#build corporate credit quickly

[sweetie-bri]

*Quietly slips you $20*

How about a caption about a woman who finds out how to grow by disenfranchising money from people and then she finds out how to get money by doing the same to corporations. And then she gets very big by doing the same thing to governments?

Upward Mobility [Giantess Growth Caption Commision]

Despite the process being BAFFLINGLY simple, Veronica was an airhead and requested myriad re-explanations of how her new implants worked. The scientists had perfected explaining it in 2 sentences for her as they awaited the dreaded 7-word sentence.

"So... What did you do to me exactly?"

"Imagine that inside of your body is a bunch of little house guests! These guests are powered by *money* in *this* bank account to make more of themselves. Now, since they're polite house guests, they dress up the exact same as your normal body, so they become more of *you!*

"So... The implants eat money and... become more of me?" There was no chance anyone could explain to Veronica the currency gas-cycling e-mechanism so... they just nodded. Veronica was overjoyed! "Then I'm going to get *all* money!"

On impulse she immediately pumped the account full of her entire savings. $60,000. pulsed through her veins and her body began slowly inflating her feminine curves. She didn't mind at all that her underwear was all that remained of her cute outfit as she continued to ascend, eventually totaling about 12 centimeters taller. The height looked good on her, and the scientists were relieved the job was well done. After much of what Veronica probably thinks is contemplative thought. The epiphany dawned on her, realizing how small-time she was being.

Veronica left out for bank after bank post-hast. Not even bothering to change clothes. She had credit as a notorious impulse purchaser, so many banks were dying to put a credit card in the girl's hands. She signed any contract that gave her a 6-figure credit limit. She must have felt like a genius when she pumped 12 maxed credit cards into her body. $1.2 million dollars.

Her body trembled, but not painfully as she struggled to maintain footing. No clothes fit her figure anymore, but she wanted to see her results anyways. It wasn't stopping. Watching her veins swell, her muscles tense, her curves explode. It was exhilarating! Eventually finalizing with her being over 12 feet tall! But 4+ meters wasn't enough for her! She had another of her "good ideas."

"I bet supermarkets and stuff have money!" The eager giantess streaked from building to building. Unsurprisingly. It was a giant woman screaming "GIVE ME ALL YOUR MONEY" worked to great effect and she was raking in thousands more. Veronica was *juuust* smart enough to know that items cost money, too. So, she was quick to snag expensive goods and make it off like a literal bandit. As the cash flowed in, her growth was exponential.

She began with a few centimeters, then grew meters and now was growing tens of meters. Once she hit 100 feet tall, the milestone put an excited pit in her stomach, she wanted more... But she'd looted most every convenient place... "Who has the *most* money?" The titan knew just who to ask.

She knocked on window after window until she found someone who claimed to be a CEO. The mass hysteria and her total ignorance that the police were trying to arrest her was endearing if anything. Veronica was looking for sponsorships. She would sign any contract that would give her cash up front. As afraid as these shrewd businesspeople were, they were more excited by the possibility of *not dying.* Millions of dollars were given to this newfound giantess. Veronica was so excited! She had no concept of how much money was a lot, but she knew her "house guests" would be happy.

Bigger, BIGGER. The ground was so far away that it was often blotted by clouds. Roads couldn't fit one of her feet. No scientist imagined that Veronica could get a hundred million dollars as quickly as she did. The only place left to ask, wasn't too far. Not that anything was far away from her anymore. Veronica collapsing on her knees in front of the buildings sent a huge rumbling earthquake through the capital. She stooped low enough that her huge face wasn't obscured by the sun anymore.

"Hey... You guys *make* the money, right?" She asked the entirety of the federal reserve at once. Rumbling the building with her voice. "Can I make a withdrawal? All of it?"

Reasons to Tip Sweetie-Bri 1.) She loves positive reinforcement. 2.) It's fast, it's easy and it's free. 3.) She- Wait, isn't 2 like... 3 reasons?

[builder051]

NaNo 2024 day 2: I don’t have a fan club, I swear.

Spider-Man (somewhere post-Homecoming)

Warnings for foul language.

——————————

The box is bigger than Peter expects. It’s the width of his shoulders and comes up to the height of his chin. He lifts the box with ease, but the difficulty of bringing it into the building hits almost immediately. Forethought in that department would’ve been useful, he berates himself.

He considers the doorway to his building, then meanders in a slow circle with the box on his shoulder. If he can make it down the hall to the elevator… Peter hasn’t been in the elevator for going on a year. The stairs take almost no effort, nor does swinging up the fire escape. Peter curses under his breath. Will the thing fit into the stairwell? Or through his bedroom window?

Purchasing the two-in-one heating and air conditioning unit was difficult enough. The apartment’s hvac system’s been out since August, and though they’d sweated out the end of summer, Peter refuses to let May freeze once the weather turns wintery. With a sick, guilty feeling in the pit of his stomach, Peter spent an hour researching Consumer Reports, chosen a product, and charged his Stark Technologies corporate credit card. Three hundred dollars was probably nothing to Tony, but the number made Peter cringe, even though he was fulfilling a need and had the best of intentions.

Now that the box is in his possession, Peter feels some relief along with the frustration that he hadn’t read the supposedly “portable”heater/cooler’s dimensions before placing his order. The item made it to his address, and nobody had tried to steal it. It’s completely his. And definitely his problem.

If the elevator works, scuttling down the hall to his unit single file with the box in front of him might be possible. Peter doesn’t like the odds, though. Climbing the fire escape initially seems like a better option; he could climb first, then web the box and drag it up like a pulley system. But then there was the issue of the window. Peter only fits in and out in a bent over position. Lithe gymnastics are necessary so as to avoid knocking over his furniture.

It’ll have to be the stairs. Peter squares his shoulders and brings the box back to the ground in front of him. He wraps his arms around the package and holds it to his chest, then edges one foot beneath. Peter does a few test steps, and, satisfied with the way the box travels, he lets go with one hand to open the door to his building.

It’s not too bad, Peter thinks as he hauls the box to the first landing. He breathes, wiggles his toes to regain feeling, and starts up the next flight. Four floors isn’t really that much. He can make it. Peter pushes to increase his speed and refuses to pause at the second landing. “Go, come on, a little more,” Peter mumbles to himself. Third floor. Just one left. And done.

Opening the door out to the hallway comes as another unexpected challenge. Unable to see the knob, Peter flails clammy fingers in what he thinks is the general vicinity. The box tilts when he moves his elbow, and he uses his chin to hold it upright. Peter bats at the hardware again. This time he makes contact. The door swings outward, and he pushes the box forward as quickly as he can. Peter loses his grip, and it falls headlong into the hall. The door starts to close, but it catches on the last corner of cardboard. The bit that happens to be on top of Peter’s foot.

“Fuck.” Peter instinctively yanks his leg backward. Momentum drags him down, and he feels his vertebrae jostle one after another as he slides down the steps. The back of Peter’s head smacks the floor of the landing, bounces, and smacks again.

Pain shoots through Peter’s skull. He assumes his brain has jiggled back into place, since he can both think and feel. Does that make secondary trauma? Tertiary? He isn’t in a vehicle, but the bounce… so, trauma cubed? Peter presses his hands over his eyes, then musses his hair as he checks for blood. There is none. That’s good. He sits up, rolling his spine slowly. No fractures. Just a little stiff. Peter grabs the railing and tries to pull himself to his feet. His right foot seems to be fine, but as soon as Peter puts weight on his left foot, his entire body crumples, and he’s flat on his back again.

“Fuck.” Peter’s voice is winded and raspy. He barely hears himself, though, because the door at the top of the stairs above him creaks open.

“What the—? Pete? Peter? Is that you?” It’s May, still in her work clothes. “What happened?” She looks toward the heavily dented box. “What is that?”

“It’s a—“ Peter tries. “A thing…”

“A what?” May turns and rushes down the steps toward Peter. “Oh my god. What happened? Are you ok?”

“I’m good.” There’s no use heading her off. May will only worry more. “Might need some ice.”

“Ok. Anything I need to know? Anything broken?”

“Maybe a foot.” Peter forces himself into a seated position again. “I hope the fan isn’t.”

“Huh? A fan?” May’s face turns from shocked to confused. “I got some envelopes for you, you know, to Mr. Spider-man and all that, but— seriously did someone mail themselves to you? Is there a person in there?” She looks back fearfully at the top of the stairs where the door remains ajar, still stuck on a flap of cardboard.

“No, May, it’s fine.” Peter puts up a hand to placate her. “A tower fan. Like an air conditioner?”

“An air conditioner?” May repeats.

