#overseas property investment

[murvinnriservices]

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[livingthedreamproperties]

[tgmsunmontue]

You need to learn how to fall 3/10

Hangster (and IceMav) - Bradley is too tall to be a naval aviator and instead becomes a sky diver, specialising in spin recovery. He is a civilian contractor to the Airforce and Navy to teach pilots how to survive parachute spins from ejections. A more in-depth version of this post.

PROLOGUE 2003-2006

2007-2010 – The middle years

                He ends up with another part-time job, fortunately using his human performance part of his degree and working as a personal trainer, mostly early mornings. Jumping out of planes is expensive. He moves out of the house him and Mav usually live in, but months later ends up moving in with Ice when he’s diagnosed with cancer. They don’t sugar coat things, not now that he’s an adult. He has to listen to them talk about wills and property and investments and assets; wants to stick his head in the sand and just chant la-la-la until it all goes away. He doesn’t want to consider his life without them both in it. Hard enough to think he’s already lost his actual parents, he can’t lose them too.

                He sits through it though, signs forms he reads carefully because both Ice and Mav frown and look disappointed the first time he signed without even looking. They get similar forms for him, given his current career and he’s pretty sure Mav has to excuse himself to go and throw up when he says he doesn’t want to be kept on life support indefinitely if he has a bad fall. Ice just nods and accepts his decision with quiet equanimity and he wonders if it’s because he is facing his own mortality. He starts a YouTube channel, figures out how to take effective video and then edit it properly. Loads them up without commentary; originally it’s for those he’s taken up for tandem jumps, but then it’s for other instructors around the country, and then a couple of them move overseas. His channel has a small but dedicated following.

                One of the silver linings of Ice’s cancer diagnosis is the fact he seems to no longer give any fucks about what people might say about his relationship with Mav. Don’t ask, don’t tell is still in effect but it’s also definitely very firmly in the don’t tell realm as far as Bradley can figure out. Everyone who they interact with seems to simply know that they’re together, and have been for as long as everyone remembers. Definitely for as long as he remembers. No one wants to tell and he guesses that Ice is high enough up that there’s probably blind-eyes all over the place.

                Then Ice insists on Mav moving in, which he promptly leaves the house for, not wanting to hang around for listening to the argument or hearing the makeup sex that will surely follow. So they put the house on the market, then he’s given the money and told he can finally buy the plane he wants which he delays a little and carefully shops around, listening to the advice of his old instructors and also Ice and Mav. All his gifts for years are centered around either skydiving or filming and editing software. It doesn’t escape his notice that Mav’s gifts tend towards the safer indoor aspects, while Ice tends toward the safety needs. They’re both supportive in their own ways.

                Living together, all of them, properly for the first time, results in the sudden influx of photos that pop up, every flat surface has frames with photos and Ice starts taking more photos. All of their lives are visually documented on the walls and bookshelves, although Bradley notes the front room Ice uses as a study and work room remains very formal and devoid of any personal touches. Other than formal portraits, like his graduation photo. Regardless of what room he’s in he feels like he is at home.

…             …             …

                His nightmare becomes a reality, although not in full. The call he got was from Bradley, starting off with I’m alive but I’m on the way to the hospital. He’d then passed the phone over to someone else. Apparently he’d taken a bad landing after being forced to use his second backup shute. He’d been too close to the ground so had hit it hard. His hands are shaking as he walks down the hospital corridor, the only thing that has him not vomiting is the fact that Bradley is the one who called him. That Bradley was alive; maybe not alive and well, but alive enough to call him.

                “Bad fall,” Mav mutters. “Like he’s tripped over the front step and grazed his hands…”

                He pushes the door open to Bradley’s room. He’s pale, face covered in bandages, one arm in a cast and both legs in braces, but not as he’d imagined a broken spine and him being in something like full-traction it’s a little bit of a relief.

                “He’s damned lucky.”

                “Doesn’t look lucky.”

                “He had his legs tucked up, hit the ground and rolled. Like it was as natural as breathing. He dislocated his shoulder but continued with the momentum… most people I know would have hit the ground feet-first despite years of training and the shock would have caused spiral fractures. They’ve braced his ankles as a matter of precaution because the x-rays showed no damage, which is a miracle but also isn’t surprising considering he walked into the hospital. We don’t usually say that you can be a natural at skydiving, but this kid is definitely a natural.”

                Mav sighs.

                Of course he is.

…             …             …

                “If the cancer didn’t get me, then I’m sure jumping out of a plane isn’t going to kill me either.”

                “Fighting words. It’s a good thing I’m taller than you. When we come into land you’re going to lift your legs.”

                He listens as Bradley takes him through everything, despite the fact that he knows it all, having listened to it so often he’s pretty sure he could repeat it back, learning it alongside Bradley and quizzing him on it. He can follow Bradley’s instructions, he’s in the Navy. When he’s strapped to Bradley, waved the all-clear he feels a little frisson of abject terror but it’s too late, he’s falling toward to the ground and then his fear fades away and he lets out a whoop of joy, hears Bradley’s amused laughter before it’s whipped away by the rushing air. They hit the ground and it’s gentler than he thought it would be.

                “Woo! What a rush!”

                “Yeah? You like it?”

                “It reminds me of my first launch off a carrier. Damn. Yeah. I get it now. Love you kid,” he says, knocking his own helmet against Bradley’s, the words aren’t ones he says often, but feels the need to say them more often now. Doesn’t want Bradley to ever doubt how he feels. Mav either for that matter…

                “Love you too.”

…             …             …

                “You were both up there, together.”

                He should have known it would give Mav another nightmare and he curls himself around him, makes gentle shushing noises under his breath, glad now that he doesn’t have to try and do this over the phone.

                “Do you trust him?”

                “Of course I do!”

                “Then know that skydiving, especially tandem skydiving is safer than driving to and from the hangar. Car accidents are far more common and hurt far more people than skydiving does. You’ve seen him with his gear. Hell, we check it. He’s damned good at what he does. He’s meant to be up in the air just as much as you are…”

                Mav lets out a little hiccupping breath and Tom knows he’s got something that’ll definitely take his mind of everything else.

                “You know, there’s something else I want to check off on my bucket list…” Tom says, and he’s not going to move, but his otherwise grand plans aren’t getting a look in right now. This feels right.

                “What?”

                “Pete Mitchell, will you marry me?”

…             …             …

                Ice and Mav leave plans on the table one night. An extension to the house, with a shared internal door but his own front door; effectively making two houses. A large bedroom, another room for an office with a desk, extension to the garage so he can store his gear, enough room to roll out his chutes and carry out checks. It’s very clearly an invitation to never move out, but also to live independently and he finds the sticky notes they use to communicate when they’re too busy to actually stop and talk. Simply draws a heart and writes love it in the center.

                He doesn’t bother looking at moving out of home again.

2011-2015 - The later years (NEXT PART)

[rottenbrainstuff]

Haha! Canada is implementing much stricter immigration policies, which people generally support because 1) racism but also 2) it’s being claimed it will fix our housing crisis. It won’t, at all, but we cannot address the issues with landlords, airbnbs, overseas property investment, and worst of all, the fact that boomers are dependant on the value of their homes constantly increasing for their retirement security and this bubble is of absolute crisis proportions in Canada, worse than the US, no, we can’t address these issues, because people won’t like the solutions. Instead we will blame immigrants for it and placate the voters by saying we’ll restrict the number of immigrants entering. But I digress…..

