#chime banking app

[shefitaf-2]

CHIME BANK: Experience the Future of Banking with the CHIME Online Checking Account!

Are you tired of long lines at the bank and hefty fees that eat into your hard-earned money? Welcome to the CHIME Bank - Online Checking Account, designed for the digital age!

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Adam Clark Estes at Vox:

Some people collect coins or stamps. For a time, I collected debit cards. Not stolen ones! Each one of them had my name on them, right below the logo of the latest banking app I’d decided to try out: Venmo, Cash App, Chime, Varo, Current, Acorns. For the better part of a decade, I did all my banking through these apps, enjoying their slick user experience and lack of fees. The problem with every one of them, however, is that they’re not chartered banks. If the company behind the app went bankrupt, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) would not necessarily come to my rescue. This disaster scenario was a hypothetical worry when I eventually settled for Chase and its FDIC insurance. For millions of others, it became a reality earlier this year when a company called Synapse collapsed and froze them out of their accounts. Users of Yotta, a popular savings app with a built-in lottery, and other apps that relied on Synapse to help manage their accounts couldn’t access their money for months. Now, as hundreds of thousands of Synapse customers’ dollars remain in limbo, Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) are calling for banking reforms, and the FDIC is proposing changes to its rules.

Still, a growing number of people are embracing these financial technology, or fintech, services. More than a third of Gen Z and millennials used a fintech app or a digital bank as their primary checking account, according to a 2023 Cornerstone Advisors study. So some questions are worth asking: Is it a bad idea to use an app like Venmo as your main bank? Are digital banks like Chime trustworthy enough? The answer to both questions is yes. Venmo is not a bank, and using it as your primary checking account comes with some risks. Some fintech companies, like Chime, are just as big as traditional banks and offer some nice perks. Again, because they’re nontraditional, there are risks. “You’re not going to go back to a world where everybody works with a small bank and walks into a branch,” Shamir Karkal, co-founder of Simple, one of the first digital banks. “The future is just going to be more fintech, and I think we all just need to get better at it.”

Neobanks and money transmitters, briefly explained

The term fintech can refer to a lot of things, but when you’re talking about everyday services for everyday people, it typically refers to either neobanks or money transmitters. Chime is a neobank. Venmo is a money transmitter. They’re regulated in different ways, but because most of these companies issue debit cards, many people treat them like checking accounts. Fintech apps are not the same thing as FDIC-insured banks.

Neobanks are fintech companies that offer services like checking accounts in partnership with chartered banks, which are FDIC-insured. Neobanks sometimes enlist intermediaries known as banking-as-a-service, or BaaS, companies, which are not FDIC-insured. Still, you will often see the FDIC logo on neobank websites, just like you see it stuck to the glass doors of many brick-and-mortar banks. That logo instills trust, and thanks to their partnerships, neobanks can claim some FDIC protections. But because they do not have bank charters, these neobanks and BaaS companies are not directly FDIC-insured. Instead, neobank customers can be eligible for something called pass-through deposit insurance coverage.

[...] Money transmitters, also known as money services businesses, are even further removed from the perceived safety of the FDIC. Put bluntly, if you’re keeping all your money in a Venmo or Cash App account, you don’t qualify for FDIC insurance. Money transmitters are not neobanks or banks at all but rather completely different legal entities that are regulated by individual states as well as the Department of the Treasury. There are certain protections provided by these agencies, but FDIC insurance is not one of them. So when an app like Yotta or Chime says on its website that it’s FDIC insured, it’s not a lie, but it’s not necessarily true either. Venmo, to its credit, admits in the fine print of its homepage that its parent company PayPal “is not a bank” and “is not FDIC insured.” To confuse you even more, however, certain PayPal services that enlist a chartered bank partner, like a PayPal Mastercard or savings account, might qualify for FDIC insurance. Again, it depends.

[...] That doesn’t necessarily mean that all neobanks and fintech companies are untrustworthy. In some cases, the sheer size and track record of fintech companies can instill quite a bit of trust. Chime, the largest digital bank with roughly 22 million customers, scored a $25 billion valuation in its latest round of funding and is planning to go public next year. Venmo’s parent company, PayPal, is widely considered safe and trustworthy. And don’t expect Block, the $42 billion company that owns Cash App as well as its own chartered bank, to fail any time soon. The truth is, even if there is some false sense of security, fintech apps offer certain customers features that big banks can’t or won’t. One thing that’s made Chime and many other neobanks so popular, for instance, is that they don’t charge so many fees. That’s a huge boon to young people as well as people without bank accounts. If a fintech app is your only option, then you might not care so much about FDIC insurance.

“If you’re poor in America and you’re banking at Chase or Wells Fargo, you’re going to get overdraft fees, minimum balance fees,” Mikula explained. “So there is a real need that [fintech] companies fulfill as a result of your establishment banks essentially not wanting to bank poor people because it’s difficult to do profitably.” As many as 6 percent of Americans were living without a bank account in 2023, according to Federal Reserve data. That share grows to 23 percent for those making less than $23,000 a year. The unbanked population, which disproportionately comprises Black, Hispanic, and undocumented people, is at a greater risk of falling victim to predatory lending practices, including payday loans. Some fintech companies also offer short-term loans, though they’ve been criticized for being predatory as well.

If you have Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or any fintech or digital banking app, be aware: don’t use them as your primary checking account.

[valuehub]

Chime Mobile Banking: A Better Way to Bank

In today’s fast-paced world, who has time to wait in line at a traditional bank or deal with outdated services? Enter Chime, the mobile banking solution designed for the modern lifestyle. With Chime, you can manage your money with ease, anywhere, anytime—right from your phone. Here’s why millions are switching to Chime:

No Hidden Fees—Ever

Most traditional banks hit you with fees left and right. Maintenance fees, minimum balance fees, overdraft fees—it adds up quickly. But with Chime, you’ll never pay a monthly fee or a fee for minimum balances. Plus, there’s no foreign transaction fees, so you can travel the world worry-free. Say goodbye to hidden fees and hello to real savings.

Get Paid Up to Two Days Early

Waiting for payday can be stressful, especially when bills are due. Chime makes payday something to look forward to by giving you access to your direct deposit up to two days early. Whether it's your paycheck or government benefits, Chime puts your money in your hands faster so you can pay bills, save, or treat yourself sooner.

Fee-Free Overdrafts

We've all been there—an unexpected purchase puts your account in the negative, and your bank slaps you with an overdraft fee. Chime’s SpotMe feature lets you overdraft up to $200 with no fees. It’s simple, straightforward, and designed to give you peace of mind when you need it most.

A Seamless Digital Experience

Chime isn’t just a bank—it’s an all-in-one financial tool. The user-friendly app lets you easily track your spending, deposit checks, transfer money, and receive instant notifications for transactions. With 24/7 access, your finances are always at your fingertips. Need to find an ATM? Chime has over 60,000 fee-free ATMs in its network, more than most traditional banks.