“It’s a heater too. I, uh, got it for you, actually.” Peter breaks off with a nervous laugh.

“Oh.”

Peter can’t tell if May understands. He makes to stand up, determined to open the box and show her, but pain shoots up from his foot to his ankle as he takes the first step. “Ow, ugh. Shit.” Peter quickly bends his knee and takes the weight off. “Sorry. It’s ok. I’m ok.”

“You need an x-ray,” says May, looking critically at Peter’s shoe, which is suddenly feeling far too tight. “You need an ambulance.”

“No!” Peter protests quickly. He gets his phone from his back pocket. His screen’s already cracked. He can’t tell if it’s sustained any more damage. “I’m going to call Happy, actually. He can, you know, a car and stuff? To drive to urgent care. I don’t need the ER.”

“I don’t know…How will you get downstairs?” May wrings her hands. “I need to go with you.”

“I’ll hop,” Peter says with determination. “Or maybe Mr.Stark has a hovercraft?” He appreciates her comfort, but this escapade has already caused May stress enough. “You should go open the box. It’s not all that heavy. You can drag it, probably. If it’s broken, I swear I’ll return it and order a new one.”

“I am not—“ May pauses to shake her head violently side to side, “Letting you take packages at this address! Tell your fan club. No boxes.”

“I don’t have a fan club,” Peter wants to roll his eyes, but his head hurts too much. “But I’ll lay off the Amazon.

“Good boy.” May nearly smiles, then presses her lips together. “I can’t believe you bought that thing for me. A- what did you say it was?”

“A tower fan? But, like, with heating and AC modes.” Peter moves his hand back and forth to mime oscillation. “You deserve it.”

“Well, thanks, I guess. I better get it out of the doorway so it doesn’t wipe anyone else out.” She ascends the steps and noisily rips a strip of tape. “This is really —“ Packing popcorn spills out, clinging to May’s clothes and hair. “Ack. Static.” She looks the box up and down. “Was this expensive? And how did you get it up here again?”

“Mm.” Peter scrolls through his contacts, loath to answer. “Sorry,” he says, selecting Happy’s number. “Can’t talk. I’m on the phone.”

[mothstache]

It seems that it's been a while since you posted about the Haltmanns, but I love your versions of them, shark-ness and all! Now I'm kind of wondering about Andrea, Susie's mom and Max's wife. I know that she's dead and that she was the species of the Mages (which is a big part of why Susie lacks a good chunk of her father's fabulous shark-ness), but what was she like? How did Max leave his planet and find her? What happened to her and did Susie know her well? Well, I mean, judging by one of my favorite bits of art by you (which I think might be about Andrea's death), I get the feeling she didn't and her dad did not take it well.

Poor Max and Susie :( 💔

Sorry about the wait! Been preoccupied with life and the asks have been building up. I am happy to talk about this family again though, broken as they may be.

Andrea was initially just another technician that worked beside Max Haltmann during his time supplying the GSA. The two of them got along very well, they generally had very alike thought processes and ways of problem-solving. Andrea's childhood was a lot like Max's too - despite having come from a planet in another part of the Galaxy she grew up without a stable family life and isolated from her peers. The two came to bond over shared experiences and started a close relationship. They married soon after the collapse of the GSA, but had to move to one of the smaller planets in the area to briefly hide from any forces of NME, since they would be executed if caught by them bc they were allied with the GSA. This was around the time Haltmann would take up the role as the CEO of his late father's smaller company at the time. The brilliant inventor at heart he is, he quickly started turning the company into a galaxy wide corporation by supplying products to planets in need, Andrea at his side the entire way.

Andrea herself was an absolute genius - despite Max's role as CEO he would credit her just as much with his success, if not more so. She and him would work on projects for hours on end, and go on frequent expeditions to remote, desolated planets to search for old, abandoned technology. One of these trips was when they uncovered the blueprints and broken parts of STAR DREAM. As fate would have it, this was their next big project - to get it up and running again.

Around this time (when they started repairing Star Dream) was when Max and Andrea discovered they were expecting a child. They were both overjoyed beyond belief, and excited to bring a new little inventor into the world. Since Max was carrying their baby, he reluctantly had to stop going on remote trips for his and the pup's safety. Andrea, being the head of the teams going to these remote planets, wasn't able to stay behind. Max found himself missing her quite a bit.

In the weeks leading up to the pup's birth, Max begged Andrea to stay behind just till they were born. As much as she wanted to, she insisted she couldn't leave her exploration team to fend for themselves, and promised this would be the last time she left for now. She departed to Lavadom, an unstable volcanic planet rumored to be littered with parts of ancient ships - as well as nests of invasive Sphere Doomers.

After a reported eruption, rescue missions were sent to Lavadom. No bodies were recovered.

Susie was born a few weeks later. She was named after one of Andrea's suggestions. When Max held her for the first time, he made two promises, to himself, to Susie, and to Andrea. That Star Dream, his and Andrea's work, WOULD see completion - and that he would protect Susie with his life. He wouldn't lose her like he lost Andrea.

As we all know, one of those promises was broken. And in the end, Max Haltmann himself was lost.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Jonathan Nicholson at HuffPost:

Vice President Kamala Harris, in her first major economic policy address since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, unveiled Friday proposals to ease the costs of housing and food as part of a larger effort to create “an opportunity economy.” The speech in Raleigh, N.C., which had been widely anticipated to fill in some details of broader themes Harris has hit in her public appearances, also took a few jabs at rival GOP nominee Donald Trump and his proposals. Harris defined an “opportunity economy” as one “where everyone can compete and have a real chance to succeed. Everyone, regardless of who they are or where they start, has an opportunity to build wealth for themselves and their children.” The economy, and specifically inflation, is seen as one of Harris’ biggest weak spots, even as it has quickly recovered from the short but sharp downturn caused by the 2020 onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While joblessness has remained below 4% for much of Harris’ term as vice president, inflation on a 12-month basis hit a four-decade high in 2022 and voters remain concerned about how high prices have remained. Harris’ proposals laid out Friday looked to assuage some of that concern and give voters a new target for their ire: greedy corporations. “When I am elected president, I will make it a top priority to bring down costs and increase economic security for all Americans. As president, I will take on the high costs that matter most to most Americans like the cost of food,” Harris said.

“I know most businesses are creating jobs, contributing to our economy and playing by the rules, but some are not and that’s just not right and we need to take action when that is the case,” she said. She cited proposals to penalize “opportunistic companies that exploit crises” to price gouge and to boost competition in the food industry. On housing, Harris said she will “take down barriers and cut red tape” to increase the supply of housing, with a target of 3 million new homes available for purchase or rental by the end of her first term. She also said she’d fight for a law to prevent corporations that own rental properties from colluding to fix prices and backed helping first-time homebuyers with their purchases by providing a $25,000 government payment toward their homes. Harris also said her proposals, which she did not put a price tag on, would be accomplished while reducing the government’s budget deficit. She did not provide details on how they would be paid for.

This afternoon, Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris delivered a brilliant speech on her economic plans, especially in regards to fixing the housing crisis and combatting price-gouging.

#HarrisWalz2024

See Also:

HuffPost: Kamala Harris’ Big Economic Speech Breaks With Biden And Continues His Legacy

[rjzimmerman]

Is Your Water Bottle Really Made From Recycled Plastic? (New York Times)

Excerpt from this New York Times story:

The plastic CamelBak bottles displayed in a Target in East Hanover, N.J., offer a promise to ecologically conscious buyers. On the front of each is a bright blue sticker with the words “Tritan Renew made with 50% recycled material.”

In reality, however, the amount of recycled plastic that went into making the bottles may be nowhere near 50 percent.

Eastman Chemical, a company with $9.2 billion in annual revenues based in Kingsport, Tenn., introduced the durable plastic called Tritan Renew four years ago, telling manufacturers that it was made with “up to 50 percent recycled content from waste plastic.” It quickly caught on with companies trying to reach their sustainability goals or eager to appeal to consumers who want to keep plastics out of landfills and oceans.

Dozens of brands now use the material. CamelBak and Nalgene use it in sports water bottles. Ferragamo offers Tritan Renew sunglasses. Stanley Black & Decker even made a new power tool line called Reviva from the plastic. But there is no guarantee that any particular bottle, pair of sunglasses or power tool actually contains recycled plastic.

“It could be a very low percentage that is physically in there; it could be a high percentage,” said C. Jason Pierce, a senior technical leader for the Circular Economy and Life Cycle Assessment at Eastman Chemical, when asked this spring about the amount of recycled plastic in Tritan Renew that is used to make water bottles sold by CamelBak and others. “You can’t know how much.”

