#late stage tax policy

[liberalsarecool]

Republican tax breaks for the wealthy create losses in tax revenues that become debts we borrow with interest to pay, and it gets added to the deficit.

Billionaire welfare is being used to dismantle our society. Republican tax policy is poison for the public safety net.

[sinister-yet-satisfying]

Politicians are lining their pockets at the expense of the human race

Anything less that immediate and drastic action is unacceptable

[danieyells]

. . .I could've sworn I did Ritsu's already. Apparently not. Yuri's one of my favorites and he's the one I chose in the beginning so I'm saving his for when I'm a little better rested(I have Monday off because of another doctor's appointment, so that's the lastest i'll post it)

RITSU IS SO. . .I LOVE HIM. I'll rag on him a lot because he's so tunnel visioned and just like. . .repressed. And he needs to touch grass(figuratively) but also. . .when you've been set from childhood to work and care only for your work and only know your work. . .it's understandable that he is the way he is. . . .

The way he changes as his affinity goes up is very repressed too. . .but you can still see the change at the end a little. He's a very stagnant character. . .but still interesting to look into the mannerisms of.

Hello: (the first time the game is opened after that character is set as home screen NPC. Only happens once per day, unless the character is switched out and back.)

"Any self-respecting inspector would stay comfortably ahead of schedule—I suggest you get into the habit. Let's go—there's no time to waste."

dude this is the 'you've logged in for the first time today' dialogue why are you assuming that i must be late! rude.

You've Got Mail: (whenever there's something in the inbox, usually Arena rewards)

"Did you check that notification yet? We could have a request from a client, so please do so right away."

Default: (requires no affinity, has no time constraints)

"I have been assigned to Sinostra, so I will not allow them to stand trial, no matter how villainous their actions. That is the Shinjo family policy."

"I shall ensure the Gala is held this year, and that Sinostra will wear the Laurel Crown. I have never made a promise I couldn't keep."

boy i can't wait for that to fall through--he, respectfully, needs the humbling.

"I've read the Compendium of Laws countless times since I was a child. Memorizing its contents is a rite of passage for the eldest son of the Shinjo family."

and somehow it ended up an artifact he can use as a weapon? I really wanna know what it does tbh.

"What business do you have with me? Please keep in mind that I charge 5500 yen per half hour for consultations, tax inclusive."

(roughly $35USD, although it's faster to just think of it as $55--) WE ARE BUSINESS PARTNERS. WHAT ARE YOU CHARGING A MFER FOR.

"As long as I have a notebook, my business cards, a binder, paper, and my voice recorder, I can handle the initial stages of any case."

i need my binder every day too ritsu.

Affinity 1: (between 5am and 11am)

"{PC}. Are you aware of the responsibility your position as inspector entails? I suggest you tidy your appearance and wipe that vacant look from your face."

they do not need to be aesthetically in order to be inspector. as long as they're paying attention it may even be better to look vacant. lure them into a false sense of security. also it's easier to pay attention if you're comfortable, in my experience. . . .

Affinity 2: (between 11am and 4pm)

"You've lost your notebook? Just a moment. ...At 9:04 AM, it was inside the photocopier. Yes, I do have that information recorded."

Affinity 3: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Have you seen Taiga Hoshibami? Strange... According to my behavioral model, he should be in the casino at this time..."

Affinity 4: (between 8pm and 5am)

"At the end of each day, I compile information about every person I encountered in my notebook. It always proves useful eventually."

yandere adjacent behavior, except it's for everyone and not just one person lolol

Affinity 5: (between 8pm and 5am)

"The vice-captain has asked me to organize some documents. Let's start by making copies of everything in case the originals become lost or damaged."

Romeo has a line that references this as well!

Affinity 6: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"I always have my business cards on hand. It should go without saying—any lawyer who fails to gain their client's trust during the first meeting is not worth their salt."

Affinity 7: (between 11am and 4pm)

"A post-meal coffee must be drunk black. Unnecessary additives only interfere with the natural flavor."

Affinity 8: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"Until the age of three, I spent my days visiting the greatest sights the world has to offer with my mother, as from four my studies would prevent me from doing so."

is that child abuse? i think that's child abuse. you learn the source of ritsu's problems very early on in his affinity--he has had zero normal social interaction opportunities and no childhood. From birth until he stopped being a toddler he was just flying around the world looking at beautiful things, no stability in his location or world aside from the presence of his mother, and then he went home and probably basically got locked away to study law the moment he could sort of read. His whole existence was molding him to work. . .Subaru is similar, even down to what age they were forced to start preparing to work at. But Subaru is at least better adjusted, probably because acting awarded him better opportunities to try and think about how other people think.

Affinity 9: (between 8pm and 5am)

"According to my behavioral model, there is a 29% chance that Taiga Hoshibami is currently at the baccarat table."

Affinity 10: (between 10pm and midnight)

"I review the day's coursework for two hours then prepare for the next day's classes for three— no more, and no less. Six more minutes of silence, please."

WHERE DO THE RECORDINGS COME IN TO THIS. This mans somehow has 40 hour days. Maybe his artifact slows down time or something lol

Affinity 11: (between 5am and 11am)

"Good morning, {PC}. We have a meeting at 3 PM today, so please adjust your plans accordingly."

Affinity 12: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Darkwick Rulebook Article 183: "For the protection of anomalies, unnecessary running indoors is prohibited." This rule has been in place for over one hundred years."

wait how old is this school? how old is the Institute???

Affinity 13: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"All right. We need to organize our notes from today's investigation, so let's relocate to the diner. Our usual booth, of course."

Affinity 14: (between 5am and 11am)

"The content of our classes may be novel, but I topped the year in the scholastic ability test—they are nothing I can't handle."

so among the first years' scholastic ability tests, Ritsu was 1st, Leo was 2nd, Sho was 5th. Considering there are only four new first year ghouls then that must include the general students too. I wonder where Ren placed? Probably not very high. But still, Ritsu is a genius. . .or at least very very good at memorizing information. Lots of book smarts, minimal other smarts.

Affinity 15: (between 5am and 11am)

"As your business partner, I request that you improve your conduct. Please refrain from consenting to any further uncompensated labor."

Affinity 16: (between 11am and 4pm)

"Our Anomalous Law classes are truly fascinating. There is a long history well worth learning about— though of course, I have already mastered the basics."

Affinity 17: (between 10pm and midnight)

"I cannot afford to be complacent, even before bedtime. It's vital that I check the day's notes again to ensure nothing has been missed."

Affinity 18: (between 8pm and 5am)

"I set time aside in the evening to watch opera performances online. It allows me to get my thoughts in order, and provides a change of pace."

when??? what time??? because he has to review all of the audio recordings and notes from the whole day--what time does he have to do anything in???

Affinity 19: (between 10pm and midnight)

"I just finished checking my recordings from today. You sighed a total of four times— is something troubling you?"

i love the vibe of this. rather than silently nothing your sighing and potential exhaustion or scolding you for not caring for yourself, he expresses concern towards you. also, it's so soft yandere. like he already records everything you say and do, to confront you over it on top of that he shamelessly defends his recording and notetaking. . .if not for that he recorded everyone it would really be so yandere lolol. instead it's just his odd and overbearing way of showing he's beginning to care.

Affinity 20: (between 5am and 11am)

"You struggle to get up in the morning? I can contact you each day at a set time if you like, but I'll have to think about how much to charge..."

affinity 20 and my guy still wants to charge for his time. . .we're gonna have to teach him to have A Singular Normal Social Connection aren't we. and we're probably gonna fail.

Affinity 21: (between 11am and 4pm)

"You wish to have lunch with me? All right. We are business partners, so I will accompany you free of charge."

wait maybe i spoke too soon.

Affinity 22: (between 4pm and 8pm)

"This is for you, {PC}— it's the takeout coffee I often purchase. Your performance will decline if your mind isn't sharp."

his increased attachment is shown in the bare minimum of understanding normal human social interaction and caring for you by sharing his things and his time without charge. In trying to make you the best you(from his perspective) that you can be. Because that's what his parents did for him--so surely that's the best expression of love he has, aside from obsessive study and understanding.

Affinity 23: (between 8pm and 5am)

"I feel we made solid progress toward the reinstatement of the Gala today. Let's reconvene again tomorrow and continue working together to realize our goal."

Affinity 24: (between 10pm and midnight)

"Could I ask you to accompany me a little longer, {PC}? I realize it's outside of business hours, but...I would appreciate it if you could make a special exception."

He wants to spend time with you. And he's realizing he can just ask that. But he's so entrenched in legal and business mannerisms he doesn't know how to say "i want to be around you for longer". You're his business partner. It's bad form to request your attention outside of work, it has no value towards your goals and business efforts, but. . .that he's making a sort of formal appeal for your attention outside of work is as far as he can get in terms of expressing his affection right now.

