#most expensive car in the world 2019

[probablyasocialecologist]

As environmental, social and humanitarian crises escalate, the world can no longer afford two things: first, the costs of economic inequality; and second, the rich. Between 2020 and 2022, the world’s most affluent 1% of people captured nearly twice as much of the new global wealth created as did the other 99% of individuals put together, and in 2019 they emitted as much carbon dioxide as the poorest two-thirds of humanity. In the decade to 2022, the world’s billionaires more than doubled their wealth, to almost US$12 trillion. The evidence gathered by social epidemiologists, including us, shows that large differences in income are a powerful social stressor that is increasingly rendering societies dysfunctional. For example, bigger gaps between rich and poor are accompanied by higher rates of homicide and imprisonment. They also correspond to more infant mortality, obesity, drug abuse and COVID-19 deaths, as well as higher rates of teenage pregnancy and lower levels of child well-being, social mobility and public trust. The homicide rate in the United States — the most unequal Western democracy — is more than 11 times that in Norway. Imprisonment rates are ten times as high, and infant mortality and obesity rates twice as high.

[...]

Our work has shown that the amount spent on advertising as a proportion of gross domestic product is higher in countries with greater inequality. The well-publicized lifestyles of the rich promote standards and ways of living that others seek to emulate, triggering cascades of expenditure for holiday homes, swimming pools, travel, clothes and expensive cars. Oxfam reports that, on average, each of the richest 1% of people in the world produces 100 times the emissions of the average person in the poorest half of the world’s population. That is the scale of the injustice. As poorer countries raise their material standards, the rich will have to lower theirs.

[...]

The scientific evidence is stark that reducing inequality is a fundamental precondition for addressing the environmental, health and social crises the world is facing. It’s essential that policymakers act quickly to reverse decades of rising inequality and curb the highest incomes.

[dayslynthesix]

let the games begin | charles leclerc redbull!era x horner!reader

what would happen if charles signs a contract with redbull after the disastrous season 2023 was with ferrari? would it be unfair with himself to let go of his dream or would it be a jump of faith that those dreams could became real with the competition? this one is more like a platonic relashionship between charles and isabella (i got this very bad habit that i cannot write with s/n anymore)

f1

liked by redbullracing, maxverstappen1, charles_leclerc, izzyhaho, carlossainz55 and 677.876 others

f1 Charles Leclerc made his Ferrari debut in 2018, racing alongside with the 4 times champion of the world, Sebastian Vettel, now, finishing his 5th year with the Scuderia and far from the results that he wanted, he leaves the team. Charles raced 100 races with Ferrari, won 5 times, including his historical winning in Monza, 2019 and 28 poles. Very good luck, Charles.

maxverstappen1 let's hope for no more inchidents, on the race

redbullracing welcome to the team, charlie!

izzyhaho now that's what I'm talking about. hey, charles, hope you like me, because you're about to hear my voice on your ear fot the next 24 races haha

user1 ok hold on mom it's happening, charles is moving to redbull

user2 it was worth nothing to be il predestinado on a failure as a team, welcome home, leclerc

user3 now im anxious to see how ferrari will perform next year

user4 hope the santander sponsor is worthy

user5 IMAGINE CHARLES DRIVING THAT ROCKET IM ON 9TH CLOUD

charles_leclerc

liked by izzyhaho, arthur_leclerc, maxverstappen1, sebastianvettel and 988.325 others

charles_leclerc for 5 years this team and this car were my dream, i have won with ferrari and i have lost with them - many times, but i still had faith in the project, unfortunately, my dream was not enough to hold the love and the wishes i had with them. thank you all tifosi out there, for the indescribably suport and love you have showed me for the past years, it was my honour. my heart will always bleed ferrari red, but it is time to breath another air.

izzyhaho "another air" redbull air, competent team air, blue air, oversteering air, im about to faint, hold on

carlossainz55 best of luck, cabron!

landonorris well, i thought i would be the one who's gonna be max's teammate

redbullracing 💙💙

user6 you'll always be our man, Charlie

user7 i dont know if this is a dream or a nightmare

user18 nightmare was what was going on at ferrari

user8 lol it is actually happening

user9 will redbull do the multi 21 all over again or they will be free to fight?

user10 KICKING MY FEET NOW

scuderiaferrari

liked by charles_leclerc, carlossainz55, izzyhaho, lewishamilton and 655.985 others

scuderiaferrari it is with a sad heart that we said goodbye to charles, it was amazing 5 years. il predestinado will forever be our maranello sun. thank you, charles. good luck on your next chapter.

charles_leclerc thank you so much!

izzyhaho your maranello sun is now our sun haha

user11 isabella is so chronically online that im dying to see her liked tweets tomorrow

user12 christian horner is right now opening his 56 thousands of dollas bootle of wine to drink a good glass of the most expensive wine ever because he got his dream driver line up

izzyhaho he is, in fact

maxverstappen1 he's been drinking a glass of wine per day since charles went for a "casual talk" with him

user13 wait, so this mean that max is not christian golden boy anymore?

maxverstappen1 you wish (im scared)

redbullracing

liked by maxverstappen1, charles_leclerc, izzyhaho, arthur_leclerc and 698.655 others

redbullracing say hello to our new duo for the 2024 season, welcome home, charles, we are hoping to see you shine in navy blue. see you in march.

charles_leclerc thank you for the reception, i wasn't expecting the cake considering my birthday was a few weeks ago

maxverstappen1 why did you choose this photo, adm?

redbullracing mini boss who choose it

izzyhaho yes, i did, i thought it would be funny

user14 poor christian, if he thought his life was difficult with maxiel, now he have max, charles and his daughter around

izzyhaho oh he knows!

maxverstappen1 charles is still a little shy with the dinamics, but the prank week is on!

user15 im actually very happy with charles moving to redbull

user16 i wish i had good lawyers so i could say everything i want to say

user17 charles got a shitty car for 2 seasons and jumped the boat, never gonna be a world champion

izzyhaho at least he can drive a formula one car, something you could never 😜

user18 isabella was like "don't say shit about my new friend" and went for it

user19 so, we won on the lottery, i mean, charles is on a competitive team, have a nice car, have a nice race engineer and a team principal who looks for his best interests

user20 isabella is a race engineer?

izzyhaho noooo, im a physics student, but I'll work side by side with kai (charles engineer)

izzyhaho

liked by redbullracing, maxverstappen1, charles_leclerc, brazilgp, danielricciardo, landonorris and 655.918 others

izzyhaho ok, i was thinking about and ill give it a go: ask me questions about f1 and life and ill answer during my waiting time

user21 where are you going, iz?

izzyhaho I'm flying back to the uk, team meeting for the start of the season

user22 what exactly is your job at redbull?

izzyhaho i mean... almost everything? usually i stay with media duties, follow the drivers around, do the posts, stuff like that, but my thing is analyzing data and im the race engineers backup, i spend most part of the fp, qualy and race side by side with hannah

user23 who's your favorite driver?

izzyhaho jenson button, there's no other answer for it, but i really like lewis and seb

user24 where and what exactly is your degree?

izzyhaho im a physics student at the MIT, but im about to graduate early next year

maxverstappen1 what are your pets names?

izzyhaho very funny haha look how im laughing, but my dogs names are ascari, mirabel and mugham, 3 border collies

landonorris what happened in bali during the summer break?

izzyhaho you wish 🤭

user25 where do you live?

izzyhaho in boston, but after i graduate ill move back to europe, probably monaco or spain

user26 why do you spend so much time in brazil?

izzyhaho do i need a reason? lol, i like the country, the people, the culture, the food, the football... but most of it is just like, so i can feel close to senna, I've never saw him race, but my dad did, and i think he was amazing, especially as a person, so i like to feel close to the country and the people and the places who made him who he was, and i have friends there too

user27 fav sport?

izzyhaho tennis and volleyball, i love both and i have some very good friends who play booth

user28 how is like to work with your dad?

izzyhaho hey pops, do you want to answer this one? it is nice, we work along very well, we usually go for the same line of thinking when it comes to races and we have a very good relationship, and if max thinks he is my dad golden kid, he is absolutely right 😔

user29 did you never consider pursuing a driving career?

izzyhaho i did, for a while, i drove for formula 4 and formula 3 but then i realized that what i like is the theoretical part of business, but i hope to drive a f1 car at least once

user30 how is your relationship with charles?

izzyhaho 🤭🤭

user31 which are the drivers you are the closest with?

izzyhaho uhhhh... im very close with max, for obvious reasons, oscar and i are pretty friends as well, charles, zhou, lewis and george, but i got along with all of the grid

user32 what are you fav tswift songs, era and album?

izzyhaho AMAZING QUESTION! fav songs: seven, afterglow, all to well, lover and call it what you want. fav album: rep, obviously abd fav era: i love her red era

user33 expectations for the 2024 season?

izzyhaho win everything that we can possibly win

redbullracing

liked by mercedesamgf1, lewishamilton, charles_leclerc, maxverstappen1, izzyhaho and 766.986 others

redbullracing it's lights out and away we go for the 2024 formula one season. 1-2 for the bulls on bahrein and a great start of the season for charles, congratulations on p2, lets aim for first next one, congratulations to max for winning the opening race of the season. let's goooooooo (mini boss said we need to look more happy)

maxverstappen1 well done, team

charles_leclerc great work, let's go for saudi aiming all 44 points

izzyhaho amazing job, as the usual

scuderiaferrari congratulations, Charles!

user34 can we take a moment to appreciate how well the car married with charles? it was like watching the old times again

user35 verstappen and leclerc fighting for p1 all the race, redbull doing double stacks 2 times, no inchidents... we'll about to testify the most dominant season a team could everrrrr be

user36 the way thar charles left the car and immediately went for the team and the team was there to congratulate him

user37 this duo... let's hope it doesn't turn a britcedes 2.0

redbullracing

liked by mercedesamgf1, pierregasly, charles_leclerc, maxverstappen1, izzyhaho and 766.098 others

redbullracing: jeddah, melbourne and suzuka front row lockout 🔒 congratulations on charles first pole and first victory for the team, well done! congrats to max for his second win of the season. see you soon shanghai.

maxverstappen1 let's do it again next week, can we?

charles_leclerc hey adm, could i please fire isabella from being my race engineer?

izzyhaho you are saying this now that you won 2 out of 4 races just because i got i little too happy and screamed for 3 laps on your ear?

maxverstappen1 she did it with me too

sebastianvettel i think she just didn't do it with me too because she wasn't at the paddock the first time i won, but the first world championship... i can still hear her

pierregasly lil charlie is all for the team

landonorris charles is like troy bolton

maxverstappen1 that would made me gabriella montez?

danielricciardo no.

izzyhaho max, delete this, daniel is about to storm into the facilities just to cry in front of you

charles_leclerc i don't want this blond as my gabriella montez

danielricciardo hey isabella, he's talking about you

user38 100% of victories for redbull so far... im scared

user39 the way that even though we know rbr is going to win the season is good because charles and max are fighting all the time

user40 we all knew that with a good car charlie would shine

user41 no more nightmares about a understeering car

user42 no one is going to talk how ferrari dnfed 2 races and only stayed on points on jeddah?

besthorneriz karma takes all my friends to the summit

redbullracing isabella, get out of your private account!

