#The Wealthy Saver

[altrodent]

Life Saver

Pairing: Timothy Lawrence x Reader

Genre/Warnings: Teeth rotting fluff, past relations with Handsome Jack, tiniest bit of angst, slow burn, Borderlands2/3 spoilers?, mentions of alcohol, lotssss of swearing lol, siren reader

Summary: After reunifying with someone from your past, you finally realize that someone you truly needed was taken away from you, just not the one you expected it to be.

DISCLAIMER: I wrote moxxi’s name like moXXXi for most of the story, please bear with me. Also, most of this was written very late at night and only poorly reviewed a couple times

After the not-so-tragic passing of a psychopath who controlled your entire career, you finally ended up back on track with your life. You originally worked as head of defensive security at the one and only Hyperion, but where did it all go wrong? It began when Jack broke up with his, at the time, girlfriend moxxxi. You couldn’t tell if it was desperation, or just a thing he was into, but he quickly took a liking to you. A person in charge, power, strength, but not more than him economically. He eventually “promoted” you to his assistant and you absolutely despised it. He made an excuse that the desk he ordered for you wouldn’t ship for a while, so you’d have to sit on his lap while he did his work. Though he was attractive, wealthy, and even kinda funny, it just felt gross- perverted even… and not the good consensual kind.

Whilst you worked there, eventually you started seeing him more often, except it wasn’t him. It was a man named Timothy, one of his duplicates. He hired him to be a vault Hunter for him but eventually as time went on he talked to you more and more, even convinced Jack to let you go on some of his missions with him. He was sweet and funny, and maybe at some point you were interested in him, but the way Jack had you wrapped around his finger, he’d pull you back in if he realized you got too close to Timothy.

Years later after working with them, Jack finally passed away leaving you go back to a career that was your own. While you wanted to find Timothy, you just didn’t have enough time, though if he survived that long working for Jack, he’s sure to be fine. As time passed, you became a Vault Hunter originally for the thrill of the kill and to hopefully just do whatever the hell you wanted alone, but you caved and ended up joining a crew on a ship called “The Sanctuary” and even though you knew your rule about not getting attached, you were sure they could handle themselves fine if anything happened. They could, and still do, one day when wandering around this ship you finally enter the brightly glowing pink room. You always noticed it, but was always too busy trying to complete missions for the other members. It looked like a bar after going on a killing spree for days takes all the energy out of you.

“Hey, sugar, never seen you around here” said a beautiful pale woman with a harlequin type corset “Yeah, I rarely have time to… explore.” You said, with a sigh. The woman can tell by the dark circles around your eyes that you’ve been busy, she’s clever so she puts two and two together. “You’re the Vault Hunter, right, pleasure” she puts her hand out, you grasp it with a firm shake even though it looks like you’ve been to hell and back. She starts making you a drink, seems like Lilith spilled to her some of your interests, which leads to a very interesting offer; “So, Vault Hunter, I was wondering if you’d like to take me up on an offer.” She leans against the bar getting close to your face “… what kind of offer..?” She smiles before moving a piece of hair out of her face “Well, wanted to see if you’d be interested in a raid of the Handsome Jackpot casino and claim its riches. You can say no but, you will get a lot out of this heist” her gaze doesn’t look away from you, intent on getting you to do the mission “How much are we talking?” She walks around the bar, picking up a scribbled-on clipboard on her way, and presents it to you. “Holy shit.” She hums a laugh “So, do we have a deal, VH?” She smiles and holds her hand out once more, needing your trust “Yeah, we do.” You take her hand and shake it. “I’ll send the coordinates to your Echo, from there I’ll guide you through. When you get there please don’t die, I prefer my attractive customers to stay alive.” She sends you a wink as you take one last drink before preparing to head to the Casino.

You jump on the drop pod, to head to- what might just be, the most rewarding mission you could ever imagine. Sure shooting Skags for the nice old man on Pandora is rewarding but, this is a literal heist. You had heard of ‘handsome Jack’ but you knew Jack, so you weren’t very ecstatic to see him again, even if it was just for this mission. Sure he’s dead, doesn’t mean you want to completely cut him out of your life altogether. From the small window of your drop-pod you see what is a giant hologram of Jack’s head. Once your pod drops, two robots try to stop you and get you to pay for “VIP” valet, you just shake your head no and then run past them into the building. “For a fancy casino… this place looks like shit.” You hear a giggle over your ear piece “Yeah, after Jack died the casino got ransacked with debt-ridden peasants. They’re the one’s we’re gonna help, sugar. Hopefully most of them won’t have to feel your wrath on the way~” you huff a laugh, before making your way to a giant slot machine? “What the fu-“ “Jack here! Welcome to the Handsome Jackpot! Who’s ready to give me their money?” The man himself, again as a giant hologram… he loves himself, too much “After all these years, I still want to kick his dick in.” You mumble, Moxxxi laughs “Keep that energy up, Vault Hunter, you’ll need it”

“That’s Jack for you. Dead seven years and still is trying to screw us over.” You roll your eyes, “tell me about it.” Moxxxi tuts “I have a question, if I may, did you know Jack? Before he died?” You purse your lips “Yeah, unfortunately. Used to be his head of security, then he ‘promoted’ me to basically his own personal lap dog” you kick away some of the robots, moxxxi gasps “Sugar, were you the person at reception? I remember you now, I always felt so bad that you had to be so close to him everyday.” You sigh “I got the attention I never had, but not in the way I preferred… well until the other Jack came.” You reach a room full of more debt-riders “dammit, what a waste of ammo…” you look down at your fist and shrug, you realize that the debt these people owed made them unable to afford any source of energy… or guns, for that matter. “Wait, Sugar, what ‘other Jack’?” You grunt as another debtor tries to take you down “Can you give me a sec, Mox?” You turn your echo piece off, as you slam them into the floor. You tilt your head back “god, why is there SO MANY?!” Another wave falls from the ceiling, you give in to the waste and take out a gun and knock them all down with a single mag. You click your echo piece on again “What were you asking about-?” You said, whilst looting some of their bodies for home fully something. “The other Jack? Who is it?” You bite the inside of your lip “Jacks dead, so I can say his name now, right? He might be dead too- I don’t know I think he said it was Jim- Jimmy? Jimothy? I feel shitty now, he was like the only person I talked to when working at Hyperion-“ “Timothy Lawrence, hm, never would take you for the type.” You pause your looting “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Your jaw drops in disbelief “Nothing, Sugar.” You can hear her giggle on the other side “Head out the exit, you should see a giant tower, it’s the biggest thing in the casino by a mile. Now if I know Jack, and I’m ashamed to say I did, that tower is where we can find the keys to the kingdom.”

