#its 2.20 now

[incesthemes]

hii! hope you are doing well this eve :] i was wondering if you had any thoughts or Themes you wanted to talk about in 2.20 what is and what should never be? it’s a very dean episode which is of course hook line and sinker for me but also its been microwaving in my brain since the gf and i watched it.. sniles

omg heyyyyyyy 🔥 i went to look over my notes for something to write about for this and with every bullet point i read i could feel my sanity slipping further and further away from me. this episode is completely nuts. i was going to just pick one little bit to talk about but instead i think i'm going to bite the bullet and write my definitive analysis of supernatural season 2 episode 20 what is and what should never be.

this is going to get long. sorry.

Supernatural Season 2, Episode 20: What Is and What Should Never Be—A Full Analysis

the thing that must always be said about supernatural seasons 1-5 is that it is ultimately a dialogue between independence and community, and sam and dean experience this push and pull through each other: will they choose to do what's best for them by reclaiming power for themselves (independence), or will they sacrifice power and personhood in exchange for the love of the brother (community)? season 2 is the second part of the "community" arc, where sam and dean move from estranged brothers into a codependent togetherness (which begins to fracture in 2x22 and continues through season 4). in 2x20, then, we as an audience expect to see the closest purity we can find of this community between sam and dean (at least, until the season 5 finale). it's through this lens that we can determine metaphors and parallel themes as dean engages with his dream world.

from the outset, i want to posit dream!sam as a representation of dean's individuality and independence, and john as a representation of dean's sense of duty to a collective. dream!sam is a creation of dean's psyche, and while normally him choosing sam would be a choice for community, here it is choosing himself, as dream!sam both is an extension of himself and attempts throughout the episode to persuade dean to choose a selfish, apple-pie life. john, though absent from the episode, is a daunting spectral presence: his premature death even in this dream world is a constant reminder to dean of the life he has been conditioned to accept as his duty. without a dream!john to counter these ideas, dean can only rely on his memory of his father to fill in the gaps. in a season where john has become an allegory for dean's very fate (and thus his duty), this is just a natural continuation of it, and won't be resolved until 3x10.

at the start of the episode, sam wants dean to pick him up so they can look at the ruins of the djinn's hideout together; dean turns him down, and sam is pretty dejected about this. at this point in the show, sam actively wants to be involved in hunting, but right now he's being pushed to the sidelines and into a research position. this recalls 1x04, which begins to elaborate the roles that sam and dean instinctively play when hunting: dean goes out and does the dirty work, while sam stays back and feeds him information. the roles, however, begin to shift slightly in 1x15, immediately after sam meets max in 1x14: he comes to view hunting as something virtuous, or rather something that can grant him virtue and save him from his fate as a monster. if he can save people through hunting, he won't turn out like max. from 1x15, then, we see sam take a proactive role in hunting, seeking out cases and pursuing them even to his own detriment. by 2x02, sam has all but abandoned his desire for a normal life and claims he wants to keep hunting. and now, in 2x20, sam is still trying to insert himself into the hunt. he no longer wants to be sidelined or even safe (recall 1x01: "you're just gonna live some normal, apple-pie life? is that it?" "no. not normal, safe"); sam wants to be in the thick of things, and here in this moment, dean rejects him.

dean rejecting sam can then represent him choosing the individual over the collective. he chooses to literally be alone while checking out the ruins, and he chooses to metaphorically distance himself from sam. therefore, as the final episode of sam and dean's honeymoon era (2x11-2x20), the conflict of this episode involves dean moving from an individual mindset to a collective mindset. he will over the course of the episode move from choosing himself to choosing sam.

this is cohesive with the rest of the season: there are several points throughout season 2 where dean expresses doubt or distaste toward the lifestyle, or an unwillingness to continue hunting (2x01, 2x03, 2x06, 2x09, and 2x10). his desire to quit hunting is at odds with sam's desire to continue hunting, and thus they aren't quite on the same page, and this remains an undercurrent of the season that presents in their conflicts.

as the climax of this subplot, this episode becomes to dean what 1x11 is to sam: dean must choose sam not as an innocent to protect but a partner to work alongside (see, too, the ongoing conflict of dean's fate: he must either kill sam or save him). within the ideal collective they are trying to carve out for themselves, they must be equals,and therefore, dean can neither kill sam nor save him, but forge a secret third option independent of john's (fate's) influence—see 5x22.

Dream!Sam Is Still Weird about His Brother

the first scene we see of dean's dream world involves him calling sam and bantering a bit with him. what's striking about this is dream!sam's reactions to dean.

these are not the expressions of someone who is still upset about his brother cucking him at prom. this initial introduction to dream!sam contradicts the very manifestation's later assertion that they are estranged. instead, it provides an initial suggestion that dream!sam is indeed harboring some unspoken feelings toward dean—that he wants to be closer than they allegedly are.

this becomes a running theme with dream!sam throughout the episode. while he is the one to shut down dean's advances, he is also the one who seems to yearn for a better relationship with his brother. when dean proposes they go "hunting" sometime, sam responds coldly, but he can't leave it there: he follows up with a much softer, kinder "get some rest."

later, when dean lies to dream!sam about his reason for rummaging through mary's silver, sam still follows his brother out of the house and climbs in the car and insists on going with him. this is shocking not only because it contradicts the fight they just had, but also because of the stakes involved: dean's lie to sam implies a certain level of physical danger, and yet he still goes along with it. dream!sam has no idea what he's walking into, and based on the goodbye dean gives him he has every reason to believe dean is going to die. therefore, in following along anyway, he is declaring a very strong, fatal devotion to dean. he has to face his own mortality and choose brotherhood anyway, in spite of their alleged estrangement.

and this is necessarily an act of devotion—dean only relents and allows dream!sam to come with him because dream!sam has devoted himself to his brother. his opinion about keeping sam safe, keeping sam innocent, flips the moment sam pulls the brother line out. dean, like (the real) sam, is moved by acts of devotion, and when they declare their loyalty and devotion to each other in unambiguous terms, it is always accompanied with a shift toward brotherhood (community) and away from their individuality (independence). and this is the moment where dean resolves the conflict set up at the start of the episode: real!sam wanted to go hunting with dean, and dean wouldn't let him. but through dream!sam's act of devotion, dean recognizes sam as an equal, not as someone to protect, and allows dream!sam to come hunting with him. it's a resolution of the honeymoon era, as dean reckons with the final residual threads of fate still binding him.

if independence is the path of fate and community is the path against it, then as sam and dean struggle against their destinies they must necessarily choose each other. dean, then, comes the closest he possibly can to completely defying his fate in this episode by finally coming to terms with sam's place in his life not as a duty and obligation but as his true equal and enmeshed life partner. this is a conflict that began with 1x18 and has finally resolved itself (only to promptly be undone two episodes later), and therefore sits very pretty at the tail end of the honeymoon era, like the topper on a wedding cake.

Dean Is Also Weird about His Brother

the halfway point in the episode is the scene wherein dream!sam reveals that he and dean are not emotionally close and that they don't talk to each other. until this turning point, dean had been hopeful about remaining in this fantasy world, but sam's rejection shakes him.

dean can't reconcile with this rejection, and as a result it fundamentally alters his perception of the dream world. it's from hereon that dean's doubts and struggle between independence and community (duty, here) come to the forefront of the episode.

at this point in the show, dean's fear of abandonment have become centered solely around sam. he has no other permanent relationship in his life, and so the only person who can abandon him now is sam. therefore, when dream!sam rejects him, dean's world begins to unravel. the rules of their codependent relationship (established in 1x22) demand that their relationship must be reciprocal, and the lack of reciprocity here leaves dean insecure and wanting. at first, this manifests as him trying to fix things with dream!sam so that he can remain in the dream world while also maintaining codependency with his brother—the best of both worlds. what dean wants is to have both individuality (a life free of hunting) and community (enmeshment with sam), but the show takes the position that these two things are fundamentally incompatible. dean's relationship with sam cannot improve in this world, and so he can only have one or the other.

this brings us to the graveyard.

as soon as sam rejects dean, the fantasy falls apart. dean is very soon shown all of the deaths and tragedies that had not been averted due to dean and sam's intervention. this is important because dean equates hunting with heroism (dean, until sam begins to echo him in 1x15, had been the only character in the show who verbally equated "hunting" with "saving people"), and so he simultaneously has to grapple with the loss of an identity he has used to cope with the traumas of hunting. if he isn't hunting, he's letting people die, and therefore he is no hero. he's just normal.

he does this grappling before his father's grave.

he speaks for john, proposing that john would want him to go kill the djinn and put everything right again. "your happiness for all those people's lives, no contest. right?" he asks: why does he have to be a hero? why do they have to sacrifice everything?

in dean's eyes, john is the ultimate representation of his duty. and because dean's duty is to a collective (whether it be his family or the society he protects through hunting), john therefore comes to represent the collective itself. regardless of whether dean's understanding of john is true to life, we come to understand his relationship to his father and the values dean has as a direct result of his parenting: saving people and hunting things is more important than individual happiness.

here we come to understand how this episodes functions as the dean equivalent of 1x11: dean, like sam in 1x11, is given the opportunity for freedom and independence, to pursue his own apple-pie life (interesting, though a topic for another day, is how the manifestation of dean's independence is a life free from hunting while the manifestation of sam's independence is a life entrenched in it). it's only through a clear act of brotherly devotion that dean returns to the collective, and an equivalent act occurs in 1x11 as well, taking sam away from his revenge and back into dean's arms.

dean then must make his ultimate choice between independence—staying in his dream world—and community—killing the djinn and returning to reality. in this same conversation, he chooses the collective. the sequence of scenes here is important: first, dean discovers he is estranged from his brother. second, dean discovers that all of his efforts have been undone. he lost his two identities in a very short period of time, and as a result there is nothing left in this world for him.

and so he takes a moment to grieve his lost individuality—as if burying it in the graveyard alongside his father—and he gears up to kill the djinn, and in the process destroy himself.

