One of the ideas he warned Tucker about was "the idea that where there is a need there is a right. It's a problem because there can be infinite needs but someone always has to pay for those rights, and the resources for that are finite. That sparks a conflict between infinite needs and finite resources...Under my administration...they should have no reason to complain. There won't be any layoffs in the first round of reforms, and when the second round of reforms takes place, they will be able to leave behind their public sector jobs, because they will have an incentive to do so, and they will be paid better." Considering that Bolsonaro in Brazil and Donald Trump in the U.S. are currently under lawfare by their opponents, I think Javier will have to put on his seatbelt if he thinks the opposition will make it easy for him to just walk in and make changes.

Argentina's economy - Tucker Carlson: https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1702079713622299100

Javier Milei. Who is he? - Tucker Carlson: https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1702442099814342725

Bolsonaro Again Ruled Ineligible to Hold Public Office by Brazil Electoral Court: https://news.yahoo.com/bolsonaro-again-ruled-ineligible-hold-232806102.html

Trump’s presidential ballot eligibility on trial in Colorado and Minnesota: https://www.axios.com/2023/10/31/trump-14th-amendment-trials-colorado-minnesota

Prosecutor files case against Argentina’s frontrunner Javier Milei days before presidential election: https://apnews.com/article/milei-picardi-peso-fernandez-argentina-02db52be25b493ca0f1d10fec9d6f017

It's best not to forget that when you trade with people, or if you are involved with people in friendships or intimate relationships, you are receiving strong signals from people who need repeated confirmations that they are respected. Many others need confirmations that they are special and superior. China expert Jack Posobiec worked in China and remembered how focused the Chinese were in wanting to turn the tables on the U.S. "I'll never forget this one. These are people I worked with by the way, and they weren't saying this in a hateful way or an angry way. They were just saying it matter of fact. They said 'we want to see a world where Chinese parents are one day adopting American babies.'" It's safe to assume that when you deal with people there are always hidden concerns in the background about power, self-esteem, envy, jealousy, and resentment.

China is going to eat our lunch - Jack Posobiec: https://rumble.com/v2r7ocg-jack-posobiec-chinas-going-to-eat-our-lunch..html

Even if reforms seem clear that there should be more work and production, with a reducing of some government spending, along with a reduction of interest rates, and how that will resurrect an economy, some of these economic principles are going to be challenged by the incoming developments of Artificial Intelligence (A.I). If the technology develops as quickly as developers contend it will, you'll have a situation of overproduction when the newly unemployed can't buy any products produced by the A.I. that replaced them. If there's a minimum income introduced, and if taxes are implemented to replace all the wages lost, what will life be like? Will a universal basic income allow the same human freedoms as before? What would psychology look like if one just pursued hobbies and didn't have to go to work? Would the lack of power when there are no wages or labor to negotiate with lead to another form of slavery?

[uk-tarpaulins]

The Incredible Impact of Water-Resistant Tarpaulins

Water-Resistant Tarpaulins, frequently ignored in their straightforwardness, assume a pivotal part in different enterprises and day-to-day exercises. These flexible and sturdy materials affect agribusiness, development, fiasco help, and, surprisingly, sporting pursuits. As we dig into the staggering effect of water-resistant tarpaulins, we'll investigate the multi-layered manners by which these apparently honest covers add to the productivity, security, and strength of different areas.

Agriculture: Shielding Crops and Livestock

In agribusiness, the utilization of water-resistant tarpaulins has upset the manner in which ranchers safeguard their harvests and animals. These sturdy covers go about as a safeguard against capricious weather patterns, forestalling harm brought about by weighty downpour, hail, or over the top daylight. Tarpaulins likewise act as brief safe houses for domesticated animals, guaranteeing their prosperity during antagonistic climate occasions. The capacity of these covers to oppose water infiltration is fundamental for keeping up with the quality and yield of harvests, contributing altogether to worldwide food security.

Construction: Weather-Proofing and Safety

The development business intensely depends on water-resistant tarpaulins for climate sealing building destinations. These tarpaulins are utilized to cover building materials, apparatus, and to some extent finished structures, safeguarding them from downpour and other ecological components. By giving a dependable boundary against water, tarpaulins add to the life span of development materials, lessen the gamble of consumption, and improve generally wellbeing on building destinations. The effect of water-resistant tarpaulins in development stretches out past security, as they likewise empower all year development exercises, limiting climate related delays.

Catastrophe Help: Fast Reaction and Brief Sanctuary

Water-resistant tarpaulins are basic in a fiasco aid projects, offering fast and successful answers for haven and security. In the consequence of catastrophic events like storms, floods, or quakes, these flexible covers act as crisis covers, safeguarding uprooted people from the components. Lightweight and simple to ship, water-resistant tarpaulins work with fast reaction times during philanthropic emergencies. Their strength and water-resistant properties give a dependable boundary against the components, offering solace and wellbeing to those out of luck.

Transportation: Getting and Covering Freight

In the transportation business, getting and safeguarding freight during travel is vital. Water-resistant tarpaulins are regularly utilized as freight covers, shielding merchandise from downpour, snow, and other atmospheric conditions during transportation. Whether on trucks, trains, or ships, these covers give an extra layer of insurance against water harm, guaranteeing the trustworthiness of the shipped merchandise. The unwavering quality and strength of water-resistant tarpaulins add to savvy and economical transportation rehearses.