After about an half an hour of wandering around and killing all the debtors, you reached what Jack so “greatly” named the Spendopticon. All of a sudden you get an incoming transmission from someone named “Pretty Boy” you groan “What do you wan-“ he cuts you off, very rudely “Welcome to the Casino! So you’re the big spender who’s been racking up charges, eh?” Your face grimaces before shooting a debtor that tried crawling on you “uh, yeah? I guess, who the hell are you?” He laughs as you’re trying to shake off more people “Heh, well pardon our mess there, we’re still working on ‘renovations’. But all you need to know is I’m the boss here. Anyone gives you a hard time, just ask for Pretty Boy, heh! I’ll sort them out for ya.” You groan as you swing at another one “Look ‘Pretty Boy’, thanks for the offer, but I’m good working alone.” He sighs “Well, my offer still stands, don’t go breakin’ my heart so soon, toots.” He signs off “God, why does everything with Jack have to end up creepy and slightly perverted?” Moxxxi hums, “I don’t know sugar, but at least we know who the boss is. But don’t trust a word he says, he seems all teeth.”

You wander around to another court yard, but this time it’s different. The robots don’t seem to attack you, they race past you to fight off the debtors who are causing a riot. Stunned, you walk past him. Once you snuck past, you see something out of the ordinary “Can ANYONE hear me?” A voice yells from inside a big yellow crate, guarded by giant loader bots. “Hahaha! I got all the time in the world, Timmie! All the time in the world.” You step closer to the crate until a loose sheet of metal gets caught on your boot and makes a loud crash “shit.” The door on the crate rattles “Is someone out there?! Please, help me out!” Pretty boy laughs over the Spendopticon’s PA systems “Have fun with my loaders, ya schmuck!” The loaders all turn to you, “Can’t I just have ONE mission on a nice beach somewhere?” You whine, while you really aren’t one to complain, you haven’t slept in a while and your body is running off whatever gasoline liquor Moxxxi have you on the sanctuary earlier. You grab your gun of choice from your bag, and load in a new mag “Come on robitches, let’s dance.”

Pretty Boy calls in for more backup, you get distracted and an EXP-loader hits hard, destroys your armor completely. “Fuck!” Pretty Boy laughs and mocks you right before you shoot the screen with his ugly mug on it, unfortunately for your gun that was all the ammo you had left. Luckily, using the anger from the guy in the box complaining that he was trapped, you took out your rage against the robots and started bashing their mechanical heads in with the butt of your gun. “You might’ve destroyed my screens, but your next toots. And Timmie, it was nice seeing ya, handsome bastard. We’ll talk soon!” And with that the final loader drops and you head back to the door. It swings open revealing a man hunched over with a metallic right hand, and his hoodie up. He raises his hands “N-n-no! Don’t shoot, don’t shoot! Don’t- this isn’t what it looks like…” he pulls up his hoodie, and immediately you raise your gun more. If it wasn’t bad enough his face was everywhere, there is no way in hell… he survived! It’s Jack, but it doesn’t feel like it, also isn’t he supposed to be dead? You raise a brow in confusion and you keep your gun steady. There isn’t any ammo, but he doesn’t know that. “Explain yourself, now, or I’ll turn your face into ground beef.” He raises his hands more “I just need you to-“ he pauses and his hands drop slowly “It…it’s you…”

your brows furrow and you slowly lower your gun “I’m who?” His lip corners twitch, unknowing wether to feel happy to see you do upset that you don’t remember him right off the bat. He pulls his shirt collar down to reveal a pendant, a pendant you knew all too well. When you two finished your first mission, the older woman who you helped made you both matching charm necklaces. They were gorgeous and even engraved your initials together, since she thought you two were dating. You put your gun down, you reach into one of your pockets and pull out your pendant. You lock eyes with him, “Timothy, is it really you…?” He smiles, and before he can even respond something inside you breaks. The cold outer shell that formed over the last tasking 7 years sheds away as your muscles move, without your will, and pull him into a warm embrace. It doesn’t take long for him to bury his face in your hair, and hold you like he was never going to let go. “I was so worried about you, Tim… I should’ve taken you with me, I- I’m sorry.” He pulls away and cups your face “Don’t apologize! You’re here now, that’s all I’ve ever wanted… wait, why are you here anyways? I mean, I’m glad your here, but you got to escape Jack why-“ you grab his shoulders to get his attention “Would love to fill you in on what I’ve been doing for the past 7 years, but I need your help.” He smirks at me “I’ll help you as much as you need, baby- I’m sorry! The DNA… yeah I got some of his DNA so stuff like that happens now. But what do you need help with?” Your face is blushed a bit from the first bit, but you manage to snap yourself out of it “I’m trying to figure out how to get into Jacks tower.” He snorts “Join the club, butt-face! Oh my lanta, Im soso sorry I really can’t help it.” You giggle, and he turns his gaze away but, you’re not stupid and you can see that blush on his cute cheeks. “I can get you in though, this-a-way!” He spins your shoulders so you’re now facing the way to walk, and while you’re walking to wherever you need to go you decide to ask him a couple of questions. “So Jack infused you with his DNA so now you make weird Jack remarks?” He groans “Yes, it’s the worst. I felt like I wasn’t myself before, and now I’m like an off-brand version of Jack!” He pouts, and you giggle at his expression “Look, as long as there’s a tiny bit of you still in there, that’s all that matters… and hey, maybe once this is all over, I can get my medic on my ship to get you back to normal… if you want to, of course.” He’s not listening, or maybe he is? You can’t tell, he’s just gazing at you as you tiredly ramble to him. “You have a medic, and a ship, and you still are talking to me?” You nod “Why wouldn’t I?” He looks down at his feet and shrugs, before seeing blood at yours. His eyes widen to see that the explosion he heard earlier, was displayed very boldly on your back. “Shit! You’re bleeding- like a lot!” You yawn “I’m fine that happens.” He takes your arm and rushes you to a door in a nearby wall “Well, I was gonna do a tour but I don’t want you to die on the doormat!”