Affinity 25(max): (no time constraints)

"It seems we make better business partners than I would have expected. I look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with you."

kind of comical that his max affinity line is still so formal after a more friendly 'please spend time with me late at night' 24th. . .but also, he wants you to be his business partner for longer. i think that counts towards something! It's a reason to stay with you! Maybe over the course of your business partnership he'll learn how to express deeper feelings. . .he's going to need an heir, after all--

Spring: (March-May) (between 5am and 11am)

"There has been a noticeable increase in reports of suspicious activity of late. More incidents means more business. Be prepared."

(between 11am and 4pm)

"You have a petal in your hair. A little more to the right. No, not there. Just let me remove it. Hold still."

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"Indeed, the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Incidentally, Japan's oldest cherry blossom tree can be found in Yamanashi Prefecture and is estimated to be 2000 years old."

ritsu would probably kill at historical trivia night.

(between 8pm and 5am)

"I had tempura at the cafeteria today. It didn't come close to the tempura I would eat with my father at the historic soba restaurant we used to frequent though."

Summer: (June-August) (between 5am and 11am)

"This one is for my face, and this is for my body. I have six handkerchiefs with me— enough for morning, noon, and night. I cannot let my opponents see me sweat."

why's this giving me ace attorney prosecutor energy. . . . .

(between 11am and 4pm)

"I witnessed a half-naked man running around in this vicinity. Did you see him? He is risking a charge of indecent exposure."

but we saw Kaito in his underwear and you said that meant he wasn't at risk of indecent exposure. . . . . . . .

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"The warmer it gets, the more of a racket people make. Honestly, how were these people raised?"

to relax and have fun during the summer break. . .you should give it a try.

(between 8pm and 5am)

"You want to go and watch the fireworks? A rather childish request, but all right. So? Where would one go to view them?"

FIREWORKS DATE FIREWORKS DATE just don't touch him without getting his consent first that could be counted as sexual harassment and he'll Get Your Ass.

Autumn: (September-November) (between 5am and 11am)

"The weather is much more pleasant for going out on professional errands now. A first-rate lawyer keeps their boots on the ground. Now then, let's get going."

(between 11am and 4pm)

"I object to the cultural assumption that fall is the season of the arts. The arts should be enjoyed throughout the year, regardless of the season."

you and yuri would get along well i think. until you realize the guy is a medical malpractice suit waiting to happen. then you'd criticize him and he would take that so poorly.

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"Once I've perused the relevant documents in the library, I plan on doing some reading. Please excuse me."

(between 8pm and 5am)

"The nights may grow longer in the fall, but daylight hours should not affect the time you rise and retire. I'll see you tomorrow."

Winter: (December-February) (between 5am and 11am)

"I have detected a change in how Taiga Hoshibami divides his time since the weather has taken a cold turn. It has created quite a quandary for me..."

yeah he doesn't like getting out of bed when it's cold. he also eats a lot more, like a bear about to hibernate. shockingly behavior patterns tend to change with the seasons.

(between 11am and 4pm)

"I've never experienced snowfall heavy enough to obstruct my movement, but I'd like to deepen my knowledge of the phenomenon for future reference."

to frostheim then! i'm sure that place is just awful for movement in winter.

(between 4pm and 8pm)

"I'm heading to the diner to fulfill a request from Ren Shiranami. Perhaps I shall enjoy a warm bowl of soup while I'm there."

. . .I wonder if this is an Obey Me!Raphael situation where he has no grasp of that the food is not good. . . .

(between 8pm and 5am)

"People say that hard work is the key to success, but it only took me a year to master German—as was the case with Italian and French."

His birthday: (January 13th)

"Indeed, today is my birthday. I've always celebrated this day by enjoying my mother's cooking, but from this year I am striving for a more self-reliant existence."

MAMA'S BOY MAMA'S BOY tbf up until he was 3 his mother was probably his only social connection and then he was locked away studying so. . .his mom is probably the only one he has like. . .personal feelings and attachment for. you'll be a tradwife too :) but also that he's trying to be more self-reliant at darkwick. . .that really does explain that he's like. not used to any sort of social interaction or doing things he hasn't been told to do by his parents. maybe in his time at darkwick he'll realize how good it feels to just. . .be a person. dedicate time to fun and relaxation. realize that work isn't everything. or maybe he'll be so judgemental towards the lifestyles of others he'll retreat even further into his current habits.

Your birthday:

"Happy birthday. A year older, a year wiser. I have high hopes for your performance in the coming year."

New Years: (January 1st)

"Happy New Year. Let's devote these next 365 days—or 8760 hours—to finding fitting solutions to the challenges that come our way."

what if it's a leap year. can we take the extra day off?

Valentine's Day: (February 14th)

"Thank you for the chocolates. Are you gifting them to me out of social obligation, or is this an expression of affection? Your answer will influence what you receive in return."

(for the uninitiated, that is very much a thing in Japan where on valentine's day a girl give some men in her life--like coworkers--obligation chocolates, which are generally not as nice and most likely store bought, although this practice is losing ground. friends get friendship chocolate and you give people you're actually attracted to or in a relationship more extravagant, expensive, or homemade chocolates to express your true feelings or a desire to be in a relationship with them. Ritsu is essentially asking 'is this because we're coworkers or are you asking me out' because White Day is the day for return gifts in response to given valentine's day gifts, and in the case of chocolates given to someone you wanna go out with they can act as a response to that proposal. presumably if you're asking him out he wants to give you chocolate to agree to get with you, since he's bothering to ask. . . .

White Day: (March 14th)

"White Day has its roots in Japan, having been invented by a certain historic confectionery shop. With that knowledge, please accept this."

'here's some trivia. and some chocolates. we are now in a relationship. should this be as fruitful as our business partnership, we can discuss marriage plans within the year.'

April Fool's Day: (April 1st)

"The spreading of false rumors is subject to strict punishment under Article 233 of the Penal Code. Do you still intend to continue this ruse?"

NO FUN ALLOWED.

Halloween: (October 31st)

"Coercing another party to choose between a "trick" or a "treat" could amount to intimidation. Engage in such festivities at your own risk."

NO FUN ALLOWED PART TWO: ILLEGAL BOOGALOO.

Christmas: (December 25th)

"Religious freedom is guaranteed by Article 20 of the Constitution. If this is a day that you wish to celebrate, then I will accept that."

he can't make you work on religious holidays you need off!!

Idle: (about 20 seconds without interacting with the game) (below 13 affinity)

"Five seconds have elapsed. Yes, that is how long you've kept me waiting."

(13 affinity and above)

"How long do you intend to keep me waiting? As always, I am on a tight schedule today. Please hurry up."

Absent: (logging in for the first time in 2 or more days?)

"I've been expecting you, {PC}. You weren't planning on breaking your promise to me, were you?"

SUCH A HARD-WORKING, SOCIALLY INEPT LAD. But Ritsu's a lot of fun, I give him a lot of shit and i desperately need him to touch some grass and get a reality check and learn about how others live and maybe experiment. . .but like i love him for being such a little shit. he's so. . .ignorant to the rest of the world and how other people are. . .i love seeing him try and dissect other people's behavior and intentions and coming to the conclusion that they must want the same things as him because he just. . .has no grasp of interests and intentions that aren't his own. . . . It makes me facepalm but also makes me laugh 8'D good boy. quality boy.

[acti-veg]

i know this might sound like a stupid question but how does capitalism keep going if so many people are against it?

It isn’t a silly at all, it is a question debated by sociologists and political philosophers to this day. Personally, I see the most relevant factors being the disempowerment of the working class, and the apparatus of the state.

Under capitalism, the capitalist class are empowered by the perpetuation of this economic system. They gain the ability to politically lobby, to ‘donate’ to parties who promise to serve their interests, to dictate economic policy and continue to enrich themselves through the alignment of public policy with their own interests. Meanwhile, the working class become more disenfranchised and disempowered, the unions are broken up, and there is a vast media empire hell-bent on turning us into mindless consumers who lack the time or energy for political engagement.

Related to this is the fact that the state and its apparatus mainly function to prop up the capitalist class. State-sponsored violence is used to keep the people in check, public funding taken from our taxes is used to subsidise low wages, to maintain critical infrastructure that corporations depend on, to protect o enforce policies that disproportionately benefit the rich and to educate the people to be docile consumers and workers.

The state also helps moderate some of the worst excesses of capitalism, at least in rich countries. The welfare system theoretically cushions against absolute poverty, it can hinder the abilities for corporations to just murder people in broad daylight, and can enforce some basic human rights. This is all secondary to the goal of capitalism though, and none of these things are ever allowed to interfere with profit.

