#production planning vs supply planning

[schedulingsolutions]

Advanced Planning and Scheduling Software: A Key Ingredient To Trade Show Booth Success Advanced planning and scheduling are essential for trade show booth success. By strategically allocating resources, designing an engaging booth, preparing compelling content, training staff, managing logistics, implementing marketing strategies, and conducting post-event analysis, businesses can maximize their impact at trade shows, generate leads, and create opportunities for growth.

[23victoria]

slam!

pairings: f1 grid x fem!reader

word count: 4.3k

warnings: cussing, sexual innuendos, manipulation ig, lying in a way, it’s a prank, fluff

authors note: first official fic since my writing slump! i hope it’s okay! and im so so sorry if it’s ass lol, also you can see where i had no inspiration vs. where i did…please ignore that 😭, any feedback is appreciated and please like, comment, and reblog!! hope you enjoy!!

want to be apart of my taglist?! CLICK HERE!

f1 masterlist 1k celebration

Charles

The drive to the mall was filled with easy conversation and laughter. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the city as you and Charles made your way through the bustling streets. Charles had one hand on the steering wheel, the other resting on your thigh, a comfortable silence settling between the two of you.

You had planned this trip to Sephora for weeks now, eager to replenish your makeup supplies and maybe splurge on some new products. Charles had tagged along, promising to help you pick out new shades and scents, even though you knew he was more excited about the ice cream shop next door.

As you pulled into the parking lot, you felt a mischievous idea brewing in your mind. You wanted to test Charles' patience and see how he would react to a sudden, nonsensical argument. You knew it was silly, but something about the idea made you giggle internally.

Charles parked the car, and you both unbuckled your seat belts. Just as he was about to open his door, you decided to strike.

"Why do you always do that?" you snapped, turning to him with an exaggerated huff.

Charles froze, his hand still on the door handle. "Do what?" he asked, clearly puzzled by your sudden change in tone.

"You know what you did," you said, crossing your arms and glaring at him.

Charles blinked, completely taken aback. "I honestly have no idea what you're talking about, Y/N. Can you please explain?"

You let out an exasperated sigh, rolling your eyes dramatically. "Every single time we go somewhere, you always do this! It's like you don't even care!"

Charles' brow furrowed, confusion written all over his face. "What did I do? I parked the car! What's wrong with that?"

"Never mind," you said, shaking your head and opening your door. "Just forget it, Charles. I'm going to Sephora."

Before he could respond, you slammed the car door shut with a loud bang, making sure to give it an extra push for emphasis. You could see his bewildered expression through the window as you stormed off toward the mall entrance.

Charles sat in the car for a moment, trying to process what had just happened. His initial confusion slowly turned into a mix of frustration and concern. Had he really done something to upset you? He replayed the last few minutes in his mind, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

With a deep sigh, he got out of the car and locked it, jogging slightly to catch up with you. He found you standing in front of Sephora, arms still crossed and a pout on your lips.

"Y/N, wait," he called out, his voice a mix of irritation and worry. "Can we please talk about this?"

You turned to him, your expression softening just a fraction. "What's there to talk about, Charles? You always do this."

"Do what?" he asked, genuinely perplexed. "I really don't understand."

You bit your lip, trying to suppress a smile. "You always park too close to the other cars. It makes it hard for me to get out."

Charles' eyes widened in realization, and he let out a relieved laugh. "That's what this is about? Y/N, I'm so sorry. I didn't even think about that. I'll be more careful next time, I promise."

You felt a pang of guilt for making him worry, but the sight of his relieved smile made it worth it. You uncrossed your arms and took a step closer to him.

"Okay, fine," you said, your voice softening. "I forgive you. But you better not do it again."

Charles reached out and pulled you into a hug, his arms wrapping around you tightly. "I promise, I won't," he said, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. "Now, let's go get your makeup."

You smiled against his chest, feeling the warmth of his embrace. "And ice cream?"

"And ice cream," he agreed, pulling back to look at you with a grin. "Anything for you."

