#how do I keep becoming a cornerstone of communities?

[gigglebug]

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[robertreich]

How Wall Street Priced You Out of a Home

Rent is skyrocketing and home buying is out of reach for millions. One big reason why? Wall Street.

Hedge funds and private equity firms have been buying up hundreds of thousands of homes that would otherwise be purchased by people. Wall Street’s appetite for housing ramped up after the 2008 financial crisis. As you’ll recall, the Street’s excessive greed created a housing bubble that burst. Millions of people lost their homes to foreclosure.

Did the Street learn a lesson? Of course not. It got bailed out. Then it began picking off the scraps of the housing market it had just destroyed, gobbling up foreclosed homes at fire-sale prices — which it then sold or rented for big profits.

Investor purchases hit their peak in 2022, accounting for around 28% of all home sales in America.

Home buyers frequently reported being outbid by cash offers made by investors. So called “iBuyers” used algorithms to instantly buy homes before offers could even be made by actual humans.

If the present trend continues, by 2030, Wall Street investors may control 40% of U.S. single-family rental homes.

Partly as a result, homeownership — a cornerstone of generational wealth and a big part of the American dream — is increasingly out of reach for a large number of Americans, especially young people.

Now, Wall Street’s feasting has slowed recently due to rising home prices — even the wolves of Wall Street are falling victim to sticker shock. But that hasn’t stopped them from specifically targeting more modestly priced homes — buying up a record share of the country’s most affordable homes at the end of 2023.

They’ve also been most active in bigger cities, particularly in the Sun Belt, which has become an increasingly expensive place to live. And they’re pointedly going after neighborhoods that are home to communities of color.

For example, in one diverse neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wall Street-backed investors bought half of the homes that sold in 2021 and 2022. On a single block, investors bought every house but one, and turned them into rentals.

Folks, it’s a vicious cycle: First you’re outbid by investors, then you may be stuck renting from them at excessive prices that leave you with even less money to put up for a new home. Rinse. Repeat.

Now I want to be clear: This is just one part of the problem with housing in America. The lack of supply is considered the biggest reason why home prices and rents have soared — and are outpacing recent wage gains. But Wall Street sinking its teeth into whatever is left on the market is making the supply problem even worse.

So what can we do about this? Start by getting Wall Street out of our homes.

Democrats have introduced a bill in both houses of Congress to ban hedge funds and private equity firms from buying or owning single-family homes.

If signed into law, this could increase the supply of homes available to individual buyers — thereby making housing more affordable.

President Biden has also made it a priority to tackle the housing crisis, proposing billions in funding to increase the supply of homes and tax credits to help actual people buy them.

Now I have no delusions that any of this will be easy to get done. But these plans provide a roadmap of where the country could head — under the right leadership.

So many Americans I meet these days are cynical about the country. I understand their cynicism. But cynicism can be a self-fulfilling prophecy if it means giving up the fight.

The captains of American industry and Wall Street would like nothing better than for the rest of us to give up that fight, so they can take it all.

I say we keep fighting.

[hallowpen]

The Concepts of Community & Family as it Relates to Thai Buddhism in Peaceful Property

I really really enjoyed watching this series. I am someone who grew disillusioned with Buddhism at a young age for very personal reasons, only to find my own version of a relationship with it as I grew older and learned to appreciate it from a different perspective. So the spiritual meaning behind this series really resonated with me.

I can only explain things to the best of my personal knowledge, so my apologies if anything is factually incorrect.

There are four basic tenets that one must cultivate in order to achieve true happiness. They are known as the brahmavihara (พรหมวิหาร). 1 - Metta (เมตตา): Literally translating to mean 'goodwill', it is a genuine concern for the well-being of others. 2 - Karuna (กรุณา): Literally translating to mean 'compassion', it is the recognition of another's suffering as one's own and a selfless desire for that suffering to end. 3 - Mutita (มุทิตา): Literally translating to mean 'kindliness', it is the feeling of experiencing sincere gratification from the happiness and success of others, regardless of self-contribution. 4 - Ubeka (อุเบกขา): Literally translating to mean 'equanimity', it is the ability to remain impartial combined with the understanding the we cannot mitigate the personal karma of others.

Essentially, the brahmavihara teaches us to always place others above ourselves... while realizing that they will be responsible for facing their own consequences if they fail to do the same.

How does this play into the "family" dynamics that exist in PP? Oddly enough there are certain facets of Buddhism that preach 'anti-family' values, as family can be one's primary source of attachment and suffering. There is a quote that states, "Family is the blood that burdens you." However, when a familial bloodline has lost its way (or in this case, has been "cursed"), Buddhism encourages surrounding yourself with a community that is organized on a familial basis... what we would call 'sangha' or 'found family'. Valuing the members of that found family above corrupt ideology would realign one's path toward enlightenment. Or in simpler terms, the people we choose to surround ourselves with can spiritually save us from ourselves.

Home's family has been "cursed" by the three poisons of Buddhism: greed, hatred, and ignorance. Phon's greed and value of worldly possessions over others has led her down of path of literal darkness, toward a belief in the occult. Somkid's hatred toward his father has fueled his deceptive behaviors... which he saw as a way to reclaim a father's love (that he believed he never received) from the people who didn't deserve it. Home's grandfather was ignorant as to how his actions, or lack thereof, affected the family that surrounded him.

Home's own version of ignorance would have led to his own karmic downfall. The series does a great job of having Home slowly discover the true meaning of home by integrating him within a 'found family' that teaches him the values of the brahmavihara... which ultimately leads to his spiritual 'awakening' (in a sense).

Metta/Karuna: Communicating with and healing the souls of the spirits the group encounter, requires compassion and understanding... a sense of community/sangha that these spirits and Chobkol (the magician) were lacking.

There were several instances of compassion born out of goodwill, the most obvious being between Home and Peach. Forgiveness is a big deal in Thai Buddhism. It is one of the cornerstones of what we refer to as "harmonious justice", as it promotes ideals of true selflessness. Peach forgiving Home because he's seen the changes in Home and how this one action does not define who Home actively wants to become was really really important. Home and Peach exist in balance of one another... keeping them on a shared karmic path where Home can no longer 'turn a blind eye' to his family's injustices (we could get into that more, but that'll make this even longer than it already is 😜😜😜). I think having Tay and New take on these roles to almost ease the minds of non-Buddhist viewers toward a more Buddhist ideology was actually quietly genius.

Sangha is also what heals the vengeance in Kan's heart, born of the teachings of Metta: "We must refrain from inflicting suffering upon one another and be free from vengeance." It could have been woven into the narrative with a bit more finesse... but I digress.

Ubeka: Home accepts the rightfully directed anger and complaints against him and his family for the harm they have caused. His partiality toward his family, simply because he is related to them, disappears. He stands against his aunt and fights against his uncle at the risk of his own life. And he does so by still allowing them to face the karmic consequences of their own terrible crimes... whether they are at peace with it or not.

Mutita: Home celebrates Peach's dreams above his own wishes... without knowing that they would eventually coincide. I could even argue that their eventual correlation could be a result of Home's 'good karma' paying forward.

Home had to reevaluate his core morals in order to be free of his family's curse (meaning within himself). All these representations of Buddhist notions, born from within his newfound family, are what define Home's idea of the true meaning of home... and happiness.

[eriochromatic]

I am in love with the wha cross guild designs. Can you say something more about them? Like the thought process behind them and stuff.

sure! What I focused on first is how Mihawk, Buggy, and Crocodile's motives and personality would translate into the WHA world (I need a loose story first to be motivated before delving into the design!)

tbh I think with one piece's characters so focused on freedom and living without constraint, all pirate characters would technically be brimhats LOL (and Coco's arc of realizing the flaws of the current insitution is quite similar to Koby and the marines).