Save Effortlessly

Chime’s Automatic Savings feature helps you build your savings effortlessly. Every time you use your Chime card, we’ll round up your purchase to the nearest dollar and transfer the difference into your Savings Account. It’s a painless way to grow your savings over time. Plus, you can set up automatic transfers to reach your financial goals even faster.

Security You Can Count On

With FDIC insurance up to $250,000, Chime ensures that your money is safe and secure. Our state-of-the-art security measures protect your account, while features like instant transaction alerts and the ability to instantly block your card provide peace of mind.

Join the Chime Revolution Today

Traditional banks are outdated and expensive, but Chime is the future of banking. With no hidden fees, early paydays, and powerful tools to help you manage your money, it’s no wonder Chime is trusted by millions of people nationwide. Ready to upgrade your banking experience? Follow the link below to download the Chime app and open your account in just minutes—all from your phone.

Switch to Chime today and experience the smarter, easier, and more affordable way to bank.

Download Chime Mobile App Now, And Earn $100! Terms apply.

[lovelyreviews1]

Chime banking

2 MINS READ

$100 free

chime bank

Chime Bank| My Review

Are you looking for a bank that allows you to receive payday 2 days early? Then look no further. Chime is an amazing bank that allows you to not only receive your money 2 days early but it also can help build your credit. You can also pay bills, send money to friends or request it just like cash app and so much more. You can also save money by putting it in your savings and you can also track your credit on there.

If someone sends you money, or you send someone money you can boost them and give them an extra spotme. You can send boosts once per month and when it runs out all your friend has to do is send you some money and they can boost you and you can boost them.

This is a great thing because you can use your card and pretty much over draft however much the boost is and then once you get paid it takes it from there. Did I also mention that Chime has no fees so they do not take money like most banks do. I have been using chime for 5 years and I pretty much just switch my cash app to my chime because it was so much simpler and cash app kept locking people out and I did not want to risk it.

A chime bank account is 100% free and easy to use. If you need to add cash to it, you can go to dollar general, CVS, Walgreens and other places that allow you to in which the chime app will show you locations on a map to go to.

I highly recommend chime because it is simple to use. I have the app on my phone and I have never had an issue with them like other banks. They do not charge a fee for my hard earn money and you can use the spot me boost to spend over for emergencies. I love love love this bank so much more than any other bank I have been with. You can also link chime to other banks and move money with no issue that way which is also great. I love that.

Join Chime using my link and receive a $100!

[plotpulse]

Maximize Your Finances with Chime and Cash App

Maximize Your #Finances and #Investments with #Chime and #CashApp

I’ve been banking with Chime since 2016, and let me tell you, it’s been nothing short of a financial game-changer. From seamless direct deposits to effortless transfers to my credit card, Chime has revolutionized the way I manage my finances. One standout feature that I can’t get enough of is the ability to easily transfer funds to my credit card, which has been instrumental in boosting my…

[banklady]

Earn Banking Bonuses using Swagbucks

Swagbucks and MyPoints are ways to earn rewards (cash and gift cards) for online activities. They are owned by the same parent company, so their offers are often similar or identical. We prefer Swagbucks for most of our bigger bonuses for banking and they have offered bonuses for things such as driving for DoorDash or Uber and grocery shopping. Swagbucks has 18 money-making offers available that…

[genderqueerdykes]

homeless disabled trans person needs help paying for hotel, storage unit & phone while government assistance housing program keeps delaying their move in date

March 21st, 3/21/2024: hello, I'm equinox or Johnny, I'm a severely multiply disabled trans person living in a hotel right now due to not being able to afford apartments on the housing market right now. i have a guaranteed apartment through a government assistance program, but their compliance team keeps delaying my move in date because they cannot figure out how to calculate my earned income because i am self employed. they have been running me in circles asking for the exact same information for six months and have been becoming increasingly more condescending and rude as I've pointed out that they're asking for information i physically cannot provide, like "bank statements" for GoFundMe, a fundraiser website that considers all money earned personal gifts, and tumblr bank statements.

i haven't been able to get my hormones in weeks.

i was promised to move into my apartment on the 7th, then the 11th of this month, and it was requested of me to put the electricity bill in my name so I could get moved in as soon as possible. I did this and now i have a $20 electric bill in my name because they've delayed for so long. my unit has been sitting empty for 6 months and now I'm expected to pay for the electricity that is running in a 1 bedroom apartment I'm not living in.

i have been homeless for 6 months straight. i have been living in my hotel for 2 months. my hotel has been without WiFi for a month which forced me to get a Tracfone with a data plan so I can do my job and communicate with this apartment complex via email. i unfortunately need to buy more data because this has taken so long. most of my possessions including large portions of my stock and shipping supplies are in my storage unit, of which the $78 bill is due in 3 days.

the hotel I'm staying at is normally $40/night but the prices are skyrocketing this weekend because this is a very cheap hotel due to its low rates. i can't afford any of these nights independently of each other, let alone altogether, and it's Thursday and i haven't heard a single word about my move in date.

i have been depressed and crying for days, i cracked a tooth from clenching my teeth and i haven't been sleeping due to stress and nightmares. anything helps. thank you for taking the time to read and support and share. everyone has kept me housed for 2 months so far. i owe you all so much

PayP al: glittergraphicnightmare@gmail.com

cash app: $glitterGraphix

venmo: @ Equinoxian

chime: @ Equinoxian

[realcube]

dilf december

day seventeen ⭑ osamu miya ⭑ giving season

tw : nsfw minors dni , oral (giving), praise, rough sex, alcohol mentions, age gap and pet name 'kid'

a small chime rings through shop as you stumble inside.

previously in the back kitchen, idly cleaning the surfaces, osamu hurries to the front of the store upon hearing a customer enter. it was two in the morning but the shop doesn't start getting busy until three or four, as that is when most people end their nights-out and grab a bite to eat before heading home. therefore, at the moment, it was completely dead and he was essentially just standing about, waiting for the rush-hour to begin.

so of course he was excited when the first customer since midnight arrives. and he was even more excited when he realises that customer is you.

you were absolutely dreanched from head to toe; the small black dress you wore clung to you body, and your hair stuck your face, smearing your makeup. it was clear you must've been coming from a club, also hinted at by your unbalanced stance. your shivering figure stands rigidly by the door for a couple moment, catching your breath before you progess into the store, leaving a trail of water in your wake.

"a bit rainy?" he comments, making a poor attempt at stifling a chuckle.

