#Resurge best price

[seat-safety-switch]

There's nothing more honest than working on an old pickup truck. Unlike today's pickup trucks, old ones are basically just a chunk of steel bolted to an engine and an axle. Anything you can do to them is basically in the spirit of the original factory workers, even more so if you're drunk and/or high on things that aren't futuristic research chemicals. They hadn't invented those yet.

Now, you might also think that old pickup trucks are expensive. Sure, running and driving ones with all of their body panels have been enjoying a resurgence lately. With all the cool old luxury cars, muscle cars, shitty jeeps, and base-model commuter cars hoovered into the selfish grasp of exploitative capital, it's only a matter of time until they come for the humble, working man's pickup truck that was abandoned at the bottom of some farmer's field when the distributor finally exploded, now getting shot at periodically by his grandkids.

There's a lot of old trucks out there, because "old truck" used to mean "vehicle I grudgingly drove in order to accomplish actual work." The moment they stopped being reliable, they were gotten rid of, or relegated to chicken-coop duty. And, back in the day, there were more people who did actual work than there were folks who pushed spreadsheets around.

Supply is on your side: you can still get a deal. And if your standards are low enough, the range of "a deal" becomes very wide indeed. If you ask professional car restorers and collectors, they tell you to get the "best truck you can afford." That makes sense: if your goal is to end up with a working or at least semi-attractive truck, you'll spend less money and maybe fewer divorces starting with a 5/10 rather than a 3/10. Me, I'm not that picky. I'll take a 0.5/10. I'm all about the process.

All this is to explain why I just came home with a 1952 Mercury M100 pickup truck that consists mostly of the serial number plate and the rear axle (which is seized.) I figure I just need to sit on this thing for a few years longer, until prices really go nuts, and then I'll be able to sell it to someone whose business card says "Excel Astronaut" for the approximate price of a two-bedroom condo. And in the meantime, I'll have a cool project to work on that I don't have to worry too much about. If you help me get this chicken out of here, I'll cut you in on the deal.

[gacha-incels]

(original tweet mentions webnovels, showing boycott is not limited to webtoons) The Butterfly Effect Triggered by 'Pong Pong Man'… Naver Webtoon Finds Itself in a Difficult Situation. What Is the Breakthrough?Boycott Controversy, Decreasing User Numbers, Shareholder Lawsuits, and Labor Disputes… Naver Webtoon Plans to "Create Opportunities to Accelerate Growth."

Sports Daily reports that Naver Webtoon is facing multiple challenges. The ongoing boycott has led to a decline in user numbers, and shareholders are expected to file civil lawsuits due to poor performance. Additionally, the company is grappling with labor union disputes over "post-IPO compensation."

The Naver headquarters located in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Park Eun-sook, reporter.

published Oct 17 2024

this article is originally in Korean and has been mtl and edited into English here. it’s not going to be 1:1 but the basic info should be there, if you see any discrepancies though lmk and I’ll edit it asap. thanks everyone for your continued help and understanding. it’s a bit longer than the typical article posted here so I’ve put the relevant info regarding the DAU/sales drop here, and the additional information that has opinions, info about stock price, labor disputes and US investors under a cut. This is an article someone posted as a QRT to the first tweet above so I thought I would share it bc it’s a news source that now has archived numbers for the boycott.

The boycott movement, which seemed to have calmed down temporarily, has reignited. As of 10 a.m. on October 17, over 18,000 posts with the hashtag "Naver Webtoon Boycott" have been uploaded, pushing the topic to the top of X's (formerly Twitter) real-time trends. This resurgence was sparked by allegations that Naver Webtoon's X account mocked the boycott while promoting a particular work on the afternoon of October 16. The controversy spread rapidly across multiple online communities, although the relevant post has since been deleted.

Professor Lee Eun-hee from Inha University’s Department of Consumer Studies pointed out, "The problem is that consumers feel disrespected. Even though the boycott has continued for several days, the company has given the impression that it has not communicated properly with its customers, and even posted an advertisement that appeared mocking." She added, "Even though Naver is the top platform in the industry, such behavior could be seen as reckless and arrogant by customers, especially when competitors are closing in."

Recently, some twitter users have labeled Naver Webtoon a misogynistic company and called for a boycott. The boycott movement includes deleting the app and hashtag campaigns, with related posts being retweeted thousands or tens of thousands of times, repeatedly trending in real time. According to Mobile Index, the daily active users (DAU) among Android users have decreased by nearly 10%, from 2.2-2.3 million before the boycott to 2.0-2.1 million. There are also reports in the webtoon industry that some webtoon studios have postponed launching new works.

The work that triggered the Naver Webtoon boycott is a fantasy comic titled Isekai Pong Pong Man, which began serialization on September 4, 2024, in Naver Webtoon's "Best Challenge" section. "Pong Pong Man" is a slang term originating from male-dominated communities, referring to a capable and naive man married to a woman who had a promiscuous youth. The story, which revolves around a protagonist who loses his property and child custody to a cheating wife under "laws favoring women in Korea," and is branded as a domestic abuser before crossing over into another world, has been criticized for touching on the explosive issue of gender conflict. The fact that this work was submitted for Naver's "Greatest Contest of 2024" and passed the first round of judging without editorial screening further fueled the boycott.

Naver Webtoon's Dilemma

For Naver, the situation is a catch-22. If the company deletes a specific work while the contest is underway, backlash is expected. Additionally, it's not appropriate for the editorial team to intervene by demanding changes to the title or content of a challenge-level work rather than an official serialization. A source in the webtoon industry commented, "Given how sensitive this issue is, Naver Webtoon has no choice but to be cautious and may find it difficult to take active measures at this stage. Although many view the term 'Pong Pong Man' itself as problematic, much discussion is needed on whether it should be entirely banned in the creative realm."

Cultural researcher and writer Lee Yong-hee noted, "This is not to say that the work is without problems. However, characters can evolve through their narrative arcs, and to take down a work solely for using specific hateful expressions could lead to censorship." Ha Shin-ah, chairperson of the Webtoon Writers' Union, also remarked, "It is not wrong for readers to express their beliefs by pressuring a company through a boycott, but suppressing a creator's freedom of expression in such a way can backfire. I hope a forum will be established where readers, creators, and companies can engage in deeper discussions on ethical content guidelines."

Regarding the matter, a Naver Webtoon representative stated, "A marketing material that had been prepared before the boycott was accidentally released, causing confusion and inconvenience to consumers. We sincerely apologize for this." The representative also noted, "The work in question is currently undergoing a second review, and we are aware of the various opinions surrounding it. The contest will proceed as announced."

An advertising post uploaded by Naver Webtoon's X account. Photo provided by an X user.

Plummeting Stock Prices and U.S. Investor Lawsuits

The troubles for Naver Webtoon extend beyond the boycott. The company’s U.S. entity, Webtoon Entertainment, which serves as the headquarters, successfully went public on the New York Stock Exchange in late June this year. However, following its IPO, poor performance caused the stock price to plunge.

In the second quarter, Webtoon Entertainment's revenue reached $320.97 million, a mere 0.1% increase from the same period last year, while operating losses soared to $79.09 million, more than 14 times the previous loss. The majority of revenue comes from the Korean and Japanese markets, where weakened local currencies against the dollar significantly impacted the second-quarter results. If the currency effect is excluded, the adjusted year-over-year growth rate for the second quarter would be 11.1%.

Following the second-quarter earnings announcement, the stock price fell nearly 40% and has continued to decline. As of October 16, the stock was priced at $11.18, roughly half of the $21 IPO price. Although third-quarter results may show slight improvement due to the stabilization of the won and yen exchange rates, it is unlikely that performance and stock prices will improve sufficiently to satisfy investors in the short term.

