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still-breathing-au-p3r · 6 months ago

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All things considered, it was an alright visit.

That leader of theirs really never stops surprising him. He’d never really expected and definitely hadn’t intended to bond with the kid as much as he had, but here he was. Shinjiro had been under the impression that Arisato mostly just coasted through life without much thought. He’d say he reacted rather than acted, but to be frank, he didn’t really react most of the time, either.

So seeing naked hope and then that welding-torch spark of fury in Arisato’s eyes had been a surprise, and a damn unnerving one. Especially since the rest of his face had stayed as flat and blank as ever. You only ever look that hopeful or that pissed at someone if they actually matter to you.

He is extremely out of practice with mattering to people.

But that’s something he’s going to have to get better at in order to keep the promise he and Aki made, which is why he’d had Arisato fetch that re-enrollment form. Going back to school is much more for Aki and Kirijo’s sake than Shinjiro’s own.

Even before everything had fallen apart, it isn’t really as if Shinjiro gave much thought to what he wanted to do with his life. He’d never taken school all that seriously. His grades had been fine enough, but that was mostly to appease Aki, and later Kirijo, with her ‘education is the most important thing in the world’ attitude.

It’s not like he was planning on going to college after high school. Even if his grades were that good, he’d never be able to afford it. Aki’s always had a bright future in anything he might choose, whether that was boxing or something else. Combine his scholarship offers and his well-off parents, and money won’t ever be an issue for him.

And Kirijo? Her grades were perfect, of course, so between that and her frankly ridiculous kind of money, she could do whatever she wanted if she didn’t decide to inherit the family business.

Then there’s Shinjiro. He’s not like either of them. He has no aspirations. He’d never had any long-term goals at all until joining S.E.E.S. to eliminate the Dark Hour. And after the night that had ruined everything, he’d abandoned the few half-baked ideas he’d had for the future.

He’d abandoned the idea of the future entirely.

Why go to school when he wasn’t going to live to be nineteen? How could he justify staying with S.E.E.S. when he was nothing but a walking bomb with a broken timer, a liability? How could he justify continuing to live at all when he had already taken away one life and ruined another?

Why get close to people when he would only hurt them in the end?

And yet against all odds and probably some god’s better judgement, Shinjiro finds himself still alive. He finds himself surrounded by people who insist on caring about him, and are really damn pushy about it. It’s all a bit surreal to experience.

He has no idea what to do with any of it. All these feelings.

But he’s ready to make his first choice.

He’s done a lot of thinking ever since waking up. It’s not like there’s really much of anything else to do but think while he’s stuck in a hospital room like this. He’s not sure how long he actually has– his failing organs don’t exactly have an expiration date tidily stamped on them– but if he’s really and truly getting a second chance…it doesn’t sit well with him just to waste it.

He and Aki promised, after all.

So as Aki, Arisato, and Yamagishi make their way out the door, he notices Kirijo lagging behind. Perfect.

She startles, like she wasn’t expecting to be directly addressed, but by the time she turns around to face him she’s got her pristine heiress’ composure back perfectly in place.

She frowns at him quizzically for a moment before his words seem to properly register. She actually laughs, which isn’t exactly what Shinjiro was aiming for, but– he’ll take it.

Kirijo hums and tucks some hair behind her ear– but not any of the hair that’s actually hanging over her eyes. Shinjiro knows he’s not really one to talk, but if his hair was constantly covering half his line of sight like that, he’d do something about it. He doesn’t know how Kirijo or Arisato stand it.

It’s also a damn good thing that she’s standing well out of arm’s reach, so he doesn’t have to divide his attention between having this conversation and preventing himself from doing something incredibly stupid. Something like reaching out to comb his fingers through her bangs and sweep them out of her face himself.

She ‘may have’ pushed for a rush order, huh? Something warm blooms just under his sternum, but he’s quick to yank that up by the root. This isn’t the time to get emotional.

He doesn’t deign her with an answer. If a thin sliver of hope is as good as he’s going to get, it’s still more than he deserves. And it’s still enough for Shinjiro to finalize his second decision.

He has to do this now before his nerves get the best of him.

Shinjiro opens the drawer on his bedside table back up and takes out the envelope. Wordlessly, he holds it out to Kirijo.

The forlorn look on her face tells him that she’s getting the wrong impression, and it’s not like he can blame her after all that’s been said. Her expression brightens quickly though once she actually opens the envelope and sees what’s inside. She looks at him with wide eyes and tentative hope. Or eye, rather– the one he can see, that isn’t covered by those irritatingly compelling bangs.

She beams at him, all warm and sentimental, and he has to look away. You’d think two years distancing himself would be enough time to get the hell over this, but one smile from her is still enough to send his traitorous heart pounding like it’s trying to bust clean out of his ribs.

Of course his luck’s never been that good. Of course he’s still got it this bad, even after all this time. He’s probably an idiot for even daring to hope otherwise.

It doesn’t help that he’s spent all day trying and failing not to dwell on what almost happened with Aki yesterday. What might have almost happened. He’s still not entirely sure if he actually read that moment correctly or if the painkiller fog in his brain and his own wishful thinking had made him see something in Aki’s expression that hadn’t ever really been there.

He is absolutely hopeless. It’s pathetic, really.

He has to admit to himself at least that it is nice that he can actually put a smile that sunny on Kirijo’s face. God knows she deserves more of that. God knows he in particular owes it to her, after all of the shit he’s put her through, especially recently. Seeing her like that is more than enough. This really is far more than he deserves.

She looks so damn happy. Happier than he’s seen her in far too long. Going back to school might be worth it just for the chance to see her smile like that more often.

#shinjiro aragaki #mitsuru kirijo #shinjimitsu #persona 3 #p3 #persona 3 reload #still breathing au #sbau main plot #sbau canon #sbau october #sbau october 19 #talksprites and fic #(first shinji pov post let's GO!! [airhorns and confetti] )#(also shoutout to all five of the other shinjimitsu shippers out there this one is for YOU!!)#(shinjiro aragaki really is that one bit that's like ''i will keep all of my feelings locked up right in here and then one day i'll die'' )#(GOD though writing shinji's pov is so much fun)#shinjiro pov

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fereldanwench · 2 months ago

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under a cut for physical health talk (including weight) and achieving goals, nothing too intense, but i know sometimes seeing this stuff can put me in a bad place if I'm not in the right headspace so jic:

a piece of advice i've always really struggled with, particularly when it comes to physical health/fitness goals, is anything in the spirit of "be gentle with yourself" because

well

i will take advantage of it lmao

i am very good at justifying doing shit that is soothing in the short term but ultimately unhelpful, possibly even damaging in the long term

but being too hard on myself also has drawbacks because if i get into the habit of rationalizing bad choices and can't stick to a rigorous routine, i will feel like a failure which will send me into a depressive spiral

and i think in both cases the underlying issue is that i tend to fall into an all-or-nothing mindset, which was really compounded my anxiety for quite a few years. it was one of those situations where i knew that was a bad and counterproductive mindset, but the mental illness would not relent lmao

i did hit this wall again last fall after another yet failed attempt at a full diet and lifestyle overhaul (which was really too much at once even under the best circumstances, and these were not the best circumstances), but after i got over my little pity party, one thing i realized i did get better at was making better choices on a smaller scale

like okay, i had a long, shitty day at work, i want something fried and greasy and i do not have the mental fortitude to discipline myself into something else rn, but i can at least get a side of steamed veggies instead of onion rings with my fried chicken sandwich

and this is also advice i'd seen before and it always made sense to me, but i was just too locked into the all-or-nothing mindset that i couldn't get myself to implement it even if i knew it was good. on account of the mental illness lmao

so anyway, i'm trying something a little different with myself this year which is less about having a rigid routine when it comes to fitness and food, and instead about embracing a more flexible mindset. there are so many variables in my life that make trying to stick to a strict schedule impossible, but i can be more in tune with myself to make the best choices i can in a given situation

like monday and wednesday this week, i felt good physically and i had a lot of energy and some downtime at work, so i did 30 mins of cardio. that made me feel even better, and I'm currently in a headspace where i don't hate the idea of cooking (my relationship with food and grocery shopping and cooking is kgjdgdfgjdf I'm not even gonna get into it, but i have Issues™️ lmao) so i got some stuff to do some healthy dinners the next few days. i know meal prep and food planning beyond about 3 days doesn't work in my household and leads to food and money wasted, which makes me feel bad, so I'm not gonna try to go overboard here. just gonna do what i can while i can

and i'm trying to apply this to other things too, like reading. idk where this even got in my head, but at some point i was like 'if i can't read for an hour, I'm not gonna bother reading' which is dumb. so I've been reading 20-30 mins a couple of nights when it suits me. and I'm like a third done with a book i picked up a week and a half ago