"Charles," you said, lifting your head up from his chest. "I have to confess something."

Charles looked at you with curiosity. "What is it, love?"

You took a deep breath, feeling a mix of guilt and amusement. "I wasn’t really mad at you... it was a joke. I wanted to see how you'd react."

Charles blinked in surprise, then let out a chuckle. "You little troublemaker," he said, wrapping an arm around your waist. "You had me worried there for a moment."

"I'm sorry," you said, standing on your tiptoes to give him a quick kiss. "I didn't mean to mess with your feelings. To make it up to you, how about I spoil you with whatever you want from the ice cream shop?"

Charles grinned, his eyes lighting up. "I think I can forgive you for that. As long as I get to pick the flavors."

"Deal," you said, smiling up at him. "And I'll throw in a foot massage later, too."

"Now you're talking," Charles said, giving you a playful squeeze. "Just don't make a habit of these fake arguments, alright?"

"I promise," you said, kissing him again. "No more fake arguments. Just lots of love and ice cream."

Charles laughed, pulling you close. "That's all I need."

Lewis

The sun was shining brightly as you and Lewis drove to your favorite ice cream shop. The plan was to enjoy a treat and then stroll through the nearby park. Lewis had been looking forward to this all week, a rare weekend off from the rigorous F1 schedule.

As you approached the shop, an idea formed in your mind. You decided to playfully test Lewis with a fake argument, curious to see his reaction.

Lewis parked the car smoothly, and you both unbuckled your seat belts. Just as he reached for the door handle, you pounced.

"Why do you always do that?" you asked, your tone sharp and accusing.

Lewis turned to you, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "Do what, babe?"

"Every time we go somewhere, you always find a way to make it about you," you said, crossing your arms and glaring at him.

Lewis looked genuinely puzzled. "What are you talking about, Y/N? We're getting ice cream. How is this about me?"

You sighed dramatically. "You always pick the spot to park without asking me if it's okay. It's like you don't even care about my opinion."

Lewis blinked, trying to process your sudden outburst. "I… I'm sorry, I didn't realize that bothered you. I just thought it was a good spot."

"Never mind," you said, shaking your head and opening your door. "I'm going inside."

You got out of the car and slammed the door behind you, glancing back to see Lewis sitting in stunned silence. You felt a pang of guilt but continued walking toward the ice cream shop.

Lewis quickly recovered and followed you inside, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. He caught up to you as you reached the counter.

"Y/N, wait," he said softly, touching your arm. "I'm really sorry if I upset you. I didn't mean to."

You turned to him, your annoyance melting away at the sight of his sincere eyes. "It's just… sometimes I feel like you don't consider my opinions."

Lewis nodded, his face serious. "I understand. I promise I'll be more mindful in the future. I never want you to feel like I don't care."

You smiled, feeling a rush of affection for him. "Okay, I forgive you. Now, let's get some ice cream."

Lewis grinned, pulling you into a quick hug. "Thank you. And I'll let you pick the spot next time."

As you ordered your ice cream and found a cozy spot to sit, you couldn't help but feel a bit guilty for starting the argument. But Lewis' genuine concern and quick apology made you appreciate him even more.

After a few bites of your ice cream, you decided it was time to come clean. "Lewis," you began, looking up at him with a sheepish smile.

"Yes, love?" he replied, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"I have a confession to make," you said, feeling a bit nervous. "That argument just now… it was a joke. I was bored and I just wanted to see how you'd react."

Lewis stared at you for a moment, then burst into laughter. "You really had me there, Y/N! I was so worried I did something wrong."

"I'm sorry," you said, reaching out to hold his hand. "I didn't mean to mess with your feelings. To make it up to you, how about I get you that perfume you wanted from Dior?”

Lewis' eyes sparkled with amusement and affection. "You don't have to spoil me, love. But I'll take you up on that offer. And maybe a massage later?"

"Absolutely," you said, leaning in to kiss him softly. "Anything for you."