Fate VS Family

the thing is that dream!sam hasn't given up on trying to keep dean here in this dream world. this serves a practical purpose (the djinn wants to eat) and an emotional one, because sam, as dean's codependent life partner, has the unique capability of overturning all of dean's rationale and trumping all of his other relationships. so when dream!sam confronts dean in the djinn's hideout, he actually has the potential to sway dean away from his resolve. this results in a last-ditch effort to appeal to dean's desires:

because of sam's sway over dean, he is chosen as the spokesperson for his id. this is especially clever because this is also one of the only episodes in the series where doing what sam wants is equal to choosing independence, and therefore turning away from their relationship. it flips expectations and uses context to suggest that being selfish, remaining in this fantasy, can be a good thing.

unfortunately for dream!sam, dean has already chosen the collective. to wake himself up from the dream, he chooses to kill himself. the suicide can represent the destruction of himself (his independence, his individuality, his personhood, his desires, his dreams) in favor of the collective (his duty, his perceived heroism, his brother). he returns to reality with a new resolve and a diminished sense of self. most importantly, he returns to reality with a reaffirmed devotion.

his relationship with sam has transformed through this episode. once dean realizes that the fantasy world is only a dream, that the world outside of this still exists, he understands that he can't leave his real brother out there alone. nothing dream!sam says can deter him. ironically, this is perhaps due to the act of devotion dream!sam performed for dean, which solidified his own devotion to sam (the real sam) and thus had the opposite effect. it's ultimately because of sam (through the midpoint fantasy erosion, through the act of devotion, and through the realization that his real brother is still out there somewhere) that dean comes to thoroughly reject his own personhood. he chooses sam, and thereby chooses hunting, and through his own self-destruction he embraces a collective enmeshment with his brother in a life enslaved to their father's duty.

hunting is treated differently for sam and dean between seasons 1 and 2. sam's hunting is driven and purposeful, focused on an ultimate revenge that keeps pushing him forward. it's self-serving and violent, and it represents a strength and power that will ultimately corrupt him. dean's hunting, by stark contrast, is rather purposeless. he fights because he must, and because he has no other prospects. as such, one could even speculate that his relative dedication to specifically saving people is a value he invented for himself to justify a life he was forced into. like i said before, no other character really focuses on the heroism of hunting (until sam after 1x15, which is the next step in sam's season 1 journey to embrace The Family Business). dean is the one who focuses on the heroism of hunting; by contrast, the show itself positions hunting as its own form of monstrosity. even john, despite dean's insistence on his father's heroism, shows little intent toward saving people, focusing instead on hunting things and leaving sam and dean to do the saving (from what little we see of him and his hunting style in 1x20 and 1x21). dean is therefore at odds with the show's message, which again lends credence to the idea that dean's fantasy of heroism is simply his own. he is a character without intrinsic motivation because his desires lie outside of the world he exists in—he pines for an apple-pie life that he can never have, and he has no desire to hunt, himself.

because of this, dean's return to hunting is the destruction of this desire, and therefore his selfhood. he adheres to the collective and a fantasy of heroism. sam plays into this fantasy, too, at the end of this episode:

he has come to believe in dean's view of the world since 1x14, as he tends to adopt dean's worldview when he becomes insecure with his own (see also 1x22 and 2x13, for example). to them, then, there is the justification of heroism through hunting, and it allows them to cope with both their own traumas and their spiral into monstrosity.

this is also a direct contradiction to dream!sam's plea to get dean to stay with him: the real sam advocates for dean to abandon his independence, and in doing so return to him completely. both of them want to possess each other and belong to each other, and so dream!sam is an imperfect doppelganger at best. the real sam yearns for enmeshment, a perfect joining of two into one and the complete erasure of boundaries between them.

the episode ends with another act of devotion:

sam tells dean that he values their codependent relationship, which both assuages the insecurities introduced by the midpoint scene with dream!sam and reaffirms the devotion dream!sam displayed by coming along to hunt the djinn. they have achieved an equal partnership through an acceptance of each other.

this quote may be meaningful for sam, as well: when sam says he's glad dean "dug himself out," he might be (correctly) taking dean's return to reality as an act of devotion to him, which could also be why he's so comfortable giving voice to his own feelings (whereas typically to this point, he has waited for dean to make the first move, such as in 2x03, or his extremely awkward apology in 2x15).

through this episode they have both displayed their devotion to each other and their relationship and thus gained equal footing with each other. as such, they have achieved the climax of their honeymoon era and resolved their extant conflicts with each other by putting aside their individuality and independence to instead conform into each other, becoming their own two-person collective as opposed to just two brothers. it's the culmination of everything they've been working toward throughout season 2, ever since sam let azazel live in 1x22. naturally, this doesn't last for long, and the fissure that occurs between them in 2x22 sends them spiraling into wretched individuality that they can't recover from until the season 5 finale. but for a brief moment, sam and dean escaped their destinies through each other. they crawled under each other's skin and made a home there. they destroyed themselves in favor of the brother. and i think that's beautiful.

[anne-is-ominous]

An even more belated Phoenix Reignited 2.20: The Most Wonderful Time

I. Suck.

This was supposed to be Thursday's chapter, and I'm only an hour away from not getting it posted in time for Saturday's release window. The last few weeks have continued to be amazingly hectic - the last few days in particular - but it has been amazingly good stuff. My life has been turning for the better in almost every conceivable way - and it's just been eating up a lot of time to do it.

With the Bad Times in October through December eating through all of my chapter backlog, and things still being insanely busy here in Anneworld, it hasn't been a great time to need to write whole-cloth chapters weekly for Book XIII and a four-chapter, fifteen thousand word brand-new arc for Book II of Reignited simultaneously. That arc now concludes, and I am so very proud of it. As soon as I get this chapter posted, I'm going to grab a quick bite and set about reigniting the chapter that was supposed to come out today, and with any luck, get that out either tonight or in the morning as well to get back on track.

It's becoming clear to me that at some point soon - the most logical point being the end of Reignited book II in a few more chapters - I'm going to need to pause for a few days to catch my breath and rebuild a backlog. I didn't want to have to do that, but when I set this schedule - and the even more ambitious one I've already scaled back from - I was not counting on the total and complete life upheaval I have experienced since October. Things are good now - better than I can recall them ever being - but I am just now starting to clear away the debris of the stability I had to bulldoze to create space for something new and improved, and thinking about what new palace is going up in its place. It's exciting, and terrifying, and very, very time-consuming.

Anyway. Enough rambling. Enjoy some belated Christmas fluff! I'm so sorry again for the delay, I appreciate everyone who has reached out with support (and insistence that I should look out for myself first and the story second, if that), and I promise I'm evaluating ways to do this that I can reliably deliver without continuing to fry my brain six ways from Sunday. I love you all, my wonderful Firebirds.

~ Anne

Ranko beamed, stealing a quick, victorious glance at Ayako. Toldja she’d like it. “Well, I thought, you keep dropping your Game Boy in the bar, and one of these days, it’s gonna break if you don’t have something better than your purse to carry it in.”

With an emphatic nod that sent the red bows in her long blue pigtails bobbing, Mei reached for the shabby yellow cloth drawstring bag that served as her daily driver purse. “I mean, this is the third one I’ve had as it is, so, you’re totally right!” She pulled the grayish device from her purse, tucking it into the padded main compartment before beginning to connect the periwinkle plastic clips of the shoulder strap to the matching loops on either side of the bag.

“At least she only cracked the screen on the second one,” Izumi said, giggling as she sidled back to her spot on the couch between her boyfriend and son, handing Kaito a disposable plastic cup full of eggnog that smelled strongly of cinnamon and rum. “The first one ended up in the freakin’ fryer.”

“Proof,” Yui said with a grin at Mei, “that not everything is better deep-fried. Most things, I’ll grant, but…”

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[dragonflycap]

4 Trade Ideas for BlackRock: Bonus Idea

BlackRock, $BLK, comes into the week pushing against resistance and the 50 day SMA. This is after bouncing from a 38.2% pullback of the last run higher. The Bollinger Bands® are neutral, running sideways. The RSI is rising through the midline with the MACD crossed but and rising but negative. There is resistance at 1020 and 1040 then 1055 and 1068 before 1083.50. Support lower sits at 1004 and 992. Short interest is low under 1%. The stock pays a dividend with an annual yield of 2.0% and has traded ex-dividend since December 5th.

The company is expected to report earnings next on April 14th. The February options chain shows open interest scattered but biggest at 1000 on the put side as well as the call side. The March chain is a little heavier with biggest open interest at 1000 and 970 on the put side and at 1080 on the call side. Finally, the April chain, covering the earnings report, is just getting started but shows an expected move of about $80 between now and expiry.

Trade Idea 1: Buy the stock on a move over 1025 with a stop at 965.

Trade Idea 2: Buy the stock on a move over 1025 and add a February 1000/960 Put Spread ($8.70) while selling the March 1090 Calls ($7.60).

Trade Idea 3: Buy the February/March 1070 Call Calendar ($8.20) while selling the March 950 Put ($8.10).

Trade Idea 4: Buy the April 950/1040/1080 Call Spread Risk Reversal ($2.20).

If you like what you see sign up for more ideas and deeper analysis using this Get Premium link.   

After reviewing over 1,000 charts, I have found some good setups for the week. These were selected and should be viewed in the context of the broad Market Macro picture reviewed Friday which heading into the January FOMC meeting, saw equity markets showing strength with a 4 day trend higher before some profit taking Friday.

Elsewhere look for Gold to continue its push to a new high while Crude Oil pulls back in consolidation. The US Dollar Index looks to have stalled in its move to the upside while US Treasuries resume their downtrend. The Shanghai Composite looks to continue chop in consolidation while Emerging Markets continue the short term downtrend.

The Volatility Index looks to remain low and stable making the path easier for equity markets to the upside. Their charts look strong, especially on the longer timeframe. On the shorter timeframe the SPY, the QQQ and the IWM are all reversing out of the pullbacks started in December with the SPY the first to print a new all-time high. The QQQ is less than 2% away from its prior top with the IWM still over 5% below its all-time high. Use this information as you prepare for the coming week and trad’em well.

[dailyanarchistposts]

A.2.20 Why are most anarchists atheists?

It is a fact that most anarchists are atheists. They reject the idea of god and oppose all forms of religion, particularly organised religion. Today, in secularised western European countries, religion has lost its once dominant place in society. This often makes the militant atheism of anarchism seem strange. However, once the negative role of religion is understood the importance of libertarian atheism becomes obvious. It is because of the role of religion and its institutions that anarchists have spent some time refuting the idea of religion as well as propagandising against it.

So why do so many anarchists embrace atheism? The simplest answer is that most anarchists are atheists because it is a logical extension of anarchist ideas. If anarchism is the rejection of illegitimate authorities, then it follows that it is the rejection of the so-called Ultimate Authority, God. Anarchism is grounded in reason, logic, and scientific thinking, not religious thinking. Anarchists tend to be sceptics, and not believers. Most anarchists consider the Church to be steeped in hypocrisy and the Bible a work of fiction, riddled with contradictions, absurdities and horrors. It is notorious in its debasement of women and its sexism is infamous. Yet men are treated little better. Nowhere in the bible is there an acknowledgement that human beings have inherent rights to life, liberty, happiness, dignity, fairness, or self-government. In the bible, humans are sinners, worms, and slaves (figuratively and literally, as it condones slavery). God has all the rights, humanity is nothing.