(little tangential, but i'm also working on reframing how i feel about my past periods of success. like 10 years ago, i was eating very healthy ('clean') and doing HIIT like 5x a week, and when i felt out of that because it was ultimately unsustainable with my job, i was bitter and angry with myself for a long time. i felt like if it was something i did before, i should be able to do it again. but maybe i can't, and that's okay. i still did it at one point, and i still got a lot of benefits from doing it--that should be celebrated, not something i should hold against myself for not continuing)

something i encountered a lot when i was doing therapy and in fitness/weight loss groups was the concept of a SMART goal, which is a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goal. and the part of my brain that likes things orderly and structured sees the benefit of that approach, but i just don't think that works for me for long-term change, particularly with something as amorphous (to me) as physical health

i tried noom (twice, as a matter of fact) because i knew a lot of my weight struggle was more mental/emotional than physical, and it's a very flawed program for a lot of reasons that I'm not going to get into rn, but one thing in particular that i could never really get on board with was setting a goal weight or a specific number of pounds to lose

i have no emotional connection to these numbers. i know when i feel good in my body and i know when i don't feel good in my body, and those experiences have never been tied to a specific number. i do weigh myself because it's an easy way for me to create some accountability for myself, but saying 'i want to be this weight by this date' just does nothing for me

(another small tangent but i think some of this also comes from being taller and naturally bulkier (even at my objectively healthiest) than the average cis woman anyway. like I'm never going to be petite or slim and i don't want to be, frankly. I've always had a really hard time connecting with women about this stuff in more traditionally female-oriented weight loss spaces (versus like a CrossFit box) because I've always leaned more towards muscle mommy than yoga girlie or whatever the cutesy internet terms are rn lmao)

so yeah! just some stuff i've been thinking about this week and wanted to get out. whenever i talk about this stuff i always feel like it's a big pile of WELL NO SHIT lmao but I've also just always felt like there's so much advice out there that just does not fully resonate with me and dumb brain until I'm ready for it. guess I'm ready for it now :3

#t: wench.txt

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julielilac · 10 months ago

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Yesterday was the anniversary of the trial in which Biu was a plaintiff and won the case. No matter how disgusting antis tried to twist the narrative, that bitch never filed a lawsuit, because all her "evidence" was from Pinterest and her goal wasn't "justice" (the abuser who blames her victim for her own crimes seeking justice, of course, of course 🤡), but to ruin his life and career so that he returns to her and she continues to torture him mentally and physically. This vile creature, whom I cannot call a woman, beated, threatened, blackmailed, coerced, gaslighted him that no one loved him, stole his gifts, extorted money from him (10 million for fake compensation for Netflix 🙃), insulted him in every possible way, wrote the most vile things on her social media (vulgarity, racism, homophobia, mocked widow, wished death to fans). She is absolutely disgusting, but even after a year and a won trial thai pseudo-feminists still consider her a victim when she is a lying narcissist and abuser in its purest form.

After the trial, this bitch hired an anti-account to which she leaked their correspondence, taken out of context, edited and mistranslated into English so that even ordinary slang sounded like insults. She leaked many photos of him that were taken when he was unaware of it, in a vulnerable state and even half naked. This is revenge porn. But disgusting antis grabbed onto the CRIMINALLY leaked correspondence with the wrong translation, and all just because his vile ex-colleagues, who sold their souls to the devil for money and fame, unfollowed the VICTIM (but still follow the criminal until today 🤡), which they NEVER supported, even when he sued his abuser for deformation, blackmail, extortion and coercion! These are the people the fans decided to support, and not the victim, who was kicked by his ex-colleagues even when he was already lying on the ground and bleeding. NONE of his ex-colleagues told their fans to stop, but for some reason their fans want Beyourluve to respect and praise them. I will NEVER respect nor praise the people who helped an abuser ruin the life of their "friend" (as the antis believe, although this friendship never existed, not between these jealous bastards who hated to see that Biu received more attention than them AT EVERY concert in that damn tour).

His ex-partner is one of the worst people in this story and the reason for the biggest regret of my life that I ever loved him. If anyone wants to argue that he is a holy little angel who has done nothing wrong, then I want to save your time and tell you how everything will be: I will give you a whole list of his crap actions, which you will try to justify with the standard excuse of all Bubbles "the company forced him to do all this, but they have love/friendship behind the scenes and he privately supports Biu" (yeah, mythical "private support" when he need PUBLIC support), after which our dialogue will end, because we live in completely different realities.

CEO of the company who tried to sit on two chairs, first showing a video of him hugging Biu (because he needed his fans to buy concert tickets 🙃), then saying that he "doesn’t know what kind of person the actor played Pete is" and that his Nong-abuser is "hurt too" and how he feels sorry for her and this whole smear campaign to ruin the career of his former employee is simply a "lover's quarrel", oh, and the fact that he could sue him for damages, but will generously not do so. The same CEO blocked Biu's fans when they asked him if Biu was alive when all this slanderous mess broke out. And the same company liked the anti-tweet from their COMPANY account that "he deserved what was happening to him" (or something like that), and then apologized from a burner account that followed to all the media that wrote slanderous articles about him (the company paid them for that, sorry for ruining your imaginary world if you were naive to think that they didn't do it).

The screenwriter of that minutes project (she's Apo fan and BBJ shipper, by the way) never wanted to see Biu in her project. The same screenwriter who, in response to accusations of plagiarism (and it wasn't even her who was accused, but him) talked to the accuser and said that it was just a "misunderstanding" (and the CEO called it a "coincidence"). 🤡

The last couple of days have triggered me so much that I decided to write it all down (actually there are many more things that I want to say, but one post will not be enough for this). When people who claim to love Biu try to defend all these vile creatures, try to rewrite history to justify their desire to watch a porn series that ruined Biu's 10 year career and he had to start all over again in ANOTHER COUNTRY, it makes me want to do… ugh… A LOT OF THINGS.

I have never hated someone that much: this abusive bitch, vile ex-colleagues who support the abuser, disgusting antis who, even knowing the truth, write slanders about Biu to denigrate him and make victims of their faves, fake Bubbles who continue to use him as a shipping tool in order to keep their real fave relevant and use his words in vulnerable moments (when that bitch gaslighted him and extorted money by accusing him of plagiarism when he's not even a screenwriter, and when that CEO threatened to sue him and forced him to write words in his defense) only to watch how two men who looks like brothers would pretend to fuck on screen and not feel guilty about it.

I'm so done.

P. S. Biu is currently suing the person/people who are behind the publication of his personal information from that anti-account and I hope that he will sue that psycho bitch again because she was the one who leaked all this to third parties and then stated that her phone was hacked. Yeah, and it wasn’t money or bank information that was stolen, but Biu’s photos and his correspondence with her. 🤡

P. P. S. When I talk about their correspondence, I don't claim that it is real, because many of the screenshots could be fake (they were posted by an anti-account, why should I believe it? 🙄). And even if all are true: 1) it was a PERSONAL correspondence that NO ONE should have seen; 2) complaining about his job where he was mistreated (he literally had no work for a whole month when he was forced to go on hiatus, while the company were making his scandal bigger instead of hushing it up like they did with all Mile and Bible scandals 🙃) and venting about his colleagues (we can now see how "good" they treated him and there is a lot of evidence that they bullied him when at the same time his abuser gaslighted him that no one loves him and he is not needed by anyone except her, that's why he only smiled when they mocked and physically harmed him, they especially liked to kick him) to the person he trusted is NOT A CRIME.

#build jakapan #my text post

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itmeblog · 2 years ago

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hey! i have context for you, re: the thing that both tonia and the person on bluesky would have have been responding to. it's towards the end of anonymousad's hellishly long and weird shelterwood takedown and it, uh, doesn't exactly make them look any better. if you want to see if you can """read and understand""" (lmao, you're right, that sucks so bad) the true meaning of their words, here they are, in full context so as to avoid accusations of cherrypicking! "as an example, let's look at the Afflicted Season 2 crowdfunding campaign that just ended in failure.

this was a FIXED GOAL campaign. they were asking for $23,500 USD and they only made it to $13,283, just over 50% of the way there. so they got none of it. it was all or nothing and the result this time was nothing.

and that really sucks for a lot of reasons.