Consider the fact that anti-capitalism is never on the ballot. Nobody gets a referendum on capitalism. In the UK election we had Labour and conservatives, but both candidates were pro-capitalists pushing a neoliberal agenda. Much was made of the difference between Kamala and Trump, but they are also both neoliberalist politicians who favour the interests of the rich. The rare occasions where we do see a truly anti-capitalist option, the media, trade organisations and global powers collude to crush them.

So the only option left is revolution. But the market and the state have broken up traditional communities, and convinced everyone that we’re are individual consumers instead. The social safety net is gone, but with that, so have worker communities and the power they once wielded. Organsing is harder now than ever, and new protest laws and redefining of ‘terrorism’ means that the state can intervene before you can ever get a movement off the ground. Capitalism is self-perpetuating.

It cannot last forever though. Growth cannot continue indefinitely, finite resources cannot be consumed indefinitely, and living standards cannot be pushed down indefinitely before people start to crack. We are already seeing the beginning of this now. Too many people have no stake in society, no property, no job security and no hope for the future. We are in late stage capitalism, it just depends if we destroy it or it destroys us.

[militantinremission]

The 2024 Presidential Debate: Time for New Blood?

In a word, The 1st Presidential Debate of 2024 was BRUTAL! Both Candidates took personal shots at each other; but Joe Biden- to his Credit, offered more Substance than Donald Trump. Trump avoided questions on rising Child Care Costs, Drug Overdoses, & Israel's 'War On Gaza' to name a few, but Biden wasn't able to capitalize on his lack of Policy Measures. Joe Biden came across as 'Too Old for Primetime', & appeared to be regurgitating Talking Points more than confidently articulating his Agenda for the next 4 Years. Donald Trump rambled on & embellished the truth for most of The Debate, instead of answering questions directly. BOTH had moments where they were less than honest. Trump focused on Biden's Job Performance more than articulating his Own Agenda for the next 4 Years. Joe Biden seemed more cognizant AFTER The Debate, than during it.

Donald Trump- to his Credit, was more reserved than he was in the 2020 Presidential Debates. Ironically, it was Joe Biden who initiated the insults, but Trump apparently didn't take The Bait. BOTH performances were subpar for a Presidential Candidate; I understand why Robert Kennedy Jr. was kept off that Debate Stage. NEITHER Candidate offered a Real Solution to Black Specific Issues. Instead, Both pivoted to the Reliable Standard of including 'Hispanics' & 'Minorities' into the Black American conversation. Donald Trump commented that Illegal Immigrants were stealing 'Black Jobs'. Mainstream Media & some Blackfolk were insulted by the statement, but Black Men have been literally pushed out of Union Jobs; particularly in the Field of Construction, in favor of Immigrants. People seem to forget that Black Men have traditionally been Blue Collar Workers. Trump is a virtual King of 'Off Color Comments', but many of Us understood what he was trying to say.

From a Black Perspective, the pivot away from Black Specific Issues speaks volumes about BOTH Party Agendas. Most Black Americans can't afford HBCU Tuitions, so funding them is a Moot Point to Us. Offering Black Students Free or Lower Tuition to State Universities would make more sense. Joe Biden offered a $10K Tax Credit to Black 1st Time Home Buyers, but didn't elaborate on it. He appeared strongest on the topic of Abortion, but allowed Trump to flummox him on the topic; particularly Late Term Abortions. Donald Trump appeared strongest on the issue of Immigration & put Biden on the spot several times, but didn't offer a Specific Agenda on how he will tackle it. Trump also lacked a Policy for lowering Inflation, other than extending his Tax Cuts to Corporations. Joe Biden's Economic Plan, is the continuation of 'Bidenomics'- A Plan that many are already concerned about.

Political Analysts & Pundits covering the Debate were quick to point out Joe Biden's performance. Most felt that he missed several opportunities to catch Donald Trump in blatant lies; they also questioned his Physical & Mental Fitness. He was supposed to reassure his Base that he had the Strength & Mental Competence to Serve another 4 Years, but critics are questioning his ability to finish the 1st Term of Office. Several Democratic Strategists called Biden "feeble & weak". Joy Reid said that Dems she spoke w/ are bordering on 'panic'. Rumors are spreading of a possible intervention asking him to step down, but it might be too late to change Candidates. CNN was accused of Stacking the Deck in favor of Joe Biden, but Trump appeared comfortable w/ the format. Both Moderators allowed Donald Trump to embellish w/o fact checking him; was that their job, or Biden's to do?

Democrats are calling Joe Biden's performance 'A Bad Night' (citing a Cold & scratchy throat), while the GOP applauds Donald Trump for 'Doing what he had to do'. I thought that BOTH Candidates were mediocre. Trump is being congratulated for Side Stepping questions & presenting a Vision of Smoke & Mirrors. Biden took a week off to prepare, but instead of repeating his State Of The Union Address performance, he stumbled through most of the Debate. Mainstream Media tried to predict This Debate would rival the Kennedy vs Nixon Debate of 1960, but it wasn't even close. The best dialogue between the Candidates, was about their Golfing Handicaps. America deserves a President that will move Us forward, but We have 2 'Old Dudes' caught up in their Own Egocentricity.

Donald Trump admitted that he's only running again, because he didn't see a GOP Candidate that could defeat Joe Biden. There are GOP Moderates out there that Republican Leadership & Voters could legitimately support. A few might even sway Independents, Libertarians, & disaffected Democrats; but grassroot support for the 'MAGA Agenda' has silenced most, out of fear of being labeled 'RINO'... I thought that This 'Pre Baby Boomer' Generation was willing to pass the baton when Barack Obama was Elected, but it seems like they've Doubled Down since he left Office. We currently have a Congress run by folks adamant about holding Power until it's pried from their Cold Dead Hands. The World Dynamic is changing & America needs to adapt. The Era of 'Neo Conservatives' & 'Neo Liberals' has run its Course- BOTH allowed the development of a Plutocratic Billionaire Class that has literally choked the Middle Class.

The Future Generations of American Society are NOT expected to outperform the previous Generations. Gen. Z in particular, is DROWNING before They can even Start; but Our 'Elder States[Wo]Men' don't seem fazed by This. They ALL seem content w/ taking The Country Down w/ them.

-It's TIME for New Blood!

[apprenticesofdeweyhigh]

US-elections again. Can't believe it. It's the third time of Trump against an other candidate, and still it is such a close race. Which leaves me wondering. I can understand having different opinions, but still this amount of votes for Trump with his extreme positions? Even as in the US-system not every vote counts the same by their election system. For me, Trump is an incarnation of an ego-trip, which doesn't care about others. Low-tax-policy, attempts to restrict the health-insurance Obama-Care. Establishing a system with parameters, which governs people with a good starting position to develop even more force. Reverse, being a disadvantage for most people – independent whether being democratic or republican or neither.

Plus his politics against immigrants – such an irony, as "his" America consists purely of a late-generation of immigrants. Why is this possible? More or less, maybe because he promises ease. The easy way, the simple answers, which have to be repeated and repeated as there is no deep truth behind, anything more to say. Make America great again? America is great. And it never was as great as the promise promises – it always had problems with economic downs, racism, poverty, unequal opportunities.

The America people dream of, I doubt it ever existed. It's a promise of a never-happened past. The power of dreams lies in the unrestricted potential of them, the lifted boundaries. Dreams can be close to illusions. But when dreams should become real, they should start from reality, learning from the past to go into a better future. And withstand questioning. Is Trumps dream the dream of the people voting for him? I think it is not. Trump is living his own dream, trying to change the perception of reality. His dream is using the dreams of others, and paradoxically they grow together. The abuser doesn't have to take the right actions. He only needs to control the vision.

Anyway, I wanted to re-post an art piece I did four years ago. Not here, as I don't want to do reposts but on my instagram-channel, where it was not yet. In addition, I thought of doing a collage (which means kind of a double-posting, how...productive?) Yet I didn't have any idea. I also wanted to do it simple, without too big signs, at least some – like pictures of poverty. Instead, I choose a picture of afghanistan, representing a part of Americas younger past, loaded with so many aspects. A picture of wall-street, and of an American Suburb. Unclear in the fog.

PS.: As there is SO much speach of Trump against mexicans, I just want to pronounce that one of the best film-directors, Alejandro González Iñárritu, is mexican, and one of the greatest comedians, Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias, is the son of a mexican mother. So instead building walls, maybe they should build cinemas and stages.

[call-sign-foxtrot]

A Neo-liberalistic Nihilistic Manifesto

Economic Policy meets Existential Despair

In this grim guide, we'll delve into the depths of neoliberalistic nihilism and explore the realities of navigating the market-driven hellscape. In this journey through the corners of capitalism, where the only certainty is uncertainty, and the only currency is cold, hard cash. History? A meaningless series of market fluctuations. Morality? A subjective construct hindering your consumption choices. Truth? Fungible and for sale to the highest bidder.

