#Perfect capital loans

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Cars bricked by bankrupt EV company will stay bricked

On OCTOBER 23 at 7PM, I'll be in DECATUR, presenting my novel THE BEZZLE at EAGLE EYE BOOKS.

There are few phrases in the modern lexicon more accursed than "software-based car," and yet, this is how the failed EV maker Fisker billed its products, which retailed for $40-70k in the few short years before the company collapsed, shut down its servers, and degraded all those "software-based cars":

https://insideevs.com/news/723669/fisker-inc-bankruptcy-chapter-11-official/

Fisker billed itself as a "capital light" manufacturer, meaning that it didn't particularly make anything – rather, it "designed" cars that other companies built, allowing Fisker to focus on "experience," which is where the "software-based car" comes in. Virtually every subsystem in a Fisker car needs (or rather, needed) to periodically connect with its servers, either for regular operations or diagnostics and repair, creating frequent problems with brakes, airbags, shifting, battery management, locking and unlocking the doors:

https://www.businessinsider.com/fisker-owners-worry-about-vehicles-working-bankruptcy-2024-4

Since Fisker's bankruptcy, people with even minor problems with their Fisker EVs have found themselves owning expensive, inert lumps of conflict minerals and auto-loan debt; as one Fisker owner described it, "It's literally a lawn ornament right now":

https://www.businessinsider.com/fisker-owners-describe-chaos-to-keep-cars-running-after-bankruptcy-2024-7

This is, in many ways, typical Internet-of-Shit nonsense, but it's compounded by Fisker's capital light, all-outsource model, which led to extremely unreliable vehicles that have been plagued by recalls. The bankrupt company has proposed that vehicle owners should have to pay cash for these recalls, in order to reserve the company's capital for its creditors – a plan that is clearly illegal:

https://www.veritaglobal.net/fisker/document/2411390241007000000000005

This isn't even the first time Fisker has done this! Ten years ago, founder Henrik Fisker started another EV company called Fisker Automotive, which went bankrupt in 2014, leaving the company's "Karma" (no, really) long-range EVs (which were unreliable and prone to bursting into flames) in limbo:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisker_Karma

Which raises the question: why did investors reward Fisker's initial incompetence by piling in for a second attempt? I think the answer lies in the very factor that has made Fisker's failure so hard on its customers: the "software-based car." Investors love the sound of a "software-based car" because they understand that a gadget that is connected to the cloud is ripe for rent-extraction, because with software comes a bundle of "IP rights" that let the company control its customers, critics and competitors:

https://locusmag.com/2020/09/cory-doctorow-ip/

A "software-based car" gets to mobilize the state to enforce its "IP," which allows it to force its customers to use authorized mechanics (who can, in turn, be price-gouged for licensing and diagnostic tools). "IP" can be used to shut down manufacturers of third party parts. "IP" allows manufacturers to revoke features that came with your car and charge you a monthly subscription fee for them. All sorts of features can be sold as downloadable content, and clawed back when title to the car changes hands, so that the new owners have to buy them again. "Software based cars" are easier to repo, making them perfect for the subprime auto-lending industry. And of course, "software-based cars" can gather much more surveillance data on drivers, which can be sold to sleazy, unregulated data-brokers:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/24/rent-to-pwn/#kitt-is-a-demon

Unsurprisingly, there's a large number of Fisker cars that never sold, which the bankruptcy estate is seeking a buyer for. For a minute there, it looked like they'd found one: American Lease, which was looking to acquire the deadstock Fiskers for use as leased fleet cars. But now that deal seems dead, because no one can figure out how to restart Fisker's servers, and these vehicles are bricks without server access:

https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/08/fisker-bankruptcy-hits-major-speed-bump-as-fleet-sale-is-now-in-question/

It's hard to say why the company's servers are so intransigent, but there's a clue in the chaotic way that the company wound down its affairs. The company's final days sound like a scene from the last days of the German Democratic Republic, with apparats from the failing state charging about in chaos, without any plans for keeping things running:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/07/east-germany-stasi-surveillance-documents/

As it imploded, Fisker cycled through a string of Chief Financial officers, losing track of millions of dollars at a time:

https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/31/fisker-collapse-investigation-ev-ocean-suv-henrik-geeta/

When Fisker's landlord regained possession of its HQ, they found "complete disarray," including improperly stored drums of toxic waste:

https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/05/fiskers-hq-abandoned-in-complete-disarray-with-apparent-hazardous-waste-clay-models-left-behind/

And while Fisker's implosion is particularly messy, the fact that it landed in bankruptcy is entirely unexceptional. Most businesses fail (eventually) and most startups fail (quickly). Despite this, businesses – even those in heavily regulated sectors like automotive regulation – are allowed to design products and undertake operations that are not designed to outlast the (likely short-lived) company.

After the 2008 crisis and the collapse of financial institutions like Lehman Brothers, finance regulators acquired a renewed interest in succession planning. Lehman consisted of over 6,000 separate corporate entities, each one representing a bid to evade regulation and/or taxation. Unwinding that complex hairball took years, during which the entities that entrusted Lehman with their funds – pensions, charitable institutions, etc – were unable to access their money.

To avoid repeats of this catastrophe, regulators began to insist that banks produce "living wills" – plans for unwinding their affairs in the event of catastrophe. They had to undertake "stress tests" that simulated a wind-down as planned, both to make sure the plan worked and to estimate how long it would take to execute. Then banks were required to set aside sufficient capital to keep the lights on while the plan ran on.

This regulation has been indifferently enforced. Banks spent the intervening years insisting that they are capable of prudently self-regulating without all this interference, something they continue to insist upon even after the Silicon Valley Bank collapse:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/15/mon-dieu-les-guillotines/#ceci-nes-pas-une-bailout

The fact that the rules haven't been enforced tells us nothing about whether the rules would work if they were enforced. A string of high-profile bankruptcies of companies who had no succession plans and whose collapse stands to materially harm large numbers of people tells us that something has to be done about this.

Take 23andme, the creepy genomics company that enticed millions of people into sending them their genetic material (even if you aren't a 23andme customer, they probably have most of your genome, thanks to relatives who sent in cheek-swabs). 23andme is now bankrupt, and its bankruptcy estate is shopping for a buyer who'd like to commercially exploit all that juicy genetic data, even if that is to the detriment of the people it came from. What's more, the bankruptcy estate is refusing to destroy samples from people who want to opt out of this future sale:

https://bourniquelaw.com/2024/10/09/data-23-and-me/

On a smaller scale, there's Juicebox, a company that makes EV chargers, who are exiting the North American market and shutting down their servers, killing the advanced functionality that customers paid extra for when they chose a Juicebox product:

https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/2/24260316/juicebox-ev-chargers-enel-x-way-closing-discontinued-app

I actually owned a Juicebox, which ultimately caught fire and melted down, either due to a manufacturing defect or to the criminal ineptitude of Treeium, the worst solar installers in Southern California (or both):

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/27/here-comes-the-sun-king/#sign-here

Projects like Juice Rescue are trying to reverse-engineer the Juicebox server infrastructure and build an alternative:

https://juice-rescue.org/

This would be much simpler if Juicebox's manufacturer, Enel X Way, had been required to file a living will that explained how its customers would go on enjoying their property when and if the company discontinued support, exited the market, or went bankrupt.

That might be a big lift for every little tech startup (though it would be superior than trying to get justice after the company fails). But in regulated sectors like automotive manufacture or genomic analysis, a regulation that says, "Either design your products and services to fail safely, or escrow enough cash to keep the lights on for the duration of an orderly wind-down in the event that you shut down" would be perfectly reasonable. Companies could make "software based cars" but the more "software based" the car was, the more funds they'd have to escrow to transition their servers when they shut down (and the lest capital they'd have to build the car).