So how does Eastman make its claim that Tritan Renew contains up to 50 percent recycled material? It uses a green certification system called “mass balance.”

That methodology allows companies like Eastman to build up credits for recycling plastic and then apply them to the manufacture of any number of products, regardless of how much recycled material they contain. (More on this later.)

Critics argue that mass balance accounting opens the door to corporate greenwashing and creates a system where consumers don’t know whether or how much recycled material was used in products that claim to be sustainable or “green.”

“If you divorce the recycled content from the physical product, and just start using these accounting schemes, you destroy consumer confidence in recycling,” said Lee Bell, a policy adviser to the International Pollutants Elimination Network, a global network of advocacy groups that works on pollution issues. “It effectively destroys truth in labeling.”

That view, the company argues, takes too narrow a perspective. Consumers can be assured “that they are directly supporting recycling that really did happen,” Mr. Pierce said. “Materials that would have otherwise gone to the landfill or incinerator are being recycled. It’s just a little bit of a different way of thinking about recycling. More of a bigger picture or systems view of it. ”

To grasp what mass balance accounting entails, you first have to know a bit about the two methods of plastic recycling.

The first, which has been around for decades, involves sorting, washing, shredding and melting down plastic waste and reshaping it into pellets. Much of the recycled plastic produced by this method, called mechanical recycling, is of lesser quality than the original. And only certain types of plastics can be recycled mechanically.

The second, newer method, chemical recycling, is an energy-intensive process that typically uses high temperatures, pressurization and chemical solvents or other chemical processes not to simply melt plastic but to break it down into its chemical building blocks. The recycled chemicals are then mixed with all sorts of other materials, including fossil-fuel-derived virgin plastic, to make new products.

This year, Eastman began operating one of the largest chemical plastic recycling plants in the world. Near the company’s headquarters in Tennessee, the plant uses methanol, heat and pressure to transform plastic waste. It takes plastics not accepted in most curbside recycling programs, like clamshell containers, colored plastics used in food and beverage packaging, and plastic fibers used in carpets and textiles.

Eastman wants to be able to market as recycled the products made with this material. But while it’s theoretically possible to physically track plastic pellets from recycled water bottles to a new life as plastic lawn furniture, it’s virtually impossible to trace basic chemicals dissolved from plastic waste and mixed with other materials to any particular batch of plastic products.

[countathon]

Strategies for Zimbabwean Law Firms to Thrive Digitally

Law firms in the current digital age need to also incorporate sufficient presence on the internet and the following will help to explain this aspect. For the target audience, individuals and companies looking for legal assistance, social media is the way to go, in the following ways.

Key strategies for optimizing social media include:Key strategies for optimizing social media include:

Tailored Engagement: When creating them, it’s recommended to address specific segments of the population to guarantee the persuasiveness of messages. For example, firms in family law can join the relevant Facebook groups, while the large corporates’ firms can network in the linked in platform. Building Credibility: The circulation of valuable legal information and the organization of a discussion is helpful in building the audience’s trust and crediting the source. Driving Website Traffic: Marketing blog articles, webinars, or other services available on the website is perfect for social media accounts to attract the potential clients. Navigating the social media landscape requires:Navigating the social media landscape requires:

Selecting the Right Platforms: Concentrate on the sites in which your goal market is most engaged, for example facebook, twitter or linked in. Creating Engaging Content: Share information that is useful for the reader that can include firm updates, articles, and case studies. Consistency and Interaction: Use it actively both in posting and in interacting with the followers in order to build the trust and increase recognition. Tracking and Refining: ground your content strategy in data analysis, and don’t be afraid to adapt the course you have set as quickly as possible. Through the above strategies, Zimbabwean law firms are able to popularize themselves and find Anas & Co clients amongst the ever growing online business population.

Sources

[How Zimbabwean Law Firms Can Thrive Online](https://countathon.co.zw/17220-2/)

[fancoloredglasses]

The Funny Feline Felonies/The Joke's on Catwoman (Roses are red/Violets are blue/If you want your head to hurt/Just read this review)

[All images are owned by DC Comics and 20th Century Fox Disney. Please don’t sue me]

(Thanks to batgirlspain for the inspiration)

In Season 3 of Batman, the producers cut the number of episodes in half (airing once a week instead of twice) as a cost-cutting measure…and ratings suffered as a result. As such, the producers did some crazy ideas, including a surf-off between Batman and the Joker, a three-part story in the UK (in the city of “Londinium”), bringing in Ethel Merman, Milton Berle, and Joan Collins as villains, and recasting Catwoman when Julie Newmar became unavailable.

One thing they also did was do an episode in which 2 of their most popular villains team up (they did do a team-up story in Season 2 with Penguin and the Joker, but Penguin was in more a supporting role, appearing in 2 episodes of the 3-part story) Now, I know these days having 2 (or more) villains teaming up is commonplace in the movies (but seeing as the villains of superhero films don’t survive the film over 75% of the time, that tends to run through the A and B-List villains quickly. How long until we have a Batman film where he goes up against Kite Man and Condiment King?), but this was a novelty in the 60s (hell, having Batman face FOUR villains must have been box office gold! I honestly have no idea, as I can’t find a record of ticket sales for the film)

Anyway, on to the episode! If you would like to watch it, it’s available on Max or behind your favorite paywall.

We open at Gotham State Prison where…

…the Joker is being released on parole for good behavior (but it’s only been 6 episodes since he was last arrested. No wonder Batman has job security!) Joker thanks the warden and Bruce Wayne (who, in addition to being the head of the Wayne Corporation and the Wayne Foundation (not to mention his night job), is the head of the parole board. Does he wash the dishes too?)

Wait, seriously?! Anyway, the Joker leaves the prison and encounters…

(Thanks to m1thousand1000)

Bruce suggests the warden get his guards after Catwoman while he uses the warden’s phone to Alfred, who plugs him into the Bat-phone as Commissioner Gordon calls “Batman”.

How the hell does Gordon know? No one has had a chance to inform him yet!

Bruce immediately heads back to Gotham City as the opening credits roll.

Batman and Robin arrive at GCPD HQ. Meanwhile across the street at the Sleazy Hotel (I’m hoping that’s the owner’s last name, otherwise they should consider moving to a different part of the city)

(Thanks to jj lucia-wright)

As the Dynamic Duo cross the street and enter Catwoman’s now-empty room. As they search for clues (they found Joker’s suit he left the prison in and a scrap of paper), who should appear but…

Batgirl touches base with the Caped Crusaders, but since they seem to have hit a dead end, she leaves. Then Robin notices the paper he found earlier has vanished.

Batman admires her ingenuity and figures their paths would cross again and they can compare notes.

Later at Catwoman’s hideout (which has been decked out with Joker’s tastes mixed in), Catwoman briefs Joker on her scheme, which centers around a 200 year-old poem written by a criminal.

Naturally, the stash is hidden somewhere in Gotham City (because of course it is). Once they find the powder, part two is to use it to break into the gold depository and steal the contents (one would think that much gunpowder would level the building, not just blow a hole in it)

Let’s look at that poem, shall we?

Great, limericks. Still, you can’t expect the writers an 18th century thief to come up with Shakespeare.

Catwoman has a line on the crib and nightshirt mentioned. She has also left a clue (namely, a certain scrap of paper, which was part of the parchment) to lure the Terrific Trio into a purr-fect trap.

The next day, Barbara Gordon finds out more about the scrap of parchment. Later, Batgirl sneaks into Commissioner Gordon’s office to use the phone.

Batgirl tells Batman to meet her at the apartment of a gentleman known as Little Louie Groovy (can you tell this was made in the 60s?), a famous record producer.

Later at Louie Groovy’s “pad”…

…there’s a break-in! Louie puts up a valiant…oh hell, he flails his arms and feet pretending to know karate until he winds himself, then is overpowered. Then the goons strip Louie of his nightshirt.

(At least he wears boxers to bed) Fortunately for Louie, the Caped Crusaders show up. Cue the fight music!

(Thanks to Jacob Dombroski)

Joker throws Catwoman under the Cat-Bus.

(Thanks to Complex)

…I meant the metaphorical one.

Joker spins a bullshit story about being roped into stealing Louie’s nightshirt as a practical joke, and wants to shake the Dynamic Duo’s hands and be on his way so they can deal with the real criminal, Catwoman.

…yeah, I knew this would be a “joy buzzer” moment.

After that, they will stop breathing!

With that, the Joker and Catwoman take their leave (will Gotham City’s villains NEVER learn?)