Step 1: Embrace the Market Abyss

In this wild west of capitalism, the invisible hand of the market reigns supreme, guiding through the chaos of supply and demand like a blindfolded stumbling through a minefield. Forget about regulations or ethical dilemmas – profit is the only compass you need. The market will definitely reward your...gestures vaguely...audacity with untold riches (or bankruptcy, but hey, it's all meaningless anyway). But in this world, failure is but a temporary setback, a stepping stone on the path to greater success. After all, what does it matter if we lose it all, if the game is all that matters?

Step 2: Find Meaning in Materialism

In this world devoid of inherent meaning, material possessions become our gods. So go ahead, splurge on that designer handbag or the latest iPhone – they're the closest thing to existential fulfilment money can buy. With each purchase, we are not only filling the void within, but also contributing to the great capitalist machine that powers our world. And in doing so, we are becoming the ultimate consumers, the apex predators of the consumerist jungle. Just ignore the sense of emptiness that creeps in when you realize that no amount of consumerism can fill the void within. So why not treat yourself to that dopamine rush you get from scoring those limited-edition drops? It's basically the same feeling as finding true happiness, only slightly less sustainable and much more expensive.

Step 3: Exploit, Exploit, Exploit

In the pursuit of profit, nothing is off-limits. Exploit cheap labor in developing countries? Check. Dodge taxes like a like a ship vanishing into fog? Double check. Destroy the environment faster than you can say "climate change is real"? Triple check. In the grand scheme of things, morals are just roadblocks on the way to wealth. "This all sounds so...unethical." And you're right. It is. But in the world of business, morals are just a luxury that only the weak can afford. So, if you want to make it to the top, you'd better be prepared to leave your conscience at the door. Who needs a clear conscience when you have a yacht? Or a private jet? Or a mansion on a hill?

Step 4: Rinse and Repeat

Congratulations, you're now a card-carrying member of the neoliberalistic nihilist club! But remember, the journey is never truly over. As you navigate the waters of late-stage capitalism, always keep one eye on the bottom line and the other on the abyss. Who knows, maybe one day you'll achieve true enlightenment – or at least a slightly bigger offshore bank account. Perhaps we will find the freedom we so desperately crave – or perhaps, more likely, we will find nothing at all.

Step 5: Await the End

Now all that remains is to await the inevitable collapse – the final unraveling of civilization as we know it. Embrace the pain, the anguish, the existential despair – for in the depths of suffering lies the only semblance of truth we will ever know. Let it wash over you like a tidal wave, drowning out the hollow echoes of consumerism and capitalist excess. For in the end, it is our suffering that defines us – not our fleeting moments of happiness or success.

Disclaimer: This is Satire. Repeat: "There is only the market, and the market is good..." (except when it isn't, but hey, that's the thrill of the gamble, right?).

[xtruss]

Obituary: The Scandalous Life and Career of Silvio Berlusconi

The Former Italian Leader Loved Topless Women and Vladimir Putin but Hated Being Compared to Donald Trump.

— June 12, 2023 | By Barbie Latza Nadeau | Foreign Policy

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrives for a news conference at the Chigi Palace in Rome on May 26, 2010. Alberto Pizzou/AFP Via Getty Images

Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s longest-reigning post-World War II leader, wanted nothing more than for people to love him. Whether he was on the global stage or the stage of the cruise ship where he first worked as a singer, the former Italian prime minister, who died Monday at 86, was always working the crowd in a desperate search for approval.

Though Berlusconi officially left politics in a black limousine in November 2011—delivering his resignation to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in Rome’s Quirinale Palace—he remained highly influential as a political powerbroker until his death.

It was a confidence vote over tax fraud allegations that forced his departure from office. After resigning, the former statesman sat slumped in the back of his dark limo as his driver slalomed through unfriendly crowds that lined the route to his tony villa, the Piazza Venezia. Spectators popped champagne corks in his direction, threw coins, and spat at his car yelling profanities and calling him a mafioso and a thief. A small ensemble played the “Hallelujah” chorus from George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah.” It was a spectacle only Italians could pull off with such flair.

Berlusconi mingles with supporters during a rally for his Forza Italia party in Rome on Feb. 6, 1994. Franco Origlia/Getty Images

Another government collapse meant little in Italy, but there was something spectacular about Berlusconi’s fall from grace. The “Teflon Don,” as he had been known before finally being ousted, was tarnished by a sex scandal in 2010 involving then-17-year-old dancer Karima El Mahroug, whose stage name was “Ruby Rubacuori” (Ruby Heartbreaker). Berlusconi had sprung her from a Milan police station after she called one of his assistants, who was aware that Ruby knew a lot more than most young women in Berlusconi’s lewd circle. The Ruby scandal started with Berlusconi’s office calling the Milan police station to say the young woman in question was Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak’s granddaughter, which she was not. What she was, though, was a regular fixture in the “Bunga Bunga” parties the prime minister, also known as “Il Cavaliere” (The Knight), held in the basement of his Villa Arcore near Milan.

Women who participated in the soirees during nights of lap dancing for Berlusconi cronies—including strippers costumed as nuns, popes, and former U.S. President Barack Obama—told the courts during many investigations into Berlusconi that they were handed envelopes with cash and little gold necklaces with butterflies on them as payment at the end of each party.

By this time, Berlusconi had already been accused of what in most countries would be full-blown sex scandals but which are in Italy, for reasons not entirely clear, often empowering. Ruby was somehow different, however, not least because she was under the age of 18. The age of consent in Italy is 16, but the age of legal prostitution is 18, and she was—in the eyes of the law—prostituting herself to Berlusconi and his cronies. His defense was that she misled him about her age.

Berlusconi apparently learned the name “Bunga Bunga” from the late Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi, who often pitched his Bedouin tents in some of Rome’s most lavish gardens on state visits and who was himself accused of abducting underage girls and holding them captive as sex slaves. The two leaders had an unusually close relationship, which led to Berlusconi signing a treaty in 2008 that funneled $5 billion to the North African nation to compensate for Italy’s colonization. In return, Qaddafi stopped the flow of African migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya, while warning he could again “turn on the spigot and turn Europe black.” Berlusconi’s face even graced Libyan passports in the years before Qaddafi was killed during Libya’s civil war.

Then-Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Berlusconi confer during a news conference at Villa Gernetto in Lesmo, Italy, on April 26, 2010. Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Berlusconi’s legacy ebbed and flowed as those he chose to embrace rose or fell into disgrace. He was considered U.S. President George W. Bush’s “second-best European friend” and stood up for U.S. President Bill Clinton when he was found to have had a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. But it was his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin that would prove his most difficult and most damaging.

The two men made headlines when an escort wrote in her 2008 tell-all book that she had sex with Berlusconi in his Rome residence on a four-poster bed he referred to as “Putin’s bed.” The white bed, which she described as “having curtains at the top,” was almost certainly a wink-wink gift from one self-considered stud to another. In exchange, Berlusconi gave Putin a comforter cover featuring a real photo of the two men shaking hands and smiling ear-to-ear.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, it took Berlusconi more than a month to condemn the friend with whom he often shared his holiday homes in Sardinia, spawning an enclave for Russian oligarchs. Shortly after the war began, he told reporters that he thought “Europe must make a peace proposal, trying to get the Ukrainians to accept Putin’s demands.” He finally admitted his old friend Vlad was wrong, saying he was “disappointed and saddened” by his actions.

Not unlike former U.S. President Donald Trump—another “Teflon Don” to whom Berlusconi hated being compared—Berlusconi was the first Italian prime minister to lead the country without ever having served as an elected official. Though the two men shared similar styles, Berlusconi was a highly educated man whose grasp on geopolitics was impressive.

During an interview that former Newsweek foreign editor Christopher Dickey and I did with Berlusconi at his palatial Roman abode, he was flanked by aides and assistants he could have called on to answer any question. Instead, he spoke knowledgeably about Middle Eastern politics, named leaders from far-flung countries, provided insights on U.S. political debates, and gave us a read on nearly every country in Europe—how their leaders were faring and what the biggest geopolitical issues were at the time—all while his aides were left to chew idly on their croissants.

A young Berlusconi with his children (from left) Barbara, Luigi, and Eleonora in his villa near Milan circa 1994. Franco Origlia/Getty Images

Berlusconi was born to a bank employee and a housewife in 1936. He would spend years taking his mother Rosa with him to meet world leaders, and she was often at his side at state dinners. She died in 2008. His sister Maria Francesca Antonietta died a year after their mother, and his brother and sometimes business partner Paolo is often in the sights of financial police.