Devil fruit powers are easy to translate into seals tattooed on the skin (hence wha!Buggy's seal on his chest letting him split his body and wha!Crocodile's on his hand giving him sand manipulation). Mihawk is more interesting since he doesn't have a devil fruit, so naturally wha!Mihawk also doesn't have tattooed seals. Another way for a witch to become a brimhat is dabbling in forbidden seals, so wha!Mihawk has cursed seals on Yoru instead (which makes him a brimhat without modifying his body)

As for cornerstone character traits in the original: Mihawk is the greatest swordsman, Buggy is… just vibing LMFAO, and Crocodile is ambitous/power hungry/looking to rule his own kingdom. Obviously the greatest swordsman title means nothing in WHA, so wha!Mihawk instead is a great artificer, with Yoru being the strongest magic imbued weapon in existence. I'd like to think Yoru's seals were initially within guidelines, but Mihawk felt those rules were suffocating Yoru's potential, which is when he started using cursed and forbidden seals instead, all for the sake of Yoru becoming stronger.

Buggy I'd imagine is kind of like how Iguin is introduced in Coco's past- as a solo traveling witch mingling amongst common folk rather than being in a community of fellow witches. I think he'd be addicted to that feeling of superiority he'd get from being a revered witch in the eyes of the common people, so he's probably the head of a traveling circus troupe (where he's the only witch) touring the countryside (keeping a relatively low profile in the realm of witches, never staying in one place too long so the Knights Moralis don't go after him). Buggy's definitely not as altruistic or eager to help those in need as witches are supposed to be in WHA society, but of course he'd put on a good show to entertain the masses.

Eolio mentioned something interesting in chpt 53 ("We can be as in the tales of yore. King and witch, side by side"). There might've been more references to this concept of a monarch/person in power with a witch as their advisor (I just can't find it at the moment a;sldkfs) but I'd imagine that's what Crocodile would be doing. Like Buggy, I think he also gets a sense of superiority by being alongside commonfolk (vs Mihawk who's goal is to genuinely just make the strongest weapon possible and not interested in mingling with others). But instead of Buggy's route of mingling with commoners, Crocodile would definitely go the more sinister route- find some easily manipulated king or high lord and get into his good graces, eventually becoming the witch operating in the shadows and whispering machinations in his liege's ears. We don't know much about the pennisula yet and how far the witches' institution reaches so I don't know the exact position of power Crocodile feels safe aiming for without the Knights Moralis coming for his ass (a ruler might be too obvious lol but then again Crocodile tried to take over Alabasta right underneath the World Government's noses so who knows).

As for the designs themselves: Mihawk's fluffy plume being reminiscient of a brushbug is what started this entire idea for me, so I knew I had to add that in somehow. For each character I picked an overarching motif/theme I wanted in the character design, as well as adding in WHA design elements. WHA characters all tend to have large cloaks to cover their body while writing seals, and even though Cross Guild is all brimhats, nobody starts out as a brimhat so I'd imagine a large cloak or something top heavy would still be familiar to them even if they don't care about covering seals anymore.

For Mihawk I leaned a bit more into the vampire theme than his usual (cloak silhouette is bat like, plus the additional crosses everwhere. His sleeves aren't exactly attached to his jacket (like OPLA) and I also added that detail in the pants haha. I think Yoru is the real star here with all the seals on it, the two big ones are actually modified seals from the Ars Goetia (since they're supposed to be cursed after all); the top one is Glasya-Labolas (manslaughter and bloodshed) and the bottom one is Ronove (taker of old souls). The flower pattern on his sleeves is also not as paisley looking since it doesn't fit with the WHA artstyle, but there's so much hatching that at the end of the day I don't think it mattered lol. His cloak is the least cloak like since he needs to be able to swing that sword HAHA also he's not interacting with normal humans much anyways, usually he only interacts with witches that try to challenge him. Personally I think wha!Mihawk is quite bad at drawing seals on the fly- his specialty is being able to carve complex ones on metal perfectly so they'd be suitable in a fight later.

Buggy I went full medieval jester mode (I always tend to lean toward that aesthetic for Buggy rather than Joker Batman anyways haha). A couple of star motifs here and there, as well as slashed sleeves to reinforce the slicing and dicing of his body. Overall there's just a lot of vertical and horizontal lines on his body for that purpose. I really wanted to let Buggy's beautiful hair down since WHA's style is lovely with that kind of flowing hair. Oh all three of them are also wearing slyph shoes!

Crocodile's coat is directly inspired from Iguin's (esp for that scale motif); overall I wanted to incorporate flowy ornaments for him since I'd be drawing a lot of flowing sand; hence all the tassels on his cloak and sleeves. Cutouts are there for him to use sand manipulation more effectively. I know in canon both for him and Buggy the clothes also are affected by devil fruit powers but I don't think that would be the case here- Buggy's clothes also probably have seals in them and no one would be able to see if he's on stage but I think for Crocodile, since he'd be working with normal humans more he does have to be more cautious about things (hence why he also has a more traditional cloak compared to the others). Sand hat for coolness also for convenience bc he can just dissipate the sand if he's trying to disguise himself (like how Ininia's ribbons can appear normal instead of brim shaped). I also gave him a smoking pipe instead of a cigar because the pipe can be used as a red herring of sorts- to outsiders it might appear the pipe being the source of power (like for Mihawk's sword) but Crocodile's sand manipulation ability has the same scope as canon.

ANYWAYS that's probably a way more detailed response than you expected but hopefully that was interesting to read my thought process behind things! even though i captioned it Cross Guild I guess it ended up being more East Blue/Alabasta saga personalities than actual post Wano Cross Guild dynamics haha

[lambsouvlaki]

The Crime Lord - 2

Characters: Jason Todd x fem!oc

Rating and warnings: T, non-explicit smut.

Word Count: 1,560

Summary: Jason never stopped his crime lord ways, but he did find someone he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. They both have to live with what the things he's done.

Masterlist

At a little past six in the evening, she looked up from the organised chaos of her desk in her run down little office building and saw Jason sitting on the corner of her desk, watching her. 

She yelped, and jumped. 

He laughed. Despite her optimism back in the early days of their relationship, it never stopped startling her, and he never stopped enjoying it. 

“Oh, you asshat,” she said, putting a hand over her heart. “How long have you been there?”

“Just arrived.” He was in civilian clothes, with the stubble of several days at his chin. “You’re working hard, I wasn’t even trying this time.” 

She closed her eyes and rubbed them. She’d sent everyone else home an hour ago. Running a non-profit was so much harder than it looked. “This project, I swear. I’m going to pull my hair out.” 

“Don’t do that, you have beautiful hair.” 

“Hmm.” She cracked an eye open. “What are you doing here?”

“Had the evening free, figured I’d save you the bus trip home.”

“You sweetheart.” She eyed her paperwork, then looked at him again. “How’s your Cantonese?”

“Worse than yours. My Filipino is pretty good.”

She perked up. “Is it? You know it’s dangerous to go telling me things like that. I’ll put you to work.” 

“Good. You’ll want to keep me around then,” said her partner of six years and the man who funded the entire organisation. 

She grinned. “You have your uses, I suppose.” 

“You ready to go?” 

“Yeah. I just need to lock up.” 

She never sat down and decided to become a cornerstone of Gotham’s charity scene, she just gently slid into it. While the Red Hood and his crew held the worst of Gotham by the throat, she looked around the supposedly regular parts of the city and was dissatisfied.

There were too many people in the poorer districts who didn’t speak much English and relied on their community, only to be left behind when disaster struck. She had always been something of a polyglot and after her literature degree wrapped up she did some work with charities in the Alley, a little here and a little there, and got to know the movers and shakers in various communities. 