Max

The drive to the mall was filled with excitement. Max had promised to help you pick out a new pair of sneakers, and you were looking forward to spending the day together. As you approached the mall, you decided to prank Max. Max parked the car, and you both unbuckled your seat belts. As he reached for his phone to check the time, you decided to that’s was your “issue”.

"Why do you always do that?" you asked, your tone sharp and accusing.

Max looked up at you, clearly puzzled. "Do what?"

"You always check your phone right when we arrive somewhere," you said, crossing your arms. "It's like you're more interested in your phone than spending time with me."

Max blinked, taken aback. "I was just checking the time, Y/N. I didn't mean anything by it."

"It feels like you're always distracted," you continued, pretending to be upset. "Like I have to compete for your attention."

Max's expression softened with concern. "I'm sorry if it feels that way. I promise I'm here with you, 100%. I just wanted to make sure we weren't late."

"Never mind," you said, opening your door. "I'm going inside."

You slammed the car door behind you and walked toward the mall entrance, leaving Max sitting there, clearly confused and worried. You glanced back to see him frowning, running a hand through his hair.

Max quickly got out of the car and caught up with you. "Y/N, wait. Did I really do something wrong?"

You turned to him, trying to keep a straight face. "It's just frustrating when it feels like I'm not your priority."

Max sighed deeply, his eyes full of regret. "I'm so sorry. I'll make sure to put my phone away and focus on us. I never want you to feel like you're second to anything."

You felt a wave of guilt but maintained your act. "Okay, fine. Just don't let it happen again."

Max nodded earnestly. "I promise. Let's go find those sneakers."

As you both wandered through the mall, Max was extra attentive, making sure to engage in conversation and keep his phone tucked away. You started to feel bad for starting the fake argument but were also touched by his efforts.

As soon as you neared the sneaker store, you decided it was time to come clean. "Max," you said, looking at him with a small smile.

"Yeah?" he replied, his eyes full of concern.

"I need to tell you something," you said, feeling a bit nervous. "I was just messing with you earlier, I was never mad at you for checking your phone. I just wanted to prank you and see how you'd react."

Max stared at you for a moment before chuckling softly. "I was so worried I did something to upset you. You really had me there, baby."

"I'm sorry," you said, reaching out to hold his hand. "I didn't mean to mess with your feelings. To make it up to you, how about I buy you anything you want from the next store?"

Max's eyes lit up with amusement. "You don't have to, but I won't say no to that offer."

"And I'll bake you your favorite cookies later," you added, leaning in to kiss him softly. "Anything to make it up to you."

Max grinned, pulling you into a hug. "Sounds like a perfect evening to me baby."

Lando

The drive to the electronics store was filled with excitement. Lando had been talking about getting a pc setup and you were looking forward to helping him pick one out. As you pulled into the parking lot, you decided to play a little prank on Lando.

Lando parked the car, and you both unbuckled your seat belts. Just as he was about to step out, you struck.

"Why do you always do that?" you asked, your tone sharp and accusing.

Lando turned to you, genuinely confused. "Do what?"

"You always take forever to decide on things," you said, crossing your arms. "It's like you can't make up your mind about anything."

Lando blinked, clearly taken aback. "I just like to weigh my options. What's wrong with that?"

"It feels like you're wasting time," you said, pretending to be annoyed. "Like you don't care about getting things done quickly."

Lando's expression shifted from confusion to concern. "I'm sorry if it bothers you. I just want to make sure we make the right choice."

"Never mind," you said, opening your door. "I'm going inside."

You slammed the car door behind you and walked toward the store, leaving Lando sitting there, clearly puzzled and a bit hurt. You glanced back to see him frowning, trying to figure out what just happened.

Lando quickly got out of the car and caught up with you. "Y/N, wait, what are you so mad? I don’t understand. Did I really do something wrong?"

You turned to him, trying to keep a straight face. "It's just frustrating when it feels like you can't make a decision."

Lando sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't realize it was an issue. I'll try to be quicker next time, I promise."

You felt a pang of guilt but maintained your act. "Okay, fine. Just don't let it happen again."