[fairie-grl]

inspired by @onadarklingplain 's 'Albon Pet Primer'

Sir Lewis Hamiltion has a dog, his dog is the goodest boy in the world, and I know too much about his dog so now you must suffer with this knowledge as well enjoy:

Lewis adopted Roscoe, a English bulldog, from an online adoption agency in 2013.Roscoe is a purebred bulldog with both his mom and dad being show dogs. Roscoe's name was chosen because Lewis thought it but Crofty calling Nico ‘Roscoe’ at the 2016 Chinese Grand Prix makes me have my doubts. Lewis later adopted Coco, a female bulldog. Coco’s breeder was originally going to put her down due to how expensive her health conditions, mostly likely a heart condition, were but Lewis stepped in. If you are trying to tell Coco and Roscoe apart in photos, Coco has a wider white stripe on her head. It is widest around the top of her head. Roscoe has more wrinkles and a brown spot on his snout and his strip ends at the top of his head and a new one starts off center in the back of his head. Coco’s fang teeth are also out more often compared to Roscoe's little teeth and she is a lighter color than Roscoe. Lewis expressed that he adopted the dog because his family has always had dogs, mostly labradors, but he said he always wanted an English bulldog. Coco lived till June 2020 when she passed in the night. Lewis and Roscoe were with her. His mom has five dogs! Both Roscoe and Coco have passports so they can travel with Lewis. Lewis was also granted special permission from Bernie Ecclestone to bring the dogs to the padlock (I assume Charles will ask Domenicali to bring Leo to the Padlock). 

Lewis brought a jet to fly with the dogs which he then sold in 2019. Roscoe is good with traveling due to his love of napping. In his first trip with Lewis he slept through most of the flight waking up to go to the bathroom and to make Lewis put him in his lap. Lewis followed Roscoe's command, sleeping with Roscoe in his lap like “a baby.” Lewis said, “Roscoe is the best travel pet, he just sleeps with you.” As Roscoe is getting older, Lewis has made the decision to travel less with him, as the time zones were getting hard on him. While Lewis is racing, Roscoe stays in Los Angeles, California with dog trainer Kirstin McMillan (adventuresindogtraining on instagram). Lewis says he gets pictures of Roscoe everyday and checks in on him. Roscoe also attends a dog park or “Los Angeles' first canine social club” as stated on their website called ‘Dog PPL’ in Santa Monica. It is about $120 a month for one dog.  

Not only is Roscoe Lewis’s son but also his best friend. Lewis talked about his instant connection when they first met. Roscoe gets sad when Lewis leaves and happy when he returns. Lewis says, “Then I get the Frisbee and play with him, and that’s, for me, the biggest highlight – the unconditional love you get from a pet like that.” Roscoe loves quad bikes. In one interview, Lewis said it’s because he’s lazy so he likes being driven around. However, I think it’s because he has taken after his dad and wants to race. Roscoe also loves frisbee and his ball; it seems like he enjoys fetching and chasing after things, like chasing other cars down… Roscoe WDC 2024 confirmed. Lewis also has Roscoe involved in many of his projects, Lewis has hinted that Roscoe has a cameo in ‘Apex’, his movie starring Brad Pitt. When Fortnite asked him to be in the game he said he would only agree if Roscoe was in the game with him. Fortnite, of course, agreed because Roscoe is an angel. They ended up putting him in a jet pack. He was 1,500 V-Bucks or 2,400 V-Bucks with the ‘Lewis Hamilton Budle’ (IDK if thats a lot I don’t play Fortnite). Lewis also said Roscoe is the only person he can count on to stand with him along with Bono.

After Coco’s death, Lewis took Roscoe to the vet where they recommended starting him on a vegan diet similar to what Lewis has. This vegan diet is often recommended to bulldogs because they often have food intolerances or allergies to the meat proteins that can affect the skin and gastrointestinal tract. The vegan diet Roscoe is on still includes the same things without the meat proteins in it that caused him to have health issues. Lewis has said his breathing has improved and that he no longer has skin allergies. Roscoe also has physical therapy and acupuncture every week to help with his joints.  Roscoe has also had health issues that caused him to ejaculate, often uncontrollably, scaring baby Roscoe and leading to him getting snipped in 2016. Lewis did have his sperm frozen so that Roscoe could have puppies. Lewis said, “It’s great his genes will live on.” Lewis said his plans were to have Roscoe’s puppies after he retires but with the fanzone in 2024 Australia GP, it sounds to me like he may be looking sooner to have Roscoe’s pups or to retire. Last year, around the British GP, Roscoe had some issues regarding his spine. If I remember correctly, it involved a slipped hernia in his spine. Luckily, he got stem therapy and was able to attend the GP. He has been improving, and as of today he is back to normal.

Now for the part most people know about. Roscoe started his instagram account, roscoelovescoco, in January 2015 with a post featuring Coco and him captioned “Thanks for following us :).” The instagram account was originally a joint account with both Coco and Roscoe until 2020, although both did get solo posts. As expected Roscoe does make money off his Instagram, but he is also a dog model. Lewis said in a Silver Arrows interview in 2021 that he gets paid $700 a day which goes in Roscoe's treat fund. Roscoe also has sponsorships. His Thanksgiving party was sponsored by Bramble Pets, and he did content (including a commercial) for Zapp, a food delivery company Lewis invested in. Roscoe also appears in Lewis' vlog channel (it hasn’t been updated since 2021) multiple times. His last appearance is in a video “Adventures with Roscoe! | Lewis Hamilton Vlogs” which is also the last updated video on Lewis channel. He reached 1 million followers in 2024, which is more than Chouprette Lagerfield, the cat of Karl Lagerfeld (I am not joking, this man left a good chunk of his fortune [~$300 million] to his cat). Roscoe’s captions on his instagram posts were originally typed in a sort of third person first person mix but in October 2020, Roscoe finally established his first first person post with his famous lisp. However, the conspiracy expands as prior to this first lisp post, there are two posts on instagram where Roscoe (and Coco) are talking to us. The first one was posted April 2024 with Roscoe saying, ‘They put a thermometer up me bum, dad!’ In this speech bubble, Roscoe doesn’t have a lisp but does speak in a sort of baby talk. The next post in October 2017 features both Roscoe and Coco with Roscoe saying, “We got acupuncture today Dad!” and Coco saying, “It’s my favorite.” (More info about the dogs getting acupuncture is in the health section.) I will note his lisp comes and goes on his posts around November 2020. His lisp finally stays and its intensity does increase. There are also a few posts taken with Mercedes that don’t feature the lisp, and a few posts talking about Roscoe or Coco written in their “Dad’s” pov where it obviously doesn’t use a lisp.

[xsapphirescrollsx]

Sunshine pt. 1

Written: Oct 03 2019

Ray Merrimen x Black Female Reader

Request for my bff @titty-teetee <3

He paid his debt to society. Ten years of solid prison time had left an impression. But it hardly suppressed his illicit nature. Ray bit off a large bite of the convenience store burrito, it was as tasteless as the shit he had in max and went down just as hard. But it was good to be back in the world. Once again back in the neighborhood, he knew so well. And finally, around the friends, he grew up with and served with.

Ray stared at his phone, swiped through long history there as he collected bits and pieces of information. Then suddenly, a blasting glimmer of light hit his down-turned lids. His eyes turned up toward you, there you were, the bright afternoon sun glinting off your dangly earrings. His girl, his Sunshine. The rays brought drama to the moment as it bathed you in white yellow crowning your head of tight curls in mahogany and sunflower yellow. It turned him on. He loved how you tried to fit in now. Clothes much more expensive than the general store rags you pilfered back in the day shaped to your body. It wrapped beautifully around you. His eyes, eager to take all of you in, travel down your thick body, the tight jeans fit snuggly around the roundness of your ass, and the width of your thighs as you walked toward the store.

Ray remembered what it meant to have you. Tears streaking down your face after a strained orgasm. The tight impulsive way you slid down his body when you wanted attention. He had missed the cues back then. Admittedly he had been a fucking fool to ignore the love you had for him back then.  

But he wouldn’t let that go twice. He held onto that promise as you walked into the store. His eyes dropped down to his phone again. You stood out boldly among the others. That bright smile could bring up the room easily. His eyes traced your face and then along to a few others, he guessed that was your colleagues.

Ray clicked the screen off and then tossed into the seat next to him. For a few seconds, he caught glimpses of you perusing the shelves, your habit of touching every item your eyes landed on was still there. There were still parts of you there that he remembered fondly.  The arch in your brow when you finally hit on something you wanted. The light steps, almost like you glided when you walked. Something akin to an angel quality, he thought, living in the hell of Los Angeles it was a rare find.

“Ya, I’ll be in tomorrow.“ You said with a mildly agitated tone.  "It’s my day off but you’ll owe me, Becca.” You continued pointed your finger at her and made sure that the woman across the desk with the handle of the phone pressed against her ear knew you meant business.

Grabbing up your belongings you walked out of the office, your steps were quick taking you down the elevator and through the lobby without a hitch. You stepped out into the cooler evening air. Another day, another dollar. You hardly had time to pause these days and take in what it meant to have a steady job. Though grateful it wasn’t what Ray had left you in, you were more than aware that it could have been worse.

Out of the parking lot of about twenty vehicles, you walked toward yours. The thick soft plastic of your flats thump on the asphalt you pulled your phone. Keith had messaged you.

Hey love, I’m bringing dinner over. See you.

A deeply warm grin pulled at your lips. Like in your heart the soft threads of devotion began to become intertwined with his. He was a full-blown romantic. Keith was suave, his voice light though powerful it sank right into you. He was strong, dependable and offered the safety you only saw in the movies.

