#Understanding Basic Investing Principles

[kc22invesmentsblog]

Unlocking Financial Success: Enhancing Financial Literacy for Better Money Decisions

Written by Delvin In today’s complex financial landscape, it is imperative for individuals to possess a solid foundation of financial literacy. By improving their financial knowledge and understanding, individuals can make better money-related decisions, secure their financial future, and achieve their goals. In this blog post, we will explore actionable steps that can empower individuals to…

[darlingofdots]

once again three cheers for Will Laurence parenting superior-officering Emily Roland under truly the wildest of circumstances for like 7 years and doing such a fantastic job of it. He was basically her primary caregiver from age 9 to 16 and no matter how she might gripe, he took his job so seriously and you can tell she appreciates it! She runs away from her official posting during the Invasion to come serve under him again because he treated her with respect and gave her responsibilities suited to her skills, and also he has modelled a set of principles that she clearly understands and agrees with even when she thinks he's going about it wrong. And she is so fully On His Side anyway, she's so righteously outraged on his behalf when people disrespect him, and like. that man is not her father but he is her dad. That night when she was 9 years old and afraid for her mother and Excidium and he was so gentle with her is so emblematic of his attitude to his "young gentlemen" in my opinion; he is firm and professional at all times but he pays attention, he knows his people's backgrounds and families and he is so invested in giving them the best possible chance at success, and it's clear to me that people respond to that! including the terrible teenagers he accidentally got roped into raising

[alexanderwales]

I finished the rest of Save the Cat almost in a single sitting, not because it was particularly riveting, but because I had time to kill, so this pseudo-liveblog is at an end.

Chapter 6 and 7 are basically the same, collections of small tricks and tips. Neither of them are terribly helpful, and all the tricks have terrible shorthand names like "Pope in a Pool". There's very little in the way of any thematic cohesion to these bits of advice, and no grand theory of the Laws of Storytelling emerges, in spite of the laws being invoked a number of times.

The advice itself is, I think, generally good:

give the reader something to root for early on to kickstart investment

spice up exposition with something entertaining

only one kind of magic per plot

don't tell a story that requires too much setup

don't tell a story with too many moving parts

include a ticking clock

have character arcs

keep the scope limited to the characters we care about

make the hero proactive

show, don't tell

make the bad guy very bad

the plot should go faster the further in it goes

use the whole spectrum of emotion

make sure each character has a distinct voice

make sure desires are "primal"

give characters something that makes them stand out

I don't endorse this whole list, and I especially don't endorse the way that Blake Snyder talks about them or the examples that he gives. And if I endorsed the list, then I would include a lot of caveats, and some general principles of storytelling that should be followed, rather than these specific pieces of advice, which are all conditional. Like ... okay, here's an example:

Exposition is a broccoli that the audience doesn't want to eat. There are very different ways of dealing with this, but we can start with "minimize exposition" as the first "law" of storytelling, and from there, we have different strategies:

Spruce up the exposition, making it into a mini-story, delivered in an entertaining way, so that people aren't bored.

Run something alongside the exposition so that people aren't bored, like sight gags in a comedy or an action scene in a thriller.

Have the exposition delivered through implication and clues, rather than stated outright, like having a character limp rather than explaining to the audience that they were wounded in the war. This is show, don't tell, and it's harder than it seems.

But while Snyder lays out some of this advice, it's all in different sections even though it's dealing with the same fundamental problem, and I'm not sure that he really understands that. If he does understand it, then he's not making that clear for the reader.

My thesis is that to understand storytelling, you want to understand root issues and classes of solutions. I have not written a book on writing, nor do I think there's a market for that, nor do I think I'm qualified, but it's the kind of thing that I would strive to deliver. There are a lot of writing problems that are parallel to each other, and there are a lot of structural elements that are mirrors of each other, so why not try to put it all together that way?

But Snyder makes basically no attempt to put even very related problems together, it's just little bits of advice to gnaw at the most common problems, and ... maybe that's fine, but it felt lazy to me.

Chapter 8 was the final chapter, and was mostly about trying to sell screenplays. This was irrelevant to me, but kind of interesting, and also made me feel like Blake Snyder is a better marketer and salesman than a screenwriter, and also maybe just got lucky to be working at a time when scripts were getting huge bidding wars for no good reason. The efficient market hypothesis gets clowned on again, I guess.

I'll probably write up some overall thoughts, a short review: I think I am unsuited to liveblogging because I go long. But the even shorter version is that I think I picked up a few things that were interesting to think about, and while Blake Snyder is a hack, he's an entertaining writer.

[pistatsia]

All or Nothing: Noel Noa (ft. Jinpachi Ego)

(note that this analysis contains heavy spoilers for Noa's motives in my Big little dramas fic)

What I really like about Noa is that his character, with his questionable coaching decisions and personality... Actually very evidently grows from his backstory.

We only know a few things for sure about Noa's background before Blue Lock: he grew up in the slums of Paris, where he invested all of himself to get out of that hole, he's ex-boyfriend rival of Jinpachi Ego, with whom they diverge in their ideologies and approaches to the striker's game, and he's the idol of little (and adult) Isagi Yoichi due to the fact that he plays rough and focuses on his success rather than his teammates.

On top of that, we also know that Noa was probably forced into Blue Lock. Most likely, the club management put him in front of the fact that you was specifically requested by your ex rival, so go and shine with your face on a TV show. Oh, and bring along our resident bouquet of personality disorders, code-named kainess. Noa certainly doesn't want to show off for the camera like Lavinho or Chris, doesn't want to raise the next generation of players to avoid his mistakes like Snuffy, and certainly isn't looking for friends/good play/rivals like Loki (who only came to the top 5 to evaluate the level of Blue Lock players according to his own words). Even if he'd wanted to see the sprouts of Ego's theory I doubt that he will apply for the participating in Blue Lock voluntary.

Because Noa doesn't really care. This whole mess is just out of his field of interest. Outside of the games we only see him sitting in his room staring endlessly at screens and drinking coffee.

But it's from this that we see that Noa, despite his very... die-or-die method of building a game on the field, is a responsible player and coach. He may not want to mess around with kids in front of the world, but if he took the job, he'll do it. But he will do it exactly the way he demands of himself - no more, no less. Noa is neither cruel nor kind - he doesn't go beyond what his contract asks of him and his principles.

Slightly off-topic, I'd say that's the exact difference between Noa and Ego. No one would accuse Noa of conscious cruelty: he acts within his system, which he has explained to the children in advance, and if they fail it is only their fault for failing to adjust to it. He is simply doing his job - nothing more, nothing less.

Ego, in his turn? He chooses to be cruel even in the system he have built himself. Not because it somehow motivates the children, but because he can. And in doing so, Ego doesn't hate them - he probably doesn't care about any of them. He hates in them a part of the player he once was - the player who lost either to Noel Noa or the entire football world. If not to the both at once.

But even so, it seems odd for the manga to highlight their rivalry. It's not that only very few people have different ways of dealing with children. A lot of people are losing ugly to each other.

But this work with kids is the main root of their rivalry. Because the basics of their motto, their starting point of football, the way they guide children to the game are diametrically opposed.

Because the key point of Ego theory is that the striker is created by a moment of chaos. A moment that cannot be directed - that can only be pushed towards.

Except that for Noa a player hoping for a miracle and not knowing something is nothing. He will never allow that in his team - his whole game, his team and his life is one big formula with coefficients chosen once, like a neural network.

Both of them live as a part of the all-or-nothing game. Except that while Ego plays this game with emotion and involvement, Noa approaches it as logically as possible.

And only Isagi Yoichi can resolve this decades-long conflict.

Now let's go back to Noa's game, to understand why logic is that important to Noa and the player's emotions are insignificant and even get in the way.

Remember exactly how he plays on the pitch. He never comes out to play first like other master strikers. He chooses the midfield position to support the player of his choice - he doesn't steal their shine in the center of attack. He only scores a goal once too, in the first match - the rest of the time he blocks other master strikers in an effort to ensure the kids can play fair.

