#market consolidation

[odinsblog]

“Only a handful of companies control the cereal market. And the cost to consumer is really interesting because Americans are used to fewer choices. I'm thinking about the impact of Walmart on smaller businesses. The trade-off was that the prices were cheap. But in reality, we are actually paying more because we have less choice.

What's happened is when you have concentrated power over any market, those who have the power get to dictate wages to the workers and also what they pay to their suppliers. And in the food system, that would be farmers, ranchers. And if you look at what's happened in the last 40 years in the United States, we've had remarkably stagnant wages for ordinary Americans and we've had a huge decline in the number of farmers and ranchers and the middleman is able to take the profit.

And that's why you need competitive markets. That's what capitalism is supposed to be about, but what we really have is a form of corporate socialism. And once four companies control about 40% of a market, you don't really have competition anymore because they're able to signal to one another price increases.

They're able to signal to one another how much they want to pay suppliers. A good analogy would be, let's say you want to sell your house. If you're going to sell your house, you want 50 to 60 people really eager to buy it. But if there's only one or maybe two, you're much more likely to get a lower price. And that's what America's farmers and ranchers have now found. And it's devastated the countryside as a result.

But when we go to the grocery store, we go right down any major city street and we see several grocery stores, we actually think we're looking at different stores with different options. And that’s really not true.

You know, when you go to the supermarket, there are thousands of products and you think they're independent companies, but they're made by a handful of companies. The Biden administration right now is trying to block the merger of Kroger's and Albertsons.

These are the two biggest supermarket chains, but you wouldn't necessarily realize it because they operate under dozens of different names. So I'm just going to give you some of Kroger's, for example, supermarkets. Ralph's, Dillon's, Smith's, King's Super's, Fry's, QFC, City Market, Owens, JC, Baker's, Harris Teeter, Pick and Save, Metro Market, Fred Meyer, and then Albertsons's, Safeway, Vaughan's, Shaw's, Tom Thumb, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Cars, King Foods, on and on and on.

So you think you have a choice of dozens of different supermarkets, but it's only two. And if this merger is allowed to go through, it'll only be one.”

—The illusion of choice and the oligopolization of the food industry

[zenosanalytic]

Not just that: the insurance companies OWN THE HOSPITALS

They're the ones who SET THE PRICES FOR THE PROCEDURES

IT'S THE INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THE SURGERY SO EXPENSIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND THEN IT'S THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO REFUSE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S SO EXPENSIVE

Like: this whole system is designed to mask and hide their responsibility, while simultaneously making sure no one else(espcl doctors) is allowed any responsibility at all, but carries the liability(espcl patients).

Abolish for-profit health care insurance.

[kazifatagar]

Markets decline but consolidation expected here

The FBM KLCI fell by 0.2% due to profit-taking in half of its key index components, with the Healthcare sector dropping 1.3%.  Global markets also saw declines: US stock markets dropped after a 50 bps interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve, which also hinted at slower future cuts, while European markets pulled back and Asian markets ended mixed. Consolidation In terms of market outlook,…

[signode-blog]

Trading Strategies Using the Synthetic Call Options

The Synthetic Call options trading strategy is an advanced options trading technique that replicates the payoff of a long call option using a combination of a long stock position and a long put option. This strategy is beneficial for traders who want the benefits of a long call option without actually purchasing the call. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various effective trading…

[dencyemily]

Drawing Parallels to 2020, Cardano's Market Indicates a Possible Upward Surge

Cardano, currently mirroring its late 2020 market behavior, is attracting attention from analysts speculating on potential price movements. Historically, Cardano underwent a significant consolidation phase in late 2020, followed by a noteworthy upward trend, and analysts are now considering the possibility of a similar pattern unfolding in April.

Insights from Santiment, a platform specializing in on-chain and social metrics for cryptocurrencies, suggest that Cardano's price may experience an initial surge, potentially reaching around $0.80. However, analysts anticipate a subsequent correction, with the value retracting to approximately $0.60, aligning with past market fluctuations. This correction, though expected to be brief, sets the stage for a more substantial increase in Cardano's value.

In the long-term outlook, experts foresee a potential surge for Cardano, with projections reaching as high as $7 following the initial fluctuations. This optimistic projection is rooted in a combination of historical market analysis and current trading patterns, providing a hopeful outlook for investors and Cardano enthusiasts.

Despite its current range-bound trading between $0.49 and $0.59, indicative of a struggle between market optimists and pessimists, recent developments highlight increased interest in Cardano. A notable 49% increase in the 24-hour trading volume, reaching $434 million, signals heightened market participation and growing investor interest in Cardano. With a market capitalization of approximately $17 billion, Cardano maintains its position as the 8th largest cryptocurrency, reflecting its growing stature and trust within the crypto community.