Such a rule should be in addition to more muscular rules simply banning the most abusive practices, like the Oregon state Right to Repair bill, which bans the "parts pairing" that makes repairing a Fisker car so onerous:

https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/27/24097042/right-to-repair-law-oregon-sb1596-parts-pairing-tina-kotek-signed

Or the Illinois state biometric privacy law, which strictly limits the use of the kind of genomic data that 23andme collected:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3004

Failing to take action on these abusive practices is dangerous – and not just to the people who get burned by them. Every time a genomics research project turns into a privacy nightmare, that salts the earth for future medical research, making it much harder to conduct population-scale research, which can be carried out in privacy-preserving ways, and which pays huge scientific dividends that we all benefit from:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/01/the-palantir-will-see-you-now/#public-private-partnership

Just as Fisker's outrageous ripoff will make life harder for good cleantech companies:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/26/unplanned-obsolescence/#better-micetraps

If people are convinced that new, climate-friendly tech is a cesspool of grift and extraction, it will punish those firms that are making routine, breathtaking, exciting (and extremely vital) breakthroughs:

https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/10/08/norways-national-football-stadium-has-the-worlds-largest-vertical-solar-roof-how-does-it-w

Tor Books as just published two new, free LITTLE BROTHER stories: VIGILANT, about creepy surveillance in distance education; and SPILL, about oil pipelines and indigenous landback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/10/10/software-based-car/#based

[octopodeez]

ASL Band AU

Luffy on drums OBVIOUSLY 😮‍💨 king likes to make NOISE!!!

Ace on guitar and backup vocals. There are a few songs he takes over as lead vocals

Sabo as the bassist and lead singer. He also writes 90% of the lyrics. As a kid, Sabo’s parents wanted him versed in the arts, so he can play a million instruments + is a classically trained vocalist. He also has perfect pitch and a vocal range that will make your jaw drop

Band name is “The ASL Brothers” (If anyone says it’s a stupid name, Ace is the first to throttle them while yelling that it worked just fine for the Jonas Brothers)

Pop punk because I said so (and also they love pizza and their friends and they hate their town)

They lean a little more towards punk tho especially with how political/anti-establishment Sabo’s lyrics tend to be + they like being LOUD!!!!

It’s just sort of a fun hobby for them except surprise they end up getting a pretty big local following???

Nami declares herself manager, gets Usopp to design some cool merch, bullies Sanji and Zoro into being Merch Girls™️

Luffy doesn’t contribute too much to songwriting sessions, however occasionally he randomly comes up with a lyric that’s so profound it knocks Ace and Sabo on their asses

Songs are a mix of silly and fun while also detailing how they plan to dismantle the government and end capitalism forever

They share a cup of sake before each show :)

Luffy has accidentally whipped Sabo and Ace in the back of the heads w drumsticks while trying to do a cool flip multiple times

Nobody has ever seen Ace with a shirt on before and they’re p sure those cargo shorts are the only article of clothing he owns. Meanwhile Sabo is DRENCHED in sweat by the end of every show bc he wears so many damn layers

Monthly standing gig at Shakky’s Rip-off Bar. If Victoria Punk is playing the same night then usually a fight breaks out

Law, the broke med student just trying to pay off his student loans by bartending on weekends always ends up breaking up the fight (he tolerates it bc the pay is good and sometimes he gets to practice doing stitches) also Law usually gets pulled into said fight

They wanna invest in pyrotechnics so bad but Nami said no :(

Franky makes Ace a guitar that shoots fire and they’re all shocked when they almost burn their garage down

[genericpuff]

re: your tags on the rowling / musk post, specifically villains on saturday morning cartoons > wondering why we hate those who emulate it

idk if you ever played toontown, but i’ll always find it hilarious that disney released a game all about fighting big corporations from taking over small businesses, where the enemies (aka cogs (in the machine)) are all named after idioms / insults for types of corp employees (i.e. pencil pusher, ambulance chaser, big wig, loan shark, cold caller); esp considering disney is the Perfect example of the types of corporations that the game teaches you are evil and soulless. honestly, it’s a game i hold near and dear to my heart, and i recommend trying out toontown rewritten if you ever feel like it

i have NOT played toontown but i remember seeing the commercials for it all the time at like, the end of DVD's n junk and REALLY WANTING TO PLAY IT but ofc we didn't have a computer most of the time growing up and when we did it was hooked up with dial-up that my parents always got really clutchy over (idk if this was just a circumstance of the time period but like. did anyone else have a parent who acted like it was a life-or-death scenario if they missed even a single phone call ??? because my folks definitely did LOL) so something like toontown was just not in the cards LOL but I didn't know Toontown Rewritten was a thing so... maybe it's time for me to make another one of my childhood self's dreams come true (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ♡

but that is really ironic, it's wild (and sad honestly) how so many accomplished writers and creators can become disconnected from what they originally represented and wrote about through... the disillusionment of fame and wealth i guess ??? or maybe it was just mold on the walls the whole time ?? 💀😆 i mean shit even rowling herself told a story about a boy literally living in the closet who finally escaped and went on to fight against an organization of literal fucking wizard nazi's, and yet now she seemingly missed the entire point of why kids resonated with her books so much and why they saw it as an inspiring message of hope and acceptance and love and persevering and standing up against literal fucking fascism ??? hello ???

actually there was a great video i watched a while ago about how despite the messages we took away from those books growing up, the HP books were also completely manufactured through the lens of capitalism, like not just as a franchise but on a narrative level. def give it a watch because it really kinda blew my mind and opened up a whole new perspective on the series for me LOL

[skyeslittlecorner]

Reminiscent of old times | Young Kings, Gusion

I should write some introduction, but I don't have much to add. Just little children who deserve the world, but the world already chose to give them pain.

~1200 words

꧁:･ ✡ ･:꧂

The room was small, cameral, more like an office. The fate of nations is most often played out in such rooms. Subjects reporting, kings giving orders. Choices and decisions. Reports, laws, official letters. Power, the shackles of power, when you have to send your loved ones to death and watch them suffer because you are the most important pawn in this game.

The four boys sit on the floor. Leviathan moved away disapprovingly, and Mammon watched with interest as Beelzebub tried to command the cockroach to enter Satan's nose as he fell asleep. They had no idea what dark thoughts were going through their teacher's head.

Gusion looked at their homework and sighed. Those math problems weren't difficult. At least the initial were not, because it was exactly what they were learning now. It is true that when he prepared homework in the middle of the night, Guison was so tired that he added the last two tasks from a topic they had not studied. They didn't know how to solve it... but what he got back was at least interesting.

“Oh, Gusion is alive. Get up." Beel elbowed Satan in the chest.

The boy shuddered and looked around unconsciously. He squinted to see what was crawling on his nose, and screamed when it turned out to be a cockroach. Beel cackled loudly, and Mammon gently removed the bug and placed it on his shoulder.

“Now you will be mine.”

“You're acting like brats.” Leviathan separated Beel from Satan, who tried to jump at his throat. “Calm down, I want to get this over with.”

“Leeeviii, he's an idiot!”

“You fit together.”

At that moment, they looked like ordinary children. They had fun, argued and laughed, unaware of what fate would bring them. If it weren't for the powerful aura that emanated from each of them, with their fluffy cheeks and undergrown horns, they could have been running around the streets of the capital with sticks, having fun with other kids.

Gusion finally woke up and spoke in a calm voice.

“I checked your homework.”

Of course, it didn't help. This time the focus was again on the cockroach and the deep discussion of how to dip its little legs into the golden river. Only when Gusion slammed his fist on the desk did four pairs of eyes turn to him.

“Leviathan. You did great, everything was resolved perfectly. I didn't expect any of you would do so well.”