"it's not funny!" you whine, frowning as you cross your arms over your chest and lean on the counter, "if i knew it was going to rain i would've called an uber. stupid lying weather app."

he laughs, not even trying to hide his amusement, as he walks over to the serving counter and stands directly opposite you, with his arms crossed as well — accentuating his biceps in his fitted black tee. "c'mon, don't be a princess; a little rain never hurt anyone." he leans and extends an arm forward to brush a damp strand of hair away from your face.

you watch silently as he does so, gaze following his every move, still wearing an innocent pout.

when you don't respond, he quickly changes the subject, "so did you come here just to pull faces or are you actually going to buy something?"

you huff out your noise and pull your phone out from your purse, grumbling, "i'll just have the usual."

he nods, instinctually inputting the price into the card machine on the counter, making polite conversation as he did so, "did you have fun?"

"yeah." you slur, focussed on bringing up the wallet app on your phone, "my friend spilled her drink over this random guy. it was so funny." you recount with a smile, pushing your phone up against the machine.

it beeps, indicating that it read your card. however, instead of a little green tick appearing, there is a big, fat red cross!

osamu rolls his eyes and mutters something under his breath about the 'fucking useless thing' as he inputs the price into it and motions for you to try your card again.

but to your dismay, the red cross appears again. you grimance, and it occurs to you that perhaps there is an issue with your card, so you mutter a hushed apology and hastily open your bank app. suddenly, you become extremely grateful that there are no other customers in the store right now: apperently, when you recklessly tap your card at the club, buying endless rounds of shots and drinks, the money does — in fact — leave your account. so all the cocktails and vodka cokes you bought earlier, for yourself and others, had left you with pennies in your account, and rendered you unable to pay for your meal.

osamu could tell by the look of horror on your face what was going on, and he sighs, "i knew this day would come."

while he was about to start monologuing about the importance of responsible spending, you rushed to pull your wallet out of your purse, just in case you had enough cash to pay with. but all you had in there was a button and empty gum wrapper. "do you accept trades?"

"uh, no." osamu replied definitively, "you spent all your money at the club?"

"i did.." you admit dejectedly, with your head hung low in shame, "but i didn't even order that much; i just covered a lot of my friends' drinks, and they agreed that they'd pay me back in the morning!"

osamu shook his head with disapproval, "kid, take it from someone with a lot more life experience than you: you're never seeing that money again."

"maybe.." his response does cause you to doubt your friends' trustworthiness, but before you begin to worry about that, you hastily redirect your attention back to the problem at hand, "can't you just make it for me this one time and i'll pay you back in the morning?"

"no."

"c'mon!" you whine, leaning across the counter, entering his personal space until all he could smell was your intoxicating perfume, "you know i'm good for it. i have cash at home, i just need to go and get it."

he shakes his head again, standing with his previous statement, "sorry, (y/n), i don't sell food in exchange for promises."

you frown, slowly putting your away your wallet, ready to shamefully walk away, until he continued,

"but i'm not against bartering."

⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑

your knees ache against the cold floor of the back kitchen.

osamu rests his weight against the counter behind him; one hand perched on the edge of the metal surface, while the other is entangled in your hair, encouraging your mouth to reach the base of his cock. his eyes lay shut, occasionally pulling open to admire your sweet figure below him.

"fuck- yer too good at that.." he groans, neck going limp with pleasure, causing his head to fall backwards. in the process, he catches a glimpse of the time on a mounted clock on the wall: almost three in the morning.

he smirks, and looks down at you. while bobbing your head on his cock, taking his dick until the tip slammed against back of your throat, you gazed up at him, eyes welling with hot tears.

"better make me cum quickly, kid. it's gunna get busy soon."

your eyes squeezed shut at the thought of people coming in and hearing your whine and faint mewls from the back, as you ferociously sucked on the owner's cock. they'd probably think you were such a slut; especially if they could hear you gag when you'd deep-throat it, which was more often than you'd think.

you just couldn't help it. ever since you laid eyes on the buff, older guy that sold you food at your local ongiri joint, you've been infatuated with him, and dreamed of having his dick in your mouth more than you'd like to admit.

and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't fond you too. as you could probably tell by now, by the way he grins when he feels your warm throat convulse around him, and your plump lips kiss the base of his cock. not only was the feeling of you giving him a blowjob euphoric, but the mere sight of your cute face stuffed with cock was so lewd and sexy.

that was exactly what sent him over the edge; climaxing roughly into your mouth, with his big hand keeping your head in place so he could shoot his load down your throat before he pulled out.

"go on, swallow." he heaved hoarsely, eyes glued to you, observing ever little detail as you obeyed and swallowed it all.

"good girl." he smiled softly, ruffling your damp hair with his hand.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

The Quiet Ones 3

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as dubcon/noncon, and other possible triggers. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: You live a quiet life, but your peace is fractured by a chaotic man.

Characters: Lloyd Hansen, short!shy!reader

Note: I really gotta finish my paper (don't worry I'm like 3/4 done).

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me <3

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Asking for more or putting ‘part 2?’ is not feedback.

Love you all. You are appreciated and your are worthy. Treat yourself with care. 💖

The light is there again. Bright, green, searing into your vision as it shines against the wall, weaving in perfectly between the curtains. Every night. Taunting you. And in the morning, gone. 

Can you call it a pattern after only three days?  

You don’t know what to call it. You don’t know what he wants from you. If he wanted to hurt you, he would by now, wouldn’t he? Or is this a sick game he’s playing? Whatever it is, it’s madness.  

You sit up and grab your pillow. You cross the room to the door and close it behind you. You put the pillow on the couch and pull down the folded throw across the back. You don’t expect to sleep out here either but you won’t have to stare at the insufferable dot. 

You lay down on your back and sigh at the ceiling. You stare up at the plaster until your eyes close on their own. Your shoulders are tense, your back too, every muscle in you has been knotted for days. You tried a hot shower, even a bath, but both just made you feel vulnerable. You’ve never been overly comfortable being naked but now you feel as if he can see your every movement. 

You tried some exercises in an effort to loosen up too. Those only made you dizzy due to your lack of sleep and rationing. Those should be a sign for you to rethink your strategy but your only other option is to face the danger. You know better than that. 

You huff as the last gray days pile on you. You open your eyes and bring your hand up to your forehead, trying to rub away the stress. You pause as a gleam flashes over your flesh. You drop your arm back down and raise yourself on your elbows. 

Jeez. 

Right there in the middle of your chest is the dot, rather a sliver of it. You look up as it glints in between the verticle blinds. You drop back down. Fine, whatever, if he’s going to shoot, he should just get it over with. You hate this limbo. It’s easy when you know what you’re waiting for. This is just torture. 

A sudden jarring jingle cuts through the din. You sit up, heart beating. It isn’t the deafening gunshot you expected. The green laser ripples through the darkness as you stagger up to your feet and cover your ears. You follow the blaring noise into the bedroom. 