And that's probably why he openly mocks both Lavinho and Chris with his dry jokes about narcissists and "kids without the proper adult". But he's especially harsh on Snuffy, angrily mocking him for being bitten by "his own dog", bringing back the "don't make my job harder than it needs to be" line. But why does Snuffy deserve this treatment (not taking into account the way Snuffy himself ridicules Noa)?

Because Noa is disgusted with his approach to teaching.

In fact, it's their approaches in the Blue Lock cut that are most opposed, and yet turned on to the max. While Snuffy has gone so far as to give each player an individual program and plan in his strategies, Noa has let things slide, making his stratum a mini version of the Hunger Games. Noa is angry that Snuffy babysits his kids; he's angry at how involved he is in their lives, how Snuffy swirls around them, and how Snuffy is always there to help and support them.

Because Noa is a "give a hungry man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach him to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime" kind of guy. Except that he won't even teach them voluntarily. Players need to get the right advice from him themselves while framing the question correctly. 

Noa's policy is non-interference.

Because he knows from experience that it's the only way kids grow up strong. From his own experience.

And to fully dive in, let's remember another moment from the manga that characterizes Noa the most. His advice to Isagi.

"Dedicate every hour, moment, second of your life to a goal. Don't think irrationally. Get your thoughts in order. I don't pick irrational people for the team. Dedicate your whole self to the goal."

Pretty cool, huh? Blossoms with potential burnout, a life on automatic, and a complete loss of feeling.

You know what I'm getting at? That's exactly the lifestyle Noa lives with. And he doesn't see anything wrong with advising Isagi to do it. He doesn't get annoyed by people's taunts about him being a machine and incapable of feeling. That's probably what he wanted.

Because Noa himself grew up completely dedicated to a goal, switching off all his feelings and without mentorship, and it made him who he is now. And it's rational for him to follow the same path with his kids.

Because feelings are illogical. They're weird, they're scary, they're very hard to predict. They're exhausting, they make you turn back to the past and wait for the future with hopes that may not be fulfilled later. They take your strength, they hurt and they wound very sharply. They make you weak, they make you vulnerable - they make you a helpless child.

Living without them is so much easier.

(If you remember my analysis on Isagi, you can see how similar he and Noa are.)

In psychology this mode is called "detached protector". Its essence is that the child or adult turns off all their feelings to avoid punishment and focus on survival. 

They switch off all emotions. They cut off all emotional ties with loved ones, family and friends, seeing them more as objects. They can only work endlessly.

They function like a robot.

This mode is triggered when a person cuts off all their emotional needs, like an automaton focusing on one single goal.

In Noa's case? His survival. And that's exactly what Ego is talking about - that young Noa, obviously emotionally deprived, put all of himself into football because he had nothing else but it. 

And judging by Noa today, having cut off those needs as a child, he doesn't see the point in experiencing them again. Noa doesn't smile, he doesn't get upset or frustrated. He doesn't get angry or regretful. Of course, mentally stable people can express their emotions weakly too - and even on a level like Noa.

But we're in a football manga. Football is all about emotion.

And the fact that Noa doesn't visually show the joy or at least the satisfaction of a goal or a victory - of the life that little Noa once strived so hard to live, investing all of himself - is just awful.

Of course, Noa has feelings, just like any other person. After all, he is a living being. Except they're either quite faint (because strong emotions = danger and weakness), or he crushes them as soon as he feels them coming on.

Noa's whole life is an endless race to stay where he is.

Because Noa has learned to survive. Of course, he did.

But Noa didn't learn how to live.

[thestarryshepherd]

Hello, I am Starry you might know me from my TikTok StarryEyedShepherd. The reason I started my TikTok is because I have always had an interest in religion and when I dwelled in HelPol I got really invested in the history of it. Ancestor worship is one of the center points of Hellenic Polytheism and although they aren’t my blood ancestry, they are my religious ancestors, so for me it was basic respect to try and reconstruct to the best of my ability ancient Greek religious principles and just generally religion to the best of my personal abilities. I have been wanting to be a professor of classics for a bit and since I read academic texts and try to do my research to the best of my abilities I thought I could share some of my knowledge based on that. I had an incredibly optimistic outlook on TikTok in the beginning and was overly sweet with people who I really shouldn’t have been with. However I started to understand sadly that TikTok was no place of education and barely anybody was interested in hearing about the religion and instead preferred to see people make up fun stories of how their supposed spouse god had been planning a romantic time together. The only evidence we have of godspousal or anything similar was purely ritualistic and not to be taken as literal marriage. Note that it was also done (as far as all historical sources we have available to us) in Athens by the queen of Athens at the festival of Anthesteria. This was a very special woman as well as most of the rituals done in association with the cult of Dionysos were not usually to do with “the usual way of doing things”. From my perspective it’s disrespectful to claim to have slept with a god and to have romanced them. “But what about the myths?” Well Hesiod tells us that the gods have pulled away from humanity and we are living in the age after the age of heroes called the “Iron Age”. He describes this as an age where the gods will have forsaken humanity. This makes sense when put into the context that this happens right after the brutal events of The Iliad where the gods realize that their involvement with humanity is doing more wrong than good. “So does this mean that they aren’t with us anymore?” They are with us just not to the same extent. People claiming to be able to speak clearly the word of gods are charlatans. We know this again through Hesiod’s description and through the fact that even the Oracle at Delphi who was our main connection to the gods was only able to speak in jumbled words and not in correct coherent sentences. There had to be a man next to her to translate her sayings to put them into semi-coherent sentences. This is also why Tarot is so general and not hyper specific, at least IF you believe in divination through such means as some HelPols don’t and I can understand why. I made my opinions regarding these very clear on my TikTok. In the defence of the people who went on to attack me for such opinions I will say that I was not too kind with people who thought in such ways. I was going through an incredibly horrible time irl and well this can make people much more prone to saying things in all the wrong ways. I called someone who had godspoused Hera “delusional”. In my defence I did not name names and whenever I made videos I have continued not to. It is not my purpose to humiliate someone on the internet however to question to what extent they have basic understandings of this religion especially when to me such things seem incredibly disrespectful. However, I see now that even trying to have a conversation with such people or bringing attention to them only feeds their victim complex and the fact that ultimately they do not wish to learn about the religion. A group of people who are TikTok godspouses especially didn’t take kindly to my statements and have kept making videos, and sly remarks about me in their comments sections. Helpol tiktok is so incredibly toxic and ahistorical I’m honestly not sure if Tumblr is better in this regard I have heard it is but honestly my hopes aren’t very high. Please prove me wrong.

[theunsinkableship1]

Something is rotten in Lukolaland

⚠️DISCLAIMER: This is LUKOLALAND only. Skip this if you're not a shipper. This is only my point of view. No harm intended.

This isn’t the post I planned to share today, but I feel compelled to address the rising negativity within our fandom. Recently, I’ve noticed an increase in hate, and I’ve even been accused of encouraging extreme fan behavior, which is far from what I stand for.

Many outside our community are quick to label us as “crazy” simply because we ship real-life actors, and if I can understand their concerns in some ways, this hostility is not entirely deserved and it has pushed many of our own to withdraw from what was a fun and loving space. It’s also disheartening to see so much infighting, and I want to firmly condemn this behavior.

The Lukola fandom, like any other, is built on the love and admiration of two actors and the unique connection they share. However, recent actions by a small group of shippers have crossed the line, overshadowing the very essence of what it means to be part of this community. Harassing the stars, their friends, and their families and co-workers goes against the principles of kindness, respect, and positivity that should define any fandom.

Furthermore, doxing and harassing other creators, just because their views differ, is deeply wrong and damaging. This behavior is not only illegal but also violates basic human decency. It tarnishes the entire fandom and hurts the very people we claim to support.