I had some criticisms about that campaign that I kept to myself at the time, in part because diverse voices in audio drama is really important. Afflicted provided a lot of opportunities for marginalized creators to get established and share their unique voices. so often the campaigns that are getting met are the ones that continue to prop up the same types of voices and experiences as we've all heard before.

I am much more interested in the unique horror that a show like Afflicted is bringing to the table as a production driven by a Black woman than I am with hearing from the same types of voices we are used to. we have a lot of similar people making stuff in the community, and frankly a lot of our "diversity" is mostly driven by being white and queer. these voices are important too and there's a lot that is good, but that is the majority in this space. that's why we need to make sure we are getting opportunities to the people who don't have the privilege or connections.

this is a personal opinion, not one everyone will agree with. but we are better as a community when we do extra work to make sure that more varied diversity is highlighted and supported.

Afflicted planted their foot saying "this much or nothing" and took the gamble that most of these high number campaigns are unwilling to do. a gamble that they succeeded in last year to fund the first season.

the difference is partly that the economy looked really different last year. disposable income, rent prices, general cost of living. it wasn't great, but it was better than it is now and that MATTERS. we all know how fucking bad it is right now, especially in the US, so to be asking these massive amounts of money is tone deaf. in this case, Afflicted was even asking for MORE than they raised for season 1. you could argue some of that is because they already managed to prove themselves as creators who were good for the money and deserved that kind of chance.

but the fact of the matter is that people just don't have that kind of cash to give over and over.

which leads into my main point.

every time I see a campaign with this high of a goal I think one thing:

"this is hurting the community."

now, that may not sound reasonable to some of you, especially if you are one of the people who believes that numbers this high are justifiable.

when we talk about supporting each other from a audio drama creator standpoint, it is done so freely and with an understanding that new listeners isn't really a thing we're going to run out of. if I recommend 10 podcasts I like, that doesn't hurt MY show. it just helps the community by sharing things we generally enjoy and care about it. this is how you end up with the networks of support that we've seen in newer places like the Audio Drama Lab.

unfortunately, money is not the same.

the amount of money that each of us has to give to support the things we like is limited based on our individual situations. anyone recommending a specific crowdfunding campaign to give money to DOES have an impact on the amount of money left in the pool for others.

so when something like Shelterwood or Arden or Afflicted or Among the Stacks or The Magnus fucking Protocol asks for these amounts, this is ACTIVELY impacting whether other campaigns will succeed."

Ooooh, okay, okay, okay.

Thank you for sending me the context, I do quite enjoy reading drama at times

I actually don't mind accusations of cherry picking, it's fine either way but thank you for your concern. It's very sweet.

The main reason I'm about to do what I'm about to do is because I've actually had microaggressions on the brain for plot reasons and this is positively wonderful practice to put these things into words.

Alright, so OPs argument here is that there's a set amount of money in the AD pool from which we can draw from, and that taking bigger draws for a production leaves too little for the rest of the AD community.

I'm not going to argue whether this is true or false right now (but I am going to point out...what this echoes later and why I do not like the argument) and instead am going to continue as if this statement is fact.

My question is why bring up the race and gender of Afflicted's creator? The entire diversity statement here is completely unnecessary. If the argument is that big budget audio dramas are taking too much money, and that is detrimental to ADs economic ecosystem then it does not matter if Afflicted's show runner was an alien from Venus. OPs decision to bring up the race and gender of the showrunner and then point out that the actions from this particular production is harming the AD community was a contextual...decision.

And as a result the following is now colored by the acknowledgment of the creator's race and gender so things like hinting at the aggressiveness of the campaign

"Afflicted planted their foot saying 'this much or nothing'"

and that she's taking too much for the ecosystem to survive

"every time I see a campaign with this high of a goal I think one thing: 'this is hurting the community'"

...is just a bad look. Because these comments simply don't exist in a vacuum.

I also have to wonder why the chose Afflicted in the first place. This could have been avoided if they had brought in the numbers of the Magnus Archives Protocol (whose numbers are still available ~700,000 pounds) or Arden (a successful campaign that aimed for 26,000 but made a tidy $12,065 and will use that money to continue production) or Shelterwood (which aimed for $26,000, made ~$6,000 and will also be going into production). Because...why use a "failed campaign" to highlight the money this one production is taking and "harming the community" with, when they, in reality, took nothing at all?

Why choose Afflicted? Was it timing? Was it because they were at hand? Was it because it gave OP a chance to talk about how accepting they were to different types of diversity?

Let's zoom out for a moment. We've heard this argument before the "there's not enough to go around and some people are taking too much and leaving too little for everyone else"...in things like affirmative action, and immigration. It's a very faint, "if you blink you might miss it" replacement theory argument.

And it begins to fall apart when they bring up this argument

Because if there's an understanding that new listeners aren't really a thing the AD community is going to run out of...while claiming that the funds (coming from people who donate, aka the pool of listeners that is ever growing) is stagnant the argument fails to hold up.

All in all, very odd. I'd claim there's a lot here that I didn't touch upon such as the acknowledgment that the AD pool is majority white and that the one production in this list that is asking for the least amount cash at highest stakes that contains the highest concentration of diverse voices is somehow taking money from the acknowledged "majority" is a bit of a hot mess, but I digress.

#Anywhooo very excited to be working on season 2 from Stories from Ylelmore #Where these types of things come up and will be discussed in a fantasy setting....because I can :D #I spent waaaay too much time on this but I think it's interesting.

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thekimspoblog · 9 months ago

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It would take hours to actually articulate what happens in the penultimate chapter of my "Sheepdog" fanfic, but let me see if I can try.

A major thing Jimmy and Kim bond over is their shared interest as cinephiles. And I haven't seen many fans discuss this, but to me this suggests that both of them actually have a pretty terminal case of "main character" syndrome. They've both watched so many movies, that this is the only frame of reference for interpreting their reality, and this is the driving force behind why these two act like assholes. Jimmy is the more obvious example, given that so much of what he does during the various montages is needlessly convoluted in a way that only makes sense if you assume that amusing himself is his top priority. But I'd argue Kim does this too, just not with as much self-awareness.

Everyone within the narrative rightfully thinks this pair is unstable. But the delicious irony is that this insane view of the world is correct. And we know it's correct because we're watching these events unfold after all. And I just love the level of cosmic horror that this brings to the metanarrative: Wouldn't it be terrible if a narcissist's attitude that you were just a bit player in their story was justified? Wouldn't it be terrible if your free will was an illusion, because you were always created as a scapegoat to be sacrificed? Wouldn't it be horrifying if there was a God, but this god would be happy to reward terrible behavior as long as the violence was entertaining?

Now here's where this goes from regular headcanon to completely cracked:

In the final chapter of "Sheepdog", the fanbase of Breaking Bad is confirmed to be a malevolent supernatural force inflicting its collective will on the narrative. And specifically, Kim is confronted with the fact that she made a covenant with this entity at the end of Season 5 (securing her own longevity in the story by promising to harm others) and in Season 6 she tried to break this contract with the Devil. But it's too late to back out: Her destiny was to use the money she got from killing Howard to join the upper class, and hunt bigger, more dangerous game from there. We were promised a story of oligarchs meeting their demise. We were promised a story of a vengeful woman remaking the world in her own vision of perfect justice, and after having already taken two lives, she has no choice but complete the ritual by taking five more.

After mulling over her options, she accepts that the world as she knew it will come to an end unless she shoulders this burden of playing the villain. There are thousands of good, normal, people in the universe of Breaking Bad, people that she can't help but see as valuable human lives even after being told point-blank that these are just tertiary characters, but all those characters can only continue to exist so long as one person is fulfilling the titular goal of this franchise.

So when this character returns in "Slippin Kimmy" there is something decidedly OFF about her, even more than before, and the above is why. She doesn't remember the specifics of the lucid dream, but the intuition that she is a doll on a stage never leaves her. And even if Jimmy claims to understand, she knows he can't, not fully anyway. I remember once reading a think piece which described Anton Chigurh as "someone who doesn't even enjoy doing evil, but simply feels a grim obligation to serve as the hand of fate (. . .) the product of staring too long into the abyss of the modern age", and on some level I am going for a more toned-down version of that. Having seen the rest of her life laid out for her, Kim knows she has a lot left to look forward to which will make enduring all the horror worthwhile, but even if she's not happy in this role, it doesn't really matter. A humble existence just isn't in the cards for her.

This also would suggest that Iris is some sort of antichrist figure, but eh... it's even more complicated than that.