Gusion handed him a paper with the only red color marking a perfect score. There was not a single pencil smudge or additional calculations. Only correct results. The boy smiled to himself, as he was sure that it couldn't be otherwise.

“I didn't teach you this, how did you know how to solve it?”

“There was a textbook in the library. Unlike them, I know what books are for.”

In fact, Gusion recently couldn't find his textbook from which he took the assignments. But how did it appear in the library? Gusion hadn't visited this place for several weeks. Without much thought, he pulled out another piece of paper, maybe not as elegantly written as the previous one, but still in good condition.

“Mammon. All the problems are fine up to the point where there was subtraction or division... I understand that you may have read it incorrectly. In one. But everywhere?”

The boy looked at it with interest, but without much concern.

“I read it well.”

“So what's the problem?”

“Why should I reduce numbers when I can accumulate them?”

Inhale. Exhale. That's not what math is about. Still patiently, Gusion rubbed his forehead.

“Sometimes you have to subtract something to gain more... A bit like a loan. You give something to someone for safekeeping so you can pick up more later.”

“But it's still mine?”

"Yes. It's yours. Someone else is just taking care of it for the time being.”

It's true that Gusion didn't know who would take care of delta for him, but what mattered was that Mammon understood. Gusion had long since stopped explaining equations to Mammon in anything other than money terms. Not because he was stupid. He understood very quickly. If he wanted to. And usually he only wanted something when it belonged to him. Him and Beel were the only ones who didn't question the fact that a certain devil bought thirty watermelons.

“Beelzebub…”

The boy returned the paper a day ago, which was so scribbled that you could barely see the whiteness of the page, let alone the answer. When he get it back, this time marked red by Gusion, there was no trace of the white at all.

“Do I even have to comment on this? Once you get something right, it is related to subtraction, just unlike Mammon. Why?"

“Because if I eat something, it won't be there.”

This time Gusion didn't even try to comment. Beel pursed his lips and decided to defend himself.

“I even borrowed a textbook to learn! But it was terribly boring. I think I left it somewhere.”

So that's how it ended up in the library.

“Okay… Sit down. Satan. You're the last one left.”

The first problems looked good. In fact, the beginning looked the most normal compared to the rest of the boys, the further and more difficult the tasks, the more small mistakes. It only got weird towards the end. The paper was concave from the force of what the boy was writing, and instead of an answer there was a puncture with a pen. Satan was the avatar of wrath. Gusion understood this, the boy got irritated when he failed. And then it got weird, because the last two problems were solved so perfectly and cleanly, as if Leviahan had solved them.

“Will you explain to me what happened?”

“Oh.” Satan smiled broadly and turned to Leviathan. "You were right!"

“Of course I was.”

Gusion felt a twinge of pride. Were they studying together? That's better than he expected.

“Right about what?”

“That there are correct answers at the back of the textbook.”

…and whatever hope there was in Gusion just died.

“Hey! There were answers there and you didn't tell me?”

“No, and I will never tell you because you tried to put a cockroach up my nose!”

Mammon, on the other hand, was nodding in admiration.

“Very efficient use of resources.”

“Everyone get out of my sight.”

They didn't need to be told twice. When the group had already flown out of his office, Gusion went to the window, where he soon saw all four of them in the palace courtyard. Whatever mischief they had planned, they looked carefree. Happily. Young kings who will soon carry the weight of the entire Hell on their shoulders. With power comes responsibilities, and with responsibilities comes suffering. They were young, but each of them had already experienced loss. Learning, fun, friendship. An overlay to the painful everyday life that will soon await them. He might be annoyed that they didn't always take their lessons seriously, but he couldn't stay mad at them for long. In a few years, along with the crowns will come responsibilities. He could only let them taste the remnants of childhood they had left.

[literary-illuminati]

Book Review 56 – Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone

I consider myself a pretty big fan of Gladstone’s, but until now I’d only ever touched his standalone works – I was previously a bit put off by the length of the Craft Sequence and so never actually tried it. So, thank you to the people who recommended I give it a try anyway! Despite being the first in a series, Three Parts Dead is a perfectly fine self-contained story and not relying on you reading the sequels to finish anything important. While it’s not the best thing of Gladstone’s I’ve read (Last Exit my beloved), it’s not the worst, either.

The book takes place in an industrial fantasy setting about a generation out from the apocalyptic, centuries-long war between the old gods and the ‘deathless kings’ – human sorcerers who had learned to master magic such that they could face them and tear the world apart in the crossfire. Tara, the hero, graduated from basically-Hogwarts entirely because there’s a binding preventing the school from doing bodily harm to its students – the next second they literally threw her out a window at 10,000 feet. The story follows her as she’s hired as a junior associate helping a world-famous lawyer/archmage as she’s hired by the church of Kas Everburning to investigate the sudden and mysterious death of their god. What follows are several hundred pages of convoluted scheming, legal proceedings, forensic accounting, and bloody magical duels and assassinations.

There are a few twists I genuinely didn’t see coming, the plot overall hangs together very well, and the pacing was just about perfect for the kind-of pulpy mystery/adventure story it was. Overall just a great time reading it.

That said, the setting’s probably the main thing to really sell people on this book. It’s just fun, and actually pretty damn original. The basic conceits are that a) magic is real, and b) so is capitalism. Kas Everburning is the beloved god and protector of the city, and also a highly leveraged legal entity loaning power across the globe whose death would catastrophically destabilize the global financial/metaphysical/political system. Mages can fly and raise zombies and enscroll people, but it’s all done in the idiom and with the vocabulary of contract law.

Beyond the basic conceit, Gladstone just clearly delights in layering weirdness on weirdness. Vitally, he does actually have a bit of restraint with the exposition – the book’s full of off-hand comments about different places and institutions that make you (me, anyway) incredibly curious about what the hell their deal is, but the actual explanations are restricted to what’s actually relevant to the plot and what the characters actually need to know. I still really want to know what’s up with King Clock or the Iskari or a half dozen other things, though. So, top-tier worldbuilding.

The themes are not exactly subtle, but I very appreciate that Gladstone lets them mostly remain as worldbuilding subtext and manages to make them feel like they emerge very naturally. I appreciate the slight restraint it takes to let the reader draw their own conclusions about the fact that the city’s police force is so empowered by strength and lack of need for doubt when on the clock that it’s literally addictive, or that one of the main antagonists is a brilliant older academic whose masterwork is a system where his star pupils (including a disproportionate number of attractive young women) are magically networked together to achieve incredible results he can take credit for while their lives and personalities are drained away to nothing. Being able to literalize the subtext a bit is half the fun of secondary wrld fantasy, after all.

Anyway, yes, very fun read. Four stars.

[hobie-enthusiast]

this post is more serious than my others and talks about the current strike, as well as why people should stop complaining about BTSV most likely being delayed (+ help links for the strikes at the end)

lets start with the first and obvious point on why you should stop complaining;

WRITERS AND ACTORS ARE ON STRIKE

what does this mean? it means that actors and writers apart of their respective unions (WGA - SAG-AFTRA) are halting all production and promotions of their movies to strike for fair living wages. they have been underpaid for far too long, and deserve to make a livable wage.

why is this important? because they are not being paid the fair wages that they deserve. a TON of company CEOS are making 400 TIMES what their lowest paid worker makes. That isn’t acceptable and this strike is exactly what hollywood needs. its a wakeup call. capitalism greed has ruined hollywood.

the amount of times ive seen “oh no (insert movie) is getting delayed why did they have to go on strike :(“ is fucking ridiculous. you should instead point your blame and anger towards these major production companies who are screwing over their workers.

another point;

both ITSV and ATSV were very thought out movies. they took years of production and and animation work, as well as research and tests to try and perfect the movie. and they did! both movies are easily the top animated movies of our time. so, to get the same product for BTSV, they need time.

if they speed production after the strike to get this movie done, it’s going to suck. im sorry but its true. true art and craft takes time and energy. it takes effort and thought from the entire crew. it takes a whole team to bring it together. rushing to make the deadline would not work in anyone’s favour.

my next point;

it has been said by va’s and animators that no work for the next movie besides whatever they explored before it was split is done. absolutely nothing. sure, they have a plot idea. they absolutely have an ending in mind, a plot too. thats why it was split.

but like previously stated, animation work takes time. its such an incredible art and process that is time consuming. putting pressure on anyone to finish it will only result in a poor movie.

i love both movies, so incredibly much, and i truly cannot wait for BTSV. but i would rather wait the same 5 years between the first two between these ones if it means we get something even better than ATSV.

i stand with the writers and actors. im willing to wait for the next movie. im willing to support the movies and production team for their hard work when they take their time and push the release date back.

and you should too.

below are links to support the strikes and those who are not being paid fairly. please take time to sign and donate if u can. it’s important.