This space was meant to be a celebration of love, yet lately, it feels like some have infiltrated our ship with the intention of causing chaos and tarnishing our reputation. It's as if they are not true believers in Lukola, but rather individuals trying to stir up negativity and disrupt something beautiful. Let's not allow these disturbances to undermine the genuine passion and support that brought us all here. We need to stand united, stay positive, and protect the essence of what our fandom truly represents.

Our ship is made up of fans who love both Nicola and Luke, and recent events have led to an unacceptable amount of hate directed towards them. This needs to stop immediately. There is no Lukola without either of them, and their current or past relationships do not diminish our belief in their connection as an endgame couple. If you no longer believe in their love, you are free to disembark or go aboard another ship. Please don’t overstay and bring negativity in this Love boat that should be filled with support, positivity, and love. Let's keep our ship sailing smoothly, focused on the joy that brought us together in the first place.

Being part of the Lukola ship is about celebrating the chemistry and bond between Luke and Nicola, appreciating their talent, and sharing the joy their on-screen and off-screen interactions bring. It is not about spreading hate, attacking others, or engaging in toxic behavior. We must remember that our actions reflect on the fandom as a whole, and it’s our responsibility to ensure it remains a space of love, respect, and positive support.

Let’s refocus on the heart of why we are here to celebrate the love and connection we see, and not to bring harm or negativity into the lives of others. We can enjoy our ship while maintaining respect for everyone involved, including the actors, their loved ones, and fellow fans. Let's be better and embody the love that brought us here in the first place.

I will take some time to reflect on my actions and commit to being more mindful in the future. I pledge to not go overboard by being overly invested or overanalyzing every detail, and I will be more thoughtful about the content I share moving forward.

Let's keep our LOVE boat exciting and new.

[scarlet--wiccan]

Don't act dumb? Your account is literally nothing but Roma Virtue signalling. If marvel is such a racist company why interact with it? The information on your page is again incorrect. We are not a tool for you to make yourself feel better and feed your saviour complex. Just weird you really should stop speaking about and on behalf of Roma it's giving obsessed and just the most ignorant type of saviour complex and it's all in the name of marvel we truly exist outside of Marvel but idk if y'all can comprehend that.

This is really extreme and unfair. I don't want to continue this conversation, as it's clear that you're not willing to engage in good faith, and frankly, after years of being clear about my background, I don't feel like I owe anything to an anonymous user who could very well be the exact sort of troll I was just talking about. But I suppose it would be helpful to clarify some things, since nobody ever reads my old posts.

I am a second-generation American of Cale Romani descent. I identify as a white-presenting person of mixed race. I have been consistently clear about this and there are photos of me on this blog. I'm not hiding anything. I am a Marvel fan and a long-time comic book reader. This page started out as a general fandom blog, but because I happen to be gitano, I am particularly invested in Romani characters and speak often about issues of Roma representation. I don't think that's weird or hard to understand, and I do still post about other stuff. I'm not trying to be a savior or spokesperson, I'm just talking about what I know and what matters to me. I don't think that Marvel comics are wholly or irredeemably racist, nor do I think that's a productive way to approach critical consumption. This is a massive literary canon and a reflection of many different aspects of American pop culture, and I prefer to engage with it as such.

People are entitled to have different opinions and feelings about these characters, and I've acknowledged plenty of times that I don't speak for everybody-- I've even expressed anxiety about drawing too much attention to comics when I know there are Roma who're sick of hearing about it! But I don't think that it's uncommon for marginalized people to have complex relationships with flawed or problematic representation. I, personally, like these characters and see value in them, but more than that, I think it's important to initiate critical conversations about them because they're very popular now, and they're going to exist in perpetuity, whether we like it or not.

I often make it a priority to direct those conversations towards actual Romani history, because I want readers to learn more about that and to participate in allyship beyond Marvel fandom. In fact, I've repeatedly said that I think fans' tendency to tokenize these characters is detrimental on all sides, and I do post about Romani issues outside of comics, but again, this is specifically a fandom blog, so that's what I focus on. If that's not getting across to you, either you aren't actually reading my blog and you just decided to bother me unprovoked, or I'm a much worse writer than I thought.

If you don't always agree with me, that's fine, but everything I've said about Romani history and racialization is just verifiable fact. I don't think that I'm wrong to say that whitewashing and erasure are bad, and that if Marvel is going to continue making and adapting stories about Romani characters, we deserve to advocate for ourselves and demand better inclusion. I've never had to speak over or argue with other Romani people about this, because, honestly, the only people who disagree with me on this basic principle are belligerent anons like you! And I know other actual Roma who would agree with me. I have a life, and a relationship with community and culture outside of comics, but you don't see that because you don't know me, and again, this is a fandom-specific blog.

[calciumdeficientt]

BUCKY HCS

BUCKY OH MY GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHD. IF BUCKY HAS NO FANS IM DEAD I LOVE THAT WHITE BOY. I cried while writing these. Idk what that says about me but it definitely says something.

BUCKY PASTEUR HCS

Starting off on a very strong foot, I’m gonna explain the ‘Bucky incident’ that I mentioned in my Thad hcs post (go read that btw). So basically the nerds were playing Star Wars on the steps outside the library, with those very sturdy, screen accurate lightsabers that all the cosplayers have, and poor Bucky, bless his little heart, got far too invested in the game, lunged forwards with his lightsaber, slipped on a piece of wet moss on the steps and fell. His lightsaber broke his fall and he sort of half-impaled himself on the tip of it. He didn’t break any skin or anything, but the sturdy PVC plastic broke two of his ribs and ruptured his appendix. Poor kid.

Head builder and painter of the G&G mini figures, in his free time you can usually find him underneath Dragon’s Wing in their little lair, with one of those magnifying headset things on, painting away. He has a keen eye for detail, and it really shows. He takes great care in studying his friends character sheets and making sure the paining is reflective of their personalities, even down to the bases. He’s got great technique, from dry-brushing for shading, to colour theory and palette matching, down to hand sculpting pieces when official G&G merchandise doesn’t suffice. Sometimes he goes upstairs to get guidance from Zack but nine times out of ten its his own handiwork.

Very happy go lucky despite being beaten within an inch of his life every day. That insane amount of bullying is enough to make anyone a nihilist, but I think Bucky always finds a way to put a positive spin on everything and. That is just… so commendable. He’s a stronger man than I I’ll tell you that. He’s such a sweet kid, how could you want to pick on him when Earnest is RIGHT THERE.

Speaking of Earnest, he really really hated the whole concept of the Paparazzi mission, especially publicly showing those indecent images of Mandy. He couldn’t even fathom the idea of showing the small ones off as blackmail. He hates the jocks just as much as the next nerd, and the way Mandy treats Beatrice isn’t exactly tasteful, but he’s emotionally mature enough to know that not only was plastering those posters all over town fucking creepy, it was also a CRIME.

Does super well in Hattrick’s math class but absolutely DESPISES his way of teaching it. Hattrick has a very black and white view of maths. It’s either right or wrong, and the only way to solve problems is it do it is his way, any other solution is blatantly wrong. Bucky thinks it’s such a boring and narrow way to look at a subject that’s just bursting with possibilities. In his free time he researches pure mathematics, he thinks its such a wonderful show of the fact that maths isn’t just about practical application, but the beauty of figuring out the logical consequences of basic mathematic principles when applied to abstract objects. He finds it so wonderfully interesting.

He loves his granny so much dude (I may or may not be sobbing over this right now he’s such a fucking cutie patootie.) he goes over to her house on the weekends and has tea. She doesn’t understand half of what her grandson says but she’s happy to know that he’s growing up into a nice polite young man, and is doing well at school. He’s also kind enough to help her around the house with all the chores she has trouble doing during the week. Taking her trash out, cleaning her kitchen surfaces and vacuuming up. He’s her helpful little chipmunk, even if he’s nowhere near as chubby as he used to be when he was a baby.