He gently sits you in a chair while he grabs a small medical kit he had hiding underneath a nearby pipe. He’s panicking, to wrap your wound but when he does your echo falls to the floor. “Hey, hun stay awake okay? I don’t want you… dying.” You happy-pout “You’re so nice Tim…” he squishes your cheeks “And you’re so stupid! Sorry- DNA, again… but still, please don’t get this hurt again, I don’t want anything bad to happen.” You rolls your eyes and lean your forehead against his “Yeah, yeah…” he fiddles with his hands “Maybe- maybe we can push the mission off until tomorrow?” You huff “I’m fine, Timmy, I swear-“ he squeezes your face between his hands “Hun, you look tired, hungry and you could die if I don’t help you. So please, just let me do this for you… you’d do the same for me, right?” You groan, “Tim, I promise, I’m fine…” he rolls his eyes “If you were fine we wouldn’t be having this conversation would we?” You avoid his gaze, he was right. But you didn’t want to be weak, you didn’t want to be vulnerable.

“I’d hate to break up this sweet moment, sugar, but we do need him to help us with the mission.” Moxxxi speaks over your echo, Timothy picks it up “Moxxxi? You’re working on this mission?” This hurts a little, sure you were his friend before you were a Vault Hunter, but that doesn’t mean you maybe didn’t crush on him at one point or another. And Mox is literally the Handsome Jack gaze, Timothy… Tim could love her. Moxxxi finally moves from my echo to the holo-pad, “Tell my why I shouldn’t let the Vault Hunter blow your brains out Timothy?” He raises his hands “Moxxxiiiii, hi… look, they’re basically bleeding out can you just let me handle that first?” She crosses her arms before looking at you. He turns around to see that you’re standing up, seemingly fine. “Wait are you..” he lifts the back of your shirt, the wound is gone “How-“ he furrows his brows trying to figure it out before Moxxxi interrupts him “VH is fine, again, tell me why we should trust you.” He rubs the back of his neck, “Look, Mox, I trust him. If he wanted to kill me already he would’ve. And besides, I know he couldn’t if he tried either.” He pouts “what’s that supposed to mean-“ she sighs “Whatever you say Sugar, but what use does he have for us?”

He moves around to my side “Well, as unfortunate as it is, I both look, sound and even have a little bit of his DNA. I can get the vault Hunter where they need to go.” Moxxxi walks up to you “Are you sure about this? I trust your decision VH.” You nod, a slight smile on your face. She hums “Okay, well don’t get carried away in here, Sugar.” She sends you a wink before logging off, leaving you a confused flustered mess. Tim leans over to look at your face “You okay- also, again, never answered my question! How’d you heal your back?!” You grab your echo again “I’m fine, and I-“ you paused, you never told him. He’s never seen it, your siren markings. How would he react to knowing that you his that from him ever since you met. “You know you can tell me anything, right?” You scratch your head, “I’ll tell you about it later, we ne-“ he raises a brow and looks at you with probably the sternest face he’s ever made. “We need to get you to stop blowing me off.” You sigh as he moves to face you and gently places his hands on your shoulders “Talk to me.” You can’t say no to him, “Fine, just… promise you won’t get mad?” He smiles “I could never get mad at you” god you really want to kiss him right now- BESIDES THE POINT, you clear your throat “Just uhm… this is a little odd, so just bear with me here.” He nods, you take off your remaining chest armor and lift the under shirt to reveal glowing markings that curve around your chests features. He’s just standing there staring, maybe it’s cause he’s confused, maybe it’s cause he didn’t know your a siren… most likely because you just lifted your shirt for him, but beyond that, you’re concerned. “I was talking with my medic, Tannis, and she ran some experiments on me and when I woke up I had these siren markings. I don’t know how she did it but it makes me able to like save myself? I just keep forgetting about it, I usually never had the pleasure of not bleeding out.” He’s still standing there “Timothy, you’re staring.” He shakes his head, his cheeks colored a bright cherry red “Sorry, yeah uhm… that’s cool as shit, also maybe next time a more descriptive warning- but nonetheless, we should probably get going on this mission, yeah?”

He walks around the Spendopticon showing you all the entrances, the turrets and most importantly where he thinks the plan will work most. And before you know it, after days upon days of fighting, and even a trusted persons betrayal, you’re finally here. Pretty Boy kidnapped Timothy, and he wants your head on a mount. Unfortunately for you, he has a giant mecha-Jack suit, and you have to take him out by yourself. As easy as it may seem to a hardcore vault Hunter, you also have Timothy’s life- as well as yours on the line. He set it to self destruct, and the only way you can stop it is by defeating pretty boy and setting Timothy free. Luckily, Pretty boy isn’t used to having such height or the mechs controls, so as long as you move a lot he can’t seem to hit you. He finally get downed “Would you like to upgrade to the premium shield package?” You hear Pretty Boy slam the controls “No, dammit! Just go back to work!” Soon more of his loaders spawn. You walk near Timothy as you kill them “Are you doing alright in there?” He kneels down to talk to you “Are you alright out there? I would help but these bars burn like hell!” You grunt as you kick away one of the mini-loaders “I’ll be fine, Tim, trust me.”

Soon enough Pretty Boy stands back up “Round two, Toots!” You look back at Timothy “wai-“ You reload your gun “I’ll be right back, swear!” You run right up to pretty boy, shooting his mech in the weak spots that were basically already ripping open due to the pure amount of gun fire. Eventually you shoot at the spot for long enough to the point that the legs aren’t functioning correctly anymore. He gets distracted and you take this opportunity to shoot at this other weak spots. Mainly his joints. Usually you would aim for the head, but seeing as that’s quite literally the only part of the mech that backfired, you chose not to aim for it… it literally repelled your bullets. Eventually after enough damage to the robot he gets downed again. You slide over to a crate and grab more ammo before one of the mini-loaders starts shooting at you. “Why you little-“ you pick it up and throw it at the other one and they both make a tiny explosion. Cute, but unfortunate. You make your way back over to Timothy “Hey, Tim-Tim, you still doing okay?” He squats “Maybe you should stop talking to me, and focus on not dying, hun” you tilt your head “Hun? What’s with that, and why do you care so much? Do you not trust me?” He points, and before even getting a word out, you cut him off with the sound of a pistol. “Yeah, loader, got it, answer my question”

you continue to blast your way through the small wave of loaders “firstly, I said hun because of the DN- no, because I wanted too, and secondly I care because-“ The mecha-Jack stands once again “Dammit! Can this stupid bitch stay down! I’ll be right back Tim, we can talk after you’re safe!” He throws his arms up in anguish, before accidentally brushing his finger against the lasers “Fuck!” And finally, after Mecha-Jack starts to fly, he falls just as fast. Pretty boy crawls out of his head and tries running away, you pull him by the collar back “P-please! Toots, don’t hurt me, I’ll do anything! Wealth, power, what do you want?” You point your gun at his head “I want quiet.” You pull the trigger and his final breath draws. Though his life ended yours continues… but it won’t forever if you can’t shut down the course towards the wormhole. “Use that panel over there, it should work!” You type it in before the Hyperion voice lady boots you out “We need your DNA, Tim.” He groans “And I can’t get out of here without that either… look, you should leave” you look at him in disbelief “Timothy, why the hell would you say that, I’m not leaving you here. That’s not funny.” He kneels down to face you “I’m not Joking… you have such a cool full life ahead of you, and I don’t want you to die just because I’m trapped in this shitty laser cage-“ he stands up, obviously with an idea “Timothy I’m not-“ he shushes you “Wait I have an idea. Cover your ears, I don’t want you to hear this.”