Sporting Exercises: Open air Solace and Insurance

Water-resistant tarpaulins assume a critical part in improving the outside experience for sporting exercises. Campers, explorers, and open air lovers use tarpaulins as stopgap covers, safeguarding them from downpour and wind during setting up camp outings. These covers likewise act as ground fabrics, giving an extra layer of protection and security against clammy surfaces. The effect of water-resistant tarpaulins in diversion reaches out to occasions and celebrations, where they are utilized for transitory havens, stage covers, and as a fundamental component in making agreeable and climate-resistant open-air spaces.

Natural Effect: Practical Arrangements

The utilization of Medium Weight Tarpaulins lines up with the developing accentuation on economical practices. Tarpaulins, when produced using eco-accommodating materials, add to diminishing natural effect. Their strength and protection from water limit the requirement for successive substitutions, lessening waste over the long haul. Furthermore, the flexibility of water-resistant tarpaulins in different applications advances asset productivity and supports a more feasible way to deal with industry rehearses.

Developments in Material Science: Propelling Water-Obstruction

Progressions in material science have prompted the advancement of imaginative materials that upgrade the water-resistant properties of tarpaulins. Nanotechnology, for example, has been utilized to make water-resistant coatings that work on the viability and life span of these covers. These advancements add to the ceaseless improvement of canvas innovation, growing their applications and guaranteeing better execution in testing natural circumstances.

Local area and Compassionate Drives: Enabling Neighborhood Arrangements

Water-resistant tarpaulins enable networks to assume responsibility for their prosperity during unfavorable circumstances. In districts inclined to occasional floods or outrageous climate occasions, neighborhood drives frequently include the dispersion of tarpaulins to weak populaces. This grassroots methodology gives quick alleviation as well as cultivates local area strength by empowering people to freely safeguard their homes and possessions.

Conclusion:

The extraordinary effect of water-resistant tarpaulins stretches out across a range of ventures and exercises, from farming and development to catastrophe help and sporting pursuits. These adaptable covers, with their strength and water-resistant properties, contribute fundamentally to the effectiveness, security, and flexibility of different areas. As mechanical progressions keep on working on the water-resistant capacities of tarpaulins, their job in forming an additional reasonable and versatile future turns out to be considerably more articulated. Whether in the fields of development, calamity reaction, or regular exercises, water-resistant tarpaulins stand as a demonstration of the groundbreaking force of apparently straightforward arrangements in tending to complex difficulties.

[canadaostrate]

Canada Postage Rates 2023 to USA

If you’re a small business owner, you probably already know that canada postage rates 2023 to usa can vary based on the size and weight of the package being sent. But you might not know that this applies to the types of envelopes you send out, too.

Most people assume that if you can send something through the mail to addresses all over the United States, you can do it safely and reliably in Canada as well. But that’s not always the case, and there are some important things to keep in mind before you seal up your packages and zip them across the border.

Postage to Canada is more expensive than it is for domestic shipments. This is mainly due to the cost of customs duties and taxes on all items shipped across the border. This can make it difficult for small businesses to break into the Canadian market, even if they are offering competitive prices and high-quality products.

Any package or envelope that goes to Canada must be addressed properly, with the correct postal codes and country name mentioned below the address line. In addition, the cost of premium tracking services may be required for letters and packages going to Canada, depending on your mailing option.

If you’re planning to use stamps for your postal mail, keep in mind that standard stamps only cover up to 3 ounces of mail. You’ll need to buy an international first class forever stamp or a booklet of permanent stamps for more extensive coverage.

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[grapecaseschoices]

kendis/ava: 3, 12, 13, 19, and 21

ty sugarplum!

Ship Ask Game - The Basics

3. What was their first impression of each other?

I feel for A-mancers, the first impression goes beyond their official meeting in Kendis' office.

Kendis without knowing who Ava was pepper sprayed her -- in their defense, at worst Ava could be a murderer.

Ava, of course, wasn't a fan of how Kendis handled potential suspects or being pepper sprayed. So that led to sour notes.

In the office, Kendis was like: Who is this basic white woman barging in here and giving commands?

Ava was like because we ignore love at first sight here: This hard-headed, uncompromising, impertinent CHILD, thinks that SHE can railroad MY mission? They're just as rash* as I suspected.

*[haha]

It is safe to assume neither was the other's fan.

12. Do they have a difficult time when separated from each other, or are they fairly independent?

Nah, I think I've said before they're both good with separation. Though they're both worriers, they had lives before each other-- and Kendis isn't one to change that beat no matter how in love they are. [I don't think ....]

13. How do they keep in contact when they’re apart? Do they write letters, talk on the phone, or simply wait out the time?

Anyway Kendis feels like. But Ava prefers the postcards and the phone calls, rather than the video chats and the 'u up?' texts. And Kendis is okay with sticking to those unless: 1. She misses Ava a lot and thus wants to see her 2. Wants to annoy her partner.

19. Do they wear each other’s clothes/jewelry?

I lean no for clothes. Because Kendis isn't always the best sharer, especially when they don't trust you with their stuff. [Ava is offended; just because she doesn't care for fashion doesn't mean shed let anything happen to Kendis impractically tall and expensive shoes]. And honestly, Kendis' style is just to bright or filled patterns for Ava.

Though Kendis as stolen one of Ava's pants [they run baggy on them and is comfortable and has pockets] and combat boots .... which Ava admits to nice to see on Kendis. And Ava has one of Kendis' coats. [Yes, Kendis pulled the 'Are you cold baby girl?'. And yes Felix has never to let her live it down]

But jewelry? Yes. More in a borrow way than a ownership way. Though again Kendis has nabbed a watch of Ava and is always letting Ava use her hair products and hair pins. Ava has a pair of earrings that Kendis said she could keep, and she treasures it so much. It was for an event and she likely will never wear it again but she likes to know it's there.