One of his first jobs was as a vacuum salesman, and he moonlighted as a cruise ship singer throughout the 1960s. Later in life, between political successes, he wrote songs and published albums of Neapolitan ballads that are still widely played across Italy.

He graduated with honors from law school in 1961 and married his first wife, Carla Elvira Dall’Oglio, in 1965. Though they would divorce, she is perhaps the only woman who never told the tabloids anything about their relationship. She was maintained financially throughout her life, given a monthly alimony payment that has never been made public but which was apparently enough to keep her from succumbing to the barrage of media requests asking her to talk about her ex. The children he had with her, Marina and Pier Silvio, played crucial roles in his extensive media and real estate investments.

In the 1980s, Berlusconi married his second wife, Veronica Lario, with whom he fell in love (by his own account, during his interview with me and Dickey) when she performed topless at a dance in Milan. He went on to have three children with her (Barbara in 1984, Eleonora in 1986, and Luigi in 1988). They divorced amid spectacular scandal in 2009, when she announced in an op-ed for a left-leaning newspaper that she was leaving him because he “consorts with minors.” He was ordered to pay her an annual alimony of $48 million to maintain the lifestyle he had created for her. By then, Berlusconi was a billionaire many times over.

Berlusconi at the beach in Hammamet, Tunisia, in August 1984. Umberto Cicconi/Getty Images

Berlusconi started his real estate business with a housing development for young professionals in Milan’s smartest suburb, aiming to create a posh enclave for a lifestyle-driven clientele. The money for his initial investment remained of questionable origin until his death, with many prosecutors unsuccessfully trying to prove it was driven by the mafia.

He went on to build a media empire off his real estate profits and was the first to introduce American-style sitcoms to Italian audiences through his first television networks, including Telemilano, which he launched in 1974, and Canale 5, which he started in 1980. He created what is now Italy’s largest commercial broadcaster, Mediaset, importing American programs including “General Hospital” and “Dallas,” with which he was obsessed. But he also introduced rampant sexism with programs featuring scantily-clad women pandering to older men—the women rarely spoke beyond introducing commercial breaks or replying that they didn’t know the answer to a question to open up a segment—a style of TV that persists today and which is blamed in part for the country’s strong patriarchal grip on society.

He continued to invest substantial profits in real estate, publishing, commercial stores, and the AC Milan soccer club, which he runs under the umbrella group Fininvest. That group includes more than 150 businesses and has been the target of perhaps as many investigations, trials, and fines for creative bookkeeping.

Seizing on Italy’s obsession with sports, Berlusconi launched his own political party in 1994 called “Forza Italia” (Forward Italy), the cry Italian fans yell at the World Cup and national competitions. He went on to serve three times as prime minister: from May 1994 to January 1995, from June 2001 to May 2006, and from May 2008 to November 2011.

His tenure was peppered by tax fraud accusations, sex scandals, whispers of mafia involvement, and gaffes. He was convicted of bribery, tax evasion, and having sex with an underage call girl—convictions that mostly were overturned during Italy’s generous appellate process. At least twice, his eventual acquittals were the result of his own government changing the laws. In 2014, he served community service for a tax fraud conviction the previous year.

Berlusconi takes off his face mask to address the media as he leaves San Raffaele Hospital in Milan on Sept. 14, 2020, after being hospitalized for COVID-19. Piero Cruciatti/AFP Via Getty Images

Berlusconi frequently said he had done more for women than anyone else in Italy, including appointing a former topless Perilli calendar model as his minister of equal opportunity. But as much of the rest of the world moved to equalize salaries and combat blatant sexism, Italy remains demonstrably far behind most developed countries. Italy consistently scores low in the World Economic Forum’s annual gender report, with fewer women managers and decision makers than other European countries and extremely low paternity leave benefits, suggesting women are the main caretakers for children.

Berlusconi suffered several health issues, including heart problems that kept him in and out of the hospital—this often happened when he had a trial date for one of his many cases on appeal—and he suffered serious COVID-19 symptoms early in the pandemic. He also suffered multiple lacerations and a fractured nose when someone threw a souvenir statue of the Milan Duomo at him in 2009 as he signed autographs at a campaign rally. In April 2023, he was diagnosed with leukemia.

Yet he remained a powerful figure until the end, even winning a seat in the Italian Senate in 2022. But he will likely be remembered most for his gaffes and scandals, including when he famously called German Chancellor Angela Merkel “unfuckable” on a hot mic and publicly called Obama’s Black skin a “tan.”

Some of his adoring followers called for a state funeral long before he died. His foes blamed him for Italy’s ruinous economic state and hard-to-deny struggle with following rules. For many, it might be tempting to think of him as a pathetic joke, but he was far too wealthy and powerful for that.

Correction, June 12, 2023: A previous version of this article misstated Berlusconi’s comparative time in office.

— Barbie Latza Nadeau is an American Journalist who has lived in Rome, Italy, since 1996. She is the author, most recently, of The Godmother: Murder, Vengeance, and the Bloody Struggle of Mafia Women.

[thepolyamorouspolymath]

I'm guessing a lot of people may not understand what this actually means, and that's sad because it's fucking beautiful.

So the ultrarich pay almost nothing in taxes, because they don't earn salary or wages -- guys like Musk and Bezos probably take the most minimal salary possible, choosing stock or stock options in lieu of cash (This is a legitimate method for start ups to use to get bigger talent than they have cash flow for, it is not an inherently evil tool of late stage capitalist greed.) They then use the value of that stock to take out loans every year, which is not taxable as income (again, that's a legitimate tax policy that is being exploited in a way that makes it hard to close) for whatever cost of living they choose.

(Spectacularly bad policy on the part of banks and these "genius" businessmen who don't grasp that despite measures to prevent a market collapse overnight, a market collapse could very much still happen without a chance to protect assets)

They pay a 5% interest rate to the bank instead of 20% in taxes. It's a neat and perfectly legal way of not paying taxes.

Unrealized capital gains means IF you have assets in excess of 100M (so no this will not apply to pensions or IRAs or normal investment) you will be taxed on the increase in value of your personal assets for the year, because you COULD have had that difference in income if you weren't trying to avoid civic responsibilities.

So when Amazon profiteers on a global pandemic and Bezos' makes $100B in a year in stock value, he would have to pay $25B in tax on that increase.

It maintains all the mechanisms in the tax code for people who we genuinely should want to help encourage -- small business owners, students, anyone with less than $100M in assets... while also creating a way to tax those who can most afford it, in a fully constitutional way.

This is not a new concept, it's long been known that this could be done but good luck getting any support for it among politicians who worship at the altar of "greed is good".

To see the actual nominee of the Democratic party -- one doing exceedingly well, no less -- come back around to representing the liberal economic principles that gave us the longest period of sustained growth in American history and created the middle class as a realistic goal is just stunning. Since Reagan, Democrats have been running away from liberal principles, trying to appear moderate and seeking unity.

For all that Biden has not pursued a lot of further left wing positions, he did start the departure from the need to seem like we are the party of compromise regardless of need, and now Harris is taking it even further by firmly embracing liberal policies.

⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

Conservatives are going nuts oner this

[bllsbailey]

'The CIA Must Get Involved': Trump's Midnight Missives on X Signal a Return to Form

In the early hours of Friday morning, President-elect Donald Trump returned to a familiar antic many Americans remember well: the flurry of midnight posts on X, formerly Twitter, that dominated the platform during his presidency. For the first time since his reinstatement on the platform, Trump served up rapid-fire commentary, unfiltered and unmistakably his, setting the stage for a new chapter in his political saga.

POTUS Purged

Trump’s departure from then-Twitter came in 2021, following the events at the Capitol on January 6th. The platform permanently suspended his account, citing the alleged risk of further incitement of violence.

Twitter wrote in a statement:

After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them — specifically how they are being received and interpreted on and off Twitter — we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence," 

For Trump, this was a yuge blow, as Twitter had been his primary tool for communicating directly with the American public and bypassing mainstream media, which he infamously labeled "fake news."

The Turn to Truth

In response to his de-platforming, Trump invested in creating Truth Social, a platform designed as an alternative for conservative voices. Truth Social was meant to be a refuge for free speech and a way for Trump to maintain his direct line of communication with his supporters. While the platform gained traction among his base, its reach and impact never fully matched the global stage that Twitter provided.

Musk’s Maneuver and Don's Defiance

In late 2022, Elon Musk reinstated Trump’s Twitter account after purchasing the platform and implementing sweeping changes to its content moderation policies. Despite his account being active, Trump initially refrained from posting, focusing instead on Truth Social.