— https://secure2.convio.net/afa/site/Donation2?df_id=8117&8117.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T - donation fund for actors currently on strike

— https://entertainmentcommunity.org/how-get-help-and-give-help-during-work-stoppage - information on how to help and support SAG - AFTRA

— https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/stand-with-us - pledge your support for SAG - AFTRA

— https://www.wgacontract2023.org/take-action/stand-with-writers - pledge your support with WGA

— https://www.wgacontract2023.org/take-action/social-media-toolkit - strike toolkit on how to help and support WGA

— https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/social-toolkit - strike toolkit on how to help and support SAG - AFTRA

— https://www.wga.org/members/finances/good-welfare-emergency-assistance-loans - emergency fund for WGA writers

any support and boost on this post is always appreciated. make sure people know how to help.

[kimosims]

After the whirlwind of their first days in Brindleton Bay, life at the Darlington Residence slowly began to settle. The newlyweds indulged in an extended honeymoon phase, enjoying their time in the new town without worrying about the life they'd left behind—or the large and looming responsibility ahead. The sizable bank loan they had taken out to purchase their beautiful seaside home was conveniently ignored by the pair, lost in the romantic adventures of tender days and warm, passionate nights.

However, the peace and tranquility didn’t last long. It wasn’t long before word of the new family’s arrival spread through the neighborhood, and the town’s more prestigious residents were eager to uncover the reasons that had brought such an enigmatic couple to their small coastal haven.

Their first visitor, Georgina Griffith, arrived under the guise of curiosity, but quickly became enchanted by Florence’s refreshing kindness. The two women formed an instant connection. Florence had never had friends in her former life, let alone someone as confident and sensual as Georgina. Yet she soon found herself surprised by how much she learned from her new companion.

Back at Blythe Manor, even in its decay, there had still been a few servants to tend to the cleaning and cooking. Now, with no money for hired help, the responsibility of running the household fell on Florence—completely unprepared for the task. Georgina wasted no time in teaching her all the commoners’ tricks she had picked up over the years. She refused to elaborate on where she’d acquired such knowledge, given that she was married to an influential baron in the region, but Florence wasn’t in any position to refuse help. Grateful and eager to learn, she followed Georgina's guidance, their growing friendship proving to be a much-needed lifeline in Florence's new life.

The couple began to host frequent soirées in their charming home, where Florence would listen to Georgina indulge in her favorite pastime—talking, particularly about the lives of others—while Albert immersed himself in captivating intellectual and artistic discussions with the gentlemen of the region. These men found themselves drawn to Albert’s work, intrigued by the young and mysterious artist who had arrived fresh from a life spent in the nation’s capital, bringing with him a breath of new ideas that the sleepy coastal town desperately needed.

The conversations flowed for hours, ranging from philosophy to the latest trends in art, and their frequent visitors were soon enchanted by the increasingly impressive dinners Florence prepared. Albert couldn’t have imagined that married life would suit him so well. Of course, it had only been a few weeks, but Florence allowed him complete freedom to experiment with his art as much as his heart desired, singing softly to inspire him while he sought to refine his style. She admired him deeply, and Albert basked in the adoring gaze she directed at him. There was no pressure for him to succeed in his artistic endeavors, only love—and the warm, comforting embrace she offered him each night.

Life for Mr. and Mrs. Darlington seemed idyllic, a perfect balance of love, art, and society. That is, until the first signs began to appear for Florence.

[dreamerwithoutadirection]

Cruel Summer

All Chan-Mi wanted was an escape but when had Universe ever heard her?

Warnings: Yandere, Manipulation, Obsession, Mentions of abuse

P.S: Uffff, this took so much longer than I anticipated! Writer's block quite fast there 🥲 Anyways, it's here now! As usual, it's not proof-read I apologise!

Lord Jee was in a frenzy. An important guest was coming tomorrow to discuss the village state and welfare. But this wasn’t important because he cared about the welfare of the people. This was important because this visit meant his promotion and promotion meant money. And Jee loved money. There was no other way around it. 

“Chan Mi! Are you even listening to me?!” demanded Lord Jee making Chan-Mi flinch. Chan-Mi chose her words carefully. She did not want to aggravate her husband more than he was. His anger knew no bounds, the marks on her body was a proof of that.  “I am My Lord, I am sure Lord Kim will love the preparations..you are doing for him..”

“This will be great opportunity for us to move to the capital. We will be drowning in money..once we move there..” Lord Jee replied with a sinister smile. Chan-Mi could only hope this worked. She did not want to deal with another session of him taking out his anger on her. She had not yet healed fully from the last one..evident in her slow movements. 

She could remember the day when her father announced her marriage to Lord Jee. They were poor with no way to repay the loan her father had taken for the crops. But when the crops failed and Lord Jee took a liking to her..her father could not refuse. The money was great and would help them survive the harsh winter. Even if it meant sacrificing his eldest daughter. Chani-Mi was 25 now and had long lost contact with her family following her marriage. Lord Jee did not allow her to leave the house often. Chan-Mi could count the handful of the times she got to see the outside world. She longed to escape from here.

The change was coming and it would be something Chan-Mi would have never guessed. 

 *-------*--------*

“I heard you are going tomorrow to the country side, hyung” Jimin asked as he brandished his sword at Namjoon.

Namjoon swung his sword back at Jimin at full pace while grumbling “Yeah, well..King’s orders. Some Lord Jee is making trouble in the country side..God these low lifes can’t just live their lives in peace, can they?”

Jimin snickered, “Hyung, who doesn’t like money? And well if he makes too much noise, killing a small town Lord wouldn’t be that much of an issue for a skilled warrior as you.” Jimin raised his hands in defeat when he felt Namjoon’s sword at his neck. Sigh.

Namjoon smirked. He is a skilled warrior, he knew that, heck everyone knew that. But he hated these visits. These country Lords always tried to act sweet like honey to gain favour and Namjoon loathed people who honeycombed their words. He was a direct man with few words and sharp eyes. Nothing escaped them. 

“Sheeshh, you need to work on your skills more..be more quick on your feet, Jimin” Namjoon advised as he helped Jimin get back up. 

“Yeah..yeah” Jimin moaned in pain. The fall was rough. “And you need to be more gentle with me, hyung!” He complained. Namjoon laughed. The fight was good. He felt energised. “Let’s meet get refreshed, we also need to discuss our strategy for the capital protection”

 *-------*--------*

Chan-Mi felt stressed as she ran up and down the house to check everything was perfect. Lord Jee was getting on her nerves with constant questioning of how things were coming along. By now she was drenched in sweat with beads sticking to her forehead. 

“My Lady, I think you should take a break..um..the guest does not arrive until the evening..and it’s only morning right now..” Chan-Mi’s personal maid Jiya murmured. 