21. Do they enjoy domestic life?

... yeah. I feel with them it isn't like oh yeah domesticity!! And more a casual by product of who they are. Kendis has strong home maker traits (its the ESFJ in them) and they both like ensuring that the people around them are safe. So making a home and keeping tabs on each other by running errands together is just ... a thing that happens. And Kendis likes seeing Ava at ease and Ava likes seeing Kendis get to indulge in things they used to do before The BloodTM.

[holypeanutpaper]

10 Fundamentals About kereta api You Didn't Learn in School

Marx trains had been one of the most prized and best beloved product trains amongst 1919 and 1978 when Luis Marx established his business and made these trains away from his manufacturing plants in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Along with the American Flyer model and trains, Marx trains were being in higher desire amongst model educate hobbyists through The usa of The usa. Two of the best acknowledged trains inside the Marx Trains collection had been the Marx 333 along with the Marx 666 product locomotives.™

The Marx 333 boasted the 4-six-five wheel arrangement and was a considerable and comprehensive piece. The Marx 333 was made from 1949-1954 and it came in to models. The main style was fundamental and didn't provide the awnings or possibly a smoke unit. The latter style bundled equally these options. The Marx 333 was a beautiful and extremely in-depth design teach and was very popular when it absolutely was launched. It arrived with handrails and jade marker lights that built it a lot more fascinating for a collectible educate.

The MARX 666 was also a finest vendor and was developed from 1955 to 1974. Its manufacturing was briefly halted in between 1961 and 1967. The most really cherished collectible trains, the Marx 666 is the favorite of all collectors all over the world. It had a two-four-two wheel arrangement and was an O Scale product train. It came in the standard black colour with stripes within the boiler walkway and smoke cylinder. A number of the rarer versions On this mode teach have been the military eco-friendly shade that was generated just for two several years as well as the grey locomotive which was only produced in 1971. Both equally of such variants are quite rare and as a consequence command an exceedingly large value today. This practice experienced an immense volume of fantastic depth and elegance and was in high need amongst collectors and teach enthusiasts in America.

Having the ability to speak successfully with Other individuals involves people competencies, and here's eight important kinds:

1. Knowing men and women

People today not merely are available in all styles and sizes, but they feature distinctive identity types also. You might want to brush up regarding how to communicate with the 4 major personality types by looking at this article. Certainly, dedicated students of interaction could do minor better than buy Bem Allen's exceptional introduction to character sorts, 'Character Theories'.

Folks are folks, with as many similarities from a person person to the subsequent as dissimilarities. To speak most effectively, Each individual will require you to definitely communicate with them in their own personal desire model, using their language, their overall body gestures, as well as their pace and intonation.

So how do you find out how best to communicate with anyone? Shell out time with them! You should not count on to fulfill someone off the road and discuss intimately with them inside of a moment. Comprehension a issue will take time -- no matter whether that issue is an instructional one particular or One more human being.

two. Expressing your thoughts and thoughts Evidently

Our brains can only take much details in at Anybody time. We're bombarded with messages every single second in the day, so to contend With all the barrage of 'noise' anyone faces, your information needs to be distinct, succinct also to The purpose.

It is rather worthwhile getting time to approach your interaction -- irrespective of by what approach it can be shipped -- making sure that you might be having the least amount of time to express the ideal volume of assumed in essentially the most receptively basic manner.

three. Talking up when your requirements aren't being met

Just as vital in company associations as in domestic types, speaking up to ensure that your preferences are achieved can be a fundamental Component of any relationship.

It's possible you'll would like to examine this short article on assertive, not intense, conversation, but in the nutshell you will find 6 different ways you can be assertive and not intense inside your conversation: by rehearsing your conduct previous to the interaction; by repeating your conversation (the 'damaged document' technique); fogging; requesting damaging suggestions; tentative agreement with adverse suggestions; and making a workable compromise.

Assertiveness is actually a helpful conversation tool. It really is software is contextual and it is not appropriate to get assertive in all scenarios. Try to remember, your unexpected usage of assertiveness could possibly be perceived being an act of aggression by Other people.

4. Requesting feedback from Other individuals and supplying high quality responses in return

Together with assertiveness methods, the supplying and acquiring of responses is actually a key interaction talent that has to be learnt if you need to have any hope of establishing very long-expression business enterprise associations..

Toastmasters Global teach a handy suggestions and demanding overview technique -- 1st give a honest compliment, adhere to this with any realistic tips for enhancement, then wrap up with even further honest praise. It is known as 'CRC', or 'Commend, Advocate, Commend', A 3-move design for excellence in supplying excellent opinions.

Bear in mind, way too, that truthfulness is usually a subjective view. Anything you may find distasteful in another person could possibly be equally fascinating from An additional's point of view. As I learnt, by dwelling by way of a series of IRA atrocities in England and viewing the US political and media reactions, 1 gentleman's terrorist is yet another guy's independence fighter.

5. Influencing how Other individuals Consider and act

All of us have the opportunity to influence how Other folks Imagine and act. Many of the way from Cialdini's Persuasion concepts right down to easy violence (of the verbal or Actual physical character), we've been day-to-day capable of condition the ideas and actions of Individuals around us.

From one thing as simple as smiling and saying, "Hello!" for a strategy for influencing a person's mood, to main by instance all through an intense duration of modify, there are several means of possibly leading to or drawing away from Other people expected behaviours and attitudes.

Take into account that an attitude leads to an emotion, which consequently contributes to an action. Form the attitudes and you have a more trusted method of predicting steps.

6. Bringing conflicts towards the area and obtaining them resolved

I confess: I am not a 'all-natural' at dealing with conflict. It really is taken marrying into an current spouse and children of a few young children to help this only little one arrive at conditions with conflict.