She tentatively started her initiative because nobody else was doing it, and Jason encouraged her. She pushed for it much harder when emergency sirens in English warned a largely Vietnamese neighbourhood that fear gas had been seeded in their waterways and they shouldn’t use their taps for the next twelve hours. The fallout was catastrophic.

She put some people in contact with other people, who then asked her opinion on who they should speak to afterwards. She kept at it, and within a shockingly small time frame she was arranging cross community relief work across half of Gotham and was busy learning her sixth language. 

The whole thing was a money pit of course. Red Hood funded it through several shell companies, and it could be thought of as money laundering, in the style of a washing machine that always eats your socks. He went out at night and beat money out of Gotham’s organised crime, and in the morning she put it back into the city.

She was no great figurehead in the local community, but people trusted her, and that was all she needed to get on with it. Her little office wasn’t a destination but a crossroads, infrastructure that nobody stopped to look at but everyone relied on. 

Information from so many people crossed her desk, from officials in the judicial system, to the head of the Thomas and Martha Wayne Foundation, to handwritten letters from little old ladies who wanted to know just who she was to tell them not to eat produce grown in their own backyard, a little Gotham soil put meat on your bones.

When one of Red Hood’s lieutenant's planned to overthrow him, she knew about it before Jason did. 

He walked her out the back entrance, then opened the driver’s door of his car for her. 

That told her everything she needed to know.

She hopped in and didn’t even bother glancing at the backseat for the rifles that would definitely be within easy reach under a tarp. Automatically she checked the roof opposite her office, and there he was, one of Hood’s men, blending in among the air conditioning units. She had learned to be good at spotting them. She’d gotten good at all sorts of things in the last six years. 

“Where are we going?” she asked, turning the keys in the ignition.

Jason gave her an address, and she drove. 

It wasn’t their home address, or at least it hadn’t been yesterday. That was how this worked. One of the disadvantages of not being a billionaire who only dipped his toes into the Gotham crime scene: there was no retreat for them, just sidestepping.

Jason kept a hand on a gun just below the window the entire drive. He watched the roads carefully, while she planned and adjusted their route to make sure she wasn’t ever boxed in or at a standstill. 

Despite the caution, they arrived without incident. Jason tapped his ear, and said they were in the clear. 

Their home for the night was one of his old safe houses by the docks, a loft apartment she hadn’t seen in years. 

“This takes me back,” she said, as they went in. He slung an arm over her shoulder. “I had a front row seat to watch you throw Tim off of that roof over there.”

He grinned and kissed her hair. “Hopefully no such theatrics tonight. I missed you too many nights this week.”

They went up and settled in. He made her dinner and told her to put her feet up. It had been too many late nights for both of them. 

She lounged back on the couch and watched him cook for her. She smiled wistfully. 

These moments were still so precious. Jason’s relaxed side, his playful side, his sweet and needy side. They didn’t get to come out very often and she hoarded those moments greedily. They were never going to be the norm. She knew that. 

The Red Hood was not an newcomer upsetting the board anymore, and this wasn’t a holding pattern. It was the destination. 

These were not the people they were becoming, but the people they already were. 

Some days she felt the guilt of it all. He had her tacit approval, and she was complicit by every standard. 

Those among Hood's men trusted to know about her had nicknamed her Evita. She found it deeply irritating, and Jason thought it was hilarious. She would contest the comparison, she wasn’t glamorous, and they were hardly living it up. But she knew how this looked, what they were doing. 

“Al Capone was loved by his community too,” Nightwing had told her once, sourly. 

No matter how much good she did, her passion project was funded by drug money. On the days when Jason felt the weight of his chosen work too heavily, funding hers justified it to himself. Maybe it was all motivated by guilt in the end and they were kidding themselves.  

But she recalled the Gotham she grew up in. The terror, the helplessness, the filth. 

It wasn’t like that anymore. It had changed, and Jason could tally that in his soul's favour. 

Black mask had been overthrown by his own second in command a couple years ago, after getting his shit kicked in one too many times. That particular criminal empire had crumbled without strong leadership, and Red Hood swallowed and chewed up what survived. 

The Penguin had lost so much ground that in the end GCPD scooped him up and he couldn’t even blackmail his way back out. 

The Joker died in Arkham. Reports were inconclusive. Nobody was fooled.

Hell, things had changed so much that Red Hood had installed safe injection sites across the Narrows, decimating his own drug trade, and dealing the biggest blow to hospitalisation numbers in Gotham’s history, ever. 

City authorities widely condemned the move as explicit distribution, but Jason held such a grip over his own districts that there was nothing they could do to stop him. 

The two of them ate and relaxed together as evening stretched on. He pulled her onto his lap, languid and easy with years of familiarity. His body knew hers so well, as she did his.

Perhaps they were damned for what they did. 

She wasn’t a fool, Gotham’s newfound peace was bought and paid for in blood night after night. They cleaned up the city without the city’s consent. 

As she rocked in his lap, he gazed at her with such devotion. In her he saw absolution. The soothing rain after his scorching fire, the recovery only possible after the infection was burned away. 

She enabled him.

The hands of a murderer held her hips steady. They caressed her body, then cupped her jaw. The lips of a man so drenched in blood she imagined they were both slippery with it, drank from her mouth. There were no vows, no rings, but he was hers. And she was his.

His head fell forwards, and she cradled him to her chest. She wondered if he saw the blood staining their hands just as vividly as she did.

He mouthed at her neck, and whispered her name. 

She didn’t regret a damn thing. 

Next>>

[sapphos-darlings]

In a wlw relationship, does one person usually has preferences in regards to things that would often be gendered in straight couples, like lifting the other up, guiding or being guided in a dance, having your hands on her waist or hers on yours, or do most just don't really have much of a preference and enjoy doing either? Do those gestures mean something, is the one doing the 'top' and the other the 'bottom'? In straight relationships, people often atribute meaning to those things, but I don't know how that works between women. I'm figuring out my sexuality now and I want to date women from now on, but I'm trying to concile that with the heteronormative context I've been in until now, because I keep trying to understand, but I don't, and I think I have to if I'll be dating other women.

It's not quite that black and white and definitely not as rigid as it may seem! There is a culture of butch/femme in the dating scene for gay women, and a more widely spread idea of top/switch/bottom from the gay scene in general, though this one is more relevant to gay men than it is women. The reasons to why this exist are complex and historical, and our other mod (Lavender) may be better equipped to tackle that side, but contemporarily speaking, these roles are not as relevant as they were earlier in lesbian/bi history and subculture.

To establish first: there is generally a celebration of "true" equality in gay relationships, of being free of the sexist implications that have been placed on straight relationships, and the ability to move on the spectrum from feminine to masculine in terms of behaviours, activities and appearance freely. Particularly in relationships between women, the lack of a direct patriarchal influence in the relationship is generally celebrated as a positive. However, in the past, the butch party would assume the traditionally masculine role. Femmes had the appearance and behaviour of more socially acceptable women and provided "shelter" for the gender non-conforming butch lesbians, who dressed and behaved in a masculine manner, sometimes living in the male role in society altogether, regardless of the actual gender identity of the butch in question. These roles were often assumed for survival, and we're talking pre-80s culture here, from the 1900s upwards, during very "nuclear family" and "traditional values" times, the majority of which homosexuality was labeled as a mental illness or was illegal altogether. But it's our cultural heritage, which in better times has become less of a cornerstone of survival and hiding in plain sight and more of an identity, a celebration of who we are - so butch and femme survive to date, and are mostly regarded as valid and beautiful identities to take on in the community.

