#amazon associates review

[melikemmm]

Top Holiday Books and Movies for December

🎄 Dive into the festive spirit with our top holiday books and movies for December! From heartwarming tales to captivating films, discover your perfect cozy night companions. 🌟📚🎬 #HolidayReads #ChristmasMovies #FestiveSeason

December is a month of festivity, reflection, and cosy nights by the fire. With the holiday season in full swing, it’s the perfect time to immerse yourself in heartwarming books and captivating films. Here are some of the best reads and watches to enjoy this December. They come with personal insights and audience notes. You will also find recommendations on where to find them. Best Reads A…

[marketingprofitmedia]

Take Your Online Business to the Next Level With Amazon Affiliate Marketing

Elevate your online business by integrating Amazon’s Affiliate Marketing program. This strategy offers a commission-based earning potential through product referrals.

Amazon Affiliate Marketing presents a lucrative channel to enhance your online business’s revenue without the complexities of inventory management. By leveraging the vast product range available on Amazon, entrepreneurs and content creators can seamlessly connect their audience with relevant products.

By simply including affiliate links in your content, you enable a seamless shopping experience for your readers while earning a commission on each successful referral. This symbiotic relationship benefits both your business and your audience, providing value through recommendations and an opportunity to monetize your digital presence. Initiating your journey with Amazon Affiliate Marketing involves a straightforward signup process, strategic placement of affiliate links, and understanding your audience’s needs to facilitate sales, ensuring your venture’s growth in the competitive digital marketplace.

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The Rise Of Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing has soared in popularity, transforming into a must-have for online businesses. It creates win-win situations. Businesses gain exposure while affiliates earn commission. This growth stems from its effectiveness. It’s a low-risk investment with a potentially high reward.

Affiliate Marketing Basics

Affiliate marketing is a tactic where you promote others’ products. You earn a commission when someone buys through your link. Let’s break it down:

Choose a product to promote from a business

Create content to advertise the products

Share your unique affiliate link

Earn a percentage of sales made through your link

Why Amazon Affiliate Program Stands Out

The Amazon Affiliate Program, also known as Amazon Associates, captures attention. It’s popular for many reasons:

FeatureBenefitVast Product RangeMany options to choose fromUser TrustAmazon is a trusted brandEasy IntegrationSimple link placement on any platformAnalyticsTrack your success with detailed reportsCommission RatesCompetitive payouts

Become an Amazon affiliate, promote products, and watch your business grow. It’s a step towards greater online success!

Setting Up Your Amazon Affiliate Account

Are you ready to dive into Amazon Affiliate Marketing? A crucial first step is setting up your Amazon Affiliate account properly. This guide ensures a seamless start to your Amazon Affiliate journey.

Step-by-step Account Creation

Launching your Amazon Affiliate program begins with creating your account. Follow these simplified steps:

Visit the Amazon Associates homepage and click on the “Join Now for Free” button.

Sign in with your existing Amazon account or create a new one.

Enter your account information, including your name, address, and phone number.

Provide your website or app details that will host Amazon Affiliate links.

Construct your profile, inform Amazon about your websites, your promotional methods, and choose your preferred store ID.

Explain how you drive traffic to your sites, how you utilize your website or apps to generate income, and your link-building practices.

Once complete, confirm your payment and tax information to ensure you’re ready to earn commissions.

Review and accept the Terms of Service to finalize your account setup.

With these steps, your Amazon Affiliate account will be up and running in no time.

Understanding The Operating Agreement

It’s vital to grasp Amazon’s Operating Agreement to avoid any pitfalls. Here’s a simple breakdown:

Familiarize yourself with the rules to maintain a healthy affiliate relationship with Amazon.

Pay attention to the dos and don’ts concerning the promotional methods.

Understand the commission structure to set realistic earnings expectations.

Monitor changes to the agreement, as Amazon may update its terms periodically.

Comprehending these guidelines will position you for success as an Amazon Affiliate.

Creating Content That Converts

The cornerstone of any successful Amazon Affiliate Marketing strategy is content that engages and motivates your audience to take action. Delivering top-notch material tailored to your audience’s needs and interests can transform clicks into commissions. Let’s delve into how to craft content that not only captures attention but also drives sales.

Identifying Your Niche

Selecting the right niche is pivotal for conversion. A well-defined niche helps you produce relevant and specialized content that resonates with a specific audience. When you solve problems or fulfill needs for a targeted group, your content becomes invaluable.

Analyze your interests: Passion drives persistence and authenticity.

Research market demand: Utilize tools to find what’s popular and profitable.

Examine competition: Find gaps in the market to stand out.

Principles Of High-converting Content

Understanding the principles of content that converts is essential. High-converting content should captivate your audience and prompt action seamlessly. Here are the core principles.

PrincipleExplanationClarityBe clear and concise. Avoid jargon or complicated language.RelevanceTailor content to match users’ search intent and interest.ValueProvide useful information that solves problems.TrustworthinessUse facts and experiences to build credibility.EngagementEncourage user interaction with questions and calls to action.

Incorporate these principles to watch your content’s conversion power soar. Craft each piece strategically, starting with a clear and attention-grabbing headline. Make navigation effortless with subheadings and bullet points. Include high-quality images or videos to complement text. Lastly, end with a strong call to action that guides readers to the next step.

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Strategies For Driving Traffic

Ready to elevate your online business with Amazon Affiliate Marketing? Mastering traffic strategies is key to success. This section delves into proven methods designed to boost your visitor numbers and, in turn, your affiliate earnings.

Seo For Affiliate Marketing

To start, understanding SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is essential. SEO helps your content rank higher in search results. Here’s what to focus on:

Keyword Research: Find what your audience searches for.

On-Page SEO: Optimize titles, headings, and meta descriptions.

Quality Content: Write helpful, comprehensive reviews and guides.