On July 23, 2023, Musk officially rebranded Twitter to X, declaring it "the everything app." Trump resumed posting on X, formerly Twitter, on August 24 of the same year. 

His first post after being reinstated featured his now-famous mugshot taken during his arrest in Fulton County, Georgia. The post has 333 million views to date. 

The image read:

“MUG SHOT - AUGUST 24, 2023, ELECTION INTERFERENCE, NEVER SURRENDER!” 

Following this dramatic re-entry, Trump’s posts began ramping up ahead of the 2024 election season. However, his Friday midnight tirade brings back a dynamic that had been absent for nearly three years.

The Return of Rapid-fire Rhetoric

Publishing four separate posts in the span of two minutes, Trump addressed everything from tariffs to terrorism and the national intelligence agencies. 

In his first post of the series, he wrote:

The Tariffs, and Tariffs alone, created this vast wealth for our Country. Then we switched over to Income Tax. We were never so wealthy as during this period. Tariffs will pay off our debt and, MAKE AMERICA WEALTHY AGAIN!

Next, he turned his attention to President Joe Biden and the impacts of his immigration policies, linking them to terrorism. 

Trump wrote:

With the Biden “Open Border’s Policy” I said, many times during Rallies, and elsewhere, that Radical Islamic Terrorism, and other forms of violent crime, will become so bad in America that it will become hard to even imagine or believe. That time has come, only worse than ever imagined.  Joe Biden is the WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA, A COMPLETE AND TOTAL DISASTER. What he and his group of Election Interfering “thugs” have done to our Country will not soon be forgotten! MAGA

In a separate post, Trump accused the Justice Department, FBI, and Democratic prosecutors of prioritizing attacks on him over protecting Americans. 

Trump called for an immediate CIA intervention, writing:

Our Country is a disaster, a laughing stock all over the World! This is what happens when you have OPEN BORDERS, with weak, ineffective, and virtually nonexistent leadership.  The DOJ, FBI, and Democrat state and local prosecutors have not done their job. They are incompetent and corrupt, having spent all of their waking hours unlawfully attacking their political opponent, ME, rather than focusing on protecting Americans from the outside and inside violent SCUM that has infiltrated all aspects of our government, and our Nation itself. Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for allowing this to happen to our Country.  The CIA must get involved, NOW, before it is too late. The USA is breaking down - A violent erosion of Safety, National Security, and Democracy is taking place all across our Nation. Only strength and powerful leadership will stop it. See you on January 20th. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

The incoming president finished the rapid-fire session by writing, "TRUMP WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!"

As the final days of Joe Biden's presidency drag on, the nation's news headlines paint a grim picture—from violent and deadly crimes on the NYC subway system to a mass casualty New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans. 

Trump’s midnight missives aren’t just a throwback—they’re a preview. With caps-locked declarations and biting critiques, he’s firing up his base and signaling a return to the bold leadership style that defined his presidency. 

For Trump and his supporters, January 20 can’t arrive fast enough.

[willpaul229]

What to Do After Winning an Auction: Equipment Pickup and Installation

Winning a bid at a commercial equipment auction is an exciting achievement, especially if you've secured the machinery or tools you need at a great price. But once the gavel drops and the auction ends, there’s still work to be done. Handling equipment pickup and installation efficiently is key to getting the most out of your purchase. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process smoothly.

Step 1: Confirm Payment and Documentation

After winning your item at a commercial equipment auction, the first thing to address is the payment. Depending on the auction house or platform, you may need to pay in full immediately or provide a deposit followed by the remaining balance within a specific period. Make sure you review the auction terms ahead of time to avoid surprises.

Once the payment is completed, you'll receive documentation like a bill of sale, invoice, or receipt. Keep these documents secure, as you’ll need them for pickup and potential tax purposes. If you're purchasing equipment for your business, consult with your accountant to see if you can write off the expense.

Step 2: Plan for Equipment Pickup

Most commercial equipment auctions have a designated pickup window. Whether you are dealing with a large piece of machinery or smaller items, it’s essential to plan the logistics carefully. Here’s what you should consider:

1. Review Auction Pickup Policies: Some auctions may require that you pick up items within a day or two, while others allow for more extended pickup periods. Be aware of any storage fees for late pickups.

2. Arrange Transportation: Depending on the size of the equipment, you may need to rent a truck, trailer, or specialized transport service. For heavy or oversized machinery, you might require a flatbed or a vehicle with the proper towing capacity. Don’t forget to check for any regulations related to moving large equipment, especially if you’re crossing state lines.

3. Inspect the Equipment Before Leaving: Before loading up your newly purchased item, take the time to inspect it thoroughly. Ensure that it matches the auction description and that there are no signs of damage during storage or transportation. Most auctions sell items “as-is,” but catching any issues beforehand can help you negotiate solutions if necessary.

Step 3: Ensure Safe Loading and Unloading

Moving commercial equipment isn’t always straightforward, especially if the items are large, heavy, or fragile. Safety should always be your priority during this stage.

1. Use Proper Equipment: Depending on the type of equipment, you may need forklifts, cranes, or pallet jacks to move your auction win. Make sure that all handling tools are rated for the weight and dimensions of the equipment.

2. Get Professional Help: If you don’t have experience in handling or moving large machinery, it’s often worth hiring professionals. Many equipment transport companies offer both loading and unloading services, which can minimize the risk of damage and injury.

3. Secure the Load: Once your equipment is on the truck or trailer, make sure it is properly secured using straps, chains, or other tie-downs. Even short trips can result in damage if the equipment shifts during transport.

Step 4: Installation and Setup

Once you've successfully transported your commercial equipment, it’s time to focus on installation. Proper installation is crucial for safety, efficiency, and the long-term operation of your new purchase.

1. Check for Manuals and Instructions: Many commercial equipment items come with manuals or guidelines for installation and use. If the equipment you bought at auction doesn't include these, try to find the manufacturer’s manual online. Following proper installation procedures will help ensure that the equipment works correctly and safely.

2. Hire Experts for Complex Installations: For specialized machinery, it might be necessary to hire a technician or expert to complete the installation. These professionals can ensure that the equipment is set up according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and complies with local safety regulations.

3. Conduct Safety Checks: Once installed, run a thorough safety check. Make sure all electrical connections are secure, moving parts are properly aligned, and the machine operates smoothly. This step can prevent accidents and extend the lifespan of your equipment.

Step 5: Test and Train Your Team

After installation, it’s time to test the equipment and ensure it operates as expected. Run the machine through its paces in a controlled environment to catch any potential issues before it becomes an integral part of your operations.

It’s also important to train your team. Whether it’s a simple machine or complex industrial equipment, proper training ensures your employees can operate it safely and efficiently. This step is especially critical for commercial equipment that has safety risks like heavy machinery, electrical systems, or high-speed components.

Final Thoughts

Winning an auction at a commercial equipment auction is just the beginning. To make the most of your investment, you need to handle pickup, transport, installation, and training with care. By following these steps, you’ll ensure that your newly acquired equipment is not only installed properly but also runs smoothly, adding long-term value to your business. Planning and prioritizing safety throughout the process will help you get the most out of your auction win.

[numberoneangelsublime]

How Long Does the Estate Planning Process Take? Timeline Insights

Introduction

Estate planning is a crucial process that many individuals overlook until it's too late. It involves laying out instructions for how your assets will be managed and distributed after your passing, making it essential for protecting your family’s Gottfried Alexander Law Firm - Austin, TX financial future. But how long does the estate planning process take? This question often arises as individuals contemplate their mortality and the legacy they wish to leave behind. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the timeline of estate planning, breaking down each phase and what you can expect along the way.

The importance of consulting an estate planning lawyer cannot be overstated; their expertise ensures that your wishes are legally sound and effectively communicated in various documents. From drafting wills to setting up trusts, the role of a lawyer is vital in navigating this often complex landscape.

In this article, we’ll delve into various aspects of estate planning, including timelines, costs associated with hiring an estate planning attorney, common questions, and key documents involved in the process.

How Long Does the Estate Planning Process Take? Timeline Insights

The duration of the estate planning process can vary significantly based on individual circumstances. On average, it may take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to complete the entire process. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Initial Consultation with an Estate Planning Lawyer

The first step typically involves meeting with an estate planning lawyer to discuss your needs and objectives. This meeting usually lasts 1-2 hours and allows you to ask questions about what estate planning entails.

What You Should Prepare: Bring an overview of your assets (real estate, bank accounts, investments), any existing wills or trusts, and specific wishes regarding asset distribution. 2. Information Gathering Phase

After the initial consultation, expect another few weeks for gathering necessary documents related to https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/gottfried-alexander-law-firm-austin-tx your finances and personal circumstances. This phase is critical as it provides the foundation for customizing your estate plan.