It is really taken me 3 a long time of living in my family members to realise It really is feasible to co-exist in conflict and not get personally concerned. Nevertheless it was not a simple lesson to master, I'm able to inform you!

But becoming a stage-father to teenage kids has served me understand the necessity of bringing conflicts and resentments towards the surface area wherever they can be a lot more easily managed.

Your workers is likely to be harbouring key resentments of you, and Until you discover out what they are, bring these 'dark insider secrets' out into The sunshine of day, you will be never ever going in order to efficiently manage them.

It truly is embarrassing, perhaps humiliating and needs a powerful degree of tolerance not to start straight into a defensive mode, but providing people today the chance to Categorical their concerns, disappointments and anger, encounter-to-facial area, provides you with tremendous possibility to put matters suitable, or help them see wherever their feelings and feelings are misplaced.

seven. Collaborating with Other individuals as opposed to performing points by palang pintu kereta on your own

I'm a shocker at this, but learning to delegate and share has long been instrumental in rising my very own organization.

The fastest means of burying on your own in excess element and workload is to attempt to do all the things yourself. Still sharing the workload may be the smartest thing you are going to ever do. Here is why:

'Leverage'.

Leverage is taking your techniques and abilities and making it possible for Other folks to Amplify your get the job done ability. You coach them to carry out Whatever you do and also you do another thing.

A person bricklayer can only lay a certain variety of bricks in one hour, but that very same bricklayer can prepare 15 mates to lay bricks and quickly All those 15 bricklayers are making monuments when the first bricklayer is out securing additional work for them.

While the 15 are laying bricks, the initial bricklayer might be Finding out ways to perform Superior bricklaying, or find out sales procedures, or study supervision abilities.

The lesson is simple: try and do all of it by yourself as well as the 'all' will bury you; educate Other individuals to try and do Everything you do and also you establish a monument.

Jesus taught eleven men the best way to do what he did. Then he remaining them to carry on when he moved on to other points. From The straightforward act of 1 gentleman instructing eleven others, a church and the most important, most influential spiritual motion the world has ever identified was born.

eight. Shifting gears when associations are unproductive

At times you need to stroll absent. At times you have to jettison unhealthy cargo. And from time to time you should get drastic techniques to get back stability and momentum.

'Shifting gears' is often so simple as modifying the venue of one's supervision Conference from a dark Business to a close-by cafe. Often it can be relocating the Conference from straight soon after lunch to first thing subsequent early morning, when clearer heads could possibly prevail.

Occasionally it may suggest expanding the extent of assertiveness to be able to make sure the position you might be earning is currently being received. In some cases it might indicate bringing Many others in to the Assembly so that one other man or woman understands the implications in their attitudes or actions.

And often it may mean supporting them look for a much more significant and fulfilling role beyond your sphere of impact.

Being a management psychologist I Obviously don't forget one particular organisation I consulted to: the only real way away from a employees deadlock was to remove the impediments to progress. Which intended supporting key protagonists obtain new work outside of the organisation. From time to time culture adjust can only be effected in a quick way by bringing in a whole new workforce and throwing absent the lifeless Wooden. But only as A final vacation resort.

Conclusion

The full concept of currently being folks experienced is realizing or obtaining the best way to provide out the most beneficial in Other people in any circumstance, rather then their worst. By mastering these eight crucial persons expertise you substantially increase your chances of obtaining the top results out of your interactions and enterprise worries.

[fleetroot-blog]

Last Yard Deliveries: Why Should Convenience Over Cost Be Prioritized

The last yard is the very last leg of a domestic-transport journey.

The last yard has been used in the logistics and supply chain industry for years. As you can imagine from its name, it represents the final leg of an end-to-end home delivery journey.

This remaining level may be complicated for shops as it calls for cautious coordination among your company’s nearby community and its third-birthday birthday celebration companies. It additionally tends to tend to maximum high-priced operation.

The last yard is in which the maximum of the transport the questions arise. If you’re now no longer turning them into the proper location, your clients will must wait longer and they’re not able to get their packages.

Delivering on time however past due be aware also can affect client delight and transport reliability. As we mentioned, clients assume on-time deliveries—however, additionally they recognize being notified while there’s a problem wiener the package deal transport.

The last Yaris in which maximum of the transport exceptions arise.

Delivery exceptions are the maximum not unusual place cause clients bitch and unusual plausible reviews. In addition, they are able to cause a client now not to locate their items or receive received.

The last received which those exceptions arise: When you’re out of inventory on the warehouse; whilst you can not song down your driver; while a truck breaks down en route—any quantity of factors can take place throughout transport on the way to reason delays or bring about misplaced packages.

Multiple demanding situations withinside the last yard might also additionally cause an exception.

The remaining mile is a complicated operation. And now no longer handiest does it have its specific demanding situations, however, it additionally affords a possibility for companies to distinguish themselves from their competition and win extra enterprise from shops.

To achieve success withinside the remaining mile, you want strong information about your client base and people clients needs. You’ll need to bear in mind the following:

The form of the merchandise being shipped;

The length and weight of this merchandise;

Where they’re going; and

What time of year (holidays).

The remaining mile has historically been regarded as a rate to be minimized, however, a few clients are inclined to pay extra for stronger convenience.

The remaining mile has historically been regarded as a rate to be minimized, however, a few clients are inclined to pay extra for stronger convenience.

Convenience can decorate client delight and power sales growth. Customers need you to take duty for their items till they’re exceeded over to them personally, which calls for a distinct technique from the traditional “just-in-time” logistics model (in which merchandise circulates from provider to quit consumer without ever being stored).