Your phone lights up on your nightstand, flashing as you cross the space. You grab it and quickly silence it, staring at the screen in confusion. You keep your phone on silent, always. You never really use it for more than your banking and emails. On the screen, you see a map of your neighbourhood and a speck pulsing at the centre; your apartment. Huh. 

You remember dismissing that feature before. Several times when you got the phone it kept offering to set up the ‘find your phone’ app but you figured you wouldn’t need it. Yet, here it is, chiming and chirping at you. It isn’t a coincidence. It’s him. 

You peer over at the window and the green glare pours through. You look down again and find the dot right there. You shake your head and back away, hugging yourself as you flee back into the living room. It’s all so messed up and confusing. You don’t get how this can be happening. 

You go into the kitchen. No windows to haunt you there. You put your phone down and lean on the counter as you hold your head. You blow out a breath and you close your eyes. 

You try not to let yourself ask the questions but you’re so tired, you can’t keep fighting this hard. Who is he? How did he find you? Was that day at the cafe the first? Were you so obtuse that you never noticed him before? Does any of it matter? 

The silence shatters again as your phone erupts in a cacophony once more. You back away and cup your ears. You’ve never done well with noise, especially loud noise, or too much at once. It’s a sort of dissonance that makes your head spin. 

You scramble to grasp the phone, eardrums pulsing, and you hit the button again to hush it. You close out of the app and a notification pops up at the top of the screen. For a moment, you’re confused. The only messages you get are obvious scammers or stupid adverts you need to unsubscribe from. 

‘Get some beauty sleep.’ 

You scowl as you stare at the text. What does that even mean? Even if the number is private, you don’t need to guess. You know it’s him. He’s messing with you. You won’t respond, not even in writing. You delete the conversation entirely and shut the phone off. 

You leave it on the counter and go back to the couch. The laser awaits you. You lay down under it and resign yourself to your fate. The only comfort is he’s still out there and you’re in here. A ripple of fear courses through you as you wonder how long that can last. 

👄

Your mail doesn’t come to your door. It’s left in one of the dozens of metal boxes near the front door. Typically you go down to grab it twice a week. You haven’t gone once in the last six days. You don’t plan on it either. You get digital statements for everything anyhow. 

Yet, that doesn’t stop the special delivery from sliding underneath the door. You’re in your kitchen when you hear the soft whoosh. You go to the doorway and stare at the envelope on your floor as you lazily stir your instant coffee. You’re too tired to react with more than a yawn. 

You think it could be a notice from the building. They usually leave one when they have to do an inspection. Yet, there’s not sign of the rental companies logo and the envelope is black. You doubt they’ve rebranded. 

You sip from your coffee and sit at your desk. You login to the portal and open up a task. You don’t need to worry about all that. You muster all you have left for your daily toil. It’s the one thing you can’t forego; the one thing you share in common with other people, you need money to survive. 

You empty the coffee with careless gulps as you key through several tasks. The hours drag by, the clock ticking in the corner of the screen, second by second, minute by grueling minute. The days don’t matter, they all blend together in this hazy purgatory. 

You’re drawn from your mindless typing by the agonising growl of your stomach. You’re starving. Those times when you do let yourself eat, it isn’t much. Finally, your humanly needs have overcome your lack of appetite. You can’t deny it any longer. 

You return to the kitchen with your empty mug. You go to rinse it and water spurts forth, for just a second, then the pipes grind and run dry. You put the cup in the sink and cross your arm. You march out to the bathroom and try the sink in there with the same result. The faucet in the tub runs a little longer but peters out to a single drip. 

Hm, maybe that’s what the letter’s about. 

You sweep back out and scoop up the envelope. Just bending down makes you see stars. You put it on the counter and go to the cupboard to take out the salted crackers. You unfurl the top of the sleeve and wiggle one out. You munch on the stale square and slip your thumb under the flap of the envelop and tear. 

You put down the crackers and rip open one end of the envelope. You shake out the contents. It isn’t a letter. Just a folded pamphlet with something smaller inside. You unfold the spa booklet to uncover the all-inclusive pass within. You drop both and grip your head. 

Is this some sort of bribe? Bait? He’s trying to draw you out and with what? The worst experience you could think of? The smells, the touching, the people... 

You put it all back in the envelope. You don’t want it. You don’t even want it in your apartment. Your safe space. He’s invading it little by little. He can’t have it.  

You go to the door and shove it back under the bottom. You push it as far as you can and fall back, catching yourself on the wall. Your head hurts, you’re tired, you’re stressed, you’re afraid. You just want everything to go back the way it was. You want to be alone. That’s all you ever wanted. 

👄

You use your phone to authorise the two-factor sign-in to your bank account. You set it aside after confirming and wait for the screen to load. Your heart nearly stops as you see the balance. A few times you came too close to the red but this is not what you’re expecting. There’s about fifty thousand dollars extra. It has to be an error. 

You click on your chequing and bring up the next screen. There is is ‘50,000’ in bold green letters but it doesn’t say where it’s come from, just ‘authorised payment’ next to it. What the heck does that mean?  

Right below it you see your work deposit. That appears as usual. Company name, amount, account number. So what happened? 

You click the chat icon at the bottom of the page and wait for an agent to connect. You go through the typical automated questions; what is your issue? Account number? All of that. When you finally have a representative and explain the extra zeros in your account, the response is only three dots. 

You shake your head. You don’t need this. You have enough going on. Your water’s still out, you’re almost out of coffee, and you haven’t even started work. Halfway through and it feels like you’ve only just started a new week. You frame your face as you await the response. 

‘Hello, miss. Thank you for your patience. We have found no error in this transfer.’ 

You lean back and whine. That doesn’t make sense.  

‘Can I know where the money came from?’ You type. 

‘The payee is listed as London Fog LLC. It appears to be a business payment.’ 

You close your eyes. What? That makes no sense. It... can’t be. 

‘Can you reverse the payment, please?’ You input. 

‘We can attempt to reverse this. This might take a few days to process. We will keep the ticket open until this is done.’ 

‘Thank you.’ 

You close out the chat. That’s as best as you can do. It’s all so weird and you can’t deny the nagging truth. It’s not an error or a coincidence. It’s that stranger. He is playing a very confusing game. 

Your phone lights up and your eyes flit down. You lean in to glimpse the notification before it minimises. ‘Happy hump day <3’. You quickly black out the screen and flip it over. Leave me alone! 

👄

You almost expect the knock on your door. Deep down, you knew it was coming. Noon, on the dot. It’s Wednesday. 

“London Fog express!” He calls through. “Ew, this one’s gone a bit bad.” 

You hear him shifting around before the handle turns without give. He wiggles it and sighs. He huffs and you can tell by his shadow he’s leaning on the door. 