“I will in a while..I just need to instruct the chef’s about the menu for tonight, and then make sure the guest room is ready and then arrange for the entertainers tonight and then-” 

Jiya sighed looking at the young agassi's haggard look. Jiya knew she had the look of pity for Chan-Mi, but who wouldn’t? Poor girl had left one hell to enter another hell. Perhaps even worse than before. Life was truly unfair to some people. 

“As you see fit, My Lady” Jiya resigned. 

Chan-Mi could feel the sympathy in Jiya’s eyes. And it made her skin crawl. She detested being pitied. She knew her circumstances weren’t ideal with an abusive husband and limited freedom but that didn’t mean she wanted to be pitied. However, Chan-Mi had a plan to escape her hell. Unknown to all, Chan-Mi had been poisoning Lord Jee slowly since the past year. It gave her immense thrill to him losing his strength slowly without him even realising it. It was sick of her, she knew, but she couldn’t help this darkness growing inside her. It wouldn’t be long before I gain my freedom..it’s a matter of time. Just thinking about it gave her hope.

Chan-Mi had a serene smile when she replied, “Let’s get back to work.”

 *-------*--------*

Namjoon felt bored. It was hot and dry. How far was this godforsaken place? Ugh. It took him another hour before he reached Jee’s home. It was decorated beautifully he thought. But the heat here was unpleasant along with the scenes he saw on street. The entire village reeked of poverty and destitution. He couldn’t wait to mess up with this Jee. Corruption was not taken lightly by the King and it was quite clear that this old fool was not using the money sent for the betterment of this village. 

“My Lord!” Jee enthusiastically advanced towards Namjoon “It is my honour to host you tonight. I cannot tell you how excited I am!”

Namjoon on the other hand wanted to smack Jee. Why so chirpy. Namjoon scoffed at the fake excitement. “Lord Jee, it’s good to see you. I have been looking forward to this visit” Namjoon  lied smoothly. The faster the talks got over, the faster he could go back. But what Namjoon saw the next second made time stop for him. A pretty, no perhaps the most beautiful girl descended down the stairs. She was small, delicate and had the most charming smile he had ever seen. It lit up the night. He felt his heart thrashing wildly against his chest with only one question running his head. Who is she? He wanted to know her better. Perhaps he will have to prolong his stay, afterall?

But her hair..they were tied. Namjoon hoped against all odds that she was not married. “My Lord, meet my wife..Chan-Mi” Lord Jee grinned. Namjoon felt a crack in his heart. Just my luck. 

Chan-Mi gasped when she looked at Namjoon. He looked divine with his muscular arms and dragon eyes. But Chan-Mi also felt she needed to stay from him. There was something in his slanted eyes that spoke of authority, wickedness and lust. And the way his eyes were looking at her, it left a chill down her spine. I definitely needed to maintain distance from him. Even if it’s just tonight. 

“My Lord, hope you have wonderful stay at our home” Chan-Mi murmured while bowing down. Namjoon on the other hand could not stop staring at her. Everything about Chan-Mi was calling to him..to make her his. We would look so good together. Namjoon could already picture them together. But she was married. Not for long.

“Let’s get going Lord Jee? We have a lot of things to go over.” Namjoon grinned, his set at Chan-Mi. 

 *-------*--------*

Namjoon spent the better half of the evening observing Chan-Mi. She was mostly quiet but what her mouth couldn’t speak, her expressions did. All she felt was visible on her face. Namjoon knew that she could feel his eyes on her even when he was interacting with Jee. But she pretended to be oblivious which was adorable. 

As the night progressed and Jee started getting drunk, Chan-Mi became more relaxed. And Namjoon more aggressive with his approach in talking to her. 

“How did you two get married? I cannot fathom such a beautiful lady as you married to such a vile man.” curious Namjoon asked.

Chan-Mi choked on her food as she looked at Namjoon who was looking at her with an expression she could not decipher. “Uh..that’s quite a personal question, My Lord,” Chan-Mi hesitated, “One, I am not comfortable speaking.” 

Namjoon smiled for the first time that night. His interest spiked even more. Not only was she composed but also had a spite in her voice, just as he had guessed. This is going to be interesting. 

“You are not of noble birth, are you?” Namjoon asked raising his eyebrows. Chan-Mi blushed, then frowned and finally glared at him. Namjoon felt exhilarated from her reaction. So, she wasn’t. He was correct. 

“What made you marry him?” he provoked further. Namjoon was frankly enjoying her expressions. Like a cat and mouse game. 

Chan-Mi looked back at Namjoon with wide eyes before standing up suddenly “My Lord, I understand that you are an important guest and I welcome you in my house with full respect. However, you are crossing a line here!” How dare he? Who was he to think that he could question her in her house?! Agreed she wasn’t of noble birth but she was a noble Lady now. And she would not tolerate strange man questioning her. 

“I think, it’s time that I should take my leave now. Since, my husband is here already and you are here only for tonight…I should leave you two to disc-” 

Adorable. “I am not staying just for the night My Lady” he smirked, “I am here for quite some time. You should get used to me now.” For I am your future. 

Disrespect was something, Namjoon did not tolerate well. Granted his little kitten did not know that now, but the sooner he tamed her, better it would be for her. Namjoon stoop up and began walking towards her. “What are you doing?” Chani-Mi spoke alarmingly walking backwards as he progressed when she felt the wall hit her back. Uh-oh. He watched her like a starved man. This was not good, especially when her husband laid there drunk out of this mind to register what was happening in the room. 

“What am I doing?” Namjoon asked back as he encircled her waist to reel her in. Perfect. She was the perfect size for him. “You are so small” Namjoon cooed looking down at her, “I am going to tell you this once. And you must hear me clearly, understood kitten?” 

Chan-Mi could feel her heart beating wildly. She tried squirming away without much luck. His arms were like iron around her..caging her. “I am not interested in your games.” She growled at him. 

“Enough” Namjoon tugged her hair harshly before bringing his lips to her ears and spoke “Silly kitten, I am not the one to play games, understood?” grinding himself against her. Chan-Mi felt scared for the first time that evening. This was not how it was supposed to go. 

“You are going to confess to his crimes tomorrow..and once that’s done both you and him are going to be jailed for trial” Namjoon trailed his fingers from her hair to her breast, rolling her nipple between his fingers. Even her breast were of perfect size for his hands. He couldn’t wait to have her under him. “But I have taken a liking to you, my kitten..so, I am going to save you under one condition..be mine.”

If possible his touch became more aggressive and his dragon eyes more dark. His obsession flowing from them. Namjoon knew what he felt was beyond love. But he couldn’t stop himself. He had to make her his..his little kitten. 

“You have the whole night to think it over but be assured kitten even if you say no…I am going to take you back with me..” Namjoon looked into her eyes for a good measure, “the only difference is, if you say yes you will not be punished by me. Clear?” 

Change had come truly, just not the one Chan-Mi wished. Cruel Summer indeed. 

Taglist: @whipwhoops

[monsterkong]

Unlocking Real Estate Deals in December 🎄📊

Winter may seem like an odd time to buy real estate, but savvy buyers know it’s the season for major savings. 🌨️ While others are focused on holiday parties and shopping sprees, you could be securing your dream home for less. Let’s dive into why December is a goldmine for real estate deals.

Motivated Sellers: Your Key to Savings

Houses on the market during the holidays often belong to motivated sellers. 🎅 Whether it’s due to job relocations, financial pressure, or simply wanting to wrap up before year-end, these sellers are ready to deal. This means fewer bidding wars and more opportunities to negotiate price reductions or seller credits.

Case Study: The Sacramento Win

Let me share a real-life example that underscores winter’s potential. A home in Sacramento started at $745,000. After two price drops, my client purchased it for $615,000—an incredible $130,000 reduction. But the cherry on top? $155,000 in seller credits, which bought down their interest rate and reduced monthly payments significantly. 🤯

Deals like this are rare in spring or summer, when sellers are confident and buyers are plentiful.