[mortallymoonstruckgames]

This Lesbian Visibility Week, consider playing a cute witchy yuri game I made with my wife! 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩🪄✨

[financialhelpneeded]

Please help me overcome my financial crisis and secure my future

I am struggling with my finances for a while now. Despite my best efforts, unable to generate enough income to cover my expenses as my bills have passed my income. I have been forced to rely on credit cards and loans to meet the bills, and my debt has been growing steadily. I am now at a point where I am struggling to make even the minimum payments on my debts, and I am facing the very real possibility of bankruptcy.

I am reaching out to you today because I am in urgent need of $50,000 or INR 45 lakhs(4,500,000) so that i can do partial payment of my debt and my total debt with various banks is $98000 or INR 84 Lakhs(total debt with banks).This will help me pay off my existing debts, cover my basic living expenses. With your help, I can get back on my feet and start building a better future for myself and my family.

I run a website called My Finance Managers (https://myfinancemanagers.com/), where I manage funds for my clients. Unfortunately, due to my own mistake in hiring the wrong people to manage the funds, I incurred huge losses from the stock market in the last 6 months. These losses wiped out all my savings and the entire loan taken from banks. I lost some of the amounts in crypto currencies which are out of trading now. As a result, I am currently living off credit cards and only able to pay the minimum due. The loan taken from the banks to pay off the losses has now become unmanageable, and the bank executives are chasing me for the money. I am left with no other option but to seek help online or face dire consequences. This has been a very bad experience for me, and I am struggling to stay afloat. However, I am determined to turn my situation around and get back on my feet. With your help, I can pay off my debts and start fresh.

If I am able to secure this amount, I will use it to pay off my existing debts and cover my basic living expenses. This will allow me to get out of the cycle of debt and start building a solid financial foundation.

There are several ways that you can help support me:

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3. Encourage: Finally, your words of encouragement and support mean the world to me. Knowing that there are people out there who believe in me and my dreams gives me the strength and motivation to keep going, even when times are tough.

Any help financially or any opportunity to clear my debt i am looking to take. My situation is very worst that i have tried to negotiate with the bankers and try to extend the moratorium period but as the payments are delayed they are helpless.

I am also willing to repay the amount when i am financially strong. If anyone has any guidance or advice on how to handle this situation, it would be greatly appreciated. I am determined to turn things around and get back on track, but I cannot do it alone. Any help or support would be greatly appreciated.

I kindly request you to donate any amount possible to you.

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Please help with kind heart!!

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From the bottom of my heart i thank all the persons who have come forward help me. Your help would save a family.

[mossfueldgoblin]

we are witnessing a slow migration to facebook's threads and its very sad to see, have we learned nothing in the last (bit less than) 2 decades?

[saltyenthusiastpizza]

Weight Loss - It's In The Head

Even for a remarkable online marketer like you, from time to time, you may still loose motivation in continuing the increase of a service or product place. At time, you may seem to have difficulty figuring out why this once fantastic business that got you so excited every morning is making you feel like much weight now.

Somebody pays a great deal of money for their ticket to determine them perform and upward being come across a political opinion from someone who makes involving dollars every twelve months but don't even have a real job, doesn't have to are now living in reality as well as have a clue about people who world! Yeah, right, see about your political views while I'm sitting here waiting turn out to be entertained on your part. That's why I came here that is definitely what I paid for isn't it, you ungrateful clueless idiot. You want to spout off, do it for totally. Yes, free. How about we you perform for free then should say what you want to your own audience. Then it's fair and balanced. After that your audience gets what it's a good idea for.

One that is effective methods to grow your mailing list is to train on a pay-per-lead service where you pay a company to bring targeted subscribers to you can. The company will run an marketing campaign for you and deliver motivated, opt-in subscribers to your list. Training dvd . can vary greatly depending on the information you need. The e-mail lead packages I've been using recently range from $.10 to $.35 per lead.

To determine where the eyebrows starts rolling and end, hold a pencil vertically against the nose. How the pencil meets the eyebrow above the nose should be the Blockchain start.

With Web 1.0, many webmasters relied upon page views identify traffic. Now with Web 8.0, cost per click NFT or pay per click are doing the traffic work. Page views are the same as longer necessary in the actual amount of traffic web page operating generates. Even when you you pay per click advertising is now the Cryptocurrency best indicator.

Of course, this can only be scatching the surface. This entire article is actually definitely an over-simplification associated with very complex subject. You will definitely need professional advice to an individual to through E-Commerce Taxland.