My mom told me, in shock, that her neighbours are now being deported. They are a nice family originally from the Ukraine, they have been living here for several years now, and had a new baby about two years ago, and their recent application for… I don’t know, work visa, PR, whatever it was, was declined and they now have three months to leave the country. That’s it.

She’s in absolute shock, like, the immigration policy was supposed to target the people who aren’t contributing (read: brown people) and she never thought the leopards would eat HER neighbour’s faces, cause they’re obviously the GOOD (white) kind of immigrant.

Dunno what even to tell you.

[yourtoradorasextendedwarranty]

Kamala Harris: "We are going to raise taxes on big corporations and the rich. We want to make sure people pay their fair share".

I'm sick of that phrase. "Pay your fair share". Do you even understand that phase? Our tax rates in the US scale up. The more you make, the more your pay. And people will sometimes go, "oh well rich people actually avoid paying taxes so we should tax them more". Ok so sounds like your problem isn't with the rich. Sounds like you're issue is with tax law. Which is important because those rich people, most of them, didn't get rich by dumb luck. They did so by being smart with their money, investing, and posting attention to trends. If people can pay X amount to a charity to avoid taxes, that payment itself should be considered a tax. Because it's money they can't keep.

But I hear a lot of leftists and communists say shit like, "we should tax the rich at 99% because they can live off the 1% of their earnings". To which I say, go fuck yourself. Fair is a flat tax across the board. Not based on a percentage. Your issue with that is jealousy. Because conceptually, when leftists demand others "pay their fair share" what they mean is, "give me your money, or if I can't have it no one can". That's the long and short of leftist rhetoric.

And it's derived from a sense of entitlement. The are people that make more money than me, and I don't like that. Therefore they should have to have what they do make, taken from them by the government to use on useless shit. Like sending it overseas. Or funding research on maximum pain in monkeys and dogs.

Yup. This is what YOUR MONEY funded. And for years mind you. So every time you advocate to confiscate MORE MONEY from people no matter who they are, I want you to remember, some of it? It's being used to torture puppies.

And, incidentally, I hate most of you that parrot this phrase anyways. Because fair again would be a flat tax. Paying more because you make more? Is a punishment. That's like if I managed to save to and buy a PS4, X Box 1, and a Nintendo Switch, but because a person down the road only has a PS2, they come in and take all of my systems away, and give me back a used PS3. THAT is the system you're demanding. You are not entitled to my labor. You are not entitled to my property, my money, or anything of mine. Make your own easy forward and stop demanding handouts. Because fun fact about those handouts? Those handouts are being used to line the pockets of people like Nancy Pelosi and others, before you see a DIME of it. And even then she sees hundreds of thousands before you ever even do see a dime.

[eaglesnick]

THE BIG CON: VOTE REFORM, VOTE BIG BUSINESS

A vote for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party is essentially a vote for big business and the super-rich.

Reform promises to lift 7 million people from paying tax at the lower end of the pay scale to  “save every worker almost £1500 per year.” Although I am sure this saving for low earners would be very welcome, it is the rich who benefit most from Reform’s income tax proposals.

 At the moment people earning over £50,000 pay a 40% tax rate on earnings above this figure. The Reform Party promise to raise the threshold to £70,000, a saving of £3,588 a year for the 15% richest people in the country.

Reform and the far-right favour business over individual workers.  It is therefore no surprise that Corporations are to receive the biggest tax breaks. Corporation tax will be reduced from 25% to 20% for the first 5 years, and then down to 15% after that.

For year ending 2022/23 corporation tax brought in £79.9billion. Under Reform, corporations would be in receipt of tax breaks worth £47.94billion. In November 2022, State of Tax Justice reported that

…”the world was losing over $483 billion a year in tax to multinational corporations and wealthy individuals using tax havens to underpay tax. That’s equivalent to losing a nurse’s yearly salary to a tax haven every second.” 

The only reason Reform would want to legitimise corporate tax avoidance is because Reform is essentially a political party for the already wealthy. They might throw a few crumbs to the ordinary worker but the real rewards are to go to the rich and powerful.

Many large corporations are foreign owned so  tax breaks for big business are just as likely to go to overseas shareholders as they are to UK owners. Does the British taxpayer really want to be subsidising foreign share ownership by cutting tax revenues?

Richard Tice, leader of Reform until replaced by Nigel Farage a few days ago, is a multi-millionaire who made his money in property development.  Both he and Farage have their own TV shows on GB News, which is bankrolled by the hedge-fund billionaire Paul Marshal and the Dubai based investment company Legartum, founded by New Zealand billionaire Christopher Chandler who made his fortune in Russian gas.

Reform's links to the super-rich goes further. Multi-millionaire Jeremy Hosking has given £2.578,000 to Reform coffers. Is it coincidence he is funding a party that campaigns to scrap UK emission targets when he is “the director of a company with tens of millions of pounds invested in oil and gas” ? (Open Democracy: 22/03/22). I think not.

Another major donor to Reform is the ex-Bullingdon Club member George Farmer. (Other members include David Cameron and George Osborne the architects of Tory Austerity and the liar Boris Johnson who brought us Party Gate). An “ardent supporter of Donald Trump”, Farmer was CEO of the far-right platform Parler, and is married to Candice Owens, a woman who “promotes far-right ideologies”, In 2023 he joined the board of GB News.

The biggest single donor to Reform according to Electoral Commission records is Chris Harborne, handing over £10 million to Brexit/Reform. Harborne owes his fortune to the sale of aviation fuel and technology investments. He gained notoriety when his name appeared multiple times in the Panama Papers. These documents revealed:

 “…off-shore holdings of world political leaders, links to global scandals, and details of  hidden financial dealings of fraudsters, drug traffickers, billionaires, celebrities, sports stars and more”. (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists: 03/03/2016)

These wealthy backers of Reform are not spending millions of pounds in order to benefit ordinary workingmen and women. They see these millions as an investment, an investment on which they expect a return for their money.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Mike Luckovich

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

May 8, 2024

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

MAY 09, 2024

Today, in Racine, Wisconsin, President Joe Biden announced that Microsoft is investing $3.3 billion dollars to build a new data center that will help operate one of the most powerful artificial intelligence systems in the world. It is expected to create 2,300 union construction jobs and employ 2,000 permanent workers. 

Microsoft has also partnered with Gateway Technical College to train and certify 200 students a year to fill new jobs in data and information technology. In addition, Microsoft is working with nearby high schools to train students for future jobs. 

Speaking at Gateway Technical College’s Racine campus, Biden contrasted today’s investment with that made by Trump about the same site in 2018. In that year, Trump went to Wisconsin for the “groundbreaking” of a high-tech campus he claimed would be the “eighth wonder of the world.” 

Under Republican governor Scott Walker, Wisconsin legislators approved a $3 billion subsidy and tax incentive package—ten times larger than any similar previous package in the state—to lure the Taiwan-based Foxconn electronics company. Once built, a new $10 billion campus that would focus on building large liquid-crystal display screens would bring 13,000 jobs to the area, they promised. 