Seller Credits: The Hidden Advantage

Why aim solely for price cuts when you can negotiate seller credits? 💵 These credits can cover closing costs, reduce your loan principal, or buy down your interest rate. It’s like finding an extra gift under the tree! 🎄

For instance, if you’re eyeing a $600,000 home, asking for $15,000 in credits can save you more than simply lowering the purchase price to $585,000. With the right mortgage strategy, you can create a win-win situation.

Don’t Wait for Lower Rates

It’s tempting to delay buying in hopes of lower interest rates. But consider this: when rates drop, competition increases. More buyers enter the market, driving up home prices and reducing your negotiating power. 🔄 By acting now, you can capitalize on today’s favorable conditions.

Preparation Is Everything

Don’t let a lack of preparation cost you a deal. Pre-approval ensures you’re ready to act when you find the perfect property. 🛠️ Start gathering your financial documents and work with a trusted mortgage broker. Need help? Visit GreatMortgageBroker.com to connect with experts who can guide you through the process. 🌟

Winter Wisdom for Buyers

If you’re willing to shop for homes in December, you could score deals that others miss. Sellers listing between Thanksgiving and Christmas are often eager to close. Their motivation, combined with fewer competing buyers, creates a perfect storm for savings. 💨

Final Words: Take the Leap

Winter is where real estate dreams come true—for those bold enough to act. Start your journey today, and let the season of giving bring you the home of your dreams. 🏠✨

[persephinae]

Some post: well EYE find MY job very fulfilling. Just because I was able to go to college, find the perfect job in a country that supports pursuits that aren't business or tech related, and my country isn't, you know, a capitalistic dystopia - doesn't mean that capitalism is wrong! I think everyone should work and if you don't think that then there's something wrong with you uwuwuwuwu

Me: I think people who aren't American, who have government supported healthcare, college, and have the ability to support themselves with degrees that are considered worthless by American ruling class should just not talk over Americans when they are literally dying from being worked to death in drudgery and having no support system

Same with Americans who have a support system (ie: ~money~) to pursue their passions

You really need to understand that there IS a class system at work in America, and the upper class HATES poor people with the passion of ten thousand suns, more so if you're not white

"You should just find another job if you're not fulfilled"

I need you to understand that it takes time and money to leave a profession and become trained for a new job. It can be done, but some people are working 3 jobs to exist. With what time and money are they looking for a new profession?

You need to understand when you're THAT ground down by how the American jobscape, you're sick all the time and you're fucking tired and depressed.

Maybe you have family that can help you, and support you while you take this step. A lot of people don't.

College costs M O N E Y. IT COSTS MONEY IN AMERICA TO GET A DEGREE. M O N E Y.

A lot of people don't have parents that went to college and don't get that fee magically reduced. A lot of people can't see getting expensive loans for a degree that is considered WORTHLESS by most of America. If you're not pursuing tech or business (or construction) then you're fucked unless you come from money and know people in the business. They CAN'T take that risk of failure and then paying back all that money with no fucking job.

I know people who live in poverty view those who make above 30k as "rich", BUT I ALSO REALLY NEED PEOPLE WHO MAKE WAY ABOVE 30K ("MIDDLE CLASS") TO UNDERSTAND AND GROK WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE SO FUCKING POOR THAT YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE OPTION TO ESCAPE

THAT'S WHY CAPITALISM SUCKS FUCKING ASS

WE ARE NOT FREE UNTIL WE ARE ALL FREE

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Leveraged buyouts are not like mortgages

I'm coming to DEFCON! On FRIDAY (Aug 9), I'm emceeing the EFF POKER TOURNAMENT (noon at the Horseshoe Poker Room), and appearing on the BRICKED AND ABANDONED panel (5PM, LVCC - L1 - HW1–11–01). On SATURDAY (Aug 10), I'm giving a keynote called "DISENSHITTIFY OR DIE! How hackers can seize the means of computation and build a new, good internet that is hardened against our asshole bosses' insatiable horniness for enshittification" (noon, LVCC - L1 - HW1–11–01).

Here's an open secret: the confusing jargon of finance is not the product of some inherent complexity that requires a whole new vocabulary. Rather, finance-talk is all obfuscation, because if we called finance tactics by their plain-language names, it would be obvious that the sector exists to defraud the public and loot the real economy.

Take "leveraged buyout," a polite name for stealing a whole goddamned company:

Identify a company that owns valuable assets that are required for its continued operation, such as the real-estate occupied by its outlets, or even its lines of credit with suppliers;

Approach lenders (usually banks) and ask for money to buy the company, offering the company itself (which you don't own!) as collateral on the loan;

Offer some of those loaned funds to shareholders of the company and convince a key block of those shareholders (for example, executives with large stock grants, or speculators who've acquired large positions in the company, or people who've inherited shares from early investors but are disengaged from the operation of the firm) to demand that the company be sold to the looters;

Call a vote on selling the company at the promised price, counting on the fact that many investors will not participate in that vote (for example, the big index funds like Vanguard almost never vote on motions like this), which means that a minority of shareholders can force the sale;

Once you own the company, start to strip-mine its assets: sell its real-estate, start stiffing suppliers, fire masses of workers, all in the name of "repaying the debts" that you took on to buy the company.

This process has its own euphemistic jargon, for example, "rightsizing" for layoffs, or "introducing efficiencies" for stiffing suppliers or selling key assets and leasing them back. The looters – usually organized as private equity funds or hedge funds – will extract all the liquid capital – and give it to themselves as a "special dividend." Increasingly, there's also a "divi recap," which is a euphemism for borrowing even more money backed by the company's assets and then handing it to the private equity fund:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/09/17/divi-recaps/#graebers-ghost

If you're a Sopranos fan, this will all sound familiar, because when the (comparatively honest) mafia does this to a business, it's called a "bust-out":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bust_Out

The mafia destroys businesses on a onesy-twosey, retail scale; but private equity and hedge funds do their plunder wholesale.

It's how they killed Red Lobster:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/23/spineless/#invertebrates

And it's what they did to hospitals:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/28/5000-bats/#charnel-house

It's what happened to nursing homes, Armark, private prisons, funeral homes, pet groomers, nursing homes, Toys R Us, The Olive Garden and Pet Smart:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/02/plunderers/#farben

It's what happened to the housing co-ops of Cooper Village, Texas energy giant TXU, Old Country Buffet, Harrah's and Caesar's:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/14/billionaire-class-solidarity/#club-deals

And it's what's slated to happen to 2.9m Boomer-owned US businesses employing 32m people, whose owners are nearing retirement:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/16/schumpeterian-terrorism/#deliberately-broken

Now, you can't demolish that much of the US productive economy without attracting some negative attention, so the looter spin-machine has perfected some talking points to hand-wave away the criticism that borrowing money using something you don't own as collateral in order to buy it and wreck it is obviously a dishonest (and potentially criminal) destructive practice.

The most common one is that borrowing money against an asset you don't own is just like getting a mortgage. This is such a badly flawed analogy that it is really a testament to the efficacy of the baffle-em-with-bullshit gambit to convince us all that we're too stupid to understand how finance works.

Sure: if I put an offer on your house, I will go to my credit union and ask the for a mortgage that uses your house as collateral. But the difference here is that you own your house, and the only way I can buy it – the only way I can actually get that mortgage – is if you agree to sell it to me.

Owner-occupied homes typically have uncomplicated ownership structures. Typically, they're owned by an individual or a couple. Sometimes they're the property of an estate that's divided up among multiple heirs, whose relationship is mediated by a will and a probate court. Title can be contested through a divorce, where disputes are settled by a divorce court. At the outer edge of complexity, you get things like polycules or lifelong roommates who've formed an LLC s they can own a house among several parties, but the LLC will have bylaws, and typically all those co-owners will be fully engaged in any sale process.