You look around the room, but oblige covering your ears. He hesitantly brings his hand up to the laser and screams bloody murder while he slowly saws it off. You cringe, you don’t like seeing him get hurt. He finishes cutting his hand off and he sits in pain “Just… just pick that up, hun… use that I need a second-“ he breathes shakingly as you pick up his severed hand and place it onto the machine “Handsome DNA detected! Self-destruction by wormhole protocol: cancelled. Cages: cleared.” The Handsome Jackpot stops moving and Timothy’s cage bars fall. He jumps down and meets you eye to eye “Who knew that after all these years you’d still be helping me?” You smile as his arms meet your waist “Never said I would stop, did I?” He chuckles as your arms wrap around his neck “Well I think my hero deserves a long awaited reward.” He looks at your lips and back to your eyes, you nod before he tilts his head and locks his lips with yours. As cheesy as it is, you’ve always dreamt of this, preferably without the murder bots and the small guy’s corpse behind you, but beggars can’t be choosers. “You owe me one, now, you know that Tim?” He laughs “Yeah, yeah… come on, let go loot the shit out of this casino.” As quickly as the debt raked up, it fell just as fast. And everyone was finally free from Jack greedy hands for the last time.

The End (?)

~

(A/N): I might make a “Timothy on the Sanctuary” fluff story after this, you won’t need to have read all of this to read that one, but it’s gonna be so fluffy (I’m ill, don’t ask 😭) But I hoped you somewhat enjoyed this! I was on a mental rollercoaster writing this.

[zooophagous]

Whats your favorite kind of vampire? (Like which powers/weaknesses/appearance?)

I like my vampires as pathetic little rat men. Creepy, obviously deformed, creatures that scuttle along the margins of society; not so much the wealthy and powerful socialites in expensive clothing.

The ideal vampire is flat broke and only has clothing because it steals it from a Savers. The ideal vampire looks harmless and frail but can peel a man like a banana.

An animal that hides from you when you see it in the graveyard but might just follow you home.

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

On Thursday, the Social Security Administration announced its largest cost of living adjustment for beneficiaries in four decades, an inflation-driven raise of 8.7% that will take effect in January 2023. That increase matches the average annual COLA from 1975 through 1982, an era of recessions and high inflation. Annual Social Security raises declined after that year. From 1996 through 2021, they averaged 2.3%, and were zero in some years. The 2021 raise was substantially higher: 5.9%.

The new increase in benefits will be pricey. On the other hand, the cost to taxpayers of the entire Social Security program pales in comparison with the cost of federal subsidies for rich Americans enrolled in private or supplemental retirement plans, such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs). According to Federal Reserve data from 2019, only 31% of households from the poorest half of the wealth spectrum contributed to such a plan, while 91% of households in the top wealth decile did.

This suggests that low-wealth retirees rely heavily or exclusively on Social Security, but all US workers get to collect benefits starting at age 62. As of last month, nearly 66 million Americans, rich and poor alike, were getting monthly checks. Most are retirees, but there are also spouses, disabled workers, survivors of deceased workers, and dependent children. The largest and best-compensated group, the retired workers, averaged $1,674 a month, or about $20,000 per year.

The SSA now pays out about $1.2 trillion a year in benefits all told, but those outlays are largely funded by payroll taxes paid by workers who will later reap the benefits. In 2021, the price tag of the entire program—benefits plus administrative costs—totaled $1.14 trillion, of which $1.09 trillion was covered by payroll taxes, income taxes on benefits, and interest. In other words, the federal Social Security subsidy was only about $50 billion.

Compare that with subsidies for private plans and IRAs, which cost the government nearly eight times as much—about $380 billion a year, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. And unlike Social Security subsidies, these subsidies skew heavily toward the highest earners.

There’s a reason I noted the year 1996 above. Before then, as I point out in this earlier exposé about America’s retirement system, private retirement accounts were strictly regulated and not heavily subsidized. Starting that year, federal lawmakers—led by then Reps. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), began introducing bipartisan retirement “reform” packages that pumped more and more federal dollars into bolstering private retirement savings, mainly to the benefit of high-income workers and Wall Street.

University of Virginia law professor Michael Doran, who dug deep into the subject for a January 2022 paper titled, “The Great American Retirement Fraud,” suggested that lawmakers, rather than helping rich Americans shuffle even more of their money into tax-­deferred or tax-exempt retirement funds, could instead pass laws to benefit Americans who actually need help in retirement. That might include simply beefing up Social Security, he wrote.

Instead, yet another bill that benefits wealthy savers sailed through Congress. And Republican Rick Scott released a set of aspirations for his own party—an 11-point “Plan for America,” of which one provision would let all federal laws “sunset” every five years—including laws governing Social Security and Medicare.

[pearl484-blog]

I've been reading Journey to the West for Fire Opal (its an old ass book that she apparently struggles with. My obsession with classical lit FOR THE WIN!)

Now, for background, we started off our knowledge from a summary given to us by Overly Sarcastic Productions. It's great. You should watch it.

Then, we watched Lego Monkie Kid, a TV series designed to be a sequel to the book with a lot of references to the series in a high energy action series with great animation. It's great. You should watch it.

But, if you're not familiar with Chinese folklore (or Japanese if you're a needy anime fan like me who liked Inuyasha and a few other series with Buddhist references (kinda did not realize how often those get in these shows, seriously)) you're going to miss a few jokes/references.

(The one about Mei, the dragon/pony descendant getting excited to meet her dragon/pony ancestor who must've been super helpful on their journey (He was FREQUENTLY forgotten by the authors of being a mother friggin DRAGON, they kept getting hung up on the whole acting as a horse thing) is HILARIOUS when you know how BADLY she's about to be disappointed.)

Anyway, back on topic, when we were checking out our book at the library, it was divided into several books (not surprising considering how big it is) and the first book was missing, so we picked up an abridged copy (only 700 pages. Yeah. Journey to the West is a door stopper at a whopping 20,000 pages.) It leaves out a lot of details, but even with OSP's summaries of each adventure, it was a LIFE SAVER.