As the stock price continues to decline, U.S. investors are moving forward with lawsuits. Since September, law firms specializing in securities litigation have been recruiting participants for a class action, alleging that Webtoon Entertainment failed to adequately disclose the impact of exchange rates on revenue growth in the securities filings submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in June.

The plummeting stock has also sparked labor disputes regarding additional compensation following the IPO. After the successful listing on Nasdaq, Webtoon Entertainment CEO Kim Joon-gu was awarded a performance bonus of $30 million (about 40 billion KRW). He also holds stock options for 3,461,670 shares at an exercise price of $11.04 per share. Meanwhile, most Naver Webtoon employees have stock options with an exercise price of over $20-30.

For some employees, the stock option exercise price exceeds the 52-week high of $25.66. The Naver branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) filed an application for labor dispute mediation with the Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission on October 8. Mediation is expected to continue until October 21.

A Naver Webtoon representative commented, "The labor issue is ongoing, so we cannot provide an official position," and added, "In the second quarter, we demonstrated differentiated competitiveness across all regions. We aim to create opportunities for accelerated growth in high-potential markets, leveraging our unique global flywheel (virtuous cycle)."

By Kim Jung-min, reporter hurrymin@ilyo.co.kr Sports Daily complies with the Korean Journalists Association, Internet Newspaper Ethics Committee, and Sports Daily Code of Ethics.

[jgroffdaily]

Broadway Box Office: ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ Ends Run On New High

The revival, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez, says it had the highest grossing week ever for any Steven Sondheim musical on Broadway.

Merrily We Roll Along closed out its Broadway run with a new high of $2.77 million, which the production says is the highest grossing week ever for any Stephen Sondheim musical on Broadway.

The revival, starring Daniel Radcliffe, Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez, ended its run July 7, after opening at the Hudson Theatre in October 2023. The revival has continued to break box office records at the theater and has seen a particular rise in grosses in recent weeks, after the production won best revival of a musical at the June 16 Tony Awards, where both Radcliffe and Groff also took home trophies, and as it neared its closing date.

Capacity has been at 100 percent every week of run. And the average ticket price has also increased, alongside its popularity, to reach a new high of $357.94 in its final week.

While Sondheim musicals did not traditionally fare well at the box office in their original runs, there has been a resurgence in the popularity of his shows, and their grosses, since his death in November 2021.

Recent examples include the 2023 revival of Sweeney Todd, starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford, where grosses hit a high of $2.26 million across a seven-show week around Christmas, and the 2022 revival of Into the Woods, which hit a weekly high of $2.1 million in August 2022.

The revival, directed by Maria Friedman, recouped its $12 million capitalization in March 2024. During the final weeks of the run, the show producers raised up to $4 million to professionally film the production. The filming was done “for posterity,” according to a production spokesperson, who also added, “We’ll see what happens.”

[mikhailwrites]

Remotely possible II / Ghost x Soap

Kinktober #23 - Sex Toys

Somewhat standalone-ish continuation of this thing where Soap convinces Ghost to wear a remotely controlled sex toy for a day. This time, Ghost gets his revenge.

Read Part I

Part II:

The absolute silence of the room is disturbed when Soap yelps and nearly falls from his chair. Everyone turns to him, mostly questioningly but, in Laswell’s case, with a clear suspicion.

“Sorry, sorry, something’s bitten me,” Soap murmurs an apology. A scarlet blush of embarrassment is clearly visible on his cheeks. Ghost is the epitome of indifference, unwilling to spare Soap a single glance despite this being all his fault. Well, the little remote controller in his pocket played a part as well.

“If I may continue,” Laswell interjects, apparently not in the mood for jokes as she explains the latest AQ resurgence in Al-Mazrah, accompanied by satellite images.

The rest of the briefing went smoothly and without any interruptions, which cannot be said about the lunch. Soap’s only saving grace is the overall noise in the mess hall, so the loud clang of a fork falling onto the plate and high-pitched yelp are only noticed by his squad mates sitting around.

Gaz leans in closer, looking from Soap to Ghost and back. “You lot are out of your bloody minds! If Price knew...”

“If I knew what, Kyle?” Says a voice behind Gaz’s back.

Soap promptly excuses himself, ready to leave the table. “Where do you think you’re going, Sergeant?” Price’s heavy hand lands on Johnny’s shoulder promptly, stopping his retreat and pushing him back down before Price sits next to him. “Well, who’d like to enlighten me, then?”

“I... I have no idea what you mean, Captain,” Soap stutters and hisses because someone kicks him in the shin under the table. Ghost.

“Last week, Ghost was acting like someone put a cockroach into his trousers; today, it’s you. I’d like in on the joke,” Price smiles. The kind of smile that spells imminent doom.

It takes Soap tremendous effort to hide the panic. He needs to say something. The longer he stalls, the harder it would be the sell the lie.

“Alright, alright, we made a bet, Ghost and I,” he admits, trying hard to think of something, anything! Fortunately, Ghost rescues them both. “It’s a shocker. Taped to a thigh. We were comparing our interrogation training and couldn’t decide who was trained better.

Johnny stares for a second too long. That’s... actually... ingenious. The sort of shitty brag-bet only soldiers can think of. And it explains their weird behaviour. Ghost’s brilliant! Gaz chokes on the drink he hoped to hide his disbelieving stare with. He knows very well what’s going on.

Price sighs and massages his temple in an equivalent of “I’m too old for this shit.” Yet, in the end, he only says, “I guess I should be grateful you’re content to pull off shit like this on downtime instead of the field.” Price shakes his head and stands to leave them alone. Before he does so, however, he turns back to them. “I hope it goes without saying that you cut the crap now and act your age and rank, lads.”

Soap nods, but Ghost is going to collect the debt to the last bloody minute, especially since Soap is on a rookie training rotation in just about an hour.

Ghost is camping on the roof of the armoury with some snacks and a pair of binoculars. He’s keeping Soap in the illusion of security for the moment. The Sergeant crosses part of the obstacle course to kick someone’s ass for slacking off. Ghost waits a few seconds into the apparent monologue until he presses the button. The setting is low, but he can still clearly see Soap flinch. Can almost hear him lose track of his words.

He leaves the vibrations low, knowing full well, from his own recent experience, how maddening it starts to be after just a few minutes.

He’s right, of course. Soap starts to fidget, then he starts to pace and, finally, sits down on the low wall because that’s perhaps the best way to hide the bulge in his trousers. Should’ve worn camo today. Ghost smirks at his own joke as he flicks the intensity slider.

Blush creeps high on Johnny’s cheek as he looks around, trying to locate Ghost. No luck. Simon is feeling particularly cruel, so he increases the intensity once more. Johnny very nearly doubles over. It’s enough for one of the recruits to come over to him, presumably asking if he’s feeling alright.

Soap replies something before he nods, stands up and apparently excuses himself. Ghost is reasonably sure he’s going to lock himself on the toilet and wank, and that just wouldn’t do.

Ghost leans against the stalls. There’s only one occupied, and there’s no one else present.

“Hiding from me, Sergeant?” Ghost says in a deep purr as he knocks on the door. There’s only silence. Then the lock clicks. Ghost squeezes in. The stall is way too small for the two of them, not that Ghost cares. Especially not when he sees Johnny sitting on the closed lid of the toilet, his trousers undone and something wild shining in his eyes.

Ghost’s own cock twitches at the sight. Suddenly, there’s an idea. “Stand up,” Ghost commands, and Johnny obeys like the good soldier he is. Ghost takes his place as he sits down and pulls Johnny to sit on his lap, back pressed to Ghost’s chest. It’s a little bit of work to get the trousers and the briefs out of the way, but they manage. Johnny spreads his legs as much as the trousers allow, and Ghost looks down over Johnny’s shoulder, humming in approval as he sees his hard prick already leaking.