Done right, online dating is growing rapidly a involving fun, and it has a fantastic way to meet some wonderful people . just ask the thousand-plus people we've had submit success stories to us in modern times! So, enjoy it, and follow these ten tips, and hopefully we'll receive a success story a person sometime subsequently.

[oaresearchpaper]

Marketing Abaca Fiber: Insights from Caraga Region Farmers

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the marketing practices and the profitability of establishing Abaca in the Caraga Region. A total of One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty-Six (1256) farmers, Seventy-Seven (77) traders, and three (3) processors were interviewed as the respondents of the study. Their names were obtained from the Philippine Fiber Development Authority (PhilFIDA) and the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of the concerned municipalities of the Region. Data gathering activities included interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs), and stakeholder forums were conducted to validate and gather additional information. The said Focus Group Discussion and Stakeholders’ Forum were attended by the farmers, officers in various cooperatives, traders, representatives from the regional line offices, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAO), Academe, Provincial Agriculture Officer. In the Caraga Region, abaca traders are situated in Agusan del Norte 28 or 36.36%, Agusan del Sur 25 or 32.47%, Surigao del Sur 24 or 31.17% and no traders in the province of Surigao del Norte. The one who sets the price for abaca fiber is the trader/buyer 99.28 % and only 0.71% sets by the farmer. The means of contacting buyers are referrals by the farmers 32.96%; traders will come to the farmers 27.46%, recommended by the Local Government Unit (LGU) 23.88%, and traders who are known by the cooperatives 15.68%. The buyers’ requirements in buying abaca fibers are quality 63.69% and volume 36.30%. Traders engage in buying Abaca for more than 15 years or 38.5%; 1-5 years, 30.12%; 11-15 years, 18.07% and 6-10 years, 13.25%. The means of transporting abaca fiber is through motorcycles 43.37% and hired trucks 56.61%. The estimated monthly volume sold is 1- 5 metric tons or 92.77% and 6 – 10 metric tons. The farmer’s Abaca fibers through Barangay or Municipal Traders, Cooperatives/Consolidators, Baling and Grading Establishment, Processors, and exporters. The issues and concerns for the traders are the following: classification and grading of fiber, cheating abaca bundles where stones inserted to increase weights, abaca fiber not adequately dried, and piles of Abaca are mixed with other fibers. The profitability of abaca farming for 1 hectare /year is the average of P48,000 for a typical farm, while for a good farm is P115,200 – 192,000.

Introduction

The "Manila hemp," known internationally for its world-class fiber, continues to be one of the priority agricultural commodities of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The Philippines supplies more than 87.4 percent of the total abaca fiber market and earns more than $111.33 million in global abaca trade annually (PCA, 2017).

In 2022, as per PhilFIDA data, Caraga ranked third among the top abaca-producing regions in the country with an estimated 10,000 metric tons (MT) of fiber production, next to Bicol Region (1st) and Davao Region (2nd).

Abaca is in great demand in the world market today because of its lucrative value in industries such as making security papers, paper money, ropes, insulators, and other handicrafts. The most important part of the Abaca is the stalk which is the source of the fiber. Abaca fiber is superior to all other natural fibers because of its great strength and its resistance to the action of water. It is three times stronger than cotton, the most potent natural fiber. 

The country’s overall fiber production is estimated at 62,640.63MT, remaining the top abaca-producing country, supplying 85% of the fiber demand in the world.

Pulp, which accounts for 69.2 percent market share of the abaca exports, has reported earnings of $ 79.4 million or an increase of 11.7 percent. Abaca cordage, which grabbed a market share of 10 percent, fell to $ 11.4 million. Fiber crafts exports also fell 67.3% to $3.7 million (The Philippine Star, 2016). The pulp manufacturing industry is the leading end-user of abaca fiber, followed by cordage manufacturing and fiber craft industry. It was reported that due to the increasing use of abaca fiber in specialty paper manufacturing, the demand for fiber among pulp manufacturers is constantly surging, and the trend is expected to prevail in 2014-2019. Among the leading abaca fiber suppliers, Ching Bee Trading Corporation dominates the market in the Philippines, followed by Tag Fibers, Inc. and Selinrail International. 

For the past half-decade, the Abaca industry helped boost the country’s economy from its export earnings with an annual average of P4.7 billion, mainly in the Visayas and Mindanao Islands. Abaca fibers are cultivated across 176,549 hectares of farmlands by over 122,758 farmers. Moreover, in recent years, it has been perceived that aside from the substantial contributions of Abaca to the economy, its utilization can also provide numerous ecological advantages (www.philfida.da.gov.ph, 2019).