[kaibacorpintern]

So true about Kaiba being a moody dramatic Rachmaninoff piano concerto hoe lmao. Would he give Chopin a pass for ballade in g/winter winds you think, or is anyone who writes frilly little etudes automatically disqualified from the playlists on principle?

Oh god so here's my opinion as someone who played classical piano for eight years and interned at a classical music organization for a while: as the adopted son of a rich man who was (according to DM) invested in cultivating some kind of philanthropic/cultured image, Kaiba was probably dragged along to many, many classical music events as a young lad, and sat there in his penguin suit under strict orders not to fall asleep, fold the program into paper airplanes, fidget too much, or let Mokuba fidget too much. What he truly knows about classical music might fill a bucket (the four major eras, the big name composers, some basic music theory) but not a swimming pool.

Like I don't love seeing "rich people" cliches stuck on Kaiba, because his life story is far more complex than that, but I do think this one--"ultrawealthy donor attends a night at the symphony because it's a good look for them, not because they understand the intricacies of Mahler"--might apply here. He IS going to see Yuja Wang play Prokofiev, but he does not know why/how Prokofiev is important, and unless he took a dedicated interest in music (leading to your exquisite insights) he might just slap KAIBA SYMPHONIC HALL atop the arts center, mail over a check for $20mil, and be done with it Gozaburo style.

That being said, this is my answer to your question: I think he pays attention during a performance of Chopin's Tristesse (or, Ravel's Pavane por une infante défunte?) feels one too many feelings, and wants to go crawl into a dirt hole about them afterwards, like a dying animal. But he has to schmooze at the donor's club, so he can't. He is wearing a cummerbund and a bowtie, and now he is twice as miserable.

When he locks himself in his lab later, to burn the midnight oil, he listens to the Chopin again, in private, and discovers new feelings--which are actually just the old feelings, newly remembered.

Also his favorite symphony is Mahler 5. Look me in the eyes and tell me he wouldn't go ballistic for the trumpet solo.

[dailyanarchistposts]

B.1 Why are anarchists against authority and hierarchy?

First, it is necessary to indicate what kind of authority anarchism challenges. While it is customary for some opponents of anarchism to assert that anarchists oppose all kinds of authority, the reality of the situation is more complex. While anarchists have, on occasion, stated their opposition to “all authority” a closer reading quickly shows that anarchists reject only one specific form of authority, what we tend to call hierarchy (see section H.4 for more details). This can be seen when Bakunin stated that “the principle of authority” was the “eminently theological, metaphysical and political idea that the masses, always incapable of governing themselves, must submit at all times to the benevolent yoke of a wisdom and a justice, which in one way or another, is imposed from above.” [Marxism, Freedom and the State, p. 33]

Other forms of authority are more acceptable to anarchists, it depends whether the authority in question becomes a source of power over others or not. That is the key to understanding the anarchist position on authority — if it is hierarchical authority, then anarchists are against it.. The reason is simple:

”[n]o one should be entrusted with power, inasmuch as anyone invested with authority must … became an oppressor and exploiter of society.” [Bakunin, The Political Philosophy of Bakunin, p. 249]

This distinction between forms of authority is important. As Erich Fromm pointed out, “authority” is “a broad term with two entirely different meanings: it can be either ‘rational’ or ‘irrational’ authority. Rational authority is based on competence, and it helps the person who leans on it to grow. Irrational authority is based on power and serves to exploit the person subjected to it.” [To Have or To Be, pp. 44–45] The same point was made by Bakunin over 100 years earlier when he indicated the difference between authority and “natural influence.” For Bakunin, individual freedom “results from th[e] great number of material, intellectual, and moral influences which every individual around him [or her] and which society … continually exercise … To abolish this mutual influence would be to die.” Consequently, “when we reclaim the freedom of the masses, we hardly wish to abolish the effect of any individual’s or any group of individual’s natural influence upon the masses. What we wish is to abolish artificial, privileged, legal, and official influences.” [The Basic Bakunin, p. 140 and p. 141]

It is, in other words, the difference between taking part in a decision and listening to alternative viewpoints and experts (“natural influence”) before making your mind up and having a decision made for you by a separate group of individuals (who may or may not be elected) because that is their role in an organisation or society. In the former, the individual exercises their judgement and freedom (i.e. is based on rational authority). In the latter, they are subjected to the wills of others, to hierarchical authority (i.e. is based on irrational authority). This is because rational authority “not only permits but requires constant scrutiny and criticism … it is always temporary, its acceptance depending on its performance.” The source of irrational authority, on the other hand, “is always power over people … Power on the one side, fear on the other, are always the buttresses on which irrational authority is built.” Thus former is based upon “equality” while the latter “is by its very nature based upon inequality.” [Erich Fromm, Man for Himself, pp. 9–10]

This crucial point is expressed in the difference between having authority and being an authority. Being an authority just means that a given person is generally recognised as competent for a given task, based on his or her individual skills and knowledge. Put differently, it is socially acknowledged expertise. In contrast, having authority is a social relationship based on status and power derived from a hierarchical position, not on individual ability. Obviously this does not mean that competence is not an element for obtaining a hierarchical position; it just means that the real or alleged initial competence is transferred to the title or position of the authority and so becomes independent of individuals, i.e. institutionalised (or what Bakunin termed “official”).

This difference is important because the way people behave is more a product of the institutions in which we are raised than of any inherent nature. In other words, social relationships shape the individuals involved. This means that the various groups individuals create have traits, behaviours and outcomes that cannot be understood by reducing them to the individuals within them. That is, groups consist not only of individuals, but also relationships between individuals and these relationships will affect those subject to them. For example, obviously “the exercise of power by some disempowers others” and so through a “combination of physical intimidation, economic domination and dependency, and psychological limitations, social institutions and practices affect the way everyone sees the world and her or his place in it.” This, as we discuss in the next section, impacts on those involved in such authoritarian social relationships as “the exercise of power in any institutionalised form — whether economic, political or sexual — brutalises both the wielder of power and the one over whom it is exercised.” [Martha A. Ackelsberg, Free Women of Spain, p. 41]

Authoritarian social relationships means dividing society into (the few) order givers and (the many) order takers, impoverishing the individuals involved (mentally, emotionally and physically) and society as a whole. Human relationships, in all parts of life, are stamped by authority, not liberty. And as freedom can only be created by freedom, authoritarian social relationships (and the obedience they require) do not and cannot educate a person in freedom — only participation (self-management) in all areas of life can do that. “In a society based on exploitation and servitude,” in Kropotkin’s words, “human nature itself is degraded” and it is only “as servitude disappears” shall we “regain our rights.” [Anarchism, p. 104]

Of course, it will be pointed out that in any collective undertaking there is a need for co-operation and co-ordination and this need to “subordinate” the individual to group activities is a form of authority. Therefore, it is claimed, a democratically managed group is just as “authoritarian” as one based on hierarchical authority. Anarchists are not impressed by such arguments. Yes, we reply, of course in any group undertaking there is a need make and stick by agreements but anarchists argue that to use the word “authority” to describe two fundamentally different ways of making decisions is playing with words. It obscures the fundamental difference between free association and hierarchical imposition and confuses co-operation with command (as we note in section H.4, Marxists are particularly fond of this fallacy). Simply put, there are two different ways of co-ordinating individual activity within groups — either by authoritarian means or by libertarian means. Proudhon, in relation to workplaces, makes the difference clear:

“either the workman… will be simply the employee of the proprietor-capitalist-promoter; or he will participate… [and] have a voice in the council, in a word he will become an associate. “In the first case the workman is subordinated, exploited: his permanent condition is one of obedience… In the second case he resumes his dignity as a man and citizen… he forms part of the producing organisation, of which he was before but the slave; as, in the town, he forms part of the sovereign power, of which he was before but the subject … we need not hesitate, for we have no choice… it is necessary to form an ASSOCIATION among workers … because without that, they would remain related as subordinates and superiors, and there would ensue two … castes of masters and wage-workers, which is repugnant to a free and democratic society.” [General Idea of the Revolution, pp. 215–216]