Simon holds Johnny up with one arm while the other sneaks between his legs and a bit further until he touches the hard base of the plug, feeling the vibrations. He presses on it, pushing it a little bit deeper. Johnny whines, or he tries to, but Simon’s hand promptly clasps over his mouth. “Be quiet, darling, unless you want someone to see you like this.”

Soap nods weakly. When Ghost grabs the plug and starts to pull it out slowly, Johnny does his best but still cannot completely stifle the whimper and the moan as he feels the stretch. Ghost doesn’t pull it out all the way. Instead, he pushes it back in and repeats it. That’s when Johnny understands.

“Simon,” he starts but is cut off by the sound of opening doors followed by footsteps. They both still, Soap putting all that training to good use as he controls his breathing. They hear the sound of a belt clasp, a zipper, and the telltale hiss of piss hitting the urinal. Ghost, against his better judgment, resumes his earlier actions. Soap stiffens with surprise and, most probably, a bit of fear. Which, of course, doesn’t really help him as he clenches around the plug all the more. He’s happy for Ghost’s hand still firmly covering his mouth.

When he proposed this whole idea to Ghost, he had no plans of taking it this far. On the other hand, he should’ve seen it coming. Both of them were always up to push the other further, consequences be damned. It’s the whole reason they started this twisted parody of a relationship. Getting fucked by a toy in the public toilets is, however, the stupidest thing they’ve ever done. No, he corrects himself; the stupidest thing they’ve done so far.

All the thoughts leave him as soon as the soldier on the other side of the door washes their hands and leaves. That’s when Ghost picks up the pace. That’s when he whispers into Johnny’s ear to touch himself. He does, gripping his hard, neglected prick and flicking the thumb over the cock head, spreading the precum to make the wank smoother and easier. The plug in him isn’t angled right to hit his prostate, but the vibrations make up for that, riling him up, forcing him to speed up, to tighten his grip as Ghost whispers filthy little things into his ear.

The danger of being discovered, the rush of this whole daring endeavour, and, of course, the fact that Ghost has been slowly edging him for the better part of the day gets to him fast. Ghost forces his wrist into Johnny’s mouth, sensing he’s close and giving him something to bite into instead of crying out.

He does. Ghost hisses quietly as Soap’s teeth sink into the skin right before he feels him seize, watching the thick ropes of cum staining his tee and hand. He stays tense for a few seconds before sagging against Ghost, who catches him from sliding onto the floor.

This was a horrible idea. But god damn it, was it worth it.

[bohemian-rhapsody-in-blue]

So...I may have impulse-purchased my first American Girl doll since 2011 (when I was 7)...

AGblr, meet Rebecca Rubin!

I've been obsessed with American Girl ever since I was 5 and checked out allllll the historical girls' books I could from the library, and my obsession had a resurgence in March of 2022 when my family visited Chicago and, for nostalgia's sake, popped into the American Girl store for like five seconds. Since then, I've been lurking on AGIG and AGblr, admiring everyone's beautiful dolls and collections and wishing I had the money to buy one myself.

Now that I'm working a few jobs and have some money saved, I impulse-bought Rebecca a few days ago as a "congratulations on getting through the semester" present to myself! I've loved her books since I was young (I think she was the newest historical doll when I was into AG—I wasn't following the company closely anymore by the time Marie-Grace and Cecile were released). And back in March 2022 when we visited the Chicago store, I was reading Bread Givers by Anzia Yezierska, a book about a girl from a Russian-Jewish immigrant family growing up as one of several siblings in a tenement on the Lower East Side of NYC...hmm, sound familiar?! (The book is really good, by the way—I'd 100% recommend it!)

I saw the Mercari listing for this girl and immediately fell in love with her sweet face—and the fact that she still had her mostly-complete pre-Beforever meet outfit, with that beautiful drop-waist! (One of my friends kept saying she wished she had that outfit herself. Honestly, same.)

Her hair's a little dry, and I think it's been cut a bit—said friend had to trim an errant long strand that had been missed. Some of her fingernails have been painted (subtly—you can't really tell unless you look closely), and her limbs are slightly loose. I don't have nearly the expertise or equipment to fix any of these things, and honestly, I'm not sure I want to. Maybe when I have some more experience and don’t have to be afraid of damaging her. But for now, I think these things give her charm—they show she's been well-loved in her previous life!

And as a bonus—I didn't plan this, but I ended up getting her on the first night of Hanukkah! Diversity win—and the best Hanukkah present I could have asked for 💖

Bonus: Rebecca meets Nina Zenik, my handmade plushie of the character from Six of Crows! (See the others here!) As two girls of Russian (or, in Nina's case, fantasy-Russian) heritage with a talent for acting, a flair for the dramatic, and red-and-gold outfits, I think they'd get along very well together :)

Now that I'm a wage-earner and I've proven to myself that if I want a doll I can just...go online...and buy a doll...I'm currently talking myself out of buying every single doll I see online for a decent price (Josefina and Luciana and Kaya and Kit and, and, and, and...). Maybe—and this is a big maybe—I'll get another one in a few months as a "congratulations on getting through the NEXT semester" present, but for now I think my American Girl collection is going to stay at one, or two counting my Molly back at home. But Rebecca won't be lonely—she'll have plenty of friends in my other plushies and Funko Pops, and my (human) friends serve as her loving "friendparents". And, of course, she'll have lots of love from me. 💖

[mariacallous]

In the summer of 1941, the United States sought to leverage its economic dominance over Japan by imposing a full oil embargo on its increasingly threatening rival. The idea was to use overwhelming economic might to avoid a shooting war; in the end, of course, U.S. economic sanctions backed Tokyo into a corner whose only apparent escape was the attack on Pearl Harbor. Boomerangs aren’t the only weapons that can rebound.

Stephanie Baker, a veteran Bloomberg reporter who has spent decades covering Russia, has written a masterful account of recent U.S. and Western efforts to leverage their financial and technological dominance to bend a revanchist Russia to their will. It has not gone entirely to plan. Two and a half years into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, Russia’s energy revenues are still humming along, feeding a war machine that finds access to high-tech war materiel, including from the United States. Efforts to pry Putin’s oligarchs away from him have driven them closer. Moscow has faced plenty of setbacks, most recently by losing control of a chunk of its own territory near Kursk, but devastating sanctions have not been one of them.

Punishing Putin: Inside the Global Economic War to Bring Down Russia is first and foremost a flat-out rollicking read, the kind of book you press on friends and family with proselytizing zeal. Baker draws on decades of experience and shoe-leather reporting to craft the best account of the Western sanctions campaign yet. Her book is chock-full of larger-than-life characters, sanctioned superyachts, dodgy Cypriot enablers, shadow fleets, and pre-dawn raids.

More than a good tale, it is a clinical analysis of the very tricky balancing acts that lie behind deploying what has become Washington’s go-to weapon. The risky decision just after the invasion to freeze over $300 billion in central bank holdings and cut off the Russian banking system hurt Moscow, sure. But even Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh, one of the architects of the Biden administration’s response, told National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan that he feared the sanctions’ “catastrophic success” could blow up global financial markets. And that was before the West decided to take aim at Russia’s massive oil and gas exports, which it did with a series of half-hearted measures beginning later that year.

The bigger reason to cherish Punishing Putin is that it offers a glimpse into the world to come as great-power competition resurges with a vengeance. The U.S. rivalry with China plays out, for now, in fights over duties, semiconductors, and antimony. As Singh tells Baker, “We don’t want that conflict to play out through military channels, so it’s more likely to play out through the weaponization of economic tools—sanctions, export controls, tariffs, price caps, investment restrictions.”

The weaponization of economic tools, as Baker writes, may have started more than a millennium ago when another economic empire was faced with problematic upstarts. In 432 B.C., Athens, the Greek power and trading state supreme, levied a strict trade embargo on the city-state of Megara, an ally of Sparta—a move that, according to some scholars, sparked the Peloponnesian War. (Athens couldn’t break the habit: Not long after, it again bigfooted a neighbor, telling Melos that the “strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must.”) The irony of course is that Athens, the naval superpower, eventually lost the war to its main rival thanks to a maritime embargo.