Backlinks: Earn links from credible sources to boost authority.

Leveraging Social Media

Next, harness the power of social media. It’s a great way to connect with potential customers.

Here are the best practices:

Establish a presence on platforms where your audience hangs out.

Create shareable content such as infographics or quick tips.

Engage with followers through comments and messages.

Use targeted ads to reach specific demographics.

Remember, consistency is key. Regular posts keep your audience engaged and drive traffic back to your site.

Maximizing Earnings

Maximizing Earnings with Amazon Affiliate Marketing is about smart moves and strategies. By tapping into the potential of high commission rates and promoting products in demand, your online business can experience significant growth. Let’s dive into how you can optimize your efforts for better profits.

Optimizing For Higher Commissions

To boost your earnings, focus on categories that offer more. Amazon rewards affiliates differently based on product types. You want to spot those with higher commission percentages. For example, luxury beauty items may earn more compared to home essentials.

Study the commission structure regularly, as Amazon updates it over time.

Spotlight luxury items or niche categories that might have fewer competitors but higher rewards.

Bundle lower commission items within content aimed at higher-paying categories, to balance volume with value.

Promoting High-demand Products

Selecting items that customers crave can surge your affiliate income. Seasonal trends, holidays, and new tech launches create opportunities to target what’s hot.

Here’s how to capitalize on these trends:

Keep an eye on Amazon’s bestseller lists to understand what’s trending.

Use keyword tools for search trends to foresee demand spikes.

Write detailed reviews and guides for top products to draw in potential buyers.

Remember, promoting the right product at the right time is key. Align your content marketing efforts with customer interest, and watch your profits rise!

Credit: www.amazon.com

Tracking And Analyzing Performance

Mastering Amazon Affiliate Marketing requires keen attention to data. Numbers tell a story about what works and what doesn’t. To enhance your online business through this platform, you need robust tracking and analysis. This means diving deep into performance metrics to understand your affiliate link’s success. Ready to decipher your data for success? Let’s explore the key performance indicators and how to use Amazon’s Affiliate Reports.

Key Performance Indicators

Knowing what to measure makes all the difference. Set your sights on these metrics:

Click-Through Rate (CTR): Shares how often people click your links.

Conversion Rate: Shows the percentage of clicks that buy.

Ordered Items: Counts products bought through your links.

Earnings Per Click (EPC): Calculates earnings from each click.

Adjust your strategies based on these numbers. Aim to boost clicks and conversions.

Using Amazon’s Affiliate Reports

Amazon provides detailed reports for affiliates. Here is how to use them:

Log into your Amazon Affiliate account.

Click on the Reports tab to view your statistics.

Study the Overview Report for a snapshot of performance.

Dive into the Detailed Reports for specific insights.

Examine the Earnings Report to track your income.

Detect trends and optimize accordingly. Use these insights to tweak your content and marketing approach.

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Legal And Ethical Considerations

Legal and Ethical Considerations are vital for maintaining a successful Amazon Affiliate business. Not only do they help you stay in good standing with Amazon, but they also build trust with your audience. Understanding and adhering to Amazon’s regulations and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines ensures your venture thrives within the bounds of the law.

Compliance With Amazon Policies

Amazon sets clear policies for its Affiliate program. Neglecting these can result in account suspension or termination. Key policies include:

Proper link use: Always use Affiliate links provided by Amazon.

No misleading claims: Only truthful product descriptions.

Price promotions: Avoid promoting price-based incentives unless updated by Amazon.

Disclosure Requirements

Transparency with your audience is both a legal requirement and an ethical practice. The FTC mandates that affiliate marketers disclose their relationships with retailers. This means:

Visible disclosures: Placing clear statements near affiliate links.

Language: Using simple language that everyone understands.

Placement: Disclosures should be conspicuous, not hidden in footers or links.

Credit: www.amazon.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What Is Amazon Affiliate Marketing?

Amazon Affiliate Marketing is a program that allows website owners and bloggers to earn commissions by promoting Amazon products on their sites.

Q. How Do You Join The Amazon Affiliate Program?

To join the Amazon Affiliate program, apply on their website, await approval, and then incorporate affiliate links into your content.

Q. Can You Make Money With Amazon Affiliates?

Yes, you can earn money through Amazon Affiliates by generating sales via your unique affiliate links.

Q. What Are The Best Strategies For Amazon Affiliates?

Effective strategies include SEO-rich content creation, careful product selection, and leveraging social media to drive traffic.

Q. How To Optimize Your Site For Amazon Affiliate Marketing?

For optimal results, ensure your site has valuable content, utilizes relevant keywords, and provides a seamless user experience.

Conclusion

Embracing Amazon Affiliate Marketing can elevate your digital storefront. By leveraging the platform’s vast audience, your brand gains visibility and potential revenue growth. Start crafting strategic affiliate links, offer genuine value, and watch your online business thrive. Ready to scale up?

Amazon’s affiliate program awaits your move. Let’s grow together.

>> My Best Recommended & Proven Way to Make $100 Daily – Watch THIS Video FREE Training to START >>

Thanks for reading my article on Take Your Online Business to the Next Level With Amazon Affiliate Marketing, hope it will help!

Affiliate Disclaimer :

This post contains affiliate links, which lets me make a little profit at no extra cost if you buy anything. We earn affiliate money for reviews and promotions on this post, but we always provide honest thoughts, user experiences, and product or service perspectives. We want to assist readers make the greatest purchases, but our testimonials and views are ours. Before buying, check claims, outcomes, and metrics. You should assume we get affiliate compensation for clicking links or buying anything mentioned in this post. We evaluate intriguing items and services. We may get a commission from our partners If you purchase them, we might get a share of the commission from the sale from our partners. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended.