Why?

Each friggin' character has like 8 names. You'd think the translators would give a quick rundown ahead of the book too, you know as a refresher for those who didn't have book 1, but NOPE!

The abridged version keeps each character with their easiest to recall nickname at all times and simplifies and explains a lot of mythology that English Speakers may not know as well.

Did you know that a winking wish is secretly a human? Because I did not. I've heard of talking carp, and wish granting carp. But not winking carp secretly being human.

Then there's the fact that the underworld can ask for bank loans from wealthy families on behalf of the emperor? What? Like, how does that work? Do you get a vision in a dream and your money's gone? Does a spirit collect it for you? Is it a blink and you miss it fortune? I am way too invested in these freaking underworld money lending deals.

Both are in Tang Sangzang's complicated backstory, and even with the abridged version walking me through it step by step, I can see why OSP shortened it into "basically He's the reincarnation of the Golden Cicada, former pupil of the Buddha and the goodness boy ever"

Anyways: a few comments

Why OSP did you call the spell that tightens the circlet on Monkey King's head a migraine spell? I mean, that is REALLY underselling the horror of that little do-dad. I was completely unprepared for the description of it squeezing Monkey King's skull until it resembled a vase as he begged for Tang to stop. That's a teeeeeny bit more than a migraine.

2. Also, why in the heck is Tamg so obsessed with his friggin' alms bowl?

For reference, Buddhist monks are not allowed to carry money, so to eat, they carry around a bowl you can leave food in to feed them, allowing you to support your local Buddhist monks and earn good karma. This is completely socially acceptable and is seen as a good thing to do. For this reason, most monks serve in urban environments so they can serve a large enough community to support this.

Tang Sangzang is in the middle of a pilgrimage with DAYS of rural country where there may be no one to beg from around. And YET, he seems adamantly against foraging.

One of his detractors' major complaints is that he's so gullible and soft-hearted he keeps falling into obvious traps, but honestly. That's forgivable compared to sending your companions to scoure WHOLE MOUNTAIN RANGES for some rinky dink little cabin that may or may not be there and may or may not be willing to part with their food and may or may not be able to accomodate a vegetarian diet when they are living by themselves ON A MOUNTAIN.

Is foraging REALLY against Tang Sangzang's brand of Buddhism? Is it too much to ask for him to just...asks his companions to forage and make him a meal? He doesn't mind making them beg for him.

OSP keeps describing it as Monkey going to get him food, but I genuinely thought he was using his skills to forage, not cloud hop around till he found a house to beg from.

Granted, the group would have probably gotten attacked/tricked/captured/etc. another way, but SERIOUSLY?

3. OSP describes the fight against White Bone Lady as Monkey King just hits her and she dies, but Monkie Kid makes a BIG deal out of her. So, I figured this was one of OSP's jokes. NOPE!

Ivory white bone demon or whatever is literally one-hit KO-ed THREE times by Monkey King. Her special ability appears to be illusions and the ability to drop her body and escape into an immaterial form at the last second.

However, narratively speaking, her fight is what drives Monkey King away to leave the first time, so apparently adaptations love upping her abilities so she's more of a legitimate threat.

This DOES however make her line that she's grown stronger since Monkey King last fought her VERY funny. Because I don't think there's another major demon who gets KO-ed that quickly, especially one that has that happen 3 times! (You'd think she'd have learned and called it quits by the third time. Or at least distract the freakishly strong evil-detecting bodyguard somehow, but no.) So, yeah. You survived a single punch. You leveled up girl!

Honestly, rewatching her scenes knowing this makes all her talk of being powerful very funny. She's terrifying, yeah, but also it's funny.

Edited 9/25: forgot to add a read more line. Whoops

[gallecrossing]

On the subject of hot weather, what's the weather like in Gallecross? If it ever gets wretchedly hot and humid, how do people like to stay cool?

Gallecross is a seaside city, so the weather can get quite warm in the summers and very cold during the worst of the winter squalls. The different boroughs are a bit more nuanced, the more built up areas get hotter and stay warmer but the areas by the water and the ones that are built more spread out cool down faster and stay cooler.

The hottest sections are the wall boroughs, since they're built inside the great walls. They get stuffy and a bit gross, so there are a lot of sections (especially up high to avoid compromising the point of the wall itself) that can fold open like giant windows to let air inside and through as a sort of ventilation measure. It also means that nice breezes don't get fully blocked by the walls during the hotter months. It's really quite a marvel of engineering.

The public parks are usually a good bet to cool off during a particularly warm day, they're shady and full of water features to keep things nice and cool the air. There's also beaches both on the oceanside areas and along a few streams and lakes within the walls. Some of the more affluent folks even have their own personal swimming pools, though space in the city is limited so that isn't too common. Not to mention selling ice creams and other cold treats becomes something of a summer past-time for a lot of restaurants and food vendors with access to small carts or other conveyances. It's great advertising when you can sell something to people whole boroughs away from your main business!

There are charms and enchantments to cool areas down, usually reserved for wealthy individuals or for businesses when they're cooling a whole house or other building, but smaller 'rechargable' cooling charms can be bought on a more personal level (most commonly set on small stones for the stability/sturdiness; they're referred to as chillstones because of this). Wear it on a piece of jewelry or carry it in a pouch or pocket, activate it and it cools you off for a short while with a certain number of activations per day before it needs to recharge for a set time via absorbing the ambient magical energy of the area. We have a good-will program that passes out reduced price (or even free depending on the situation) chillstones to any areas more affected by a heatwave, and to poorer areas and the areas where new arrivals to the city tend to congregate.

On a more personal level, Alkimos and I grew up in an area that was hot, but more dry than here. So it's not the heat that gets us, it's the damned humidity. Usually we stay indoors as much as possible; we've got an enchantment on our house that allows us to keep the humidity down. It's a life-saver honestly. You don't want to see Alkimos when his mane really frizzes up, it's already a fluffy mess half the time even without the humidity's help!