I'd still say that in modern dating, they're less prevalent than they were before. We still have masculine women and feminine women dating each other, surely, but we also have masculine women dating masculine women and feminine women dating feminine women and women dating women who just don't fit anywhere specific on that spectrum. It's very much up to a person's nature and preference; playing into each other's strengths, rather than holding onto a specific role. For example, I'm naturally quite strong, and love picking up my small partner and hauling them around the house for the sheer joy of it. Picking people up is delightful and my partner loves to be picked up. Meanwhile, we do house maintenance together as a team, both of us know how to wield a hammer and work with nails, and if we had a car, we'd be tinkering with that together.

When it comes to roles in dancing or such, it's up to a person's personality and their level of confidence - the one who is confident and tends to take a leadership role in general will likely feel more in their element leading the dance as well. Similarly, in sex, it's up to personal preference: what you like doing, what you don't, and what experiences feel good to you and what doesn't work out. Some people are natural tops, some are natural bottoms, most people like to switch around depending on what the specific activity is all about. Sometimes a top is a dominant personality, sometimes they're a very soft person who simply enjoys to be in "lead" of the act, similarly for bottoms, they may be masculine or feminine or anything inbetween, there isn't a set place for "the woman" or "the man" in a relationship between two women, as it is, and as it should be, a relationship between two women.

In my experience, there isn't an expectation that in any given couple, one of them will assume a masculine or a feminine role and vice versa. This tends to come from the heterosexual world, and is often summed up in the rather unintentionally homophobic, ever-repeating question of "so, who's the man?" Nobody in a relationship with two women is the man, unless one of them or both of them specifically want to be the man, or feel like "the man" is an identity for them. Same with being "the woman". Ultimately, we are all just people, and these are gender roles that patriarchy and heteronormativity enforce across the gender and sexuality spectrum. Inherently, all of us share some traits in common with these roles, but very few of us fit into the set boxes neatly with all our limbs comfortably inside. In gay relationships, one of the most freeing things is to be able to let go of all of that and focus on who you are as a person, and who your partner is, and what you two have together, how you fit each other, how your strengths work into each other's weaknesses, how you support one another as a team.

Restricting yourselves down to one party being "a man" and the other being "a woman" in all things would be unnatural and clip the wings off of the potential you two have together to be strong exactly as you are, regardless of societal expectations.

Hope this answers your question!

[tsuunytsuun]

This is EXTREMELY random and probably very controversial.. But I think simmers put the sims 3 on too high of a pedestal.

[warning, this rant is LOOOONGGG so strap in if you dare.. also, these are opinions, if that wasn't obvious, so please relax before you threaten me or sm]

The way I play the sims depends a lot on the visuals (cas cc, builds, reshade and save files) so I prefer the sims 4 for obvious reasons.

I'm just stating my opinion, and I agree that the sims 4 has a LOT LOT LOT of problems, but Istg if I see ONE more reddit post with the title "The Sims 4 is kinda boring tbh" or "The sims 3 is better than the sims 4" or some iteration of that, I'm gonna lose my actual mind and delete the internet.

WE KNOW.

PERSONALLY, I just think a lot of simmers are semi-blinded by their nostalgia. Cause ts3 has more problems than people want to admit- and anybody who tries to come at me with the old "tHE sImS tHrEe HaD aN OpeN wOrlD!" argument can honestly go stub a toe.

Yes. I am complaining about complainers, deal with it.

They say TS4 has too many rabbit holes, but BABES TS3 has them pretty much EVERYWHERE. Restaurant? Rabbit hole. Store? rabbit hole. Spa? Rabbit hole. Rabbit hole rabbit hole RABBIT HOLE.

People act like TS3 didn't/doesn't need mods to make it more playable, JUST LIKE THE SIMS 4.

Keep in mind that I'm NOT hating on the sims 3 as a game, I played it and it's fun ig- I'm ranting about the group of simmers who will DIE on the "THE SIMS 4 SUCKS RAAAHHHH" hill and will never let the argument rest. (Although trust me, I've had my share of "the sims 4 sucks" moments and wanted to throw my computer)

I feel like when TS4 was announced, people were expecting a literal CLONE of TS3 with better graphics, and since that didn't happen, hate.

Just watch, when the sims 5 comes out, people are gonna pop their rose-tinted glasses back on and reminisce about how PERFECT the sims 4 was. It will become the NEW sims 3, the GOAT.

The weirdest thing to me is when a new pack is announced and people are basically going "omg this new pack is gonna SUCK, so I'm gonna spend a bunch of money so I can TELL them how much it sucks- that oughta show em"

WHY? Just WHY.

And about some of the gameplay bugs (I'm not talking about certain expansion packs, we all know those are broken and complaints about that are perfectly valid) I've been seeing. Eighty percent of the time they can be fixed by deleting files in your game than can cause issues.

I'm literally BEGGING yall at this point, delete the localthumbcache file in your sims game folder. PLEASE. It won't harm your game. It helps a lot with lag and other bugs.

At this point some people are just complaining to complain, complaining is practically a cornerstone of the sims community at this point.

It's a part of the deal when you sign on to become a simmer, it's a tradition, a fact of life, one of the many things that brings simmers all over the world together. Complaining.

Also, lets be honest here. Even if the TS4 glitches are annoying, sometimes they can be pretty dang hilarious. Trust me, all you have to do is search "funniest sims 4 glitches" on Youtube and prepare to laugh.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk, I'll see myself out. Waiting for the inevitable discrediting of this rant in the comments.

(I posted this on reddit too, so if you see it there then yeah that's me)

[learningtogirl]

1

(nothing wrong with me)

2

(nothing wrong with me)

8

(huh, what?)

1. what are 3 things you’d say shaped you into who you are?

* My time working as a camp counselor at a place I no longer would feel comfortable showing my face because it was run by conservative Christians (thank god I escaped that, wish I had recognized it sooner). I certainly have mixed feelings now about the Bible portions of that (I don't think I directly peddled the hate at all? But I also was definitely not free of it at the time.)

But the rest really influenced who I am quite strongly. It pretty directly led to a big transition for me from being someone who needed structure to feel comfortable to being happy with winging it as we go (ideally within some known constraints, but still). Huge general improvement in social skills. Made me a much better guitar player. Got me a bit too comfortable with speaking in front of large groups and doing silly things that embarrass myself as long as it's making others happy. And also taught me various skills (archery, canoeing, axe throwing, how to run a ropes course, how to keep 9 year olds from panicking when they're stuck in the bathrooms for an hour straight because that was our tornado shelter).

But the biggest impact was probably the way it made me feel loved and included and truly a member of the community. I have spent the majority of my life being one of those people on the outskirts of groups, a part of it that everybody knows and loves and that's it. They don't actually get to know me or talk to me outside of the group and I never form those deep lasting connections. But the particular combination of relationship of friends/coworkers/sorta trauma bonding over the rough bits and spending literally all the time in this group of 20 people for 2 weeks of training before we started having campers and the way that I would spend a week working very closely with one person in particular, really helped me to feel loved. To a degree that I really haven't seen in many spaces since.

(Now of course that was just a feeling and didn't actually carry into reality for various reasons. Among them the fact that I am awful at staying in touch/communicating and the bonds weren't as deep as they felt and also the whole thing where a majority of the people disapproved of who I have realized myself to be.)

* Being trans. It's influenced .. everything. From the way that I always felt more drawn to the girls in my class to the way that I felt weird and gross and insufficient to actually be friends with them and have left myself in a state where I am very much a hug person and also missed all the learning process for the signs of when someone wants one/is open to it and have an incredibly deep fear of being too forward and seems as weird or creepy so I never initiate and end up completely touch starved. And it's not just hugs, that's just a symptom that's easy to point to. And then the years of drifting through life because I could tell there was something missing but couldn't figure out how to fill it. So I threw myself headfirst into academics which worked for a while (until I flunked out of my PhD program) and then various games and church and books and music and even sports and so on and nothing ever really kept me going. (The undiagnosed ADHD very much did not help this, to be fair.)