Also why yes, I am ripping off whole aspects of Dolores Abernathy's character arc! Thank you for noticing!

#kim wexler #slippin kimmy #mcwexler #meta fiction #bcs sheepdog #vampires #breaking bad #occultism #westworld #hail paimon #a24 films #wolves and sheep #I'M LIKE A GOD IN HUMAN CLOTHING #LIGHTNING BOLTS SHOOT FROM MY FINGERTIPS!!!!

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nickcarr-scoutstories · 2 years ago

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So What Do You Really Want To Be? by Nick Carr “What department are you in?” the movie production accountant asks me as he gathers my start paperwork. I tell him I’m in locations. I’m a production assistant. It’s my first job. “Oh yeah?” he says. “So what do you really want to be?” I ask what he means. “Come on,” he says. “No one in show business is doing what they want to be doing. You think my dream was to become a production accountant? Of course it wasn’t. Just like it’s not your dream to be a production assistant in locations. But you’re doing it because it gets you close to what you wish you were doing, right? So what’s that?” The usual, I admit. Writing, directing... “Don’t be embarrassed,” he says. “That makes you no different from 80% of a typical film crew. The rest are people who only do the job because mom and dad did it too. “So here’s what’s going to happen,” he continues. “You’re going to do this job, and it’s going to end, and you’ll think, ‘OK, I learned a lot about how real movies are made. Now it’s time to go do it for myself.’ “Thing is, if you do a reasonably decent job on this one, you’re going to quickly get a phone call from someone looking to hire you to do the same job on another production, because the hardest thing in this business is finding someone reliable. And word travels fast. “So you’ll take that gig, because we all need to pay the bills. And even though you’re still not doing what you want to be doing, you’ll justify it by saying that because you’re in the industry, it’s still a step toward your goal. “More jobs will come like this. Soon, you’ll get your first promotion, and the money will get good. You’ll get a bigger apartment and nicer stuff. You’ll plan to keep working on your personal script or short film or whatever, but every day will seem to have less and less free time. “So you’ll stick with it and the jobs will keep coming, and so will the promotions and money. At some point, you’ll get into the union and things will really change. “And then one day, you’ll get married and start a family. And then you won’t have a choice anymore. You’ll have to keep doing the job, the same job that, way back when, was just a way for you to get close to what you actually wished you were doing. Only now it’s your career. “If this happens, it’s OK. There are worse ways to end up. “But this job today is your choice. Make sure it’s always your choice. Whatever you do, don’t be the guy who looks up one day and is surprised to realize that he spent the past twenty years thinking he was chasing his dream, when in fact he was actually just working toward a career as a production accountant. “At the very least,” he says, handing me the start paperwork, “you can’t say no one ever warned you.” I thank him for the advice. On my way out, I ask if he had ever wanted to be a director or a screenwriter. “Oh sure,” he says, and pulls a script from his top drawer. “Want to read my latest?” -- The above is the first story in my newly released print publication Scout Stories #2, and if you enjoyed all 500 words of this one, I think you'll love the following 9,000+ in the issue. Rather than just a random mix of Hollywood stories, this one starts at the beginning of my career in "show business," and I think offers a pretty realistic slice of what making movies is like. It's certainly not romanticized, but it's also not cynical, and when you're finished, I think you'll have a pretty clear idea of where I think importance lies in all the craziness. .. Scout Stories #2 -- $12 via PayPal: https://py.pl/884Z6 Scout Stories #2 -- $12 via Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1432186563/ .. And if you want the first issue too (desert stories!)... Scout Stories #1 & #2 -- $20 via Paypal (save $2!): https://py.pl/1rDzVS Scout Stories #1 & #2 -- $20 via Etsy (save $2!): https://www.etsy.com/listing/1418682644/issue-1-2-bundle-us-only More buying options including international and cash by mail @ nickcarr.com!

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howdytherepardner · 1 year ago

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January 13, 2024.

The point is not that there must be an end to things, even as this is true.

It's easy to believe in an egalitarian allowance for inequality when such a structure raises the minimum for everyone to its highest point, because it sounds somewhat reasonable when one believes an unequal society is unavoidable. But when thinking about how that particular structure results, namely in that it is those with power to shape it, one must acknowledge their incentive is presumably to elevate themselves as much as possible.

The maintenance of such a system is discrediting the alternatives. To suggest that there is no other way, in part limiting a collective imagination to the bounds you have created. You can probably earnestly believe it, especially in power - believing so hard that violence is a justified response for those who ask to push the bounds. Especially because they believe that the minimum is high enough to still be good, even when they do not live it themselves to say for sure.

My point is that an equally good life (granted, a concept which can and should go beyond money and property) for all is a more compelling goal to strive for, even if it is elusive and even if it requires surrendering the destructive, indulgent comforts we will not admit we find necessary, than simply continually managing disparity.

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uncloseted · 1 year ago

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What do you think of the global general strike for Gaza happening today? It comes from a good place and is a good thing but it's wild some people think that others can simply not go into work for the day..

I’m with you. I think it comes from a good place but I also think it’s naive for a number of reasons. The first, as you say, is that only people who are already in a position of privilege can participate in the strike. Especially in the US, where you can be fired for taking an unscheduled day off of work, the only people who can do this are people with salaried jobs and a lot of job security.

But also, what is this strike trying to achieve? Strikes work best when the entity you’re striking against has a financial interest in you doing work. Striking against movie studios worked fairly well for the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America, because I’d the actors and writers stop working for long enough, the studios lose a huge amount of money. But even if literally every person who isn’t Israeli went on strike from their jobs, the Israeli military would still be funded. They would still be able to continue their war pretty much as they have been. Is the goal to pressure the US into supporting a ceasefire? You would need an unprecedented number of people to strike before the US pays attention. Over 453,000 workers have participated in 312 strikes in the U.S. this year, and our government has basically just been like “*shrug* good luck with that”. Is it to hinder companies that have ties to Israel? I think most companies that would be impacted by the strike have no influence on Israel at all. I know that personally, the company I work for can do absolutely nothing about the Israeli-Hamas conflict. And like I said before, with the current state of the US job market, you’re not going to get millions of people taking the day off all at once, especially not people who work for companies like Amazon.

Is the goal just to show Israel that the world is displeased with them? I can guarantee with 100% certainty that they already know that, and I think it’s one of the reasons they’re digging their heels in so hard here. Israel is desperately afraid that if they don’t protect themselves, Jewish people around the world will become targets of violence and that there will be another Holocaust. I think anti-Israeli sentiment from the rest of the world is, in their minds, justifying and adding support to that view. More cynically, is this just people who want a righteous reason to take a day off of work and to show they’re a good ally?

I want to be clear that I think it’s important for the international community to support and advocate for Gaza. What Israel is doing to the people of Gaza is horrible, full stop. In my opinion, the US veto of the UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was deeply wrong. But in order to work, especially on a global scale, organized activism needs a pragmatic approach, with specific, well-defined goals and a solid strategy behind them. I think this strike feels good, but I just don’t know if it will be able to achieve any real effect outside of people feeling like they “did something”. And I worry that people who participated in the strike will feel like they contributed, so they don’t have to engage in more meaningful activism when the time comes.

Edit to add: just for context about the state of employment in the US, about 74% of U.S. workers are considered at-will employees, meaning that they can be fired for more or less any reason. 58.1% of US Americans are paid hourly, and 40% of Americans have less than $400 on hand for a crisis or emergency, so they really can’t afford to be fired. To put that into perspective, at most, I think around 18 million of the 168.26 million workers in the US are in a position where they could reasonably strike. Plus, only 3 in 10 say they are “more sympathetic” to Palestinians than Israelis, which cuts that number of people that might reasonably strike down to 5.4 million. Even if all of those people went on strike, I don’t think it would make a difference to the US government.

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919homes · 3 months ago

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What's with Rates!?!? for the week of Nov 18th

Understanding Mortgage Interest Rates

Mortgage interest rates can be confusing, but knowing how they work could save you lots of money when buying a home. Whether you're getting your first house or looking to refinance, it's important to understand what affects mortgage rates and how to get the best deal. Let's look at what goes into setting mortgage rates and how you can take advantage of current market conditions to save money on your home loan.