[idroolinmysleep]

Tax-advantaged savings has become a staple of the American retirement system, with 60 million savers squirreling away $6.6 trillion in their 401(k)s, alone. … [But] that success now vexes many retirement experts, alarmed by how easily Congress acquiesces to tax breaks for retirement savings that disproportionately help the wealthy while treating the benefits relied upon by most retirees — Social Security and Medicare — as budget-busters ripe for reform. … The latest expansion of private retirement savings comes at a time when Social Security, which the majority of American seniors rely on to cover basic living expenses, faces insolvency in 2034. Secure 2.0 sailed through Congress shortly before lawmakers convened working groups to try to fix Social Security’s $119 billion cash shortfall, which amounted to less than half of a single year’s worth of tax benefits for retirement savings that mostly go to higher earners. … The success of the retirement industry and its advocates in Congress has put a sinkhole in the federal budget at a time when entitlements are under threat. While the cost to the Treasury for tax-advantaged retirement savings was $81 billion in 1995, it has since swelled to over $369 billion in 2023 and, in the wake of Secure 1.0 and 2.0, is expected to nearly double to $659 billion in 2027.

[swiftcry]

Thrift Shops aren't the problem, convienance is.

Woke up last night remembering some post bitching about how thrift shops suck now because they are all full of crappy shein fast fashion garbage and for some reason placing the blame on the shop and saying it has something to do with them being for profit. Which is both illogical and blatantly dosen't understand how thrift shops work. I worked for Savers years ago; I wasn't a sorter but a floor associate. But they made sure we knew how the process worked because people would ask us questions. So lets say you donate a shirt; it gets checked over by the sorters to see if its good enough to go on the sales floor- that is if it has any tears, stains, etc. If it is good enough, it gets a price tag and goes out onto the floor. If it isn't good enough, it either goes in the trash or into the send out bin. Basically items that are not good enough for americans to buy but are still technically wearable get sent off to 3rd world countries as donations. Because in some places a pair of shoes, even a worn pair, is still a pair of shoes. High value items are tagged and at least at savers placed in a special area near the registers. I know that goodwill has like an auction site for their high value items- so they definately send theirs out. But like one time a bridal shop closed and we had like 30 wedding dress samples all in that spot. In order to have enough merchandise, because sometimes donations are slow, savers ships the sorters unsorted pallets of donations from elsewhere to go through. Admittedly I don't remember where those come from. Items usually took a couple days to a week to get from the donation bin to the sales floor.

What does this tell us? Well the obvious actually, everything in the store is donated for the most part by the local population. They aren't picking out the namebrand items and sending them who knows where- in order to make money savers needs to sell those just the same. What this means is that people are donating more fast fashion items then they are donating name brand items. Why? Convienance. Who buys fast fashion items? 2 types of people generally. 1. Poor people who cannot afford name brand clothing who will likely wear the items until they fall apart. 2. Moderately wealthy people who want to be fashionable in the short term or even only want to wear an item once and want the items fast and cheap. They cannot afford the real garments the clothing is based on or cannot be bothered to look for them since SHEIN seemingly has it all and for cheap the number two person is our problem. They buy an excess of cheap clothing bc it is so cheap and after wearing it once or twice donate it all.

in the past this type of person would have purchased long term use clothing from brick and mortar stores or name brand websites; they owned fewer outfits and what they donated was well made and either didn’t fit them or despite being used was well enough made it didn’t matter.

Which is where we get to the other ugly part of a shirts lifespan. So let’s say you buy a shirt on Amazon. You realize you don’t like it- so you return it. In the old days that might have required proving why you don’t want it or going through some hoops. Now it’s easy as a click of a button and you just have to go to your local kohls or staples who deal with everything for you. It’s become wildly convenient- so that where in the past it might have been so inconvenient that you donate the shirt instead. See I work at staples now. I see so many consumerist returns I want to go and live in the woods. Yesterday I had a woman return 10 nearly identical yellow skirts because she wants one of a particular shade. Those 10 skirts go back to the Amazon warehouse where they will be place in a palette and sold and auction; entirely skipping the thrift store level. That shirt you returned will never make it to the thrift shop.

and the name brand stores in order to compete with Amazon follow suit with easy returns- the parent company that owns old navy/banana republic/gap/fabletics literally made its own type of returns service called express returns in order to compete. Staples processes these too so I see them. So much perfectly good clothing gets returned with it. One woman told me she bought it just for a baby shower photo shoot thing and because it’s so easy to return it’s no big deal.

and I’m sure you’ve noticed that name brand items are also being cheaper and less good quality. In some cases that’s because they realized that people will buy crap so they can make crap. In other cases it’s in order to compete. Depends on the brand. fast fashion items notably usually can’t be returned or it’s a hassle but bc they are so cheap, a lot of people don’t care leading to them being in thrift shops.

The presense of fast fashion items in thrift shops is a symptom of a suffering economy that has been pushed to the edge by a “now now now” mindset. And it sucks ass.

[inkcurlsandknives]

Hey Writeblr today’s Writing Question

What's your MC's approach to money? are they from a poor or wealthy background? Are they savers or spenders? have their circumstances changed since the story began?

[moon-pepper]

Not going to link or screenshot it because it's not something that even remotely matters, but that post that's like "I hate it when fantasy stories get modern-day iterations and they turn the knights into cops! they should be serving their community! knights aren't just about swinging big swords at people!" kills me because. that's pretty much exactly what knights are about. I know most people only see knights as the revisionist fantasy "heroic princess-saver who always stands for justice" trope but historically knights were just wealthy guys who had the king's permission to kill people who made them mad. A cop is probably the best modern-day comparison you can make

[mysoftboybensolo]

My Headcanons for Jack Seward (BBC Dracula)

He's an only child, and never really seemed to connect with the other kids, despite his efforts to join in their games. He was often bullied as a child and had no friends, which left him with feelings of unworthiness and insecurity that follows him through adulthood.

His home life was...not great. Despite his family being wealthy and the ability to have anything they want, his parents were very unhappy. His mother suffered from depression and anxiety, and even though she cared for Jack, she had a hard time connecting to him because of her mental illness. She eventually commits suicide when Jack is six years old.

The event really shook Jack to the core, even prompting him as an adult to become a doctor and specializing in mental health. His mother's death made him a target for kids, saying that his mom was a nutjob and he maybe should follow in her footsteps.

Jack's dad was an overbearing, mean, and snobbish man, who put too much expectation on his son. He was disappointed that Jack was not more "manly" and was too sensitive for his father's taste. Jack always tried to gain his father's approval, but after graduating high school, he realized it was never going to happen, so after a big argument of what career Jack wanted to go into, he leaves for good and his father cuts him off.

Getting into college on a scholarship, Jack meets Zoe Van Helsing, who sees how quiet but hardworking he is, and decides to take him under her wing. Jack sees her as a substitute parent, even at times the older sister he never had. She tells him about the Harker Foundation, and how joining is easy money, knowing that he is struggling now being cut off, and it is a life saver for Jack.