Fortunately, just as the villains leave, Batgirl arrives (where was she earlier?)

How is an antidote supposed to help against electrocution? Whatever, it works.

Batgirl catches Batman up about the poem. Batman asks about the crib.

…of course it is. Katz (this theft has a certain feline-themed villain’s pawprints all over it!) is a British clothing designer.

Later, at Katz’s mansion, the villains have come and gone. Actually, they’re waiting outside the mansion to ambush the Terrific Trio.

Normally, you’d have to wait a week (since this is season 3) to see the conclusion. However, I don’t wanna wait that long, so…

As the Terrific Trio leave Karnaby Katz’s mansion…

(Thanks to jedburgh01)

(Seriously, they NEVER learn!)

Later, back at the Batcave, the Caped Crusaders get a message from Batgirl via Commissioner Gordon (so the GCPD is reduced to Batman’s answering service now?) to meet her on the corner of Cattail Lane and Nine Lives Alley. On the corner is the Grimalkin Novelty Company. What is a Grimalkin, you might ask?

(Wow, how did they figure out that’s likely Catwoman’s hideout? Or, more to the point, why did they not have that intersection staked out the moment it was built?)

And at said novelty company (do they make cat toys?) Catwoman pieces the puzzle of the nightshirt and the crib. The shirt’s pattern is the map, while the crib is the directions (backward and in French; and no one bothered to translate it before now? This is some National Treasure-level shit here)

With the directions (doing the opposite, since the poem said the instructions were lying) in hand, Our Villains are off!

Meanwhile, the Dynamic Duo meet Batgirl at the novelty company.

Batman has programmed the Bat-Sonar to track Catwoman’s car (you’d think they could ask the GCPD to watch out for it and let them know…or maybe even put a radio transmitter on the car, but nooooooooo, they have to give a Bat-shit reason they can do this!)

With that, the Terrific Trio all pile into the Batmobile and off they go!

The map leads Our Villains to a lighthouse, where they confront the lighthouse keeper and his wife (named Mr. and Mrs. Keeper, naturally; they even refer to each other that way!)

The henchgoons capture Mr. and Mrs. Keeper, which is probable cause enough for the Terrific Trio (lurking outside) to burst onto the scene. The villains move to flee, but the Joker accidentally twists the knob on the lighthouse’s banister and…

…opens the secret passage containing the gunpowder (you mean Mrs. Keeper didn’t move that knob once while she was doing her hourly cleaning of the lighthouse? Hey, don’t look at me that way! Mrs. Keeper is constantly complained that there's nothing to do in the lighthouse BUT clean!)

The Joker lights a match for a better look, but Batman bats it out of his hand, accidentally knocking it into the room! The resulting explosion destroys the lighthouse…but doesn’t blow up the room everyone is in? It turns out the Bat-shit explanation is that Batman coated the room using a canister of…

And here I thought the Shark-Repellant Bat Spray was bad!

As Batman goes to arrest Joker and Catwoman…

…Catwoman lawyers up. I mean, unless they confess they should get a trial. Catwoman then makes a call to criminal attorney “Lucky Pierre,” who has never lost a case (if that’s the case (no pun intended), why don’t all of Gotham City’s villains have him on retainer?)

Later, the trial is in full swing, with Batman as the lead prosecutor (is there nothing he can’t do? I guess since this version of Gotham City doesn’t have Harvey Dent…)

Batman examines every individual affected in this case: Little Louie Groovy, Karnaby Katz, and Mr. and Mrs. Keeper. In each case, Lucky Pierre declines cross examination. The Joker is beside himself, but Catwoman tells him to stay calm. With Batman’s case laid out, it’s time for Lucky Pierre to take the floor, but Lucky Pierre declines.

As Batman gives his summation (and Lucky Pierre declines to do so), the judge sends the jury away to deliberate, but the foreman announces the verdict immediately:

The judge reads the jury the riot act.

(Thanks to Jacob Dombroski)

At least the fight got a ZOWIE!

This being season 3, the final scene reveals next week’s villain:

Louie the Lilac (played by legendary comedian Milton Berle)

But that’s the subject of another episode (and, perhaps in the future, another review)

[jess-moloney]

Signs An Online Storefront Is A Scam

I was doing more research into this and came across an interesting article about this and though this IceStudios website doesn't meet all of the criteria they meet a lot of it. Check it out:

5. Amateur website design

However, fraudsters tend to move quickly and often don’t want to take too long to build a fake shopping website, as it could easily be identified as fraudulent and get taken down. This is why they tend to opt for simple, inexpensive website templates that come with limited features—often just enough to convince unsuspecting customers that they’re the real deal.

No one can tell me this isn't one of the most amateurish websites they've ever seen for someone who allegedly has a degree in marketing from LCF.

7. Limited contact details

Raise your suspicions if the site only has a fill-in contact form, the customer service email is a random Yahoo or Gmail account instead of a corporate one, or the contact details are non-existent.

I mean this is literally all you get for contact info it's on form and it seems to go absolutely nowhere. Like it's just there for decoration. They don't even have a note up saying how long you should wait for a reply or email addresses/regular addresses/phone numbers or any sort of support for customers.

8. Complex or non-existent returns policy

To ensure they comply with the laws surrounding consumer protection rights, reputable retail brands are transparent about their return and refund policies. Scammers, on the other hand, often don’t bother putting much thought into the return policies that feature on their sites—if they choose to include one at all.

You can read through their entire (and extremely confusing TOS) and never actually find what their return policy is. There are also several red flags in this about how they are not responsible for basically anything including false advertising or if you get your item or not.

9. Questionable payment options

Legitimate brands will always give you the option of paying with traditional and secure methods—including credit and debit cards, cash on delivery, or pay later options, such as Klarna and Afterpay.

You get one payment option with them. Though you can put in any card I suppose since it's GPay they should still have way more than one option here for people who want to buy their stuff.

10. Bad social media

Most legit businesses have some sort of social media presence as it serves as one of the best ways to advertise their products and services. If an online retailer doesn’t have an overt social media presence—or the social media icons displayed on their site lead nowhere—the chances of it being fake are high.

We already know how poorly this is run. Their most recent post is a stolen magazine cover from 1968 that Ice Studios has nothing to do with. They constantly say they are about to drop items then never drop them. They don't ever reply to customers asking questions about when certain items are coming back. They have falsely advertised that camo suit I don't know how many times (it looks extremely different on the actual website).

So the list of how to identify a scam store online is a list of 10 things and Jess's Ice Studio's shop meets 50% of that criteria. I'm not saying this proves it's some kind of scam but some of these things should just be basic knowledge if it's not a scam. If it isn't, then it's run by the most stupid people on the planet and there's no way Jess has a real degree in marketing, that's for sure. [Source Article]

Edit: Forgot to add

1. URL red flags

The fastest way to tell if a site is secure is by checking for HTTPS, with a padlock next to it, in the URL. HTTPS indicates that the site uses SSL encryption, which is superior to HTTP. With HTTPS, nobody between the website and the user can read the data.

No padlock

[onlinetrainingusa]

5 Ways Big Data is Transforming Industries and Decision-Making:

Big Data has transitioned from a simple, trendy phrase to a fundamental catalyst for transformation across various industries in today's information-driven landscape. Organizations can carefully inspect it to draw out priceless insights and update their decision-making processes because it provides an enormous layup of organized and unstructured data. Choose the best Big Data online training that helps organizations adapts, build up, and achieve something in a complicated and increasingly competitive global economy.

Here are top 5 ways Big Data is transforming industries and decision-making are listed below:

Data-driven Decision Making:

The ability of big data to affect decision-making is one of its most evident benefits. Decision-making in the past has been largely influenced by instinct and previous experiences. Due to the development of big data analytics, businesses can now support their choices with factual data.

By examining large datasets, businesses can learn more about consumer performance, market trends, and operational efficiency. Organizations become more agile and approachable due to data-driven decision-making, increasing accuracy and speed.

Improved Operational Efficiency:

Big Data is an effective tool for improving interior procedures and raising operational effectiveness within businesses. Companies can establish bottlenecks, find inefficiencies, and spot areas that can be enhanced by carefully monitoring and analyzing data collected from many aspects of their operations.

For instance, data analytics can be used in manufacturing to optimize production processes, avoiding waste and downtime. Businesses may streamline their supply chains using data-driven insights to ensure customers get products at the ideal time and location.

In addition to lowering operational costs, this enlarged efficiency enables businesses to offer goods and services faster, improving them competitively in their particular marketplaces.