Key Takeaways

Aspect Details Current Trend Mortgage rates expected to decrease slightly in the coming week Economic Factors Fed announcements, employment data, CPI report, global events, and housing market reports Strategies Get pre-approved, compare lenders, consider points, improve credit score Refinance Opportunity Potential for significant savings if current loan was secured at higher rates Future Outlook Experts predict continued downward trend in coming months

The Current Mortgage Rate Landscape

As we near the end of 2024, there's a lot happening in the mortgage market. While we can't give exact interest rates, things are looking better for people wanting to borrow money. Smart homebuyers are taking advantage of this change, locking in rates that could save them a lot of money over time. This positive trend is happening because of things like what people expect inflation to do, job numbers, and what's going on in the world economy.

Experts think mortgage rates will slowly go down over the next week, which could be good news for people looking to buy a house or refinance their loans. This possible drop in rates is because of several things happening in the economy that we'll talk about more. It's important to know that even small changes in interest rates can mean big savings over the life of a mortgage, so it's a good idea to stay informed and be ready to act when rates are in your favor.

Economic Factors Influencing Mortgage Rates

The week of November 18th to November 22nd, 2024, is going to be really important for people watching mortgage rates. Several key economic events are happening that could really affect interest rates:

Key Economic Factors Influencing Mortgage Rates (Nov 18-22, 2024)

Fed Announcements

CPI Report

Employment Data

Global Events

Housing Reports

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1. Federal Reserve Announcements: The Fed doesn't directly set mortgage rates, but what they decide affects the whole financial market. Listen for any statements about inflation goals and how they think the economy will grow. How the Fed handles money policies, including any changes to the federal funds rate or talks about quantitative easing, can really affect the mortgage market. People who study this stuff will be looking closely at what words the Fed uses to try and guess what they might do in the future.

2. Employment Data: New information about jobs could change how confident lenders feel. When employment numbers are strong, it often means better borrowing conditions. Important things to watch are the unemployment rate, how many new jobs are created, and if wages are going up. A strong job market usually means the economy is healthy, which can lead to more people wanting mortgages and possibly lower rates as lenders compete for business.

3. Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report: This important report shows how inflation is doing, which can really affect mortgage rates. If the CPI is lower than expected, it could mean rates might go down. The CPI measures how much prices change over time for things people buy regularly. If inflation stays low or goes down, it might encourage the Fed to keep interest rates the same or lower them, which could be good for mortgage rates.

4. Global Economic Events: Things happening in other countries, like trade talks or big political changes, can affect U.S. mortgage rates. It's a good idea to keep an eye on major world economic news during this week. Things like trade agreements, changes in government in big countries, or big shifts in global commodity prices can change how investors feel and, as a result, affect mortgage rates. Because financial markets around the world are connected, events far away can directly impact your mortgage options.

5. Housing Market Reports: New information about home sales and how many new houses are being built can change how lenders feel about the real estate market, which might affect their decisions on rates. Reports on existing home sales, new home construction, and how many houses are available give insights into how healthy the housing market is overall. A strong housing market might lead to more competition among lenders, which could mean better rates for borrowers.

Strategies for Navigating the Current Rate Environment

With rates expected to go down, now is a great time to get ready for the best possible mortgage terms. Here are some things you can do:

Fed Meeting Minutes

Release of October FOMC meeting minutes on Wednesday

Existing Home Sales

October existing home sales data released on Tuesday

Jobless Claims

Weekly unemployment claims report on Thursday

Consumer Sentiment

Final November consumer sentiment index on Friday

.minimalist-grid-container { display: grid; gap: 20px; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item { background-color: border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px; text-align: center; box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item h3 { color: margin: 10px 0 5px; font-size: 16px; } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item p { color: margin: 0; font-size: 14px; } .icon { width: 40px; height: 40px; margin-bottom: 10px; fill: none; stroke: stroke-width: 2; stroke-linecap: round; stroke-linejoin: round; } .grid-2x2 { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); } @media (max-width: 768px) { .grid-2x2 { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }

1. Get Pre-Approved: Getting pre-approved for a mortgage can give you an edge in a fast-moving market. It shows sellers you're serious and helps you act quickly when rates go down. When you get pre-approved, a lender looks closely at your finances to tell you how much you can borrow and at what rate. This process can also help you find and fix any problems with your credit report or finances before you start looking for a house.

2. Compare Lenders: Don't just go with the first offer you get. Look at rates from different lenders to make sure you're getting the best deal. This includes regular banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Each might have different rules and offer different products that could be better for your situation. When comparing, look at more than just the interest rate – think about things like fees, how long the loan is for, and how good their customer service is.

3. Consider Points: Paying points upfront can lower your interest rate for the whole time you have the loan. This can be a good idea if you plan to stay in your home for a long time. One point usually equals 1% of how much you're borrowing and can lower your rate by 0.25%. Figure out how long it will take for the savings to be worth the cost to decide if this is a good choice for you. Remember, while points can save you money in the long run, you need to pay more at the start.

4. Improve Your Credit Score: Even a small increase in your credit score can get you a better interest rate. Try to pay off debts and fix any mistakes on your credit report before applying for a mortgage. Focus on using less of your available credit, paying all your bills on time, and not applying for new credit in the months before you apply for a mortgage. A higher credit score not only makes it more likely you'll be approved, but can also get you better loan terms.

The Refinance Opportunity

For people who already own homes, the possible drop in rates could be a great chance to refinance. Refinancing your mortgage could save you a lot of money, especially if you got your current loan when rates were higher. Refinancing means replacing your existing mortgage with a new one, possibly with better terms or a lower interest rate.

"Economic factors this week point towards a gradual easing of mortgage rates, with key data releases and Federal Reserve speeches likely to shape market sentiment. Homeowners and potential buyers should stay alert to these developments, as they could signal an opportune moment to lock in favorable rates."

— Economic Analysts, November 2024

.minimalist-quote-container { max-width: 600px; margin: 20px auto; background-color: padding: 30px; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); } .minimalist-quote-container blockquote { margin: 0; padding: 10px 20px; border-left: 4px solid blockquote p { font-style: italic; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 10px; } .minimalist-quote-container blockquote footer { font-size: 0.9em; text-align: right; }

Fed Speeches

Multiple Federal Reserve officials to give speeches on economic outlook

Economic Reports

Release of housing starts and existing home sales data

Market Trends

Analysts expect slight downward trend in mortgage rates

.minimalist-grid-container { display: grid; gap: 20px; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item { background-color: border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px; text-align: center; box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item h3 { color: margin: 10px 0 5px; font-size: 16px; } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item p { color: margin: 0; font-size: 14px; } .icon { width: 40px; height: 40px; margin-bottom: 10px; fill: none; stroke: stroke-width: 2; stroke-linecap: round; stroke-linejoin: round; } .grid-1x3 { grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); } @media (max-width: 768px) { .grid-1x3 { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }

When thinking about refinancing, it's important to weigh the potential savings against the costs of doing it. Things to think about include:

The difference between your current rate and the new rate: A general rule is to consider refinancing if you can lower your rate by at least 0.75 to 1 percentage point.

How long you plan to stay in your home: The longer you stay, the more time you have to make back the costs of refinancing.

The costs of refinancing, including closing costs and fees: These can usually be between 2% to 5% of the loan amount.

Your long-term financial goals: Think about whether refinancing fits with your overall money plans, like paying off your mortgage faster or freeing up cash for other investments.

Looking Ahead: Mortgage Rate Predictions

While we can't know for sure what will happen in the future, many experts think that mortgage rates will keep going down in the coming months. This outlook is based on several factors, including:

Economic Factors Nov 18-22, 2024

Fed Meeting Minutes

Retail Sales Report

Housing Starts Data

Jobless Claims

.minimalist-mind-map { display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; background-color: white; padding: 20px; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); margin: 20px auto; max-width: 600px; } .minimalist-mind-map .center-topic { background-color: padding: 10px 20px; border-radius: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; border: 2px solid .subtopics { display: flex; justify-content: space-around; width: 100%; } .minimalist-mind-map .subtopic { background-color: padding: 5px 10px; border-radius: 15px; border: 1px solid 1. Economic Growth Projections: People expect the economy to grow at a steady pace, which could keep inflation in check and possibly lead to lower mortgage rates. Analysts think the economy will grow in a balanced way that doesn't cause rapid inflation, which could allow the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates low. This is usually good for people borrowing money for mortgages, as it tends to keep long-term rates, including mortgage rates, relatively low.

2. Federal Reserve Policy: The Fed's focus on keeping the economy stable could result in policies that indirectly help mortgage borrowers. While the Fed doesn't set mortgage rates directly, their decisions on the federal funds rate and other money policies have a big impact on overall interest rates. If the Fed keeps focusing on economic growth and jobs more than worrying about inflation, it could mean a long period of low interest rates.