Source : Take Your Online Business to the Next Level With Amazon Affiliate Marketing

[coridae]

Amazon things

I recently applied to the whole associates program, which basically means I have no idea what I am doing what so ever lol. So I am gunna be more active in at least posting bits and blurbs about the stuff I order huzzah!

So at some point expect little reviews here aside from random flower pictures.

[maverick-werewolf]

29 ratings on Amazon for my thesis on werewolf folklore. This bad boy has over 5k downloads at my university theses database. If you've read it, I'd really appreciate if you'd drop a rating and/or review. Hitting 30 would be great!

Find it here

Since before recorded history, werewolves have captivated human imagination. Simultaneously, they represent our deepest fears as well as our desire to connect with our primal ancestry. Today, werewolves are portrayed negatively, associated with violence, cruelty, cannibalism, and general malevolence. However, in ages past, legends depicted them not as monsters, but as a range of neutral to benevolent individuals, such as traveling companions, guardians, and knights. The robust legacy of the werewolf spans from prehistory, through ancient Greece and Rome, to the Middle Ages, into the Early Modern period, and finally into present-day popular culture. Over the ages, the view of the werewolf has become distorted. Media treatment of werewolves is associated with inferior writing, lacking in thought, depth, and meaning. Werewolves as characters or creatures are now generally seen as single-minded and one-dimensional, and they want nothing more than to kill, devour, and possibly violate humans. Hollywood depictions have resulted in the destruction of the true meanings behind werewolf legends that fascinated and terrified humans for so many ages. If these negative trends were reversed, perhaps entertainment might not only discover again some of the true meanings behind the werewolf myth, but also take the first steps toward reversing negative portrayals of wolves themselves, which humans have, for eons, wrongfully stigmatized and portrayed as evil, resulting in wolves receiving crueler treatment than virtually any other animal. To revive the many questions posed by lycanthropy, entertainment must show respect to the rich history of so many cultures all around the world – and rediscover the legend of the werewolf.

P.S.: Thank you so much to all my wonderful followers here who've stuck with me since I was but a smol blogger. I love and appreciate you all, and I hope you're having a wonderful spooky season. <3

[city-of-ladies]

“In discussing all these diverse images of armed and actively fighting women of Old Norse literature, and in critically acknowledging that many of the accounts that concern them were created several centuries after the events, it is easy to relegate them all to the sphere of fiction and to regard them as having no basis in historical reality whatsoever. But if we turn to other medieval sources, created independently of Old Norse literary tradition and stemming from different cultural milieus, we will find within them very similar patterns of the occasional female participation in martial activities. The two case studies reviewed above – namely that of Æthelflæd of Mercia and of the women who fought in the siege of Dorostolon – strongly support the idea that there could be some reality behind the stories of armed women that survive in Old Norse literature. Also other historical women of the Viking Age, especially those who stemmed from the highest echelons of society, were occasionally compelled to engage in endeavours associated with warfare and would oversee military operations. For instance, the great Princess Olga, who was the wife of Igor of Kiev, led her army against the Slavic tribe of Derevlians, devised her own impressive strategies and through all these initiatives gained recognition among her companions, regardless of her biological sex.

It thus feels highly unlikely that all these medieval accounts, including the famed descriptions of female warriors in Saxo Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum, were only inspired by legends of the ancient Amazons and served as curiosa and literary embellishments to entertain the audience. As we shall see in the following chapters of this book, archaeological finds from across Scandinavia provide support for the idea that some Viking Age women did wield weapons and in one way or another found their place in the martial sphere.”

Women and Weapons in the Viking World: Amazons of the North, Leszek Gardela

[californiannostalgia]

In Honor of TLOVM S3 Opening Release Day

Here are some TLOVM S2 tribute vids from amazing editors, for your reviewing pleasure.

1. Valhalla Calling Vox Machina || TLoVM Seasons 1&2 AMV by Aidan Walsh: Exandria is a post-apocalypse, can you hear the echoes of eternity?

2. Vox Machina - Just A Man[AMV] by rouge1ful: Hey it's the Odysseus song! When does a comet become a meteor, a candle become a blaze? Origin stories, you know?

3. The Chain | The Legend of Vox Machina AMV by Alyssa A: Team angst! Sick bass! You will not be able to break the chains of fate.

4. "Remember The Name" // Vox Machina TRIBUTE Critical Role by Dove-O-War: If you've been in the atla fandom, you'll be familiar with the time-honored action montage amv tradition associated with this very song.

+ humor compilations under the cut, because we must not forget their hallowed origins as the SHITs

Vox Machina Vs. Doors by Shichiro42

Vox Machina Season 2 But It's All Out Of Context #Shorts by Amazon Prime

[cardicoven]

🥀Book Review: Persephone's Pathway: Wisdom, Magick & Growth by Jennifer Heather

Full Title: Persephone's Pathway: Wisdom, Magick, Growth Author: Jennifer Heather Published by: Heather Publishing (seemingly self published) 2020 Good Reads: Link My Quick Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) stars. Persephone’s Pathway which while flawed and at times meandering is perhaps the best resource available for the modern pagan worshipping or working with Persephone and I wholly recommend it. Official Blurb: Persephone's Pathway is one of balance and duality; embrace the dual goddess archetype of Underworld Queen and Spring Maiden in order to achieve harmony. This book shares the wisdom of Persephone, along with spells and rituals to help you in your daily life. Shadow work exercises encourage you to work with the Underworld aspect of the Dark Goddess, whilst flower magick celebrates the joy and gentleness of the Spring Goddess. Blend the dark and light aspects together to experience how they shine a light on each other in this celebration of wholeness and authenticity. Personal Reason for Purchasing: Was looking for a pagan/witchy perspective on Persephone and stubbled across this one. (Bought from Amazon UK)