The remaining mile is in which maximum transport exceptions arise while clients have their first impact on your brand. If something is going incorrect on this level, it's miles regularly hard or not possible for groups to restore the harm to their popularity with the aid of using past due/missing/broken deliveries.

Convenience can improve customer satisfaction and drive sales growth.

Convenience can improve customer satisfaction and drive sales growth. Customers who receive products at their doorstep are seven times more likely to reorder than customers who receive products at a PO Box or parcel locker. So if you don't deliver to private individuals yet, consider the benefits:

Guaranteed delivery time

Reduced risk of theft or damage during transport

Das Best customer experience (You can communicate directly with customers about your deliveries)

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Customers want you to be in charge and take ownership of their products until they deliver them.

Customers want you to take responsibility for their products until they deliver them. This means that customers expect you to:

Track the package

Let them take control by letting know when the package will arrive.

Let them change the delivery address if necessary.

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Ultimately, customers want a way to track where their packages are en route, so it makes sense that Last -Minute deliveries like ours also offer this service.

Think of your last-mile operation as a source of competitive advantage and an opportunity to increase revenue, not just another cost center. 

The last mile is where most delivery exceptions occur. So don't think of your front yard operation as just another cost center, but as a source of competitive advantage and an opportunity to increase sales.

Use the right delivery software on the last mile to optimize logistics costs and maximize customer convenience.

In today's fast-paced, competitive marketplace, the last mile is no longer just a cost hub for your business. A profit center can help you stand out from the crowd.

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The best way to understand how this work is to compare two delivery models: door-to-door and curbside delivery (CSD).

Read More: https://bit.ly/3P0URFY

[the-moon-loves-the-sea]

Omg if you have the time & energy, would you share some more fic recs?

Yes! With joy!

Liquid Gold by @perkynurples (Stede/Ed, 27k, WIP, M, modern beekeeping AU, friends to lovers). I ADORE the crew in this. I love the little town and the gentle steps toward courage they all take. I wholeheartedly needed Stede and Ed chasing the memory of mothers' kindness away from the specter of their fathers' failures and into each other's arms.

"Stede Bonnet, recently divorced, returns to the town he once knew. He's got the old house, he's got the bees, and he's going to be(e) happy if it's the last thing he does. (Stede is a bit miserable no matter how hard he tries.) Ed Teach is known as the beekeeper in town, always meticulous, always gentle, never too bothered with rules, or protective gear. (Ed is also, no matter how hard he tries, a bit bored.)"

whole, holy by @queerspacepunk (Stede/Ed, 3k, T, post-canon, re-establishing the relationship). Gorgeous little character study, sweetest freedom-finding for them both.

"Ed's as precious, by Stede's accounting, as the priceless tea cup in his hands, and, on Stede's insisting, just as set apart."

And What Obscured in This Fair Volume Lies (Stede/Ed, 11k, E, post-canon, regaining trust, first time). Featuring honest, tender, careful romancing and a brilliant background return of the Revenge theater troupe.

"After Stede reads William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to the crew, they decide that tragedies are bullshit and decide to put on their own production of the famous play. Meanwhile, Ed and Stede slowly find their way back to each other."

Under the Weather (Stede/Ed, 10k, E, sickfic, getting together). Gentlest domestic caretaking and a simple discovery of love.

"Sickness sweeps through the crew of the Revenge. Stede introduces Ed to his favorite self-care remedies for dealing with a cold."

Buttercup by @mia-ugly (Stede/Ed, 13k, E, post-canon post-reunion getting together, love confession, learning intimate communication). Devastatingly tender, fragile at first and building to so much trust and love between them.

"When you're Blackbeard you've got a reputation to uphold. And you let it slide, the things people assume. You don't want to talk about it."

forgive & forget (Stede/Ed, 9k, WIP, unrated but T so far, amnesia, post-canon reunion). Heart-wrenching, heart-warming, fantastic writing. Stede's courage and Ed's heartbroken gentle fierceness is ruining me. And Lucius is a DELIGHT.

"An unlucky twist of fate leaves Stede with a head injury that wipes the last months of his life clean. Unable to remember leaving his family in the first place, exiled by his wife for sins he doesn’t remember committing, Stede has absolutely nothing to his name. He doesn’t make it far before he’s captured by the dread pirate Blackbeard himself, who seems to hold the missing piece of the puzzle that Stede’s life has become."

In Favor with Their Stars by @mxmollusca (Stede/Ed, 37k, M, scifi AU, canon arc aboard a spaceship). Extraordinary study of personhood and love, incredible use of its central concept. Stede's coming-to-consciousness as an AI, falling in love with Ed as he falls in love with life, parallels Stede's in-show coming-awake in a way that makes me cry. Their unconventional communication makes them so intuitively close. And Ed's sudden blooming in the liminal space of care and possibility Stede creates for them is exquisite.

"Ed is an engineer aboard the Revenge, an interplanetary research vessel on a multi-year mission. An accident wakens Ed from cryostasis months early, and his only companion is STE/DE, the ship's onboard AI. They develop an unconventional friendship, but is it possible to have more?"

Just a few of the gorgeous ones I've read recently, or gone back to. You're all exceptional gifts.

[chinateacup]

Mondo for the ask game :DD

For all the questions?? Let’s GO!!!

⚧- Pronoun headcanon

He/Him. If you asked him he wouldn’t have a clue what you meant.

🏳️‍⚧️- Gender headcanon

Trans man! Or cis man! I like Both!!!

🏳️‍🌈- Orientation headcanon

Often bisexual? But also gay.