Lando nodded earnestly. "I promise. Let's go."

As you both wandered through the store, you decided it was time to come clean. "Lando," you said, looking at him with a small smile.

"Yeah?" he replied, his eyes full of concern.

"I need to tell you something," you said, feeling a bit nervous. "I’m not mad that you take time to weigh out your options. It’s one of the things I love about you! I was just bored and decided to play a prank on you."

Lando stared at you for a moment before bursting out laughing. "Y/N….you had me so worried. I was like “What the fuck?! Why is she mad?!’ I was so worried I did something to upset you, I was about to take you to Marc Jacobs to get you that purse and perfume you wanted."

"I'm sorry," you said, reaching out to hold his hand. "I didn't mean to mess with your feelings. To make it up to you, how about I buy you with anything you want from a store of your choosing?"

Lando's eyes lit up with amusement. "You don't have to, but I won't say no to that offer."

"And I'll give you a special massage later," you added, leaning in to kiss him softly on his neck.

Lando grinned, pulling you into a hug. "How about we go home now for that massage hmm."

"Nope, we have to get our things first! And then we can go home." you said, smiling at him and winking.

Carlos

The drive to the new restaurant you both had been eager to try was filled with excitement. Carlos had been talking about the place for weeks, and you were looking forward to a nice dinner together. As you pulled into the parking lot, you decided to test Carlos's patience with a fake argument.

Carlos parked the car, and you both unbuckled your seat belts. Just as he reached for his wallet, you struck.

"Why do you always do that?" you asked, your tone sharp and accusing.

Carlos turned to you, genuinely puzzled. "Do what?"

"You always insist on paying for everything," you said, crossing your arms. "It's like you don't think I can take care of myself."

Carlos blinked, clearly taken aback. "I just want to treat you. What's wrong with that?"

"It feels like you're undermining my independence," you continued, pretending to be upset. "Like you don't think I can contribute."

Carlos's expression shifted from confusion to mild annoyance. "Y/N, this is ridiculous. I'm just trying to help."

You opened your mouth to continue, but Carlos cut you off. He leaned over, his hand gripping your neck gently but firmly, pulling you close. His eyes bore into yours with a mix of authority and affection.

"I don't want to hear that nonsense," he said, his voice low and commanding. "I pay for everything and will always pay for everything. You're my girl, and I love to spoil you and buy you whatever you want. Complain all you want, but nothing is changing. Anything that has a price on it, I buy it. Not you. End of discussion."

Before you could respond, Carlos pressed his lips against yours in a rough, passionate kiss that left you breathless. When he pulled back, he released your neck and stepped out of the car, leaving you stunned. A moment later, he came around to your side, opened the door, and helped you out, his hand gently guiding you.

You were still silent as you walked towards the restaurant, your mind racing from the intensity of the moment. Finally, you found your voice. "That was hot... really, really hot…and sexy. I think…I wet myself a little bit."

Carlos laughed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He leaned down and kissed your forehead. "Good to know," he whispered in your ear, his hand giving your ass a playful slap. "Just wait until later, baby. I'll show you more of what you like."

Oscar

The drive to the new amusement park was filled with excitement. Oscar had been talking about going on the latest roller coasters for weeks, and you were looking forward to a fun-filled day together. As you pulled into the parking lot, you decided to play a little prank on Oscar to see how he would react.

Oscar parked the car, and you both unbuckled your seat belts. Just as he reached for his backpack, you struck.

“Why do you always do that?” you asked, your tone sharp and accusing.

Oscar looked up at you, genuinely confused. “Do what?”

“You always decide which rides we go on first,” you said, crossing your arms. “It’s like you don’t think I can pick something fun.”

Oscar blinked, clearly taken aback. “I just thought you liked the same rides as me. What’s wrong with that?”

“It feels like you don’t trust my choices,” you continued, pretending to be upset. “Like my voice doesn't matter.”

Oscar’s expression shifted from confusion to concern. “I didn’t realize you felt that way. I’m sorry if it seemed like I was ignoring your feelings baby.”