Overview of the book's contents. Introduction: A solid introduction, focusing on what the purpose of this book will be, and the author’s goals in writing it, namely ‘an exploration of the mythology and Symbolism surrounding Persephone, along with chapters dedicated to a facet of what she can teach us’, ‘both a collection of information and tribute to her’. Chapter 1: 'Who is Persephone': Introduction to Persephone, her role, dual nature, The Eleusinian mysteries, possible connections to Erishkegal (a mesopotamia goddess originating 4000 BC), and of course the Homeric Hymn to Demeter. Chapter 2: 'Historic Origins': An exploration of the genesis of Persephone in Mythology, through to the Evolution of her story in present day literature. (A personal highlight). Chapter 3: 'A Myth Retold': A modern retelling of the hymn to Demeter by the author. Chapter 4: 'Symbolism': An exploration of the artefacts associated with Persephone, both modern and ancient, the creation of a unique glyph/sigil for Persephone and an extensive and detailed discussion of association/correspondences, some ancient, some contemporary and lastly her common epithets. Chapter 5: 'Creating an Altar': A collection of suggestions and guidelines on creating your own altar for Persephone and common offerings to gift the Goddess. Chapter 6: 'Persephone Magick: Begins with a basic beginners to magickal practice, followed by a recipe for a Persephone Anointing oils, a guide to connecting to Persephone, an innovation and an adaption of the Orphic Hymn to Proserpina.

The Seeds of Persephone A collection of chapters surrounding what the Author considers to be the six core aspects/values which Persephone embodies. Seed 1: 'Union': Focuses on Shadow-work, divine alignment for body and Spirit union, and includes a spell for Spiritual union of lovers, guidance surrounding meditation, shadow-work rituals, and a recipe for a love attraction oil. Seed 2: 'Balance': Begins with a discussion of how to, and the importance of maintaining balance in one’s life, including a meandering discussion of grounding, living with the seasons, incorporating nature into your life, meditation, seasonal altars, self-care, massage, and yoga. Lastly it includes recipes for a Persephone Beauty Elixer’ cream/lotion, a medicinal tonic, a spell for resolution, and a spell for making a decision. Seed 3: 'Intuition': Looks at ways to develop one’s intuition, including an outline for a Persephone focused Lithomancy technique (10 planetary stones, 6 Persephone stones (named for each of the author’s ‘Seeds’: Fertility, Justice, Balance, Union, Sovereignty and Intuition), three tarot spreads and the script for a guided meditation. Seed 4: 'Sovereignty': Is a discussion of [personal Sovereignty, and self-esteem, with journal prompts. Guidance on enchanting a power talisman, and a spell for protecting personal boundaries. Seed 5: 'Justice': Focuses heavily on Persephone in her Queen of the Underworld Aspect, touching on several myths in which she acted as a Purveyor of justice, (Orpheus and Psyche, and a discussion on Trust in regards to the Goddess. Followed by Several spells for truth telling, reflection on behaviour and fair resolutions. Seed 6: 'Fertility': Focuses on Persephone's Spring/Maiden Aspect. Followed by a discussion of Maiden goddesses, Flower Magick, creating Floral elixirs, cleansing sprays, a flower bathing ritual, and spell jars/Witch’s bottles. Followed by the Associations/correspondences and finally a script of a guided meditation, to meet Persephone in her Spring Aspect. Appendix: The Orphic hymn to Proserpina, translated by Taylor Thomas 1792.

Personal Thoughts and Review. I’m conflicted about this book. The first half is an excellent primer on Persephone and including her into one’s personal practice however, the second half the ‘Seeds of Persephone’ are at times Meandering, unfocused and clumsy, but there are jewels among the ramblings.

The book appears to be self published, so I’m inclined to be kinder to the Author than I would otherwise be; however, Persephone’s Pathway could really use reformatting (text justified etc), and would benefit immensely from an informed and passionate editor. Nevertheless this book is an excellent edition to the libraries of those of us who work with Persephone.

Aspects in detail. General content: The first half goes over a lot of content around Persephone, in some detail and is appropriately referenced through allowing the reader to research further. The Second half (the Seeds) is a mixed bag and approaches certain subjects extremely casually, namely Shadow-work and herbal medicine. Persephone’s correspondences: Primarily contained to Chapter 4, the Correspondences are in depth, reference and diverse. However, there are inaccuracies, the most obvious is a mention of Corn/Maize being cut as a part of the Eleusinian Mysteries. As a New World crop Corn was not in ancient Greece at the time and as such has no historical connection to the Mysteries. From my own understanding the crop cut during the Mysteries was likely Barley, a grain though to have great significance to the Eleusinian Mysteries as a part of the hallucinogenic cocktail thought to be drunk by initiates, barley is also part of the offering given by Oddyseus to summon Persephone (“first with milk and honey, then with sweet wine, then with water; and sprinkle white barley-meal above”). Rituals and Spells: It’s Always interesting to see another practitioner's approach, and covering a very broad scope although, I wish they were indexed since they appear throughout the book. Origin Myth retelling: An interesting retelling, possibly my favourite version, however it is not without flaws. Guided Meditations: Enjoyable and Interesting, these scripts approach many aspects of Persephone’s Mythos. Journaling Prompts: These appear seemingly at random in the latter half of the book, but are nevertheless thought provoking. Recommended Reading: While good to see, it is worthy of note that none of these books reference Persephone, Hellenic Polytheism, or Shadow-work. Which are the topics I would like to see additional material given some of my concerns with the book itself. Bibliography: Extensive and good practice.

The Seeds in Detail. Given their significance to the book I’ll review these chapters separately: Union: a clumsy chapter whose advice on Shadow-work is surface level and possibly dangerous for a beginner or someone who is mentally vulnerable. But this chapter does handle the topic of Love workings with the required levity. Balance: Waffling and honestly feels like filler, of the seeds this one is disappointing and feels like lost potential. Intuition: a major highlight of the book, a detailed exploration of Lithomancy, well written and thought provoking. Sovereignty: A good chapter, if a little long winded. Justice: Spectacular, discussion of Queen Persephone and of how to connect to the Underworld Aspect. A personal highlight. Fertility: An excellent close to the book but desperately needs reformatting.