Enhanced Customer Insights:

Big Data is crucial for a thorough insight into the consumer behavior required for any business to flourish. Companies can gather and analyze data from a variety of sources, such as social media, online transactions, and customer feedback, to create a comprehensive and nuanced picture of their client.

With these priceless insights, companies can modify their offers to correspond with client preferences, proactively anticipate their needs, and produce a more unique and enjoyable experience. This higher level of client results in enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty and drives more profits since customers feel acknowledged, valued, and consistently given offerings that connect with them.

Competitive Advantage:

Securing a competitive advantage is crucial for success in today's highly competitive corporate world. Through the discovery of complex insights online, big data proves to be a powerful instrument for gaining this edge. Businesses are skilled at utilizing big data analytics can identify developing industry trends, identify altering consumer preferences, and predict possible disruptors before their rivals.

Due to their early insight, their ability to adapt and improve their methods places them at the forefront of the industry. In addition, the organization may maintain its competitive edge over time by continuously analyzing and optimizing its operations with Big Data, assuring long-term success in a constantly changing environment.

Predictive Analytics: 

Big data has enabled businesses to benefit from the potent capabilities of predictive analytics.For this, sophisticated machine learning algorithms are used to examine past data in order to produce accurate predictions of present and potential future trends and events. Predictive analytics is crucial in the financial sector for determining credit risk and quickly spotting fraudulent transactions in real time, protecting assets, and preserving financial stability.

Healthcare providers use predictive analytics to anticipate patient outcomes and disease outbreaks, enabling proactive and timely interventions. Predictive analytics has a strategic foresight that enables businesses to take proactive measures, reducing risks and seizing new possibilities, eventually improving operational effectiveness and competitiveness.

Summing it up:

Big Data is a technological improvement that alters entire sectors and ways of making decisions. Organizations can improve operational efficiency, forecast future trends, maintain a competitive edge, and make better decisions using Big Data analytics. Big Data online course helps to know the top strategies that help reshape industries and decision-making as technology develops and data volumes rise. Businesses that use big data today will be well-positioned to prosper in the data-driven society of the future.

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[shinetechsoftware]

Why Choose Drupal Over the Other CMSs

Drupal is a free and open-source web content management system (CMS) written in PHP and distributed under the  General Public License. Drupal provides an open-source back-end framework for at least 14% of the top 10,000 websites worldwide and 1.2% of the top 10 million websites—from personal blogs to corporate, political, and government sites. Systems also use Drupal for knowledge management and business collaboration.

As of March 2022, the Drupal community had more than 1.39 million members, including 124,000 users actively contributing, resulting in more than 48,300 free modules that extend and customize Drupal functionality, over 3,000 free themes that change the look and feel of Drupal, and at least 1,400 free distributions that allow users to quickly and easily set up a complex, use-specific Drupal in fewer steps.

So, what factors make Drupal so unique in the market of CMSs and become the preferred choice of most users?

1. Multilingual Platform

The ultimate goal of every website is to grow globally. Multilingual platforms are a stepping stone; you can do this effortlessly with Drupal. When your website interacts with visitors in their native language, it creates a pull for them and keeps them stuck for longer. Also, Drupal will dramatically increase their chances of interacting with the website.

With its unwavering support for multilingual websites, Drupal is the ultimate CMS for building websites that support multiple languages. It allows you to choose from more than 100 languages according to your target geographic area. No matter where your target audience lives, you can effortlessly connect with them through a website built with Drupal.

2. Security Function

In this internet-driven world, people share much personal information online, including bank details, credit card details, and other credentials. What followed was a sharp increase in cybercrime cases. There’s no doubt that today’s consumers follow the best online security practices to protect themselves from online fraud and data breaches, but they also expect top-notch security from the sites they trust.

Therefore, website owners must focus on intelligent web security practices. After all, a cyber attack can get their business into trouble. Once they lose the trust of their customers, no matter what they try, there is no way to get it back.

Drupal is one of the most secure CMSs in the history of the world. It offers unparalleled security features to defend against cyber-attacks and protect customer data. Regular security updates, two-factor authentication, user access control, and database encryption are some of the security features offered by Drupal.

3. Great for SEO

A website’s overall search engine ranking depends on the effectiveness of the SEO practices. If a website owner takes SEO seriously, the website can land on the first page of search engines. As a result, the website will experience exponential visitor numbers and sales growth. Realizing the importance of SEO, most CMSs have started to provide users with multiple SEO tools with the promise of improving website rankings.

If you’re looking for a powerful and versatile content management system that will help your website rank higher in search engine results pages, Drupal is an excellent option. Thanks to its well-optimized codebase and many SEO features, Drupal is one of the best CMSs for SEO. Keyword research, keyword management, content auto-linking, and link management are some of its notable SEO features.

Drupal is a popular content management (CMS) system platform worldwide. If you need an open-source and user-friendly CMS to meet your business needs, Drupal is your first choice. From the perspective of security, Drupal has a dedicated security team to review and respond to the kernel, third-party modules, and themes; Drupal’s modules and themes will be covered by Drupal’s internal security program to ensure that malicious codes are removed. In addition, for ongoing maintenance, and long-term development projects, Drupal development is a lower-cost option. Once the main functions are completed, subsequent expansion and customization will not cost more.

If you want to integrate third-party services into your Drupal site, Shinetech will be your excellent partner. Shinetech developers have rich experience in Drupal development and can help you with the operation and maintenance of your existing Drupal site. The custom development team can also expand network functions by installing existing plug-ins or custom-developing your Drupal plug-ins.

[gatekeeper-watchman]

Our Nation, Economically, Where Are We?

Let call a spade a spade. Let’s tell it like it is, beginning with where we are now.

            Currently, our nation is coming out of one of the deepest recessions in which we have ever been since the Great Depression in the 1930’s. In fact, it would have been a depression deeper than the depression then if it were not for our having certain safety nets in place this time, i.e. unemployment insurance, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and public welfare, all programs inaugurated by the administrations of Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the Great Depression, and Lyndon Baines Johnson with his Great Society program(s) in the 1960’s—all fought vigorously against by those on the “right”, the Republicans. I don’t want to even think about what our nation would be like right now if these programs hadn't been in place. Also, not unlike the Great Depression, we aren’t coming out of this quickly. It will take time.

Even these safety nets may not have been enough if it were not for the trillion dollar plus bailouts of the financial markets and certain selected corporations in order to offset the effects of the collapse sustained by the financial markets, a direct result of their gambling in certain financial securities, i.e. derivatives in the form of credit default swaps, which motivated an immense build-up (“bubble”) and consequential collapse of real estate prices in the housing and commercial real estate markets. Also, all of this financial relief was further aided by actions of the Federal Reserve with their Quantitative Easing programs (QE1, QE2, etc.) by which they further charged the economy with cash money, trillions of dollars, through their purchase of government bonds, i.e. they printed money “Fed Style”. Even now, it remains questionable if we've done enough—all the arguments notwithstanding.

          Our government tells us that we have come out of this recession and are on the road to recovery. Perhaps we have, officially at least. In the United States, the Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) defines an economic recession as a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales. So our economy, according to the above definition(s), has been increasing for “over three months in a row”. Therefore, the recession is officially over. We are on our way. But, are we really?

Let me call your attention to a few other factors buried in the detail—worms unseen in the woodwork that don’t quite fit into the pretty picture our politicians would like us to see—the picture which they see, ostensibly out of touch with us and reality. Business was laying off people for years before the financial crisis in 2008—layoffs due to union busting, globalization, increasing technology, increases in efficiency, productivity, and another factor, increasing CEO salaries partially financed by reductions in the workforce as well as on the backs of stockholders.

In conjunction with and in addition to the layoffs, our middle and lower classes (that’s you and me), on average, haven’t had, after adjusting for inflation, an increase in income for over a quarter century, the immense inflation during that time notwithstanding. The rich among us are becoming vastly richer, the poor are becoming poorer, and our middleclass is disappearing. In addition, our politicians, i.e. pseudo leaders, have completely immersed themselves into arguing and bickering, playing games over politics, with real issues, the business of the nation, completely neglected and at a standstill. As you might expect, worry, unrest, crime (its decreasing rate notwithstanding), and discontent among our people is rampant. The sale of firearms and ammunition in our country has increased significantly, and the establishment of internment facilities and massive purchases of ammunition by our government’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security has also been reported (Ref: infowars.com).