But it's definitely not all bad! The fact that I figured out that I'm a girl pretty late in life (started hrt on my 30th birthday, which was <1year since I had admitted to myself even that I was trans) has given me a lot of opportunities in figuring out who I am and what my style is and such that at a younger age I just wouldn't have had the time/resources/awareness of myself/the world to do. Granted I definitely haven't taken full advantage of them... And the way I've been forced to figure myself out has helped me embrace some new things I've been wanting to try, like dancing which has somehow become an absolute cornerstone of my life/stability in the 4 months I've been doing it! And like friends tried to drag me into it in college but I simply did not have the social confidence to enjoy it.

Uhhhh, ya, it's shaped me but I am definitely not one of those girls who embraces it and finds her life better for having been trans. I hope I get there someday.

* Theatre! Joined the tech crew on a whim in high school (tangent: I very nearly did not. I had been interested and then completely missed the message and was barely able to join. And then we had a huge class so I wasn't part of the run crew for my first show which really threw me off as a freshman and so I almost quit forever until my parents talked me into going back for the spring show because I had really enjoyed it up til that point.) It turned into a fantastic group of people to spend time with and really taught me the joys of physical work and of being a cog in a machine to make something greater happen. And the pains of when it goes wrong and someone blames you even though it wasn't your fault. Or if it was.

And then in college the bit I did gave me a great way to meet people outside of my norm. And connections I made through it led to the job I'm at now. And the community theatre I have found myself a part of has a very strange place in my life because it's a bunch of extremely talented people who love me for both who I am and my attitude and my skills, but also we once again hit the "never talk to me beyond it" problem. (Dammit me I hate myself so much for missing the chance to change that by going to the ren faire with a few of them, but such is life. There's always more chances ahead.)

2. show us a picture of your handwriting?

God no. It's awful and embarrassing. (Fine I will but in the morning because I'm sleepy and don't want to find paper.)

8. any reacquiring dreams?

Not particularly lately. There have been a few throughout my life.

When I was very young there was a specific one where I was in a campground gift shop holding my treasured baby teal (like baby blue but green tinted) baby blanket (real blanket) and then something started chasing me and I had to run through the woods and then the slow motion running thing happened and it was awful and I was never actually caught but I would usually drop my blanket and then it would be put into some kind of horrible steampunk crushing abomination that tore it to shreds. No idea if it ever had a real conclusion.

Then of course all the trans ones. Those came in a few main variants:

* primarily in high school was some sort of fantasy in which I was able to swap bodies with a classmate through some mystical mechanism or another. Dream portals that let us try it for a day, random chance, genie granting a wish, god randomly deciding to bless us, god "cursing" us for arrogance and making us prove ourselves in different lives, whatever

* also mostly in high school was the different world sort. Like a VR space where we could just go play board games with friends all night long while bodies are resting, and since the avatar could be whatever why not a girl? (and of course they magically accept me doing that and it's fine.) Or in youth group we have a contest where I lay down and become a sand sculpture and then friends mold me to be the fastest mermaid or whatever and then I unsand and have to race (conveniently of course these are always feminine forms)

* many many dreams about going back to that camp I worked at but as a girl (both counselor and camper)

* in college I had one about how cool it would be if I were a girl and were roommates with another girl (often recurring ones I may have had a crush on) and then for reasons decided to save space by sleeping in the same bed, but because they were bunked and small we better be sure we don't fall off by being in a single pair of athletic shorts together and holding each other close all night. These were surprisingly not explicit for how extremely horny

* and some more weirdly detached dreams in which I was, like, inhabiting a house or whatever and simply watching the lives of people go by. And then I could hop on board to someone and watch their life for a while and then leave and go back to watching wherever they were at the time. Somehow this always seemed like a delightful thing to hope would happen to me, whereas nowadays it sounds like the premise to horror that leaves me scarred

[michaelbobrowski]

How Mefion Can Reshape the Future of Freelance and Business Collaboration

 After diving into the beta version of Mefion and seeing its potential firsthand, I couldn’t stop thinking about the broader implications this platform could have for freelance work and business collaboration. If my first experience with Mefion was all about exploring its intuitive design and decentralized structure, this follow-up is about looking ahead to how Mefion can fundamentally change the way we work.

As someone who's been in the business game for years, from aviation to consulting, I’ve seen plenty of tools that promise to “disrupt” industries. But few platforms genuinely bridge the gap between freelancers and businesses in a way that benefits both. Mefion, however, seems to be doing just that. And I see it as more than just another freelance marketplace — it could become a cornerstone for the future of work.

Freelancing, Evolved

The freelance industry has exploded over the last few years, and while that’s great for flexibility, it’s also created some serious challenges. Platforms like Mefion are addressing the most critical issue: trust. As I mentioned in my last post, smart contracts on Mefion are a game-changer. But this goes beyond just securing payments.

Imagine an environment where freelancers don’t just complete one-off projects but become long-term collaborators with businesses. Mefion’s decentralized nature makes it easier for businesses to find skilled freelancers they can trust for ongoing partnerships. There’s no red tape, no middlemen taking a cut. It’s just you and the talent, working together in an environment built on mutual respect and transparency.

From my perspective as a CEO managing multiple ventures, this is exactly what businesses need. You no longer have to sift through endless profiles or deal with vague proposals. Mefion’s matching algorithm helps streamline the process, meaning you’re more likely to find the right person for the job — and fast.

Reimagining Business Collaboration

Beyond freelancing, one of the aspects of Mefion that I find truly innovative is how it fosters business collaboration. In my industry, partnerships and collaborations are everything. You don’t get far without aligning yourself with the right people. Mefion doesn’t just connect freelancers with businesses; it connects businesses with each other.

Think about it — a decentralized platform where companies can collaborate on projects, share resources, and even exchange talent. You can easily see which businesses are active in your industry, what projects they’re working on, and where your goals align. There’s no need for endless LinkedIn messaging or awkward networking events — the community element built into Mefion takes care of that.

Education Meets Professional Development

One of the more underrated features of Mefion that I didn’t touch on enough in my first review is the educational aspect. Sure, we’re all here to get work done, but Mefion’s long-term value could lie in how it enables professional development.

In my industry, staying ahead of the curve is everything. Mefion’s courses aren’t just filler content to keep you busy — they’re built to provide actionable insights. Whether you’re looking to expand your knowledge of blockchain (a must-have skill these days) or refine your management style, there’s something here for everyone.

Even more interesting is how Mefion integrates these educational tools into its community system. Businesses and freelancers can not only learn together but collaborate on real-world applications of what they’ve learned. It’s a perfect synergy of learning and doing.

Decentralization and the Future of Work

Decentralization has been a buzzword in tech circles for years now, but few platforms truly take advantage of it in a meaningful way. Mefion stands out because it actually uses decentralization to solve problems. For instance, by removing intermediaries and third parties, it offers a level of freedom that traditional freelance platforms can’t match.

For businesses, this means more control over who you work with and how you manage your projects. For freelancers, it means more autonomy and the ability to build stronger relationships with clients. This approach could very well be the future of work — a world where freelancers and businesses operate in a trusted, decentralized environment, free from unnecessary bureaucracy.

The Bigger Picture: Why Mefion Matters

In my years as a CEO, I’ve seen platforms come and go, and I’ve worked with countless freelancers and partners. What makes Mefion unique isn’t just its features — it’s the bigger picture. The platform is poised to become more than just a place to find work or collaborators. It’s shaping up to be a hub for decentralized professional growth.

For anyone managing a business, especially in industries like mine where collaboration is key, Mefion offers a streamlined, transparent way to find the right talent and work alongside like-minded professionals. And for freelancers, it offers the kind of security and trust that other platforms just can’t match.