Foxconn built a number of buildings, but the larger plan never materialized, even after taxpayers had been locked into contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars for upgrading roads, sewer system, electricity, and so on. When voters elected Democrat Tony Evers as governor in 2022, he dropped the tax incentives from $3 billion to $80 million, which depended on the hiring of only 1,454 workers, reflecting the corporation’s current plans. Foxconn dropped its capital investment from $10 billion to $672.8 million.  

In November 2023, Microsoft announced it was buying some of the Foxconn properties in Wisconsin.

Today, Biden noted that rather than bringing jobs to Racine, Trump’s policies meant the city lost 1,000 manufacturing jobs during his term. Wisconsin as a whole lost 83,500. “Racine was once a manufacturing boomtown,” Biden recalled, “all the way through the 1960s, powering companies—invented and manufacturing Windex…portable vacuum cleaners, and so much more, and powered by middle-class jobs.

“And then came trickle-down economics [which] cut taxes for the very wealthy and biggest corporations…. We shipped American jobs overseas because labor was cheaper. We slashed public investment in education and innovation. And the result: We hollowed out the middle class. My predecessor and his administration doubled down on that failed trickle-down economics, along with the [trail] of broken promises.” 

“But that’s not on my watch,” Biden said. “We’re determined to turn it around.” He noted that thanks to the Democrats’ policies, in the past three years, Racine has added nearly 4,000 jobs—hitting a record low unemployment rate—and Wisconsin as a whole has gained 178,000 new jobs. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act have fueled “a historic boom in rebuilding our roads and bridges, developing and deploying clean energy, [and] revitalizing American manufacturing,” he said. That investment has attracted $866 billion in private-sector investment across the country, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs “building new semiconductor factories, electric vehicles and battery factories…here in America.” 

The Biden administration has been scrupulous about making sure that money from the funds appropriated to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure and manufacturing base has gone to Republican-dominated districts; indeed, Republican-dominated states have gotten the bulk of those investments. “President Biden promised to be the president of all Americans—whether you voted for him or not. And that’s what this agenda is delivering,” White House deputy chief of staff Natalie Quillian told Matt Egan of CNN in February. 

But there is, perhaps, a deeper national strategy behind that investment. Political philosophers studying the rise of authoritarianism note that strongmen rise by appealing to a population that has been dispossessed economically or otherwise. By bringing jobs back to those regions that have lost them over the past several decades and promising “the great comeback story all across…the entire country,” as he did today, Biden is striking at that sense of alienation.

“When folks see a new factory being built here in Wisconsin, people going to work making a really good wage in their hometowns, I hope they feel the pride that I feel,” Biden said. “Pride in their hometowns making a comeback. Pride in knowing we can get big things done in America still.” 

That approach might be gaining traction. Last Friday, when Trump warned the audience of Fox 2 Detroit television that President’s Biden’s policies would cost jobs in Michigan, local host Roop Raj provided a “reality check,” noting that Michigan gained 24,000 jobs between January 2021, when Biden took office, and May 2023.

At Gateway Technical College, Biden thanked Wisconsin governor Tony Evers and Racine mayor Cory Mason, both Democrats, as well as Microsoft president Brad Smith and AFL-CIO president Liz Schuler.

The picture of Wisconsin state officials working with business and labor leaders, at a public college established in 1911, was an image straight from the Progressive Era, when the state was the birthplace of the so-called Wisconsin Idea. In the earliest years of the twentieth century, when the country reeled under industrial monopolies and labor strikes, Wisconsin governor Robert “Fighting Bob” La Follette and his colleagues advanced the idea that professors, lawmakers, and officials should work together to provide technical expertise to enable the state to mediate a fair relationship between workers and employers. 

In his introduction to the 1912 book explaining the Wisconsin Idea, former president Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican, explained that the Wisconsin Idea turned the ideas of reformers into a workable plan, then set out to put those ideas into practice. Roosevelt approvingly quoted economist Simon Patten, who maintained that the world had adequate resources to feed, clothe, and educate everyone, if only people cared to achieve that end. Quoting Patten, Roosevelt wrote: “The real idealist is a pragmatist and an economist. He demands measurable results and reaches them by means made available by economic efficiency. Only in this way is social progress possible.”

Reformers must be able to envision a better future, Roosevelt wrote, but they must also find a way to turn those ideals into reality. That involved careful study and hard work to develop the machinery to achieve their ends. 

Roosevelt compared people engaged in progressive reform to “that greatest of all democratic reformers, Abraham Lincoln.” Like Lincoln, he wrote, reformers “will be assailed on the one side by the reactionary, and on the other by that type of bubble reformer who is only anxious to go to extremes, and who always gets angry when he is asked what practical results he can show.” “[T]he true reformer,” Roosevelt wrote, “must study hard and work patiently.” 

“It is no easy matter actually to insure, instead of merely talking about, a measurable equality of opportunity for all men,” Roosevelt wrote. “It is no easy matter to make this Republic genuinely an industrial as well as a political democracy. It is no easy matter to secure justice for those who in the past have not received it, and at the same time to see that no injustice is meted out to others in the process. It is no easy matter to keep the balance level and make it evident that we have set our faces like flint against seeing this government turned into either government by a plutocracy, or government by a mob. It is no easy matter to give the public their proper control over corporations and big business, and yet to prevent abuse of that control.”

“All through the Union we need to learn the Wisconsin lesson,” Roosevelt wrote in 1912.

“We’re the United States of America,” President Biden said today, “And there’s nothing beyond our capacity when we work together.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[jmreynolds]

Blacula Vs Sugar Hill (1975)

Blacula Vs Sugar Hill (1975). Starring William Marshall, Marki Bey and Yaphet Kotto. Based on a screenplay by Bill Gunn and directed by Larry Cohen.

In 1975, American International Pictures decided to roll the dice one last time on the Blacula franchise; but this time, the vampire would be facing another AIP original – Sugar Hill. With a script by Ganja & Hess (1973) writer and director Bill Gunn, and directed by Larry Cohen, Blacula Vs Sugar Hill (also known as Blacula Lives!) found a reluctant William Marshall returning to the role of Prince Mamuwalde, and Marki Bey once again sliding into the white jumpsuit of Diana ‘Sugar’ Hill.

Other members of the cast included Yaphet Kotto as the menacing bokor, Mr. Sunlight; Julius Harris as hitman turned vampire, Turner; Art Lund as scheming mob boss Morgan; Don Pedro Colley as Baron Samedi; Geoffrey Holder as Baron Cimitière; Zara Cully as Mama Maitresse; Don Mitchell as Justin Carter; Thalmus Rasulala as Dr. Gordon Thomas; with a special cameo by Pam Grier, who reprised her role as Lisa Fortier in a stunning dream sequence that Roger Ebert called ‘phantasmagorical and indulgent’.

A sequel to both Scream Blacula Scream (1974) and Sugar Hill (1974), the film opened with Mamuwalde’s resurrection by the villainous Mr. Sunlight. Sunlight, working for mob-boss Pretty Johnny Morgan, has drawn Mamuwalde back to the land of the living for one purpose: to destroy the woman who calls herself Sugar Hill.