Final Thoughts. I wholly recommend this book especially as a gateway into working with or worshipping Persephone. Despite its flaws, it is the best resource I’ve found on Persephone from a pagan/witch perspective, and my practice is better for reading it.

[eretzyisrael]

BY PARK MACDOUGALD

The “movement,” in turn, while it recruits from among students and other self-motivated radicals willing to put their bodies on the line, relies heavily on the funding of progressive donors and nonprofits connected to the upper reaches of the Democratic Party. Take the epicenter of the nationwide protest movement, Columbia University. According to reporting in the New York Post, the Columbia encampment was principally organized by three groups: Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), and Within Our Lifetime (WOL). Let’s take each in turn.

JVP is, in essence, the “Jewish”-branch of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, backed by the usual big-money progressive donors—including some, like the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, that were instrumental in selling Obama’s Iran Deal to the public. JVP and its affiliated political action arm, JVP Action, have received at least $650,000 from various branches of George Soros’ philanthropic empire since 2017, $441,510 from the Kaphan Foundation (founded by early Amazon employee Sheldon Kaphan), $340,000 from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and smaller amounts from progressive donors such as the Quitiplas Foundation, according to reporting from the New York Post and NGO Monitor, a pro-Israel research institute. JVP has also received nearly $1.5 million from various donor-advised funds—which allow wealthy clients to give anonymously through their financial institutions—run through the charitable giving arms of Fidelity Investments, Charles Schwab, Morgan Stanley, Vanguard, and TIAA, according to NGO Monitor’s review of those institutions’ tax documents.

SJP, by contrast, is an outgrowth of the Islamist networks dissolved during the U.S. government’s prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) and related charities for fundraising for Hamas. SJP is a subsidiary of an organization called American Muslims for Palestine (AMP); SJP in fact has no “formal corporate structure of its own but operates as AMP’s campus brand,” according to a lawsuit filed last week against AJP Educational Fund, the parent nonprofit of AMP. Both AMP and SJP were founded by the same man, Hatem Bazian, a Palestinian academic who formerly fundraised for KindHearts, an Islamic charity dissolved in 2012 pursuant to a settlement with the U.S. Treasury, which froze the group’s assets for fundraising for Hamas (KindHearts did not admit wrongdoing in the settlement). And several of AMP’s senior leaders are former fundraisers for HLF and related charities, according to November congressional testimony from former U.S. Treasury official Jonathan Schanzer. An ongoing federal lawsuit by the family of David Boim, an American teenager killed in a Hamas terrorist attack in 1996, goes so far as to allege that AMP is a “disguised continuance” and “legal alter-ego” of the Islamic Association for Palestine, was founded with startup money from current Hamas official Musa Abu Marzook and dissolved alongside HLF. AMP has denied it is a continuation of IAP.

Today, however, National SJP is legally a “fiscal sponsorship” of another nonprofit: a White Plains, New York, 501(c)(3) called the WESPAC Foundation. A fiscal sponsorship is a legal arrangement in which a larger nonprofit “sponsors” a smaller group, essentially lending it the sponsor’s tax-exempt status and providing back-office support in exchange for fees and influence over the sponsorship’s operations. For legal and tax purposes, the sponsor and the sponsorship are the same entity, meaning that the sponsorship is relieved of the requirement to independently disclose its donors or file a Form 990 with the IRS. This makes fiscal sponsorships a “convenient way to mask links between donors and controversial causes,” according to the Capital Research Center. Donors, in other words, can effectively use nonprofits such as WESPAC to obscure their direct connections to controversial causes.

Something of the sort appears to be happening with WESPAC. Run by the market researcher Howard Horowitz, WESPAC reveals very little about its donors, although scattered reporting and public disclosures suggest that the group is used as a pass-through between larger institutions and pro-Palestinian radicals. Since 2006, for instance, WESPAC has received more than half a million in donations from the Elias Foundation, a family foundation run by the private equity investor James Mann and his wife. WESPAC has also received smaller amounts from Grassroots International (an “environmental” group heavily funded by Thousand Currents), the Sparkplug Foundation (a far-left group funded by the Wall Street fortune of Felice and Yoram Gelman), and the Bafrayung Fund, run by Rachel Gelman, an heir to the Levi Strauss fortune and the sister of Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman. (A self-described “abolitionist,” Gelman was featured in a 2020 New York Times feature on “The Rich Kids Who Want to Tear Down Capitalism.”) In 2022, WESPAC also received $97,000 from the Tides Foundation, the grant-making arm of the Tides Nexus.

WESPAC, however, is not merely the fiscal sponsor of the Hamas-linked SJP but also the fiscal sponsor of the third group involved in organizing the Columbia protests, Within Our Lifetime (WOL), formerly known as New York City SJP. Founded by the Palestinian American lawyer Nerdeen Kiswani, a former activist with the Hunter College and CUNY chapters of SJP, WOL has emerged over the past seven months as perhaps the most notorious antisemitic group in the country, and has been banned from Facebook and Instagram for glorifying Hamas. A full list of the group’s provocations would take thousands of words, but it has been the central organizing force in the series of “Flood”-themed protests in New York City since Oct. 7, including multiple bridge and highway blockades, a November riot at Grand Central Station, the vandalism of the New York Public Library, and protests at the Rockefeller Center Christmas-tree lighting. In addition to their confrontational tactics, WOL-led protests tend to have a few other hallmarks. These include eliminationist rhetoric directed at the Jewish state—such as Arabic chants of “strike, strike, Tel Aviv”; the prominent display of Hezbollah flags and other insignia of explicitly Islamist resistance; the presence of masked Arab street muscle; and the antisemitic intimidation of counterprotesters by said masked Arab street muscle.