When the “crash” occurred in 2008, layoffs reached levels approaching 1,000,000 workers a week, forcing real total unemployment to the critical level, at which we find it today. The current published rate of unemployment notwithstanding, which reflects only those receiving benefits and still seeking employment, it does not reflect those who have become discouraged from looking and just given up or the underemployed. Also, it does not reflect those in the original lay-offs who, to this day, many still haven’t found jobs, their old jobs (if filled at all) having been filled by younger workers coming new into the market. We have over twenty million people presently out of work or underemployed; and, in spite of the fact that the economy has begun to turn around, many of these people are in danger of melding into the woodwork, to be forgotten and never again to find a real job as long as they live. Why? And the answer is, and I think I am right when I say this, as a whole, most of those within this group were among the first to be laid off. Being first, they were the most vulnerable, i.e., least desirable, lower skilled, least productive, older, perhaps overweight, i.e. too fat, lacking people skills, unattractive, i.e. not pretty, whatever. Making matters worse, as technology replaces jobs, the new jobs created in the process require higher skill levels, personal as well as technical, most of this group cannot fill. There are so many more currently unemployed than there are available jobs, that the slightest discrepancy in an applicant’s credentials can be cause for rejection. In addition, there is a continuing influx of new job applicants (mentioned above) into the market with whom they must compete. The story goes on, but you get the picture; and, the longer they are unemployed, the more unemployable they become. I digress, but people who fall into this category constitute a major reason why we should not raise age requirements on Social Security, Healthcare, or retirement. To do so at this time is unconscionable and immoral with defacto hiring ages and policies at present levels. I submit that no matter why these people are unemployed, they are God’s creation and they live in our country. They have a right to live. They have a right to food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and so on, and we have an obligation to help them. They don’t deserve to be forgotten. It’s just not right.

With over twenty million of our people out of work or underemployed, jobs (and money) flowing profusely from our country to nations around the globe, and our Corporatocracy taking advantage of what, in many instances is tantamount to slave labor, hundreds of thousands, if not millions of our people are going to bed at night hungry, unable to make ends meet, their homes in foreclosure, and many others sleeping in cars and, homeless. Even more are on some form of welfare or another–our welfare rolls (state of dependency) have literally exploded. Accordingly, the standard of living of our people and our economy as a whole is in decline, a trend I anticipate will continue for the foreseeable future.

Economically, as the rich among us become increasingly rich, our middle-class is disappearing and our under-class is expanding. Wages and income (in real terms) is decreasing, and the preponderance of our people is in debt up to their ears (personal as well as national debt), the effect of which is exacerbated by the false economy generated in the course of our massive excess spending over the years which created that debt in the first place. We were living “over our heads”, disillusioned, and the adjustment, our comedown, is painful and continuing.

Wait! There’s something else. There are more heavy storm clouds hanging over our heads—all that printed money out there. Our dollar is the reserve currency of the world and it is under attack from many sides. In addition to trillions of inflated dollars, it is reported that there are over $700 Trillion Dollars, nominal value, of Derivatives in circulation worldwide. You remember. Those are the financial securities, i.e. the credit default swaps that our lottery players on Wall Street used to cause our 2008 financial crisis. Think of this in terms of worldwide GWP (Gross World Product) and US GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in 2012. In 2012, the GWP totaled (in terms of U.S. dollars) approximately $84.97 Trillion. That’s for the whole planet, mind you. Compare that with $700 Trillion, nominal value, of derivatives outstanding. Compare our present $18 Trillion U.S. National Debt with our GDP of $71.83 Trillion for 2012. Just think about it. That just about makes us broke or close to it, doesn’t it?

Can you not see where our shadow government by the Corporatocracy and Power Elite has led us? Not only have they stolen our democracy, but also, they have led us to the very edge of bankruptcy. Capitalism has provided us a high standard of living over many years. We certainly need it and don’t want to lose it. It is also, however, out of control and running amuck. In its stark greed, it is consuming itself and leading us to catastrophe, just as Socialism has led others before. In and of themselves, both economic systems are flawed; but, as in most everything, there is good and bad in both. I submit to you, we the people should avail ourselves of the best and most favorable aspects of both. There is a middle ground that is best for all of us, and that’s NOT Socialism. It’s just plain common sense.  Some markets should be free and some should be collective, depending upon the market. Which approach we use should be that which is best for the people and our nation as a whole. Strictly regulated programs such as Social Security, Public Access to Universal Single Payer Healthcare, reasonable Public Welfare, and Public Utilities (including communications) are best suited collective (Do you really believe the average citizen can make objective and intelligent purchasing decisions in these areas?) When we use these programs, it’s not exactly like going to the supermarket. Always, with either choice, the final decision should be in the hands of and decided by the people through their elected representatives—not the Corporatocracy.  Our Corporatocracy should not be allowed to have an influence, in spite of what His Excellency, SCOTUS, says. It should be returned to the status where it belongs, a servant of their customers, i.e. the people. Their focus should be on service and production. Profit must be where it should be, too. Its focus should be that of the investors, the renters, i.e. the landlords. It’s a subtle difference but, nevertheless, critical if our Democratic Republic, our democracy, is to survive.

          I will close this for today, but I want to say one last thing. It may seem, or even be, out of context with this posting at this time, but I think it is very important to our thought processing, economically. That is, unless you have a way to contain it, money is like water. It always seeks its own level. Think about it when you think about globalization and outsourcing of labor. Think deeply or are you capable of doing so?

From: Elder Steven P. Miller Founder of Gatekeeper-Watchman International Groups Jacksonville, Florida., Duval County, USA. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sparkermiller.JAX.FL.USA https://www.tumblr.com/blog/gatekeeper-watchman https://www.facebook.com/ParkermillerQ/ Twitter: @GatekeeperWatchman1, @ParkermillerQ, @StevenPMiller6; #GWIG, #GWIN, #GWINGO, #Ephraim1, #IAM, #Sparkermiller, #Eldermiller1981

Instagram: steven_parker_miller_1956 URL: linkedin.com/in/steven-miller-b1ab21259

[moneyfocus365]

Future-Proof Your Business: 10 Strategies for Navigating Economic Uncertainty

Introduction

In an era where the only constant is change, 73% of business leaders report that economic uncertainty keeps them awake at night. This statistic, revealed in a recent McKinsey survey, underscores a critical challenge facing American businesses today. From supply chain disruptions to rapid technological shifts, and from changing consumer behaviors to global market volatility, the business landscape has never been more complex or unpredictable.

Yet within this uncertainty lies opportunity. History shows that some of the most successful companies were born or transformed during periods of economic turbulence. Amazon, for instance, not only survived the dot-com bubble but emerged stronger, while Airbnb’s launch during the 2008 financial crisis revolutionized the hospitality industry.

This comprehensive guide will equip you with actionable strategies to not just weather economic uncertainty, but to leverage it for sustainable growth. Whether you’re a startup founder, small business owner, or corporate executive, you’ll discover practical approaches to build resilience, identify opportunities, and position your business for long-term success.

The New Normal: Understanding Economic Uncertainty in Today’s Business Environment

The Shifting Landscape

The traditional business cycle has evolved into something far more complex and unpredictable. Several factors contribute to this new reality:

Global Interconnectivity: Today’s markets are more interconnected than ever. A supply chain disruption in Asia can impact prices in Arkansas within days. The recent semiconductor shortage demonstrated how vulnerability in one sector can create ripple effects across entire industries.

Technological Acceleration: The pace of technological change has compressed traditional business adaptation cycles. What once took decades now happens in years or even months. AI adoption, for instance, moved from experimental to mission-critical for many businesses in less than two years.

Changing Consumer Behavior: The pandemic permanently altered consumer preferences and purchasing patterns. E-commerce adoption accelerated by five years in just three months during 2020, forcing businesses to rapidly reimagine their distribution models.