What follows is an overstuffed-but-exciting seventy-minute psychedelic showdown between the living, the dead, and the in-between. Zombies battle vampires; Baron Samedi is captured by Sunlight’s magics; Mamuwalde’s old foes, Justin Carter and Gordon Thomas, are summoned by Baron Cimitière to fight the vampire; Mr. Sunlight matches his mystic powers against those of Mama Maitresse; and in the gore-soaked finale, Mamuwalde and Sugar Hill put aside their differences and invade Sunlight’s island-fortress, battling undead mobsters in an effort to reach the man responsible for their respective difficulties.

The film proved to be a moderate success, revitalizing AIP’s then-waning interest in horror films. Marki Bey was quickly signed to a two-picture deal for further Sugar Hill sequels, including Sweet Babylon (1977) – written and directed by Gunn – and Sugar Hill in Hell (1979), written and directed by John Carpenter, with a script consultation by Dario Argento. Kurt Russell had a notable role in the film as lycanthropic gangster Johnny Moon.

Marshall, less interested in returning as Mamuwalde, was nonetheless convinced to give it a fourth and final go in Blacula, Prince of Darkness (1976), which was the first – though not the last – of AIP’s joint-ventures with overseas studios – in this case, Hammer. In the film, Mamuwalde finally comes to grips with Dracula – played by an equally reluctant Christopher Lee – in a ‘senses-shattering showdown of the supernatural’.

While neither actor is what one might call invested, the very act of sharing a screen seemed to bring out the best in both Lee and Marshall, and the confrontation between them proved memorable – just as senses-shattering as promised. Appearances by Don Mitchell as Justin Carter and Peter Cushing as Van Helsing cemented the film’s status as a cult classic, as did Gene Page’s return for the soundtrack.

The success of its horror catalogue kept AIP financially afloat in the difficult years ahead. A revitalised Samuel Arkoff turned his attentions to new properties, including The Mist (1980) and Escape from Detroit (1981), both written and directed by John Carpenter, with script assistance from Nick Castle and Bill Gunn. Escape from Detroit was followed by two sequels – Escape from Hollywood (1984) and Escape from Hell (1985). All three films starred Kurt Russell and Yaphet Kotto, with Lee Van Cleef as the embittered Bob Hauk.

But with both Bey and Marshall moving on to greener pastures in the early eighties, AIP was forced to get creative with its horror films. Fresh off of his run on Ironside (1967-1975), Don Mitchell agreed to reprise his role as Justin Carter for further films. The first of these, Q (1982), was directed by Larry Cohen and found occult expert Carter locked in battle with another supernatural menace and lumbered with a conniving sidekick, Jimmy Quinn, ably played by Michael Moriarty.

The duo proved to be popular enough that Cohen agreed to direct another two, including The Substance (1985), which finds Carter and Quinn investigating an alien menace, and Monster Cop (1988), which had the distinction of being written by Cohen himself, and saw the duo go up against Robert Z’dar’s titular undead cop.

The Carter and Quinn films were followed by a short lived and largely forgettable television series, Carter & Quinn, that lasted for a single season. Even a surprise appearance by William Marshall as Mamuwalde in the season finale did little to perk up the ratings but it found a new lease on life later, on DVD.

More happily, Cohen and Z’dar would go on to write Monster Cop II: Bloody Justice (1990), which positioned Z’dar’s monstrous Cordell as an anti-hero, fighting a corrupt police force. Bloody Justice was the first of a popular direct-to-video series, and co-starred Robert Davi and Laurene Landon. While a possible crossover with several of AIP's other horror stars were posited, Cordell never encounters his predecessors. The closest he comes is an encounter with Don Pedro Colley's Baron Samedi in Monster Cop IV: Voodoo Beat (1995). Cohen, a fan of the 'AIP Expanded Universe' as some critics have begun to call it, encouraged fans to view it as an unofficial Sugar Hill crossover.

By the late Nineties, the well of creativity at AIP was at last beginning to run dry. Arkoff had long since retired, and AIP was soon bought out by a struggling Orion Pictures Corporation. When Orion was bought in its turn by Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, the AIP catalogue vanished into the vaults – until 2018, when remastered Blu-Ray editions of the Blacula and Sugar Hill films were released to great acclaim.

[labourcompliance]

Statutory Labour Law Compliance

Statutory Compliance Services in India focus on helping organizations meet regulatory and legal requirements, which include a wide range of laws, rules, and regulations that businesses need to follow. These services typically cover aspects such as labor laws, tax laws, corporate laws, and industry-specific guidelines to ensure compliance and avoid penalties or legal issues.

Here’s a breakdown of key components:

1. Labour Law Compliance

Covers regulations related to employee rights, wages, and working conditions.

Compliance with acts like the Minimum Wages Act, Employee Provident Fund (EPF) Act, Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act, and Shops and Establishments Act.

Ensures timely filing of statutory returns, maintaining registers, and addressing statutory contributions.

2. Tax Compliance

Encompasses both direct and indirect tax laws, including Income Tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and Professional Tax.

Ensures that businesses file timely returns, pay due taxes, and avail of any applicable credits or exemptions.

3. Corporate Law Compliance

Compliance with the Companies Act, 2013, for businesses incorporated in India.

Includes maintaining statutory records (like statutory registers), filing annual returns with the Registrar of Companies, holding board meetings, and ensuring proper governance practices.

Involves meeting specific regulatory requirements based on business structure (e.g., private limited, public limited, LLP).

4. Environmental, Health, and Safety Compliance

Focuses on the rules related to environmental protection, occupational health, and workplace safety.

Compliance with acts like the Factories Act, 1948, and various environmental laws such as the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.

5. Industry-Specific Compliance

Industries like healthcare, finance, pharmaceuticals, and IT have specialized regulatory requirements.

Compliance services ensure that companies adhere to specific acts and guidelines relevant to their industry, such as RBI guidelines for financial institutions or the IT Act for IT companies.

6. Other Key Compliance Areas

Intellectual Property Compliance: Protects and manages trademarks, patents, and copyrights.

Foreign Exchange Management Compliance (FEMA): Relevant for businesses with foreign investments, cross-border transactions, or overseas offices.

Audit and Reporting Compliance: Ensures regular audits and financial reporting align with regulatory standards.

Statutory Compliance Services offer businesses peace of mind by ensuring full adherence to India's complex regulatory landscape, minimizing the risk of legal repercussions, and allowing businesses to focus on core operations.

[unpluggedfinancial]

Bitcoin and the Path to Freedom: Breaking the Chains of Traditional Finance

Imagine a world where you truly control your money—where no one can tell you how to use it, take it away, or devalue it. Financial freedom is about having power over your wealth, unchained from the invisible grip of middlemen, gatekeepers, and inflation. Today, millions of people live under the weight of financial systems that take more than they give, leaving individuals with little autonomy. But there is another way—a way built on transparency, freedom, and a vision for a better future: Bitcoin.

Bitcoin isn’t just an investment; it’s a movement, a revolution, and for many, the key to true financial independence. In this post, we’ll explore why Bitcoin represents a path to freedom and how anyone can start this journey.

The Shackles of Traditional Finance: Breaking Free from Limitations

The financial system most of us know is riddled with constraints. High fees, limited access, and a complete lack of individual sovereignty make up the foundation of traditional finance. Let’s start with the basics: want to send money overseas to your family? Get ready for expensive fees, delays, and limitations on how much you can send. If you don’t fit the criteria for the right bank account, you may not even have access to financial tools you need. Add in predatory interest rates and the constant erosion of value by inflation, and it’s clear that the current system keeps many in a financial cage.