WOL’s role appears to be that of shock troops, akin to the role played by black block militants on the anarchist side of the ledger. WOL is, however, connected to more seemingly “mainstream” elements of the anti-Israel movement. Abdullah Akl, a prominent WOL leader—indeed, the man leading the “strike Tel Aviv” chants in the video linked above—is also listed as a “field organizer” on the website of MPower Change, the “advocacy project” led by Linda Sarsour. MPower Change, in turn, is a fiscal sponsorship of NEO Philanthropy, another large progressive clearinghouse. NEO Philanthropy and its 501(c)(4) “sister,” NEO Philanthropy Action Fund, have received more than $37 million from Soros’ Open Society Foundations since 2021 alone, as well as substantial funding from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the Ford Foundation, and the Tides Foundation.

[shipwreckedwithcaptainmarrow]

My book I just published! Over four years worth of research, traveling the coast, interviewing random locals in seaside towns, and much effort. As described on the book's back blurb above, it's a historical analysis of pirate folklore from Florida to Virginia's northernmost shores. The inside contains nearly two hundred entries of claims of pirate hauntings and buried treasure tales associated with pirates, that date from the 1700s, newspapers of the 19th century, old brochures and folklore books, modern word of mouth tales, and online claims. Each entry is presented as the tale is known, followed by my own notes regarding historical context surrounding the claim and of its' validity. Further each tale is analyzed as to where it came from, what year it began circulating, and so on. More than just a folklore book, it's a history book 'on' the folklore. The book recently went Live on Amazon for a number of countries outside of North America, however the listing is still in the process of becoming live for those in the US and Canada. I'll update again once it's available for us here! https://www.amazon.com/Pirate-Ghosts-Buried-Treasures-Southeast/dp/B0CJDBLTT6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZAJ6SRVDZYKU&keywords=pirate+ghosts+%26+buried+treasure+marrow&qid=1695689334&sprefix=%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1 If you do decide to make a purchase, please consider leaving an honest review, even short one-sentence reviews help indie authors considerably. Thanks mate!

[bardic-tales]

Happy STS

What’s the easiest part of writing for you?

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Happy STS, Andi. Thank you for the ask and I hope you have a wonderful day.

I feel the easiest part for me is making my characters relatable. I love diving into their emotions, motivations, and quirks, as I try to find a way to connect them to human experiences, even if their situations are somewhat fantastical. For me, it's capturing the little moments, whether it's a character's hesitation before making a tough decision, their reaction to heartbreak and grief (which is the focus of Fantasy Worlds Collide), or the way they react to unexpected kindness.

These little details breath life into a character, making them feel like they are real people that the reader can interact with. When I stay connected to the characters' inner worlds, I find that dialogue and actions flow naturally.

As for advice, I have been writing over 30 years. I also self-published two novellas, so I'm going to draw from that experience and what I learned on the way to where I currently am: a woman with reams of information on a passion project fusing together original content with fandom.

Don't worry if you can't always hit the high world count; even writing a single word a day can help build momentum. Setting small, daily quotas -- like a single sentence or a paragraph -- can make the process less daunting and increase daily output without you even knowing.

Also, it is important to remember not all feedback is about you. This is more on the publishing end of things: like selling on Amazon. Sometimes, reviews are for the other readers / consumers than the author. You also do not have to respond to ANY review, as an author. Sometimes, a non-response says more to someone trying to make you feel 'bad' for writing an unpopular ship than it is to lambaste the reviewer. Accept constructive criticism, but do not let it stifle your voice. Do not compare yourselves to others. I like to associate authors as architects. For every Frank Lloyd Wright's 'Fallingwater', there are smaller buildings. These smaller buildings can be just as impressive and even cozier than Fallingwater.

And, finally, read. Read often as this will help an author stay inspired and refine techniques.

[instruth]

Hi,

I’m happy to announce today, 02 October 2024, the official launching of my latest book on Kindle Store, Amazon.

CURSE OF THE GREEN DRAGON (A Hakka Story) - by J. P. Lee.

This latest book is a prequel to my earlier publication, Breaking The Curse Of The Green Dragon ( a hakka story).

Enjoy.

Order now.

Please feel free to comment and share.

Cheers and Blessing.

J. P. Lee

http://a.co/d/6BE7YVH

J.P. Lee

CURSE OF THE GREEN DRAGON: (A HAKKA STORY)

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TESTIMONIALS AND FOREWORD

CURSE OF THE GREEN DRAGON (A Hakka Story), by J. P. Lee

CURSE OF THE GREEN DRAGON

"J. P. Lee, a dental surgeon, who has written books about childhood trauma, peppers his story with words and legends from the dialect group. An interesting read for Hakkas and non-Hakkas alike" - Life! The Straits Times.

CURSE OF THE GREEN DRAGON

"This book, Curse Of The Green Dragon, intrigued me to keep wanting to read on; it's the sort of book that would haunt me in my dreams. How I wish that more epic tales were written like this" - Book Review, The Sarawak Tribune.

CURSE OF THE GREEN DRAGON

"This book is an easy read, language and plot-wise; the promised elements of 'legends, superstitions, love and betrayal' are all there plus the constant conflicts between good and evil" - The Star, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

CURSE OF THE GREEN DRAGON

"The history of the Hakkas and the spirit of their people have been captured in this new book by J. P. Lee, who marries historical and cultural facts with a fictional story spanning five generations" - The Write Stuff, MediaCorp Radio Singapore International.

CURSE OF THE GREEN DRAGON

"Where do the Hakkas come from? What do you know about them? Join Dr Johnny Lee at 10.10am to find out about the Hakkas and his book, Curse Of The Green Dragon (A Hakka Story)" - The Living Room, NewsRadio 93.8FM, Singapore.