“Look, jellybean, I came all the way here, even burnt myself on this thing,” he says through the door, “you know, I’ve had some late nights...” he pauses as you sit silent, unmoving at your desk. “You don’t have to do more than open the door and take the cup. Promise, I won’t try nothing. I mean, I’ve been pretty patient, haven’t I?” 

You press your fingers to the edge of your desk to keep from shaking. 

“Right, I guess... I haven’t even introduced myself. How forgetful. Name’s Lloyd, but you could call me like L or love bear or... snookums. Something sweet like that.” 

You can’t. You’re going to pass out from absurdity. This man is psychotic. 

“You know, I’m a pretty handsy—handy guy. I could fix that water issue you got going on--” 

Holy cow. How does he know—how could he? He wouldn’t be able to just shut off your water. Right? 

“See, I get you, baby face, you’re the quiet type. You like to keep to yourself. That’s fair but everyone needs someone. I see that now,” he rambles through the door as it groans against his lean, “I didn’t before. Then I saw you and everything changed. It’s me and you, cupcake.” 

You stand and shudder, walking stiffly around the corner and towards the door. You step up and try to see through the peep hole. It’s still black. You exhale and sniff. 

“What do you want?” You croak. 

Silence. The door shifts as he takes his weight off of it. He soles scuff on the other side. 

“Hi,” his voice softens, “how are you, jellybean?” 

You close your eyes. You just want an answer. You cross your arms and rocks, a soothing gesture as your nerves bubble up. 

“Yeah, that’s okay, I know you’re not much of a talker. We balance each other out like that. I’m doing okay, you know? Cafe was a bit crowded but I got your latte. Foam shouldn’t have fallen yet so if you just want to open--” 

“What do you want?” You step closer to the door and raise your voice. 

He scoffs into a hum, “isn’t it obvious, babes?” 

You open your eyes and bit your upper lip. 

“You, baby cakes. Simple as that,” he drawls, “so why don’t you grab your tea and we can have a little sit down.” 

“Go away.” 

He huffs and clicks his tongue, “don’t be like that, sweetie.” 

“I don’t know you--” 

“I’m Lloyd, your love bear--” 

“Stop. I want you to leave me alone.” 

Another sharp exhale from the other side. A lull that prickles across your skin. 

“I can’t do that.” 

You wince, “please...” 

“All you have to do is open the door, jellybean. You know I’m a good guy. I’ve been looking out for you. Every night,” something drags down the door. “You can’t lock yourself away forever.” 

You step back and lean on the wall weakly. He’s delusional and you’re so tired. You’re almost tempted to open the door just to get it over with. You sink down onto your butt and hug your knees. 

“No.” 

That’s all you say. It’s all you can eke out.  

He taps on the door lightly and sucks his teeth. “Well, guess I gotta amp up my game.” 

[portraitofadumbassonfire]

I must be cursed or something

I'm never using early payday apps ever again. I've used chime and twice in a row, my money has never shown up on the app, just appeared in my bank account. This I week I used earnin to get some money for food, Tuesday pasts and the rest of the money doesn't show up in my account, so I checked today since it's payday and it's on the chime app, I transfer the funds, but they won't show up until fucking Monday and my light bill is due today since I've already extended it. I've been avoiding eviction due to my late balance being so much and have been paying installments. And to add shit on top of shit, the earnin app put my account in overdraft.

I know I've made many donation posts on here, but this is an emergency. Idk how my landlord will react to no installment this week and I know they'll cut my power off today. I hate the idea that I could be in the dark or getting evicted while still having a job, after months and months of trying to get a 2nd job or a higher paying one. At this point, $200 would save my ass. So if anyone can help donate, it would be more than appreciated.

Paypal

CashApp: $TeonQu

[crashingwavesinmyworld]

If anyone has any serious inquiries about sending to my PayPal, Cashapp, or Chime SIGN(not my chime bank account and not my credit union o bank account which I don’t have (which is why I specifically linked these accounts because those are the ways I can accept payment)

Oh and no asking me to download fake scam apps either

Chime sign: $kieli453

PayPal.me/kieli986

Cashapp: $KieliJannard

[demarogue]

You should freeze your credit

Why am I just learning TODAY about credit freeze??? Well at least I can help by making a PSA about credit freeze, and why we should all be freezing our credit:

https://consumerlawsc.com/what-is-a-security-freeze/

So, wtf is a credit freeze?

It isn’t what it sounds like. Locking or freezing your credit means you have instructed the three credit reporting bureaus not to release your credit report or score without your express permission. Oh, you didn’t know they can release that shit without your permission? Neither did I. 

Why should we freeze our credit, besides just the BS part that they shouldn’t be sharing it willy nilly in the first place?

Because friends, this is the SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM IDENTITY THEFT. The person who let me know about this had a credit card opened in their name, by someone random, who then went on a sneaker-buying spree in another state.

What’s the difference between locking and freezing?

As far as I can tell (and maybe finance tumblr can chime in) locking is a service that costs money and allows you to instantaneously unfreeze your credit when you need to report it somewhere, like for a loan, whereas freezing can take a bit to reopen your credit. Experian is the only one who charges for locking, but consensus seems to be that a lock is unnecessary and a freeze is all you need.

From a member of the wonderful (paid) community where I learned this information:

“Freeze is permanent, you have to freeze with each different bureau and have a different password for each. Then, if you ever need to open a new credit account you'll need to know those passwords to unfreeze it. They make it a little tedious, but considering our SSNs get leaked daily at this point, it is definitely worth freezing.”

This person also brought up that this can be a helpful barrier if you’re a person who has a spending problem and compulsively opens new lines of credit. (If that’s you, you can also lock your credit cards, which you can very easily unlock in your banking app but that single extra step can help curb impulsive spending.)

tl;dr, freeze your credit at all three bureaus, remember your passwords, protect yourself!!

[redflagromance]

Superdim Sunday: Chapter 2

If pressed, she would agree that it was a little crazy to drop everything to drive two hours in the hopes of ruining Hammer's night. She felt vaguely embarrassed by herself throughout the drive, fingers wrapped a little too tightly around the steering wheel.

At least no one knew what she was doing. Her masked activities were clandestine. She could do embarrassing shit and not have it bite her in the ass.

"I don't have to do this." Ji-Min tested out the thought. "I could go home and just let him run wild until he gets picked up by the cops or a local suit."

…Nope, bad idea. Ji-Min sneered. The steering wheel creaked under her grip. The thought was extremely displeasing.

She couldn't let someone else handle him. That was her role and no one else got to do it. She was going to find out whatever half-baked plan he had pulled out of the garbage can of his mind, and she was going to thwart him.

That was what she'd been doing for months now. The newspapers would say that she was a rogue vigilante, with varying degrees of approval. They said that she was Hammer's mysterious nemesis, a shadow that only emerged when he was free to drag him to justice.