It can be tempting to leverage economic tools, but it is difficult to turn them into a precision weapon, or even avoid them becoming counterproductive. The British empire’s 19th-century naval stranglehold and love of blockades helped bring down Napoleon but started a small war with the United States in the process.

Britain was never shy about using its naval and financial might to throw its weight around, but even the pound sterling never acquired the centrality that the U.S. dollar has today in a much bigger, much more integrated system of global trade and finance. That “exorbitant privilege,” in the words of French statesman Giscard D’Estaing, enabled the post-World War II United States to take both charitable (the Marshall Plan, for starters) and punitive economic statecraft to new heights.

The embargoes on Communist Cuba or revolutionary Iran were just opening acts, it turned out, for a turbocharged U.S. approach to leveraging its financial hegemony that finally flourished with the so-called war on terror and rogue states, a story well-told in books such as Juan Zarate’s Treasury Goes to War or Richard Nephew’s The Art of Sanctions. 

Osama bin Laden is dead, Kabul is lost, Cuba’s still communist, and a Kim still runs North Korea, but the love of sanctions has never waned in Washington. If anything, given an aversion to casualties and a perennial quest for low-cost ways to impose its will, Washington has grown even fonder of using economic sticks with abandon. The use of sanctions rose under President Barack Obama, and again under Donald Trump; the Biden administration has not only orchestrated the unprecedented suite of sanctions on Putin’s Russia, but also taken Trump’s trade war with China even further.

Despite U.S. sanctions’ mixed record, the almighty dollar can certainly strike fear in countries that are forced to toe a punitive line they might otherwise try to skirt. Banks in third countries—say, a big French lender—could be forced to uphold Washington’s sanctions on Iran regardless of what French policy might dictate. Those so-called secondary sanctions raise hackles at times in places such as Paris and Berlin, prompting periodic calls for “financial sovereignty” from the tyranny of the greenback. But little has changed. Countries that want to continue having functioning banks have little choice but to act as the enforcers of Washington’s will.

What is genuinely surprising, as Baker chronicles, is that the growth of sanctions as the premier tool of U.S. foreign policy has not been matched by a commensurate growth in the corps of people charged with drafting and enforcing them. The Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Treasury Department’s main sanctions arm, is overworked and understaffed. A lesser-known but equally important branch, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, struggles to vet a vast array of export controls and restrictions with a stagnant staff and stillborn budget. Post-Brexit Britain has faced even steeper challenges in leaping onto the Western sanctions bandwagon, having to recreate in the past few years a new body almost from scratch to enforce novel economic punishments.

Punishing Putin is not, despite the book’s subtitle, about an effort to “bring down” Russia. The sanctions—ranging from individual travel and financial bans on Kremlin oligarchs to asset forfeiture to sweeping measures intended to kneecap the ruble and drain Moscow’s coffers—are ultimately meant to weaken Putin’s ability to continue terrorizing his neighbor. In that sense, they are not working.

One of the strengths of Punishing Putin is Baker’s seeming ability to have spoken with nearly everybody important on those economic frontlines. She details the spadework that took place in Washington, London, and Brussels even before Russian tanks and missiles flew across Ukraine’s borders in February 2022, and especially in the fraught days and weeks afterward. It takes a special gift to make technocrats into action heroes.

The bulk of Baker’s wonderful book centers on the fight to sanction and undermine the oligarchs loyal to Putin who have helped prop up his kleptocracy. Perhaps, as Baker suggests, Western thinking was that whacking the oligarchs would lead to a palace coup against Putin. There was a coup, but not from the oligarchs—and it ended first with a whimper and then a mid-air bang.

There are a couple of problems with that approach, as Baker lays out in entertaining chronicles of hunts for superyachts and Jersey Island holding companies. First, it’s tricky to actually seize much of the ill-gotten billions in oligarch hands; the U.S. government is spending millions of dollars on upkeep for frozen superyachts, for example, but can’t yet turn them into money for Ukraine. And second, the offensive has not split the oligarchs from Putin: To the contrary, a Kremlin source tells Baker, “his power is much stronger because now they’re in his hands.”

At any rate, while the hunt for $60 billion or so in gaudy loot is fun to read about, the real sanctions fight is over Russia’s frozen central bank reserves—two-thirds of which are in the European Union—and the ongoing efforts to strangle its energy revenues without killing the global economy. Baker is outstanding on these big issues, whether that’s with a Present at the Creation-esque story of the fight over Russia’s reserves and the ensuing battle to seize them, or an explanation of the fiendishly complicated details of the “oil price cap” that hasn’t managed to cap Russian oil revenues much at all. More on those bigger fights would have made a remarkable book a downright stunner.

The Western sanctions on Russia, as sweeping and unprecedented as they are, have not ended Putin’s ability to prosecute the war. They have made life more difficult for ordinary Russians and brought down Russia’s energy export revenues, but they have not yet severed the sinews of war. “But, in fact, the West didn’t hit Russia with the kitchen sink,” Baker writes. Greater enforcement of sanctions, especially on energy, will be crucial to ratchet up the pressure and start to actually punish Putin, she argues. The one thing that is unlikely is that the sanctions battle will end anytime soon—not with Putin’s Russia, and not with other revisionist great powers such as China, whose one potential weakness is the asymmetric might of U.S. money.

“As long as Putin is sitting in the Kremlin,” Baker concludes, “the economic war will continue.”

[a-d-nox]

Hiiii🧚🏻‍♂️

Can u speak about asteroid lacrimosa? That intrigues me so much, I can't find almost any information. I also would love to know how it would work in synastry?

I also have lacrimosa in scorpio conjuct venus and conjuct rising in asc pc in capricorn, that could give me a nostalgic look? or suffered? people ask me if i'm ok all the time lol also have chiron conjunct asc so yea anyways?

thank u for read love your blog sorry for the lenght 🌨️

lacrimosa, our lady of sorrows - mother mary (asteroid 208)

hi, i won't be answering the aspects portion of this ask because i do not respond to asks regarding asteroids i have not covered out of fairness to others and to the asker (it is for the best that you see where i may draw from when doing interpretation). after reading the my interpretation of the myth and you are still interested in your prior question please resubmit your prior question/ask!

on to mary.

Lacrimosa, Latin for "weeping" or "teary," is most often linked to The Virgin Mary, or "The Lady of Sorrows." The appearance of the phase "Lacrimosa" is linked to the Roman Catholic Requiem sequence "Dies Irae": "Lacrimosa dies illa / Qua resurgent ex favilla / Judicandus homo reus. / Huic ergo parce, Deus: / Pie Jesu Domine / Dona his requiem. Amen." In English this roughly translates to: "Tearful is the day / When risen from ashes / Guilty men are to be judged. / Spare him, God: / Pious (righteous) Jesus / Grant them rest. Amen." As a mini crash course: Mary is Christian derived figure referred to as St. Mary, the Virgin Mary, Miriam, Maryam, second Eve, the immaculate one, etc. In the Biblical section the book of Luke, Mary is visited by an angel while she is engaged to be married to Joseph, who is a descendant of Abraham just like Mary herself. The angel tells Mary that God has favored her and she is to give birth to God's son, whose name will be Jesus. Mary was confused because she was a virgin - the angel stated that the Holy Spirit would be upon her. Mary told the angel that she was God's faith servant and that what the angel said would be divinely done to validate her understanding. When Mary informed Joseph that she was to have God's son he continued, as planned, to marry her because he too was a loyal servant of God. Mary would later travel to Bethlehem and give birth to Jesus. Mary and Joseph had many more children - Mary appears again in the Bible when Jesus performs His miracles and to witness His crucifixion. Which brings us back around to why is Mother Mary called "The Lady of Sorrows." Mary's title of "The Lady of Sorrows" comes from the moment of his death, as she is said to have faced intense suffering/grief during the passionate death of Jesus. IN MY OPINION Lacrimosa in your chart can represent a) where you experience heartbreak, b) where you grieve someone you look up to, c) where you are innocent and trusted with a divine purpose, and/or d) what your greatest sorrow is.

i encourage you to look into the aspects of lacrimosa along with the sign, degree, and house placement. for the more advanced astrologers, take a look at the persona chart of lacrimosa!