And most importantly, he allowed you to focus on what mattered—getting your life back on track. You cracked your car door open, still staring at your phone. So maybe your head-space was in the land of Keith’s devotion. Because the looming shadow to your right drew in closer than you would have ever permitted.

Distracted by the now absence of light, you turn to the towering figure and in the midst of identifying him, you caught his reflection. Did you see that right? The beard, you remembered the rough hair as it emerged from between your thighs.

Your eyes landed on him before his wide hand pushed your door closed.

The air picked up around you whipping his sweaty scent into your face. He smelled the same. “Ray?” you asked, though you knew who this was without doubt.

Ray as he slid between you and the driver’s side door of your car as he spoke. “Sunshine.” The sun washed over his face in evening gold, the dusting of pink lit his brown eyes to rust. It was like you remembered, those eyes and his ability to stare right through you.

The circumstances of why you broke it off came flooding back. His self serving loyalty that only meant you got something out of it if the opportunity aligned in his favor. Ten years had not been long enough for you to forget how he used you.

“What the fuck do you want? Come to pin another robbery on me?” you bit off as you stepped back folding your arms across your chest.

“’Come on, that didn’t happen. You got questioned.” he said.

“I lost my job. I lost my home—I lost everything.” You stopped talking. The man in front you was always the igniter, the reason for your burning rage. And this time was no different. You could feel the heat of anger licking at your words.

“Move, Ray.” you gritted.

“I wanted to see how my Sunshine was doing these days.”

“Stop calling me that. MOVE, RAY!” you yelled, the hurt in it cracked at the end. “You didn’t give fuck at all when you went to prison and left me with nothing!”

His eyes moved over your shaking form. He could see the pain there, the rot of how he left you in your face as it easily contorted into a rage. You had given him so much more than he gave you. Ray knew that now. Older, maybe wiser he wanted to make it up to you. Perhaps it wouldn’t be that much of a stretch that Ray Merrimen could be merciful in his brutality.

“Ten years Ray!” you shouted again, the sun glinted off the shiny red nail polish as you wiped away tears.

The anger in you, he caught the brunt of it when your dark eyes settled back on him again. Black as the guns he hoarded and just as deadly. You look at him and he felt the shot to his heart.

He knew you better than you knew yourself. Or at the very least, he knew what motivated you. Ray stepped forward, drew his shoulders and stance to his full height as he took the final step. But the wild and tender parts of your pain had you backing up from him. You couldn’t take another hit like that from him.

“Stop.” You squeaked out passed the weakening resolve. “You don’t get to make up for shit with me!”

He felt differently when he touched your face. Ray’s long rough fingers grazed your cheek as it swept to the back of your neck. Gentle. His other hand, the fingers tilted your chin up to look at him. A mighty change from ten years ago when a younger more reckless Ray would have just pushed you aside.

Ray felt the shake in your shoulders, the hitched breath in your chest as he wrapped his arms around you. Enveloping in you in the warmth he lacked all those years ago. Silently, he promised himself to make up for it. He didn’t feel complete until you finally gave in. Your hands and arms slid under his flannel and over the white tee shirt and brought him closer in.

His hands glided back up and held your face in his warm palms. He made you look at him when he spoke. Another difference you noted. The old Ray wouldn’t have cared if you listened.

“I’m sorry. I’m just asking for another chance…” said Ray, as he raked his rough knuckles under your jaw. But the reunion didn’t last long. Resentment bit back. How dare he think you could just forget.

You elbowed your way from him, pushing and then shoved him back hard though he didn’t move an inch.

“Fuck you, Ray!” you shouted once again, tears streaming down your face you walked around Ray. You got in your car, stunned and hurt you looked at him standing there still as he watched you too.

You pushed away from the memories of before. In a time when he was yours, and maybe you belonged to him too. But that was the past. And he couldn’t make up for that now.

What a wonderful life you seemed to have made for yourself.

Ray strode through your living room. His eyes moved from the quality of the curtains, the furniture, the double glasses on the sleek coffee table and then finally to a photo on the wall. You were in it, a man half his size hugged you from behind. The smile on your face didn’t match the vacant expression in your eyes. Ray knew that look too.

At first, he just wanted to get a feel of you again. Maybe relearn your habits, get to know what made you tick again. But as he walked through your home he found himself at your bedroom door.

He stood there, staring into it seeing the soft way only you could decorate but not daring enough to move in closer.

And before he had a chance to rethink it he walked over to your drawer. He forced himself at first not to open it immediately. He wasn’t sure what he would find there after all. Obviously, you lived here with someone, or partially—but it was enough for Ray to keep his cool.

He opened the first drawer and plucked a dainty pair of your panties. He just wanted a look. They were purple, maybe a shade of pink he didn’t know but he absolutely knew without a doubt you had worn these. He pushed the crotch of it into his nose. Even past the detergent, fabric softener, there was a subtle scent of you. Ray stroked the hardening length stretching his boxer briefs under his loose jeans.

He remembered how your wet pussy was when you rode his face. He had never knew what real joy and freedom was outside of watching you cum on his mouth. Because then you were open and free to show him everything you hid from others. It was the fire in you that he missed.

That part of you he should have appreciated more. He unzipped his jeans tugged and released his large cock from its trap and held it as he inhaled the fragrance you left behind.

Ray stroked himself as he imaged how creamy you looked with one of his loads dripping out of you. That thought alone brought on his orgasm and splashed across the contents of your drawer. The mere thought of you coming back home, bathing, then putting a one of these was enough to make him cum again.

He wiped off his hand with the thin fabric, folded it and placed it back in your drawer.

Ray shut it back, he replaced himself within his pants as he looked around once last time.

He wouldn’t feel so manic anymore. In time you would remember too—that he loved you, still even after all this time. And he wouldn’t let you go again.

The man was slick, dressed in some luxury suit Keith chatted with his work pals as he sipped on his capped coffee or some shit.

Ray was ready. Squared up and pissed off that this man put his hands all over his girl.

The betrayal hit hard. He knew it had been ten years but right now, as he watched the man laugh with a curl in his lip Ray wanted nothing more than to bash his face in.

Ray knocked the cup out of his hand, the contents, hot– steamed up as it hit the ground. Keith didn’t have time to protest before Ray knocked him across the jaw, then the chin and as his head snapped back Ray popped him again, in the gut.

Keith hurled over, wretched up a thick concoction of coffee and whatever he had for breakfast as Ray kneed him in the face.

The other three suits didn’t move. They didn’t so much as speak when Ray turned to them marveling in the shock and fear spreading across their face Ray smiled back.

He turned back to Keith, stared at the man with righteous fury as Keith sank to the ground in his expensive suit.

“Next time you put your hands on her you’re going to disappear.” Ray’s voice was calm and despite the warp of paranoia currently flooding into his mind, he kept it that way. “Do you understand?”

Keith looked up, confusion and blood all over his face. “My girl? Who the fuck are you?” Keith bravely spoke up.

Ray jerked up him by his lapel shoved him against the brick building barely missing the gutter along the corner. “She isn’t shit to you now. You understand? Don’t fucking talk to her, don’t text her. You got that?”

Keith writhed in pain at the back of his head, then when he realized he couldn’t move he nodded.

Ray nodded, mocking the bleeding man he smiled as he spoke. “Stay away?” he asked.

Keith, frozen in shock, echoed Ray’s words in a soft voice.

“Stay away.”

You couldn’t place the smell. But it stuck to the inside of your nose and even made each breath you drew add to the rawness at the top of your mouth.

You remembered drinking. The taste of some tart-sweet cocktails still rolled around the back your tongue. Ray’s face glided back to your memory. The moments and snippets of a night out with him began to resurface.

And in the moments before you opened your eyes you remembered Ray’s face drawn into a smile, his eyes held yours and his hands greedily held on to you as you drank.

When your eyes opened you were met with the image of your bedroom. You tried to move but the muscles of your legs, ass felt heavy as hell so you rolled to your back.

You laid there in the wave of tingles and tiredness for a few minutes. You struggled to remember how you got home the path from the bar to your front door was at least twenty minutes. But right now it only seemed like you could remember the last shot and the sound of the squeaky frame of your bed.

The hot water from the shower melted away the night before. Happily, you felt great, though hungry so you were quick to finish. Stray drops splashed from the tips of your hair as you wrapped it up to the top of your head. The soles of your feet cooled under the wood of the floor as you walked to your kitchen. Thoughts elsewhere, mostly on Ray, you glanced at the pile of clothes on the couch in your living room but you didn’t get give it a second look. You walked through on your way to the kitchen, rounded the corner and come face to face with the naked broad chest of a man.

“Hey Sunshine,” Ray’s smooth voice jolted you back and away but one of his long arms pulled you back toward him.

“Ray!” you said, lightly your hands fall to his chest, then your eyes land on your hands and the swirls of hair in between your fingers. “And..you have no clothes on.” The bewilderment in your voice came across more than the fear that he was there.

“The bar…Keith never showed up…” you said but quickly Ray overwhelmed, crowed you as his hands tugged at the sash of the robe.

When he leaned down to you, the smell of washed skin hung as he pecked the corner of your mouth. “Fuck that piece of shit, baby girl.” he breathed, your body began to shiver with his hands pulling back your robe.

“Take me back,” he asked, his hands rough like his voice slid down over your naked ass. Ray hunched over you with his six foot five frame swathing your body with his presence.

You pushed back but he kept you there. Wrapped in his arms.

“Did we?” you asked, your breath became more shallow. You were mad that you wanted him but also too afraid to admit it. But you also wanted to know what had occurred the night before.

“I didn’t touch you…I could have..” he said. The heat of his body glided up to you, his hands dove passed your asshole to your cunt. “But I’m going to show you now.”

His fingers caressed your folds, urging you to comply. “Ah, there it is Sunshine.” A tinge of hilarity mixed with sultry want lingered in his voice. Slowly, he walked you back to the living room. He had you now. The past pushed back against the weight of the present, you suddenly remembered everything about his body and how he only made you feel.

“I’m going to fuck you on that couch.” One his hands came back, held the base of your neck, the other came from around your ass and buried into your pussy. You jerked, even twisted a little as he immediately remembered your body too.

“You want me to fill you up?” groaned Ray, then kissed your moist lips. He pulled back stared at you as he pushed and rubbed your clit whipping up your wetness. “Answer me.” He demanded.

Your blood pounded in your ears and warped the sound of his voice entangling it with the tone of his past. He was bad, all wrong you knew that. Somewhere deep inside your soul, there was a part of him that would put you through that all over again.