With the continuing development of the fiber craft industry in the Philippines, the abaca fiber market has been witnessing a boost due to the growing demand for gifts, toys, and housewares. Moreover, increasing consumer inclination for lifestyle products is further expected to strengthen the growth trend for abaca crafts in the coming years. There are only two significant exporters of abaca fiber in the world – the Philippines and Ecuador, with the Philippines accounting for over 80% of the global production of abaca fiber. In the Philippines, the abaca plant is cultivated across 130 thousand hectares of land by over 90 thousand farmers. 

Asia Pacific was the largest market for abaca fiber in terms of production and consumption over the past few years, and the trend is expected to continue over the forecast period. The Philippines, the world's largest abaca producer, hold a significant market share in Asia Pacific. A considerable portion of produced abaca fiber in the Philippines is internally consumed, while a substantial amount is exported to various countries, including U.S., Japan, and other European countries. The Philippine government supports initiatives to increase high-quality abaca fiber production levels for domestic consumption and export. This is expected to strengthen its market positioning further and open market opportunities for new players over the next seven years (Erie News, 2019).

Thus, this undertaking is critical to fill the data gaps of the recently conducted Value Chain Analysis of the Commodity in the Region. Profiling tells us the actual scenario of how many abaca farmers engaged in this commodity, what support programs they availed in our present administration, what they need, and what other issues and concerns so that our government can also make some intervention programs for our abaca industry.

Major end-user industries of abaca fiber include paper and pulp, fibercraft, and cordage. The paper and pulp industry is the largest end-user industry for abaca fiber, followed by cordage manufacturing and fiber craft industry. Increasing the application scope of abaca fiber in specialty paper manufacturing is likely a critical factor driving demand for abaca fibers in the paper & pulp industry. The rising market for cordage in industrial applications, including the production of ropes for ships, is expected to boost its demand over the next seven years.

Source : Farmers practices in marketing Abaca fiber in Caraga Region

[generalmarketresearch-blog]

Stay up-to-date with Global Debt Consolidation Market research offered by HTF MI. Check how key trends and emerging drivers are shaping this industry growth.

[sunshine-and-kookies]

UNHINGED (m)

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷Summary-> The corporate recession has your company grovelling for funds.

As the relegated chief operating officer, you have to bear the brunt of seeking out an enterprising and successful shareholder who can revive your company for posterity.

As a sorry state of affairs, you're compelled to enlist the CEO of Jeon Enterprise for his help. However, The question remains.

Just how much convincing are you willing to do?

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷Part: 1 of 2

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷Pairing: Yandere Jeongguk x Female Reader

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷Genre: Smut, Angst, Fluff, Yandere

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷Warnings for both parts: Power Imbalance, Blackmailing, Manipulation, inebriation, smut, fingering, groping, penetration, some nasty stuff, light choking, a few corporate jargons, jk is a dick who is smitten with oc, jk is selfish asf, threats of violence (not against OC).

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷Word count: 2.1k

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷Disclaimer: This is a two-shot which delves into themes that may be triggering or dark in nature. It is important to note that the behaviors portrayed by Jungkook are purely fictional and do not reflect his real-life character. Reader discretion is advised. Minors are discouraged from engaging with this content. Remember, plagiarism is a serious offense.

“©© All rights reserved to @sunshine-and-kookies. No translations permitted without explicit authorization.”

°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°˖➴°

"This is unbelievable", you lament, hunched over your desk.

"How did the stocks plummet so much?"

"Miss. L/N, The stock market is a gamble." Mr. Kwon offers.

"I am aware of that Mr. Kwon. But the risks we took were calculated." You massage your temples, grumbling defensively under your breath.

The predicament at hand induced mixed emotions in you. On one hand, you were anxious. Anxious for the employees who have a family to fend for, the news headlines they'll be witnessing and the confrontation you'll need to have with the stakeholders.

On the other, less dominant hand, you felt uncannily relieved.

Ever since your company, Jubilee and Co, invested in the share market with you at the helm, you've been waiting for something to go awry.

Simply, because you couldn't fathom anything remotely auspicious happening under your leadership. Not because you didn't have faith in your capabilities. No.

It was because you've gotten the short end of the stick from life so often that you've grown accustomed to it.

And now that your trepidations have borne fruit, you feel the weight being lifted off your shoulders.

Gingerly clutching the cup of coffee perched on your table, you take a sip. This was not the time to wallow in self pity.

"Mr. Kwon, prepare an excel sheet that has all the consolidated data of the company's capital. We can't afford any delays. I have to begin looking for plausible shareholders."

You could feel the soreness kicking in, as you knead the knots in your shoulder.

It was gonna be a long day.

..............................................................................................................................

You peer at your phone's self camera for the umpteenth time.

Huffing, as you rake your fingers through your hair. Everything about your outfit seemed off but scrounging for a better one would take an eternity. You were living on borrowed time as it is.