🌌- Zodiac sign headcanon

His canon Zodiac is Gemini and honestly it fits well. They do tend to be the jealous types…

🧠- MBTI headcanon

I know nothing about these and I apologise, but I think he would be an introvert!

❤️- Otp

I’ll give you one guess ;)

🧡- Everyone I ship with this character

Just Taka. I’m sorry, I’m a terrible multishipper!

💛- Brotp

Him and Chihiro!!! Also Leon, Hina, Sayaka, Sakura, Makoto, Takemichi, Daiya… my dude is Popular.

💚- Notp

Chimondo in the canon universe, especially in the killing game.

It makes me feel icky to headcanon he had a crush on Chihiro when he assumed they were a cis girl before,,, yknow. It just gives bad vibes. But in an AU, it’s a cute ship!

💙- Crossover ship I like

Again,,, horrible multi shipper,,,,,, I’m sorry,,

💜- Crossover non-ship relationship I like

Let him meet Josuke, cowards. It’s his roots dammit.

📖- AU I’d like to see them in

OOOOO definitely a 1950s Greaser AU. Japanese biker culture was heavily influenced by American greasers so it fits! Also I want to see him in a leather jacket okay—

❤️‍🩹- Angsty headcanon

He hasn’t cried since Daiya’s death. When Taka and his friends finally nudge him into confronting his grief properly, he cries for a week straight.

💖- Happy headcanon

He loves theme parks!! Especially the rollercoasters. Adrenaline, sugary snacks, his best friends in tow??? Sign him the fuck up.

😋- Funny/stupid headcanon

He had a single driving lesson and he immediately reversed into a parked car. Never again. He’s fine on his bike.

🥖- Food headcanon

While he does like spicy food, unlike Taka, he has a horrible tolerance for it. He will however get into spicy challenges with Leon to try and show off. He knows better than to compete with Taka over this.

🛌- Sleep headcanon

Very heavy sleeper. He can literally conk out anywhere. He also snores like a bear.

🏡- Domestic headcanon

While his dorm may be a little messy, his bathroom is a goddamn Clusterfuck. Products everywhere, make up on the mirror, shampoo oozing on its side in the shower. He never hangs up his towel so it’s always vaguely damp. He doesn’t clean the sink after he shaves. It’s a nightmare in there.

🗡- Badass headcanon

He has many scars and loves showing them off except for the ones from Daiya’s accident. He is also proud to boast that he’s broken all ten of his fingers and his arms in several places!! People are Alarmed.

❓- Anything else you want!

He hasn’t cut his hair in years and his split ends are INSANE. Someone help this man.

[nursegracecreates]

With the influx of users coming in from Tiktok and Twitter, I feel it's important for me to go over rules for my blogs once again.

You guys are pretty good about following these rules, and tbh, I don't ask much

This is a self shipping blog. No I will not stop, cringe all you want, it's my blog

Minors, you're welcome to follow, I write more than just smut. However, if I have a post that is marked "Minors DNI", do not interact if you are under 18 years of age, please! I can and will check for requests, or if I suspect you're not over 18. I know this seems harsh, but I have to cover my ass too guys. I'd like to ask you all to have your age in the bio, but I know I can't make you. But know this, if you're new to Tumblr: blogs do check for ages, and if you don't have your age, you will be assumed as a minor, or even worse a bot (which we typically block)

Please be at least respectful on this blog. We're all from different walks of life, the least we can do is treat each other well

Don't bring your negativity onto my blog I despise negativity and will not tolerate it. If you don't like something on this blog, just scroll past it! No one is making you read/look, and if they are, kick their ass!

If you have any criticisms, at least make them constructive I don't come onto your blog telling you what to do, don't come onto mine telling me what to do

Please respect everyone's preferences (gender, sexuality, etc (And this includes characters in fics)) Please don't ask me to make a canonical gay character straight or vice versa, or ask me to ignore things about a character to fit them to your likes/wants. When I write, it's kind of like possession, I share brain space with that character. I don't want them or other people in the fandom mad at me. We drink our respect others juice here.

I love love love likes, but if you reblog and/or follow, you've got my heart If you're part of the Twitter migration, keep this in mind to make this creator extremely happy. An extremely happy Grace is an extremely productive Grace.

Fandoms for this blog: creepypasta, Marble Hornets, Ticci Toby, David Near creepypasta reboots (I don't know every creep, but I'll either research and try to write, or let you know you can pick another character

I will write for Slenderman, but in my AU, Zalgo is Slendys little brother. This means no Slender Bros asks. I can't even keep them straight anymore

It's easier to list what I won't write, actually, but tldr, just don't be an absolute deviant, okay? If you want to check, my ask box and DMs are always open.

I will be tagging nsfw posts with "#see no evil 🙈" and PG-13 posts as "rated pg13". If you are a minor please add the first tag (#see no evil 🙈) to your blocked tags, and the second one (#rated pg13) if you don't want to see heavy romance with no sex posts). Once again, minors add "#see no evil 🙈" to your blocked tags(updated 06.06.22)

🚫🚫🚫I will not write:

R*pe, incest, domestic abuse, mental abuse,beastilality, racism, anti lgbtqia+ stuff/TERF stuff (if you're a TERF, unfollow me), underage sex/pairings where one character is over age and the other is a minor, pedophilia, abuse, niche kinks (shit and piss people, looking at you) and no celebrating self harm/eating disorders (however if you're seeking help for these, my inbox is open, I've been there and maybe can help 💖), and in light of the current world situation, I will not tolerate Russophobic speak (I have close friends from Russia and know the citizens of Russia do not want this). 🚫🚫🚫

This list is subject to change. If you're unsure about your ask, you can still send it in or DM me it first and I'll let you know!