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[letstalkaboutfandomsbaby]

Hiya sunny! I’m so glad of the resurgence of scummy Naoya. Is it ok if I can request Scum of the earth Naoya proposing?

Oh, my sweet, scummy baby boy 🥹

───────────────

Let's be clear from the jump: a proposal done by Naoya Zen'in is no joke. Zen'ins are always over the top with their appearances, so whenever there's a special occasion that will be retold a hundred times? You can bet your ass that the Zen'ins are gonna go above and beyond so that they can brag about how great their actions were.

Naoya is no different: he wants things to be over the top and perfect in every possible way. He plans this proposal MONTHS ahead, booking a table at the most high-end restaurant in the city, making sure he gets the best spot with the best view. It has high ceiling and gold chandeliers throughout the establishment, live piano as entertainment, a five-star chef at the helm. He wants you to have a taste of the fine dining you'll get to have for the rest of your life.

He measures your ring size when you're asleep, spending weeks trying to find the best ring to suit you. It takes a long time because he doesn't just care about how it looks; he cares about the price as well. He wants an expensive ring, one that you can show off and brag about how much money your beloved fiance spent on you. He's looking at rings that are upwards of $15k, he's not fucking around. He picks a ring set, a HUGE round center diamond surrounded by a ring of smaller diamonds as well as diamonds on the white gold band, along with a second band covered in small diamonds that would sit below the first. Some may think it's too gaudy, but he thinks that anything less would be an injustice to you.

He gets your dress size and goes shopping the week before, not caring about the price tag as he searches for the best dress to compliment you. He loves mermaid dresses, adoring how they hug your hips and waist, so he's very likely to choose one for you. He gets one that's covered in lace, with a shiny intricate band around the waist, gold details throughout the dress. He wants you to look your best the night he proposes. He knows that you'll look good in anything, but he tries his best to find something that goes above and beyond his expectations.

He gives you the dress a night or two before he proposes, exclaiming that he is going to take you out on a date to a fancy restaurant, and he won't take no for an answer. He offers to give you his credit card and let you go to a spa and salon the day of your date so that you're properly prepared and relaxed. He might get pouty and offended if you refuse, so you'll probably end up agreeing to what he wants just so he doesn't get all grumpy.

Very confident as he drives you to the restaurant and for the majority of dinner, but right before the dessert—when he plans to propose—he gets kind of anxious. Excuses himself to the restroom where he starts to panic. What if you say no? What if you sneer in disgust and break up with him instead? What if you insult him for ever thinking that you would want to spend the rest of your life with him? Has to splash some water on his face to calm down, talks to the poor restroom attendant that's watching him have a breakdown. Eventually he talks himself down from his little panic attack and convinces himself to go back out there and propose to you. If you say no, he'll just figure things out from there, but why wouldn't you say yes? He did everything right, he made a magical evening for you and treated you like a princess, there's no way you'd say no.

He returns to your table, right before dessert arrives, and he lets you take a couple bites before he grabs your hand and squeezes it, getting your attention. He goes into this little speech about how amazing you are, focusing mostly on how beautiful he finds you and how you make him feel. He doesn't get on his knees—he doesn't want to ruin his suit—but he pulls out the velvet box and opens it, revealing the ring he spent so much money on.

So... what will your answer be?

───────────────

[coliepng]

When you switched from spotify to an ipod, what was that process like for you? How do you find new music nowadays and how do you add it to your ipod (if I recall correctly, itunes isn't supported anymore)?

so i actually have a collection of music from back when classic ipods were still in production, so that helps. however, that's clearly older music!

for new stuff -- i enjoy hunting down cds in thrift stores. there's also sites like depop where folks sell off cds they don't want anymore, tho i haven't purchased any from there myself. but the thrift method was how i used to get my music -- occasionally i'd hit a great sale at a department store or best buy, but usually i'd see what would turn up on the shelves at goodwill. or rip cds from my parents and friends.

i still do utilize spotify to keep track of new releases, but i also just try to follow my fav artists directly on their preferred platforms to keep an eye out for announcements. and tbh tiktok is weirdly great for discovering indie artists who don't have a label promoting them. (or even those that do!)

also, i have an absolutely amazing local radio station that plays everything -- and of course focuses on local music as well. most of my life this has been the best way for me to discover music i like that i never knew existed.

as for itunes -- apple still has the download on their website! i think i just searched it on bing/google and it was among the first couple of results. i have version 12.11.3.17. if for some reason you can't find the link on apple's website directly, im sure mirrors of the installer exist.

however, if you get a modded ipod, odds are you'll need to use something like rockbox to load music -- i dont believe itunes works with SSD. mine is not modded. i think it's only 30 gig too, tho i have my friend's old one SOMEWHERE and it's 80 gig so i hope i find it before my collection exceeds 30 gigs lol

if you're up for it, i did most of my research on reviving my ipod usage on reddit. they've got great resources and most of the questions i had were already answered. if you don't have one already, or need parts to revive it, or want to purchase a modded one made for you, i recommend Elite Obsolete Electronics. quality work with the best prices around imo (at least in the continental US). you can also check out ebay, esp if you want one of the cute lil nano 3s that are also seeing a popularity resurgence.

and if you're wild, theres always 🏴‍☠ lmao but i can't give any advice on that, sorry. im too anxious to break laws

[the-temperance]

The dog and bone vintage store was a retro blast from the past with hand picked tote bags, flannel shirts, bandanas, cargo work trousers (Including their best seller; tweed jackets.) There prices may range from £5-£250 depending on the quality, condition and rarity of the item as all is hand selected there are rare items that may be missed by a commercial charity shop worker due to a small hole that may not decrease the value in accordance with the rarity.

They target an older demographic, supplying authentic vintage goods they would have enjoyed in their youth. However they also hold a wide appeal to a younger generation due to the resurgence of 80-90s fashion.

Dog & Bone use social media as there main source of advertisement such as : Instagram ( @Dog&BoneVintage ) and( https://www.facebook.com/share/8d8V1qK23sCeeALG ) ; York tourist guides; website and online shopping (£2.99 UK shipping). They are located within a high traffic area notably next to a Van Gogh exhibit and the York castle museum. - 28 Castlegate, York YO1 9RP -

In my opinion Bog and Bone vintage was reasonably priced and possessed a comfortable and “hippie” aesthetic made you not want to leave. However I found the women’s sections lacking in interest compared to the male selection restricting there choice market.