"Miss. Y/N L/N, Mr. Jeon is ready for you."

You stand upright, hands clenching the portfolio in your hand futilely, your heels scuffing across the floor of the hallway.

Navigating through the huge corridor, you spot the door of the room where the incumbent CEO sits.

Knocking lightly, you speak "Mr Jeon?"

"Come in."

His husky voice beckons.

Drawing in a shaky breath, you step into the room.

And as soon as you do, you're rendered awestruck by the cabin.

It has expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a panoramic view of the bustling city below.

The golden hour sunlight streaming in through the blinds.

The walls, adorned with exquisite golden motifs, which no doubt must have cost a fortune.

Fitting for a billionaire like him, you suppose.

Right in the center of the room is a rich mahogany desk, cluttered with documents.

Perched behind the desk is Jeon Jeongguk, the formidable CEO of Jeon Enterprises. It is renowned globally as the only firm which deals with technological ergonomics. Their unparalleled success transcended borders, setting the standard worldwide.

Needless to say, Jubilee and Co was a far cry from Jeon Enterprises.

You've read enough tabloids about the cold, formidable CEO to know what might transpire.

On behalf of your company's stakeholder, you'll ask him for help. He'll eye you incredulously, disdain marring his face before he politely calls the security guard to escort this deranged woman out.

You're taking a leap of faith coming here and hoping a tech tycoon like him even spares you a glance.

You hear him take a sharp intake of breath, prompting you to look at him.

His mouth was slightly agape, eyes widened, as he stared at you from across the room.

His gaze trailed your dainty form from top to bottom, eyes darkening the more they consume you.

You shudder.

You should have taken time to look for a more flattering outfit. Or maybe your hair was dishevelled?

Clearing your throat, you politely ask him, "May I take a seat, Mr Jeon?"

Caught off guard, Mr. Jeon suddenly stands up before motioning for you to sit.

"Please do, Miss...?"

"Y/N L/N." , you supply.

"Y/N..." His dulcet voice repeats your name, as though in a trance.

There was an eerie tension in the room but you would be damned if you let it get to you and lose this golden opportunity.

"As the chief operating officer, I'm here to represent Jubilee and Co."

This was it.

This was the part where you'll be catapulted out of the building by big and buff security men--

"How may I be of assistance to Jubilee and Co. today?"

You blanch.

Out of all outcomes you were expecting would ensue your introduction, this was the most unexpected one.

You were not prepared for this, how do you broach the proposal of an alliance now?

Quickly gathering yourself, you resume.

"We are honoured you have decided to give us the time of the day, Mr Jeon."

"Don't mention." His tone, though professional, betrayed a hint of eagerness.

"From what I presume, you're here to ask for an affiliation." He continues.

"Your stakeholders want Jubilee and Co to become a subsidiary under Jeon Enterprises."

You were tongue tied.

Mr. Jeon was an astute man. You'll give him that.

"Yes, sir. That is correct."

"And why, exactly, should I invest in a company that is, for a lack of better word, in shambles? Inundated with abysmal employees", He rejoinders.

You wince. No matter how true his word were, they were acerbic.

Jubilee was like a baby to you.

You've gone through hell to make it transition from a tier 3 brand name to a decently esteemed firm. You've spent countless sleepless nights looking after it, skipped meals to tend to it's wounds.

Chagrined, you speak before your brain can process your words.

"I understand your concerns, Mr. Jeon. But Jubilee is more than just its current state. It's a testament to resilience, to the countless hours of dedication and hard work put in by its employees, including myself."

Your gaze meets his, vulnerability shining in your eyes.

"Yes, we may have faced setbacks, but we've also overcome them. I believe that adversity often presents the greatest opportunities for growth. I understand your reservations, Mr. Jeon, but I urge you to consider the untapped potential within Jubilee. With the right investments and guidance, I firmly believe that it has the potential to rise from its current situation and flourish once again."

A hush falls over the room.

Jeongguk's gaze remained unwavering, fixed on your face throughout your entire tirade.

"Consider me convinced, Miss. Y/N."

"S-Sir?"

"I guarantee. Jubilee's stock will be restored, funds will be augmented, and brand reputation will be unrivalled. The employees that will henceforth be inducted will be recruited by my personal hiring team."

You can barely hear the rest of his sentence, already thrumming with excitement. Your mind plotting all the ways you can get back at the naysayers.

The resurgence of Jubilee is inevitable, now that you have Jeongguk on board.

"But, you must understand Y/N, there are no free lunches in this world."

And just like that all your dreams come crashing down.

"Pardon, sir?"

Mr. Jeon gracefully rises from his chair, closing the proximity between the both of you as he leans on the front of the desk, positioned directly in front of you.