It was in his nature.

Your hands found the sides of his beard, you caress him drawing him into your kiss again.

“Sunshine,” his voice sounded light, tender—different.

You considered long enough. “Ray…I’ll take you back. But you better not hurt me again.”

“You’ll have more to fear than just handcuffs…” you smiled when you spoke, but promised with your eyes. Ray laughed, the sound of it rang in your ears sent a shudder down your spine. The tough crooked man and his menacing energy rived up the longing within you. It stroked at the unabashed want he always brought out in you.

Ray pushed you back on the couch, spilling your robe open exposing the thickness of your body, your dark shiny smooth skin.

His eyes, steely and determined roamed all over you as he began to unbutton his pants. “I’m going to give you everything.”

Ray’s pants dropped, he pulled at his underwear and your eyes settled on the large cock that flopped out. The bright pink tip weeping with want for you. A smile crept on to his lips at your reaction. He bent down, hovered over you before settling against your spread legs. “You forgive me?” he asked, the prickles of his beard tickled your chin before his lips pushed over yours.

“Do you?” he asked against your lips.

“Yes..” you whispered as Ray pushed against your entrance. “I do, baby…” you said again.

You breathed before he plunged. You remembered right, he was just as big and wide as before. The smoothness of his strokes hit the spot, the hot bundle of nerves buried deep inside you pulled and stretched around him.

“My…” Ray moaned, and then said roughly, “Sunshine.” his hands gathered up around your breasts holding them as he kissed you again.

His soft, warm tongue glided over your bottom lip, he sucked it into his mouth and then pressed his lips in once more. The slap of skin matched the heady breaths beating from your lungs.

You groaned, the reaction to his love could not be kept silent. Ray remembered lovingly how much he use to make you scream.

He released your breasts as you wrapped your arms around his neck he grabbed up the back of your knees opening you more to him. Ray filled you as he promised. The length of his cock pushed to his balls inside of you. His long, strokes dragged within slapping against your wet folds.

“Oh my god Ray…” your head rolled back, you both fought the feeling and welcomed it.

He smudged a kiss across your lips before he spoke. “’Missed this big cock in your little pussy?” a smile, satisfied and growing dark creased within his beard as he looked down at you.

Your eyes fell on his face, you remember this feeling—being taken so strongly, so tenderly. “I missed us,” you said between thrust.

Ray’s hands left your knees and found your face pulling your lips back to his. Seconds passed with your lips locked to his as he slid a hand between your bodies.

“I love you…never stopped.” He said the tips of his long fingers glided over your hard clit. “I want to fill you up,” he murmured over your lips. “Sunshine. I want to give you a baby.”

His words, his fingers draw upon something you never considered. “You want me..?” he asked, as he pushed harder, fucked you deeper. You clenched around him, the wave of your cunt responded before you could answer.

“Fuck that baby into me…” you whispered, Ray’s eyes narrowed his hand-pulled from you as he slipped from your body. He flipped you over, bringing your neck to the arm of the couch. You felt the heat of his chest, the slick of sweat of his arm as it pressed against the back of your neck. And he was back inside before your next breath. Ray began to pound into you, your hand hooked over the rim of the couch to brace your body for his rounded thrusts.

You moaned, whimpered every time he pulled out then plunged back in. You fall into yourself the tightness of your thighs reflected the taut sensation in your belly. “You’re going to be feeling me for weeks..” his voice, deep guttural is the trigger. Your eyes flew open, you shuddered all over when you come apart.

Your labored breathing, the stunted murmurs are enough to drive him into a racing pace. He leaned back gripped your hips he has dug in with every pound. And it hurts, you dip your head into the arm of the couch to catch your breath. But Ray doesn’t stop until he too finds himself releasing hard into your tight pussy. His hands suddenly left your hips, both large hands slapped over your ribcage, jolting you into an arching stance as he dragged his hands, your body fully back onto his cock as he came.

Ray’s hands rise along the length of your body until he reached your shoulders. Grabbing you up he pulled you up against his chest as he slipped from your body. His warm cum seeped from your used, swollen lips. His mouth, the smell of his sweat fanned over you as he spoke. “You’re mine…” Ray kissed your ear, and then pecked the skin behind your ear as he swooped your hair away. “Do you hear me?”

You nod lazily you were still buzzing and aching from your orgasm. “You’re the one who left me,“ you whispered, but the hurt in your voice faded as you shifted from him.

Ray’s hands kept you there, jerking you back up and against him, he held you by the waist, the throat.

“I won’t make that mistake again, Sunshine.” Said Ray, lovingly against the hold on your neck he placed kisses up to your jaw, your temple. “I have a job coming up. You won’t be left behind…on my word.”

You had decided that Ray was a fucking liar.

And without fail he had separated you, once again, from the people you had grown close to. Keith had caught a deathly beat down to the point the man wouldn’t even look at you now. You were livid and with little room to express just how much you resented Ray. You didn’t have his number because, why would he leave you with a way of contacting him? You were furious.

The same shit—over and over again.

The news came out that the Los Angeles Fed was infiltrated. You absolutely suspected Ray.

It was your job he hit.

Once again, it reminded you of the confrontational nature Ray had, the impossible was always the point of the challenge for him.

So you ducked your head down, kept at your job and said little to anyone.

Hurt turned to resentment quick when you realized the very man that had returned to your life had also put your job at risk. But also with the worry, a pain like no other surfaced when you learned the gang had been killed. And despite the anger. You did love him. So you called the people you use to know. Like the passionate woman you were you actually went looking for Ray.

But your efforts turned nothing up.

If he were dead, wouldn’t the police department glorify it? More than likely the embarrassment that one got away was why it wasn’t in the papers, splashed all over the internet, or the news. But after awhile the resentment came back and it was enough to stop looking. Fuck him, and fuck his heart.

And that’s were your mind was when you opened the front door. A round of loud knocking pulled you awake early one Saturday morning. You rolled out of bed, anger already stirring inside you, fixing your mouth to curse whoever it was at your door.

But when you opened it no one other than a small cardboard package. It had stamps all over it. Foreign, distant places some you had never heard of. So you picked up it, curiosity spreading across your sleepy mind you carried in and sat on the couch.

You flashed back to the moments Ray left you notes everywhere. The memory of a time he was willing to give in a bit, bare his neck to you for love. Ripping at the brown paper tape the lip opened easily to a few slips of crinkled stationery, an envelope, a phone and what looked like a postcard.

You pulled out the card, over it in dusky orange, grey was the dark silhouette image of Big Ben in sunset, the tall tower stood proud in the evening sun. You flipped it over and it read: Sunshine.

Your eyes went back to the contents of the box as you set the card to the side. Next, the note, you were shaking as you tapped into something wild, forbidden. Your heart was beating fast you slipped the note into your trembling hands.

The phone only has one number.

I wish I could go back. Make it all better again. But what’s done is done we can only move forward. And we will.

You stared at the note. And then the anxiety smoothed out. Anything that you were thinking up until reading that note fell away from your mind.

Ray remembered.

All of the hate you had held for him was struck away by this beautiful criminal gesture. Your Ray, in his own way, had held to his promises. And the hope, the only bright thing you could feel had you gripping the phone. You rolled it around in your hands until the face of it stared back up at you. You turned it on, waited for it to boot up as you unknowingly held your breath.

Ray had always needed a little sunshine in his life…

Part 2

[giaffa]

Get to know me tag

I was tagged by @bich-the-moss, thank you! 💖 (and sorry for the late reply, I forgot this in my drafts 🙈)

Do you make your bed?

Yep, every morning.

If you could, would you go back to school?

I'm very fond of my high school memories but I wouldn't go back to waking up at 6:30 am every day. Hell world.

Can you parallel park?

Nope 🙈 I have a driver's license but I haven't driven since 2019.

A job you had that would surprise people?

I did one year of civil service to help the local associations of ex-partisans and ex-deportees digitalise their archives. I had the opportunity to interview a survivor of Auschwitz, and an old partisan who fought in the Italian Resistance during ww2.

Do you think aliens are real?

I think there's a good probability that we're not alone in an infinite universe.

Can you drive a manual car?

Theoretically? My driver's license says I can. In practice? Not driving for 5 years will make you forget everything.

What is your guilty pleasure?

You can do whatever you want forever and there's no guilty pleasures.

Tattoos?

I have a tiny treble clef tattoo on my wrist, I made it with some ink and a needle when I was 14 to match with some friends lol

I'd love to have more tattoos, but I'm always saving money for concert tickets.

Do you like puzzles?

I get easily bored with puzzles and board games, and my competitivity is almost nonexistent, so they're not all that fun to me. I enjoy them just if the shapes/colours feel interesting.

Any phobias?

I have arachnophobia but the problem isn't the spider, it's the web. With spiders in general my fight response kicks in and I usually get rid of them, but if I see a spiderweb (or something similar like processionary caterpillars) my flight response skyrockets off the charts.

Sometimes I also get anxious if I have a lot of physical mass over my head, like in caves or at the ground floor of a very tall building. It's not claustrophobia or speluncaphobia because I'm completely fine with tight or dark places, it's more similar to thalassophobia (which also gets to me sometimes).

Favorite childhood sport?

Fencing! I took a junior fencing class for 2 years when I was in middle school and it was super fun! I would've loved to keep attending but it was too expensive and the instructor was the most annoying person I've ever met.

First thing you wanted to be growing up?

A witch. I was convinced it was a legit career path, and tbh maybe I was right.

Do you talk to yourself?

Sometimes I do, but I usually prefer to sing or talk to my plants.

What movies do you adore?

Viktor und Viktoria, The Prestige, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Orlando, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Coffee or tea?

Tea <3

Favorite color?

Red + black + purple combination my beloved ❤️🖤💜

no pressure tags: @curiouscalembour @valleydoll777 @the-paisley @hurdygurdywizard @kissingmonsters @velvetlinedbox @mirillel @sleeeepy-demon

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

The first teaser revealed for Apple Original Films 'F1'

A former driver finds himself back in action when he returns to Formula 1 racing to take on the sport's top competition.

Formula 1 and Apple Original Films have released the first teaser for the new film based on the sport, giving fans an adrenaline-fuelled glimpse of the action to come.

The film, titled F1, is being directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Brad Pitt and seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, among other respected names. Brad Pitt's F1 film will cost well over 300 million dollars (£ 232 million) making it one of the most expensive films ever

It is set to be distributed in cinemas and in IMAX by Warner Bros. Pictures internationally on June 25, 2025, and in North America on June 27, 2025.