[bright-and-burning]

thank you for the tag @albonoooo <333

star sign: leo (attention whore signs 4 the win)

favourite holiday: my neighborhood does neighbor day every year and that’s a solid percentage of my favorite childhood memories. my neighborhood is very very close (very much so an “it takes a village” mentality) so i grew up with essentially twenty aunts and uncles. and also like ten dogs and thirteen vaguely cousin-esque figures on my block. anyways it’s like a massive potluck barbecue thing, it goes from like noon to whenever the last person heads in (which can be quite late). think like. potluck barbecue to casual day drinking to big bonfire w smores as the day goes by. as a kid i spent the whole day roaming the neighborhood and coming back every so often to grab food from the tables before heading off again. as an adult i got to get drunk on seltzers with a bunch of 50 somethings and it was incredible

last meal: omg it was my last ohio meal… i got it from this really special like local version of sonic’s (like a drive up food place). they make their burgers w a little bit of brown sugar and mashed banana (they’re the best burgers i’ve ever had). so i had a double hamburger w fries and a mint shake w brownie spindled in. if you’re ever driving through ohio PLEASE hit me up to get this place’s name it’s GLORIOUS. 1980s pricing (admittedly 80s portions too lol). neon signs everywhere. what i will miss the most

current favourite musician: i tend to just hit play on my liked songs so whatever i liked most recently gets played wayyyy more. a lot of the backseat lovers rn

last music listened to: mama’s gun by glass animals (BANGER OF A SONG!!!)

last movie watched: the muppet christmas carol i think . yeah according to letterboxd that lmfao

last tv show watched: i just binged monarch: legacy of monsters w my parents (amazing godzilla tv show but godzilla’s only in it for like. 10 minutes total lol. gay people <3) and then we started lockwood & co tonight on a whim

last book/fic finished: the invisible library by genevieve cogman !!! so good. librarian spy thieves…

last book/fic abandoned: oh gosh. i am such a completionist that i don’t think i ever leave books unfinished. technically i won’t be able to finish the masked city (the sequel to the invisible library) bc it belongs to the library and i am moving. but i will be picking it back up as soon as i have a library card in my new area so? does that even count? yeah i don’t really dnf things

currently reading: the masked city by genevieve cogman technically. lol. i’m trying to read at least a page a day in january. some days that means literally reading a page other days it’s reading 300. since i started the masked city like four days ago ive only made it through 30 pages bc moving is a nightmare so.

last thing researched for writing/art/hyperfixation: hm. technically for the last thing i like posted that would be the drug testing guidelines for f1 (tldr fun fact party drugs are fine out of competition). i read like. 60 pages of legalese. and a bunch of medical stuff and then several wikipedia pages and guides for athletes. the last wikipedia article i opened was for NATO and i have no idea why LOL

favourite online fandom memory: i have the memory of a goldfish… i’m also pretty sure f1 is the first time i’ve been involved w a fandom like. as it’s happening. i’m usually a latecomer . i did enjoy whatever the fuck went down w supernatural and putin that was fun second hand (literally thru a groupchat bc i was in my significantly less terminally online era aka i was in college)

favourite old fandom you wish would drag you back in/have a resurgence: newsies (1992) my beloved… i plotted out a fic that would stretch over like. 40 years. i went INSANE on historical accuracy research. and then i got depressed… someday my magnum opus (slice of life polyamory through turn of the century nyc) will come to fruition

favourite thing you enjoy that never had an active or big fandom, but you wish it did: i feel like there’s been a million times i’ve walked out of a movie (or finished a book, or a tv show) and gone to ao3 and then it has like. 4 works. the rivers of london series by ben aaronovitch only has like . 1k fics on ao3. and not a lot of ppl posting on tumblr. so maybe that?

tempting project you're trying to rein in/don't have time for: all of them tbh… runners au really (it’s spawned into like three different fics of plot lines Plus an epistolary type companion…). i literally constantly come up w ideas (usually hyper specific aus) all the time ask dees it’s a PROBLEM for me. bc i have no time for any of them…

no pressure tags if u wld like <3 @userkritaaay @leclercenjoyer @drivestraight @oscarpiastriwdc @eyes-likepilotlights (i have not paid a ton of attention to who has done this/been tagged sorry)

[transportaplooza]

Reviving the Legends: The Timeless Appeal of the 1963 Ford F100

In the grand tapestry of automotive history, certain vehicles stand out not just as icons of their era, but as enduring symbols of automotive excellence. Among these legends, the 1963 Ford F100 holds a special place, embodying the spirit of American craftsmanship, durability, and style.

Let’s take a journey back in time to explore what made this truck a timeless classic.

A Design Ahead of its Time

The 1963 Ford F100 represented a significant evolution in truck design. With its clean lines, bold grille, and iconic round headlights, it was an aesthetic departure from its predecessors. The design language exuded a sense of strength and purpose, while still maintaining an unmistakable elegance.

But it wasn’t just about looks. The F100 was built to work. Its robust chassis and suspension were designed to handle heavy loads and rough terrain, making it a favorite among farmers, tradesmen, and adventurers alike. Whether hauling cargo on the farm or navigating rugged trails, the F100 proved itself as a reliable workhorse.

Power and Performance

Under the hood, the 1963 F100 offered a range of engine options to suit various needs and preferences. From the dependable 223 cubic inch inline-six to the potent 292 cubic inch V8, there was an engine configuration for every requirement. These engines delivered ample power and torque, ensuring that the F100 could tackle any task with ease.

Additionally, the F100’s optional four-speed manual transmission provided precise control over gear selection, allowing drivers to optimize performance for any driving condition. Combined with its sturdy construction and responsive steering, the F100 offered a driving experience that was both exhilarating and confidence-inspiring.

Enduring Legacy

Beyond its capabilities on the road, the 1963 Ford F100 left an indelible mark on popular culture. It became a symbol of American ingenuity and resilience, appearing in countless movies, television shows, and music videos over the years. Its timeless design and rugged performance have earned it a devoted following among collectors and enthusiasts, who continue to cherish and preserve these iconic trucks to this day.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in vintage trucks like the F100, as drivers seek out vehicles with character and personality in an increasingly homogenized automotive landscape. Restored examples command premium prices at auctions, while aftermarket suppliers offer a plethora of parts and accessories to keep these classics on the road for generations to come.

The 1963 Ford F100 is more than just a truck; it’s a piece of automotive history. Its timeless design, robust performance, and enduring legacy have cemented its place in the hearts of enthusiasts around the world. Whether you’re a collector, a weekend warrior, or simply someone who appreciates fine craftsmanship, the F100 represents the best of American automotive engineering. And as long as there are roads to travel and adventures to be had, the legend of the F100 will continue to inspire generations of drivers to come.

[coochiemilk]

Back Again Black Ash Furniture and primarily Black Chest of Drawers

This guide is going to focus on the most popular types of furniture through the years - black ash furniture. This kind of furniture has had several cycles of being in style with the last one in the 90’s when black ash furniture was very popular and lots of folks were going to kit their particular bedroom furniture assortment out in black ash. This period gradually died out and lots of people begun to get rid of their click here to learn more black wardrobes and beds to be replaced by newer ranges for instance French style furniture. However in the past few years this kind of furniture has begun show up again with numerous ranges popping up with some excellent pieces like black tv cabinets and black dining chairs.

So what is responsible for this resurgence? Well one particular component that has driven this reputation is glass furniture. This kind of furniture can be found in numerous colours of which a popular style is black glass. The growing reputation of black glass furniture in turn has started to restore other black furniture like black ash. A different factor influencing the return is the recent well-liked furniture designs like gloss furniture, French furniture and white furniture. Each one of these types usually have a white, cream or ivory painted colour to complete them therefore black provides total contrast and brand-new look. As with all styles people become bored as time passes and want some thing totally different which is what a black style gives.

As a lot more ranges of black furniture appear the choice of styles and pieces increases, currently it is really difficult to find many high quality black bookcases, coffee tables or black sideboards. However black bedroom furniture is appearing more readily found with a variety of black beds, bedside tables and black chest of drawers. You will find many of these pieces from a number of great furniture retailers in the uk, on the other hand go online where you will discover much more choice and, sometimes get a saving from the price.

The best black collections currently available are the Metro Black Bedroom range that features chunky solid black ash wood plus some fantastic bedside tables and beds. A popular range for the living and dining room would be the Cuba Black range with a very similar chunky build like the Metro. Both of these ranges combine the fantastic black ash look with a good quality solid construct, perfect illustrations for anyone searching for this excellent style of furniture.