“Well, it does,” you said, opening your door. “Maybe you should think about that.”

Oscar quickly got out of the car and came around to your side, gently grabbing your arm to stop you. “Y/N, wait. I really didn’t mean to upset you. Can we talk about this?”

You turned to him, trying to keep a straight face but starting to feel bad about the prank. “Oscar, it’s just frustrating when it feels like you don’t consider my choices.”

Oscar sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I had no idea you felt this way. From now on, we’ll make all the decisions together. I promise.”

You couldn’t keep up the act any longer and burst into laughter. “Oscar, I’m so sorry baby. It was just a prank. I wanted to see how you’d react.”

Oscar stared at you for a moment before chuckling softly. “You really had me there, Y/N. I was so scared that I really messed up.”

“I’m sorry,” you said, reaching out to hold his hand. “I didn’t mean to mess with your feelings. I just wanted to see what you’d do.”

Oscar grinned, pulling you into a hug. “Well, you got me good. But next time, maybe pick a less heart-stopping prank, okay?”

You laughed, feeling relieved that he wasn’t mad. “Deal. Now, let’s go enjoy the carnival?”

Oscar nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Absolutely. And you can choose the first ride.”

“We are definitely doing the Kingda Ka roller coaster first.” you said with a smile on your face.

As you walked towards the entrance of the amusement park, you knew the day was going to be filled with laughter, thrills, and unforgettable moments.

Sebastian

The drive to the new bookstore was filled with excitement. Sebastian had been talking about a new release he was eager to get his hands on, and you were looking forward to spending some quiet time browsing the shelves together. As you pulled into the parking lot, you decided to test his patience with a fake argument.

Seb parked the car, and you both unbuckled your seat belts. Just as he reached for his reusable shopping bag, you struck.

“Why do you always do that?” you asked, your tone sharp and accusing.

Seb looked up at you, genuinely puzzled. “Do what?”

“You always insist on carrying everything,” you said, crossing your arms. “It’s like you don’t think I’m strong enough to help.”

Seb blinked, clearly taken aback. “I just want to make it easier for you. What’s wrong with that?”

“It feels like you don’t think I can handle it,” you continued, pretending to be upset. “Like you don’t trust me to carry my weight.”

Seb’s expression shifted from confusion to mild annoyance. “Y/N, this is ridiculous. I’m just trying to help.”

You opened your mouth to continue, but Seb interrupted you. “Enough, baby. Arguing about this is pointless. I’m going to carry the bags because I want to. And I like taking care of you. Deal with it.”

Before you could respond, Sebastian grabbed your hair gently but firmly and pulled you into a rough kiss. His lips pressed against yours with an intensity that made your heart race. When he finally pulled back, he looked into your eyes with a mixture of authority and affection.

“Understand?” he asked softly.

You nodded, still a bit breathless. “Yes, sir.”

Sebastian smiled and released his hold on your hair, his eyes softening. “Good. Now, let’s go find that book.”

Jenson

The drive to the local farmer’s market was filled with anticipation. Jenson had been excited to pick out fresh ingredients for dinner, and you were looking forward to spending a relaxing afternoon together. As you pulled into the parking lot, you decided to test his patience with a fake argument.

Jenson parked the car, and you both unbuckled your seat belts. Just as he reached for his shopping list, you struck.

“Why do you always do that?” you asked, your tone sharp and accusing.

Jenson looked up at you, genuinely puzzled. “Do what?”

“You always decide what we’re having for dinner and pick out all the ingredients,” you said, crossing your arms. “It’s like you don’t think I can handle it or make a decision.”

Jenson blinked, clearly taken aback. “I just want to make sure we have a great meal. What’s wrong with that?”

“It feels like you don’t trust my cooking skills,” you continued, pretending to be upset. “Like my preferences don’t matter.”

Jenson’s expression shifted from confusion to mild annoyance. “Y/N, this is ridiculous. I’m just trying to make sure tonight’s meal is special.”