The Cost of Inaction

Recent data paints a sobering picture:

40% of businesses that fail to adapt to economic uncertainty face significant market share losses within 18 months

Companies with rigid business models are 3x more likely to experience severe financial distress during economic downturns

Organizations that maintain strategic investments during uncertain times outperform their peers by an average of 30% during recovery periods

10 Strategic Approaches to Future-Proofing Your Business

1. Develop Financial Flexibility

Maintain healthy cash reserves (aim for 6–12 months of operating expenses)

Establish multiple banking relationships and credit lines before they’re needed

Implement rolling 13-week cash flow forecasts

Create modular budgets that can be quickly adjusted based on market conditions

2. Build Supply Chain Resilience

Diversify supplier relationships across different geographic regions

Invest in inventory management technology

Develop contingency plans for critical components

Consider vertical integration for essential processes

3. Embrace Digital Transformation

Automate routine operations to reduce costs and improve efficiency

Implement data analytics for better decision-making

Develop omnichannel capabilities to meet customers where they are

Invest in cybersecurity to protect digital assets

4. Foster Workforce Agility

Build a mix of full-time and flexible workforce options

Invest in cross-training programs

Develop remote work capabilities

Create clear communication protocols for rapid deployment

5. Strengthen Customer Relationships

Implement predictive analytics to anticipate customer needs

Develop value-added services that increase switching costs

Create customer feedback loops for rapid adaptation

Build community around your brand

6. Diversify Revenue Streams

Explore adjacent market opportunities

Develop subscription-based revenue models

Create digital products complementing physical offerings

Consider geographic expansion

7. Optimize Operating Models

Implement zero-based budgeting

Develop scalable systems and processes

Create modular business units that can operate independently

Regular review and optimization of vendor contracts

8. Invest in Innovation

Maintain R&D investments during downturns

Create internal innovation labs

Partner with startups and accelerators

Implement rapid prototyping and testing processes

9. Build Strategic Partnerships

Form alliances to share risks and resources

Develop joint ventures in key markets

Create industry consortiums for shared challenges

Explore co-branding opportunities

10. Focus on Sustainability

Implement ESG initiatives that create long-term value

Develop circular economy business models

Invest in renewable energy solutions

Create transparent supply chains

Future Trends and Their Implications

Emerging Business Model Innovations

The next decade will likely see the emergence of several transformative business models:

Ecosystem Orchestration: Companies will increasingly position themselves as platform providers, coordinating value creation among multiple participants rather than delivering all value directly.

Hybrid Operations: The future workplace will blend physical and digital environments in novel ways, requiring new management approaches and technological infrastructure.

Autonomous Systems: AI and automation will move from supporting roles to core business functions, fundamentally changing how companies operate and compete.

Industry-Specific Implications

Different sectors will face unique challenges and opportunities:

Manufacturing:

Increased adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies

Reshoring of critical production capabilities

Integration of sustainable practices into core operations

Services:

Growth of embedded financial services

Rise of personalized, AI-driven solutions

Expansion of subscription-based models

Retail:

Evolution of experiential shopping

Integration of augmented reality into customer experience

Development of hybrid delivery models

Conclusion

Economic uncertainty is not just a challenge to overcome — it’s an opportunity to reimagine and strengthen your business. The strategies outlined in this guide provide a framework for building resilience while positioning your organization for future growth.

Success in this new environment requires a delicate balance of prudent risk management and bold innovation. Organizations that can maintain this balance while staying true to their core values and mission will not just survive uncertainty — they’ll thrive in it.

Start by assessing your current position against each of the ten strategies discussed. Identify your areas of strength and vulnerability. Then, develop a prioritized action plan to address the most critical gaps. Remember, the goal isn’t to implement everything at once, but to make steady progress toward a more resilient and adaptive organization.

Subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates on navigating economic uncertainty and building business resilience. Together, we can turn uncertainty into opportunity.

Visit my website for more: https://www.moneyfocus365.blogspot.com

Reference Sources:

McKinsey Global Survey on Economic Conditions (2024)

Harvard Business Review: “Leading Through Uncertainty” (2023)

World Economic Forum: “Future of Jobs Report” (2023)

Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED)

Bureau of Labor Statistics

MIT Sloan Management Review: “Digital Transformation Strategies” (2024)

Journal of Business Strategy: “Resilience in Uncertain Times” (2023)

Note: For specific statistics and data points, please verify with the latest sources as economic conditions and business trends evolve rapidly.

[solarpanelsinstallation]

How Solar Panels Reduce Operating Costs for Businesses

In today's fast-paced business environment, every penny counts. Business owners are constantly seeking ways to minimise expenses while maximising efficiency. One of the most effective strategies gaining traction is adopting solar energy. In this blog post, we will explore how solar panels can significantly reduce operating costs for businesses, specifically highlighting the advantages of solar power installation in Melbourne.

Understanding Solar Power for Businesses

Solar power is derived from sunlight and converted into electricity through photovoltaic (PV) cells. This renewable energy source has become increasingly popular among businesses looking to cut operational costs. With rising electricity prices and a growing emphasis on sustainability, investing in solar panels is not just an environmentally friendly decision; it’s also a smart financial move.

The Financial Benefits of Solar Energy

Reduced Energy Bills

One of the most immediate benefits of solar panel installation is reducing energy bills. Businesses can significantly lower their reliance on the grid by generating electricity through solar panels. This independence means that during peak usage, businesses can utilise the energy they’ve produced, ultimately leading to substantial savings over time.

Tax Incentives and Rebates

In many regions, including Melbourne, government incentives and tax credits are available for businesses investing in renewable energy. These incentives can help offset the initial solar power installation costs, making it a financially viable option for many companies. By taking advantage of these programs, businesses can quickly recover a significant portion of their investment.

Predictable Energy Costs

Electricity prices can fluctuate dramatically, making it difficult for businesses to budget effectively. By switching to solar energy, companies can lock in their energy costs for years. The stability of solar energy pricing allows for better financial planning and forecasting, which is crucial for any business aiming for long-term success.

Long-Term Operational Efficiency

Embracing solar energy isn’t just a short-term solution; it’s a long-term investment that pays off over time. Here are a few ways solar panels contribute to operational efficiency:

1. Low Maintenance Costs

Once installed, solar panels require minimal maintenance. Regular cleaning and occasional inspections are generally all needed to keep them functioning optimally. This low maintenance requirement means that businesses can save on operational costs related to energy management.

2. Increased Property Value

Investing in solar power installation in Melbourne can enhance the overall value of your property. Many buyers are willing to pay a premium for buildings equipped with solar panels due to the long-term savings associated with them. This increase in property value can be particularly beneficial for businesses looking to expand or sell.

3. Enhanced Brand Image

Today’s consumers are more environmentally conscious than ever. Businesses can position themselves as responsible corporate citizens by adopting renewable energy solutions like solar panels. This commitment to sustainability can enhance brand reputation, attract eco-minded customers, and increase sales.

Overcoming Initial Investment Hurdles

While the upfront cost of solar power installation can be a barrier for some businesses, it’s essential to consider the long-term savings and benefits. Many financing options are available, including leasing, power purchase agreements, and loans designed for renewable energy projects. These options can make solar energy more accessible, allowing businesses to start saving on energy costs without the burden of a significant initial investment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adopting solar panels is a powerful way for businesses to reduce operating costs while contributing to a sustainable future. The benefits of decreased energy bills, tax incentives, and a stable energy cost forecast make solar energy a compelling choice for cost-conscious business owners.

Moreover, with the added advantages of low maintenance, increased property value, and an enhanced brand image, investing in solar power installation in Melbourne is not just an environmentally responsible decision; it’s also financially savvy.

If you’re a business owner looking for ways to improve your bottom line, consider exploring the possibilities of solar energy. The transition to solar power could be the key to unlocking new levels of operational efficiency and cost savings for your business.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Igor Bobic at HuffPost:

Donald Trump is vowing to enact policies if he is elected president in November that would benefit voters’ pocketbooks, while offering few details as to how he plans to pay for them — a series of campaign promises that fly in the face of longstanding Republican Party orthodoxy about fiscal prudence and small government. Last week, Trump announced that the government would pay for the costs of fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization, which can run to tens of thousands of dollars per cycle, if he becomes president again. He has also proposed eliminating taxes on workers’ tips and on Social Security benefits, which nonpartisan scorekeepers say would add hundreds of billions of dollars to the deficit. His campaign has not said how he intends to pay for these ideas.

Coupled with his plans to extend key parts of his 2017 tax cut bill and cut corporate taxes even more, Trump’s policy blueprint would add nearly $6 trillion to the deficit over 10 years, according to a Penn Wharton Budget Model analysis. Trump’s plans amount to handing out what now-Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who lost to former President Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential race, once decried as “gifts.” Trump’s rhetoric shows how he has transformed the party from one which at least touted fiscal responsibility — even if the national debt actually skyrocketed under the last two GOP administrations — to one in which the presidential nominee is free to do whatever it takes to win.

Trump making lofty campaign promises is nothing new. During his 2016 run, he pledged to build hundreds of miles of wall on the southern U.S. border if elected, and to make Mexico pay for it. Mexico did not pay; the U.S. government picked up the tab for the sections of border barrier he was able to build. Trump also promised to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act with a “much better” health care program. That also never came to pass.