This centralized power also dictates monetary policy—policies that often end up benefiting a select few, while everyday people struggle to make ends meet. These restrictions, limits, and power imbalances are the shackles of traditional finance.

Inflation: The Silent Thief Stealing Your Wealth

Inflation is a silent thief, quietly eroding the value of your hard-earned money. The problem isn’t just a slight rise in prices; it’s the loss of your purchasing power because central banks continuously print more money, often out of thin air. The dollars you saved in your bank account ten years ago don’t have the same buying power today. This relentless loss in value means that simply saving isn’t enough anymore—you need to invest just to stay afloat.

This is where Bitcoin makes a fundamental difference. Unlike fiat currencies, Bitcoin has a fixed supply of 21 million coins—it can never be inflated away. Bitcoin’s scarcity is a built-in hedge against inflation, a protective shield against the constant debasement of traditional currencies. In countries facing hyperinflation, Bitcoin isn’t just a store of value—it’s a lifeline.

Bitcoin as a Solution: Empowering Financial Freedom

So, what makes Bitcoin the answer? Bitcoin is decentralized—meaning it isn’t controlled by any government or bank. It’s permissionless—no one can tell you how you can or can’t use it, and you don’t need anyone’s approval to send, receive, or hold it. Bitcoin transactions are borderless, accessible to anyone with an internet connection. It empowers individuals who have been excluded from financial systems, offering them a chance to participate in a global economy.

In a world where censorship is increasing, Bitcoin’s censorship resistance means that no one can freeze your funds or stop your transactions. You are your own bank—you hold your keys, and therefore, you hold your freedom.

Not Timing the Market, But Thriving Through Time in the Market

One of the biggest misconceptions about Bitcoin is that it’s a tool for getting rich quick. But those who have benefitted most from Bitcoin aren’t those who try to time the peaks and dips—they’re the ones who understand Bitcoin as a long-term, revolutionary technology. Bitcoin is about patient, gradual growth. Holding Bitcoin for the long haul allows you to benefit from its unique properties—scarcity, increasing adoption, and its potential as a store of value.

This long-term approach is crucial because Bitcoin’s journey has been, and will continue to be, volatile. But, historically, those who have focused on time in the market rather than timing the market have come out ahead. Even small, regular investments, or "stacking sats," can lead to significant wealth accumulation over time—especially compared to traditional savings, which are gradually eaten away by inflation.

The Power of Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) Into Bitcoin

One of the best ways to invest in Bitcoin is through Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA). This strategy means investing a fixed amount of money at regular intervals—regardless of Bitcoin’s current price. DCA allows you to lower the risk that comes from Bitcoin’s price volatility by averaging out your purchase price over time.

DCA is perfect for beginners or anyone who doesn’t want the stress of trying to predict market movements. It’s about consistency and building a habit of disciplined investing. My coworker, for instance, decided to start buying $25 worth of Bitcoin each week. It’s a simple commitment, but over time, those consistent contributions will add up to something substantial. Bitcoin rewards patience, and DCA helps you stay in the game without the emotional rollercoaster of trying to "buy low, sell high."

Critical Thinking and Bitcoin: Unlocking New Perspectives

Learning about Bitcoin isn’t just about understanding a new form of money—it’s about sharpening your critical thinking skills. Bitcoin touches on so many different areas: economics, technology, history, and even psychology. To truly understand Bitcoin, you have to question the status quo, think deeply about what money really is, and challenge the narratives pushed by traditional financial institutions.

For me, Bitcoin has been a gateway to learning about the history of money, the impacts of inflation, and the nature of decentralized systems. It forces you to examine why things work the way they do and consider how they could work differently. This process of questioning, learning, and connecting different fields of knowledge has made me a more critical thinker overall. Even if someone doesn’t fully embrace Bitcoin, just going through the journey of learning about it will make them better equipped to navigate the complex world of finance and beyond.

Practical Paths to Freedom: Real-World Bitcoin Impact

Bitcoin is already making a difference in the lives of people around the world. For individuals in countries experiencing hyperinflation or unstable financial systems, Bitcoin offers a stable alternative—a way to preserve their wealth. For others, it’s about avoiding costly remittance fees that have long been a burden on families sending money across borders.

In my own journey, I’ve seen how Bitcoin has opened doors I never knew existed—how it’s helped sharpen my understanding of money, and how it’s made me more optimistic about the future. Even my coworker, who’s new to this, is beginning to see how taking that small step can make a huge difference over time.

The Broader Vision: Imagining a Bitcoin-Driven Future

What does a world based on Bitcoin look like? Imagine a future where financial autonomy is the norm. Where people don’t have to rely on centralized authorities who can print money, freeze funds, or set arbitrary limits. Imagine a world where saving is rewarded, not punished by inflation. A world where people can transact freely, create businesses without borders, and pass on a legacy of financial independence to their children.

Bitcoin offers that vision—a path toward a world that encourages individual sovereignty, decentralization, and economic freedom. It’s not just a new financial system; it’s the start of a new way of thinking about money, wealth, and freedom.

Conclusion

The traditional financial system has made many of us feel powerless—subject to policies and decisions that favor the few at the top. Bitcoin is different. It puts power back in the hands of the people. It’s a tool that allows you to take control, hedge against inflation, and become an active participant in shaping a new world of financial freedom.

If you’ve ever felt like the current system isn’t working for you, maybe it’s time to explore something different. Bitcoin is more than an investment—it’s a movement toward true freedom. Start small, stay consistent, and take that first step on the path to financial sovereignty today.

Take Action Towards Financial Independence

If this article has sparked your interest in the transformative potential of Bitcoin, there's so much more to explore! Dive deeper into the world of financial independence and revolutionize your understanding of money by following my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel.

🌐 Blog: Unplugged Financial Blog Stay updated with insightful articles, detailed analyses, and practical advice on navigating the evolving financial landscape. Learn about the history of money, the flaws in our current financial systems, and how Bitcoin can offer a path to a more secure and independent financial future.

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👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Whether you're a seasoned investor, a curious newcomer, or someone concerned about the future of your financial health, our community is here to support you on your journey to financial independence.

Support the Cause

If you enjoyed what you read and believe in the mission of spreading awareness about Bitcoin, I would greatly appreciate your support. Every little bit helps keep the content going and allows me to continue educating others about the future of finance.

Donate Bitcoin: bc1qpn98s4gtlvy686jne0sr8ccvfaxz646kk2tl8lu38zz4dvyyvflqgddylk

[jaysficarchive]

A Swing at Love

Chapter 3

Sakana hummed while washing her costume from today's performance. So far they'd been doing well without her father, having just finished their New York stop and concluding the entire world tour. While saddened by the news, she was also happy to be reunited with her father soon.

As she stood up to hang the laundry, the sounds of closing car doors filled her ears. She turned to see a man dressed in expensive suits walking towards her. He was also looking around at the various performers and props used in their shows.

"Can I help you?" Sakana asked.

"Hello. How are you, Miss Mizuiro?" the man asked with a greeting bow. He was an older man-- likely around her parents's age-- with a pair of aviator sunglasses over his eyes. He pulled them down to reveal his dark eyes.

Anger ignited Sakana's blood when she recognized him.