3. Global Economic Conditions: What's happening in the world economy and global politics will continue to affect U.S. mortgage rates. Things like trade relationships, how the world economy is growing, and what other countries are doing with their money can change how investors feel and where money flows. If there's still uncertainty in the global economy, it could make more people want to buy U.S. Treasury bonds, which usually leads to lower mortgage rates.

4. Housing Market Dynamics: The balance between how many houses are available and how many people want to buy them will affect how lenders behave and, as a result, mortgage rates. A healthy housing market with steady demand and enough houses for sale can create competition among lenders, which could lead to better rates for borrowers. However, any big changes in how many houses are available or how many people want to buy could affect this balance and change rate trends.

Staying Informed and Ready to Act

In the changing world of mortgage interest rates, knowing what's going on is really important. Stay up-to-date on market trends and economic news to make the best decisions for your money. Here are some ways to stay informed:

Watch our latest YouTube video on mortgage rate trends

Follow our TikTok for quick mortgage tips and updates

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for in-depth mortgage advice

Join our TikTok community for real-time market insights

Download our comprehensive mortgage guide

Conclusion: Take Advantage of Lower Mortgage Rates

As we get close to the end of 2024, mortgage rates are looking good for both people who want to buy homes and those who already own homes. With rates expected to go down over the next week, now is a great time to get ready and set yourself up for financial success. This possible drop in rates could mean you save a lot of money over the life of your loan, making it easier to afford a home or making refinancing more attractive.

Remember, while lower rates are great, they're just one part of getting a mortgage. Think about your long-term money goals, your current financial situation, and all the costs of owning a home when deciding whether to buy or refinance. It's important to look at the big picture, including things like property taxes, insurance, maintenance costs, and how your income or expenses might change over time.

By staying informed, working on improving your finances, and being ready to act when the right opportunity comes up, you can make the most of the current mortgage rate situation. Whether you're looking to buy your first home, move to a new house, or refinance your current mortgage, the coming weeks could be the perfect time to make your home ownership dreams come true. Keep in mind that the mortgage market can change quickly, so being prepared and able to make decisions quickly can give you a big advantage.

Rates Expected to Decrease

Mortgage rates are likely to go down over the next week, making it a good time for homebuyers and refinancing. This trend is influenced by economic indicators and Federal Reserve policies.

Consider the Full Picture

While lower rates are appealing, think about your long-term money goals, current finances, and overall costs of owning a home when making decisions. Factor in property taxes, insurance, and potential changes in your financial situation.

Be Prepared to Act

Stay informed and improve your financial health to be ready when the right opportunity comes up in the coming weeks. This includes getting pre-approved, comparing lenders, and monitoring economic indicators that affect mortgage rates.

Don't miss out on this chance. Start looking into mortgages today, and take advantage of the good conditions coming up. Your future self will thank you for making smart money decisions now. Remember, getting a mortgage or refinancing at the right time can help you be financially stable for a long time and help you achieve your home ownership goals. Stay active, do your research, and don't be afraid to ask for professional advice to make sure you're making the best decision for your unique situation. Good luck with your house hunting!

https://themortgage.app/post/whats-with-rates-this-week-nov-18th-2024

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0 notes

realestatehomeinsider · 3 months ago

Text

What's with Rates!?!? for the week of 11.18.24

Understanding Mortgage Interest Rates

Key Takeaways

The Current Mortgage Rate Landscape

Economic Factors Influencing Mortgage Rates

Key Economic Factors Influencing Mortgage Rates (Nov 18-22, 2024)

Fed Announcements

CPI Report

Employment Data

Global Events

Housing Reports

Strategies for Navigating the Current Rate Environment

With rates expected to go down, now is a great time to get ready for the best possible mortgage terms. Here are some things you can do:

Fed Meeting Minutes

Release of October FOMC meeting minutes on Wednesday

Existing Home Sales

October existing home sales data released on Tuesday

Jobless Claims

Weekly unemployment claims report on Thursday

Consumer Sentiment

Final November consumer sentiment index on Friday

The Refinance Opportunity

— Economic Analysts, November 2024

Fed Speeches

Multiple Federal Reserve officials to give speeches on economic outlook

Economic Reports

Release of housing starts and existing home sales data

Market Trends

Analysts expect slight downward trend in mortgage rates

.minimalist-grid-container { display: grid; gap: 20px; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item { background-color: border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px; text-align: center; box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item h3 { color: margin: 10px 0 5px; font-size: 16px; } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item p { color: margin: 0; font-size: 14px; } .icon { width: 40px; height: 40px; margin-bottom: 10px; fill: none; stroke: stroke-width: 2; stroke-linecap: round; stroke-linejoin: round; } .grid-1x3 { grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); } @media (max-width: 768px) { .grid-1x3 { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }

When thinking about refinancing, it's important to weigh the potential savings against the costs of doing it. Things to think about include:

The difference between your current rate and the new rate: A general rule is to consider refinancing if you can lower your rate by at least 0.75 to 1 percentage point.

How long you plan to stay in your home: The longer you stay, the more time you have to make back the costs of refinancing.

The costs of refinancing, including closing costs and fees: These can usually be between 2% to 5% of the loan amount.

Your long-term financial goals: Think about whether refinancing fits with your overall money plans, like paying off your mortgage faster or freeing up cash for other investments.

Looking Ahead: Mortgage Rate Predictions

While we can't know for sure what will happen in the future, many experts think that mortgage rates will keep going down in the coming months. This outlook is based on several factors, including:

Economic Factors Nov 18-22, 2024

Fed Meeting Minutes

Retail Sales Report

Housing Starts Data

Jobless Claims

Staying Informed and Ready to Act

Watch our latest YouTube video on mortgage rate trends

Follow our TikTok for quick mortgage tips and updates

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for in-depth mortgage advice

Join our TikTok community for real-time market insights

Download our comprehensive mortgage guide

Conclusion: Take Advantage of Lower Mortgage Rates

Rates Expected to Decrease

Mortgage rates are likely to go down over the next week, making it a good time for homebuyers and refinancing. This trend is influenced by economic indicators and Federal Reserve policies.

Consider the Full Picture

Be Prepared to Act

https://themortgage.app/post/whats-with-rates-this-week-nov-18th-2024

#f8f9fa; #495057; #6c757d; #495057; } .minimalist-quote-container #dee2e6; } .minimalist-mind-map #dee2e6; } </style> </simple>

0 notes

919mortgages · 3 months ago

Text

What's with Rates!?!? for the week of 11.18.24

Understanding Mortgage Interest Rates

Key Takeaways

The Current Mortgage Rate Landscape

Economic Factors Influencing Mortgage Rates

Key Economic Factors Influencing Mortgage Rates (Nov 18-22, 2024)

Fed Announcements

CPI Report

Employment Data

Global Events

Housing Reports

Strategies for Navigating the Current Rate Environment

With rates expected to go down, now is a great time to get ready for the best possible mortgage terms. Here are some things you can do:

Fed Meeting Minutes

Release of October FOMC meeting minutes on Wednesday

Existing Home Sales

October existing home sales data released on Tuesday

Jobless Claims

Weekly unemployment claims report on Thursday

Consumer Sentiment

Final November consumer sentiment index on Friday

The Refinance Opportunity

— Economic Analysts, November 2024

Fed Speeches

Multiple Federal Reserve officials to give speeches on economic outlook

Economic Reports

Release of housing starts and existing home sales data

Market Trends

Analysts expect slight downward trend in mortgage rates

.minimalist-grid-container { display: grid; gap: 20px; max-width: 800px; margin: 0 auto; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item { background-color: border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px; text-align: center; box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item h3 { color: margin: 10px 0 5px; font-size: 16px; } .minimalist-grid-container .grid-item p { color: margin: 0; font-size: 14px; } .icon { width: 40px; height: 40px; margin-bottom: 10px; fill: none; stroke: stroke-width: 2; stroke-linecap: round; stroke-linejoin: round; } .grid-1x3 { grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr); } @media (max-width: 768px) { .grid-1x3 { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }

When thinking about refinancing, it's important to weigh the potential savings against the costs of doing it. Things to think about include:

The difference between your current rate and the new rate: A general rule is to consider refinancing if you can lower your rate by at least 0.75 to 1 percentage point.

How long you plan to stay in your home: The longer you stay, the more time you have to make back the costs of refinancing.

The costs of refinancing, including closing costs and fees: These can usually be between 2% to 5% of the loan amount.