Violators of these rules will be given one (1) warning. If you break the rules again, you will be blocked

💖💖💖

[bring-it-all-down]

Capitalism & Racism in Black Sails

In order to properly understand the individual and collective responses to England’s empire in Black Sails, it is necessary to understand capitalism and its relationship to racism. What follows are my thoughts on the relationship between capitalism and racism (focusing on the late 1600s/the development of capitalist England), and how those things relate to the show. It’s a long post, but by no means is it an exhaustive analysis of either capitalism or Black Sails, so I look forward to what others have to say on the subject!

First, what is meant by “capitalism”?

Capitalism describes an economic system in which private businesses own the means of production––the materials and tools used in the production of goods. This system creates distinct classes within society: the bourgeoisie who own the corporations and the proletariat who must work at these corporations and thereby become subservient to the bourgeoisie. 

Explained in Ellen Meiksins Wood’s The Origin of Capitalism, capitalism emerged most specifically in England as a result of the agrarian feudal creation of the landlord-tenant relationship, in which the landlord rented land to the tennant, who was incentivized to produce as many goods as possible. This system led to the complete privatization of land and the creation of wage-laborers who could not produce enough goods to themselves become part of the bourgeoisie. Over time, as these wage-laborers became more numerous, society shifted from being agrarian-centered to revolving around the creation of cities to facilitate the mass production of goods.

How is capitalism tied to racism?

The spread of early capitalism throughout Europe was facilitated by improvements in technology allowing for the mass production of goods from raw materials. Capitalist countries thus turned outward in search of raw goods to power their economies. As Marx explains in Capital:

The discovery of gold and silver in America, the extirpation, enslavement and entombment in mines of the indigenous population of that continent, the beginnings of the conquest and plunder of India, and the conversion of Africa into a preserve for the commercial hunting of blackskins, are all things which characterise the dawn of the era of capitalist production. These idyllic proceedings are the chief momenta of primitive accumulation. On their heels treads the commercial war of the European nations, with the globe for a theatre (Chapter 31).

Capitalism thus rests on the idea of “primitive accumulation,” that being the initial expropriation of the individual from the land, achieved through feudalism domestically and chattel slavery internationally. Because capitalism demands the constant mass production of goods, it requires increasing volumes of raw goods––sugarcane, cotton, coffee beans, etc.––which are obtained through the extension of colonialist enterprises in order to keep parts of the world in a continuous state of underdevelopment. 

Although pre-capitalist societies had slaves, the advent of capitalism necessitated slavery on a mass scale, produced through the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, in which indigenous populations were wiped out and replaced with slave laborers. This system resulted in complete alienation of labor as white laborers in the “New World” were replaced by the early 1700s with more ‘cost-effective’ enslaved Africans who had no ties to their owners or to the land they worked. As former Trinidadian Prime Minister Eric Williams put it: 

Here, then, is the origin of Negro slavery. The reason was economic, not racial; it had to do not with the color of the laborer, but the cheapness of the labor. [The planter] would have gone to the moon, if necessary, for labor. Africa was nearer than the moon, nearer too than the more populous countries of India and China. But their turn would soon come” (14).

Racism, then, is indistinguishable from the power structures of capitalism. The desire of the bourgeoisie to increase their capital led to the creation of the slave trade in order to accumulate mass volumes of raw goods so their proletariat workers could transform them into goods to then be sold back to the workers for profit. 

This system thus creates two types of exploitation: the exploitation of the enslaved people and colonized lands, as well as the exploitation of the domestic working class. The need to keep this system in place demanded capitalist societies craft the false belief in white supremacy in order to justify the enslavement of Africans, Indians, and various Indigenous peoples in Asia and Latin America.

So, how does piracy come into the picture?

In the mid-late 1600s, England began its industrial revolution, propelling the island to increase its Atlantic trade. This desire to trade created a new merchant class, expanded the number of laborers in American colonies, and launched England into various wars with competing European powers. In Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age, Marcus Rediker describes the social conditions of this era thusly:

By 1716, big planters drove armies of servants and slaves as they expanded their power from their own lands to colonial and finally national legislatures. Atlantic empires mobilized labor power on a new and unprecedented scale, largely through the strategic use of violence––the violence of land seizure, of expropriating agrarian workers, of the Middle Passage, of exploitation through labor discipline, and of punishment (often in the form of death) against those who dared resist the colonial order of things. By all accounts, by 1713, the Atlantic economy had reached a new stage of maturity, stability, and profitability. The growing riches of the few depended on the growing misery of the many.

Piracy emerged from this poverty in England and in its colonies, as poor people who knew how to sail figured they had little to lose and much to gain in turning to piracy. Moreover, piracy offered an alternative to the oppressive nature of living under England’s empire. Pirate ships “limited the authority of the captain, resisted many of the practices of capitalist merchant shipping industry, and maintained a multicultural, multiracial, and multinational social order.” On these ships, pirates learned “the importance of equality…[their] core values were collectivism, anti-authoritarianism, and egalitarianism, all of which were summarized in the sentence frequently uttered by rebellious sailors: “they were one & all resolved to stand by one another.” In Marxist terms, pirates retained control over the means of production and their labor, producing a more egalitarian division of profit in which all received the same share.

The Golden Age of Piracy, then, emerged in response to England’s adoption of capitalism. Despite the threat of death, exploited workers turned to piracy out of desperation and the quest for securing immediate wealth. Although piracy was often violent, it nonetheless embodied a system of labor in stark contrast to that of capitalism, based not on unequal acquisition of goods but on the fundamental equality of human beings.

How does this capitalist context enrich our understanding of Black Sails?