[buycommercialpropertiesindubai]

A Comprehensive Guide to Buying Residential Properties in Dubai

Dubai's real estate market is one of the most dynamic and diverse in the world, offering a wide range of residential properties. Whether you're a first-time buyer or an experienced investor, this comprehensive guide will help you navigate the process of buying residential properties in Dubai.

For more information on home loans, visit Home Loans in Dubai.

Understanding the Dubai Real Estate Market

Market Overview: Dubai's real estate market is known for its luxury properties, innovative architecture, and robust investment opportunities. The market is regulated by the Dubai Land Department (DLD), which ensures transparency and legal protection for buyers and sellers. The DLD's regulatory framework helps maintain market stability and provides a secure environment for property transactions.

Market Trends: Stay informed about the latest market trends, including price fluctuations, demand for specific types of properties, and new developments. This information will help you make informed decisions and identify the best opportunities. For instance, recent trends indicate a growing interest in sustainable and smart homes, as well as a resurgence in demand for villas and townhouses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For property purchase options, explore Buy House in Dubai.

Financing Your Purchase

Home Loans: Most buyers in Dubai finance their purchases through home loans. Several banks and financial institutions offer competitive mortgage rates and flexible terms. Research different lenders and compare their offers to find the best deal. Consider factors such as interest rates, loan tenure, and processing fees.

Mortgage Pre-Approval: Obtain a mortgage pre-approval before starting your property search. This will give you a clear idea of your budget and make you a more attractive buyer to sellers. Pre-approval indicates to sellers that you are a serious buyer with the financial backing to complete the purchase.

Down Payment: In Dubai, the minimum down payment for expatriates is typically 25% of the property's value, while UAE nationals may only need to put down 20%. Ensure you have sufficient funds for the down payment and other associated costs. Keep in mind additional expenses such as registration fees, agent commissions, and maintenance charges.

For mortgage services, consider home mortgage uae.

Choosing the Right Property

Property Type: Decide on the type of property that best suits your needs. Dubai offers a variety of residential properties, including apartments, villas, townhouses, and penthouses. Each property type has its advantages and drawbacks, so consider factors such as space requirements, lifestyle preferences, and potential for future growth.

Location: Choose a location that aligns with your lifestyle and investment goals. Popular residential areas in Dubai include Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, and Arabian Ranches. Consider factors such as proximity to schools, workplaces, and amenities. For instance, Downtown Dubai offers a vibrant urban lifestyle, while Arabian Ranches is ideal for families seeking a suburban environment.

Developer Reputation: Research the reputation of the property developer. Established developers with a track record of delivering high-quality projects on time are usually a safer choice. Look for reviews and testimonials from previous buyers, and check the developer's portfolio to assess their expertise and reliability.

For rental property management, visit Rent Your Property in Dubai.

Legal Considerations

Property Title: Ensure the property has a clear title and is free from any legal disputes or encumbrances. The DLD provides title deed verification services to help buyers confirm the property's legal status. It's crucial to verify that the property is legally registered and that there are no outstanding liabilities.

Sales Agreement: The sales agreement should clearly outline the terms and conditions of the purchase, including the price, payment schedule, and any additional costs. Review the agreement carefully and seek legal advice if needed. Ensure that all agreed-upon terms are documented and that there are no hidden clauses.

Residency Visa: Property buyers in Dubai may be eligible for a residency visa. The visa duration and requirements vary depending on the property's value and the buyer's nationality. Typically, properties worth AED 1 million or more qualify for a residency visa. Consult with the DLD or a legal expert to understand the specific visa requirements and benefits.

For property sales, visit Sell Your Property.

The Buying Process

Property Search: Start by defining your criteria, including budget, location, and property type. Use online portals, real estate agencies, and property exhibitions to find suitable options. Attend open houses and schedule viewings to get a firsthand look at potential properties.

Making an Offer: Once you've found a property that meets your needs, make an offer. Your real estate agent can help you negotiate the price and terms with the seller. Be prepared to make a competitive offer, especially in high-demand areas.

Finalizing the Purchase: After agreeing on the terms, sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining the agreed-upon conditions. Pay the initial deposit (usually 10% of the property's value) and proceed with obtaining the necessary approvals from the DLD. Your agent and legal advisor will guide you through the documentation and compliance requirements.

Transfer of Ownership: The final step involves transferring ownership at the DLD. Both the buyer and seller must be present, along with their respective agents. Pay the remaining balance, along with any applicable fees, to complete the transaction and receive the title deed.

Real-Life Success Story

Consider the case of Ali, an expatriate who successfully bought a residential property in Dubai. Ali conducted thorough market research, obtained mortgage pre-approval, and chose a reputable developer. By following the steps outlined in this guide, Ali secured a beautiful villa in Arabian Ranches and has seen his investment appreciate significantly. Ali's experience highlights the importance of preparation, due diligence, and professional guidance in making a successful property purchase.

Future Trends in Dubai Real Estate

Sustainable Developments: There is a growing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable properties in Dubai. Developers are increasingly incorporating green building practices and energy-efficient features into their projects. Properties with solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and sustainable materials are becoming more popular.

Smart Homes: The adoption of smart home technology is on the rise. Properties equipped with advanced security systems, automated lighting, and climate control are becoming more popular. Smart homes offer convenience, security, and energy savings, making them attractive to tech-savvy buyers.

Mixed-Use Communities: Integrated communities that offer a mix of residential, commercial, and recreational facilities are gaining popularity. These developments provide residents with a convenient and holistic living experience. Examples include Dubai Hills Estate and Bluewaters Island, which offer a blend of residential units, retail spaces, and leisure amenities.

Conclusion

Buying a residential property in Dubai can be a rewarding experience with the right preparation and knowledge. By understanding the market, securing financing, choosing the right property, and navigating legal considerations, you can make a successful investment. For more resources and expert advice, visit Home Loans in Dubai.

[goodbysunball]

Parched & parcel

Things are getting noticeably heavier and weirder, and we're the better for it. Some metal, finally, paired with some fine Aussie experimental noise and a band that'll make you believe in the dream of NYC again. It's the best season for this kind of stuff, so dive in.

dprk, Shitville Tourist LP (Studio Fabrik)

May I introduce to you Shitville Tourist (title of the year) by dprk, apparently a duo of Nick Dan (xNoBBQx) and Richard Fielding (Severed Heads) with support from a few mates. It feels like a journey in time back to where Twisted Village and Kye once roamed, where the journey largely justified the end product and the listener could take it or end up spending big later. While there is no question this record took me a few listens to unravel, what didn't take much to pique my interest was the gentle loop on "Crazy Little Corkscrew," something that sounds like a lullaby played with a steel drum, being poked and prodded by various electronics over its seven minutes. The track, like all four tracks on here, doesn't really go anywhere over its duration, but floats, writhes, twists and soaks in the sounds being made: pure joy in the noise made by machines. The title track and "Blumen Schmerz" are darker, more cavernous, where synths bleep and blot and drum machines whirr and exhale steam, creating the illusion of life where there is none. The latter has some creepy guitar parts splayed out on the pulsing synth backbone, but the investigation leads to no further conclusions; there is no categorization here. The finale, "Gulag In Space," provides not only another great title but a track nearly worthy of dancing, especially after the mind-fuck of the first three tracks. The beat bounces off all surfaces, as slippery as the rest of the record, but there is a sparkle on "Gulag" that winks at the listener as Shitville Tourist winds down. Something magnetic, or just plain alien, about the whole affair, but whatever it is, the sheer number of times I've played this have more than justified the hefty price tag. Great debut; let's hope for more from these true underground freaks.