"What are you doing here, Fujimura?" Sakana clipped her costume to the clothesline before turning back to the men.

Fujimura gave her a pleasantly false smile. "I couldn't help but notice your circus was in town."

Sakana was immediately on the defensive. Ever since they'd gone back on the road, greedy businessmen have been flocking to them like vultures. It's just as her father had said-- the corporations descending on them now that he was sick. Hiroaki Fujimura was one of them, and just as frustratingly persistent as the others. Today he seemed extra chipper, which only made her more suspicious.

"I'm sure you're aware me and my associates have been looking to expand overseas, and given your circus is also based in Japan, I think it'd be a good opportunity for both of us."

"Thank you, Mr. Fujimura, but we're not interested." Sakana's sneered at him.

Fujimura chuckled. "You're mistaken, Miss Mizuiro. You see, as one of the early investors in Big Top Serendipity, I put a considerable amount into it, which now makes me a stakeholder."

Sakana's eyes widened.

"I'm here to take my equity stake. Your father left a very profitable and renowned circus behind because of his sickness, so I see fit to take care of you all and change some things about this establishment."

"And tell me, how would you do that?" Sakana was becoming impatient with the man.

Obliging her request, Fujimura pulled a list from his pocket. Apparently he'd been observing them for quite a while.

"First by relocating out of Japan and to Las Vegas. Second, you all will need a serious cast change. Some of these people are as old as me."

As Fujimura rambled on about all the changes he'd make to Serendipity, effectively destroying their way of life, her blood boiled with molten hot anger. Her father's words definitely rang true.

Finally, Sakana snapped.

"We're not selling our circus and that's final! Now get the hell off our property!"

"You don't have a choice, ma'am. Because of my early investment, I have some ownership in Serendipity. Unless you somehow have enough money to buy it from me, I suggest you prepare to be on the Vegas strip."

Vegas strip?! Just what was this man think they were?! "We won't allow this! Just because you gave my parents money doesn't you get to lord over everyone!"

Fujimura scoffed.

"Again. You, or your family, don't have a choice. They've spent too long resisting and letting my money go to waste on some traveling cirus."

Fighting back tears in her eyes, Sakana glared strongly at Fujimura. Hearing him insult everything that made Serendipity unique made her fury burn brighter. All the hard work-- blood, sweat, and tears-- her parents put into their home, gone to waste.

She wished her mother and siblings were here so she could sic them on Fujimura. She wished her father were beside her to lay down the law.

"What's going on here?" Selene walked up to Sakana and Fujimura, sporting a concerned look on her face.

Now with the Mizuiro matriarch there, Fujimura introduced himself and his plan. Like her daughter, Selene became furious.

"How dare you?! You will never own our circus and we won't be going to Vegas! If you think you can just come in and try to lord over us all, you have another thing coming!"

All Sakana could do was angrily glare at Fujimura, wishing horrible things upon him in her mind. Who did he think he was? Coming in thinking himself as a king and them as subservient subjects.

Even after the tongue lashing Selene gave him, Fujimura stood there eerily calm. Seeing his face so emotionless unnerved Sakana to no end. Part of her wondered if he was waiting for Selene to turn her back so he could strike.

Finally after a lengthy silence, he spoke again.

"I intend to collect, Mrs. Mizuiro, whether you like it or not."

He got back in his car and drove off.

Selene's fists were balled so tightly she was about to pop a blood vessel.

"Is he gone, Mama?" Mizumi asked. Her sudden voice startled both Selene and Sakana.

"Yes, Mizumi. He's gone."

"I don't like that he threatened you." Hisakata said. He wished he was big enough to protect his mother and his sisters, but would have to settle with using his words for now.

Night came but Sakana still burned with anger. How dare Fujimura come here and declare he has the right to Serendipity?! That snake! And then the threat he gave Selene? Just what was he planning?

Her anger turned to sadness when she thought about everyone else. The clowns, acrobats, and artists had been like family to her since she was born. To think that Fujimura would be getting rid of them, destroying years of meaningful relationships, could become a reality.

I need to do something... Sakana got up and quietly made her way to the kitchen. Maybe a drink and small snack would clear her head. Pouring a glass of lemonade with a ham sandwich on the side, Sakana sat at the table. Her mind pondered with possible solutions to combat Fujimura, but they all turned up as dead ends.

Sighing, her hand reached for the newspaper and looked through the pages. As she mindlessly flipped, something caught her eye.

Don't be shy! Become a mail order bride!

Wealthy, lonely men seek on demand wives from foreign countries

Checking to see if anyone was around her, Sakana tore the ad out the newspaper. She may have found a way to save her family.

The next morning was rough when Fujimura came back. Serendipity's cast was in the middle of packing for Japan when he showed up. But he wasn't alone-- some of his business partners tagged along with him. As Selene chewed them out, the younger Mizuiro children wondered where their older sister was.

"Has anyone seen Sakana?" Ryujin asked.

Mizumi and Hisakata shook their heads, though they were worried. The last thing they needed was her running off.

"You sure you wanna do this?"

Sakana nodded. While it may seem like she'd run out of options, that was so far from the truth. If she was going to fight someone like Fujimura, she needed to level the playing field. She needed the resources and money he had, and this was the only way to get it without risking her family into debt.

"Alright then." The man running the mail order bride agency took her name down. "Where'd you like to go?"

"Japan."

The agency owner hummed. "You're in luck, lady. I got a bunch heading to Japan this afternoon by seaplane."

A small smile crossed Sakana's face. "What time is it leaving?"

"12 sharp. Be there or get left."

Sakana nodded and left to get ready. Fujimura may have thought he had her cornered with yesterday's revelations, but she refused to give up.

Saizo brushed his hair as he prepared for the day. With much on his agenda today, it was utmost important he look his best. Especially since he was expecting company.

If ibu's words are true, then maybe I'll find the woman I truly desire, he buttoned his shirt. Now fully dressed, he headed downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. His bride was expected to arrive this afternoon, so he had to be prepared.

Sakana looked out the window at the vast sea below her. Dozens of other mail order brides were on board with her, all headed to Japan. When she returned to the circus to get her things, she told her family that she had to go but that her plan would be explained once they got back to Japan.

"We'll be landing in a short while, ladies."

Sakana clutched the handle of her suitcase. Was this risky? Yes. But it was worth it to save her family from someone's greed. Hopefully they'd find it in their hearts to forgive her. She couldn't imagine how worried they must've been when she wasn't at Serendipity this morning.

When the plane landed, Sakana joined the other mail order brides as they got off. While they were excited, she just mindlessly strode into the airport. Being home should've been joyful. It meant she'd see her father again.

Father...oh lord I know he's gonna- Sakana's thought was cut when she bumped into someone. They were sturdy, strong.

"My apologies."

Sakana looked up to see the most beautiful pair of eyes she'd ever seen. One was a deep dark brown while the other was as blue as the ocean.

"I-it's my fault. I should've been paying attention." Sakana rubbed her arm. She hasn't been back for a minute and she's already running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

"You wouldn't happen to be with the mail order brides, would you?"

Her heart stopped. "W-what makes you think that?"

"Because," the man rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm actually here to pick up one. The agency told me her name was...Sakana? Is that you?"