What is noteworthy about Trump’s second run for the White House, however, is his focus on wooing two critical voting blocs for Democrats: women skeptical of his stance on abortion rights and Black and Latino working-class voters. Vice President Kamala Harris, for example, quickly endorsed eliminating taxes on tips last month shortly after Trump did so, an acknowledgement of the idea’s popularity with union workers in Nevada and in other states. “Trump doesn’t have firmly grounded roots in policy development, developed over many years working with conservative leaders,” GOP strategist Kevin Madden, who served as an adviser to Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign, told HuffPost on Wednesday. “He’s transactional, approaching his audience the same way any real estate professional or salesman would.” “Both Harris and Trump are under enormous pressure to compete for the remaining sliver of swing voters,” he added. “Their strategies aren’t very different, in that they’re addressing the top issues like inflation, housing and health care by making big promises that poll really well, even though the costs and prospects for turning those promises into actual legislation may be out of reach.” Harris, meanwhile, has proposed more generous child and earned income tax credits to support families, and payments for Americans to make housing more affordable, insisting that the return on investment these policies would have for the economy would make them functionally pay for themselves. But since she supports rolling back some of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and raising the corporate tax rate, her agenda is estimated to cost substantially less than that of her GOP rival: about $1.7 trillion over 10 years. Whoever wins in November will have to deal with making their fuzzy election promises reality by working with Congress to craft legislation. Lawmakers must decide whether and how to extend Trump’s tax cuts, which are set to expire next year for individuals, as well as agree to raise the debt limit — two difficult tasks that will almost certainly require horse-trading on both sides of the aisle.

Donald Trump (and Kamala Harris) are promising to give voters “free stuff” that Mitt Romney criticized in his 2012 run.

[unimaktechnologies]

Drive Your Business Forward with the Uber Clone App by Unimak Technologies

The rise of on-demand transportation apps has changed the way people commute, offering convenience, reliability, and accessibility at their fingertips. For businesses looking to enter this competitive market, an Uber Clone App provides a cost-effective and efficient solution. It’s a ready-made platform packed with features designed to emulate and enhance Uber’s functionality, tailored to meet your specific business needs.

Key Features of an Uber Clone App

1. Real-Time Ride Tracking

With integrated GPS functionality, both riders and drivers can track the journey in real time. This feature ensures transparency, improves safety, and enhances the overall user experience by providing accurate location updates throughout the ride.

2. Secure Payment Options

Modern customers demand secure and flexible payment methods. An Uber Clone App integrates multiple payment gateways, allowing users to pay with digital wallets, credit/debit cards, or cash. This flexibility not only caters to diverse preferences but also builds trust in the platform.

3. Intuitive User Interface

A user-friendly interface is critical for the success of any app. The Uber Clone App features a sleek, intuitive design that simplifies navigation for both riders and drivers. With minimal learning curves, users can easily book rides or accept trip requests.

4. Customization Opportunities

The app is not just a one-size-fits-all solution. Businesses can customize it to reflect their branding and add unique functionalities to stand out in the market. From logo placement to custom workflows, the flexibility is endless.

5. Scalability

As your business grows, so will your needs. An Uber Clone App is built to handle increasing demand without compromising performance. Whether you’re managing a small fleet or a large operation, the app adapts to your scale seamlessly.

How an Uber Clone App Benefits Businesses

Quick Market Entry: Developing a transportation app from scratch is time-consuming and expensive. An Uber Clone App minimizes development time, allowing businesses to launch their services quickly.

Cost Efficiency: By leveraging a pre-built solution, businesses can save on development and operational costs.

High Return on Investment (ROI): With a robust feature set and minimal overhead, the app enables businesses to attract customers and maximize profitability.

Enhanced Customer Experience: Advanced features like real-time tracking, multiple payment options, and a user-friendly design create a seamless experience that keeps customers coming back.

Industries That Can Leverage an Uber Clone App

While transportation and ride-hailing services are the primary focus, an Uber Clone App can be adapted to cater to various industries:

Logistics and Delivery: Manage goods transportation efficiently with real-time tracking and route optimization.

Healthcare: Provide on-demand ambulance services to ensure timely medical assistance.

Corporate Fleet Management: Streamline employee commutes with a reliable app-based solution.

Why Choose Unimak Technologies for Your Uber Clone App Development?

Unimak Technologies specializes in delivering powerful Uber Clone App solutions designed to empower businesses in the on-demand sector. With a focus on quality and innovation, Unimak ensures that your app is robust, user-friendly, and scalable. Whether you’re launching a startup or enhancing an existing service, their expertise can transform your vision into reality.

Take the leap and enter the on-demand transportation industry with confidence. Partner with Unimak Technologies to develop an Uber Clone App tailored to your business needs and start your journey toward success today.

[acuitykp]

Navigating C&I Lending Trends in 2023: Key Drivers and Evolving Strategies

The commercial and industrial (C&I) lending landscape has experienced substantial changes in recent years. As we step into 2023, it is important to explore the key C&I Lending Trends that are shaping the future of corporate finance. From market dynamics to regulatory shifts, these trends are transforming how financial institutions approach lending, how businesses manage debt, and how the broader economy is impacted.

Key Drivers of C&I Lending Trends in 2023

In 2023, several factors are influencing the C&I Lending Trends. One of the most significant drivers is the global economic environment. Following a turbulent few years marked by the pandemic and inflationary pressures, businesses are looking to secure stable financing solutions to navigate uncertainty. With rising interest rates and changing demand patterns, lending institutions are adjusting their strategies to meet the evolving needs of the market.

A key development is the increasing focus on lending to businesses in growth sectors such as technology, green energy, and healthcare. These industries have demonstrated resilience and potential for innovation, making them attractive candidates for commercial lending. As companies in these sectors scale and adapt to new challenges, their financing requirements evolve, creating opportunities for lenders to offer customized loan products.

The Role of Technology and Digital Transformation

Another factor driving C&I Lending Trends in 2023 is the rapid adoption of technology in the lending process. The use of AI, big data, and advanced analytics is changing the way lenders assess risk, manage portfolios, and engage with clients. Digital platforms are streamlining loan origination and approval processes, reducing costs, and improving the overall customer experience. These technologies enable lenders to quickly adapt to market changes and offer more personalized and flexible financing solutions.

The integration of blockchain technology and smart contracts is also gaining traction, improving transparency and security in commercial lending transactions. This technological evolution is creating a more efficient and trustworthy lending ecosystem, which benefits both lenders and borrowers.

Regulatory Impacts and Compliance Challenges

Regulation continues to be an important factor in shaping C&I Lending Trends in 2023. Governments and regulatory bodies are placing increased scrutiny on lending practices, particularly regarding transparency, credit risk management, and consumer protection. Financial institutions must stay ahead of evolving compliance requirements, including stricter reporting standards and anti-money laundering regulations.

At the same time, regulatory changes can create new opportunities for lenders. For instance, some regions are providing incentives for businesses that adopt sustainable practices, such as green bonds or ESG-linked loans. Financial institutions that align their lending strategies with these growing sustainability goals can benefit from new market segments and expand their offerings in ways that reflect broader societal priorities.

Changing Financial Strategies for Borrowers

As businesses navigate a more complex lending environment, their financial strategies are also evolving. In 2023, we are seeing a shift towards more flexible and creative financing solutions. Companies are increasingly relying on structured finance, including asset-backed lending, mezzanine financing, and revolving credit facilities, to maintain liquidity and manage risks. These products allow businesses to secure capital with greater flexibility, often with more favorable terms compared to traditional term loans.

Additionally, businesses are placing greater emphasis on building stronger relationships with their lenders, focusing on long-term partnerships rather than one-off loans. This shift is reflected in the growing trend of relationship-based lending, where lenders work more closely with clients to understand their needs and provide tailored financing solutions that support business growth.

Emerging Risks and Opportunities

With all these changes come new risks and opportunities in the C&I Lending Trends. Lenders must be cautious of potential credit risks, particularly in light of a shifting macroeconomic environment. Rising inflation and supply chain disruptions could create financial strain for certain sectors, increasing the likelihood of defaults.

On the flip side, there are significant opportunities in niche lending markets. Lenders that specialize in high-growth sectors or underserved regions can find new avenues for expansion. Moreover, offering innovative financing options such as supply chain financing and receivables factoring can help businesses manage cash flow more effectively.

Conclusion

In 2023, the C&I Lending Trends reflect a dynamic and evolving landscape. Driven by market changes, technological advancements, and regulatory shifts, commercial and industrial lending is becoming more sophisticated and adaptable. Financial institutions must embrace these trends and leverage technology to provide flexible, customized solutions for businesses navigating a complex financial environment. At the same time, borrowers must stay strategic in their financing decisions, recognizing the need for both agility and long-term planning in securing the capital they need for sustainable growth. As we move forward, the partnership between lenders and borrowers will continue to evolve, driving innovation and shaping the future of commercial lending.