Your long-term financial goals: Think about whether refinancing fits with your overall money plans, like paying off your mortgage faster or freeing up cash for other investments.

Looking Ahead: Mortgage Rate Predictions

While we can't know for sure what will happen in the future, many experts think that mortgage rates will keep going down in the coming months. This outlook is based on several factors, including:

Economic Factors Nov 18-22, 2024

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Retail Sales Report

Housing Starts Data

Jobless Claims

Staying Informed and Ready to Act

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Conclusion: Take Advantage of Lower Mortgage Rates

Rates Expected to Decrease

Mortgage rates are likely to go down over the next week, making it a good time for homebuyers and refinancing. This trend is influenced by economic indicators and Federal Reserve policies.

Consider the Full Picture

Be Prepared to Act

https://themortgage.app/post/whats-with-rates-this-week-nov-18th-2024

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area51-escapee · 8 months ago

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At this point I really don’t have it in me to care anymore. I did not ever once make it a goal to become chronically ill, it is something that just happened to me. I never made a decision, I never had a choice, it just happened. I had absolutely no say in it so forgive me if I find it hard to have empathy or even sympathy for doctors when I’m continually being fucked over and continually being told that it’s all justified because they are so underpaid.

I’m sorry that you chose this career path. I’m sorry that you decided to go to medical school, spent money and years of your life studying and preparing for this job. I’m sorry that you graduated, you got your medical license, you started a practice or sought out one that eventually hired you, only to find out you aren’t getting paid as much as you thought you would. I’m sorry that you have to deal with sick and disabled people all day long, people who need help, people who need treatment, people who may be at the worst points in their lives and not entirely pleasant. I am so, so sorry you don’t get paid enough to deal with us. But none of that is my fucking fault. I’m sorry that I show up to your office, scared and confused and exhausted and begging for help, and I’m sorry that there isn’t a simple answer you can give me in a single visit. I wish there was so that you would actually treat me instead of handing me a new diet to try and sending me on my way.

I’m sorry that you don’t get paid enough to deal with me. But I don’t get paid at all to be disabled. In fact I have to pay a lot. Doctors appointments cost money. Medications cost money. Taking time off work costs money. Things like canes, KT tape, braces, compression sleeves, accessible kitchen tools and pre prepped foods, all of that is not cheap, and it adds up over time. I didn’t want to lose my ability to walk without a cane. I didn’t want my wrists to get so bad I couldn’t cook, or draw, or do much of anything. I didn’t want to be overwhelmed with pain and fatigue and exhaustion. I sure as hell don’t get paid enough for it. It costs money, happiness, time I could spend with my friends, practicing my hobbies, it costs so much to be disabled, to have a condition they can’t diagnose.

So I’m sorry if I just don’t feel bad for the plight of doctors anymore. I have so fucking much to feel bad about and after constantly being dismissed, treated like shit, misdiagnosed only because they refused to actually do any tests, I just don’t have any space to feel bad anymore. I hope they do start getting paid more soon, even the ones who have treated me badly. Maybe they’ll finally be incentivized to care about their patients. Who knows.

#I’m sorry I’m so angry #I’m so so angry #kept getting notifications that I owed money #to the doctor who treated me the worst #when I was certain I didn’t #ended up finding out what code G2211 meant #I’ve been angry since #how dare you ask me for more money after how you treated me #how dare you say it’s justified because im a ‘complex’ patient #I wasn’t treated as a complex patient #I was told I was addicted to drugs.#my necessary medications. I was told they were drugs I was addicted to.#im sorry but im not paying you extra money #for treatment I didn’t even receive #fuck off #im just. so angry #I didn’t ask to be disabled #and I can accept living with a disability #but I can’t accept being dismissed with no help whatsoever for that disability #I don’t even know what it IS because they keep dismissing me #Allen’s mystery illness #undiagnosed disability

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mortalityplays · 1 year ago

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apologies, reblogging with some facts! for instance:

the fundraiser collected over $10,000 in its first 40 minutes

the announcement that the fundraiser would close, at $21,000 and 215% of its goal, was made on January 14th, the 100th day of genocide in gaza

during the fundraiser's active period, fans of the show were discouraged from talking about or linking to fundraising efforts for palestine, for various reasons including 'to avoid confusing people', 'to avoid guilt tripping fans of the show', and 'because our goal is actually achievable'

fans behind the campaign were encouraged to flood the comments on HBO's social media, including a documentary about a real black woman who lived and worked through the civil rights movement, which was highlighted for Martin Luther King jr. day.

organisers of the fundraiser knowingly chose to continue pushing fans to flood social media with show related hashtags throughout the global strike for Palestine, which specifically called for social media to cease. this was justified within the community as falling under 'necessary' social media activity.

while all this was going on, supporters of the campaign were also busy flooding the inboxes of Palestinian bloggers who had expressed discomfort with their actions. you're quick to accuse me of using gaza as a 'bludgeon' as if the subject is unrelated to the context of this campaign, meanwhile ofmd fans were invoking real people's dead family members by name to harrass them into silence. as far as I know this is the only fandom to have added 'targeted harrassment against people affected by ongoing genocide' to the rap sheet.

to your point, around half of the raised funds were spent on purchasing some of the most expensive ad space in the world (a billboard on times square and...a plane with a banner?? okay)

the fan community were invited to decide how the other half of the money was directed to charities. this created an uproar as some fans took exception to their money being spent on anything but more billboards. some people left the fandom over their money being given to charity.

as I said elsewhere, the main defense ofmd fans seem to trot out when people laugh at this implosion is "oh yeah? well we got our billboards!" to which I say yes, and the attendees at fyre festival got a weekend on a tropical beachfront. what did you accomplish for all this? what did your $20k+ do for anyone? the portion of the money going to charity is probably the only meaningful thing to come out of this, and even that was enough of a controversy that people ended friendships and left the community.

btw you know what the $10,000 ads pointed people to? a petition. 💀 buy my bridge, it's a better investment than whatever you've got going on.

my heart goes out to everyone affected by the abrupt shuttering of the ofmd renewal campaign immediately after collecting over $20k in fan donations. there was no way anybody could have predicted that the brave people who stepped forward to raise money for a tv show during the most significant genocide in living history might turn out to be unscrupulous. hey does anyone need a high quality bridge

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laughing-drawing-aces · 2 years ago

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So, my other favorite conversation to think about is the fight between Jonathan and Nancy. I tried writing out my thoughts but found that bracketing them in purple was more efficient.

Nancy: It's bullshit. So, according to Tom, Driscoll's just a schizophrenic? And that rat is just a rat? And it's all, what, some big coincidence? You know what I think? I think Tom was on drugs. [So...Tom discounts Driscoll, and we're supposed to see that as bad, but then Nancy goes and discounts him. And because the viewer is on the protagonists side and we know the entire story, we support Nancy, even though what they both are doing is not ideal.]

Jonathan: What?

N: Did you see him? He was sweating like crazy and his palms were clammy. He looked awful.

J: *snorts*

N: Oh, is this funny to you?

J: No, No. It's just kinda incredible.

N: Incredible?

J: Incredible how you just continue to convince yourself. [In this case convince herself that she was fired unjustly, which is very false.]

N: What's that supposed to mean?

J: I told you over and over to drop this story, that it was a bad idea. [I mean he did and he did warn Nancy that this could get them fired. I'm still curious why Nancy looked so shocked when they got fired, Nancy knew it was a risk. Either Nancy thought it wouldn't even cross their minds to fire them or Nancy thought her story was so important it would keep her from being fired. Either way, not a good look, especially since it was established that this could get Nancy fired and she was fine with it and said it was better than working that this shithole.]

N: *sighs*

J: But you refused. And now I'm screwed.

N: It's a summer job, your life is hardly over. [This makes her come off as ignorant as we have seen the Byers struggle for money for quite a few seasons.]

J: I don't live in a two story house on Maple Street, my dad doesn't earn six figures. Hell, he isn't even around!

N: Oh my god, here comes the Oliver Twist routine. [Die. This is so insensitive and there is no justifying it. There is no phrasing this better. This is an insult and plain uncaring for your boyfriend's struggles Nancy!]

J: Mortgage, College Tuition, they're real things Nancy, things you don't care about only because you don't have to!

N: I didn't realize I lived in a bubble!