Sakana nodded. Now she was beginning to regret her decision. However, she reminded herself that she'd rather be in an unhappy, loveless marriage than let Fujimura take Serenpidity. "I'm her. You are?"

"Kaijura. Kaijura Saizo."

@julieemarine

[beardedmrbean]

French farming unions are taking aim at the European Union’s free-trade agreements, which they say open the door to unfair competition from products arriving from overseas. At a time when the EU is urging farmers to adopt more sustainable – and sometimes more costly – agricultural practices, unions say these trade deals are making it hard for them to stay solvent.

French farmers say that one of their biggest fears is that Chilean apples, Brazilian grains and Canadian beef will flood the European market, thereby undermining their livelihoods. France’s farmers continued to demonstrate on the country’s motorways on Wednesday, protesting against rising costs, over-regulation and free-trade agreements –partnerships between the EU and exporting nations that the farming unions say leads to unfair competition. 

The EU has signed several free-trade agreements in recent years, all with the objective of facilitating the movement of goods and services. But farmers say the deals bring with them insurmountable challenges.

"These agreements aim to reduce customs duties, with maximum quotas for certain agricultural products and non-tariff barriers," said Elvire Fabry, senior researcher at the Jacques Delors Institute, a French think-tank dedicated to European affairs. "They also have an increasingly broad regulatory scope to promote European standards for investment, protection of intellectual property, geographical indications and sustainable development standards."

South American trade deal in the crosshairs

Some non-EU countries – such as Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland – maintain comprehensive free-trade agreements with the EU because they are part of the European Economic Area. This allows them to benefit from the free movement of goods, services, capital and people.

Other nations farther afield have signed more variable agreements with the EU, including Canada, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam and Ukraine. The EU also recently signed an accord with Kenya and a deal with New Zealand that will come into force this year; negotiations are also under way with India and Australia.    

However, a draft agreement between the EU and the South American trade bloc Mercosur is creating the most concern. Under discussion since the 1990s, this trade partnership between Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay would create the world's largest free-trade area, a market encompassing 780 million people. 

French farmers are particularly concerned about the deal’s possible effect on agriculture. The most recent version of the text introduces quotas for Mercosur countries to export 99,000 tonnes of beef, 100,000 tonnes of poultry and 180,000 tonnes of sugar per year, with little or no customs duties imposed. In exchange, duties would also be lowered on exports from the EU on many “protected designation of origin” (PDO) products. 

At a time when the EU is urging farmers to adopt more sustainable agricultural practices, French unions say these agreements would open the door to massive imports – at more competitive prices – of products that do not meet the same environmental standards as those originating in Europe. French farmers are calling out what they say is unfair competition from farmers in South America who can grow GMO crops and use growth-promoting antibiotics on livestock, which is banned in the EU. 

Trade unions from various sectors went into action after the European Commission informed them on January 24 that negotiations with Mercosur could be concluded "before the end of this mandate", i.e., before the European Parliament elections in June.      

The FNSEA, France’s biggest farming union, immediately called for a "clear rejection of free-trade agreements" while the pro-environmental farming group Confédération Paysanne (Farmers' Confederation) called for an "immediate end to negotiations" on this type of agreement.   

A mixed record

"In reality, the impact of these free-trade agreements varies from sector to sector," said Fabry. "Negotiations prior to agreements aim to calibrate the opening up of trade to limit the negative impact on the most exposed sectors. And, at the same time, these sectors can benefit from other agreements. In the end, it's a question of finding an overall balance."

This disparity is glaringly obvious in the agricultural sector. "The wine and spirits industry as well as the dairy industry stand to gain more than livestock farmers, for example," said Fabry. These sectors are the main beneficiaries of free-trade agreements, according to a 2023 report by the French National Assembly.

"The existence of trade agreements that allow customs duty differentials to be eliminated is an 'over-determining factor' in the competitiveness of French wines," wrote FranceAgriMer, a national establishment for agriculture and maritime products under the authority of the French ministry of agriculture in a 2021 report. The majority of free-trade agreements lower or abolish customs duties to allow the export of many PDO products, a category to which many wines belong.

However, the impact on meat is less clear-cut. While FranceAgriMer says the balance between imports and exports appears to be in the EU's favour for pork, poultry exports seem to be declining as a result of the agreements. Hence the fears over the planned treaty with New Zealand, which provides for 36,000 tonnes of mutton to be imported into the EU, equivalent to 45% of French production in 2022. France,however, still has a large surplus of grains except for soya. 

‘A bargaining chip’

Beyond the impact on agriculture, "this debate on free-trade agreements must take into account other issues", said Fabry. "We are in a situation where the EU is seeking to secure its supplies and in particular its supplies of strategic minerals. Brazil's lithium, cobalt, graphite and other resource reserves should not be overlooked."

The agreement with Chile should enable strategic minerals to be exported in exchange for agricultural products. Germany strongly supports the agreement with Mercosur, as it sees it as an outlet for its industrial sectors, according to Fabry.

"In virtually all free-trade agreements, agriculture is always used as a bargaining chip in exchange for selling cars or Airbus planes," Véronique Marchesseau, general-secretary of the Confédération Paysanne, told AFP.

Michèle Boudoin, president of the French National Sheep Federation, told AFP that the agreement with New Zealand will "destabilise the lamb market in France".  

"We know that Germany needs to export its cars, that France needs to sell its wheat, and we're told that we need an ally in the Pacific tocounter China and Russia. But if that is the case, then we need help to be able to produce top-of-the-line lamb, for example," she said.

Finally, "there is a question of influence", said Fabry. "These agreements also remain a way for the EU to promote its environmental standards to lead its partners along the path of ecological transition, even if this has to be negotiated," said Fabry. 

Marc Fesneau, the French minister of agriculture, made the same argument. "In most cases, the agreements have been beneficial, including to French agriculture," Fesneau wrote on X last week, adding: "They will be even more so if we ensure that our standards are respected."

Mercosur negotiations suspended? 

As the farmers’ promised “siege” of Paris and other major locations across France continues, the French government has been trying to reassure agricultural workers about Mercosur, even though President Emmanuel Macron and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva relaunched negotiations in December. "France is clearly opposed to the signing of the Mercosur treaty," Prime Minister Gabriel Attal acknowledged last week.

The Élysée Palace even said on Monday evening that EU negotiations with the South American bloc had been suspended because of France's opposition to the treaty. The conditions are "not ripe" for concluding the negotiations, said Eric Mamer, spokesman for the European Commission. "However, discussions are ongoing." 

Before being adopted, the agreement would have to be passed unanimously by the European Parliament, then ratified individually by the 27 EU member states.

[kyndaris]

One BILLION Dollars

Working five days a week, 7.5 to 8 hours each day, and commuting a total of two hours is an exhausting cycle most people find themselves trapped in. Is it any wonder we all wish to strike it lucky and escape the rat race? I know I certainly do. Saddled with a mortgage and looking to eventually move out, the idea of being able to freely do whatever I want with all the time in the world, without the threat of ending up destitute hanging over me like the Sword of Damocles is a very appealing idea.

But I wouldn't need a billion dollars to be comfortable. No. At most it would be a lump sum of five million that would see me cruise through the rest of my life. Especially if I choose to continue working part-time, or use the my freed up obligations to become a full-time author. Throw in a few lavish overseas holidays and I would be golden.

And yet the hypothetical still reamins.