This is unsurprisingly, given the nature of religion. Bakunin put it best:

"The idea of God implies the abdication of human reason and justice; it is the most decisive negation of human liberty, and necessarily ends in the enslavement of mankind, both in theory and in practice. “Unless, then, we desire the enslavement and degradation of mankind .. . we may not, must not make the slightest concession either to the God of theology or to the God of metaphysics. He who, in this mystical alphabet, begins with A will inevitably end with Z; he who desires to worship God must harbour no childish illusions about the matter, but bravely renounce his liberty and humanity. “If God is, man is a slave; now, man can and must be free; then, God does not exist.” [God and the State, p. 25]

For most anarchists, then, atheism is required due to the nature of religion. “To proclaim as divine all that is grand, just, noble, and beautiful in humanity,” Bakunin argued, “is to tacitly admit that humanity of itself would have been unable to produce it — that is, that, abandoned to itself, its own nature is miserable, iniquitous, base, and ugly. Thus we come back to the essence of all religion — in other words, to the disparagement of humanity for the greater glory of divinity.” As such, to do justice to our humanity and the potential it has, anarchists argue that we must do without the harmful myth of god and all it entails and so on behalf of “human liberty, dignity, and prosperity, we believe it our duty to recover from heaven the goods which it has stolen and return them to earth.” [Op. Cit., p. 37 and p. 36]

As well as the theoretical degrading of humanity and its liberty, religion has other, more practical, problems with it from an anarchist point of view. Firstly, religions have been a source of inequality and oppression. Christianity (like Islam), for example, has always been a force for repression whenever it holds any political or social sway (believing you have a direct line to god is a sure way of creating an authoritarian society). The Church has been a force of social repression, genocide, and the justification for every tyrant for nearly two millennia. When given the chance it has ruled as cruelly as any monarch or dictator. This is unsurprising:

“God being everything, the real world and man are nothing. God being truth, justice, goodness, beauty, power and life, man is falsehood, iniquity, evil, ugliness, impotence, and death. God being master, man is the slave. Incapable of finding justice, truth, and eternal life by his own effort, he can attain them only through a divine revelation. But whoever says revelation, says revealers, messiahs, prophets, priests, and legislators inspired by God himself; and these, as the holy instructors of humanity, chosen by God himself to direct it in the path of salvation, necessarily exercise absolute power. All men owe them passive and unlimited obedience; for against the divine reason there is no human reason, and against the justice of God no terrestrial justice holds.” [Bakunin, Op. Cit., p. 24]

Christianity has only turned tolerant and peace-loving when it is powerless and even then it has continued its role as apologist for the powerful. This is the second reason why anarchists oppose the church for when not being the source of oppression, the church has justified it and ensured its continuation. It has kept the working class in bondage for generations by sanctioning the rule of earthly authorities and teaching working people that it is wrong to fight against those same authorities. Earthly rulers received their legitimisation from the heavenly lord, whether political (claiming that rulers are in power due to god’s will) or economic (the rich having been rewarded by god). The bible praises obedience, raising it to a great virtue. More recent innovations like the Protestant work ethic also contribute to the subjugation of working people.

That religion is used to further the interests of the powerful can quickly be seen from most of history. It conditions the oppressed to humbly accept their place in life by urging the oppressed to be meek and await their reward in heaven. As Emma Goldman argued, Christianity (like religion in general) “contains nothing dangerous to the regime of authority and wealth; it stands for self-denial and self-abnegation, for penance and regret, and is absolutely inert in the face of every [in]dignity, every outrage imposed upon mankind.” [Red Emma Speaks, p. 234]

Thirdly, religion has always been a conservative force in society. This is unsurprising, as it bases itself not on investigation and analysis of the real world but rather in repeating the truths handed down from above and contained in a few holy books. Theism is then “the theory of speculation” while atheism is “the science of demonstration.” The “one hangs in the metaphysical clouds of the Beyond, while the other has its roots firmly in the soil. It is the earth, not heaven, which man must rescue if he is truly to be saved.” Atheism, then, “expresses the expansion and growth of the human mind” while theism “is static and fixed.” It is “the absolutism of theism, its pernicious influence upon humanity, its paralysing effect upon thought and action, which Atheism is fighting with all its power.” [Emma Goldman, Op. Cit., p. 243, p. 245 and pp. 246–7]

As the Bible says, “By their fruits shall ye know them.” We anarchists agree but unlike the church we apply this truth to religion as well. That is why we are, in the main, atheists. We recognise the destructive role played by the Church, and the harmful effects of organised monotheism, particularly Christianity, on people. As Goldman summaries, religion “is the conspiracy of ignorance against reason, of darkness against light, of submission and slavery against independence and freedom; of the denial of strength and beauty, against the affirmation of the joy and glory of life.” [Op. Cit., p. 240]

So, given the fruits of the Church, anarchists argue that it is time to uproot it and plant new trees, the trees of reason and liberty.

That said, anarchists do not deny that religions contain important ethical ideas or truths. Moreover, religions can be the base for strong and loving communities and groups. They can offer a sanctuary from the alienation and oppression of everyday life and offer a guide to action in a world where everything is for sale. Many aspects of, say, Jesus’ or Buddha’s life and teachings are inspiring and worth following. If this were not the case, if religions were simply a tool of the powerful, they would have long ago been rejected. Rather, they have a dual-nature in that contain both ideas necessary to live a good life as well as apologetics for power. If they did not, the oppressed would not believe and the powerful would suppress them as dangerous heresies.

And, indeed, repression has been the fate of any group that has preached a radical message. In the middle ages numerous revolutionary Christian movements and sects were crushed by the earthly powers that be with the firm support of the mainstream church. During the Spanish Civil War the Catholic church supported Franco’s fascists, denouncing the killing of pro-Franco priests by supporters of the republic while remaining silent about Franco’s murder of Basque priests who had supported the democratically elected government (Pope John Paul II is seeking to turn the dead pro-Franco priests into saints while the pro-Republican priests remain unmentioned). The Archbishop of El Salvador, Oscar Arnulfo Romero, started out as a conservative but after seeing the way in which the political and economic powers were exploiting the people became their outspoken champion. He was assassinated by right-wing paramilitaries in 1980 because of this, a fate which has befallen many other supporters of liberation theology, a radical interpretation of the Gospels which tries to reconcile socialist ideas and Christian social thinking.

Nor does the anarchist case against religion imply that religious people do not take part in social struggles to improve society. Far from it. Religious people, including members of the church hierarchy, played a key role in the US civil rights movement of the 1960s. The religious belief within Zapata’s army of peasants during the Mexican revolution did not stop anarchists taking part in it (indeed, it had already been heavily influenced by the ideas of anarchist militant Ricardo Flores Magon). It is the dual-nature of religion which explains why many popular movements and revolts (particularly by peasants) have used the rhetoric of religion, seeking to keep the good aspects of their faith will fighting the earthly injustice its official representatives sanctify. For anarchists, it is the willingness to fight against injustice which counts, not whether someone believes in god or not. We just think that the social role of religion is to dampen down revolt, not encourage it. The tiny number of radical priests compared to those in the mainstream or on the right suggests the validity of our analysis.

It should be stressed that anarchists, while overwhelmingly hostile to the idea of the Church and an established religion, do not object to people practising religious belief on their own or in groups, so long as that practice doesn’t impinge on the liberties of others. For example, a cult that required human sacrifice or slavery would be antithetical to anarchist ideas, and would be opposed. But peaceful systems of belief could exist in harmony within in anarchist society. The anarchist view is that religion is a personal matter, above all else — if people want to believe in something, that’s their business, and nobody else’s as long as they do not impose those ideas on others. All we can do is discuss their ideas and try and convince them of their errors.

To end, it should noted that we are not suggesting that atheism is somehow mandatory for an anarchist. Far from it. As we discuss in section A.3.7, there are anarchists who do believe in god or some form of religion. For example, Tolstoy combined libertarian ideas with a devote Christian belief. His ideas, along with Proudhon’s, influences the Catholic Worker organisation, founded by anarchists Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933 and still active today. The anarchist activist Starhawk, active in the current anti-globalisation movement, has no problems also being a leading Pagan. However, for most anarchists, their ideas lead them logically to atheism for, as Emma Goldman put it, “in its negation of gods is at the same time the strongest affirmation of man, and through man, the eternal yea to life, purpose, and beauty.” [Red Emma Speaks, p. 248]

[freshofftherunwayyy]

Starting Omad until i see 40kg on the scale. (14-18 weeks) and lose 7kg

1350 cals and under

Omad day 1: 🟢

Omad day 2: -0.00kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 3: -0.50kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 4: -1.30 kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 5: -1.30 kg from starting weight | 🔴

Omad day 5: -1.30 kg from starting weight | 🔴

Omad day 6: -0.70 kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 7: -1.50 kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 8: -1.50 kg from starting weight | 🔴

Omad day 9: -1.30kg from starting weight | 🟢

Omad day 10: -1.50kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 11: -2.00kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 12: -1.90kg from starting weight | 🔴

Omad day 13: -1.70kg from starting weight | 🔴

Omad day 14: -1.10kg from starting weight | 🔴

Omad day 15: -1.10kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 16: -2.20kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 17: -2.20kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 18: -2.30kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 19: -2.20kg from starting weight | 🟡

Omad day 20: -1.30kg from starting weight | 🟡

EALAP day 21: -1.00 kg from starting weight | 🟡

ELAP day 22: -1.60kg from starting weight | 🔴

ELAP day 23: ??? from starting weight | 🔴

From now on my plan is to eat as little as possible. Wake up drink water stretch and walk outside before work. Have my protein coffee. I will try to eat as little as possible during the day. So I will mostly eat coffee, protein coffe hot or cold, Coke Zero, tea zero, hot green tea, sparkling water, monster, protein bread, apple or other fruit, vegetable soup, ice sticks. If I feel like I really am very hungry I can have a toast with thin slices of bread. Protein shakes. Yogurt (preferably Greek 0%). Steak or chicken with vegetables. No oil or very little. Cottage cheese. Tuna. Cucumber. The key is to have each ingredient separately on its own. On top of that I will be walking 10k steps (try to split it in 3x30 min walks) go to the gym and then ballet 4x a week. The key is to have all these little ingredients on the fridge and also to be tidy and organised in your room, bathroom and kitchen. Also to have a night routine (more than a morning routine) —> watch a video while you tidy up brush teeth drink water / infusion and then relax.

I don’t want to sabotage myself because I genuinely want and prefer to see the scale go down, to feel light and to feel like I am losing slowly(not necessarily, even fast) but surely, feeling like I am doing everything right, staying busy, not think about food, not have a full meal but instead eat here and there based on my intuition and cravings. Not go over my maximum deficit calories (at the beginning of post). Remember my why and be in my honeymoon phase forever. Remember that truly I feel like no food is worth being eaten no more for me.