Pitt stars as former F1 driver Sonny Hayes, who returns to the sport to partner rookie team mate Joshua Pearce, played by Damson Idris, at the fictional APXGP team.

The F1 filming took place at real F1 events, including the British Grand Prix in Silverstone Circuit, where the teaser, which can be seen in the video player above, was revealed to the world, on Sunday 7th of July.

This Is the Formula Car Brad Pitt Will Drive in His Upcoming F1 Film. His fictional team is called APXGP. Directed by Top Gun Maverick director Joseph Kosinski makes an F1 film starring a Top cast; Brad Pitt; Javier Bardem; Kerry Condon; Tobias Menzies; and Damson Idris. Lewis Hamilton is on board as a producer, too. The film, which is as of yet unnamed, has been picked up by Apple Original Films to debut on the tech giant's streaming service.

Formula 2 cars, modified to look like F1 machines and featuring black and gold livery reminiscent of the Rich Energy-sponsored Haas team in 2019.

"F1" is using custom-built cars based on F2 chassis. (Ryan Pierse/ Getty Images)

#F1 #Formula1 #BritishGP #FormulaCar #F1film #BradPitt #APXGP #Director #JosephKosinski #JavierBardem #KerryCondon #TobiasMenzies #DamsonIdris. #LewisHamilton #producer #AppleFilms #Silverstone #JerryBruckheimer

Posted 22nd July 2024

F1, coming to cinemas Summer 2025.

[flirting-with-psychology]

Where did 2017/18/19/20/21/22/23/24 start for you? 2017: At my mom’s house I think

2018: I think also at my mom’s house

2019: Uhh I can’t remember

2020: At a 20′s party

2021: At my dad’s house

2022: At my apartment with my boyfriend and my mom

2023: In Breckenridge

2024: At Cat's apartment I think Did you move houses? Where are you living now? 2017: I moved into a house with some of my friends from school

2018: I moved into a different house with different friends from school

2019: The first time since starting college that I haven’t moved

2020: I moved back in with my dad at the end of the year because my roommates weren’t taking covid seriously

2021: I moved in with my boyfriend

2022: I did not have to move

2023: I did not move

2024: I did not move Did you get a new job? 2017: Yes I did!

2018: I got some independent projects and an internship

2019: Nope…

2020: No but I got to leave my job

2021: I got a couple new jobs actually!

2022: Nope, same one

2023: No, same one

2024: No... Were you taken on Valentine’s Day? 2017: No

2018: No

2019: I wasn’t officially taken but I had a date!

2020: Yes :)

2021: Yes :)

2022: Yes :)

2023: Yes :)

2024: Yes :) Did you get married or divorced? 2017: No

2018: No

2019: No

2020: No

2021: No

2022: No

2023: No

2024: No

Did you find any new friends? 2017: Yes, a few

2018: Yes

2019: I think so?

2020: A couple

2021: A couple

2022: Yes  

2023: A couple

2024: A couple in my class Did anybody disappoint you this year? 2017: Cadence kind of did

2018: Plenty of boys did and some friends did too

2019: Hiring managers did

2020: The whole world did

2021: Not majorly but I’m sure plenty of people did minorly

2022: Yes

2023: Yes, my friend who got married disappointed me by making everyone else in our friend group groomsmen or bridesmaids except for me

2024: My friend group did Who got really close to your heart? 2017: Cadence and Captain were already there but they got closer, possibly Guacamole

2018: No one really

2019: The Magician became my boyfriend

2020: My boyfriend

2021: My boyfriend

2022: My boyfriend and my DnD friend group

2023: My boyfriend

2024: My boyfriend and the neighbor's cat Did you find a new hobby? 2017: Yes, Metal Earth models. Although it’s possible I started that in 2016

2018: I don’t think so, unless you consider shopping a hobby. But even that’s not new

2019: Got a little more into jewelry making

2020: Dice making

2021: DnD mini painting

2022: Not really

2023: Got a little more into costume making

2024: Not really Where did you go on holiday? 2017: I went to London with my mom

2018: I didn’t

2019: I went on a birthright trip to Israel

2020: Harry Potter World

2021: Colorado Springs

2022: St. Louis, Chicago, New York, California

2023: Breckenridge, Las Vegas, New Jersey, Chicago

2024: I went on several shorter trips What was your most expensive purchase? 2017: A mattress. Or rent, but that’s not really a purchase

2018: My gold Brighton heart necklace 2019: Plane tickets?

2020: A car

2021: Car repairs

2022: Probably car repairs, or if it’s just actual purchases, the Taylor Swift tickets

2023: A new laptop

2024: Car repairs

Did you change your appearance this year? 2017: Not really. I got better at makeup though

2018: Got a little fatter

2019: Gained weight. I tried to dye my hair but it didn’t really take

2020: Got fatter and my hair got longer

2021: Got fatter

2022: Dyed my hair into an ombre

2023: Gained weight

2024: Not really, starting to look older though Did you change mentally? 2017: Maybe got a little more stable after the whole Bryant ordeal

2018: Maybe a little more feeling stuck in my ways

2019: Felt more frustrated with my job situation but lost some FOMO since getting a boyfriend

2020: More anxiety

2021: Started running out of fucks to give

2022: Got more relaxed about covid

2023: Started getting more FOMO again and getting insecure about my age

2024: Not a ton, maybe a little more resigned Did you learn anything new this year? 2017: Yeah, all my spring semester classes

2018: Yeah at my jobs and internship

2019: Learned about having a boyfriend

2020: Not a whole ton but learned how to make dice and learned about Subaru Foresters and about covid

2021: Learned about vaccines

2022: Learned new things at my job

2023: Learned about Taylor Swift

2024: Learned about chemistry and some sewing techniques What were the best moments? 2017: London, screening my film, graduating

2018: Singing maybe, or having fun with friends

2019: Seattle was fun, the birthday escape room was fun

2020: Harry Potter World

2021: Getting new jobs, getting my vaccines, starting to see my friends again, homecoming

2022: The Good Night Oppy premiere, doing fun things with my friends like brunch with the Strixhaven group, drinking in St. Louis, the comedy shows I saw

2023: The Taylor Swift concert, fan expo, doing things with my friends

2024: The solar eclipse, fan expo, my friends' wedding

What was the best present you gave to somebody? 2017: My mom’s buffalo magnet

2018: Oh man I feel like I had a really good humor present but I can’t remember what it was

2019: A downton abbey bell for my mom or a cool album for my boyfriend

2020: Solar system necklaces

2021: A vintage Queen album from the year it came out for Nick

2022: I got my dad a glass sphere with a vortex optical illusion but I haven’t given it to him yet

2023: A DVD of Good Night Oppy for my mom

2024: A picture frame designed like a vinyl record with our song for my boyfriend, and going to give all my friends custom calendars The best present somebody gave to you? 2017: My friend gave me a Loki action figure

2018: Probably my speaker from Hanukkah

2019: Dating me

2020: My companion cube die from my boyfriend

2021: Dice

2022: The murder mystery dinner game

2023: My grandma’s cheetah pin that I always liked

2024: My 30th birthday party Things you could have done without? 2017: Surgery. I mean I probably couldn’t really have done with out it, but I could have done without needing it in the first place

2018: Half the stuff I bought at Macy’s

2019: Lol same at the Macy’s crap. Also unnecessary critiques of my weight and constant job pressure

2020: The pandemic

2021: Covid (and a lot of dice stuff)

2022: A lot of the candy I ate

2023: The stress of figuring out my future

2024: Insurance company being shitty Which song most reminds you of this year? 2017: Evermore?

2018: Waving through a window

2019: If I Were A Jolly Blacksmith

2020: Epiphany

2021: Dangerous to Dream

2022: Elephant Love Medley

2023: Long Live

2024: I Can Do It With A Broken Heart or Inertia The most delicious meal? 2017: IHOP cupcake pancakes

2018: Zucchini spaghetti

2019: Rueben’s pretzel bun grilled cheese and sweet potato fries with garlic aioli sauce. Too bad they closed!

2020: Giordano’s Pizza

2021: The Melting Pot

2022: The Melting Pot or the Cheesus Saves pizza from the bar

2023: The Melting Pot

2024: The Melting Pot The most impressive book? 2017: Mistborn series

2018: Here Lies Daniel Tate

2019: I didn’t really read anything impressive

2020: The Hunger Games series

2021: Mistborn series again

2022: Harry Potter series again

2023: Shadow and Bone

2024: The Space Between Worlds The best film? 2017: Coco

2018: A Star Is Born

2019: Uhh Rocketman?

2020: Idk

2021: I don’t remember much that I saw, I want to say Hamilton but I think that was last year

2022: Good Night Oppy

2023: Dungeons and Dragons or The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

2024: Wicked Best time spent with: 2017: Some of my friends who are back in town

2018: My roommates

2019: My boyfriend

2020: My boyfriend

2021: My DnD group and my band friends

2022: My dnd group

2023: My dnd group

2024: My boyfriend and friends The best album? 2017: Anastasia the Musical

2018: Can’t pick, there were a lot of good musicals

2019: Lover by Taylor Swift

2020: Folklore by Taylor Swift

2021: Sour by Olivia Rodrigo

2022: Midnights by Taylor Swift

2023: Guts by Olivia Rodrigo

2024: Mean Girls the Musical Which was your favourite month? 2017: May

2018: August or September

2019: October

2020: January

2021: Maybe October

2022: November or December

2023: July

2024: August What do you want to change in 2018/2019/2020/2021/2022/2023/2024/2025? 2017: Actually work out ever, get a job in my field, finish my Harry Potter spellbook

2018: Get a boyfriend, lose weight, be happier

2019: Get a fucking job

2020: Get back to normal and get a better job

2021: Be done with covid, lose weight, finish moving in

2022: Lose weight

2023: Actually lose weight, stop having fomo

2024: Get a job and lose weight, what else is new? How would you rate this year? 2017: Pretty good

2018: Ok

2019: Ok

2020: Most times I don’t blame the year, but fuck 2020

2021: Not great but better than last year

2022: Pretty good

2023: Pretty good

2024: Not great

[theromandaniels]

para001

tw: violent imagery, gore, implied car accident, topics of death, surreal nightmare, grief.

They’re in the bus, and Harrison’s just cracked the joke about Roman’s family having access to the crown jewels, saying that if he’s going to bother proposing to Matilda, it might as well be with the biggest, most expensive rock that the British Isles has. Eli is telling him that it isn’t how it works, that Roman’s family aren’t even of nobility and, even if they were, very few people could just waltz into the Tower of London and grab the crown jewels, not even the Queen herself.