You opened your mouth to continue, but Jenson interrupted you. He leaned over, his hand gripping your neck gently but firmly, pulling you close. His eyes bore into yours with a mix of authority and affection.

“I don’t want to hear that nonsense,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “I pick the ingredients and plan the meals because I enjoy doing it for us. Plus, this argument is stupid because you cooked dinner for us two days ago.”

Before you could respond, Jenson pressed his lips against yours in a rough, passionate kiss that left you breathless. When he pulled back, he released your neck and stepped out of the car, leaving you stunned. A moment later, he came around to your side, opened the door, and helped you out, his hand gently guiding you.

As you walked toward the market, you found your voice. “I didn’t expect that reaction. It lowkey turned me on.”

Jenson turned to you with a smirk on his face, “Lowkey?”

“Okay, yes that definitely turned me on.” you said, turning away shyly.

Jenson chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Well, I guess I really know how to handle you then.”

You smiled, feeling butterflies in your stomach. “It was just a prank, but if that’s how you’re going to react, I definitely have to pull some more.”

Jenson laughed, shaking his head. “Oh, you don’t need to, baby. You get me like this just by being yourself.”

You grinned, feeling a warmth spread through you. “Are you sure we need to cook dinner? I’m sure we can just go home now and do something very, very important first. We can order some takeout after.”

Jenson smirked, his eyes darkening with desire. “As much as I would love that, we are cooking this meal. But after we’re done, we will definitely do that something.”

He winked at you, making your heart race with anticipation.

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[mostlysignssomeportents]

FTC vs surveillance pricing

Support me this summer on the Clarion Write-A-Thon and help raise money for the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop!

In the mystical cosmology of economics, "prices" are of transcendental significance, the means by which the living market knows and adapts itself, giving rise to "efficient" production and consumption.

At its most basic level, the metaphysics of pricing goes like this: if there is less of something for sale than people want to buy, the seller will raise the price until enough buyers drop out and demand equals supply. If the disappointed would-be buyers are sufficiently vocal about their plight, other sellers will enter the market (bankrolled by investors who sense an opportunity), causing supplies to increase and prices to fall until the system is in "equilibrium" – producing things as cheaply as possible in precisely the right quantities to meet demand. In the parlance of neoclassical economists, prices aren't "set": they are discovered.

In antitrust law, there are many sins, but they often boil down to "price setting." That is, if a company has enough "market power" that they can dictate prices to their customers, they are committing a crime and should be punished. This is such a bedrock of neoclassical economics that it's a tautology "market power" exists where companies can "set prices"; and to "set prices," you need "market power."

Prices are the blood cells of the market, shuttling nutrients (in the form of "information") around the sprawling colony organism composed of all the buyers, sellers, producers, consumers, intermediaries and other actors. Together, the components of this colony organism all act on the information contained in the "price signals" to pursue their own self-interest. Each self-interested action puts more information into the system, triggering more action. Together, price signals and the actions they evince eventually "discover" the price, an abstraction that is yanked out of the immaterial plane of pure ideas and into our grubby, physical world, causing mines to re-open, shipping containers and pipelines to spark to life, factories to retool, trucks to fan out across the nation, retailers to place ads and hoist SALE banners over their premises, and consumers to race to those displays and open their wallets.

When prices are "distorted," all of this comes to naught. During the notorious "socialist calculation debate" of 1920s Austria, right-wing archdukes of religious market fundamentalism, like Von Hayek and Von Mises, trounced their leftist opponents, arguing that the market was the only computational system capable of calculating how much of each thing should be made, where it should be sent, and how much it should be sold for.

Attempts to "plan" the economy – say, by subsidizing industries or limiting prices – may be well-intentioned, but they broke the market's computations and produced haywire swings of both over- and underproduction. Later, the USSR's planned economy did encounter these swings. These were sometimes very grave (famines that killed millions) and sometimes silly (periods when the only goods available in regional shops were forks, say, creating local bubbles in folk art made from forks).