Goal is to hit -3.50kg before the end of the year

ELAP day 24: -0.80kg from starting weight | 🩸| 🟡 | 1526cal

ELAP day 25: -1.30kg from starting weight | 🩸| 🟢 | 1200cal

ELAP day 26: -1.30kg from starting weight | 🩸| 🟡 1692 cal

ELAP day 27: ??? from starting weight | 🩸| 2200 cal 🔴

ELAP day 28: -1.00kg from starting weight | 1250 cal 🟢

ELAP day 29: -1.50kg from starting weight | 1288 cal 🟢

ELAP day 30: -2.20kg from starting weight | 1585 cal 🟡

ELAP day 31: ??? from starting weight | 1350 cal 🟢

ELAP day 32: ??? from starting weight | 1400 cal 🟡

ELAP day 33: ??? from starting weight | 2053 cal 🔴

ELAP day 34: -1.90kg from starting weight | 1336 cal 🟢

ELAP day 35: -1.90kg from starting weight | < 1350 cal 🟢

ELAP day 36: -2.30kg from starting weight | 1060 cal 🟢

ELAP day 37: -2.70kg from starting weight | 1414 cal 🟢

ELAP day 38: -2.10 kg from starting weight | 2396 cal 🔴

ELAP day 39: -1.70 kg from starting weight | 1900 cal 🔴

ELAP day 40: -1.70 kg from starting weight | 783 cal 🟢

ELAP day 41: -2.20 kg from starting weight | 1637 cal 🟡

ELAP day 42: -2.20 kg from starting weight | 931 cal 🟢

ELAP day 43: -2.60 kg from starting weight | 1245 cal 🟢

ELAP day 44: -2.60 kg from starting weight | 1598 cal 🟡

ELAP day 45: ??? from starting weight | ?? >2000-2300 cal 🔴

ELAP day 46: -2.30 kg from starting weight | 1406 cal 🟡

ELAP day 47: -2.30 kg from starting weight | 1784 cal 🟡

ELAP day 48: -2.30 kg from starting weight | 1600 cal 🟡

ELAP day 49: -2.30 kg from starting weight | 1317 cal 🟢

ELAP day 50: -2.30 kg from starting weight | 969 cal 🟢

ELAP day 51: -2.30 kg (later -2.80 kg) from starting weight | 1862 but threw up so prob 1362 🟡

ELAP day 52: - ??? from starting weight | 480 cal 🟢

ELAP day 53: - 2.90 kg from starting weight | 1653 cal 🟡

ELAP day 54: - 2.50 kg from starting weight | 2500 cal 🔴

ELAP day 55: - ??? from starting weight | 1942 🔴

I don’t want to lose Focus. I trulli don’t want that. I noticed it helps not to buy the foods, eat an apple and an orange or some fruit like that very watery. And then the hunger is gone. Maybe a little toast maybe a coffee maybe a yogurt. Don’t buy sushi. Don’t buy milka. You can continue tomorrow. Remember that you don’t want to eat. You don’t enjoy it. You don’t even have hunger. You love the feeling of emptiness and lightness. To you food is not that appealing.

ELAP day 56: - 2.50 kg from starting weight | 1950 🔴

ELAP day 57: - ??? from starting weight | 2020 🔴

ELAP day 58: - 2.50 kg from starting weight | 1206 cal 🟢

ELAP day 59: - 2.50 kg from starting weight | ~ 2450 cal 🔴

ELAP day 60: - 2.50 kg from starting weight | 1520 cal 🟡

I should have lost -3.75kg by now (at least 3.33kg) but that’s okay I am falling in love with restricting and walking so I am going to lose it anyway

ELAP day 61: - ??? from starting weight | 1344 🟢

ELAP day 62: - 2.60 kg from starting weight | 1270 cal 🟢

ELAP day 63: - 2.60 kg from starting weight | 1618 cal 🟡

ELAP day 64: - 2.60 kg from starting weight | 1540 cal 🟡

ELAP day 65: - 2.60 kg from starting weight | 1648 cal 🟡

ELAP day 66: - 2.60 kg from starting weight | 1503 cal 🟡

ELAP day 67: - 3.10 kg from starting weight | 1170 cal 🟢

ELAP day 68: - 3.10 kg from starting weight |

[bikekharidoblogs]

Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Gets Aurora Colour Variant At Rs 2.20 Lakh

Royal Enfield has widened the Meteor 350 range by launching the new Aurora variant of the cruiser.

It gets a couple of changes over other variants of the bike and comes with a price tag of Rs. 2,19,900 (ex-showroom, Chennai) which places it between the Stellar and Supernova trims of the Meteor 350.

RE Meteor 350 Thoroughly Overhauled

The new Aurora variant of the Meteor 350 comes equipped with spoke wheels and tube tyres, unlike other versions which get alloy wheels and tubeless rubbers.

Moreover, the engine case, exhaust system, and a few other components have been bestowed with chrome finishing. All of this is done to enhance the retro appeal of the bike.

You may like it : Best Bikes in India 2023

Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Aurora continues to receive the same J-series underpinnings, the 349 cc air-cooled, long-stroke engine, with 20.2 bhp and 2.75 kgm of torque, mated to a five-speed transmission.

What’s new with Aurora trim?

The trim introduces three new colourways and also debuts LED headlights to the range. Royal Enfield might make the latter feature standard with this range in the future.

You may like it : Royal Enfield Himalayan 452 Production Starts

As opposed to black treatment on all other trims, Aurora trim stands out in its classic appeal. RE is also giving Aurora LED headlights, a deluxe touring seat, aluminium switch cubes, a Tripper display for navigation and more.

Feature additions

Apart from adding Aurora trim, Royal Enfield has fettled with Meteor 350’s trim-wise features list too. Top-spec Supernova trim now gets LED headlights and aluminium switchgear, taking it a notch higher than before. Astral trim now gets Royal Enfield’s Tripper screen for navigation as standard fitment.

You may like it :  RE Himalayan 452 Easily Clocks Over 140 km/h – VIDEO

With base Fireball trim, Royal Enfield has added a new Black stock colour which is both elegant and standard. Powering RE Meteor 350 is a 349cc J-series single-cylinder, air-cooled motor that kicks out 20.2 bhp at 6100rpm and a peak torque of 27 Nm at 4000rpm.

This unit is paired with a 5-speed gearbox. The same powertrain is found on newly launched Bullet 350 too.

Meteor 350 is underpinned by a dual-cradle J-series chassis which is suspended on 41mm RSU telescopic suspension at the front and twin shocks at the rear. Anchorage duties are handled by a 300mm front disc and a 270mm rear disc which are aided by a dual-channel ABS as standard.

In terms of features, it comes with a semi-digital instrument console, a USB charger, circular LED DRL and a side-stand engine inhibitor, among many.

You may like it : Best Electric Bikes in India Words from the manufacturer

Speaking about the new range and enhancements on the Meteor 350, B Govindarajan, CEO – Royal Enfield said, “As we reflect on the remarkable success of the Meteor 350 in India and international markets it is evident that the Meteor has struck a chord with many long distance riders and motorcycling enthusiasts. Its dynamic cruising ability and dependable performance have resonated deeply with our riders.

The Aurora range is a result of our constant interactions with our community of riders, where we witnessed a strong inclination towards retro-inspired cruisers. The new colourways and features are sure to elevate the pleasure of pure retro-cruising among our customers.”

#Meteor #Overhauled

[wytfut]

“Have you read the news today? Oh boy!” ... Beatles

I know I’m set in my ways ... and this makes me appear as an old curmudgeon.

But by golly, I enjoy a good news paper (actual paper), sitting down with breakfast or coffee and catching up on the world. 

WWW it appears has ruined all of this. Lots of folks believe everything they read... and www is most likely the worst place to do this. 

Unreliable sources... that mimmick “old school” news. I think I found a source on www, .... ABC.news .... not sure. It wasn’t really ABC. Because they added the “.”, they got away from the copyright issues. And that news was horrible at best.  Something to the tune of the rags they used to sell at the grocery store cash registers, ie, National Enquirer. It wasn’t ABC, it was some other company who loop holed the copy right by adding a “.”???  Well it wasn’t ABC. 

Paper newspaper got too expensive for us..... $68/month. And we went “e”. The journal start “e” is now jumping to almost $30/month. Several pages of this is from the day before reprinted. WHAT?? Why at $30/month do I want to reread part of yesterday’s news? Most of the time, its rewrite, of some article that doesn’t pertain to nothing,.... more of a self help article...    

With no sources of news being completely reliable, it makes a guy gun shy about coughing up any money. From where I sit, does anyone back up what they are reporting anymore? 

long side story:

I was a paper boy. I hand delivered papers daily on my sting ray schwinn. Foul weather and all. In the beginning it was $1.10/month (not sunday). From there it went to $2.20 including sunday. And about the time I done with my career, it had jumped to $4.40. Folks thought that was outrageous. 

Sunday and Wednesday papers were ass kickers .... sometimes 2 loads to deliver, as I couldn’t get them all in my “paper bags”.  Sunday was delivered in the morning before sun up. And the rest before 5:30 pm. I subbed before all of this the Lincoln Star (before journal star became one), which was a morning paper, for about a year. . (humor sidenote, both printed same building, just different names, representing different time delivered). . 

I remember some of my customers being total jerks about paying for the paper... and would go months without paying. Those days the paperboy would have to go to their home to collect the monthly payments. One customer owed me 4 months (getting close to $10...). Pop decided to help out, and tagged along in Uniform. 

They leaped out of their comfy chair and immediately paid. I still chuckle with that memory. 

I’d pick up my papers at the S W corner of Cotner and Adams. One sunday morning before sun up, a car come flying down Cotner, and couldn’t make the curve (too fast). The Cekja house was right there at the apex of the curve. The car lost it, and rolled a couple of times and crashed into a huge old Elm tree on the Cekja property. 

Me being pretty young was totally terrified.... grabbed my bundle of papers and hi tailed it home. Scared shitless no less.

I heard as soon as the car had quit moving, the driver try and start it back up. Got it started, and moved on down Cotner.  

About the same time I got into the house, I saw the car coming down 68th. I was positive the driver was looking for me (get rid of the witnesses). So I turned off all the lites in the house, and hid on the floor. Sure as shit the car came around to our side of the “ditch” heading right for our home. 

Car was running horribly, flat tire or 2, steel grinding some wheres..... and putted on by our house, and stopped at the neighbors. 

Turned out, it was the neighbor. All drunked up, missed the turn on Adams. But got his car home and stumbled into the house. ... 

We are going to give up on the journal star.... and I’m looking around for a good news source that is within my budget....

Cuz Jorika suggests NPR and/or Nebraska Public Media “app”. Alexa has failed me miserably, as well as Amazon. 

I listen to a lot of podcasts.... mostly when I’m pedaling “no where”. Really like “democracy now” but no local news. 

Thanx Jo.... I’ll give your idea a go. 

[visionarycios]

Lululemon Stock Rises Amid International Growth Despite Slowing U.S. Sales

Source: finance.yahoo_.com

Lululemon stock experienced a notable 9% year-over-year increase in sales during its fiscal third quarter, driven by significant international growth. However, the athletic apparel retailer continues to face slowing sales in the U.S., its largest market.

On Thursday, the company reported results that surpassed Wall Street’s expectations for both revenue and earnings, signaling optimism as the holiday season kicks off. Despite the upbeat numbers, CEO Calvin McDonald struck a cautious tone when discussing the fourth-quarter outlook, emphasizing the challenges posed by a shortened holiday shopping season and the critical volume weeks ahead.

Third-Quarter Performance

Lululemon’s net income for the quarter ended October 27 rose to $352 million, or $2.87 per share, up from $249 million, or $1.96 per share, in the same period last year. The company’s revenue increased to $2.40 billion, a 9% rise from $2.20 billion a year earlier.

For the critical holiday shopping season, the company projects revenue between $3.48 billion and $3.51 billion, representing an 8% to 10% year-over-year growth. Analysts had anticipated revenue of $3.50 billion, aligning with the midpoint of Lululemon’s guidance. Expected earnings per share range between $5.56 and $5.64, slightly above Wall Street’s estimates.