The Queen is still alive, because it’s 2019. It’s 2019 and the band have just had a successful world tour. And they’re on their way to the final show in Los Angeles. 

“You okay, man?” Comes the soft timber of Antonio’s voice next to him where they’re crammed in the backseat. They might have had three world tours but the budget on transport for more local shows is still as crap from when they were trying to make it at all back in Illinois. Kaya from his other side looks at him in concern. Then Elijah. Then finally, Harrison, turning from the front seat.

The deep blue of those eyes makes him want to be sick. Somewhere in the distance, he can hear the start of a countdown clock.

“Jesus, man. I’m only playing,” And Harry flashes him that damn Cheshire Cat smile. “Look, you could probably propose with a ring pop and she’ll say yes. Don’t let our teasing give you cold feet.”

“We need to pull over. We need to get off the bus.” Roman finds himself saying, trying to unbuckle his seatbelt so he can alert the driver.

“Someone crack open a window, I think he’s gonna hurl.” Someone, maybe Antonio, demands. Roman shakes his head.

“We need to…the bus. Harry you need to —,” Roman suddenly can’t breathe, the seatbelt seemingly only tightening around him, glancing frantically down to try and release it.

“What’s done is done.” 

He looks up, taken aback at the vision of Harrison. Still smirking, still his signature Cheshire Cat grin, blood spilling down his chin. His eyes gaunt, his skin gray. From this angle, his neck looks broken.

Internal decapitation. The knowledge hits him like, well, a bus. “Harry —,” He chokes out. His cheeks are wet. Something is telling him it’s not tears on his face though, not when everything is tinted with red.

“There’s nothing you can do, Rome.” And he sounds so fucking confident and cocksure of himself that the familiar lick of angry fire flares up in him.

“Yes we can! We need to — I could…trade places. We could…it wasn’t supposed to be you.”

The words reverberate around the bus. The countdown clock is getting louder. For the first time he notices Eli, Kaya and Antonio aren’t here. They got off, they made it. They’re safe.

“It’s not supposed to be you either.” His voice is so soft, Roman is sure he can imagine him fading into the blackness in his peripheral vision surrounding them, can feel his heart being ripped from his chest in real time, reaching out to grab Harry to stop him being consumed by the dark. “I’m fine. I’m safe. You just need to let go.” 

“No.” Roman has always been a stubborn bastard, always needing to have the final word, the last laugh. He’s sure he’s digging into Harry’s skin, but he’s not letting him go. Things can be different this time, he can do it, he can!

“Let go, Rome.” The voice is fading, the countdown being washed out by what sounds like hospital monitors beeping.

“Let…go…”

There was a large crash causing Roman to bolt awake with a scream, his right hand in a painful cramp, his retro-looking alarm blaring loudly. Rolling over to turn it off, he caught the date. June 12th, nine a.m. Harrison Morrey had been dead for five years and over twelve hours now. This time five years ago, Roman had been in surgery. Much good all that did.

He gave his hand a little shake, trying to ease the cramp with little success. Once his fingers finally unlocked, he threw himself out of bed, going downstairs for a much needed cup of coffee, and maybe a hard wall to knock his head against repeatedly.

Surprisingly, Ophelia was already up despite never outgrowing the ‘sleeping in until midday’ habit she had as a teenager. At first, Roman assumed that it was some sort of filming day until his phone was slid across the breakfast bar to him. Not been used in twenty-four hours.

He simply couldn’t hack it anymore. The texts informing him Harrison was in various thoughts and prayers, insensitive journalists and fans asking him questions. Seeing his face all over their specific niche corner of the internet. The first year had been hell, and he had been so broke and ill it hurt that he couldn’t really do anything at all. So, after that he and Ophelia devised a plan. On June 10th at 11:59pm he’d pass her contact details on to those who need to know for work reasons, then turned the device off to be kept in a drawer for the next day. Then, once woken on June 12th, could access it again. Not a perfect plan, but it was better than being dragged through a painful memory lane each year.

“You don’t have to go in.” Ophelia informed him, regarding the shop, sensing what was on his agenda for today.

“If I don’t, nothing will get done properly.” 

“Rome —,”

“O —,” The nickname matched her whinging tone. Glancing over at his sister, his features softened. “It’s just a normal day, I’ll be fine.” 

Because what was done was done. He couldn’t change the past.

Wouldn’t stop him wishing he could though.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

This day in history

Catch me in Miami! I'll be at Books and Books in Coral Gables on Jan 22 at 8PM.

#20yrsago Developing nations shouldn’t respect US copyright unless farm subsidies end https://www.wired.com/2004/01/a-taste-of-our-own-poison/

#20yrsago Self-parking Prius https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/look-no-hands-car-parks-itself-1134918.php

#20yrsago Disney selling off Celebration, FL https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/16/us/disney-is-selling-a-town-it-built-to-reflect-the-past.html

#15yrsago Zimbabwean $100 trillion note https://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/01/16/zimbawe.currency/index.html

#15yrsago UK MPs to hide their expenses from Freedom of Information requests https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/jan/15/freedom-of-information-expenses

#10yrsago The Encyclopedia of Early Earth, a graphic novel by Isabel Greenberg https://memex.craphound.com/2014/01/15/the-encyclopedia-of-early-earth-a-graphic-novel-by-isabel-greenberg/

#10yrsago Leaked: environmental chapter of the secret Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty https://wikileaks.org/tpp-enviro/

#10yrsago Booth babes are bad for business https://techcrunch.com/2014/01/13/booth-babes-dont-convert/

#10yrsago Blackphone: a privacy-oriented, high-end, unlocked phone https://web.archive.org/web/20140115183757/https://www.blackphone.ch/

#10yrsago HEADWATER: NSA program for sabotaging Huawei routers over the Internet https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2014/01/headwater_nsa_e.html

#10yrsago Judge rules TSA no-fly procedures unconstitutional https://www.loweringthebar.net/2014/01/judge-rules-for-plaintiff-in-no-fly-case.html

#10yrsago Dirty secrets of America’s most notorious patent troll https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/01/mphj-exposed-the-real-dirt-notorious-scanner-troll

#10yrsago UK consultation on orphan works https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/copyright-uk-orphan-works-licensing-scheme

#5yrsago Even the rightsholders think Europe’s Article 13 is a mess, call for an immediate halt in negotiations https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/01/even-rightsholders-think-europes-article-13-mess-call-immediate-halt-negotiations

#1yrago Normalize Dark Corners! https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/15/normalize-dark-corners/

I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

[kenyatta]

On the eve of the long-promised electric-vehicle revolution, the myth is due for an update. Americans who take the plunge and buy their first EV will find a lot to love, just as I have. (I purchased a Tesla Model 3 in summer 2019.) They may also find that electric-vehicle ownership upends notions about driving, cost, and freedom, including how much car your money can buy. No one spends an extra $5,000 to get a bigger gas tank in a Honda Civic, but with an EV, economic status is suddenly more connected to how much of the world you get to see—and how stressed out or annoyed you’ll feel along the way. A new Ford F-150 Lightning—the electrified version of America’s long-time best-selling vehicle, and one of the most important vehicles for persuading the majority of the country to ditch gasoline—starts at $55,000 in its most basic form. (Yes, EVs remain expensive. But consider that the average price of any vehicle snuck up to $47,000 by the end of last year, and Americans are already paying luxury prices on formerly utilitarian pickup trucks.) Choosing the F-150’s extended-range battery, which stretches the distance on a charge from 230 miles to 320, raises the cost to at least $80,000. The trend holds true with all-electric brands such as Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid, and for many electric offerings from legacy automakers. The bigger battery option can add a four- or five-figure bump to an already accelerating sticker price.

Electric Vehicles Are a Status Symbol Now - The Atlantic

[newstfionline]

Friday, January 10, 2025

Carter's 100 years: Food for thought (Politico) “Let’s imagine that Franklin D. Roosevelt had possessed the same gift for longevity as Jimmy Carter, and lived until he was 100. He would have died in 1982, in Ronald Reagan’s second year in office,” John Harris writes this morning. “It is eye-opening to play this same game with others. John F. Kennedy, who was killed just a couple of weeks after I was born, would have been eulogized by President Donald Trump in 2017. Abraham Lincoln would have lived until 1909, after the dawn of aviation. Theodore Roosevelt, who as a small boy watched Lincoln’s funeral procession from his family’s New York apartment, would have lived to see nuclear weapons and the early days of the space race before expiring in 1958.” Old presidents indirectly underline an important point about this country: The United States remains a young nation, in which even events that seem long ago are really just one or two degrees of separation from contemporary lives.

‘Make Greenland Great Again’? No Thank You, Greenlanders Say. (NYT) Christian Ulloriaq Jeppesen remembers how this all started. In 2019, during Donald J. Trump’s first term as president, Mr. Trump floated the idea of the United States buying the island of Greenland. At the time, most people in Greenland (and Denmark, the European country that controls it) thought his suggestion was a joke. “Everyone said, ‘Ha-ha, you can’t just buy a country, he doesn’t mean it,’” Mr. Jeppesen, a native Greenlander and a radio producer, said by telephone. “Obviously that was the wrong way to take it. Look at where we are today.” “For purposes of national security and freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Mr. Trump wrote in late December in a social media post announcing his choice for ambassador to Denmark. Aviaaja Sandgren, a nurse who lives in the small town of Qaqortoq (all of Greenland’s towns are small), does not want to be part of the United States. “We would lose many benefits,” she said when reached by phone on Wednesday. “We have free education, education grants, free health care, and free medicine. Everything is free here in Greenland. I know they don’t have that in the U.S.,” she said.

Harrowing escapes from Los Angeles wildfires (AP) Flames and pillars of smoke rose from both sides of the road and a woman yelled in panic as firefighters ushered a crowd of fleeing residents along. Aaron Samson positioned his 83-year-old father-in-law behind his blue walker, and they began shuffling down the sidewalk. “My father-in-law was saying, ‘Aaron, if we are ever in a position where the flames are right there, you just run and leave me here,’” Samson recounted Wednesday. It didn’t get to that point. For the second time in a matter of hours, a good Samaritan picked them up, then drove them to safety in Santa Monica. Their escape came as thousands of people fled wildfires in the Los Angeles area that turned picturesque neighborhoods into smoldering wasteland. People abandoned their cars and fled on foot as tree limbs crashed down and howling winds sent flames flying in every direction. Others flagged down rides from friends or strangers. With so many cars abandoned in the middle of Sunset Boulevard in Pacific Palisades, authorities had a bulldozer push the vehicles out of the way to clear a path for emergency vehicles.