J: Well you do! You want everything handed to you on a silver platter! I mean we were interns Nancy. Interns! *huff* What did you expect, that you would make star reporter in a month? Crack the big case? [Jonathan is right here, they are interns. Nancy did deserve to get treated with respect but she wouldn't have become a full blown journalist]

N: You sound just like them. You realize that right? Just like Bruce and those assholes. [I find her response really interesting here. Because it does two things. One is it shows her own expectations for the internship, that she expected to become a fully fledged journalist and that the sexist workers were preventing her from reaching that goal. Two - it discredits Jonathan. Again, because the average viewer doesn't want to support the sexism Nancy faces, this statement discredits what Jonathan is saying. So regardless of what he said, the average viewer will take it as false.]

J: Yeah, yeah, those assholes gave us jobs. [Emphasizing again how Jonathan needed that job to support his family. And how that's his primary concern.]

N: Is that what that was? That was humiliating! Humiliating! [Here's my question -if Nancy felt that way, why didn't she quit? The journalists were treating her badly, she could have quit her job but she didn't. Her family didn't need the money. She had options. She didn't have to stay there but she did. Maybe she thought they would change but the second they rejected her rat newspaper story, she could have quit. Why didn't she?]

J: Yeah, the real world sucks! Deal with it like the rest of us. [Here's what I find interesting. Karen says, "K: It's not easy out there Nance. N: I know. K: People are always saying you can't. That you shouldn't. That you're not smart enough, not good enough. This world, it beats you up again and again until you eventually, most people, they just stop trying. But you're not like that. You're a fighter. You always have been. I honestly don't know where you get it from." Of course, she is far more sympathetic and more uplifting of Nancy because she isn't actively fighting with Nancy, but it boils down to the same point. The world is tough and it sucks and you need to fight to get what you want. I just find it fascinating in how phrasing and tone impacts the way your message go across and I know that's obvious, but it's so cool to see it play out here. Jonathan here is being invalidating of her struggles in the workplace with this phrasing but Karen is being supportive with her phrasing. I just find it interesting especially since Karen praises Nancy and says she's special in her speech to her about this concept.]

N: You don't know what it's like. [That's true, Jonathan can never experience what it's like to work under sexists who demean your ideas and treat you like a food server instead of an intern or an equal, for more general purposes.]

J: Neither do you. [Same thing here. She doesn't understand classism right now because she's never experienced it.]

N: *huff* Well, I guess we don't understand each other anymore.

J: I guess not.

So end notes! This scene ends with the camera panning out of Nancy's face and we're supposed to come out of this fight supporting Nancy. They're both in the wrong in this fight, but it obviously wants us to support Nancy. This fight is good in balancing the conflict between Jonathan and Nancy, they both don't understand where the other is coming from and they need to reconcile this. The fight while skewing towards Nancy is an interaction where not only Jonathan is painted in the wrong. It's also very striking that Nancy apologizes for saying that Jonathan is like her bosses and none of the other mean things she says to Jonathan and how she still doesn't understand or really care about his low income struggles while Jonathan acknowledges that he doesn't understand why she was angry but he knows that he was wrong.

okay I love how you also put your thoughts in here - i love it. honestly that comment would be so interesting of "oh tom is on drugs" to seem if they didn't show it as a good thing. like to indicate that she was sort of becoming the people that she despise. It's insane how she says your life is hardly over considering that she's also trying to do this for her career and this is a small town - like it even means something to her. but anyway yeah that does show her just notcating about Jonathan's money problems which she would know about. god i hate that oliver twist comment with all my being! also it's soooo funny how Nancy says that she didn't realize she lives in a bubble because SHE HAS LEARNED THAT IN THE PAST! also she has been with jonathan for a few months already so she should be aware of his money situation and realize that she doesn't live in a bubble. honestly it's hilarious how she said that he was just like them because he really isn't. i feel like this talk really shows how the duffers wanted to do multiple plot lines with this - like Nancy is talking ONLY about the misogny while Jonathan talks about the money struggles AND how this would look for their careers/that they were interns. also just tp point out: it's also insane how Jonathan is supposed to stand up for her when he IS NOT IN THE ROOM TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING! they work in different departments so he doesn't even get a time to defend her against their bosses until they're getting fired about the misogny that happens.

yeah like jonathan's response shows that he shows how it is a mainly about the job and etc. you're right tho like why didn't quit if she didn't feel respected and etc? like she's not like Jonathan where she has to keep the job or anything so why she didn't quite? and you're so right about Jonathan says the same thing as Karen but he doesn't get the respect for saying that but Karen somehow gets the respect for saying it because she is supporting Nancy meanwhile Jonathan is having a fight with Nancy here. yeah like i think nancy and jonathan are right with not understanding each other which is why i have a problem with later because only jonathan apologizes but not nancy - which shows that jonathan is willing to meet nancy in the middle BUT not nancy.

ending notes now lol: yeah like this whole thing wants people to support nancy because it's also coming strong with the sexism which a lot of people express so we see that nancy is right - despite that not being the full narrative. the full narrative is that their both wrong but stranger things very much as sort of an unrealiable narrator with this where they will twist the narrative so that people can see characters as fully right despite them not being fully right at all. yeah like you said the fight is good because it is a genuine fight that they would have and them admitting that they don't know each other anymore is actually really good content! hhowever the executation and the "come back to see that they do understand each other and that they put the effort into that," is soooo clunky and handled poorly that this whole fight just seems to be lackluster. because sure they had this fight BUT IT DIDN'T LEAD TO ANYTHING!!

#answered asks #honeysblooms tag

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nomorefstogive · 2 years ago

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But imagine creator reader talking with dottore about what he does and he asks why reader isn’t disturbed or against or even shocked and reader just replies with “well you haven’t done what joseph mangla or unit 731 has” and proceeds to tell him things that happened on the medical side of history

Oh hell I can actually picture Dottore being shocked when he hears about them lol.

While he may be a monster in regards to experimenting on people I feel that he does what he does out of a genuine desire to advance the human condition, not quite out of the same wanton cruelty and malice that 731 and 'The Angel of Death' did what they did. And on that same hand, he at the very least works towards a goal that will benefit all of humanity in the long run as opposed to the short sighted and destructive goals of these lunatics.

He wants to advance medicine and science, to usher in an age of enhanced humans who are beyond the fragility and limitations that humanity has been shackled by for so long, and the sad fact is that there comes a point in time where experimenting on people is the only way to advance medicines and science, particularly when ascending beyond limits is your goal.

He is cruel and monstrous in his actions, and yet it is cruelty and monstrousness born from a belief that this is the only way forward, a belief that his ends will more than justify the abhorrent means taken to reach them.

What are a few lives when in the end he may find a way to conquer death itself and ascend mankind to tower above even the gods? The road into hell is paved with good intentions after all, and so morals and ethics are the fuel in the forges of progress in which he hopes to forge the future.

And yet, look at what these people did. How much of their experiments were even remotely done in favor of scientific development and not out of a sense of cruel amusement and morbid curiosity? How much of what they did actually benefited anyone?

True 731's research into bio-weapons was useful enough to spare some of their miserable lives, but everything else? The vivisections on living and conscious prisoners? The tortures they inflicted? Where is the benefit to humanity in even half of what they did?

Nowhere at all. Save perhaps in their own twisted and perverse minds.

Josef Mengele, "The Angel of Death' of the 3rd Reich, his atrocities are as vast as they are varied and are matched but in scale by the scope of the stars above our heads. He deserved a worse death than what he got. A far worse death.

Perhaps he may see a darker and more depraved reflection of himself when he hears of the monster that was let do as he wished to the poor souls who were given to him. A reflection lacking any and all goals and aspirations of greatness beyond wanton cruelty and hedonistic sadism in the guise of aspirations of medical glory.

Perhaps the tales of their wanton sadism and cruelty will be enough to jolt the man, to instill in him some fear of walking down that same path, and lead to him adopting at least some form of ethics or at the very least restraint in regards to his own sadism lest he fall down into hell alongside of them.

While he may continue his human experiments perhaps he will leave it to those who volunteer for them, after all offer anyone enough money and the sky is the limit on what most will do, or perhaps pay a visit to the criminals and inmates who are already locked away and make them an offer, a lighter sentence for a few tests may be the best deal they will ever get.

And for those fated to the noose or the blade, perhaps they may find themselves under the Doctor's knife instead as penance for their own atrocities.

Who knows, maybe a glimpse into the horrors of our worlds medical and scientific atrocities may prevent him and countless more geniuses on Teyvat from following them down on that elevator to hell.

At the very least, these are my thoughts on the matter.

#genshin impact sagau #genshin sagau #genshin impact #sagau #Il Dottore #dottore #dottore sagau #genshin impact cult au

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