What Documents Are Needed for Estate Planning? Current wills Financial statements Insurance policies Tax returns Property deeds 3. Drafting Estate Planning Documents

Once all relevant information has been collected, your lawyer will draft necessary documents such as:

Wills Trusts Powers of Attorney Advance Healthcare Directives

This drafting phase can take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks depending on the complexity of your situation.

4. Review Process with Your Lawyer

After receiving drafts of these documents, you should schedule a review session with your attorney. This stage might take another week or two as you discuss any modifications needed to ensure everything aligns with your desires.

5. Finalizing Documents

Once all revisions are made and approved by both parties, it’s time to finalize documents. This could include signing them in front of witnesses or notaries as required by state law—a step that generally takes only a few hours.

[vapehk1]

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) has called on the Mongolian government to reassess its stance on tobacco harm reduction (THR) products. CAPHRA cites compelling evidence from Japan that demonstrates significant health and economic benefits from embracing safer alternatives to smoking. A recent study published in the journal Healthcare indicates that if 50% of smokers in Japan switched from combustible cigarettes to heated tobacco products (HTPs), it could prevent 12 million patient cases and save JPY 454 billion in healthcare costs. This data underscores the immense potential of THR strategies in countries with high smoking rates. Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, stated, "The Japanese example clearly illustrates that safer nicotine products can be an effective harm reduction tool in nations where smoking prevalence remains high and other safer nicotine products are unavailable." In New Zealand, which regulated safer nicotine products as consumer products in 2020, smoking rates have dramatically decreased, enabling the country to be on track to meet its SmokeFree 2025 goal. Mongolia, which faces significant tobacco-related health issues, could greatly benefit from adopting a more progressive approach to THR. Despite the adoption of a Tobacco Control Law in 2005 and a ban on indoor smoking since 2015, enforcement remains weak. Cigarettes are still sold near schools without regulation, and there is no monitoring or fines for violations. Challenges Facing Mongolia:  - Low Taxation and High Smoking Rates: Mongolia has the lowest cigarette tax per pack globally, with prices as low as 836₮ ($0.24). Despite a decrease in smoking rates from 30% in 2000 to 24% today, population growth means the absolute number of smokers remains high. One out of two men in Mongolia smokes daily. - Health Impact: Annually, 4,300 Mongolians die from smoking-related diseases. The country has higher-than-average rates of lung and oesophageal cancers, with about 70% of cancer patients diagnosed at late stages. - E-cigarettes and Misinformation: E-cigarettes were introduced to Mongolia in 2021 but lack regulation. False information about their safety spreads rapidly on social media, creating public fear and misunderstanding. "Mongolia’s current policies treat all nicotine products equally, showing a concerning lack of acceptance for harm reduction strategies," Loucas added. "By ignoring the potential of THR products, Mongolia is missing a crucial opportunity to save lives." CAPHRA's Recommendations for Mongolia:  - Review and revise current regulations to differentiate between combustible cigarettes and less harmful alternatives. - Consider introducing HTPs as a harm reduction tool, following Japan's successful model. - Engage with public health experts and THR advocates to develop evidence-based policies. - Implement a tiered taxation system that encourages smokers to switch to less harmful products. "The time for Mongolia to act is now," Loucas concluded. "By embracing tobacco harm reduction, the country can significantly improve public health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and potentially narrow the life expectancy gap between men and women. We stand ready to support Mongolia in developing and implementing effective THR policies."   CONTACT: Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates) Mobile: +64272348643 Email: Nancy@caphraorg.net Web: https://caphraorg.net/ Read the full article

[jaffetilchin]

A Financial Planner's Playbook for Every Life Stage

A financial planner’s playbook addresses the evolving financial needs of each life stage, from basic budgeting in early adulthood to building wealth and securing retirement in later years. Here’s a guide to navigating financial planning at every stage:

Early Adulthood (20s to Early 30s): Building a Strong Foundation Budgeting and Cash Flow Management: Establishing a budget is the first step. Tracking income, expenses, and setting spending limits helps control finances and avoid debt. Planners often recommend the 50/30/20 rule, where 50% goes to essentials, 30% to discretionary spending, and 20% to savings and debt repayment. Building an Emergency Fund: Setting aside 3–6 months' worth of living expenses is crucial for financial security. Automating savings contributions can make this more manageable. Managing Debt Wisely: In this stage, many are handling student loans, credit card debt, or car payments. Paying down high-interest debt first, while contributing to retirement savings, keeps debt manageable and improves cash flow over time. Starting Retirement Contributions: Contributing to a 401(k) or IRA early builds a habit and takes advantage of compound growth. Even modest contributions can grow significantly over time.

Establishing Stability (Mid 30s to 40s): Growing Assets and Minimizing Liabilities Increasing Retirement Contributions: As income typically increases, raising retirement contributions can help meet future retirement needs. By maximizing employer contributions and contributing to IRAs, individuals can grow retirement assets significantly. Investing in Income-Producing Assets: With a stronger financial base, this stage is ideal for exploring diversified investments, such as index funds, real estate, or mutual funds. Working with a financial planner ensures investments align with both risk tolerance and financial goals. Insurance Planning: Adequate health, life, and disability insurance provide protection from unexpected events that could derail financial progress. Many financial planners advise revisiting these policies as income or family responsibilities increase. Saving for Major Life Goals: Whether it’s a down payment on a home, education for children, or a career change, planners can help set up designated savings accounts or investment accounts tailored to these goals.

Building Wealth (40s to Early 50s): Accelerating Growth and Optimizing Resources Maximizing Retirement and Investment Contributions: This is a key period to catch up on retirement and investment contributions, especially for those behind on savings. Maximizing 401(k), IRA, and HSA contributions can provide a tax-advantaged boost to retirement funds. Education Savings for Children: If saving for children’s education, now is the time to increase contributions to a 529 plan or a similar education savings vehicle. This will help ease the burden of education costs down the line. Estate Planning and Asset Protection: Developing a will, trust, and power of attorney is crucial in this stage to protect assets and ensure that family members are provided for. Planners often help with tax-efficient strategies to protect wealth. Mortgage and Debt Reduction: Eliminating or reducing significant debts, such as mortgages or personal loans, can improve cash flow and free up resources for additional wealth-building.

Preparing for Retirement (Late 50s to Early 60s): Preservation and Income Planning Planning for Retirement Income: Shifting from growth to income-focused investments helps ensure stability in retirement. Strategies like dividend-paying stocks, annuities, or bonds offer predictable income sources. Social Security Optimization: Deciding when to take Social Security has a big impact on retirement income. Planners help analyze factors such as life expectancy, health, and retirement needs to maximize benefits. Reviewing Healthcare and Long-Term Care Options: Anticipating healthcare costs is essential as these expenses often increase with age. Evaluating long-term care insurance options can protect savings from being depleted by high healthcare costs. Reducing Investment Risk: As retirement nears, planners often recommend reducing risk by reallocating assets to more conservative investments to safeguard accumulated wealth.

Retirement Years (65 and Beyond): Managing Wealth and Legacy Planning Implementing a Withdrawal Strategy: Drawing income sustainably is crucial to ensure that savings last. Common strategies include the 4% rule or using a bucket strategy, where funds are divided into accounts for short-term, medium-term, and long-term needs. Minimizing Taxes: Tax-efficient withdrawals from retirement accounts (like converting to Roth accounts or withdrawing from taxable accounts first) can help minimize taxes. Planners can also help time withdrawals and account distributions for tax efficiency. Legacy and Estate Planning: With an established estate plan, planners can assist in developing a legacy strategy, including charitable giving, trusts, and asset distribution that aligns with the client’s wishes. Reviewing Investment and Healthcare Needs: Ongoing adjustments to investments and healthcare plans ensure that changing needs are met, helping to maintain financial security throughout retirement.

By adopting a staged, life-specific approach, financial planners help clients navigate their financial needs as they evolve, enabling them to build wealth sustainably and achieve peace of mind at each stage of life. Each phase involves specific goals, tools, and strategies that work together to secure a more resilient financial future.

[lepartidelamort]

Greece is the Latest Country to Throw Billions Into the Gooey Pit of “Low Birthrates are an Economic Issue”.

Skip it, retards. Just bring on the Haitians.

Unfortunately, it’s been well-established that breeding has zero relationship to economics, and is instead entirely the result of women preferring to go around getting fucked by strangers instead of becoming wives and mothers.

You can spend infinity money on “programs” and nothing at all will change.

You should have spent that money on hiring rape gangs and some people to do something at abortion clinics.