In other words, associations can be based upon a form of rational authority, based upon natural influence and so reflect freedom, the ability of individuals to think, act and feel and manage their own time and activity. Otherwise, we include elements of slavery into our relationships with others, elements that poison the whole and shape us in negative ways (see section B.1.1). Only the reorganisation of society in a libertarian way (and, we may add, the mental transformation such a change requires and would create) will allow the individual to “achieve more or less complete blossoming, whilst continuing to develop” and banish “that spirit of submission that has been artificially thrust upon him [or her]” [Nestor Makhno, The Struggle Against the State and Other Essays, p. 62]

So, anarchists “ask nothing better than to see [others]… exercise over us a natural and legitimate influence, freely accepted, and never imposed … We accept all natural authorities and all influences of fact, but none of right.” [Bakunin, The Political Philosophy of Bakunin, p. 255] Anarchist support for free association within directly democratic groups is based upon such organisational forms increasing influence and reducing irrational authority in our lives. Members of such organisations can create and present their own ideas and suggestions, critically evaluate the proposals and suggestions from their fellows, accept those that they agree with or become convinced by and have the option of leaving the association if they are unhappy with its direction. Hence the influence of individuals and their free interaction determine the nature of the decisions reached, and no one has the right to impose their ideas on another. As Bakunin argued, in such organisations “no function remains fixed and it will not remain permanently and irrevocably attached to one person. Hierarchical order and promotion do not exist… In such a system, power, properly speaking, no longer exists. Power is diffused to the collectivity and becomes the true expression of the liberty of everyone.” [Bakunin on Anarchism, p. 415]

Therefore, anarchists are opposed to irrational (e.g., illegitimate) authority, in other words, hierarchy — hierarchy being the institutionalisation of authority within a society. Hierarchical social institutions include the state (see section B.2), private property and the class systems it produces (see section B.3) and, therefore, capitalism (see section B.4). Due to their hierarchical nature, anarchists oppose these with passion. “Every institution, social or civil,” argued Voltairine de Cleyre, “that stands between man [or woman] and his [or her] right; every tie that renders one a master, another a serf; every law, every statue, every be-it-enacted that represents tyranny” anarchists seek to destroy. However, hierarchy exists beyond these institutions. For example, hierarchical social relationships include sexism, racism and homophobia (see section B.1.4), and anarchists oppose, and fight, them all. Thus, as well as fighting capitalism as being hierarchical (for workers “slave in a factory,” albeit “the slavery ends with the working hours”) de Cleyre also opposed patriarchal social relationships which produce a “home that rests on slavery” because of a “marriage that represents the sale and transfer of the individuality of one of its parties to the other!” [The Voltairine de Cleyre Reader, p. 72, p. 17 and p. 72]

Needless to say, while we discuss different forms of hierarchy in different sections this does not imply that anarchists think they, and their negative effects, are somehow independent or can be easily compartmentalised. For example, the modern state and capitalism are intimately interrelated and cannot be considered as independent of each other. Similarly, social hierarchies like sexism and racism are used by other hierarchies to maintain themselves (for example, bosses will use racism to divide and so rule their workers). From this it follows that abolishing one or some of these hierarchies, while desirable, would not be sufficient. Abolishing capitalism while maintaining the state would not lead to a free society (and vice versa) — if it were possible. As Murray Bookchin notes:

“there can be a decidedly classless, even a non-exploitative society in the economic sense that still preserves hierarchical rule and domination in the social sense — whether they take the form of the patriarchal family, domination by age and ethnic groups, bureaucratic institutions, ideological manipulation or a pyramidal division of labour … classless or not, society would be riddles by domination and, with domination, a general condition of command and obedience, of unfreedom and humiliation, and perhaps most decisively, an abortion of each individual’s potentiality for consciousness, reason, selfhood, creativity, and the right to assert full control over her or his daily live.” [Toward an Ecological Society, pp. 14–5]

This clearly implies that anarchists “challenge not only class formations but hierarchies, not only material exploitation but domination in every form.” [Bookchin, Op. Cit., p. 15] Hence the anarchist stress on opposing hierarchy rather than just, say, the state (as some falsely assert) or simply economic class and exploitation (as, say, many Marxists do). As noted earlier (in section A.2.8), anarchists consider all hierarchies to be not only harmful but unnecessary, and think that there are alternative, more egalitarian ways to organise social life. In fact, we argue that hierarchical authority creates the conditions it is presumably designed to combat, and thus tends to be self-perpetuating. Thus hierarchical organisations erode the ability of those at the bottom to manage their own affairs directly so requiring hierarchy and some people in positions to give orders and the rest to follow them. Rather than prevent disorder, governments are among its primary causes while its bureaucracies ostensibly set up to fight poverty wind up perpetuating it, because without poverty, the high-salaried top administrators would be out of work. The same applies to agencies intended to eliminate drug abuse, fight crime, etc. In other words, the power and privileges deriving from top hierarchical positions constitute a strong incentive for those who hold them not to solve the problems they are supposed to solve. (For further discussion see Marilyn French, Beyond Power: On Women, Men, and Morals, Summit Books, 1985).

[gardeningloverfamily]

Introduction to Gardening for Beginners

Gardening is a rewarding and therapeutic hobby that can transform your outdoor or indoor space into a thriving sanctuary of plants, flowers, and vegetables. Whether you aim to create an English cottage garden, grow organic flowers, or cultivate a vegetable garden, starting as a beginner can be both exciting and overwhelming. This guide will walk you through the best way to start a garden, covering everything from selecting plants to understanding garden design principles.

Understanding Your Space

Before you begin planting, it's crucial to understand the space you have available. Whether you're planning an indoor garden, an English cottage garden, or a vegetable garden, the key is to assess the light, soil, and space conditions.

Indoor Gardens

For those interested in indoor gardening, consider the amount of natural light your home receives. South-facing windows are ideal for most houseplants, providing ample light throughout the day. If your space lacks natural light, consider investing in grow lights.

Outdoor Gardens

Outdoor gardening requires an assessment of your yard or garden plot. Observe how much sunlight different areas receive, noting which spots are in full sun, partial shade, or full shade. This information will guide your plant selection, ensuring you choose plants suited to your garden's conditions.

Choosing the Right Plants

Selecting the right plants is vital for a successful garden. As a beginner, start with plants that are easy to grow and maintain.

Easy Indoor Plants

Spider Plant: Hardy and adaptable, perfect for beginners.

Pothos: Low maintenance and can thrive in low light.

Snake Plant: Tolerant of neglect and ideal for low light conditions.

Succulents: Require minimal watering and are great for sunny windowsills.

Easy Outdoor Plants

Marigolds: Bright, cheerful flowers that are easy to grow from seed.

Sunflowers: Fast-growing and visually striking.

Lettuce: Quick to grow and perfect for salads.

Tomatoes: Popular and rewarding, providing fresh produce for your kitchen.

Garden Design Principles

Designing your garden involves more than just planting; it requires planning and understanding some basic design principles.

English Cottage Garden

An English cottage garden is characterized by its informal, densely planted flower beds. To achieve this look, mix various flowers, herbs, and vegetables, ensuring a continuous bloom throughout the growing season.

Plant Variety: Combine perennials, annuals, and biennials for a dynamic and colorful display.

Pathways: Create charming, winding paths using natural materials like stone or gravel.

Focal Points: Incorporate elements like arbors, benches, or birdbaths to add interest and structure.

Vegetable Garden

A vegetable garden can be both beautiful and productive. Consider the following tips:

Raised Beds: Ideal for beginners as they improve drainage, reduce weeds, and make planting and harvesting easier.

Companion Planting: Grow plants together that benefit each other, such as tomatoes with basil or carrots with onions.

Succession Planting: Maximize your garden’s yield by planting different crops in the same area throughout the year.

Gardening Tools and Supplies

Having the right tools can make gardening more enjoyable and efficient. Here are some essential gardening tools for beginners:

Hand Trowel: Perfect for planting and transplanting small plants.