Excarnated Entity, Mass Grave Horizon LP (Nuclear Winter)

Greece's Nuclear Winter puts out a ton of releases, so much that I've seemingly looked them over in the last few years. But taking stock, they've been responsible for the physical releases of a number of near-and-dear U.S.-based death metal acts like Blasphematory, the mighty Anhedonist, and now, Excarnated Entity. Excarnated Entity features a former member of Anhedonist, and there's definitely a similar approach to death metal with the two acts: mournful, grandiose but without the heavy-handed use of keyboards or Gregorian chant-like vocals. Excarnated Entity is also singularly focused on the horrors of war - not to be confused with the glorification of such in war metal - and provides ample heft to the incalculable loss of life. The band's demo, also reissued by Nuclear Winter in 2020, was a good primer for their debut LP, but the LP is devastating. The instrumental opener "Abjection" runs an elegant Mournful Congregation-style guitar line into the ground, simultaneously distraught and triumphant, and sets the stage for the rest. For anyone paying attention to the recent death-doom resurgence, Mass Grave Horizon fits right in and sets itself up near the top of that heap. While I think that there's a bit of momentum wasted in the middle section of "Corridor of Flame," that's really the only complaint I can level at the record. Everything else is properly filthy: gurgling vocals over blastbeats slam headfirst into downtuned chugging riffs, and a elegiac solo rises from the cracks in the pointlessly blood-stained soil. It's between "Irradiated Shadows" (the part before the solo, yeesh) and the punishing title track for my favorites here, but there's not a dud in the bunch. It's worth noting that the band does four-minute sprints as well as they can stretch tracks out to twice that length - a versatility that elevates Excarnated Entity above the one-note lifers rehashing the same formula on every track. Bleak, miserable and, given the state of the world, timely death-doom is what you get on Mass Grave Horizon, and if you think you've heard it before, it's worth hearing again in this singularly focused and dimming light.

VoidCeremony, Threads of Unknowing LP (20 Buck Spin)

I've got to give Nic at Repressed Records credit for pushing this one, as anything combining descriptors like "jazz" and "prog" with "metal" usually makes me run for the hills. But, this new VoidCeremony LP is checking all the boxes while flirting with all of the above, while (as Nic notes) throwing in a fretless bass solo on nearly every song to boot. The band plays death metal, firstly, and while there are some space-y outros and instrumentals, everything feels of a piece rather than forcing together disparate parts. The label press mentions that the band plays "with the gliding, controlled chaos and smooth fluidity of a jazz quartet," and that checks out, but I don't smell anything particularly jazzy about the record. Rather, I get a big whiff of Gorguts when listening to this record, another band that seamlessly combined progressive, thrash and death metal with grooves, resulting in something impressively complex without making it feel like a homework assignment. "Writhing in the Facade of Time" probably best displays all of these aspects, from the fading-in tech-death opener, to the sky-scraping guitar solos, to the crushing close of the track before the group's whisked away on a mystical Moog coda. The band shifts from strength to strength without any bloat, and just as importantly, without any clean vocals. Threads of Unknowing is my go-to workout record this year, the fluidity of the drumming providing blastbeat stress and necessary space in equal measure. Strap in, take a trip; whether you buy into the lyrics or overarching theme is up to you, but either way it's one of the most thrilling death metal records of the year.

Weak Signal, War&War LP (12XU)

Cool "reissue" of an album digitally released in 2022, hopefully given a wider reach with the push of 12XU. War&War is Weak Signal's third LP, and it sounds like a band comfortable with themselves, their capabilities and their sound: they can rip off a garage-punk track like "Don't Think About It" and slow things to a simmer on "Consolation" with ease. That the band sounds so self-assured did make this record feel a little too easy the first few times; but, like label mates Lewsberg, the complexity of the tracks shines through on iterative spins. Seemingly small choices like the backing vocal melody on "Names" or the sparkling Cass McCombs guitar on "Spooky Feeling" begin to feel like bold, powerful moves amidst the background of resignation/resilience across the album. The mostly spoken, barely sung vocals paired with the often bluesy guitar lines give the record a rough, workingman feel - which, for me, means that things ain't going your way but what are you gonna do about it - but there's no glory in it, just a general disdain for how things are. It's definitely a bit of a downer, though I think the band would prefer "realist," and two lyrics from the middle of the record seem illustrative of the this approach: "I'm no weirdo/I'm no freak/but things keep happening to me" from "Songworld," and "If you think I care/that's where you're wrong" from "Yr Deal." I don't find that the lyrics convey apathy, rather an infinite patience or aplomb in the face of everything spinning uncontrollably off-axis. War&War feels similar in spirit to what True Widow was doing on the heavy sigh of As High as the Highest Heavens..., though without the depressive bent of that record. A bit of despair creeps in on the cover of Johnny Thunders' "It's Not Enough," which bleeds into the gray, abstract noise of the title track, but the band puts their dukes up again on closer "Who the Hell Are U?," a fitting end to the record to reinforce the group's street savvy instincts. Weak Signal's delivered a doozy, and one of my favorite new-to-me discoveries of the year so far.

[swzinearchive]

SW Fanzine Archive

Hello and welcome to the fanzine archive! [For the best viewing experience, checkout our website on desktop. If you're a mobile user then all info needed will be found here in this pinned post.]

☆ Featured Zines ☆

Completed zines on display! These zines have closed completely. We rotate the featured zines every few months so check back now and again to see new zines!

Untold Stories Focused on the characters of the Clone Wars, Untold Stories was available in printed and digital format in 2022. All remaining proceeds of sales were donated to CAMFED at a total of $11,550 USD.

Flying Solo - Free Download! A digital PDF zine that celebrated the 5th anniversary of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Originally available at a pay what you will price as low as $1 USD with all proceeds being donated to Black Trans Travel Fund. Now available for free!

Shore Leave - Free Download! A free digital PDF zine produced by Incubus Wings Zines focused on characters from the Star Wars movies and what they would do if they had free time.

☆ Resources ☆

List of resources to help those interested in creating zines - or buying them.

Anthologies 101 Short post on what an anthology is, how it compares to a zine and what to keep in mind when creating one.

ATOZINES Expansive multi-fandom site that tracks zines in creation, offers an interactive calendar and multiple zine creation resources.

Creation Kit Detailed creation carrd on all that goes into making a zine and step-by-step guides on how to do it.

Fanlore Wiki-like multi-fandom archive for zines. Linked to the Star Wars portion of the site, Fanlore offers 400+ zines since the very first Star Wars movie in 1977 and a detailed history of Star Wars zines from their relationship with Lucasfilm to their resurgence in fandom. Can be used for inspiration on naming your zine if you want to make it unique!

Modnetwork For the new and experienced zine mods. This Discord server is a hub for zine creators to share resources and advice. Please Note: This server is for mods only. If you do not have an interest in modding, this is not the server you are looking for.

Pre-Order Baby Info carrd on what to keep in mind when buying a fanzine.

Zine Baby Companion to Pre-Order Baby, this carrd is a rundown on how to start a zine.

Zine Flags What to look out for when potentially applying to or joining a fanzine. Please Note: We use this category when tracking zines in current creation.

☆ Zine Tracker and Events ☆

Wanting to look at the current SW zines being made, or see what other events are taking place? Check out the blogs and sites below!

The Archive The companion website to this blog. An expansive list of all past and current SW zines all archived in one place! Please Note: This archive is still in the making and is not complete. The focus is more on the new fanzines of today rather than older ones.

SW Zine Tracker The blog that started it all. Best source on Tumblr for all things SW zines. Dates and a constantly updated list on the progress of zines.

SW Fandom Events Looking for more Star Wars? This blog keeps track of event weeks, big bangs, exchanges and more!

SW Book Club An active and engaging community for all things Star Wars books and comics. In addition to having monthly reads from both Canon and Legends, they host their own events, keep up with new releases but also talk about the new shows and movies from Star Wars.

Credits

The desktop theme was created by @phantomcodes. In addition to having stunning themes, they also do commissions and have free themes available. Check them out here!

The lightsaber image dividers are free to use and created by @saradika. Full list of all the incredible dividers she has made here.