"I'll accede to all your demands, but I want a fair trade."

Mr. Jeon's words hang in the air. You had hoped for a smooth negotiation, where was this coming from?

"What kind of fair trade are you suggesting, Mr. Jeon?"

A knowing smile tugs at the corner of his lips as he meets your gaze.

"I'll provide my expertise, my resources, to ensure Jubilee's revival," he begins.

"But in return, I ask for something beyond the confines of business."

There is a tacit silence enveloping the room.

The implication of his suggestion is glaringly blatant.

Situations like these were rife in the corporate world. Pleasure in exchange for business gains was not unheard of.

What was however, unheard of, was an employee of Jubilee engaging in such lewd dalliances.

While they were definitely slacking and inept when it comes to work and strategies, Jubilee has maintained a pristine image of possessing the most morally sound employees.

You are caught in a mire.

On one hand, you are disgruntled that he thought you were so shallow that you'll take him up on an offer as promiscuous as that.

But on the other hand, you are convinced this is your only shot at reviving Jubilee. Jungkook's assets and team marshalled together will undoubtedly take Jubilee to unprecedented heights.

"We have a deal, Mr. Jeon."

..............................................................................................................................

"Jeongguk, stop please! Not now, I have to get ready for a meeting."

"I don't renege on my promises, baby girl." He hums, biting your lower lip as his hands fondle your clothed chest.

"And I expect the same from you, yeah?"

The past few months have been very conducive for Jubilee.

As expected, with Jeongguk's acumen & assistance, the company is practically thriving, now in a league comparable to the unicorns.

And it had to be. You've traded yourself for its prosperity after all.

"Fuck", the expletive rolls off your tongue as a strangled moan.

His palms knead the flesh as he grinds his hips on your clothed pussy.

"You're so pretty, my baby. Got me wrapped around your little finger like a hormonal fucking teenager."

He grunts in your ear as one of his hands find purchase on your hip, the other smoothly lifting your pencil skirt to stroke your thigh.

"Kook, I c-can't"

He is terse as he pants, "Yes, you can. You will do everything I ask you to, am I clear?"

"Y-Yeah"

"Good girl" He dotes.

Unbuttoning your top and latching his tongue onto your now bare nipple.

"Stop teasing Kook, touch me already. I'm so fuckin' wet"

He grins as he resumes his ministrations on your inner thigh, cheekily peering up at you from where he is stationed, between your breasts.

"Someone's needy."

You huff exasperated, placing a hand on his as you halt him.

"Fine, I'll just ask Taehyung for help. He won't deny me anyways."

All air escapes you as you're suddenly jerked, your bare back meeting the wall with a thud.

You open your eyes at the sudden movement.

Jeongguk's laborious breath is laden with ire.

Eyes closed. Jaw clenched.

His previous playful beam, nowhere to be found.

He takes in a deep breath before opening his eyes.

They're the darkest you've ever seen them. Pupils enlarged to an extent that his eyes appear pitch black.

You fucked up.

His hand comes up as he lightly chokes you, not enough to hurt you but enough to cause a pool of wetness dripping down your thighs in its wake.

"Say shit like that one more time and see me burn that fucker alive."

"You have the fucking audacity to even think of another man, when yours is right in front of you? Don't you fucking forget who you belong to Y/N. You're fucking mine. Body, Heart and Soul. You've sworn your loyalty to me. You've surrendered yourself to me completely the day I agreed to buy that shitty company of yours."

Your panties are completely drenched at this point and you're unsure if its because you're turned on or petrified of how vexed he has become by the mere thought of you with another man, even though you had said it in jest.

Without any preamble, his fingers prod at your entrance as he sinks them in. Your walls embracing him like second skin.

"Even your tight little pussy isn't yours anymore. It belongs to Jeon Jungkook.”

He slaps your pussy immediately after, as though proving his point.

“And I don't fucking share, so you better pray to any deity you worship that I don't fucking catch you masturbating or so help me god."

He fingers you passionately. Not stopping even after you plead him to.

"T-Too sensitive, K-Kook."

Unbuckling his belt, He pulls out his penis. It stands tall, proud and red with pre cum oozing out of the tip.

You grab him for stability as he pushes the tip in, letting your walls adjust and clamp before he brutally picks up his pace.

"Tell me who you belong to." He bellows.

Too out of it, you fail to form a coherent response.

THWACK.

He slaps your ass hard.

Once. Twice. Too many times to count.

"I-I'm yours Koo, only yours." you manage to say, eager to cajole him.

"Damn right you are." He hums, seemingly placated with your answer. Picking up his pace, he spits in your mouth, meshing his tongue with yours, while his fingers play with your clit.