Pruning Shears: Essential for trimming and shaping plants.

Garden Gloves: Protect your hands from thorns, dirt, and blisters.

Watering Can/Hose: Ensure your plants get adequate water, especially during dry spells.

Garden Fork: Useful for turning soil and mixing in compost.

Preparing the Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden. Here’s how to prepare your soil:

Test Your Soil: Determine your soil’s pH and nutrient levels using a soil test kit.

Amend the Soil: Based on your soil test results, add compost, manure, or other organic matter to improve soil fertility and structure.

Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

Planting Techniques

Understanding proper planting techniques will ensure your plants establish well and thrive.

Spacing: Follow the recommended spacing guidelines for each plant to prevent overcrowding and promote healthy growth.

Planting Depth: Ensure seeds and transplants are planted at the correct depth, typically indicated on seed packets or plant tags.

Watering: Water your plants thoroughly after planting to help them settle into their new environment.

Caring for Your Garden

Regular maintenance is crucial for a healthy and productive garden. Here are some tips for ongoing garden care:

Watering: Consistent watering is essential, especially for young plants. Water in the early morning or late afternoon to reduce evaporation.

Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to reduce competition for nutrients and water.

Fertilizing: Feed your plants with organic fertilizers according to their specific needs.

Pest Control: Monitor for pests and diseases. Use organic pest control methods, such as introducing beneficial insects or using natural sprays.

Indoor Plant Care

For indoor plants, consider the following care tips:

Lighting: Ensure your plants receive the appropriate amount of light. Rotate plants regularly for even growth.

Watering: Avoid overwatering by checking soil moisture before watering. Most houseplants prefer to dry out slightly between waterings.

Humidity: Increase humidity for tropical plants by misting them or placing them on a humidity tray.

Repotting: Repot your plants when they outgrow their containers to provide more space for root growth.

Creating a Sustainable Garden

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in gardening. Here are some ways to create an eco-friendly garden:

Composting: Recycle kitchen scraps and garden waste to create nutrient-rich compost.

Rainwater Harvesting: Collect rainwater in barrels to reduce water usage.

Native Plants: Choose native plants that are adapted to your local climate and require less maintenance.

Organic Practices: Avoid synthetic chemicals and opt for organic fertilizers and pest control methods.

Inspiration from Botanical Gardens

Visiting botanical gardens can provide inspiration and ideas for your own garden. Here are some famous botanical gardens to explore:

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK): Known for its diverse plant collections and stunning landscapes.

New York Botanical Garden (USA): Offers a wide variety of plant species and themed gardens.

Singapore Botanic Gardens (Singapore): Features tropical flora and the iconic National Orchid Garden.

Butchart Gardens (Canada): Famous for its beautifully designed flower displays and themed gardens.

Connecting with the Gardening Community

Joining the gardening community can provide support, advice, and inspiration. Here are some ways to connect:

Local Gardening Clubs: Join clubs to meet other gardeners and participate in events and workshops.

Online Forums: Engage in online gardening forums and social media groups like the #houseplantcommunity or #gardeningtips.

Garden Shows: Attend garden shows and expos to learn from experts and discover new plants and tools.

Conclusion

Starting a garden as a beginner can be a fulfilling journey that enhances your connection with nature and provides a sense of accomplishment. By understanding your space, choosing the right plants, designing thoughtfully, using proper tools, and maintaining your garden diligently, you can create a beautiful and thriving garden. Embrace the learning process, seek inspiration, and connect with the gardening community to grow your gardening skills and enjoy the many benefits this hobby offers.

Additional Tips and Resources

To further assist you on your gardening journey, here are some additional tips and resources:

Gardening Books for Beginners

"The Vegetable Gardener's Bible" by Edward C. Smith: Comprehensive guide on growing vegetables.

"The Flower Gardener's Bible" by Lewis Hill and Nancy Hill: Detailed instructions on flower gardening.

"Indoor Gardening: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Grow Beautiful Plants in Your Home" by Leslie F. Halleck: Focuses on indoor gardening techniques.

Gardening Magazines and Websites

Garden Gate Magazine: Offers gardening tips, plant profiles, and design ideas.

Fine Gardening: Provides expert advice on all aspects of gardening.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS): Wealth of information on plants, gardening techniques, and garden design.

Gardening Apps

PlantSnap: Helps identify plants and provides care instructions.

Garden Answers: Allows you to ask gardening questions and receive expert advice.

GrowIt!: Connects you with local gardeners and offers plant recommendations.

Getting Started: Step-by-Step Guide

To summarize, here's a step-by-step guide to help you start your garden:

Assess Your Space: Determine light conditions, soil type, and available space.

Choose Plants: Select easy-to-grow plants suited to your environment.

Design Your Garden: Plan your layout, considering aesthetics and plant needs.

Prepare the Soil: Test and amend your soil to ensure optimal growing conditions.

Plant: Follow proper planting techniques for healthy establishment.

Maintain: Water, weed, fertilize, and monitor for pests regularly.

Learn and Connect: Continue learning through books, magazines, and the gardening community.

By following these steps and utilizing the resources provided, you'll be well on your way to creating a beautiful and thriving garden.

[greenglassmountain]

✅☺️🧮?

✅: List one or two favorite lines you’ve written and explain why they’re your favorite.

Oooh, this is a hard one! I have some absolutely beautiful lines from abandoned fics (something about a quicksilver heart and sunrise stretching like thick slabs of gold across the sky) that I want to reuse someday, but for the sake of relevance here are a couple from fics I'm still invested in:

From Fights, Phone Calls, and Aerial Manoeuvers (M:I/The Saint):

There’s a pause on the end of the line. “The what list?” The Saint says, very politely.

These were probably my favourite lines in the fic because they made me cackle every time I read them. It's a very clear sign that Ethan's gotta do some fast talking to get out of the trouble he just stepped into. The world's best thief has principles, and boy howdy, Ethan just trampled on several.

From Understand me a little, love me a little (Shadow and Bone) - Alina's first time unleashing her sun summoning abilities:

She squeezes her eyes shut tighter, forcibly shoving all her focus onto the light calling her. She follows it beneath her skin, rushing through her veins and up through channels and pumps, through her heart and swirling around her ribcage. She dives deeper and deeper to where the pressure grows ever more intense, squeezing into her from all sides, a deafening rush that fills her up and swallows her whole until it’s hard to tell where she ends and the light begins—and then, suddenly, she’s bursting out, up and up and up through every light every candle every sunrise and sunset in the world, through the stars and the sun and the ever-spinning earth beneath her. She is everywhere, she is infinite, she is never-ending and boundless, she is the light and it is hers-hers-hers, forever and always, until every star is gone and the universe and everything within it turns to dust.

This is a long one, but I love the whole paragraph so much. It's the first time I start to explore the idea that there's something different, something inhuman about our main trio. The idea of Alina losing herself in her powers to the extent that she basically leaves her body is something that I wanted to explore - these folks are powerful, and that comes with consequences. This fic also has so many lovely descriptions that were so fun to write, of which this paragraph was one of many.

😊: Say something nice about your writing

I love when I get to write more flowery or poetic descriptive imagery (if you couldn't tell from the above answer 😅). I think I produce some gorgeous visuals. My writing is a little more pared down, these days, but I think my descriptions are still lovely to read.

🧮: What are you working on? describe it in 20 words or less

Simon Has Two Hands: The Series (i.e., Emma is introduced to the saintspy universe) 😉

[risepropertybuyersau]

Navigating the Property Market with Confidence

The Australian property market is dynamic and often unpredictable. It offers numerous opportunities for wealth building but also presents challenges for those who are unprepared. Whether you're a first-time buyer, a seasoned investor, or someone looking to make an informed move, navigating the property market confidently is crucial to ensuring success. By understanding key market trends, knowing what to expect at each stage of the process, and partnering with trusted professionals, you can make smarter decisions and achieve your property goals with peace of mind.