The most expensive wildfire in US history (Bloomberg) The conflagrations tearing across Los Angeles are on track to be among the most expensive wildfire disasters in US history, draining insurance coffers and threatening California’s massive state-sponsored insurance program. Losses from the fires “could push insurance markets over the brink in California,” said Michael Wara, a senior researcher for climate and energy at Stanford University and a wildfire expert. The Palisades Fire destroyed 300 structures and 13,306 remain threatened. The Hurst Fire, burning northwest of Los Angeles and Burbank, has threatened another 40,000 buildings, while the Eaton Fire burning near Pasadena has endangered more than 28,000 structures. “It is plausible that the Palisades Fire in particular will become the costliest fire on record, period. Not just in California, but in general,” said Daniel Swain, a University of California Los Angeles climatologist, in a briefing on Wednesday. Private forecaster AccuWeather said estimated damage and economic loss is over $50 billion at a preliminary level.

College tuition has fallen at many schools (AP) New research indicates students are paying significantly less to attend public universities than they were a decade ago. And tuition increases at private colleges have finally slowed after years of hefty rises. Figures compiled by the nonprofit College Board indicate the average student attending an in-state public university this year faces a tuition bill of $11,610, which is down 4% from a decade earlier when taking inflation into account. But the real savings come in what the average student actually pays after getting grants and financial aid. That’s down 40% over the decade, from $4,140 to $2,480 annually, according to the data. That reduced cost means less borrowing. Just under half of students attending in-state public universities are graduating with some debt, down from 59% a decade earlier, according to the College Board figures. And among those who do borrow, the average loan balance has fallen by 17%, to $27,100.

Nicolás Maduro faces his toughest challenge yet (AP) Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is facing more international rebuke than at any time in his 12 years in power. The self-declared socialist is widely believed to have lost last year’s election by a landslide. That sparked criticism by the United States and others that the vote was stolen and forced Maduro to turn to security forces to repress and arrest opponents. Now he’s set to be sworn in for a third term Friday, even as the opposition challenger who claims to have won is vowing to return from exile by then. The history of Latin America is full of strongmen who rode out disputed elections only to find themselves ousted in short order.

A Russian missile attack in southern Ukraine has killed at least 13 (AP) A daytime Russian missile attack on the southern Ukraine city of Zaporizhzhia killed at least 13 civilians and wounded over 100 others on Wednesday, officials said. Russia has frequently launched aerial attacks on civilian areas during the almost three-year war. Thousands of civilians have been killed in Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II. Earlier, the Ukrainian military said it struck a fuel storage depot deep inside Russia, causing a huge blaze at the facility that supplies an important Russian air base. Ukraine’s General Staff said the assault hit the storage facility near Engels, in Russia’s Saratov region, about 600 kilometers (370 miles) east of the Ukrainian border. Ukraine has been developing its arsenal of domestically produced long-range missiles and drones capable of reaching deep behind the front line.

Making art and fun from the ice, snow and freezing cold in Harbin, China (AP) People are making the best of the freezing weather in northeast China: Sculptors have finely chiseled ice into elaborate structures resembling landmark castles and temples, and visitors are appreciating the artwork and the excitement of ice slides and other attractions at the annual Harbin Ice and Snow World. The ice sculpture festival is a major tourist draw for the former industrial center that still boasts of its proximity to Russia with Tsarist-era architecture found nowhere else in China. The riverside site features dozens of giant artworks like the Taj Mahal of India, the Osaka Castle of Japan, and Beijing’s own Temple of Heaven, all carved from clear blocks of ice. The main festival covers 1 square kilometer (.6 square miles) of the city, with the sculptures using 13,000 cubic meters (460,000 cubic feet) of ice blocks cut mainly from the adjacent Songhua River. Ice slides, with the longest ones reaching 521 meters (1,710 feet), are a key attraction, with visitors waiting almost an hour to get their chance.

Filipino Catholics pray for good health and peace in huge procession venerating Jesus statue (AP) Hundreds of thousands of mostly barefoot Catholic worshippers marched Thursday in an annual procession in the Philippines that venerates a centuries-old black statue of Jesus. Some said they prayed for good health for their families, an end to tensions in the South China Sea, and for incoming U.S. President Donald Trump to be kinder to Filipino immigrants. The procession marks the feast of Jesus Nazareno and is a major annual Catholic event in Asia. The procession in Manila began before dawn, with organizers putting the early crowd at around 250,000. Their number swelled later in the day, but there was no immediate updated crowd estimate. Last year, at least 2 million devotees joined the 15-hour procession, with some estimates of the crowd as high as over 6 million. Many devotees believe the statue’s endurance, from fires and earthquakes through the centuries and intense bombings during World War II, is a testament to its miraculous powers.

Better late than never (Foreign Policy) The Lebanese Parliament voted to elect U.S.-trained Gen. Joseph Aoun, the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, as the country’s new president, ending years of political deadlock in the troubled country. Aoun received support from across the political spectrum, including from Hezbollah lawmakers, in a sign of the group’s diminished position following a bruising war with Israel. Hezbollah had thwarted multiple previous efforts to elect a new president by withdrawing its lawmakers from Parliament, collapsing the necessary quorum.

Syria’s economic disaster (Economist) There are few tougher jobs in Syria. On December 30th the country’s interim government named Maysaa Sabrine to head the central bank. The institution Ms Sabrine leads, like the Syrian economy, is a shambles. Foreign reserves are thought to have dwindled to as little as $200m, less than a month’s worth of imports. The central bank is under Western sanctions. So is Syria’s largest commercial bank. The Syrian pound has lost 99% of its value since the start of the civil war in 2011. At 13,000 pounds to the dollar, a quick trip to the market requires bags full of banknotes. Economic mismanagement was a defining feature of the Assad regime, which ruled Syria for 53 years. Civil war pushed Syria even further into misery. GDP fell from $60bn in 2010 to less than $9bn today. The World Bank reckons that 69% of Syrians live on less than $3.65 a day.

As Russia seeks influence in Africa, former students play central role (Washington Post) The young West African students touched down in what was then the Soviet Union knowing only a handful of Russian words and little about their new home. Decades later, those former students—many of whom became doctors, engineers and businesspeople in West Africa—are key influencers for Russia as it vies with the West for sway in this turbulent part of Africa. In interviews in Burkina Faso, which has become a focus of Russian outreach, the former students said they are fostering economic, educational and diplomatic ties as they help their country move away from generations of working with the West and toward partnership with Russia. “We studied there and know the potential,” said Christian Ouédraogo, who arrived in the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and now leads a Russian-Burkinabe business club. “We want to play our part—to sit down at the negotiating table and accompany authorities so that this partnership is win-win and enables real growth for our nations.”

The world’s most powerful passports for 2025 (CNN) Who’s the itty-bitty city-state with the global passport the world thinks is great? There’s new year cheer for Singapore as it reclaims its place at the top of a quarterly ranking of the world’s most powerful passports. Holders of this desirable red travel document enjoy visa-free access to 195 out of 227 destinations worldwide, according to the Henley Passport Index, more than citizens of any other place on the planet. Japan is second in the ranking, with an open door to 193 destinations. The EU member states of France, Germany, Italy and Spain are at No. 3, along with Finland and South Korea, with access to 192 destinations with no prior visa needed. The fourth position in the rankings is a testament to the power of the European Union’s border-free Schengen area, which guarantees free movement to more than 425 million EU citizens. It’s held by seven EU countries, each with visa-free access to 191 destinations: Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Squeaking into fifth place are five countries—Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland and the United Kingdom—all of which have visa-free access to 190 destinations. The United States shares ninth place with Estonia.

[atplblog]

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[torqueyou]

Exploring the World’s Most Expensive Car: A Marvel of Luxury and Craftsmanship

The automobile industry is synonymous with innovation, luxury, and performance. Among the many creations that have graced the roads, one vehicle stands out as a true epitome of opulence and exclusivity: the world’s most expensive car. With a price tag that surpasses imagination, this masterpiece combines exquisite design, unmatched performance, and unparalleled craftsmanship, making it a coveted jewel for the elite few who can afford it.

In this blog, we delve into the details of the world’s most expensive car, exploring what makes it a global icon of luxury and exclusivity.

The Titleholder: Bugatti La Voiture Noire

Currently, the title of the world’s most expensive car belongs to the Bugatti La Voiture Noire. With an astounding price of approximately $18.7 million (after taxes), this bespoke hypercar is a testament to Bugatti’s dedication to creating vehicles that push the boundaries of design and engineering.

“La Voiture Noire,” which translates to “The Black Car” in French, was unveiled in 2019 as a one-of-a-kind model. It was created to honor the legacy of the legendary Bugatti Type 57 SC Atlantic, a car known for its elegance and exclusivity.

Why Is It the World’s Most Expensive Car?

The world’s most expensive car earns its title through a combination of unique features, meticulous craftsmanship, and unmatched attention to detail. Here’s what sets it apart:

Unparalleled Design: The La Voiture Noire features a sleek, aerodynamic design that reflects Bugatti’s heritage while embracing modern aesthetics. Its handcrafted carbon fiber body exudes sophistication, and every curve is engineered for both beauty and performance.

Powerful Performance: Beneath the hood, the car is powered by an 8.0-liter W16 engine with quad-turbochargers, delivering an astounding 1,479 horsepower and 1,600 Nm of torque. This enables the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds, making it not only luxurious but also incredibly fast.

Exclusivity: The Bugatti La Voiture Noire is a one-off creation, meaning there is only one in existence. This level of exclusivity significantly contributes to its value, as owning this car is akin to possessing a piece of automotive history.

Craftsmanship: Every element of the car is handcrafted to perfection. From the intricate detailing of the interior to the precision engineering of its components, the La Voiture Noire is a masterpiece in every sense of the word.

The Significance of Owning the World’s Most Expensive Car

Owning the world’s most expensive car is more than a status symbol; it is a celebration of artistry and engineering. The car represents the pinnacle of automotive luxury, and its value extends beyond its price tag. It is a collector’s dream, an investment, and a piece of history that embodies the best of what the automobile industry can achieve.