He also signed up for tutoring for the extra money, and that is how he meets Lucy Westenra. She went to college for Liberal Arts, but was struggling and her mom insisted she get a tutor. Jack was very shy around her at first, but her open personality made it easier for him to open up and he starts to fall for her. He knew Lucy could be vain, cold, and mean, but he still loved her because she made him feel seen and needed, which is something no one else had ever made him feel.

When she decided to leave college, Jack was devastated as he was certain he'd never see her again, but she called him one day (having his number to contact him for tutoring sessions) and asked him to join her at the club. He was so happy to be able to be with her outside of school, and that night, she suggest that they go back to her place, which they then sleep together that night.

Jack never kissed anyone before Lucy and, even though he knew she didn't feel the same way as he did, he accepted her offer, certain this was the most love he'd ever get. It broke his heart to see her with other people, but he's never dare to share what his feelings for her are, seeing it as his problem and not hers.

When he hears that he lost two of the most important people in one day, with him killing vampire Lucy and Zoe dies while taking Dracula with her, he feels totally lost, and almost ready to end his life, but decides to push forward, seeing that Zoe left him everything, with a note saying how proud she is of him and is certain he'll be a great doctor.

Some years later, now a doctor who has helped many patients, he has at last made peace with the deaths of Lucy and Zoe, and with a newfound confidence and acceptance of himself, he is able to lead a full and happy life with new friends and learn to love once more.

[asherbrien]

Common Myths About Buying A Home With Cash

Buying a home with cash is often seen as a financially savvy move, but several myths surround this approach. These misconceptions can deter potential cash buyers or create unrealistic expectations. Understanding the truth behind these myths can help you make a more informed decision if you’re considering purchasing a home outright. Here are some of the most common myths about buying a home with cash and the realities that dispel them.

Myth 1: Only the Wealthy Can Afford to Buy Homes with Cash

One of the most pervasive myths is that only the wealthy can afford to buy homes with cash. While it's true that paying cash requires significant savings, it’s not solely the domain of the ultra-rich. Many people who have been diligent savers, have downsized, or have sold a previous home for a substantial profit can afford to buy a home with cash. Additionally, in markets with lower home prices or for those purchasing smaller or more modest properties, paying cash may be within reach for more people than commonly thought.

Myth 2: Paying Cash Means You Shouldn’t Get a Home Inspection

Some people mistakenly believe that if you’re paying cash, you can skip the home inspection. The logic behind this myth is that without a lender requiring an inspection, it’s not necessary. However, a home inspection is a critical step in the home-buying process, regardless of how you’re paying. An inspection can reveal potential issues with the property that could lead to expensive repairs down the line. Paying cash doesn’t protect you from buying a home with hidden problems, so a thorough inspection is always recommended.

Myth 3: Cash Buyers Always Get a Better Deal

While it’s true that cash buyers often have more negotiating power, this doesn’t guarantee that they will always get a better deal. The assumption is that sellers will automatically lower the price for cash buyers because the sale is quicker and less risky. However, in a competitive market, sellers may receive multiple offers and choose the highest one, regardless of whether it’s cash or financing. Also, some sellers might be more focused on getting the highest possible price than on a quick, hassle-free sale. Cash buyers should still be prepared to negotiate and not assume that paying cash automatically results in a lower purchase price.

Myth 4: Paying Cash Ties Up All Your Liquid Assets

Another common misconception is that buying a home with cash will tie up all your liquid assets, leaving you financially vulnerable. While it’s true that paying cash requires a significant outlay of funds, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be left without liquidity. Many cash buyers ensure they retain enough liquid assets for emergencies or other financial needs. Additionally, some buyers choose to keep part of their funds liquid and finance a smaller portion of the home, balancing the benefits of cash purchasing with maintaining financial flexibility.

Myth 5: You Don’t Need Title Insurance When Paying Cash

Some cash buyers mistakenly believe that title insurance is unnecessary because they’re not dealing with a lender. However, title insurance is essential for protecting against potential legal issues related to the property’s ownership. Problems like unpaid property taxes, undisclosed heirs, or clerical errors in public records can lead to costly legal battles or even loss of property. Title insurance provides peace of mind, ensuring that your ownership is secure.

Conclusion

Cash purchasing a house offers many advantages, but it’s important to separate myths from reality. While it can be a smart financial move, understanding the potential pitfalls and misconceptions ensures that you make an informed decision. Whether it’s the need for a home inspection, the importance of title insurance, or the realities of negotiating, being well-informed will help you navigate the process more effectively and avoid common mistakes.

[otacringe]

THEY HAD A RATATOING DVD AT SAVERS TODAY I’M GOING HOME A WEALTHY MAN

[freenewsreport]

Navigating the Complexities of Taxation: Insights from Mike Warburton

In an ever-evolving financial landscape, taxation remains a pivotal concern for individuals and businesses alike. Mike Warburton, a distinguished expert in taxation, offers a wealth of knowledge to help navigate these complexities. His expertise provides invaluable guidance on topics ranging from capital gains tax reforms to the nuanced implications of self-employment tax.

Understanding Loan Notes and Shares: A Tax Perspective

The distinction between loan notes and shares is crucial in financial management. Loan notes are debt securities, whereas shares represent ownership in a company. Misclassification can lead to significant tax liabilities, particularly concerning capital gains tax. It is essential to accurately classify these financial tools to avoid legal and tax complications.

Paying family members for care services is a common practice, but it carries significant tax implications. Mike Warburton emphasizes the importance of understanding these implications to prevent unexpected tax bills. For example, payments made to family caregivers may attract income tax, potentially catching both parties off guard.

To mitigate these risks, it is advisable to formalize care payment arrangements through written agreements. Clearly outlining payment terms ensures compliance with tax regulations and minimizes the likelihood of unforeseen tax liabilities.

The Tax Gap and the Crackdown on Avoidance

The tax gap—the difference between the taxes owed and those collected by the government—remains a pressing issue. Mike Warburton highlights the importance of addressing this gap through robust enforcement measures and public education on tax responsibilities. Engaging in tax avoidance schemes, while tempting, can lead to severe penalties and legal repercussions.

Self-assessment is a common area where taxpayers encounter difficulties. Issues such as unclear deadlines, potential costs, and the need for accurate reporting are prevalent. Mike Warburton underscores the necessity of meticulous record-keeping and the use of accounting software to streamline the self-assessment process. Seeking professional advice can also be beneficial in avoiding common pitfalls.

Preparing for Capital Gains Tax Reforms

Anticipating potential increases in capital gains tax rates, possibly aligning them with income tax rates, is crucial for financial planning. Mike Warburton advises individuals to consider selling assets, such as stocks or investment properties, before any announced changes to avoid higher tax liabilities.