The truth of it was that Ji-Min was a massive hater and she couldn't stand to let Hammer have anything.

She stopped at a gas station in a bad mood and got an offensively large cup of tea from a faded machine. It tasted shit. She tossed it out the window and got bottled water at the next stop. The drive really wasn't that long, except that she was too keyed up to turn up music and enjoy it.

The closer to confrontation she got, the more wound up Ji-Min felt. The tension eventually got so high that she parked the car and did some furious calisthenics. She glared at anyone who looked at her, defensive about what she knew was weird behavior. It was necessary.

Ji-Min had spent a lot of time in the gym since her powers came in. If she didn't blow off steam, she'd find herself breaking things by accident.

Before she started driving again, she checked Hammer's social media. Ji-Min leaned on the side of her car and smacked on gum while she scrolled.

"heY r U ready to GOooooo," he had sent to Sunspot.

She'd sent back a thumbs up and a sparkly moon emoji. "Go to bed. You have a big day tomorrow, boss."

"😔 😩 😩 Y don't u love me anymore and be nice o me?"

"Unfortunately, I'm not your one true love 🔨 💕"

"haha 😂 🔥 😘  2 bad!!!"

God, what poor fuckhead was Hammer's 'one true love?' Ji-Min pulled a face and closed the app. Her stomach turned at the thought.

She pushed the disturbing bits away and focused on the eventual crime. If Sunspot was telling him to rest up, then Ji-Min should probably just get a hotel and wait for him to make his move. She sent her sister a text canceling their workout tomorrow morning. Ari sent back a thumbs up and a crying face.

Then she looked up a hotel in the area and checked the price. Feeling spiteful, she logged into Hammer's bank account and sent a $500 transfer to her Swiss bank account. He wouldn't notice. He never did. He might not even know his password. He only ever used his card.

She took a moment to scroll through his recent transactions. Fifty at a gas station, 126 dollars to a pizza place, 7 in ice cream, and a Paypal transfer for 7000 dollars. The note said "clothes."

Her phone chimed. A gray alert came up with some graph and a title about the stock market.

"Oh, fuck," Ji-Min sighed. She opened the app and then went to the settings. She ignored the landing page and its copy of the current stock market happenings. On muscle memory, she opened up the hidden login and typed in the 14 digit code.

The real message showed up.

Warning from Sir Tiger Explosion, it read. Bank robbery this evening in NYC at ….

The tension flooded out of her system. "Again?" Ji-Min snorted. She closed the app and opened up the hater group chat.

Harmes had beat her to it. As she opened it, " 💰 Always love to see someone push the boundaries!!" landed.

Ji-Min cracked a smile. "Innovate. Expand. Boldly go."

"Live laugh love the consistency," said an anon with a pirate hat icon. "Maybe it'll work this time."

"Unlikely," said Harmes. They followed it up with a couple photos of newspaper articles with headlines like "Local Man Attempts to Rob Bank."

Ouch. That wasn't even from the special crimes section. Ji-Min put a crying reaction on the image. Lurkers added crying and laughter reactions as she watched, probably for the same reason.

"Remember when he used the back of his atm withdrawal slip for the ransom note?" Ji-Min typed up. She felt a mean little smile steal across her face.

That got laugh reactions all around.

Feeling better, she shoved her phone back in her pocket and got back in the car. She cranked up the music for the last leg of the drive and arrived at the hotel in a good mood.

She swiped to pay with her Swiss account, and gave a cash tip to the receptionist. She didn't have much to bring in- a gym bag with her change of clothes and kit, as well as the bare basics like a toothbrush and hair supplies. She took her time getting ready by putting her hair up and stacking it with the pins that would support her mask later. When she was done, Ji-Min shrugged on her coat and went for a walk.

She spent an hour casing the city before she decided what to do with her time. Ji-Min got a table at a French restaurant for dinner and ate filet mignon and rabbit. She kicked back in a private corner with a glass of red wine and watched the people eat and walk outside. They were all so distant to her.

She'd never really felt like she was part of the crowd. And now…

Ji-Min finished her glass and left her card carelessly on the table while she went to the ladies room. She saw a server bob their head and hurry over to run the card.

In the bathroom, she checked her hair was staying in place and took a moment to stretch, limbering up her fingers and wrists.

She passed an older woman on her way out. Ji-Min could feel the stare. She didn't deign to look back.

With a yawn, Ji-Min collected her card and slipped it back into her bag. She scribbled a $40 tip onto the receipt and left as much in cash.

It was fully dark out by the time she left. Haunting sirens called out in the distance of the night, tattle tailing on some kind of trouble. She was feeling like trouble herself, personally.

'I'm not ready to go back to the hotel just yet,' Ji-Min decided. She felt the pleasant buzz of anticipation, a thrill down the back of her spine.  Ji-Min slipped her ear buds in and put on something with a thumping baseline beat. She idly used her phone to search the area as she prowled around the streets. The night air was crisp and the air was so fogged with pollution that she couldn't see a single star. It felt exactly like the kind of night for her to be unleashed.

She wasn't too far away from an interesting target.

The Versace store was closed at this hour, and the lights she could see were off. Ji-Min paused outside with her hands in her pockets, looking up. She turned off the music and slipped her headphones into the case.

She could tell that people were still inside. They were probably counting out money and doing inventory. Ja-Min popped in a breath mint and cocked her head at the building, tracking the faint impressions of body heat where workers were moving inside.

It was easier when there were fewer people around. It took her a few minutes to determine how many people were inside and what floors they were on. She casually walked around to the side of the building. She pulled the mask out of her bag and started attaching it, pulling the pins out of her one by one to attach the ribbons to her hair. When she was finished, Ja-Min pulled gloves out of her pocket and slid them on. As she slipped into the shadows, there was no one and no camera to watch her scale the wall.

She settled on a fourth floor window far from any of the lingering employees.

The subtle, cat-burglar type strategy would be to cut a hole in the glass and silently remove it. Hammer would break it with his fist and crash in– but he'd set up a drone first to record it, of course.

Ji-Min took off her gloves so that she could wedge her nails into the frame and pop it clean off. There was an ugly scrape, but the operation was overall very quiet. Ji-Min hummed with concentration and rotated the frame at an angle to maneuver it into the room. She stepped inside and leaned the window against the wall. Then she blinked in the darkness until her eyes adjusted.

She caught her reflection in a mirror while she put her gloves back on. It was hard to tell with her dark eyes, but her pupils were blown out to nearly subsume her whole iris. That was new. The night vision was one of her favorite powers.

When her gloves were back on, she took out a spray bottle and wiped down everywhere she could conceivably have touched on the frame. Then she finally took a look around.

There were cameras.

If the lights had been on, that would have been some small concern. As it was, Ji-Min casually flipped one off and prowled down the deserted department floor. She'd ended up in the home goods section. She dismissed it entirely and crept silently down the stilled escalator.