My Final Thoughts

If you’re a business leader looking to connect with top-tier freelancers, or a freelancer tired of chasing clients and dodging middlemen, Mefion is worth checking out. What started as just another beta test has turned into something much more for me — a genuine interest in seeing how this platform grows.

Mefion is about more than just finding work or building a team. It’s about creating a decentralized ecosystem where everyone — from freelancers to CEOs — can thrive. And if that’s not the future of work, I don’t know what is.

[perspectiveunbound]

Remote Work Revolution: Transforming Scotland's Economic and Social Landscapes

The Silent Revolution: How Telecommuting is Shaping Scotland's Future Hello, dear followers! Today, I am eager to discuss the transformative impact of telecommuting on Scotland's economic and social landscape. As connectivity improves and more businesses adopt flexible work policies, remote work is becoming a cornerstone of the modern Scottish economy. Telecommuting offers a myriad of benefits, changing how we think about work and where it happens. For Scots, especially those in remote or rural areas, telecommuting opens up vast opportunities previously confined to urban centres. This flexibility helps equalise job opportunities and enhances living standards by allowing individuals to work for leading organisations without the need to relocate. Moreover, telecommuting has the potential to significantly reduce commuting times and environmental impacts. With fewer people traveling to work, we see a marked decrease in traffic congestion and pollution, contributing to Scotland’s environmental goals and improving overall quality of life. However, the rise of remote work also presents new challenges. Ensuring that all regions have reliable internet access is crucial to prevent a digital divide. Investment in digital infrastructure becomes paramount to support an equitable shift to telecommuting. Furthermore, there is a need to rethink community planning and development, as the decreased need for office space reshapes our urban landscapes. Businesses, too, must adapt to these changes by developing robust remote work policies and supporting employees in maintaining productivity and work-life balance. This shift requires innovative approaches to management and team-building to keep remote workers engaged and part of the corporate culture. As we reflect on this topic, I invite you to share your experiences and thoughts. How has telecommuting affected your life and work? What policies do you think are necessary to support the growth of remote work in Scotland? Your insights help enrich our ongoing conversation about the future of work and economic freedom in our society. Please share your thoughts in the comments below! Stay inspired and continue to explore how emerging trends impact our freedoms and opportunities! Warm regards, Alastair Majury *Perspectives Unbound* --- *Follow Alastair Majury for further discussions on economic trends, remote working, and their implications for freedom and productivity.*

[bcnooneasked]

09/02/2024 - 00:32am - bed ‘gay and christian”

so being gay and christian a whole ass trip. if i am being honest it’s kind of corny to even say.

i think that the christian mentality is so very often deeply flawed when it comes to it’s beliefs on the “gay lifestyle”. so often gay life is villianized when in reality heterosexuality is often times no less “sinful” as theystereotype it to be.

of course however one also has to ask if the judgement of being gay accelerates the depravity of the gay community.

like because you wrongly call me out my name and tell me I’m going to hell i’ma show you and simultaneously tell myself that there can’t be any truth to the power your God has.

so i will ironically praise evil, i will fuck like crazy, and i will make my sexuality my entire personality - just get out the “ima show you!” type revenge.

it’s wild how the gay community gets ridiculed for “sucking d!ck and c0cc” (hi sisters), and who we love becomes such a controversy that we as a community make our primary culture of attraction, communication, and connection based on sex instead of love? to me, that’s what we will burn in hell for. that’s what any community will burn for - devaluing ourselves and each other. mishandling each other. abusing each other. and maybe my experience in the gay community was one of my own creation, maybe my past abuse led me to create such a distorted reality of dark love and self-destruction at some points, and other times self-mishandling - in the gay community.

i have to hold myself accountable for my experience in the gay community. i truly do.

i made the choices, i may not have had a discerning eye all the time for the quality of people i surrounded myself with that’s for sure but there was always a bit of self-respect to keep me conscious.

—-

i want to make it to 2025 to be celibate. i told myself if i was celibate for a year i would find my man and get married but i wonder how much of that will lie on me actually putting myself out there. i am like “god will bring him” but god will never bring him until you are ready to handle it.

i feel like i need to change my present reality some more. working harder, being more relationally resilient, able to handle myself better in almost any situation, understanding my autistic needs and accommodations, tighten up on discipline. a car would be nice. i’m trying to decide if i should swear or not. like a damn car would be nice sounds punchier than a car would be nice but is damn tied to too much anger? is the anger i place in my life energy i wish to continue entertaining? is it something that is good for me? idk. i do know however it puts my life more at risk - specifically when i lift my middle finger when on my bike. like not you being rude or unsafe driving a 2,000 lb machine while I’m on 20 lb aluminum can with wheels that do nothing without my effort.

that being said i’m horny as f. like i feel like there shouldn’t be shame in your adult sexual identity and yet at the same time how do you do so mindfully? can you or i find a safe friends with benefits or is there a danger of inevitable heartbreak there? i never again want to put myself in the position to be heartbroken by loving recklessly. i almost can’t have anyone leave me again. and how do you prioritize sexuality in a balanced healthy way without making it a too-large cornerstone of your relationship?

[mikeo56]

How Judge Mira and Rich Bastards Like Kyle and Nicole Ball Priced You Out of a Home

Rent is skyrocketing and home buying is out of reach for millions. One big reason why? Wall Street.

Hedge funds and private equity firms have been buying up hundreds of thousands of homes that would otherwise be purchased by people. Wall Street’s appetite for housing ramped up after the 2008 financial crisis. As you’ll recall, the Street’s excessive greed created a housing bubble that burst. Millions of people lost their homes to foreclosure.

Did the Street learn a lesson? Of course not. It got bailed out. Then it began picking off the scraps of the housing market it had just destroyed, gobbling up foreclosed homes at fire-sale prices — which it then sold or rented for big profits.

Investor purchases hit their peak in 2022, accounting for around 28% of all home sales in America.

Home buyers frequently reported being outbid by cash offers made by investors. So called “iBuyers” used algorithms to instantly buy homes before offers could even be made by actual humans.

If the present trend continues, by 2030, Wall Street investors may control 40% of U.S. single-family rental homes.

Partly as a result, homeownership — a cornerstone of generational wealth and a big part of the American dream — is increasingly out of reach for a large number of Americans, especially young people.

Now, Wall Street’s feasting has slowed recently due to rising home prices — even the wolves of Wall Street are falling victim to sticker shock. But that hasn’t stopped them from specifically targeting more modestly priced homes — buying up a record share of the country’s most affordable homes at the end of 2023.

They’ve also been most active in bigger cities, particularly in the Sun Belt, which has become an increasingly expensive place to live. And they’re pointedly going after neighborhoods that are home to communities of color.

For example, in one diverse neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wall Street-backed investors bought half of the homes that sold in 2021 and 2022. On a single block, investors bought every house but one, and turned them into rentals.

Folks, it’s a vicious cycle: First you’re outbid by investors, then you may be stuck renting from them at excessive prices that leave you with even less money to put up for a new home. Rinse. Repeat.

Now I want to be clear: This is just one part of the problem with housing in America. The lack of supply is considered the biggest reason why home prices and rents have soared — and are outpacing recent wage gains. But Wall Street sinking its teeth into whatever is left on the market is making the supply problem even worse.

So what can we do about this? Start by getting Wall Street out of our homes.

Democrats have introduced a bill in both houses of Congress to ban hedge funds and private equity firms from buying or owning single-family homes.

If signed into law, this could increase the supply of homes available to individual buyers — thereby making housing more affordable.

President Biden has also made it a priority to tackle the housing crisis, proposing billions in funding to increase the supply of homes and tax credits to help actual people buy them.

Now I have no delusions that any of this will be easy to get done. But these plans provide a roadmap of where the country could head — under the right leadership.

So many Americans I meet these days are cynical about the country. I understand their cynicism. But cynicism can be a self-fulfilling prophecy if it means giving up the fight.