Leveraged buyouts don't target companies with simple ownership structures. They depend on firms whose equity is split among many parties, some of whom will be utterly disengaged from the firm's daily operations – say, the kids of an early employee who got a big stock grant but left before the company grew up. The looter needs to convince a few of these "owners" to force a vote on the acquisition, and then rely on the idea that many of the other shareholders will simply abstain from a vote. Asset managers are ubiquitous absentee owners who own large stakes in literally every major firm in the economy. The big funds – Vanguard, Blackrock, State Street – "buy the whole market" (a big share in every top-capitalized firm on a given stock exchange) and then seek to deliver returns equal to the overall performance of the market. If the market goes up by 5%, the index funds need to grow by 5%. If the market goes down by 5%, then so do those funds. The managers of those funds are trying to match the performance of the market, not improve on it (by voting on corporate governance decisions, say), or to beat it (by only buying stocks of companies they judge to be good bets):

https://pluralistic.net/2022/03/17/shareholder-socialism/#asset-manager-capitalism

Your family home is nothing like one of these companies. It doesn't have a bunch of minority shareholders who can force a vote, or a large block of disengaged "owners" who won't show up when that vote is called. There isn't a class of senior managers – Chief Kitchen Officer! – who have been granted large blocks of options that let them have a say in whether you will become homeless.

Now, there are homes that fit this description, and they're a fucking disaster. These are the "heirs property" homes, generally owned by the Black descendants of enslaved people who were given the proverbial 40 acres and a mule. Many prosperous majority Black settlements in the American South are composed of these kinds of lots.

Given the historical context – illiterate ex-slaves getting property as reparations or as reward for fighting with the Union Army – the titles for these lands are often muddy, with informal transfers from parents to kids sorted out with handshakes and not memorialized by hiring lawyers to update the deeds. This has created an irresistible opportunity for a certain kind of scammer, who will pull the deeds, hire genealogists to map the family trees of the original owners, and locate distant descendants with homeopathically small claims on the property. These descendants don't even know they own these claims, don't even know about these ancestors, and when they're offered a few thousand bucks for their claim, they naturally take it.

Now, armed with a claim on the property, the heirs property scammers force an auction of it, keeping the process under wraps until the last instant. If they're really lucky, they're the only bidder and they can buy the entire property for pennies on the dollar and then evict the family that has lived on it since Reconstruction. Sometimes, the family will get wind of the scam and show up to bid against the scammer, but the scammer has deep capital reserves and can easily win the auction, with the same result:

https://www.propublica.org/series/dispossessed

A similar outrage has been playing out for years in Hawai'i, where indigenous familial claims on ancestral lands have been diffused through descendants who don't even know they're co-owner of a place where their distant cousins have lived since pre-colonial times. These descendants are offered small sums to part with their stakes, which allows the speculator to force a sale and kick the indigenous Hawai'ians off their family lands so they can be turned into condos or hotels. Mark Zuckerberg used this "quiet title and partition" scam to dispossess hundreds of Hawai'ian families:

https://archive.is/g1YZ4

Heirs property and quiet title and partition are a much better analogy to a leveraged buyout than a mortgage is, because they're ways of stealing something valuable from people who depend on it and maintain it, and smashing it and selling it off.

Strip away all the jargon, and private equity is just another scam, albeit one with pretensions to respectability. Its practitioners are ripoff artists. You know the notorious "carried interest loophole" that politicians periodically discover and decry? "Carried interest" has nothing to do with the interest on a loan. The "carried interest" rule dates back to 16th century sea-captains, and it refers to the "interest" they had in the cargo they "carried":

https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/29/writers-must-be-paid/#carried-interest

Private equity managers are like sea captains in exactly the same way that leveraged buyouts are like mortgages: not at all.

And it's not like private equity is good to its investors: scams like "continuation funds" allow PE looters to steal all the money they made from strip mining valuable companies, so they show no profits on paper when it comes time to pay their investors:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/20/continuation-fraud/#buyout-groups

Those investors are just as bamboozled as we are, which is why they keep giving more money to PE funds. Today, the "dry powder" (uninvested money) that PE holds has reached an all-time record high of $2.62 trillion – money from pension funds and rich people and sovereign wealth funds, stockpiled in anticipation of buying and destroying even more profitable, productive, useful businesses:

https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/2di1vzgjcmzovkcea8f0g/portfolio/private-equitys-dry-powder-mountain-reaches-record-height

The practices of PE are crooked as hell, and it's only the fact that they use euphemisms and deceptive analogies to home mortgages that keeps them from being shut down. The more we strip away the bullshit, the faster we'll be able to kill this cancer, and the more of the real economy we'll be able to preserve.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/08/05/rugged-individuals/#misleading-by-analogy

[biz2loanfinance]

Which Loan is Better for Starting a Small Business

Starting a small business can be both exciting and challenging. One of the most crucial steps in launching your business is securing the right type of funding. Various loan options are available, but which one is the best for you? Here’s a breakdown of the top loan types to help you make an informed decision.

1. SBA (Small Business Administration) Loans

SBA loans are government-backed loans designed to assist small businesses. They typically offer lower interest rates and longer repayment terms than traditional loans, making them an excellent option for new business owners. However, SBA loans can be more difficult to qualify for, and the approval process may take longer.

Best For: Businesses with good credit and a solid business plan.

2. Business Line of Credit

A business line of credit gives you flexibility. Instead of receiving a lump sum, you can borrow as needed up to a pre-approved limit. You only pay interest on the amount you use, making this a great option for managing cash flow and unexpected expenses.

Best For: Businesses that need ongoing access to capital.

3. Equipment Financing

If your business requires expensive equipment to get started, equipment financing might be the right choice. This type of loan allows you to borrow money specifically for purchasing equipment, with the equipment itself often serving as collateral.

Best For: Businesses that rely heavily on equipment, such as manufacturing or construction.

4. Merchant Cash Advance (MCA)

A Merchant Cash Advance provides a lump sum in exchange for a percentage of your future credit card sales. While it’s quick to access, this option typically comes with higher fees and shorter repayment terms.

Best For: Businesses with consistent credit card sales but low credit scores.

5. Working Capital Loans

A working capital loan is designed to finance the daily operations of your business. This loan can be used for things like payroll, rent, and utilities. It’s typically short-term and is perfect for businesses that need quick cash to maintain their operations.

Best For: Covering day-to-day expenses or short-term cash flow needs.

6. Term Loans

Term loans are a straightforward option where you borrow a fixed amount and repay it over a set term, typically with a fixed interest rate. These loans can be tailored for short or long-term needs and are ideal for starting a small business that requires a specific amount of capital upfront.

Best For: Businesses needing a large, one-time capital infusion.

How to Choose the Best Loan for Your Small Business

Choosing the right loan depends on your business needs, financial situation, and long-term goals. At Biz2loan, we specialize in helping small businesses find the perfect funding solution. Whether you need a working capital loan to get started or a term loan to expand, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

[pearwaldorf]

Jesus fucking Christ. Luv 2 be scolded for seeing both sides of a situation!

Biden has certainly done a lot for people in ways that aren't necessarily acknowledged. The paid leave for the railroad workers. Infrastructure investments. And all the stuff mentioned in the thread above. He is an old school incrementalist who has used the connections he has made in the decades he's been a Washington insider to make things better, and it's true it's not entertaining or obvious.

I am also allowed to say that he has not done enough, because he hasn't. To be clear, this is not all his fault. Both parties have spent decades disinvesting in useful and important things (infrastructure, education), because that's what neoliberal capitalism does. He also helped create the student loan crisis because Delaware's economy is basically nothing but predatory financial institutions (this is an oversimplification but you can look it up).