Taxpayers who have overpaid taxes may be eligible for overpayment relief. This typically occurs due to errors in self-assessment or changes in tax law. Filing a formal claim with HMRC within the designated time frame—usually within four years of the tax year’s end—is essential for recovering these funds.

Addressing Tax Burdens for Wealthy Pensioners

Wealthy pensioners may face significant tax policy changes under new government leadership. Mike Warburton warns of the potential for increased tax liabilities as governments seek to raise revenue. Proactive financial management, including the use of available exemptions and reliefs, is crucial for mitigating these potential burdens.

Savers must remain vigilant in the face of changing tax legislation, as these changes can significantly impact returns on savings. Mike Warburton recommends exploring tax-efficient investment options, such as ISAs and pensions, to shield savings from taxation. Staying informed about legislative changes is critical to avoiding unexpected tax liabilities.

The Challenge of Merging Income Tax and National Insurance

The potential unification of income tax and National Insurance contributions presents significant challenges, often due to political opposition and the complexity of existing tax systems. Mike Warburton has played a key role in analyzing these challenges, emphasizing the need for comprehensive reform to create a more efficient and equitable tax system.

Selling property involves complex tax rules that require careful navigation. Mike Warburton stresses the importance of understanding these rules to avoid unexpected liabilities. For example, using part of a property exclusively for business purposes can affect principal private residence (PPR) exemption. Ensuring that no part of the property is solely used for business can help protect against unforeseen tax implications.

Conclusion

Mike Warburton’s insights into the intricacies of taxation provide a roadmap for navigating the complex world of tax obligations. From the classification of financial instruments to the implications of self-assessment and capital gains tax, his expertise is invaluable for those seeking to manage their tax responsibilities effectively. Staying informed, planning ahead, and seeking professional advice are key strategies in mitigating the risks associated with taxation.

[mnice-investor]

Are You on Track to Join the Top 1% of Retirement Savers?

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ghwnn-166ad61 Welcome to The Healthy and Wealthy Retirement, hosted by certified retirement counselor Mark Struthers. In this special Fourth of July episode, Mark delves into what it takes to be among the top 1% of retirement savers and the surprising statistics behind retirement savings in the U.S. Discover eye-opening data from the Federal Reserve,…

[gomezalvaro]

What Legal Features Should I Consider When Buying Real Estate?

To safeguard a safe and seamless deal when purchasing real estate, an amount of legal considerations should be made. First, it is critical to settle the property's legal status, counting ownership rights and any liens or burdens that may be in place. In addition, being aware of building codes, zoning laws and property taxes can assistance avert future issues. It is optional that a capable real estate attorney be hired to superintend contracts, carry out due industry, and assist with the transaction. Manufacture educated decisions also demands understanding mortgage terms, insurance supplies, and potential liabilities. Purchasers can reduce risks and guard their interests during the real estate acquisition process by carefully presence to these legal subjects.

Getting Around Marbella and Sotogrande Real Estate Purchases Savers can profit importantly from Spain's flourishing real estate market by purchasing real estate in Marbella and Sotogrande. Even if you are annoying to purchase property in Sotogrande or Marbella, it's important to know the procedure and get accomplished help to make sure all goes easily. Buy real estate Marbella: Marbella, happening the Costa del Sol, is well known for its wealthy homes and wonderful Mediterranean seashore. Savers can choose from a variety of choices when buying real estate in Marbella, including golf course lands and beachfront villas. Conclusion the model home that fits your needs and budget needs working with experienced real estate brokers who are well-informed about the Marbella market.

Buy Property Marbella: There are many choices obtainable to stockholders looking to purchase inhabited and investment possessions in Marbella. Marbella has an optimal of properties to fit numerous palates and finances, even if you are looking for a holiday home, rental property, or investment chance. Buy real estate Sotogrande: Sotogrande is a famous resort community that is near to Gibraltar on Spain's southern shore. It is well known for its comfortable homes and marina. Depositors can own a piece of wealthy living in a picturesque setting by acquiring real estate in Sotogrande.

Buy property Sotogrande: Buying real estate in Sotogrande allows investors to fully submerge themselves in a creation of leisure and luxury. Sotogrande delivers a finest collection of homes with magnificent opinions and comfortable amenities, even if you're penetrating for a second home or a home to call homebased.

Real estate lawyer Spain: To defend your interests and sell legal complexities, you must hire a skilled Spanish real estate lawyer when buying real estate. Reviewing contracts, doing due diligence, and creation sure local laws are followed are all made much calmer with the help of a real estate lawyer in Spain.

Buy real estate Villa Padierna: Known for its wealthy homes and upscale services, Villa Padierna is a aristocratic residential neighbourhood in Marbella. Savers can acquisition a piece of heaven in one of Spain's greatest sought-after locations by buying real estate in Villa Padierna. Villa Padierna offers supreme luxury living experiences in wonderful natural surroundings, even if you're searching for an wealthy mansion, sea-view apartment or golf villa. Receiving the best listings and knowledgeable help during the purchasing process are certain when you work with a respectable real estate go-between who specialises in Villa Padierna households.

[bitcoincables]

Former SEC Investigator Criticizes Bitcoin ETF Approval Process

John Reed Stark, a former investigator with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has criticized the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). He argues that cryptocurrencies have no real value and are mainly used for criminal activities. Stark warns that approving Bitcoin ETFs would expose millions of investors to the risks associated with digital assets. His comments come as the SEC is considering approving a Bitcoin spot ETF as early as January 10.

Stark, once the chief of the SEC Office of Internet Enforcement, believes that cryptocurrencies facilitate crimes and terrorism. He claims that the main beneficiaries of cryptocurrencies are "grifters" and "criminals" who exploit their anonymous nature. According to him, approving a Bitcoin spot ETF would only serve to benefit the wealthy individuals behind it, while putting investors at risk.

Another organization, Better Markets, has also submitted a letter to the SEC opposing Bitcoin ETFs. They argue that these financial instruments are volatile, speculative, and have no societal value. Better Markets' concerns include potential fraud and manipulation in the Bitcoin market, as well as the uneven distribution of Bitcoin ownership. They believe that approving a Bitcoin ETF could set a dangerous precedent and encourage misguided promotion of cryptocurrency investments among retirement savers.

It is important to consider different viewpoints when evaluating the potential approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs. While some argue for the opportunities these ETFs could bring, others, like Stark and Better Markets, believe they pose significant risks to investors. As the SEC continues to review the applications, it remains to be seen what decision they will ultimately make.

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