Lululemon stock also revised its full-year revenue forecast, tightening and slightly raising the guidance to a range of $10.45 billion to $10.49 billion, up from the previous estimate of $10.38 billion to $10.48 billion. Full-year earnings per share are now expected to land between $14.08 and $14.16, exceeding analysts’ expectations of $13.97.

Challenges in the U.S. Market

While overall sales growth remains strong, Lululemon has hit a rough patch in the U.S., where comparable sales declined by 2% in the third quarter. Competition from established players like Nike and Gap’s Athleta, as well as newer brands such as Vuori and Alo Yoga, has intensified.

The company also faced internal challenges earlier this year. A high-profile product launch failed to meet expectations, and Lululemon struggled to provide customers with the desired colors and sizes in key categories. These issues were compounded by the departure of Sun Choe, the company’s longtime chief product officer, in May.

In response, McDonald introduced a new structure combining Lululemon’s brand and merchandising teams under Nikki Neuburger, the chief brand and product activation officer. This adjustment aims to improve efficiency and address past shortcomings. According to McDonald, the company is on track to introduce fresh product designs in time for the spring selling season.

Efforts to rejuvenate the women’s apparel segment appear to be paying off. Retail analysts noted that the third-quarter product assortment felt refreshed, improving conversion rates and boosting average basket sizes for Lululemon stock.

International Growth and Profitability

While U.S. sales have slowed, international markets have provided a much-needed boost. Comparable sales outside the U.S. surged by 25% in the quarter, driving a 33% revenue increase internationally. In contrast, the Americas region grew by just 2%. Despite its smaller contribution to overall revenue, international expansion has become a key driver of Lululemon’s growth strategy.

The company has also prioritized profitability amid uncertain demand. Gross margin grew more than expected, rising by 1.5 percentage points to 58.5%, exceeding analysts’ projections of 57.5%.

Strategic Moves Amid Economic Pressures

Lululemon’s challenges have coincided with broader economic concerns, including persistent inflation and cautious consumer spending. The brand’s ability to quickly address product assortment issues and enhance its offerings has helped mitigate some of these challenges.

To maintain investor confidence, the company has approved a $1 billion increase in its stock repurchase program, leaving approximately $1.8 billion available for buybacks as of this month.

As Lululemon stock continues to navigate a competitive and uncertain retail environment, its focus on international growth, improved product offerings, and profitability positions it to weather short-term challenges and sustain long-term momentum.

[postapocalypticcottagecore]

A recent conversation on a forum that shall remain nameless (although if my avatar looks familiar from elsewhere then it's probably one of the ones you're thinking of) has led me to suspect that a lot of people vastly overestimate the amount of time and effort involved in becoming active in the political party of your choice.

For context, I'm a former party officer in my local (UK) Labour Party. I've met three MPs, am on a first-name basis with ouyr local one, I've been directly responsible for organising two one-off campaign events and an amendment to an important resolution at a meeting of the Executive Committee. What's my secret to becoming this kind of well-connected inside source?

Well, I filled out an apllication form on the party website and set up a direct debit for monthly party dues (£2.20, the concesionary rate because I'm on disability), and once a month I take a hort walk to a nearby snooker club (or a short bus ride to pub in the next town over, we had a branch merger and are alternating venues) where we have our meetings. We talk about various isues to do with either an upcoming election or whatever issues people want the local council to do something about, we come up with ideas for fixing them and we vote on whether or not to take those ideas further. There's other meetings or events sometimes, usually when we're in the run-up to an election. There's even the occasional purely social event, like when we were waiting for the results of a recall petition and our Parliamentary candidate (now our MP) hosted a rather nice party at a local hotel for everyone who'd turned out to campaign for it.

It's not all fun and games, admittedly: I managed to pull a muscle in my leg and do some sort of nerve damage from trying to deliver too many leaflets in one day, and canvassing for an election in the most bitterly cold Feburary weather I've ever known in my life is not an experience I want to repeat. Nor do I want to think about how close we came to a) being forever known as the local party who burned down their own campaign office (the breakers tripped before any harm was done but what absolute tuna melt plugs a space heater into the same power strip as the tea urn?) and b) appearing in Private Eye in a very unflattering context because nobody else knew how bad it would look to pose for a picture holding up campaign signs next to a street sign saying -I swear I'm not making this up- "Troon Avenue". If that picture ever does see the light of day, I'm the guy in the leather jacket and baseball cap who is visibly cringing and trying to hide behind his sign.

But it has its moments. I managed to get at least a token acknowledgement of Pride Month to happen in a town where it never had before, for example, and I might be able to get the town council to at least debate the idea of whether it really makes sense to lock up all the public toilets at 5PM. That's slightly more productive than raging impotently in here, right?

[mosbahmopsbah90]

Top Winter Wonderland Destinations Around the World

As winter comes, people dream of a magical getaway. The world has many places that are perfect for a winter escape. Lapland, Finland, is famous for the Northern Lights, while Harbin, China, is known for its stunning ice sculptures.

These spots are not just for fun; they're also great for families. You can enjoy skiing, ice skating, and see breathtaking views. It's a chance to see the beauty of snow and experience the best of winter.

Only 50 spots available! Use my exclusive link to book your next adventure through Trip.com. Don’t miss out—secure your ticket now and enjoy exclusive travel deals!

🔗 Register Here

A serene snowy landscape featuring a cozy cabin surrounded by tall pine trees, soft snowflakes gently falling, a frozen lake shimmering in the distance, and majestic mountains under a clear blue sky, evoking a magical winter wonderland atmosphere.

Key Takeaways

Lapland, Finland is known for unique experiences like visiting Santa Claus and reindeer sleigh rides.

The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival in China attracts over a million tourists annually.

Shirakawa-go, Japan features UNESCO-protected villages with picturesque thatched cottages.

Tromsø, Norway offers a chance to see the dazzling Aurora Borealis.

Lake Bled, Slovenia becomes a dreamy winter wonderland with snow-covered mountains.

Introduction to Winter Wonderland Destinations

Winter holiday destinations are a big draw for travelers worldwide. The scenery, with its sparkling snow and frosty air, is perfect for making memories. Whether you love winter sports or just want to enjoy the season, there's something for everyone.

Places like quaint villages and bustling resorts offer unique winter experiences. You can see amazing ice sculptures in Harbin or enjoy the peaceful snowscapes of Lapland. These destinations add a touch of magic to the colder months.DestinationHighlighted FeaturesLapland, FinlandHome of Santa Claus, dog-sledding adventuresHarbin, ChinaIce sculptures, Winter FestivalBanff, CanadaSkiing, hot springs, stunning landscapesHokkaido, JapanDiamond Dust phenomenon, Sapporo Snow FestivalWhistler, CanadaNorth America's largest ski resort, vast terrain

These winter escapes offer something for everyone. You can find joy, relaxation, and excitement in every snowy corner. Embracing the cold leads to unforgettable experiences.

Lapland, Finland: The Ultimate Winter Escape

Lapland is a magical place in the far north of Finland. It offers breathtaking views, unique cultural experiences, and the amazing Northern Lights. Visitors can enjoy winter activities and traditions that warm the heart.

Visiting Santa Claus Village

Santa Claus Village is the heart of Christmas all year. Families come to meet Santa and cross the Arctic Circle. The village has many activities, like:

Exploring Santa's workshop

Sending postcards from Santa's post office

Enjoying traditional Finnish cuisine at local restaurants

Try creamy salmon soup or sautéed reindeer at Kotahovi Restaurant. A €2.20 ticket gets you from Rovaniemi city centre to this magical place.

Experiencing the Northern Lights

Lapland is known for its stunning Northern Lights. The best time to see them is from October to April. You can go on adventures like:

Husky sledding through serene landscapes

Snowmobiling in the pristine wilderness

Participating in an Arctic safari where you might interact with reindeer herders

Private guides offer personalized experiences for the best Aurora viewing. The snowy forests add to the beauty of the Northern Lights, making it a memorable experience.

Harbin, China: A Magical Ice City

Winter turns Harbin into a magical ice city. Thousands come from all over to see the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival. The city becomes a frosty wonderland with amazing displays and fun activities.

The Harbin Ice and Snow Festival

The festival starts in late December. Its official opening is on January 5th, 2025. It's open to the public from mid-December until late February.

Harbin Ice and Snow World is the biggest venue. It has over 2,000 ice sculptures and activities from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Visit around 3 p.m. for the best light.

Ice Sculptures and Displays

Harbin Ice and Snow World has over 2,000 ice sculptures. Artists from all over the world create them. Sun Island has over 1,500 snow sculptures, showing incredible creativity.

There are eight ice slides at Harbin Ice and Snow World. The longest slide is 300 meters. Zhaolin Park has over 300 ice lantern sculptures, a must-see.

The Songhua River Ice Carnival offers fun activities like ice go-carting and sledging. Tickets are around 250 yuan per person. The festival's welcoming atmosphere and activities make it a winter

Only 50 spots available! Use my exclusive link to book your next adventure through Trip.com. Don’t miss out—secure your ticket now and enjoy exclusive travel deals!

🔗 Register Here

Hallstatt, Austria: Fairytale Charm

Hallstatt, in the heart of Austria's Alpine beauty, is a place of enchantment. Its pastel-colored houses against snow-capped peaks look like a fairytale. In winter, it becomes a magical wonderland, ideal for exploring its streets and culture.

Exploring the Alpine Beauty

Visitors can stroll through Hallstatt's historic center, admiring its architecture and history. The Hallstatt Skywalk offers stunning views of the lake and mountains. It's a must-see for anyone visiting.

Outdoor fans can try winter sports like skiing and hiking. The local Christmas market adds to the festive feel. It features local crafts, food, and music.

Dachstein Ice Cave Adventure

A trip to Hallstatt isn't complete without the Dachstein Ice Cave. It's known for its stunning ice formations and guided tours. Exploring the cave is an adventure for those who love nature and excitement.

Hallstatt's beauty and the Dachstein Ice Cave make for a memorable winter trip.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming: Snow-Capped Adventure

Jackson Hole is a top winter spot for adventure lovers. It's in the stunning Teton Mountains. Here, you can ski for all skill levels.

People come from everywhere to ski here. They love the tough trails and the soft snow.

Skiing in the Teton Mountains

Jackson Hole has many ski resorts. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is famous for its varied runs. It has both tough and easy slopes.

The snow stays good all winter. This is because the winter temperatures are cold.

Aerial Tram and Views

The Jackson Hole Aerial Tram is a must-see. It takes you up Rendezvous Mountain. There, you see amazing views of the Teton Mountains and the valley.

This view is unforgettable. It makes your skiing trip even more special.ActivityDescriptionCostSki PassAccess to ski slopes and facilitiesVaries by resort and seasonAerial Tram RideScenic ride to Rendezvous MountainApprox. $30Horse-drawn Sleigh TourTour through National Elk Refuge$38Live MusicEvening entertainment at Cowboy BarNo cover charge

Shirakawa-go, Japan: A Snow Globe Village

Shirakawa-go is like a fairy tale come to life. It's famous for its Gassho-style buildings. In winter, it turns into a magical snow globe village.