There was something so poignantly beautiful about the store deserted, dark, and cold.

This was the closest thing to religion that she ever felt.

The first thing she picked up was a thick bangle. It had the brand name emblazoned on it. "This is fugly," Ji-Min said, lips pulling up into a smile. She clapped it onto her wrist. "I don't even want it." She checked the price and let out an incredulous little giggle. "Incredible." She ran a gloved finger down the display and picked up a ring. "Gaudy." She paused. "This has potential, though."

Ji-Min worshiped in a daze as she slipped rings, bangles, earrings, and hair accessories into her bag. She was faintly tempted by shoes and a red dress, but even in her haze she knew better than to take anything that indicated personal information like her size. She could go to another store and buy what she wanted later.

She ended up with an eclectic mix stuffing her purse to the brim. Some of it she would sell, and some she would wear.

She barely remembered leaving. It was as easy as entering had been. She tucked the mask away and made her way back to her bed for the night.

The hotel room was larger than she needed. She turned the bathwater on and asked room service for a pot of tea. When it arrived, she sat it on the edge of the tub and went through her skin care routine. When she finally slipped into the water, she was perfectly relaxed.

After a while, she thought to snake her arm out to grab her phone and check on Hammer again. He'd changed his profile photo since the afternoon. This one was shirtless. Ji-Min let out an annoyed sigh, but her heart wasn't really in it this time. He'd let on more of the details for his plan since she'd last checked.

"The Planetarium?" Her skeptical voice echoed in the steamy air. "Is this going to be like the thing he did with that Aquarium?"

Just like that, her blood pressure was back up.

[genderqueerdykes]

Can u provide evidence for this recertification? u need to provide income for proof u qualify for a program, they would require you to provide taxable income, cash app isn't a taxable income.

that is incorrect; transactions made through cash app are taxable income! i provided it last year for this program and it wasnt an issue. they factor in all of my earned income, like paypal, kofi, venmo, chime and ofc cash app. cash app transfers are not donations or personal gifts legally speaking. payments made through cash app aren't treated any differently from bank transfers :) not sure where you got that information but it's not correct! hope that helps! :)

[newstfionline]

Sunday, April 9, 2023

Joyous Holy Week celebrations around the world (AP) From dressing as Roman soldiers in Antigua, Guatemala, to carrying palm fronds on the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, Christians around the world are celebrating Holy Week. For millions of Christians, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter, known as Holy Week, is the most sacred time of the year. It’s the week Christians commemorate the passion of Jesus Christ. The week began with Palm Sunday, where mass at the Vatican was celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square the day after he was discharged from the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome, where the Vatican said he was treated for bronchitis. In Bolivia’s highland region, artists gathered for an annual event where they built sand sculptures based on Bible stories. Members of the faithful in Brazil wore tunics and hoods to take part in the Procession of Souls in Goiás state. And in Managua, Nicaragua, a child dressed as an angel during an event observing Good Friday. In recent years, Holy Week has been scaled back due to COVID-19 restrictions that require precautions such as social distancing and mask use. However, this year many of the faithful gathered in celebrations reminiscent of the era before the virus changed the nature of religious observance.

Stabbing of Cash App Creator Raises Alarm, and Claims of ‘Lawless’ San Francisco (NYT) The fury erupted within hours, as word spread that the 43-year-old man who had been stabbed to death this week in an enclave of high-rise condominiums near the Bay Bridge was Bob Lee, a well-known tech executive. The leaders of “lawless” San Francisco had Mr. Lee’s “literal blood on their hands,” Matt Ocko, a tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist in Palo Alto, Calif., tweeted. “I hate what San Francisco has become,” added Michael Arrington, the founder of the industry blog TechCrunch. “Violent crime in SF is horrific,” Elon Musk, the chief executive of Twitter and Tesla, chimed in. The drumbeat has built since then in the liberal city that only last year recalled its progressive district attorney amid calls for law and order and deepening frustration over the city’s homelessness crisis. While city officials agree that the murder is a terrifying tragedy and a signal that San Francisco has work to do on public safety, they’re also clashing with powerful figures in the tech sector over the nature and severity of the city’s problems with crime. The tension comes at a precarious time, as the tech industry implodes with layoffs and San Francisco itself struggles to bring visitors, conventions and legions of remote workers back to the too-quiet area in and around its downtown.

Resurgent remittances in Mexico (Foreign Policy) Flows of money sent to Mexico from abroad are at historic highs. This February, total remittances to the country accounted for 11 percent more than they did in February 2022, according to Mexico’s central bank. In 2021, Mexico surpassed China to become the country that receives the second-largest amount of remittances in the world. (India is no. 1.) The high tallies may reflect the post-pandemic economic recovery in the United States, where the bulk of the Mexican diaspora lives, the Economist reported.

Deadly Attack Exposes Growing Threat in Mexico: the Military (NYT) Gustavo Ángel Suárez Castillo, an American citizen from San Antonio, piled six friends, including two brothers, into his white pickup truck with Texas plates just before dawn, having spent the night celebrating the news that he was going to be a father. Suddenly, four vehicles filled with armed men began chasing and firing at them. The pickup truck crashed and as the passengers tumbled out, the armed men threw some to the ground, shooting one in the back, survivors told The New York Times. One recounted how he watched his brother slowly stop breathing while the assailants blocked medics from arriving. When it ended, five of the men, including Mr. Suárez, were dead and the other two severely injured. The attackers? Uniformed Mexican soldiers. The shooting in the city of Nuevo Laredo in the early hours of Feb. 26 has been called a coldblooded execution by the survivors and a top government official. So far, four of the 21 soldiers involved in the encounter have been arrested and the case is under investigation by civilian prosecutors and the military. The episode has deepened concerns about the growing footprint of Mexico’s armed forces, which has not only been put in charge of domestic security, but has also been given a rapidly expanding portfolio of businesses, like a new international airport and a major rail line.

Sweden Says State Actor Blew up Nord Stream Pipeline (AP) According to a new statement by Swedish investigators, it’s most likely that a state actor was behind the explosions that took out the Nord Stream gas pipelines late last year. “Our hope is to be able to confirm who has committed this crime,” said the public prosecutor leading the investigation, though he warned that “it should be noted that it likely will be difficult given the circumstances.” While Ukraine and some in the U.S. have blamed Russia for the attacks, investigations have returned a mixed bag of suspects: the New York Times has suggested that a pro-Ukrainian group was behind the attacks, while German media pinned them on a yacht operated by a pro-Ukraine Polish company. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh also released a report blaming the U.S. for the explosions, though Washington and the U.S. media have dismissed him.