Honorable Mentions

While the Bugatti La Voiture Noire holds the crown as the world’s most expensive car, several other vehicles come close in terms of luxury and exclusivity:

Rolls-Royce Boat Tail ($28 million): A coach-built marvel inspired by yachts, this car combines bespoke craftsmanship with luxurious design.

Pagani Zonda HP Barchetta ($17.5 million): This open-top hypercar is another example of extreme exclusivity, with only three units ever produced.

Bugatti Centodieci ($9 million): A tribute to Bugatti’s EB110, this hypercar combines modern performance with a nod to the past.

Beyond the Price Tag

While the price of the world’s most expensive car is jaw-dropping, it’s important to understand that such cars are more than just vehicles—they are works of art. Their creation involves years of research, design, and craftsmanship, culminating in a product that redefines luxury.

For the automotive elite, these cars are not merely about transportation; they are about legacy, innovation, and individuality. The owners of such cars are not just buyers but patrons of a timeless tradition of excellence.

Conclusion

The world’s most expensive car, the Bugatti La Voiture Noire, is a masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of design, engineering, and exclusivity. With its awe-inspiring price and unmatched craftsmanship, it is a symbol of what the automobile industry can achieve when luxury and performance come together.

For car enthusiasts and collectors, the La Voiture Noire represents the ultimate aspiration—a car that not only dominates the roads but also takes its rightful place as a work of art in the history of automobiles. In a world where luxury knows no limits, the world’s most expensive car is a shining example of unparalleled excellence.

[medicinemane]

"In this video I discuss the 6 things that you need to STOP DOING immediately that are keeping you POOR. These are simple changes that you can make to your life that will result in a significant increase in your personal wealth and can lead to financial security."

Then he fucking says "Debt, Cars (fancy, dear god, it's not like you could not have one), Brands, Tech, Alcohol, and not Investing"

...pal, I fucking watched you cause you did analysis on global economies around the world, not for this kinda shit

Like is anything he's saying wrong? Nah, it's all fine advice, we're not criticizing the advice portion, in fact because I've been broke so much of my life I instinctively do everything except investing... like... you think I have money for fucking brands?

The problem is the whole "This is what's keeping you poor", no bitch, you're an out of touch upper middle class Aussie, and you're a macro economist which means you say shit like about how food prices in China going down is bad for the Chinese economy when... nah, feel like it's the real estate market, feel like folks in China probably benefit from food prices going down

You can do everything right, but if your expenses outweigh your income, you're not getting rich. I'm just not gonna stand by and let someone say that people living paycheck to paycheck are to blame from their situation. There's systemic shit in play

Like this ain't even about me. I both got no pride, and also much as I'm living off around $1600 a month and money is tight... I managed to buy a house in 2019... I'm doing more alright than most people... I'm Schrodinger's poor, where I have a poverty kinda income, but I've got things in my court that mean I stand a good chance of being able to swing upwards (if I'd stop sucking)

No, I'm pissed about all the people out there working harder than I am pinching every penny as hard as they can, who get blamed and have every transaction scrutinized, and if they buy so much as a candy bar clearly it's their fault for being poor, they could have invested that!

The people behind on rent, the people skipping meals (which I'm among in this case)... oh yeah, they haven't had lunch the past 6 months... clearly they need to hear not to buy gucci

It's just a dog shit mentality. Like this isn't a bad dude, but it's an out of touch dude... I mean I don't know if he can even conceive of all the people taking the bus cause cars are expensive. Doesn't say not to get a car, says not to get a fancy one

His advice is good for idiots in the upper middle class trying to break into the bottom of being rich... people too stupid to figure out maybe you don't actually need to live opulently (actually, my mom's parents are the exact kinda people who could have used this advice... not that they'd have listened)

But keeping you poor? Get fucking bent... I kinda doubt this dude's ever been poor in his life

(Contrast this with a guy I watch play Monster Train sometimes who was talking about how you need to splurge on yourself some times and not just hoard your money... but then he was like "I'm having to learn this cause I'm so used to being poor, it feels like I can never spend money now I have it, but I also get sometimes you don't have the spare money and you do need to pinch every cent just to get by and... this advice won't work for you) (That gets a thumbs up from me, glad he's doing good now, glad he hasn't forgotten what it's like to be poor... glad he's not telling other people why it's their fault they're broke)

[suvcarslover]

Trendsetting Excellence: A Look into Kia's Stylish Cars

Kia began its India operations with two SUVs – the Seltos and Sonet. The Seltos, launched in 2019, is a compact SUV featuring a sporty design language, powerful engine options, and generous equipment. Its sophisticated looks, feature-rich interiors, and strong value proposition made it an instant hit. The Sonet followed in 2020 as a subcompact SUV packing style, technology, and adaptability for the urban market.

In 2022, Kia diversified into the 6 & 7 seater segment with the Carens – a versatile people mover fusing sophistication, flexibility and family-friendly practicality. The same year marked Kia's foray into electric mobility with the futuristic EV6. Blending boundary-pushing design with long range, rapid charging, and sharp performance, the EV6 spearheads Kia's electric ambitions. Read on to learn more about the Kia car model in India.

Kia Seltos - The Foundation of Success

The midsize Seltos compact SUV left a strong first impression back in 2019. Its athletic shape, daring "tiger nose" chrome grille grabbed attention. Inside, the high-quality cabin with fancy touches like ambient mood lighting and ventilated seats made owners feel extra special. Buyers also appreciated Seltos' lively engine options and long features list, which are typically seen only on more expensive vehicles.

This clever balance of standout looks lots of equipment, capable engines, and reasonable pricing made Seltos an instant hit. It laid the foundation for Kia's popularity in India, which continues to grow today.

Kia Sonet - Winning Hearts in the City

Launching shortly after its Seltos sibling, the Sonet subcompact SUV had big shoes to fill. However, the smart packaging and design of Sonet makes it very appealing to find parking or turn in crowded cities. Owners loved the interior space despite the compact size outside. Mixing style and practicality for urban use worked very well.

Adding spirited engine performance and extensive feature options in top versions also won buyers. Moreover, as an affordable gateway into the Kia brand for first-time buyers, the value-packed and fun-to-drive Sonet struck the right chords.

Kia Carens - Sophistication with Flexibility

As a family needing a spacious yet sophisticated new vehicle, the 2022 Kia Carens catches our eye. The flexibility of its 6- and 7-seater configurations is perfect for changing carpool demands. Inside, the premium dash and materials and the latest technology and entertainment features create a refined environment the whole family enjoys.

Under the hood, fuel-efficient engines employ clever tech that assists with partial electric boosts for fewer stops at the pump. This creative combination striking new ground between practicality and appeal has attracted many families.

Kia EV6 - Future of Driving Arrives Today

As Kia's debut dedicated electric vehicle in India, the revolutionary KIA EV6 India gives buyers the first truly world-class EV option locally through superb Korean technology. Futuristic shapes mixing a sleek stance with aerospace ambitions provide strong hints for mobility advances. Vast tech transforming the cabin hints at potentials too - from dual HD displays to sustainable materials and 64 Color Ambient mood lighting settings. For Indian customers desiring a peek at tomorrow's electric possibilities made exciting today, Kia's luxury EV6 remains a red-hot talking point.

Kia Cars Models and Price When it comes to prices, Kia cars strike an appealing balance between affordability and premium ownership experience. Among the current Kia lineup, the Sonet subcompact SUV is the most accessible model for buyers looking to enter the Kia family.

Kia Sonet price starts at ₹7,99,000. T&C apply, ex-showroom price all India . This makes the lively yet practical Sonet subcompact SUV the most affordable way to own a new Kia car in India. With its eye-catching looks, extensive features list, efficient engines and composed road manners, the Sonet punches well above its price tag.

Moving up the ladder, we come to the popular Kia Seltos, which slots in as a compact SUV. Kia Seltos ex-showroom price starts at ₹10,89,900 T&C apply, ex-showroom price all India . The tech laden Seltos packs in a lot of money. From its high-quality interiors to versatile engine options and assured dynamics, the Seltos sets an aspirational benchmark in its segment.

Kia Carens ranges from ₹10,51,900* ex-showroom prices in all India . The Carens has transformed mobility for modern families with seating flexibility for 6 or 7 passengers, a striking design, and a premium cabin. Available with both petrol and diesel drivetrains, the Carens can suit varying budgets and needs.

Overall, Kia India has ensured widespread accessibility across its model range. For customers, this translates into vehicles matching their requirements and the style, features and technology defining the Kia brand. The market has received the pricing strategy well, as indicated by the sales success of Seltos and Sonet. Expect Kia to build on this momentum with competitive pricing, driving value-conscious purchases.

Conclusion By focusing on great design, consumer convenience, quality manufacturing and intelligent technologies in just 5 years, Kia India has achieved record sales most global brands take decades to reach! Now, they plan to raise the bar further - a more widespread presence countrywide. Given their customer-first mindset, which delivers joy and efficiency in equal proportions, we expect Kia's future journey to shine bright.

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Best-Selling Cars Worldwide: Market Trends and Analysis

The automotive sector globally is experiencing a transformation in consumer choices and market dynamics. Enthusiasts have always shown immense interest in the top-selling cars worldwide and the most expensive cars In the world.

This blog post delves into the leading car models that are capturing consumer attention, offering valuable insights into prevailing preferences and the changing automotive industry landscape.

Unveiling the Top-Selling Cars and Market Dynamics

1. Ford Puma

Introduction Year: The Ford Puma was originally introduced in 2019, marking its presence as an affordable and family-friendly option in the SUV market.

Best-Selling Status of Ford Puma: The Ford Puma retained its position as the best-selling vehicle in 2024, continuing its success from the previous year.

Model Description of Ford Puma: The Ford Puma is classified as a small SUV, catering primarily to the preferences of European consumers.

Powertrain Upgrade of Ford Puma: In mid-2023, the Ford Puma underwent a significant upgrade, introducing a 170 horsepower 1.0 L mid-hybrid engine paired with an automatic gearbox. This replaced its previous mild hybrid 1.0 L Ecoboost three-cylinder turbo gasoline engine.

Sales Performance of Ford Puma: Sales of the Ford Puma witnessed a notable increase of 12.24% compared to previous years, indicating sustained popularity and demand.

Market Availability of Ford Puma: Initially launched in Europe, the Ford Puma gradually expanded its availability to other regions, including South Africa and Australia, providing a wider consumer base.

Future Prospect of Ford Puma: An electric variant of the Ford Puma is anticipated to be introduced soon, aligning with the growing trend towards electric mobility solutions.

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