With almost 400 inches of snow each year, it becomes a peaceful place. Visitors love to see its unique charm.

Gassho-style Architecture

The Gassho-style buildings are what make Shirakawa-go special. Over 100 of these UNESCO sites are still standing. They have steep roofs made of thatch to handle lots of snow.

These huts are over 250 years old. They show how people adapted to the local environment. The village's history and culture are truly rich.

Seasonal Light-Up Events

In winter, Shirakawa-go is even more magical. The seasonal light-up events make the historic houses glow. It's like stepping into a snow globe.

People come to see this beauty. They are surrounded by mountains and a strong community feeling.

A serene, snow-covered village in Shirakawa-go, Japan, featuring traditional thatched-roof houses surrounded by pine trees and gently falling snowflakes, with soft glow emanating from windows, set against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains, evoking the feeling of a magical snow globe.

Banff National Park, Canada: A Natural Wonder

Banff National Park is a top winter spot, drawing people from everywhere. It covers over 2,564 square miles in the Canadian Rockies. The park's stunning views and winter sports make it a favorite among four million annual visitors.

Winter Sports and Activities

The park is perfect for winter sports fans. You can enjoy:

Skiing and snowboarding at famous spots like Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay

Ice skating at beautiful places like Two Jack Lake

Snowshoeing on trails like Johnson Lake and Tunnel Mountain Drive

Cross-country skiing on easy tracks, such as the Spray River West Trail

Exciting snow tubing at Lake Louise and Norquay

Banff National Park is great for adventure. It has one of North America's longest ski seasons, so you can ski almost all year.

Soaking in Hot Springs

After a fun day skiing, the Banff Upper Hot Springs are ideal for relaxing. The warm waters, heated by natural springs, offer a calming soak with mountain views. It's a refreshing way to enjoy the park's beauty and winter wellness.

Tromsø, Norway: The Arctic Gem

Tromsø is known for its stunning winter views. It's a perfect spot for those who love adventure and nature. The city, home to 78,745 people, offers many winter activities. These take place against the beautiful fjords.

Chasing the Northern Lights

The best time to see the Northern Lights in Tromsø is from September to mid-April. You can join guided tours, like a husky camp experience, for about $136.71. The Northern Lights Planetarium also offers shows for $11.85, teaching you about this amazing sight.

Winter Activities in Fjords

While in Tromsø, try different winter activities. These show off the fjords' beauty. Some activities include:

Hiking in stunning landscapes

Dog sledding adventures

Cultural experiences with the Sami people

Whale safaris to see local wildlife

A magical dinner cruise while soaking in the Aurora

Staying overnight in Tromsø starts at $132. This lets you experience the Arctic. Try local foods like reindeer and salmon at mid-range restaurants. Meals cost between $25 and $32. Tromsø is a great place for nature and culture lovers, especially for those chasing the Northern Lights.ActivityCost (USD)Husky Camp (Northern Lights Experience)136.71Northern Lights Planetarium11.85Average cost for meals25-32Overnight stay132

Dolomites, Italy: Skiing and Stunning Landscapes

The Dolomites are a top winter spot, known for exciting skiing and beautiful views. This UNESCO site has a wide range of terrains and activities. It attracts outdoor lovers from everywhere.

The Great Dolomites Road

Driving the Great Dolomites Road shows off amazing views. You'll see tall peaks and pretty valleys. It links ski areas and offers spots to enjoy the views.

Winter makes the mountains even more stunning, covered in snow. It highlights their rugged beauty.

Local Cuisine and Culture

Enjoying local Italian food after skiing is a must. Try dishes like polenta, speck, and pasta. Don't forget to try the desserts, like strudel and gelato.

The Dolomites offer more than skiing. They give you a taste of Italian culture and hospitality.

A breathtaking winter scene in the Dolomites, featuring majestic snow-capped peaks, skiers gracefully carving down slopes, a cozy alpine lodge with smoke rising from the chimney, tables set for traditional Italian cuisine with steaming plates of polenta, speck, and warm pastries, all surrounded by a glittering blanket of fresh snow and pine trees.FeatureDetailsSkiing Distance120 km across 80 pistesCable Cars & Lifts37 in Cortina d'AmpezzoDolomiti Superski PassAccess to 12 ski areas, approx 1200 km of slopesMarmolada Peak Height3265 metersCinque Torri Trail3 km, altitude gain of 150 metersSorapis Lake Hiking TrailVaried terrains with wire ropes in narrow areasSeason LengthFirst snowfall as early as October, lasts until April

Aspen, Colorado: A Winter Paradise

Aspen, Colorado is a top spot for winter sports fans and families. It boasts world-class skiing on famous slopes for all skill levels. The town also has upscale dining, boutiques, and art galleries in its beautiful downtown area.

Exploring Winter Sports

Aspen's winter sports appeal to many visitors. Skiing is a big draw, with slopes for beginners and experts. Snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing let families enjoy the mountains together.

Family-Friendly Activities

Aspen offers more than skiing. The 12 Days of Aspen event from December 20-31 is a highlight. Families can ice skate, enjoy treats, and meet Santa and his reindeer. Outdoor tubing and festive events add to the fun for kids and adults.ActivityDescriptionSuitable ForSkiingWorld-class slopes for all skill levels.All agesSnowboardingExciting terrain parks and variety of runs.Teens and adultsSnowshoeingA serene way to traverse beautiful winter landscapes.FamiliesIce SkatingEnjoyable outdoor skating rinks.FamiliesFestive EventsHoliday activities like the 12 Days of Aspen.All ages

Chamonix, France: Skiing at the Foot of Mont Blanc

Chamonix is a top spot for skiing lovers and adventure seekers in the French Alps. It's right under the towering Mont Blanc. Since the first Winter Olympics in 1924, Chamonix has been a draw for visitors. It's a mix of history and exciting outdoor fun, perfect for winter sports fans.

Historic Winter Olympic Town

Chamonix was the first place for the Winter Olympics. It's a town with a rich sports history. Today, it has modern facilities and offers skiing for all levels.

Outdoor Adventures in the French Alps

The Chamonix valley is great for outdoor fun. It has famous ski spots like Les Grands Montets, Le Brévent, and La Flégère. These places are perfect for skiers and snowboarders, from beginners to experts.

The Vallée Blanche offers a thrilling 20-kilometer glacier run for advanced skiers. Besides skiing, you can try snowboarding, dog sledding, and more in this beautiful area.

The après-ski scene is also amazing. You'll find cozy bars and restaurants with tasty local food. Places like Le Comptoir des Alpes and La Bergerie De Plan-Praz serve great Franco-Italian dishes with views of Mont Blanc.FeatureDetailsElevation of ChamonixApproximately 1,035 meters above sea levelHeight of Mont Blanc4,809 meters above sea levelFirst Winter Olympics1924Main Ski AreasLes Grands Montets, Le Brévent, La FlégèreGlacier RunVallée Blanche - 20 kilometersNearest Major AirportGeneva Airport, 88 kilometers away

Conclusion

Exploring these winter wonderland destinations shows us the best snowy places for all travelers. Lapland, Finland, is a dream with its Santa Claus Village and fun activities like husky sledding. Switzerland's ski resorts, like Zermatt and Verbier, offer endless winter fun.

In Canada, Quebec City's Winter Carnival is a must-see for its parades and ice sculptures. Banff National Park in Canada is perfect for skiing and snowshoeing. Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival is a unique experience with its snow sculptures and traditional activities.

When planning your winter trip, think about these amazing places. They offer stunning views and cultural experiences. Whether you're trying local food in Austria's Christmas markets or relaxing in Japan's hot springs, these spots are magical. This winter, let's explore and make memories in these beautiful places.

Only 50 spots available! Use my exclusive link to book your next adventure through Trip.com. Don’t miss out—secure your ticket now and enjoy exclusive travel deals!

🔗 Register Here

FAQ

What are the top winter wonderland destinations around the world?

Top spots include Lapland, Finland, and Harbin, China. Hallstatt, Austria, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, are also favorites. Banff National Park, Canada, rounds out the list. These places offer beautiful snow, fun winter sports, and special cultural experiences.

What activities can I enjoy in winter vacation spots?

You can ski in famous resorts, ice skate on beautiful rinks, and go dog sledding. Snowshoeing and exploring villages with holiday lights are also fun.

Which destination is famous for ice sculptures?

Harbin, China, is known for its Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival. It features amazing ice sculptures lit up, making it a magical place to visit.

Can I see the Northern Lights in these winter wonderlands?

Yes, places like Lapland and Tromsø are great for seeing the Northern Lights. Their dark, clear skies are perfect for viewing this natural wonder.

What is the best time to visit these snowy travel destinations?

The best time is from late November to March. This time offers the best snow and fun winter activities.

Are there family-friendly activities in winter resorts?

Absolutely! Resorts like Aspen and Jackson Hole have fun for families. Activities include tubing, snowshoeing, and festive events. You can even meet Santa in Lapland!

What should I wear when traveling to cold weather destinations?

Dress in layers for cold weather. Wear a warm base layer, an insulating layer, and a waterproof outer layer. Remember gloves, hats, and thermal socks to stay warm!

Are there unique dining experiences in winter destinations?

Yes, places like the Dolomites and Banff National Park offer special dining. You can try local cuisine, including hearty meals perfect for winter.

[newstfionline]

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Summer 2023 Was the Northern Hemisphere’s Hottest in 2,000 Years, Study Finds (NYT) The summer of 2023 was exceptionally hot. Scientists have already established that it was the warmest Northern Hemisphere summer since around 1850, when people started systematically measuring and recording temperatures. Now, researchers say it was the hottest in 2,000 years, according to a new study published in the journal Nature that compares 2023 with a longer temperature record across most of the Northern Hemisphere. The study goes back to the year A.D. 1, using evidence from tree rings. The average temperature from June through August 2023 was 2.20 degrees Celsius warmer than the average summer temperature between the years 1 and 1890, according to the researchers’ tree ring data.

A wildfire has forced out hundreds of residents in Canada’s oil sands hub of Fort McMurray (AP) Hundreds of residents in four neighborhoods in the southern end of Canada’s oil sand hub of Fort McMurray, Alberta, were ordered to evacuate with a wildfire threatening the community, authorities said Tuesday. Fort McMurray has a population of about 68,000, and a wildfire there in 2016 destroyed 2,400 homes and forced more than 80,000 people to flee.

Trade Frictions (NYT) U.S. President Joe Biden unveiled a new slew of U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports on Tuesday. The White House cited “unacceptable risks” posed by Beijing flooding the global market with cheap products. Around $18 billion of imported goods will be affected, including electric vehicles, semiconductors, steel and aluminum, critical minerals, medical products, and solar panels. Beijing immediately vowed retaliation. “This action will seriously impact the atmosphere of bilateral cooperation,” the Chinese Commerce Ministry said. Biden’s announcement signals the latest escalation in a trade war that began under Trump and has since become a key campaign issue ahead of the November U.S. presidential election.