This guide will walk you through the essential steps of property market navigation, from understanding the fundamentals to closing the deal, all while building the confidence to make informed decisions at every turn.

1. Understanding the Basics of the Property Market

Before diving into the property market, one must grasp the fundamental concepts that drive it. Understanding supply and demand, market cycles, and how economic conditions influence property prices will give you a solid foundation.

Supply and Demand: The core principle of the property market is supply and demand. In simple terms, when more people want to buy or rent in a particular area than there are properties available, prices rise. Conversely, when supply exceeds demand, property prices can fall. Population growth, job opportunities, and infrastructure development can drive demand in specific locations.

Market Cycles: The property market operates in cycles, with periods of growth, stability, and decline. Recognising where the market is in its cycle can help you make better purchasing decisions. A buyer's market (when there are more properties for sale than buyers) may present opportunities for negotiation, while a seller's market (when demand outstrips supply) might require quicker decision-making and fewer opportunities to haggle on price.

Interest Rates: Interest rates have a profound impact on the property market. When interest rates are low, borrowing becomes more affordable, driving up demand for property. Conversely, higher interest rates tend to cool down the market by making borrowing more expensive. Staying informed about the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) monetary policy and interest rate movements can help you anticipate shifts in the market.

Economic Indicators: Broader economic conditions, including employment rates, wage growth, and consumer confidence, shape the property market. For example, if the economy performs well, demand for homes and investment properties tends to rise. On the other hand, during economic downturns, people may be less willing to buy, leading to a slowdown in property price growth.

2. Setting Clear Property Goals

One of the first steps to confidently navigating the property market is setting clear and achievable property goals. Whether you're looking to buy your first home, expand your property investment portfolio, or purchase a new property, having a well-defined goal will guide your decisions and help you avoid impulsive choices.

Personal Goals: If you're a first-time homebuyer, you might be focused on finding a place to settle down and start a family. In this case, your goals include proximity to work, schools, or public transport and a manageable mortgage.

Investment Goals: Property investors, conversely, will have goals centred around rental income, capital growth, or both. Defining your investment objectives—maximising rental yields or accumulating properties for long-term wealth creation—will help you determine the type of properties to focus on.

Time Horizon: Knowing your investment time frame can significantly affect your strategy. Are you looking for a short-term return, or will you hold onto your property for many years to benefit from long-term capital gains? The market conditions will differ depending on your time horizon, and understanding this will help you make decisions aligned with your goals.

3. Researching the Market

Successful property navigation involves thorough research. Understanding the ins and outs of the market will help you identify the right opportunities, avoid pitfalls, and negotiate the best deals. Below are some key elements to consider when conducting your research:

Location, Location, Location: The location of a property has the greatest influence on its value and potential for growth. Factors to consider include:

Proximity to public transport, schools, shopping centres, and employment hubs.

Future infrastructure projects, such as new roads, public transport links, or commercial developments, may enhance the area's value over time.

Demographics and demand: Consider the age, income level, and lifestyle preferences of the area's residents. Areas with young professionals or growing families may see greater demand for housing.

Market Trends: Research recent sales data and market trends in your target area. Are property prices trending upwards, stable, or declining? Sites like Domain and Realestate.com.au provide comprehensive data on property prices, which can give you a sense of how the market is performing. Additionally, pay attention to vacancy rates, which indicate rental demand.

Rentability: If you're buying for investment purposes, assessing the potential rental income of a property is vital. Look at the rental yield (the annual rent divided by the property value) in the area to ensure it will provide sufficient cash flow. High rental demand areas typically offer strong rental yields and low vacancy rates.

Comparable Properties: Analyse similar properties in the area that have recently sold. Comparable sales (also known as comps) can give you a better idea of what price range is reasonable and identify potential underpriced opportunities.

4. Building Your Team of Experts

Navigating the property market confidently requires expert guidance at each process stage. While the internet offers a wealth of information, professional support ensures you make the right decisions and protect your interests. Building a team of professionals is one of the smartest ways to ensure a successful property transaction.

Buyers' Agent: A buyers' agent is an invaluable asset when searching for properties. Their expertise allows them to identify opportunities you might have missed, negotiate favourable prices, and assist with everything from conducting due diligence to handling the paperwork. With access to off-market listings, a buyers' agent often has an edge in securing the best deals.

Mortgage Broker: A mortgage broker helps you secure financing by comparing loan options from various lenders. They can advise on loan types, interest rates, and repayment structures that best suit your financial situation. Brokers can also help you get pre-approved, strengthening your position when making offers.

Conveyancer/Solicitor: Property transactions involve significant legal paperwork, and it's crucial to have a solicitor or conveyancer ensure everything is in order. They'll review contracts, handle settlement procedures, and ensure the transfer of ownership is smooth.

Property Inspector: A building and pest inspection is necessary before purchasing a property. This will give you a clear picture of the property's condition and help avoid costly repairs later. Inspectors can uncover hidden issues like termites, structural damage, or plumbing problems that could impact the property's value.

Accountant or Tax Adviser: Consulting with an accountant or tax expert is a good idea if you're buying property as an investment. They'll ensure you maximise tax deductions (such as negative gearing and depreciation) and help with property portfolio structuring for the best financial outcome.

5. Securing the Right Financing

Financing is one of the most critical aspects of the property-buying process, and confidence in your financing options will help you move forward easily. The right loan can distinguish between a successful investment and one that strains your budget.

Pre-Approval: Before seriously looking at properties, seek pre-approval for a mortgage. This involves the lender assessing your financial situation (income, assets, liabilities) and determining how much they will lend you. Pre-approval gives you a budget and makes you a more attractive buyer, as it signals to sellers that you have the financial backing to complete the purchase.

Loan Types: Understand the different loan options available. For investors, specific loans, such as interest-only loans, are designed to assist with property purchases, which can help with cash flow management. First-time buyers may be eligible for government schemes like the First Home Owner Grant or the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme.

Loan Repayments: Make sure the loan repayments are manageable and align with your financial goals. Consider factors like interest rates, loan terms, and whether you want a fixed-rate or variable-rate mortgage. Speak with a mortgage broker to find the best option for your situation.

6. Making an Offer and Closing the Deal

Once you've found the right property, the next step is to make an offer. Understanding the nuances of the offer process will help you navigate this critical phase confidently.

Private Treaty or Auction: In Australia, properties are typically sold either by private treaty or at auction. In a private treaty, you offer to the seller, who may accept, reject, or counter your bid. In an auction, bidding is competitive, and the highest bidder wins. For auctions, setting a maximum price beforehand is crucial to avoid overspending in the heat of the moment.

Negotiation: A strong negotiating position is essential whether buying via private treaty or auction. Buyers' agents can assist with negotiations, helping you secure the best price. If you're buying for investment, don't forget to factor in potential maintenance costs, market conditions, and future growth when negotiating.

Due Diligence: Conduct all necessary due diligence before signing a contract. Ensure the property has a clear title, conduct building and pest inspections, and review the contract of sale with a solicitor. Due diligence ensures there are no surprises after the deal is done.

Settlement: Once the offer is accepted, you'll enter a settlement period, where the legal and financial aspects are finalised. Your solicitor or conveyancer will handle the settlement process, ensuring everything is in order before transferring ownership.

Conclusion: Empower Yourself to Navigate the Property Market

The property market can be complex, but you can confidently navigate it with the right preparation, research, and expert support. Whether you're purchasing your first home or expanding your investment portfolio, staying informed, setting clear goals, and building a team of professionals will put you in a strong position to make smart, confident decisions. With the right mindset and strategy, you can achieve your property goals and set yourself up for long-term success in the market.

[not-goldy]

You are comparing apples to oranges.

JM showing up in a Tae live is not the same as Tae insisting on joining a show that JM and JK already planned and started to execute - with all investors, logictics, finance approvals and other arrangements planned out.