You feel the familiar warmth below your cervix, as you groan,

"C-Cumming"

He gently pats your hair, kissing your earlobe.

"Let go, baby."

As you ride off your high, too blissful to pay attention to your surroundings, you don't notice the way Jeongguk's gaze darkens.

............................................................................................................................

Part: 1 of 2

“©© All rights reserved to @sunshine-and-kookies. No translations permitted without explicit authorization.”

[dencyemily]

Navigating Resistance: Chainlink's Price Trajectory Indicates Approaching Critical Levels

Chainlink (LINK) is capturing attention in the virtual assets space as market indicators and a bullish trend suggest a potential breakout, fueled by increasing investor confidence. Analyst Michaël van de Poppe highlights a notable shift in LINK's behavior, indicating a bullish momentum with higher lows and a trajectory towards critical resistance levels. This trend signals the possibility of a breakout, reviving the enthusiasm reminiscent of the DeFi summer.

The current market status of Chainlink reveals a substantial uptrend, with a 5.59% increase in the last 24 hours, reaching $15.19, aligning with van de Poppe's analysis. Strong trading activities underpin these price movements, supported by volume bar charts. Technical analysis indicates a consolidation phase, signifying market indecision, but the anticipation of a strong breakout upwards signifies growing confidence among traders.

Santiment's report of a mini breakout in Chainlink, reaching $15.82 for the first time in two weeks, adds further confirmation to the positive sentiment. The presence of resistance and accumulation zones on the price chart provides additional layers to the bullish narrative, with the red-shaded resistance zone and green-shaded accumulation zone serving as key areas to monitor for potential selling pressure and buyer engagement, respectively.

Chainlink's market health is reinforced by decreased supply on exchanges, dipping below 15% for the first time in approximately four years. This scarcity can lead to a price increase. Additionally, the growing number of wallets holding LINK, nearing its all-time high, indicates increasing interest and confidence in LINK's future.

The positive signs in LINK's market conditions, with an upward trend, growing holder interest, and indications of a potential breakout, are drawing attention from investors and market observers. The optimistic scenario surrounding LINK's performance could potentially signify a broader favorable trend in the cryptocurrency market.

[robertreich]

Who’s to Blame for Out-Of-Control Corporate Power?    

One man is especially to blame for why corporate power is out of control. And I knew him! He was my professor, then my boss. His name… Robert Bork.

Robert Bork was a notorious conservative who believed the only legitimate purpose of antitrust — that is, anti-monopoly — law is to lower prices for consumers, no matter how big corporations get. His philosophy came to dominate the federal courts and conservative economics.

I met him in 1971, when I took his antitrust class at Yale Law School. He was a large, imposing man, with a red beard and a perpetual scowl. He seemed impatient and bored with me and my classmates, who included Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham, as we challenged him repeatedly on his antitrust views.

We argued with Bork that ever-expanding corporations had too much power. Not only could they undercut rivals with lower prices and suppress wages, but they were using their spoils to influence our politics with campaign contributions. Wasn’t this cause for greater antitrust enforcement?

He had a retort for everything. Undercutting rival businesses with lower prices was a good thing because consumers like lower prices. Suppressing wages didn’t matter because employees are always free to find better jobs. He argued that courts could not possibly measure political power, so why should that matter?

Even in my mid-20s, I knew this was hogwash.

But Bork’s ideology began to spread. A few years after I took his class, he wrote a book called The Antitrust Paradox summarizing his ideas. The book heavily influenced Ronald Reagan and later helped form a basic tenet of Reaganomics — the bogus theory that says government should get out of the way and allow corporations to do as they please, including growing as big and powerful as they want.

Despite our law school sparring, Bork later gave me a job in the Department of Justice when he was solicitor general for Gerald Ford. Even though we didn’t agree on much, I enjoyed his wry sense of humor. I respected his intellect. Hell, I even came to like him.

Once President Reagan appointed Bork as an appeals court judge, his rulings further dismantled antitrust. And while his later Supreme Court nomination failed, his influence over the courts continued to grow.  

Bork’s legacy is the enormous corporate power we see today, whether it’s Ticketmaster and Live Nation consolidating control over live performances, Kroger and Albertsons dominating the grocery market, or Amazon, Google, and Meta taking over the tech world.

It’s not just these high-profile companies either: in most industries, a handful of companies now control more of their markets than they did twenty years ago.

This corporate concentration costs the typical American household an estimated extra $5,000 per year. Companies have been able to jack up prices without losing customers to competitors because there is often no meaningful competition.

And huge corporations also have the power to suppress wages because workers have fewer employers from whom to get better jobs.