‘Nightmare scenario’ forecast calls for significant flooding in already-soaked Texas and Gulf Coast states (AP) Rounds of fierce storms and gushing rainfall are raising the risk of dangerous flooding late this week for millions in the already-waterlogged South. Double-digit rainfall totals between 20 and 30 inches over the region in recent weeks have soaked the ground and left rivers swollen, priming the flood threat to extreme levels. More widespread heavy rain Thursday and Friday is only going to make matters worse. The forecast calling for extreme rainfall rates and repeated rounds of storms is creating a “nightmare scenario” for the Gulf Coast, according to the Weather Prediction Center. “Significant and considerable flash flooding is likely as a result, as multiple inches of rain fall in a matter of a few hours.” A Level 3 of 4 risk of excessive rainfall that could trigger flash flooding is in place from eastern Texas, through Louisiana and into western Mississippi Thursday, according to the WPC.

Argentina reports its first single-digit inflation in 6 months as costs hit home (AP) Argentina’s monthly inflation rate eased sharply to a single-digit rate in April for the first time in half a year, data released Tuesday showed, a closely watched indicator that bolsters President Javier Milei’s severe austerity program aimed at fixing the country’s troubled economy. Prices rose at a rate of 8.8% last month, the Argentine government statistics agency reported, down from a monthly rate of 11% in March and well below a peak of 25% last December, when Milei became president with a mission to combat Argentina’s dizzying inflation, among the highest in the world. Although praised by the International Monetary Fund and cheered by market watchers, Milei’s cost-cutting and deregulation campaign has squeezed families whose money has plummeted in value while the cost of nearly everything has skyrocketed. “People are in pain,” said 23-year-old Augustin Perez, a supermarket worker in the suburbs of Buenos Aires who said his rent had soared by 90% since Milei deregulated the real estate market and his electricity bill had nearly tripled since the government slashed subsidies. “They say things are getting better, but how? I don’t understand.”

France prison van attack: Huge manhunt after prison officers killed in ambush (BBC) A search is underway in northern France for armed assailants who killed two prison officers and wounded three others in an ambush on a prison van, freeing a 30-year-old inmate and drug dealer known as “The Fly.” The incident marks the first time on-duty prison workers have been killed in France since 1992. The prison van was transporting inmate Mohamed Amra from a courthouse to a jail in the Normandy region when the hooded assailants—arriving in two vehicles—rammed into the van near an expressway toll booth and opened fire. The ambush came the same day a French Senate committee report found drug-related crimes are spreading across France, igniting gang wars.

Slovakian prime minister in life-threatening condition after being shot (Bloomberg) Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico suffered life-threatening injuries after being shot multiple times in public, the first assassination attempt on a European leader in more than two decades and an incident that underscores the deep polarization in the country. Fico, 59, was rushed to the hospital and remains in “very serious” condition following an attack by a 71-year-old man during an appearance away from the capital.

Russia Detains Senior General, Widening Military Purge (NYT) Russian security agents detained a senior general early Tuesday, widening a purge of the country’s sprawling Defense Ministry amid President Vladimir V. Putin’s broader shake-up of his government. Lt. Gen. Yuri Kuznetsov, who oversaw the ministry’s personnel department, was detained on an accusation of “large-scale” bribery, Russia’s Investigative Committee, a federal law enforcement agency, said in a statement on Tuesday. His detention came after Mr. Putin unexpectedly removed his long-serving defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu, from his post and replaced him with a member of his economic team.

Singapore’s Riches Grew Under Its Leader. So Did Discontent. (NYT) Singapore was once known as an affluent and strait-laced city-state. Today, it’s a glitzy international destination. It has hosted Taylor Swift concerts and Formula One night races. And it is substantially richer, per capita, than the United States. That transformation happened under Lee Hsien Loong, the Southeast Asian country’s third prime minister. He made Singapore even more prosperous by largely following the semi-authoritarian and free-market model pioneered by his father, Lee Kuan Yew, the country’s first leader. On Wednesday, Singapore gets a new leader for the first time in nearly 20 years. Mr. Lee, 72, is handing the office to his deputy, Lawrence Wong, 51. Their People’s Action Party has governed Singapore continuously for over six decades, and has had astounding successes. But there are concerns that the vaunted “Singapore model” is failing more and more people. Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but it does not have a minimum wage. Housing prices have surged, and many Singaporeans say social mobility has dropped considerably. Others complain that freedom of expression is still tightly controlled, if less so than before. The strains are exacerbated by the need for overseas workers; about 40 percent of Singapore’s nearly six million people are not citizens.

France imposes emergency in Pacific territory of New Caledonia as violent unrest turns deadly (AP) France announced Wednesday it is imposing a state of emergency in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia for at least 12 days, boosting security forces’ powers to quell deadly unrest that has left four people dead. The emergency measures will give authorities greater powers to tackle the violence, including the possibility of house detention for people deemed a threat to public order and expanded powers to conduct searches, seize weapons and restrict movements, with possible jail time for violators. France’s government also rushed hundreds of police reinforcements to the island, where pro-independence supporters have long pushed to break free from France. The Interior Ministry said 500 additional officers were expected on the archipelago to bolster 1,800 police and gendarmes already there. More than 300 people have been injured since Monday, when protests over voting changes pushed by Paris turned violent.

Overlooking a dark history, tech companies are flocking to the Middle East (Washington Post) Two years ago, Andrew Feldman couldn’t find Abu Dhabi on a map. But like many Silicon Valley leaders, the artificial intelligence entrepreneur has been wooed by the promise of Middle Eastern partnership and money. He’s among a generation of tech founders and investors quietly pilgrimaging to the sovereign wealth funds of the gulf states, pursuing deals with authoritarian regimes. Some tech entrepreneurs and venture firms once shunned Middle Eastern funding. But Middle Eastern money has become the most powerful geopolitical force in the tech industry virtually overnight. “The Khashoggi era is over,” said a prominent venture capitalist. “Everyone I talk to is either going to or coming back from the UAE—the same way we used to swing by Sand Hill Road,” said Feldman, referring to the street that’s home to Silicon Valley’s storied venture capital firms.

U.N. staff member killed in attack on car marked with U.N. flag in Rafah (Washington Post) A U.N. staff member employed by the U.N. Department of Safety and Security was killed Monday while traveling in a U.N. vehicle from Rafah. He was Waibhav Anil Kale, 46, an Indian national who began working as a U.N. security service coordinator in Gaza last month. The shots that killed him “came from a tank in the area,” a spokesman for the U.N. Secretary General said, noting that only Israel operates tanks in Gaza. The car was marked with a U.N. flag, and Israeli authorities had been informed of its movements.

Biden advances $1 billion in arms for Israel amid Rafah tensions (Washington Post) The Biden administration informally notified congressional committees that it planned to move forward with more than $1 billion in weapons deals for Israel, U.S. officials familiar with the matter said. It’s a major transfer of lethal aid that comes a week after the White House paused a single shipment of bombs because of concerns over the immense civilian toll of a planned offensive in Rafah. The decision underscores the administration’s reluctance to defy pro-Israel donors in the Democratic Party who criticized Biden’s decision to withhold the weapons shipment. It’s also another indication that attacks by Republicans asserting that Biden had imposed an “arms embargo” on Israel bore little connection to reality.

For Netanyahu, Gaza’s ‘day after’ must wait (Washington Post) Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Herzl Halevi has bemoaned Netanyahu’s lack of commitment to a “day after” plan in the Gaza Strip that would help reckon with the security and political vacuum in the war-ravaged territory. Halevi echoed the frustrations of many Israeli security officials, who see Hamas fighters resuming operations in areas of Gaza where they were supposed to have been neutralized. “As long as there’s no diplomatic process to develop a governing body in the Strip that isn’t Hamas, we’ll have to launch campaigns again and again in other places to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure,” Halevi was quoted by Israel news network Channel 13 as saying during private meetings over the weekend. “It will be a Sisyphean task.” Netanyahu and others in his right-wing camp have vowed the total defeat of Hamas and the dismantling of its military infrastructure. But a growing body of experts, as well as senior diplomats, doubt that Hamas can be fully vanquished—and fear the excruciating toll exacted on Gaza’s civilian population as Israel attempts to do so. “Right now, we are in a status of almost a stalemate,” Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said Tuesday in reference to the rounds of indirect talks that his and other governments attempted to mediate between Israel and Hamas. “There is no clarity of how to stop the war from the Israeli side,” Mohammed pointedly added, while warning that the scale of destruction in the territory was so vast that it could lay the grounds for a “new wave of radicalization” if not enough is done to rebuild and invest in Gaza.

[dragonflycap]

4 Trade Ideas for GE Aerospace: Bonus Idea

GE Aerospace, Ticker: $GE, comes into the week breaking resistance and at a new all-time high. The Bollinger Bands® have squeezed in, often a precursor to a move. Price has also reconnected with the rising 20 day SMA. The RSI is slowly rising in the bullish zone with the MACD curling to cross up and positive. There is no resistance above 191.77. Support lower comes at 190 and 183.50. Short interest is low under 1%. The stock pays a dividend with an annual yield of 0.59% and has traded ex-dividend since September 26th. 

The company is expected to report earnings next on October 22nd. The October options chain shows open interest build from 190 to 170 on the put side. On the call side it is focused and largest at the 190 strike. The November chain has biggest open interest at the 165 put and sees it grow from 160 to a peak at 210 on the call side, 10 times larger. Finally, the December chain shows open interest build from 190 to a plateau from 180 to 160 then tail on the put side. On the call side it is large and focused at the 200 and 210 strikes.

GE Aerospace, Ticker: $GE

Trade Idea 1: Buy the stock on a move over 192 with a stop at 184.

Trade Idea 2: Buy the stock on a move over 192 and add an October 25 Expiry 190/180 Put Spread ($3.40) while selling the December 210 Calls ($3.80).

Trade Idea 3: Buy the November/December 200 Call Calendar ($2.85) and sell the November 175 Put ($2.20).

Trade Idea 4: Buy the December 175/195/210 Call Spread Risk Reversal ($2.25).

If you like what you see sign up for more ideas and deeper analysis using this Get Premium link.  

After reviewing over 1,000 charts, I have found some good setups for the week. These were selected and should be viewed in the context of the broad Market Macro picture reviewed Friday which with the inflation reports behind us, saw that equity markets showed strength, the SPY ending at an all-time high.

Elsewhere look for Gold to continue its uptrend while Crude Oil consolidates in a broad range. The US Dollar Index continues to move to the upside while US Treasuries consolidate in their downtrend. The Shanghai Composite looks to reverse lower while Emerging Markets consolidate the start of an uptrend.

The Volatility Index looks to remain low making the path easier for equity markets to the upside. Their charts look strong, especially the SPY and QQQ on the longer timeframe. On the shorter timeframe both the QQQ and SPY are also now ready to resume the move higher. The IWM looks a bit less powerful but is holding near resistance, a good show of relative strength for this sector. Use this information as you prepare for the coming week and trad’em well.