If I had a billion dollars at my disposal, what would I use it for? It is, after all, a ridiculous amount of money.

When I was first presented with this question on my first date with Dikottir, I'd focused on the good I might do. Invest some of the money in stocks, perhaps create a fund to help out the homeless and give poverty a kick in the nuts. Or maybe I'd pour it into actual rehabilitation programs instead of the very punitive systems most governments have in place for criminals. What about youth outreach programs? Heck, affordable housing!

The list, it felt, was endless.

Especially as I'd not be beholden to the limitations governments face when they try to spend taxpayer dollars to fund a means to better society. I, a person of means, could give back to the many. There wouldn't be any need to appease a section of the community who think helping people to develop life skills is utter tripe or who think handouts simply enable bad habits.

Of course, I wouldn't need a billion dollars to pull some of these projects off. 75 million here, 100 million there...

After I'd done all the good I could possibly do in the world to make it a better place, there's still the possibility I'd have money left over.

How much I'd still have is unknown, but I think I could say with confidence that I'd probably still have enough to buy myself a Ferrari if I was so inclined. Maybe a slew of properties I'd watch grow. And live comfortably.

What if, though, I threw away all such expectations of helping the needy? If I had a billion dollars to invest into just one thing, what would it be?

Should I, perhaps, build myself a penile looking rocket to take me up into space a la Jeff Bezos? What about constructing a whole virtual world like Mark Zuckerberg?

I mean, with humanity rushing up to meet its doom - whether that be from global warming, microplastics, nuclear showdown, other hazardous chemicals we put into things supposedly to help us - who wouldn't want to escape from our current reality? I know I certainly would.

But I must admit, the technology I'd really want to invest in is something akin to what Elon Musk has dreamt up. And it's been seen in many a science fiction show or game. In fact, a version of it can be seen right now. Depending on the app of course.

I'm talking about augmented reality.

Shows tell us we would be swiping at menus and screens in mid-air. But I'd like to think we would do away with such limitations and scrolling through news articles, or, ahem, questionable fanfiction could be done with just a thought.

Imagine, if you will, the possibilities.

There you are, doing something mind-numbingly boring and repetitive at work? What if you could also be doing something else? Multi-task by watching a movie on a transparent overlay?

And why stop there?

The internet is already at our fingertips. What if you could look at something and have the information already beamed to you. That's not a random flower you see struggling to peek through the cracks in the footpath. No, that's a dandelion. If we wanted to be more technical, its scientific name is taraxacum officinale. Family: asteraceae.

Think of how useful having a toggleable heads up display would be!

Yes. If I had a billion dollars, I'd use it to create something akin to the Horizon: Zero Dawn focus. It's light, it's versatile and it looks pretty snazzy.

And if I have some money left over, I can pour it all into creating the ultimate space shuttle for out of space. Maybe one shaped like a questionable taco? Yes, the logistics might take some figuring out, but rocket designs are so bland that something a little creative might help our scientists stretch the other parts of their brains.

Who knows, we could have gummi ships in the future!

If I had another billion dollars, perhaps that's where I'll pour all my money into!

True, I might be pulling a Bezos and trying to escape our dying planet. But at least I'm doing it in style!

And, honestly, that's probably what matters more.

Now I just need to think up a snappy name for my trillion dollar company.

[charmsponies]

Some Rambly Thoughts About Custom G1 Ponies…

Okay sorry in advance: Rereading some of these thoughts I am a little bit mean tonight. but i do not care lol I am ranting for fun.

I am A little annoyed at those types of people who criticize anyone who makes MLP G1 customs because they think its immoral to customize a vintage toy since they arent made anymore (….you could say the same thing about like, g4 since thats over now, but okay).

It is perfectly fine, and even good, to customize a vintage toy at times.

Most customizers are smart and will seek out “bait” (damaged) ponies to customize. If they’re already broken or damaged, customizing it is like giving it a new life, even if theyre not restoring it to be exactly how it is before. In fact: Sometimes it may be cheaper to customize a pony than restore it!

For example: The pony I made my extraterra custom of was Moondancer. She had cut hair and no cutiemark, her glitter for her cutiemark had completely faded away. Now, ive restored a moondancer before so I actually have everything i would need to have fixed her, but like. lets say i wasn’t a restorationist who had all the materials: I would have to pay for each of the hair colors I need (about 15 bucks when you factor in shipping) and then another 15-20 bucks to buy the rehairing tool and needles and then 5 bucks on quality glue and a few more bucks on zipties to retail her and then id have to buy glitter. I personally buy biodegradeable glitter but the kind i get is a little expensive especially since i have to get it shipped from overseas so im paying like 20 more bucks- Moondancer is one of the most common ponies and typically sells for around 15 bucks total o-o. Not that I don’t see value in restoring common ponies (I will restore at least 1 of every pony so that I can add her to my collection, no matter how damaged) but like. Most people don’t wanna throw all their money away to do that for a cheap common pony when they COULD put their money into those same supplies (hair, tools, paint, ect) and have fun making a cool new unique piece of artwork.

2. Even if the pony isn’t damaged: Is it your toy? Is that YOUR toy that the person customized? No? It was their Own Toy That They Paid For With Their Own Money? then shut the fuck up its not your business what they do with their toys 😭 Yeah it would hurt my heart if someones out there buying expensive rare ass ponies just to customize them when there are cheaper alternatives to certain poses (like if someone customized a night glider when they could have just used like, posey or someone for the pose) but its not my business because its not my toy and I accept that people can do whatever the fuck they want with their own property.

And anyways, most customizers DO care about vintage toys and will seek out the more common ponies with the poses they need, I don’t think anyone who is truly invested in the pony fandom uses ultra rare ponies for their customs UNLESS theyre already damaged, in which case I just see it as giving it new life. Also, customizers utilize projects like the HQG1C project or Basic Funs ponies, so you dont Have to use vintage toys to actually make a g1 custom anymore.

but I also dont think people should be shamed for using vintage bases. It can be convenient if you have bait ponies laying around. Especially since sometimes there Is No Good Alternative. like for example: I would love to make a custom of my pony design for Gregory Fnaf, but I would need a kinda rarer hard to get pose (the baby brother ponies with the molded hooves). I personally won’t make any customs unless i can find a damaged one, but if i COULD find a damaged vintage baby boy i would absolutely use it because whats the alternative when some poses are just flat out rare :(

Also to the people who just hate vintage customs in general: Sorry but youre boring. You dont like fun new designs in the g1 style? You want everything to be made with current toys? My autism makes me think about ponies 90% of the time, and for 99% of the time im thinking about ponies, i forget g4 and g5 even exist because im so focused on the older gens. Not everyone cares about the new stuff. You dont like the older gens or people using their creativity to make art relating to the older vintage gens? Youre boring as hell, sorry

Final thing I wanna say: this rant is inspired by many posts complaining about customs but the one that made me the most mad was someone complaining about G1 customs and then finishing their post with “and you could TELL that it was their first time making a custom like that :/ “

Fucking excuse you? Customs are an art form, plain and simple. And everyone has to start somewhere. do you think my first ever custom pony was any good? (for anyone curious its not one ive posted on this blog, it was a fakie) hell no I made many mistakes! But you shouldnt shame or insult people for their art, we all start somewhere and frankly you’re just mean.