England’s capitalist-driven empire provides the system under which all of our characters struggle and thus informs their every decision. The characters’ backstories we are given all pertain to their desire to either escape from capitalism or assimilate with it. As this post is quite lengthy, I won’t go into detail about every single character, only the ones who most illustrate the manner in which capitalism operates.

First, James Flint’s backstory is not simply that of a man who experienced homophobia and wants revenge for it. We learn of him that his father was a carpenter and he was raised by his grandfather in Padstow, a working-class fishing town in north Cornwall. Because of this, he was barred from receiving a formal education and likely joined the navy because it offered him the opportunity for some sort of upward mobility, though it’s clear in his interactions with his peers that they will never see him as an equal due to his lower-class status. The manner in which James’s peers treat him very likely plays a role in his decision to support Thomas’s plan for Nassau. Despite the plan still being colonialist, it did seek to undermine a key component of capitalism: the dehumanization of the working force. This dehumanization is a fundamental element of capitalism (and this empire) because if laborers believe they have inherent worth, they are more likely to challenge the bourgeoisie. Thus, James’s exile from England was not because he was gay, but because he sought to undercut the foundations of England’s wealth, a choice driven by his love for Thomas and his own relationship to capitalism.

Connected to Flint’s backstory is Billy’s, as it also involves the navy. From the mid-1600s to the early 1800s, Britain relied on the practice of impressment––forcing people to serve in the navy––to advance its colonial aims. Billy’s parents were levellers, people who opposed impressment. As punishment for this, Billy was taken as a child and forced into “press gangs” and served in the Navy for three years as a bonded laborer (the naval equivalent of debtors’ prison) until his ship was captured by Flint and he was given the opportunity to join the crew after killing his captor. Like Flint, then, Billy became a pirate as a direct result of the violence done to him by capitalist-imperialist England.

Likewise, Jack became a pirate as a consequence of English capitalist industrialization. His family had for generations owned a tailoring business, but it was driven out of business by the creation of a massive textile mill. After his father died, Jack was forced to assume responsibility for his father’s debts, which he would work off as an indentured servant at the very textile mill responsible for the debt. Jack, then, turns to piracy to escape capitalism.

To understand the backstories of Flint, Billy, and Jack, you must understand the process by which England assumed a capitalist economy and how that shift from feudalism to capitalism affected both domestic and international practices in the early 1700s. The introduction of distinct classes based on relationships to labor mandated strict inequality and the valuation of mass production at the expense of individual lives.

How does Black Sails depict the relationship between racism and capitalism?

The most obvious answer here is the show’s involvement of Madi and the Maroons, who exist solely as a result of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Because this is already a lengthy post, I would like to set Madi aside in order to talk about Max, who I think offers a less overt critique of what Cedric Robinson calls “racial capitalism.”

Max, rather than seeking to run from capitalism, wants to become a member of the bourgeoisie. Her enslavement is, of course, the result of French colonialism in the Caribbean, but rather than recoil from civilization, her enslavement propels her to want to join it. As she tells Anne:

“When I was very small, I would sneak out of the slave quarters at night to the main house. I would stand outside the window to the parlor. I would stand amongst the heat and the bugs and the filth on my toes to see inside. Inside that house was a little girl my age… With the most beautiful skin. I watched her dance while her father played music and her mother sewed. I watched her read and eat and sing and sleep, kept safe and warm and clean by her father. My father. The things it took to make that room possible, they were awful things. But inside that room was peace. That is what home is to me” (3.3).

She reiterates this understanding of society to Marion Guthrie when she states that “progress cannot begin and suffering will not end until someone has the courage to go out into the woods and drown the damned cat” (4.07). While she recognizes the evils of civilization, she also believes that it offers comforts for the select few, and she wants to be one among the few. 

Max, indeed, is successful in assimilating into capitalist society. She works her way out of sex work until she owns most of Nassau, not once but twice. This achievement initially seems like a massive success and proof in the viability of Max’s methods, but in subtle ways, the show demonstrates that assimilation is not liberation.

Because, as Ibram X. Kendi stated, “The life of racism cannot be separated from the life of capitalism,” Max’s attempts to assimilate come with the betrayal of the rest of the enslaved people. Although she herself refuses to use slave labor, her treaty with Mrs. Guthrie, Silver, and the Maroons requires the Maroons to return escaped Black people into slavery. Moreover, she has won herself power in a system that refuses to recognize her presence, forcing her to pretend that Featherstone is the real governor of Nassau. 

Further, her assimilation into the capitalist system alienates her from other Black people. The two characters with whom she is most closely associated with are Anne and Eleanor, white women whose whiteness affords them a certain level of protection not offered to Max. She never interacts with Madi or any of Madi’s people and she therefore cannot comprehend any other path but assimilation. 

For all of Max’s efforts to learn from Eleanor and do better than Eleanor in running Nassau, she ends up in virtually the same place as Eleanor, but even more hidden. The Guthrie family still holds financial control of Nassau, Woodes Rogers still looms in the distance, and though piracy exists, it is even less acceptable. Thus, while Max is often credited as the person who most “sees life as it is,” her alienation under capitalism prevents her from seeing life “as it should be.”

Conclusion

As capitalism emerged as the dominant economic and political system beginning in the early 1700s, it came to define all aspects of global society, down to the very relationships people had with each other. It is impossible, then, to truly understand the motivations of anyone in the show without discussing their relationship to capitalism. This is by no means an exhaustive account of Black Sails’ commentary on capitalism and racism (I didn’t even mention Vane’s conversation with the Spanish soldier), but it hopefully underscores the idea that knowledge of capitalism (and therefore imperialism) is essential for fully comprehending the show.