Kremlin says its strategic aim in Ukraine is to create a ‘new world order’ (Guardian) Moscow wants any Ukraine peace talks to focus on creating a “new world order”, the French press agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) quotes Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov as saying. “Any negotiation needs to be based on taking into account Russian interests, Russian concerns. It should be about the principles on which the new world order will be based.” According to the agency, he added that Russia rejects a “unipolar world order led by ‘one hegemon’.” Russia has long said it was leading a struggle against US dominance over the international stage, and argues the Ukraine offensive is part of that fight. The Kremlin said this week it had no choice but to continue its offensive, seeing no diplomatic solution.

Facing critical ammunition shortage, Ukrainian troops ration shells (Washington Post) The artillery shells were stored in a shallow mud dugout, covered with a black plastic tarp to keep them safe. Just 14 rounds remained—evidence of a critical ammunition shortage that has the Ukrainians scrambling for ways to conserve supply until their Western allies can produce or procure more. The artillery platoon, with the 59th Motorized Brigade in eastern Ukraine, used to fire more than 20 or 30 shells per day with their Soviet-era howitzer. Now, they typically shoot one or two, or none at all. The ammunition that has pounded parts of Ukraine daily for more than a year has become a precious resource in the artillery war with Russia—and which side conserves shells and rearms faster could turn the tide on the battlefield. Even amid a shortage, Ukraine is firing some 7,700 shells per day, or roughly one every six seconds. Russia, which may also be running low, is firing more—by some estimates triple that amount.

China flies fighter jets near Taiwan after leader’s US trip (AP) China sent warships and dozens of fighter jets toward Taiwan on Saturday, the Taiwanese government said, in retaliation for a meeting between the U.S. House of Representatives speaker and the president of the self-ruled island democracy claimed by Beijing as part of its territory. The Chinese military announced the start of three-day “combat readiness patrols” as a warning to Taiwanese who want to make the island’s de facto independence permanent. The People’s Liberation Army gave no indication whether they might include a repeat of previous exercises with missiles fired into the sea, which disrupted shipping and airline flights. On Saturday, eight warships and 42 planes were detected near Taiwan, 29 of which crossed the middle line of the strait that separates the island from the mainland, the island’s Ministry of Defense said.

A Historic Handshake (1440) Saudi Arabia and Iran formally reestablished diplomatic relations On Thursday, a significant milestone in the relationship between two of the largest powers in the Middle East. The pair cut off ties seven years ago after Saudi embassies in Iran were attacked following the Saudi execution of a popular Shia cleric. Saudi Arabia and Iran have been engaged in a regional power struggle for decades, exacerbated by the differing sectarian religious views—Saudi is roughly 90% Sunni Muslim, while Iran is about 90% Shia Muslim. The regional conflict has also become a proxy for greater world powers, with Saudi Arabia generally working with the West and Iran forging close ties with Russia and China. Notably, the deal was brokered by China, marking one of the country’s biggest diplomatic moves in modern geopolitics.

Tesla workers shared sensitive images recorded by customer cars (Reuters) Tesla assures its millions of electric car owners that their privacy “is and will always be enormously important to us.” The cameras it builds into vehicles to assist driving, it notes on its website, are “designed from the ground up to protect your privacy.” But a Reuters Special Report shows that between 2019 and 2022, groups of Tesla employees privately shared via an internal messaging system sometimes highly invasive videos and images recorded by customers’ car cameras, according to interviews with nine former employees. One ex-employee described a video of a man approaching a vehicle completely naked. Also shared: crashes and road-rage incidents. One crash video in 2021 showed a Tesla driving at high speed in a residential area hitting a child riding a bike, according to another ex-employee. Two ex-employees said they weren’t bothered by the sharing of images, saying that customers had given their consent or that people long ago had given up any reasonable expectation of keeping personal data private. Three others, however, said they were troubled by it. “I’m bothered by it because the people who buy the car, I don’t think they know that their privacy is, like, not respected … We could see them doing laundry and really intimate things. We could see their kids.”

‘I’ve Lost a Lot of Flesh and Bone,’ Jeremy Renner Says, Recalling Snow Plow Accident (NYT) The actor Jeremy Renner, who was severely injured on Jan. 1 when a heavy snow plow ran over him, said in a TV interview on Thursday night that the truck had hit him as he was trying to save his nephew, an accident that broke more than 30 of his bones and upended his life. Mr. Renner, an Oscar-nominated actor who is perhaps best known for his role as Hawkeye in the Marvel Avengers movie and TV franchise, spoke publicly at length about his frightening experience and arduous recovery for the first time in an interview with ABC News. “I’ve lost a lot of flesh and bone in this experience,” Mr. Renner told the journalist Diane Sawyer. “But I’ve been refueled and refilled with love and titanium.” Doctors interviewed by ABC News said that Mr. Renner’s good physical shape and health had probably helped him survive. About 10 weeks after the accident, Mr. Renner is beginning to regain enough strength to walk with a cane. When asked in the interview if he sees the same face when looking in the mirror, Mr. Renner replied, “I see a lucky man.”

[theeclecticwitchblog240]

Broke Witch Tips - Magic on a Budget

Broke Witch Tips

Upcycle what you already have into magical tools. Plenty of the stuff you already own can be used for magic. Make a simmer pot in that old cooking pot. Use the kitchen spices as your herbs in spells.

Thrift stores are great for finding cool bottles and boxes to put your herbs and other magical items in. Also great for spell bottles/jars!

You don’t need every herb under the sun, many of the most accessible (and cheapest) herbs have similar, if not the same, correspondences as the expensive ones.

Buy herbs from the grocery store or farmers market, if possible.

If you have a green thumb, grow the herbs yourself!

Tarot cards can be expensive, but you can use a deck of regular playing cards for cartomancy if needed! There are also options such as tarot apps and websites that allow you to use their digital tarot decks for free.

Make your own tarot or oracle deck if you're artistic and have the time/energy to do so!

You don’t need to have an expensive cast-iron cauldron, just find a fire safe bowl or container. For me, I use a handmade bowl that I got at a fair in my hometown! Works like a charm.

Make your own tarot or oracle deck if you're artistic and have the time/energy to do so!

You don’t need to have an expensive cast-iron cauldron, just find a fire safe bowl or container. For me, I use a handmade bowl that I got at a fair in my hometown! Works like a charm.

The dollar store is a great place to find inexpensive candles, usually they’re tea lights but you might get lucky and even find some chime candles.

If you're working with deities: plenty of them like hand-made items for offerings! So you don’t need to go out and break the bank just to buy an expensive statue.

This is not a post to shame the folks who own expensive things for witchcraft. I’m sure most of us would agree that if we had the money to go all out, we certainly would! This is just a post for those of us that can’t afford costly goods but would still like to have physical items when practicing magic.

Feel free to add your tips for practicing low-cost magic!

BB!