The captains of American industry and Wall Street would like nothing better than for the rest of us to give up that fight, so they can take it all.

I say we keep fighting.

[suite05finder]

From Struggle to Success: How Salon Suites Helped This Stylist Achieve Her Dreams

In the bustling heart of Cleveland, OH, a passionate stylist's journey from struggle to success is a testament to the transformative power of salon suites. Offering independence, creativity, and a thriving community, salon suites have become the cornerstone of career growth for many beauty professionals in Cleveland.

Salon Suites Cleveland OH: A Gateway to Independence

For ambitious stylists like Sarah, renting salon suites in Cleveland OH has been a game-changer. "I always dreamed of owning my own salon but didn't know where to start," she confesses. "Salon suites offered a perfect middle ground – my own space without the overhead of a full-scale salon."

Located conveniently across Cleveland, salon suites provide a private, customizable environment where stylists can unleash their creativity. Each suite is equipped with modern amenities, ensuring a seamless experience for both stylists and their clients. Sarah emphasizes, "Having my own suite allowed me to curate a space that reflects my style and brand. It's not just a workplace; it's my sanctuary."

Salon Suites for Rent Cleveland OH: Empowering Stylists

The decision to rent salon suites in Cleveland OH isn't just about space; it's about empowerment. "I gained independence in managing my schedule and services," Sarah explains. "I can set my hours, choose my products, and focus on building lasting relationships with my clients."

Moreover, salon suites foster a supportive community among stylists. Sarah fondly recalls, "I've connected with fellow professionals who inspire me every day. We share tips, collaborate on projects, and celebrate each other's successes. It's a family I never expected to find."

Building Dreams One Client at a Time

From the vibrant streets of downtown Cleveland to the serene suburbs, salon suites cater to diverse clienteles. Sarah reflects on her journey, "Each client who walks through my door isn't just a customer; they're a part of my story. Building trust and delivering quality service has been the key to my success."

The flexibility of salon suites allows stylists to experiment with new techniques and trends, keeping their skills sharp and clients satisfied. "I've expanded my services based on client feedback," Sarah shares. "Whether it's bridal styling, color corrections, or personalized consultations, salon suites provide the platform to grow professionally."

Looking Ahead: The Future of Salon Suites in Cleveland OH

As the beauty industry evolves, so do salon suites for rent in Cleveland OH. "I'm excited about the future," Sarah beams. "With ongoing support and resources from salon suite providers, I know there are endless possibilities for growth."

For stylists considering their next career move, Sarah offers this advice, "Take that leap of faith. Salon suites offer the freedom to pursue your passion on your terms. It's not just a job; it's a lifestyle."

Conclusion

Sarah's journey from aspiring stylist to successful salon owner epitomizes the transformative impact of salon suites in Cleveland OH. With independence, community, and limitless creativity, salon suites have become more than just spaces; they're catalysts for dreams coming true.

Whether you're a seasoned stylist or a newcomer to the beauty industry, salon suites in Cleveland OH offer the opportunity to thrive. Discover the difference and embark on your own path to success today.

[influencermagazineuk]

Kim Kardashian Throws Epic Shade (and Love) at Khloé's 40th Birthday on Instagram

Kim Kardashian West knows how to celebrate a birthday, and her younger sister Khloé Kardashian wasn't spared the larger-than-life treatment for her 40th. In a playful and heartfelt Instagram post, Kim showered Khloé with love while hilariously hinting at her eagerness to leave the 30s behind. Image: Instagram In a heartfelt Instagram post, Kim KardashianWhy China Has Kicked Its ‘Kim Kardashian’ Off Social Media celebrated her sister Khloe Kardashian's 40th birthday with an emotional and loving message. The post, which quickly garnered millions of likes and comments, showcased the deep bond between the Kardashian sisters and highlighted the significance of this milestone birthday. Kim's message to Khloe was a perfect blend of humor, affection, and admiration, making it a memorable tribute to her younger sister. "Welcome to the fucking 40 club baby!!!!! @khloekardashian I feel like you have been waiting for years to finally be done with your 30’s and the time has now come. I know this will be the best decade of your life filled with so much love and happiness! I’m so excited for you to experience this because I know how good it is, and no one deserves this more than you! What a crazy life we live! I couldn’t do it without you by my side! Thanks for being the best friend and sister a girl could ever dream of ♾️🤍 Happy Birthday," wrote Kim in her Instagram caption. Image: Instagram The post was accompanied by a series of photos that captured the essence of their sisterhood, featuring moments from their childhood, family gatherings, and glamorous events. These images not only reflected their journey together but also the unbreakable bond that has been a cornerstone of their lives. Image: Instagram Khloe Kardashian, known for her vibrant personality and resilience, has been a central figure in the Kardashian family narrative. As she steps into her 40s, Kim's message resonated with fans who have watched Khloe's journey through various ups and downs, from her early days on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" to her role as a businesswoman and mother. Kim's mention of Khloe waiting to be done with her 30s touches on the transformative period Khloe has experienced. The past decade saw her becoming a mother to her daughter True, launching her successful brand Good American, and navigating personal challenges with grace and strength. The anticipation of her 40s being filled with love and happiness speaks to the hope and optimism that both Kim and Khloe share for the future. The Kardashian-Jenner family is known for their close-knit relationships, and Kim and Khloe's bond is particularly special. Kim's post reflects the support and love they have for each other, emphasizing that their sisterhood is a fundamental part of their lives. The phrase "What a crazy life we live!" captures the whirlwind of their celebrity existence, filled with public scrutiny, personal triumphs, and the constant evolution of their brand. Kim's expression of gratitude towards Khloe for being the best friend and sister is a testament to the deep connection they share. This sentiment resonates with many who value the importance of family and the unwavering support siblings can provide. The infinity symbol (♾️) and heart (🤍) in the caption further underscore the eternal and pure nature of their relationship. As soon as Kim's post went live, it was met with an outpouring of love and well-wishes from fans and celebrities alike. Comments from fellow stars and family members flooded in, each echoing the sentiments of joy and celebration for Khloe's milestone birthday. The post became a trending topic, showcasing the impact the Kardashian family continues to have on pop culture and social media. Celebrities such as Chrissy Teigen, Jennifer Lopez, and even longtime family friend Paris Hilton joined in to wish Khloe a happy birthday. The communal celebration highlighted how Khloe's influence extends beyond her immediate family, touching the lives of many within the entertainment industry and beyond. As Khloe embarks on this new chapter, the optimism expressed by Kim in her birthday message sets the tone for what fans can expect from Khloe in her 40s. With a successful career, a loving family, and a supportive network of friends and fans, Khloe is poised to continue her journey with the same determination and positivity that has defined her thus far. Kim's message not only celebrated Khloe's past achievements but also looked forward to the future with hope and excitement. The anticipation of the "best decade" filled with love and happiness reflects the enduring spirit of Khloe Kardashian, who has always embraced life's challenges with resilience and grace. Read the full article

[techforce-services]

Data Modelling in Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Data modelling is perhaps one of the most crucial factors contributing to a robust digital marketing strategy, with Salesforce Marketing Cloud (SFMC) offering itself as an enterprise-grade platform allowing businesses to fully leverage their data. Good data modelling in SFMC can dramatically optimize your marketing operations and improve customer interaction like no other email software. In this article, I will discuss the importance of data modelling in Salesforce Marketing Cloud, how to do data modelling, and best practices.

What Is Salesforce Marketing Cloud?

Salesforce Marketing Cloud is an all-in-one cloud marketing platform that empowers customers to run B2B or B2C-oriented promotions through various channels such as email, mobile, and social networks. It allows marketers to run tailored, data-backed campaigns that speak directly to customers and deliver outstanding conversion rates. One of the key aspects of it is to be able to manage and model data.