Life Site News:

Greece plans to spend 20 billion euros on economic incentives aimed at halting the country’s population decline, which Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called a “national threat.” The nation that has been referred to as the “cradle of civilization” now has a fertility rate of 1.3, one of the lowest in Europe, and far below the rate of 2.1 that is needed to maintain the population. In fact, the country now has twice as many deaths as it has births. Last year, Mitsotakis shared during a demographics conference that Greece recorded one birth for every two deaths in 2022. On September 30, a demographic plan to incentivize having children, totaling 20 billion euros, was presented to Greece’s government. The money will be spent on tax breaks, day care vouchers as well as the establishment of day care centers in workplaces, and cash benefits rewards for raising children. Families with three or more children will receive greater compensation.

Family and Social Cohesion Minister Sofia Zacharaki said on October 2 that “the ultimate goal” of the plan “is to improve the standard of living.” She noted that, according to current forecasts, by 2070 the biggest population group will be people over 90 years old. The country is one of many undergoing different phases of population decline headed toward collapse. Greece’s particularly low birth rate may be further exacerbated by the economic hardships plaguing the country, which in July had the second-highest unemployment rate in the EU. Demography experts such as data analyst Stephen Shaw, the creator of the documentary “Birthgap,” are skeptical about whether economic incentives can reverse the trend of population decline. He has noted that even the Roman Empire, in its later stages, enacted policies aimed at increasing birth rates, including taxing the childless. According to Shaw, “No society in history has been known to come out of” the “spiral” of population decline. In his film “Birthgap,” he has documented how declining birth rates in the U.S. and around the world are being driven by an “explosion” in childlessness as opposed to smaller family sizes. This trend of childlessness began to crop up in the 1970s. For example, in Japan in 1974, one in 20 women were childless. By 1977, the ratio was 1 in 4, and by 1990, it had reached 1 in 3, a statistic that held in 2020. Shaw has shared that most countries have likewise now become “childless nations,” where one-third or more people will become “childless for life.”

Here’s the thing: fertile young women already have the ability to get unlimited free money if they want to have kids: it’s called marrying an older man with money.

Claiming this is an economic problem when there is literally exactly zero data to back that up beyond women saying that on polls is pathological.

You can have women’s rights or a replacement birthrate. You can’t have both. It’s that simple. As an absolute matter, when given the choice between having a family and running around getting fucked and having a ball, women will choose the latter. They will only consider children when they are in their late 20s and they realize that their ability to run around getting fucked by high value men is running out.

Is Afghanistan a really economically stable country? Where they live in caves?

Because they have a birthrate that is more than double replacement.

Maybe it’s because they don’t have women’s rights, huh?

I always hated the saying “you can’t have your cake and eat it too,” because you can eat a cake if you have it, and what else would you do with it? Go to the hospital and use it to smother some Jew-loving boomer? Despite that stupid saying, however, some things are incompatible with one another, and women’s rights are incompatible with sustaining population levels.

The “economic argument” here is so obviously wrong that it is just incredible that people all over the world keep saying this.

Andrew Anglin

[alixezae]

Tw: r4pe mentions, sexual harassment, many more

If you vote for Trump know that he makes racist comments, he is a convicted felon, he cheated on his wives also Trump has exacerbated racial hatred in the country since he started his 2016 campaign falsely declaring that Mexican undocumented immigrants are "r4pists"

Trump also falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants are eating the pets of Americans in Springfield,Ohio in an October 7 continues down there!

Even on the website of U.S news staff put him as a bad president

There's history of Trump being accused of sexual misconduct back in 1970s

Jessica Leeds told the New York times in 2016 that, in the late 1970s, Trump, who was a stranger to her, reached his hand up her skirt and grabbed her breasts on a flight to new York. She said he "was like an octopus"

Ivana Trump, Trump's first wife, accused him in a divorce deposition of r4ping her in a fit of rage in 1989, when they were married. She later said that she hadn't meant in a "literal or criminal sense"

Kristin Anderson, a photographer and former model, told the Washington Post in 2016 that Trump sat next to her at a nightclub in the early 1990s and reached under her skirt

There are so many more : 19thnews.org

Trump’s continuously repeated falsehoods about his record as president have convinced many people who find him to be a horrible person, but nevertheless support him because of what Trump says about his term in office.

“Yes, I know, he’s 78, he’s not as sharp as he used to be, he lies all the time, he has cheated on his wives, he makes racist comments, he is a convicted felon, and he tried to carry out a coup after he lost the last elections. But he was a good president,” a Republican friend told me recently. (On the news btw)

On the economy, Trump left the biggest deficit in U.S. history.

Under Trump, the national debt grew much faster than during his successor Joe Biden. Like most populists, Trump cut taxes and spent as if there were no tomorrow, leaving a national debt that will have to be paid by our children and grandchildren for decades.

The national debt rose by almost $7.8 trillion to $28 trillion during Trump’s four years in office, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The debt has kept growing since, but at a significantly slower pace.

As for the country’s economic growth, the U.S. economy under Trump grew by an overall 6.8%. By comparison, it grew by 8.4% in the Biden years.

On the jobs’ front, Trump left office with 3 million fewer jobs than there were when he entered the White House. Granted, that was largely because of the pandemic, but Biden has added nearly 16 million jobs since then.

Granted, inflation was lower under Trump than under Biden. The pandemic disrupted supply chains from China and made consumer prices soar in America in 2021 and 2022. But inflation has since fallen to 2.4%, close to its pre-pandemic levels.

A weakened democracy

On democracy, Trump undermined democratic institutions and the rule of law like no other American president in recent memory. He is the first U.S. president I can remember who tried to stage a coup d’etat to stay in power.

Trump falsely claims to this day that he won the 2020 election, even after more than 60 courts and the conservative-majority Supreme Court found his objections to be unsubstantiated.

Then, he tacitly tried to incite rebellion on Jan. 6, 2021, when he waited for hours before trying to stop a pro-Trump mob from invading the U.S. Capitol in hopes of overturning the election result. He continues to praise the violent rioters who injured more than 100 police officers, calling them “patriots” and government “hostages.”

Emboldening dictators

On foreign policy, Trump weakened America’s standing in the world by picking fights with the closest U.S. allies while at the same time embracing dictators such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Accord and threatened to abandon the U.S.-European NATO military alliance. Trump’s threats to leave NATO significantly damaged the group’s unity and probably encouraged Putin to plan his 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Trump deserves credit for the Abraham Accords to help establish diplomatic ties between Israel and some Arab countries. But if you look at the world in terms of superpower-led blocs, Trump left power in 2020 with a weaker Western alliance and a stronger China and Russia.

Reproductive rights

On abortion, Trump appointed three conservative Supreme Court judges who played a crucial role in overturning Roe v. Wade, a ruling that had made abortions legal in the country for nearly 50 years. As a result, some states banned abortions, and some women reportedly died because they could not get proper medical care to end their pregnancies.

More hatred

On crime, hate crimes increased by 28% during Trump’s term and hate-motivated murders, mainly committed by white supremacists, reached their highest number in 28 years, according to FBI statistics.

Trump has exacerbated racial hatred in the country since he started his 2016 campaign falsely declaring that most Mexican undocumented immigrants are “rapists” and are “bringing crime” to America. In 2017, he said that there were “very fine people” among white supremacists and the anti-racism demonstrators who were protesting against them in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Trump’s racist statements have worsened since. He recently falsely claimed that Haitian immigrants are eating the pets of Americans in Springfield, Ohio. In an Oct. 7 radio interview, Trump said that unauthorized migrants who committed violent crimes have “bad genes,” a language reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s efforts to dehumanize Jews.

Also, in 2020, the last year of the Trump presidency, there was the biggest one-year increase in the number of murders since the 1960s, according the Politifact fact checking website. In addition to the pandemic and the George Floyd riots, Democrats attribute the 30% rise in murders to the relaxation of gun control laws under Trump.

False border promises

On immigration, Trump never completed the border fence nor got Mexico to pay for it, as he had promised in his 2016 campaign. Trump now claims to have built much of the current 654 miles of border wall, but most of it was already in place and repaired or upgraded during his years in office, according to Customs and Border Protection data.

On the COVID-19 Pandemic, Trump scorned face masks and at one point asked Americans to inject themselves with disinfectant to fight the virus. Scientists say many of the 400,000 Covid deaths during his presidency could have been averted if he had exhorted people to get vaccinated.

The list of Trump administration failures goes on and on. So if you are planning to vote for Trump because of something specific he has promised, and you are willing to believe a compulsive liar, go ahead. But please don’t tell me he was a good president: he was a disaster on virtually all fronts.

This story was originally published October 11, 2024 10:12 AM.

I can continue.

America is officially fucked. If any of you voted for that funky ass orange, bowling ball looking ass, racist ass, rapist ass, felon ass, misogynist ass, homophobic ass bitch, please unfollow and block me with all disrespect.