CURSE OF THE GREEN DRAGON

"An excellent way to actually fuse fiction and facts by telling it through a story" - Passion 99.5FM, National Arts Council Singapore.

HAKKA STORIES

• 1/ Curse Of The Green Dragon (A Hakka Story)

• 2/ Breaking The Curse Of The Green Dragon (A Hakka Story)

- original novel and its sequel, by J. P. Lee.

"Though modestly subtitled as 'hakkas stories' we know that the books go well beyond the narrow confines of a clan, or a specific group or even a specific nation. The larger themes of good and evil which are at the very centre of Lee's preoccupations do not date and they have no specific locale: these are big themes inviting big attention and exploration ... But the focus is never too far from our gaze, for I believe in the end Lee wants us to read these books as fables, as allegories, as stories to not only enrich our lives but aid us in making the humdrum rich and colourful and clean. There is healing in simple cleansing. And as the good doctor of teeth knows so well, fronting and knowing are the first steps towards self-understanding. And these two novels do precisely that."

- Dr Kirpal Singh

Associate Professor

Singapore Management University

March 2004.

[hardcore-gaming-101]

Finger Flashing

This article is part of our Japanese Obscurities feature. We put out a whole book about them, which is available as both a full color hardcover and a Kindle ebook from Amazon! If you’d like to see more of these features, please check out the book and if you enjoyed it, leave a five star review so we can do a follow up with even more interesting, offbeat, or historically important Japanese games!

Finger Flashing meshes rocks-paper-scissors with action-puzzle gameplay. You control one of two little wizards, Poi or Cyikke, who march forward against a legion of hand-shaped bad guys. You have three magic spells, each can destroy the associated enemy – the rock spell beats scissors enemies, scissors beat paper, and paper beats rock, of course. In the early stages, the bad guys only attack one at a time, but pretty quickly they start marching next to each other in formations. If you successfully destroy an enemy, then any enemy next to it that can be beaten by that hand sign will also be killed, setting off a combo. For example, kill a scissors enemy, and any paper bad guys next to it will die, and any rock enemies next to that one will explode, and so forth. However, if you use an ineffective spell, you’ll create an extra enemy of that type, making more work for you to deal with. When the pacing heats up, that extra split second really matters! You can also use magic to temporarily stop the enemies in place, giving you an extra moment to breathe, and can also speed up and slow down your marching speed, which determines how many points you get.In addition to a story mode, there are also score attack and time attack modes, plus a two-player co-op mode.

Read more...

[johnschneiderblog]

It ain't me!

Faithful readers of this blog know that I'm joined at the hip, digitally speaking, with that other John Schneider, the actor/singer/songwriter (I must be feeling generous today) most famous for his role as Bo Duke in the early-80s TV show "Dukes of Hazzard."

As such, I've been accused of snubbing fans, crushing hopes and even heartlessly selling "The General Lee" (the confederate flag-infested Dodge Charger Bo piloted on his moonshining rounds).

It's my burden to bear. But associating me with the 2022 movie "To Die For" is, well ... that's taking it too far. Yes, John Schneider wrote, directed and starred in the movie. The other John Schneider. NOT ME.

I didn't know the movie existed until Thursday when I got a thank-you email from a woman in Manila, Arizona. She wrote, in part: "It's time Americans stand up to those who will not realize what we have and make a mockery of our flag and nation."

So, I found the trailer and read a little of what Schneider said about the movie: " ... What can one man do to fight the intentional decay of the greatest country the world has ever known? Speak out. Live a patriotic example. And, if necessary, die for his flag. Why..? Because she's worth it." Ah, geeze ...

Some snippets from online reviews:

" ... It's like (Schneider) teamed up with some car salesman he met at AA and shot the whole thing in his basement against an Amazon Basics green blanket ..."

"Wow … he thought calling the Native American neighbor 'Tonto' was a good look?"

"I love how right-wingers always create these geriatric, macho patriot fantasies around their identity politics where they get to pretend like they’re an oppressed minority in an intolerant country."

"The acting, dialogue, self-victimization, and plot are so ridiculously awful I can’t believe anybody spent time and money on this."

"The generation of 'get off my lawn' brings you 2 hours of MAGA talking points that liberals hate America and the youth is trash. This may be one of the most poorly shot, edited and sound captured movies in existence."

[buggywiththefolkmagic]

How to Vet Authors in Witchcraft-The Buggy Way!

So you’ve found an aesthetically pleasing cover for a book in your local New Age section and you want to know if they’re worth that $25 price tag? You’ve come to the right place! Vetting witchcraft books can be super tricky...especially if you don’t know what to look for! 

My process for vetting is pretty simple, but it covers enough bases to see if it might be something to glance at. 

Look at who endorses the book! Who has raved about it? Do you know anything about that person? For example when looking at a folk magic book with an introduction from Starr Casas I immediately know there might be some Hoodoo appropriation involved because that’s what she is known for! Having an idea of who the ‘big bads’ are in the type of magic you’re looking at helps considerably. 

If the first step isn’t applicable...then I always go to Amazon, Goodreads, Tumblr, etc and look up reviews for the book and author! If there’s even one negative review I read it first then go to the rest. 

I look for ‘trigger words’ in reviews or just by flipping pages of the book itself. Words such as (for what I want to avoid in a book): Kabbalah, mixing together wicca and witchcraft as the same thing, sour jars, smudging, totems, white sage, starseed or indigo children, honey jars, voodoo dolls, shifting, claiming magic can cure illnesses like epilepsy or cancer, having ‘control’ over a deity, can cause cataclysms like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc. Astral Projection being for beginners, not suggesting cleansing/protection methods, Atlantian races, ‘sacred feminine’ without the opposite/masculine.

Check the authors social medias/websites! I can’t stress how easy it is to spot someone using hoodoo work like honey jars or (specific) cow tongue bindings when they post all their spellwork on their insta or website. 