And how can we forget the massive flow of money these corporate giants are funneling into politics, rigging our democracy in their favor?

But the tide is beginning to turn under the Biden Administration. The Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission are fighting the monopolization of America in court, and proposing new merger guidelines to protect consumers, workers, and society.

It’s the implementation of the view that I and my law school classmates argued for back in the 1970s — one that sees corporate concentration as a problem that outweighs any theoretical benefits Bork claimed might exist.

Robert Bork would likely regard the Biden administration’s antitrust efforts with the same disdain he had for my arguments in his class all those years ago. But instead of a few outspoken law students, Bork’s philosophy is now being challenged by the full force of the federal government.

The public is waking up to the outsized power corporations wield over our economy and democracy. It’s about time.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Aslı Aydıntaşbaş for Politico Magazine:

American democracy is about to undergo a serious stress test. I know how it feels, in part because I lived through the slow and steady march of state capture as a journalist working in Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Turkey. Over a decade as a high-profile journalist, I covered Turkey’s descent into illiberalism, having to engage in the daily push and pull with the government. I know how self-censorship starts in small ways but then creeps into operations on a daily basis. I am familiar with the rhythms of the battle to reshape the media, state institutions and the judiciary. Having lived through it, and having gathered some lessons in hindsight, I believe that there are strategies that can help Democrats and Trump critics not only survive the coming four years, but come out stronger. Here are six of them.

1. Don’t Panic — Autocracy Takes Time

President-elect Donald Trump’s return to power is unnerving but, as I have argued previously, America will not turn into a dictatorship overnight — or in four years. Even the most determined strongmen face internal hurdles, from the bureaucracy to the media and the courts. It took Erdoğan well over a decade to fully consolidate his power. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Poland’s Law and Justice Party needed years to erode democratic norms and fortify their grip on state institutions.

I am not suggesting that the United States is immune to these patterns, but it’s important to remember that its decentralized system of governance — the network of state and local governments — offers enormous resilience. Federal judges serve lifetime appointments, states and governors have specific powers separate from those granted federally, there are local legislatures, and the media has the First Amendment as a shield, reinforced by over a century of legal precedents. Sure, there are dangers, including by a Supreme Court that might grant great deference to the president. But in the end, Donald Trump really only has two years to try to execute state capture. Legal battles, congressional pushback, market forces, midterm elections in 2026 and internal Republican dissent will slow him down and restrain him. The bottom line is that the U.S. is too decentralized in its governance system for a complete takeover. The Orbánization of America is not an imminent threat.

2. Don’t Disengage — Stay Connected

[...]

Nothing is more meaningful than being part of a struggle for democracy. That’s why millions of Turks turned out to the polls and gave the opposition a historic victory in local governments across Turkey earlier this year. That’s how the Poles organized a winning coalition to vote out the conservative Law and Justice Party last year. It can happen here, too. The answer to political defeat is not to disconnect, but to organize. You can take a couple of days or weeks off, commiserate with friends and mute Elon Musk on X — or erase the app altogether. But in the end, the best way to develop emotional resilience is greater engagement.

[...]

4. Charismatic Leadership Is a Non-Negotiable

One lesson from Turkey and Hungary is clear: You will lose if you don’t find a captivating leader, as was the case in 2023 general elections in Turkey and in 2022 in Hungary. Coalition-building or economic messaging is necessary and good. But it is not enough. You need charisma to mobilize social dissent. [...]

Last year’s elections in Poland and Turkey showcased how populist incumbents can be defeated (or not defeated, as in general elections in Turkey in 2023) depending on the opposition’s ability to unite around compelling candidates who resonate with voters. Voters seek authenticity and a connection — give it to them.

5. Skip the Protests and Identity Politics

Soon, Trump opponents will shake off the doldrums and start organizing an opposition campaign. But how they do it matters. For the longest time in Turkey, the opposition made the mistake of relying too much on holding street demonstrations and promoting secularism, Turkey’s version of identity politics, which speaks to the urban professional and middle class but not beyond. [...]

6. Have Hope

Nothing lasts forever and the U.S. is not the only part of the world that faces threats to democracy — and Americans are no different than the French, the Turks or Hungarians when it comes to the appeal of the far right. But in a country with a strong, decentralized system of government and with a long-standing tradition of free speech, the rule of law should be far more resilient than anywhere in the world. Trump’s return to power certainly poses challenges to U.S. democracy. But he will make mistakes and overplay his hand — at home and abroad. America will survive the next four years if Democrats pick themselves up and start learning from the successes of opponents of autocracy across the globe.

Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, who had first-hand experience with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s authoritarianism in her native Turkey as a journalist, wrote in Politico Magazine on how to effectively fight Donald Trump’s authoritarian impulses.