Unplanned markets do this too. Most notoriously, capitalism has produced a vast oversupply of carbon-intensive goods and processes, and a huge undersupply of low-carbon alternatives, bringing the human civilization to the brink of collapse. Not only have capitalism's price signals failed to address this existential crisis to humans, it has also sown the seeds of its own ruin – the market computer's not going to be getting any "price signals" from people as they drown in floods or roast to death on sidewalks that deliver second-degree burns to anyone who touches them:

https://www.fastcompany.com/91151209/extreme-heat-southwest-phoenix-surface-burns-scorching-pavement-sidewalks-pets

For market true believers, these failures are just evidence that regulation is distorting markets, and that the answer is more unregulated markets to infuse the computer with more price signals. When it comes to carbon, the problem is that producers are "producing negative externalities" (that is, polluting and sticking us with the bill). If we can just get them to "internalize" those costs, they will become "economically rational" and switch to low-carbon alternatives.

That's the theory behind the creation and sale of carbon credits. Rather than ordering companies to stop risking civilizational collapse and mass extinction, we can incentivize them to do so by creating markets that reward clean tech and punish dirty practices. The buying and selling of carbon credits is supposed to create price signals reflecting the existential risk to the human race and the only habitable planet known to our species, which the market will then "bring into equilibrium."

Unfortunately, reality has a distinct and unfair leftist bias. Carbon credits are a market for lemons. The carbon credits you buy to "offset" your car or flight are apt to come from a forest that has already burned down, or that had already been put in a perpetual trust as a wildlife preserve and could never be logged:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/03/18/greshams-carbon-law/#papal-indulgences

Carbon credits produce the most perverse outcomes imaginable. For example, much of Tesla's profitability has been derived from the sale of carbon credits to the manufacturers of the dirtiest, most polluting SUVs on Earth; without those Tesla credits, those SUVs would have been too expensive to sell, and would not have existed:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/11/24/no-puedo-pagar-no-pagara/#Rat

What's more, carbon credits aren't part of an "all of the above" strategy that incorporates direct action to prevent our species downfall. These market solutions are incompatible with muscular direct action, and if we do credits, we can't do other stuff that would actually work:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/31/carbon-upsets/#big-tradeoff

Even though price signals have repeatedly proven themselves to be an insufficient mechanism for producing "efficient" or even "survivable," they remain the uppermost spiritual value in the capitalist pantheon. Even through the last 40 years of unrelenting assaults on antitrust and competition law, the one form of corporate power that has remained both formally and practically prohibited is "pricing power."

That's why the DoJ was able to block tech companies and major movie studios from secretly colluding to suppress their employees' wages, and why those employees were able to get huge sums out of their employers:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-Tech_Employee_Antitrust_Litigation

It's also why the Big Six (now Big Five) publishers and Apple got into so much trouble for colluding to set a floor on the price of ebooks:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Apple_(2012)

When it comes to monopoly, even the most Bork-pilled, Manne-poisoned federal judges and agencies have taken a hard line on price-fixing, because "distortions" of prices make the market computer crash.

But despite this horror of price distortions, America's monopolists have found so many ways to manipulate prices. Last month, The American Prospect devoted an entire issue to the many ways that monopolies and cartels have rigged the prices we pay, pushing them higher and higher, even as our wages stagnated and credit became more expensive:

https://prospect.org/pricing

For example, there's the plague of junk fees (AKA "drip pricing," or, if you're competing to be first up against the wall come the revolution, "ancillary revenue"), everything from baggage fees from airlines to resort fees at hotels to the fee your landlord charges if you pay your rent by check, or by card, or in cash:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/07/drip-drip-drip/#drip-off

There's the fake transparency gambit, so beloved of America's hospitals:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/13/a-punch-in-the-guts/#hayek-pilled