I don't know what's the issue here. If JM sent an invite to all in the group, then maybe Tae should have let him know he wants to join too. And that also rules out Tae's claims of "being hurt coz JM didn't invite". Coz JM did invite, based off that.

Jimin mentioned him and Tae hadn't met or spoken in a while. But JK was hanging out with Tae a lot, wasn't he? Then why didn't JK invite him? Tae has a habit of always throwing JM under the bus. And I can see why JM is wary of him.

All I am seeing on twitter, tiktok, YT and every other platform these past days is tkkrs and KTH solos hating on JM (and wishing him worst and d3ath) for "hurting Tae". Tired of them always throwing JM to the wolfs.

Well apples and oranges are all fruits so it's not that far off.

Okay. I'm so sorry I'm not gonna let you apply this double standard in peace. Whether it is live or a trip, a me time with a member is a me time with a member.

We don't get to tell them which form of it is more valid than the other. I'm so sorry.

The basic underlying principle here is the same and it is that they are All entitled to spend QUALITY TIME ALONE with whomever they choose whether it is alone on a live, alone in the back of a track, alone on a couch surrounded by other members or on an expensive trip somewhere.

You can not dictate for them which medium they should use, the resources they should invest in or the effort that must go into it. You are dead wrong if you believe that.

Even if Jikook had decided not to go on a trip but to spend those moments with their fans alone on live in the trunk of their car Tae would still be dead wrong if he inserted himself against their will.

You lot have lost the plot if you think the journey itself was what was special. The journey was just a means to an end- the end being Quality time with each other.

Miss me with the double standard

B. Well again, his feelings are valid. The last thing we are gonna do is invalidate people's feelings in this space. He said he wasn't invited, JM explained WHY HE WASN'T INVITED. If JM invited him, intended to invite him at all he would have said so and called Tae out for trying to start drama he ain't afraid to set record straight. Please let's not do this.

They didn't invite him. They had their reasons. Let's respect their reasons and let's respects Tae's feelings about it too. We ain't gonna rewrite the narrative arh arh. Neuw.

3. Your thoughts and feelings on this are equally valid. You are free to express them. Let's just keep it objective especially where someone who isn't your bias is involved. We gonna have a productive educative insightful discussion out of it that would help us break things down and unpack and understand their dynamics more. That is the whole point of this discussion y'all shouldn't turn this into a bloody war.

4. We dont know how Tae could possibly have not been invited. And this is something I pointed out earlier that if they have a group chat then wouldn't it have been the case that if Jikook had posted to the group that everyone including V would have seen it?

However the fact Jimin himself explained that Tae was busy with promotions so they didn't invite him also raises question mark. It's okay to admit we don't know all the fact and we may need further clarification of it from both of them.

Because it would have been easy for Jimin to say, well we didn't invite everyone individually we posted to the group and everyone responded but you.

And then Tae would have had to explain why he didn't check his messages in which case him being busy with schedule would have made so much sense.

But let's refrain from invalidating his feelings they are as valid as your opinion.

5. Tae hadn't met or spoken in a while- true, but then Jimin also explained to Jungkook that he face timed V at least once in a month so there's that.

6. I see your point about Tae not putting JK on the spot too. We already discussed this and every one shared their opinion as to why that is. If you have opinions on this that will help us understand why that is better feel free to share with the class

We all talking because we all seeking understanding of their situation. If you don't have anything helpful to add on Tag your posts as rant so I know what to do with it

[georgemark099]

Why Every Parent Should Introduce Kids to Bitcoin Concepts?

In an increasingly digital world, the importance of financial literacy cannot be overstated. As new technologies like Bitcoin continue to reshape the financial landscape, it’s becoming crucial for children to gain an understanding of these innovations from a young age. Bitcoin, as a decentralized digital currency, offers parents an excellent opportunity to introduce their kids to fundamental financial concepts and the future of money. Here’s why every parent should consider teaching their children about Bitcoin.

1. Building Financial Literacy Early

One of the most valuable gifts a parent can give their child is a solid foundation in financial literacy. Bitcoin, while a relatively new and complex concept, can serve as a practical tool for teaching children about the broader principles of money. Understanding Bitcoin introduces kids to basic financial concepts such as value, transactions, savings, and digital wallets. It also provides a real-world example of how currencies can function outside the traditional banking system.

2. Preparing for the Future of Finance

The world is rapidly evolving, and the way we think about and use money is changing with it. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin represent the future of finance, with their ability to facilitate global transactions without relying on banks or governments. By introducing kids to Bitcoin concepts early, parents can help them better prepare for a world where digital currencies play an increasingly significant role.

3. Teaching the Importance of Trust and Security

Bitcoin’s blockchain technology, the backbone of the cryptocurrency, is built on principles of trust and security. Unlike traditional financial systems, where a central authority regulates transactions, Bitcoin operates in a decentralized network, ensuring that transactions are secure and transparent. Teaching children about how Bitcoin transactions work can help them understand the importance of trust, especially in a digital age.

4. Encouraging Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

Bitcoin presents a unique opportunity to cultivate critical thinking and problem-solving skills in children. Its volatile nature and fluctuating value offer a chance to teach kids about market dynamics, supply and demand, and the concept of risk. Understanding why Bitcoin’s price can rise or fall based on external factors can encourage children to think analytically about cause and effect.

5. Promoting an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Bitcoin is inherently entrepreneurial, offering individuals the opportunity to participate in a new kind of economy. By learning about Bitcoin, children can begin to see the potential for innovation and entrepreneurship that comes with decentralized financial systems. Whether it’s through mining, trading, or developing new applications on the blockchain, Bitcoin offers numerous avenues for innovation and business creation.

Conclusion

Introducing kids to Bitcoin concepts is essential for building financial literacy in the digital age. Bitcoin books for kids simplify complex ideas like decentralization, digital wallets, and blockchain, making them accessible and engaging. By learning about Bitcoin, children gain important lessons in saving, investing, and managing risks. Early exposure to Bitcoin fosters responsible financial habits, preparing kids for the future of money and equipping them with critical skills for success.

[next-gen-investent]

how to invest in share market and earn money

Investing in the Share Market: A Guide for New Investors

Investing in the stock market can be an excellent way to grow your wealth over time. For new investors, understanding the basics of financial markets, trading, and investment strategies is crucial. Let's dive into some key aspects you should know:

Invest in Financial Markets:

The share market, also known as the stock market, is a place where individuals and institutions trade shares of publicly listed companies.

It provides a platform for buying and selling stocks, which represent ownership in a company.

Understanding Stock Market Basics:

The stock market operates on supply and demand principles, with prices fluctuating based on various factors such as company performance, economic conditions, and market trends.

It consists of primary and secondary markets. In the primary market, companies issue new shares through Initial Public Offerings (IPOs), while in the secondary market, existing shares are traded among investors.

Role of Individuals and New Investors:

Individuals, especially new investors, play a significant role in the stock market. With the rise of online trading platforms, it's easier than ever to start investing.

It's important for new investors to educate themselves about market trends, financial instruments, and different investment strategies.

Trading in the Stock Market:

Trading involves buying and selling shares to capitalize on market movements. There are different types of traders, including day traders, swing traders, and long-term investors.

Each trading style requires a different approach and understanding of market dynamics.

Investment Strategies:

Successful investing often involves a mix of strategies. Some common strategies include value investing, growth investing, and income investing.

Value investors look for undervalued stocks, growth investors seek companies with high growth potential, and income investors focus on stocks that provide regular dividends.

Analyzing Market Trends:

Keeping an eye on market trends is essential for making informed investment decisions. Analyzing historical data, economic indicators, and company performance can provide insights into future market movements.

Utilizing tools like technical analysis and fundamental analysis can help in understanding market trends better.

Tips for New Investors:

Diversification: Spread your investments across different sectors and asset classes to reduce risk.

Research: Conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Understand the business model, financial health, and competitive landscape of the companies you're interested in.

Patience: Investing in the stock market is a long-term game. Stay patient and avoid making impulsive decisions based on short-term market fluctuations.