Do they have a shop? Check out what the shop sells and where it’s located! A lot of Hoodoo and Vodun appropriators have French Quarter ‘conjure’ shops.

Check their bibliography! Is it decently sized for the amount of pages the book has? Does it seem small? Who have they referenced? Is it someone on your personal no-no list? (A decent bibliography for say a well-researched 300 page book would be about 10-15 pages minimum. A lackluster one would be say 5 pages or less.)

Of those references used in the bibliography...are any of them major problematic individuals? Have they referenced the Frosts? Or other big no-nos? If not, you might be good!

If it’s a small bibliography, flip through and see if any of the information sticks out as UPG (unverified personal gnosis) which means things they can’t verify as accurate? If so it might not be the book you need! (Unless you are looking for personal accounts of something.)

Is the author associated with controversy in other areas? A quick google of “Author name controversy” will likely pull up some results if so. Check over the author’s stances on important matters like race, religion, etc if applicable via their social medias. 

And there you have it! My quick and easy, google-able vetting process that when mastered only takes a few minutes while standing in a bookstore instead of wasting money on books that don't suit what information you are looking for! It isn't foolproof, but it should help you avoid some of the bigger let-downs.

[probablyasocialecologist]

Each acre in the Grove of Titans, a patch of redwoods in California’s Jedediah Smith State Park, stores six times more carbon than the same area in the Amazon, Koberstein and Applegate write. An ancient tree like the Queets Fir, a 221-foot-tall Douglas fir in Olympic National Park, can sequester as much carbon in a year as a midsized tree captures over its entire life, according to a USGS study. The authors use evidence like this to advance the idea that protecting old-growth forests is better for the climate than planting new trees. Surprisingly, in Southeast Alaska, up to 70 percent of logged trees are left to rot due to imperfections that don’t sell well in the timber market, the authors write. But once a tree is cut down, the organic material starts decomposing, releasing the tree’s carbon into the atmosphere. In many regions, logging companies replace felled trees with tree farms, which are young trees planted densely in rows. While the companies call these forests, scientists interviewed by the authors doubt they can really be called forests: “They have more in common with cornfields,” they write, and sequester just one-fortieth the amount of carbon as a natural forest. Koberstein and Applegate chronicle the efforts of both small timber companies and large ones, including Weyerhaeuser, the third-largest logger in the world and owner of the largest private tract of land in Oregon’s Coast Range. They also focus attention on industry associations, like the Oregon Forest and Industry Council, which they accuse of using the same tactics as tobacco and oil companies to spread misinformation about the impacts of deforestation. The authors assert that there are logging methods that can ensure that carbon is sequestered while also harvesting timber. Proforestation, for example, prioritizes the protection of existing old-growth forests and ones that are soon maturing into old-growth, while delaying harvesting in younger forests.

[familyabolisher]

In “Professing Criticism,” Guillory concludes an essay titled “On the Permanent Crisis of Graduate Education” by pointing to the rise of venues that accommodate the kinds of criticism that the university cannot. “These are sites (for the most part) of intellectual exchange on the internet, new versions of ‘little magazines,’ such as n+1, or of journals such as The Point, as well as the now vast proliferation of blogs on cultural matters, some of which host high-level exchanges,” he writes. “Such sites disclose the widespread desire for an engagement with literature and culture that is more serious than the habits of mass consumption and that demands new genres and forms of discourse.” He does not develop the point further. Yet one suspects, given what such magazines and blogs can afford to pay, that any prospective contributor will have to hold a job, or several. Here one catches a sudden glimpse of a future in which the Scholar-Critic kaleidoscopes into many hyphenated identities: the Critic-Copy Editor, the Critic-Community Organizer, the Critic-Assistant, the Critic-Amazon Warehouse Associate-Uber Driver. (I leave to one side the Critic of Independent Means and the Critic Who Married Into Money.)

This new kind of critic may write for one of the magazines that Guillory names. But there’s no reason to restrict ourselves to such venues. It is not unusual to stumble upon an essay on Goodreads or Substack that is just as perceptive as academic or journalistic essays, which, no matter how many rounds of revision they undergo, reflect the déformation professionnelle of their respective spheres. Nor should we limit the domain of criticism to writing. Anyone who has taught students knows that the best critiques are often produced in the classroom, through conversations in which one is trying to demonstrate how a poem or a novel works to many different readers, few of whom aspire to write or to join the professoriat.

Early in “Professing Criticism,” Guillory writes that I. A. Richards regarded criticism “as a practice in which every reader of literature was engaged.” But a different proposition presents itself: If everybody is a critic, then no one is. The idea recalls Guillory’s ending to “Cultural Capital,” in which he walks his reader through a thought experiment that Karl Marx undertook in “The German Ideology.” Under the communist organization of society, Marx speculates, eliminating the division of labor will also eliminate the distinction that accrues to artists—writers, painters, sculptors, composers, actors, critics, and other producers of “unique labors.” The utopian horizon of aesthetic production is the disappearance of the painter, the writer, the actor, the composer, and the critic—or, rather, the disappearance of painting, writing, and so on as autonomous domains. In this world, there would be no professional critics, only people who engage in criticism as one activity among many.

“Cultural producers would still compete to have their products read, studied, looked at, heard, lived in, sung, worn, and would still accumulate cultural capital in the form of ‘prestige’ or fame,” Guillory writes. But it would not matter whether you published criticism in the form of a Goodreads review or a magazine article; whether criticism was transmitted through the written word or the spoken one, in the form of podcasts or public lectures; whether the object of criticism was a novel, a film, a show, a song, a dance, a painting, a dress. All that would matter would be the logic of the critic’s thought, the pleasure of her style, the persuasiveness of her judgments, and the education imparted through her words. The result would be to liberate criticism from the institutions of the materially advantaged, allowing it to overflow into the activities of daily life.