I think it's fair to expect him to unfuck the things he fucked, at the very least. But I also think it's reasonable to expect more without being called somebody who thinks the perfect is the enemy of good.

[joemardesichcms]

Eligible Uses for SBA 504 Loans!

SBA 504 loans are primarily used for purchasing or refinancing fixed assets, which makes them perfect for:

Commercial real estate purchases – Whether a business is looking to buy a new office building, warehouse, or retail space, the SBA 504 loan can help finance the purchase with favorable terms.

Large equipment purchases – Manufacturing companies, construction firms, or businesses in other capital-intensive industries can use SBA 504 loans to finance major equipment purchases.

Renovations or improvements – Business owners can also use SBA 504 loans to improve or expand their existing properties, allowing for further growth and increased operational efficiency.

Debt Refinances or cash out refinances

Borrowers can refinance high rate or maturing debt, and can also get cash out for eligible business expenses (EBE).

Who is Eligible for an SBA 504 Loan?

To be eligible for an SBA 504 loan, a business must meet certain criteria:

It must operate as a for-profit business.

It must meet SBA size requirements (the vast majority of businesses do).

The loan must be used for qualifying purposes such as commercial real estate, equipment purchases, or improvements.

Conclusion

For loan brokers and lending professionals, the SBA 504 loan program is an excellent option to recommend to your clients, especially those looking to expand their businesses with large fixed asset purchases. The program's long-term, fixed-rate financing, low down payments, and structured partnership between the SBA, CDCs, and private lenders make it a win-win for both borrowers and lenders. If you're not already offering SBA 504 loans, now is the time to consider incorporating them into your service offerings. By doing so, you can help your clients secure the financing they need to grow while positioning yourself as a valuable and knowledgeable partner in their success.

[zeuscommercial]

Choosing the Right Commercial Real Estate Financing: Why the SBA 504 Real Estate Loan Stands Out?

Securing the right financing option for commercial real estate could be a significant aspect for business owners. Expanding your business, acquiring a new property, or investing in other assets are all processes that would warrant taking out a loan, and knowing which type of loan to take is important to ensure favorable terms and rates are secured. Of all the different loan products available, many small business owners are keen on the SBA 504 Real Estate Loan. In this blog, we will see the reasons why the SBA 504 loan is worth your consideration when it comes to commercial real estate financing.

Understanding commercial real estate financing

Commercial real estate financing refers to the funding used for buying, improving, or refinancing any income-generating asset such as an office, retail, or industrial building. Business people looking for such funding can consider several sources, such as bank loans, commercial mortgages, and government loans. All these options present their own pros and cons, making it important to select one that fits the needs of one's business.

What Is a 504 Real Estate Loan?

 In finance, it is a long-term, fixed-rate loan aimed at small businesses for purchasing capital assets, for example, real estate or expensive machinery. The difference between an SBA 504 real estate loan and an ordinary commercial loan is that the former is a tri-partite agreement between the lender, a CDC (Certified Development Company), and the borrower. Here is how it works:

1. The lender advances 50% of the project costs.

2. A non-profit counterpart, the CDC, takes 40% of that.

3. The last 10% is taken up by the borrower.

This risk-sharing approach helps in giving better terms to the small business owners, making them less risky for the lenders.

Advantages of the SBA 504 Loan for Real Estate Financing

Following are the reasons making the SBA 504 Real Estate Loan an ideal option for most people in need of commercial real estate financing:

Lower Deposit Requirement- In factor analysis, the low deposit perceived as one of the primary working capital loan merits, as in a few cases starting from 10% only required. This is advantageous to most small enterprises that want to safeguard their liquidity. Unlike commercial loans that may have more expensive down payments, the SBA 504 loan enables businesses to keep a greater portion of their funds available for other purposes.

Locked-in Interest Rates-The SBA 504 loan has locked in interest rates, which implies that the interest rate will be charged at the same rate for the duration of the loan. This provides an element of certainty that is often not present owing to the unique nature of other commercial real estate financing. This makes it easily possible to plan and budget for such activities.

Amortization Schedule- The repayment period of the SBA 504 loan is also quite long, often extending to a full 25 years on the purchase of real estate. This helps to lower the level of monthly payments; hence, it’s easier for small businesses to repay their debts. Greater repayment terms are a big plus in comparison with several direct commercial financing institutions whose repayment periods tend to be shorter.

Enabler for Investment Spending- Where a business has the need to make an investment, such as a purchase of a bigger office, a warehouse, or buying machinery, the SBA 504 loan comes in handy. It is a perfect match for advancing companies that are in serious need of buying new properties.

Why Choose Zeus Commercial Capital?

Finding the right financing can be hard, and that’s where Zeus Commercial Capital stands out. We form and manage portfolios of debt to minimize cost while enabling the financing of all commercial real estate loans. You can rely on us for professional assistance and successful realization of your plans and goals in regard to SBA 504 real estate loans.

Final Thoughts

The importance of selecting the most appropriate commercial real estate financing for the advancement and achievement of your business cannot be overstated. The majority of small businesses can opt for the SBA 504 Real Estate Loan since it has comparatively low equity requirements, fixed government rates, as well as more extended payback periods. For those seeking professional assistance with understanding the most appropriate financing options for their business, Zeus Commercial Capital is available. We will help you with relevant guidance and find the most suitable solution.

[womanlives]

JAGUAR INC.

Lazy regal cat energy this time. A canaima, specifically. Shapeshifting werejaguar borne of vengeance as inspired by Venezuelan mythos. A different exploration on “and all my devotion turns violent.” She was invoked in response to a kin-killing. Marked on Marked.

Saw Disney’s Aladdin and decided that Rajah was a great name. We roll with that, now. Upper 30s-40s appearance-wise. Older Débora Nascimento vibes. 6`0, no heels. She’s built like an Olympic swimmer.

Gold eyes. Gold, gold eyes.

‘Allegedly’ a malevolent entity, but if you’re talking to her, she’s actually pretty chill because it means she isn’t out to get you, specifically. Patience of ten saints, and then some. Very honest because she is too lazy to lie.

Spends about 75% her time as a human, 15% as a smaller version of her jaguar self (can be mistaken as a Bengal cat), and 10% of her time as a jaguar the size of a small horse. She is massive. That form is used solely for killing and cuddling.

Catnip works. All forms.

Abilities include: ambush hunting, your classic supernatural stamina + speed + strength, perfect noise mimicry, and always going in her litterbox. No enhanced regeneration. She pays for each fight dearly, so she tries to fight smart. Unsure if she’s able to truly die through physical injury. Eeeeh. Isn’t willing to risk it.

Loves bubbles!!!!

Fanatically loyal to Weaver. May or may not have participated in the evisceration of a Marked sect gone sour. Mostly likes to lounge in the sun-rays by their bedroom window, if she’s not protecting them from whatever lurks in the rifts. Has been known to trail in Crux’s shadow and will go after anyone — human, supernatural, Marked — if asked by Weaver. Or Crux.

Jaguars can’t purr but she fakes it with perfect mimicry and making her body rumble with a very low, sweet growl.

This part is a secret she keeps to herself. Supposedly when the kin-killer is dead, she will be released. It’s a gut feeling. How that translates — freedom, death — she does not know.

Rajah has been trying to get a degree in Ancient History and Classics for about six years, now. It’s slow going and often interrupted by Things™, but she perseveres. Humans are fascinating! She attends local community colleges and fully plans to get another degree when she finishes this one. Yes, she does have student loans. It’s hard finding steady non-suspect employment as a spirit of vengeance. Yes, she does hate late-stage capitalism and is interested in economics out of spite.

Chin scratches are acceptable, thank you. Tummy only for good friends. Best biscuit maker this side of the sea.