[accountingac]

Sage 100 Payroll 2.20 Installations and Upgrade

Welcome to the world of Sage 100 Payroll 2.20 – where efficiency meets simplicity, and upgrades bring endless possibilities! Are you ready to take your payroll processing to the next level? If so, you're in luck because today we are diving into all the exciting details of Sage 100 Payroll 2.20 installations and upgrades.

Payroll management is an essential aspect of any business, and with each passing day, technology continues to evolve. That's where Sage comes in – providing innovative solutions that streamline processes and enhance productivity. With its latest version release, Sage 100 Payroll has undergone significant enhancements that will revolutionize how you handle payroll tasks.

Benefits of Upgrading to Sage 100 Payroll 2.20

Upgrading your payroll software is a decision that can bring numerous benefits to your business. With the latest version, Sage 100 Payroll 2.20, you can expect improved functionality and enhanced features that will streamline your payroll processes.

This upgrade offers increased efficiency through its advanced automation capabilities. From calculating employee wages and deductions to generating accurate reports, Sage 100 Payroll 2.20 takes care of it all with ease and precision.

Additionally, this upgraded version ensures compliance with ever-changing tax laws and regulations. By staying up-to-date with the latest payroll guidelines, you can avoid costly penalties and errors in your payroll processing.

Moreover, Sage 100 Payroll 2.20 introduces enhanced security measures to protect sensitive employee information. With data breaches becoming increasingly common in today's digital landscape, investing in a secure payroll system is crucial for safeguarding your employees' personal details.

Step-by-Step Guide for Installation and Upgrade

Are you ready to take your payroll system to the next level? Upgrading to Sage 100 Payroll 2.20 is a smart move that will bring new features and benefits to your business. To help you through the process, we have prepared this step-by-step guide for installation and upgrade.

1. Preparation: Before starting the installation, make sure you have a backup of your current data. This will ensure that no important information is lost during the upgrade process.

2. Downloading: Visit the Sage website and download the latest version of Sage 100 Payroll 2.20 software package.

3. Installation: Run the installer file and follow the on-screen instructions to install Sage 100 Payroll 2.20 on your system.

4. Migration: Once the installation is complete, you will need to migrate your existing data from the previous version of Sage Payroll to the new version.

5. Testing: It's always a good idea to test out all functionalities after an upgrade has been completed before fully implementing it into everyday use in order identify any issues or bugs early on.

6. Troubleshooting: If you encounter any issues during or after installation, refer to the troubleshooting section in the user manual provided by Sage or contact their customer support team for assistance.

7. Documentation: Keep detailed notes throughout each step of this process so that if any questions arise later down-the-line it can be easily reference back too without needing ot rely solely on memory alone when seeking answers about how things were done previously with older versions which may differ slightly from newer updates like this one!

System with Sage 100 Payroll 2.20! Now let's hear some testimonials from businesses who have already made this successful change

[ailtrahq]

Filecoin is a decentralized storage protocol token. It gives power to the Filecoin network. It is a peer-to-peer network storing files providing economic incentives. The FIL coin is often designed to make file storage more secure and reliable. The coin is a part of Protocol Labs. It is also a creator of IPFS and libp2p, integral components of the Filecoin protocol. The derivative trading volume of the crypto has declined by 8.15% in the last 24 hours and the Open Interest has improved by 3.08%. The current open interest of the filecoin is $76.82M. The current short liquidation of the coin is higher than the long liquidation in the last 24 hours. The current short liquidation for the coin stands at $30.00K. The price of the coin has advanced by 2.09% in the last 24 hours. The coin was listed at a price of $1.00 and the Filecoin team had collected a funding of more than $200 Million. It is currently outperforming its peers as the price has advanced by more than 3.0% and the global cryptocurrency market is trading up by only 2.20%. The community is also bullish on the coin as more than 95% of users are recommending a buy. Filecoin’s market cap has increased by 2.19% in the last 24 hours, but the volume has declined by 35.75%. It is not a good sign for the coin as the traders would be losing interest in the coin. The coin has a circulating supply of 451.643M FIL tokens and the coin follows a fully diluted market cap of $6.518M. Filecoin Token Price Technical Analysis  Source: Tradingview : FILUSD: COINBASE The coin price has been consistently declining to lower levels, following a downtrend with a declining channel pattern. The coin price is currently on the verge of breaking out above the channel pattern. It is making a bullish candlestick pattern. The FIL coin is trading in a downtrend, following a bearish cross of EMAs. The RSI has not gained any strength yet. It indicates bearishness on the charts as of now. Conclusion As the coin’s price is consistently declining, the coin is following a negative trend leading the prices to lower levels. The EMAs and the RSI are trading with a bearish signal. There is also no significant activity in the coin’s community. Therefore, the FIL token’s price may continue to decline to lower levels unless it breaks above the level of $5.030. Technical Levels  Support levels for the Filecoin Coin are: $2.400 and $3.30 Resistance levels for the Filecoin Coin are: $5.00 and $6.300

[bikekharidoblogs]

Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Aurora launched

Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Aurora

Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Gets Aurora Colour Variant At Rs 2.20 Lakh

Royal Enfield has widened the Meteor 350 range by launching the new Aurora variant of the cruiser.

It gets a couple of changes over other variants of the bike and comes with a price tag of Rs. 2,19,900 (ex-showroom, Chennai) which places it between the Stellar and Supernova trims of the Meteor 350.

RE Meteor 350 Thoroughly Overhauled

The new Aurora variant of the Meteor 350 comes equipped with spoke wheels and tube tyres, unlike other versions which get alloy wheels and tubeless rubbers.

Moreover, the engine case, exhaust system, and a few other components have been bestowed with chrome finishing. All of this is done to enhance the retro appeal of the bike.

You may like it : Best Bikes in India 2023

Meteor 350 Aurora tri-tone blue

Royal Enfield Meteor 350 Aurora continues to receive the same J-series underpinnings, the 349 cc air-cooled, long-stroke engine, with 20.2 bhp and 2.75 kgm of torque, mated to a five-speed transmission.

What’s new with Aurora trim?

The trim introduces three new colourways and also debuts LED headlights to the range. Royal Enfield might make the latter feature standard with this range in the future.

You may like it : Royal Enfield Himalayan 452 Production Starts

Meteor 350 Aurora monotone black

As opposed to black treatment on all other trims, Aurora trim stands out in its classic appeal. RE is also giving Aurora LED headlights, a deluxe touring seat, aluminium switch cubes, a Tripper display for navigation and more.

Feature additions

Apart from adding Aurora trim, Royal Enfield has fettled with Meteor 350’s trim-wise features list too. Top-spec Supernova trim now gets LED headlights and aluminium switchgear, taking it a notch higher than before. Astral trim now gets Royal Enfield’s Tripper screen for navigation as standard fitment.

You may like it :  RE Himalayan 452 Easily Clocks Over 140 km/h – VIDEO

With base Fireball trim, Royal Enfield has added a new Black stock colour which is both elegant and standard. Powering RE Meteor 350 is a 349cc J-series single-cylinder, air-cooled motor that kicks out 20.2 bhp at 6100rpm and a peak torque of 27 Nm at 4000rpm.

This unit is paired with a 5-speed gearbox. The same powertrain is found on newly launched Bullet 350 too.

Meteor 350 is underpinned by a dual-cradle J-series chassis which is suspended on 41mm RSU telescopic suspension at the front and twin shocks at the rear. Anchorage duties are handled by a 300mm front disc and a 270mm rear disc which are aided by a dual-channel ABS as standard.

In terms of features, it comes with a semi-digital instrument console, a USB charger, circular LED DRL and a side-stand engine inhibitor, among many.

You may like it : India’s First Kawasaki ZX4R Detailed on Tape

Words from the manufacturer

Speaking about the new range and enhancements on the Meteor 350, B Govindarajan, CEO – Royal Enfield said, “As we reflect on the remarkable success of the Meteor 350 in India and international markets it is evident that the Meteor has struck a chord with many long distance riders and motorcycling enthusiasts. Its dynamic cruising ability and dependable performance have resonated deeply with our riders.

The Aurora range is a result of our constant interactions with our community of riders, where we witnessed a strong inclination towards retro-inspired cruisers. The new colourways and features are sure to elevate the pleasure of pure retro-cruising among our customers.”

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 Blepharitis Drugs Market Size, Type, segmentation, growth and forecast 2023-2030

 Blepharitis Drugs Market

The Blepharitis Drugs Market is expected to grow from USD 1.70 Billion in 2022 to USD 2.20 Billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.40% during the forecast period.

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 Blepharitis Drugs Market Size

Blepharitis drugs are medications used to treat blepharitis, an eye condition characterized by inflammation and irritation of the eyelids. The global blepharitis drugs market is segmented based on type (steroids, antibiotics), application (monotherapy, combination drug therapy), and region (North America, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and Europe). Key players in the market include Akorn Inc., Allergan Plc, Bausch Health Companies, Inc., Novartis AG, and Pfizer Inc. Regulatory and legal factors specific to market conditions may affect the introduction and accessibility of new drugs in the market. The market landscape is highly competitive, with companies increasingly focusing on research and development activities to develop innovative drugs and gain a competitive edge.

 Blepharitis Drugs Market Key Player

Akorn Inc.

Allergan Plc

Bausch Health Companies, Inc.

Novartis AG

Pfizer Inc.

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 Blepharitis Drugs Market Segment Analysis

The Blepharitis Drugs market is a rapidly growing market, and the demand for effective treatment options has been rising significantly in recent years. Blepharitis is a chronic inflammation of the eyelids, typically due to bacterial overgrowth and can cause irritation, dryness, and redness of the eyes. The increasing prevalence of blepharitis, especially in the elderly population, has been a significant driver for market growth. Furthermore, the rising awareness about the condition and the availability of various treatment options have fueled the demand for blepharitis drugs.

One major factor propelling the growth of the Blepharitis Drugs market is the increasing number of prescriptions of topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory agents for treating blepharitis. The growing focus on research and development to develop novel treatment options is also contributing to the market growth of blepharitis drugs. Additionally, the growth in disposable income and the increasing purchasing power of consumers is driving the demand for advanced and effective treatment options.

The latest trends in the Blepharitis Drugs market include the adoption of combination therapy for the treatment of severe cases and the development of customized treatment options based on individual patient needs. Moreover, the increasing use of technology to improve the effectiveness of treatment and the expanding adoption of e-commerce for the purchase of blepharitis drugs are also boosting the market growth.

The major challenges faced by the Blepharitis Drugs market include the high cost of therapy, the stringent regulatory framework, and the shortage of skilled ophthalmologists. Additionally, the lack of awareness about the disease in emerging economies is also a significant challenge for market growth.

In conclusion, the Blepharitis Drugs market is expected to witness substantial growth in the coming years. With the increasing demand for effective and safe treatment options, the market is likely to witness significant advancements in research and development. The key players in the market must focus on developing innovative treatment options and expanding their distribution networks to cater to the growing demand. Additionally, increasing awareness about the condition and its treatment options in emerging economies must be a priority for market growth.

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Market Segmentation (by Application):

Monotherapy

Combination Drug Therapy

Information is sourced from www.reportprime.com