Salesforce Marketing Cloud Data Modelling Explained

A data model is a framework that defines how information and business rules are stored, organized, and accessed within a system.

Why is Data Modelling Important in Salesforce Marketing Cloud?

Structured Data: It ensures that data is organized so that it becomes easy to fetch and use.

More Individualized Campaigns: A well-organized data model enables marketers to create more detailed customer profiles, which can be used in highly individualized campaigns.

Efficiency: Data modelling eliminates redundancy and makes data processing & analysis more efficient.

Scalable: A strong data model lends itself to scalability, meaning your marketing operations can grow with the business without having to start over.

Key Components of Salesforce Marketing Cloud Data Modelling

Data Extensions: A data extension is a primary building block for storing and managing data in the Marketing Cloud. In this way, they resemble database tables given each extension can contain different types of data (e.g., customer details, purchase history, and engagement stats).

Attribute Groups and Data Designer: Marketing Cloud includes an interface called Data Designer, which organizes your data extensions into attribute groups. This is a visual editing tool that allows you to define relationships between fields and create the data model in an easy-to-understand manner.

Contact Builder: Contact Builder is another important tool responsible for building a centralized view of each customer by integrating segmentation data from various sources. Marketers can use it to define and manage relationships between various data entities, so the underlying model also shows in detail for a typical customer journey.

Journey Builder: Journey Builder hooks into the data model to deliver personalized customer journeys for a best-in-class marketing automation service offering. Journey Builder uses this structured data to make triggers to fire off actions and communications based on customer behaviour and preferences, thereby improving campaign effectiveness.

Salesforce Marketing Cloud Data Modelling Best Practices

Define Clear Objectives: You must have your objectives set up before you go and model the data as part of the Salesforce Marketing Cloud Implementation. Having a clear expectation of what you want your data to do will be the cornerstone on which your model structure and organization is built.

KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid): Complex data models can be hard to deal with and maintain. Aim for simplicity by identifying key data points and relationships that directly impact your marketing objectives. Complexity in a ternary expression will cause confusion, and bugs too.

Consistent Data Definitions: Use the same columns in all three tables. Standardize data definitions throughout the enterprise. Along those lines are naming conventions, types of data formats to be used, and the different ways in which you measure an effect. Standardization ensures uniformity, minimizes discrepancies, and allows for easier data integration and analysis.

High-Quality Data: High-quality data is the cornerstone of effective modelling, so deliver that high-quality data. Set up data validation so the data which enters your system is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. And you can avoid data quality issues over time through established data cleansing routines.

Utilize Automation: Automation tools in Salesforce Marketing Cloud to automate data management processes. Solve routine operational tasks like data imports, updates, and syncing automatically, so there is time for your strategic activities.

Partner with Salesforce Implementation Partners: Partnering with Salesforce Implementation partners is a great way to gain access to industry-specific expertise and knowledge. These partners have deep experience in configuring and tuning Salesforce Marketing Cloud from your data model to be robust and scalable. They serve on your committee and it speeds yours up as well as helps you avoid the pitfalls of the less principled approaches.

Advanced Data Modelling Techniques

Segmentation and Targeting: Advanced data models enable complex segmentation and targeting strategies. Marketers can craft relevant campaigns that speak to very specific segments of the audience by filtering out (segmenting) customers into groups based on a variety of criteria ranging from demographics, behaviour, or preferences — generally placing users in several different buckets.

Predictive Analytics: By using predictive analytics in your data model, you can predict how customers are going to act and understand trends. Predictive models use historical data analysis to predict future actions in order so businesses can act proactively implement marketing strategies and resource allocation.

Powering Your Data Model with External Data Sources: Enhancing your data model with external data sources can provide a more comprehensive view of your customers. Integrate data from social media, third-party analytics providers, and what not to enrich customer profiles, and also to enhance the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.

Real-Time Data Processing: The ability to process large volumes of real-time data is necessary in today's digital era where everything happens at breakneck speed. Incorporating real-time data feeds into your model enables you to react instantly to customer behaviours, making your marketing messages more timely and relevant!

Conclusion

Data modelling is one of the core parts of Salesforce Marketing Cloud that helps you with your successful digital marketing strategy. Structured and organized data can boost personalization, optimize efficiency, and drive scalable growth for businesses. Application of tools such as Data Extensions, Attribute Groups, and Contact Builder within Journey Builder as well as deployment of best practices in addition to advanced techniques can be leveraged to construct a rich data model for greater marketing benefits. And working with Salesforce Implementation partners can even enhance your strategy and obtain the support necessary to gain the most out of Salesforce Marketing Cloud. Even in an era where digital marketing is constantly changing, a well-designed data model has remained central to the success of any data-driven MarTech stack.

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How Wall Street Priced You Out of a HomeRent is skyrocketing and...

New Post has been published on https://robertreich.org/post/751016595351109632

How Wall Street Priced You Out of a HomeRent is skyrocketing and...

How Wall Street Priced You Out of a Home

Rent is skyrocketing and home buying is out of reach for millions. One big reason why? Wall Street.

Hedge funds and private equity firms have been buying up hundreds of thousands of homes that would otherwise be purchased by people. Wall Street’s appetite for housing ramped up after the 2008 financial crisis. As you’ll recall, the Street’s excessive greed created a housing bubble that burst. Millions of people lost their homes to foreclosure.

Did the Street learn a lesson? Of course not. It got bailed out. Then it began picking off the scraps of the housing market it had just destroyed, gobbling up foreclosed homes at fire-sale prices — which it then sold or rented for big profits.

Investor purchases hit their peak in 2022, accounting for around 28% of all home sales in America.

Home buyers frequently reported being outbid by cash offers made by investors. So called “iBuyers” used algorithms to instantly buy homes before offers could even be made by actual humans.

If the present trend continues, by 2030, Wall Street investors may control 40% of U.S. single-family rental homes.

Partly as a result, homeownership — a cornerstone of generational wealth and a big part of the American dream — is increasingly out of reach for a large number of Americans, especially young people.

Now, Wall Street’s feasting has slowed recently due to rising home prices — even the wolves of Wall Street are falling victim to sticker shock. But that hasn’t stopped them from specifically targeting more modestly priced homes — buying up a record share of the country’s most affordable homes at the end of 2023.

They’ve also been most active in bigger cities, particularly in the Sun Belt, which has become an increasingly expensive place to live. And they’re pointedly going after neighborhoods that are home to communities of color.

For example, in one diverse neighborhood in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wall Street-backed investors bought half of the homes that sold in 2021 and 2022. On a single block, investors bought every house but one, and turned them into rentals.

Folks, it’s a vicious cycle: First you’re outbid by investors, then you may be stuck renting from them at excessive prices that leave you with even less money to put up for a new home. Rinse. Repeat.

Now I want to be clear: This is just one part of the problem with housing in America. The lack of supply is considered the biggest reason why home prices and rents have soared — and are outpacing recent wage gains. But Wall Street sinking its teeth into whatever is left on the market is making the supply problem even worse.

So what can we do about this? Start by getting Wall Street out of our homes.

Democrats have introduced a bill in both houses of Congress to ban hedge funds and private equity firms from buying or owning single-family homes.

If signed into law, this could increase the supply of homes available to individual buyers — thereby making housing more affordable.

President Biden has also made it a priority to tackle the housing crisis, proposing billions in funding to increase the supply of homes and tax credits to help actual people buy them.

Now I have no delusions that any of this will be easy to get done. But these plans provide a roadmap of where the country could head — under the right leadership.

So many Americans I meet these days are cynical about the country. I understand their cynicism. But cynicism can be a self-fulfilling prophecy if it means giving up the fight.

The captains of American industry and Wall Street would like nothing better than for the rest of us to give up that fight, so they can take it all.

I say we keep fighting.