The "greedflation" that saw grocery prices skyrocketing, which billionaire grocery plutes blamed on covid stimulus checks, even as they boasted to their shareholders about their pricing power:

https://prospect.org/economy/2024-06-12-war-in-the-aisles/

There's the the tens of billions the banks rake in with usurious interest rates, far in excess of the hikes to the central banks' prime rates (which are, in turn, justified in light of the supposed excesses of covid relief checks):

https://prospect.org/economy/2024-06-11-what-we-owe/

There are the scams that companies like Amazon pull with their user interfaces, tricking you into signing up for subscriptions or upsells, which they grandiosely term "dark patterns," but which are really just open fraud:

https://prospect.org/economy/2024-06-10-one-click-economy/

There are "surge fees," which are supposed to tempt more producers (e.g. Uber drivers) into the market when demand is high, but which are really just an excuse to gouge you – like when Wendy's threatens to surge-price its hamburgers:

https://prospect.org/economy/2024-06-07-urge-to-surge/

And then there's surveillance pricing, the most insidious and profitable way to jack up prices. At its core, surveillance pricing uses nonconsensually harvested private information to inform an algorithm that reprices the things you buy – from lattes to rent – in real-time:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/05/your-price-named/#privacy-first-again

Companies like Plexure – partially owned by McDonald's – boasts that it can use surveillance data to figure out what your payday is and then hike the price of the breakfast sandwich or after-work soda you buy every day.

Like every bad pricing practice, surveillance pricing has its origins in the aviation industry, which invested early on and heavily in spying on fliers to figure out how much they could each afford for their plane tickets and jacking up prices accordingly. Architects of these systems then went on to found companies like Realpage, a data-brokerage that helps landlords illegally collude to rig rent prices.

Algorithmic middlemen like Realpage and ATPCO – which coordinates price-fixing among the airlines – are what Dan Davies calls "accountability sinks." A cartel sends all its data to a separate third party, which then compares those prices and tells everyone how much to jack them up in order to screw us all:

https://profilebooks.com/work/the-unaccountability-machine/

These price-fixing middlemen are everywhere, and they predate the boom in commercial surveillance. For example, Agri-Stats has been helping meatpackers rig the price of meat for 40 years:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/04/dont-let-your-meat-loaf/#meaty-beaty-big-and-bouncy

But when you add commercial surveillance to algorithmic pricing, you get a hybrid more terrifying than any cocaine-sharks (or, indeed, meth-gators):

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tennessee-police-warn-locals-not-flush-drugs-fear-meth-gators-n1030291

Apologists for these meth-gators insist that surveillance pricing's true purpose is to let companies offer discounts. A streaming service can't afford to offer $0.99 subscriptions to the poor because then all the rich people would stop paying $19.99. But with surveillance pricing, every customer gets a different price, titrated to their capacity to pay, and everyone wins.

But that's not how it cashes out in the real world. In the real world, rich people who get ripped off have the wherewithal to shop around, complain effectively to a state AG, or punish companies by taking their business elsewhere. Meanwhile, poor people aren't just cash-poor, they're also time-poor and political influence-poor.

When the dollar store duopoly forces all the mom-and-pop grocers in your town out of business with predatory pricing, and creating food deserts that only they serve, no one cares, because state AGs and politicians don't care about people who shop at dollar stores. Then, the dollar stores can collude with manufacturers to get shrunken "cheater sized" products that sell for a dollar, but cost double or triple the grocery store price by weight or quantity:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/27/walmarts-jackals/#cheater-sizes

Yes, fliers who seem to be flying on business (last-minute purchasers who don't have a Saturday stay) get charged more than people whose purchase makes them seem to be someone flying away for a vacation. But that's only because aviation prices haven't yet fully transitioned to surveillance pricing. If an airline can correctly calculate that you are taking a trip because you're a grad student who must attend a conference in order to secure a job, and if they know precisely how much room you have left on your credit card, they can charge you everything you can afford, to the cent.

Your ability to resist pricing power isn't merely a function of a company's market power – it's also a function of your political power. Poor people may have less to steal, but no one cares when they get robbed:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/07/19/martha-wright-reed/#capitalists-hate-capitalism

So surveillance pricing, supercharged by algorithms, represent a serious threat to "prices," which is the one thing that the econo-religious fundamentalists of the capitalist class value above all else. That makes surveillance pricing low-hanging fruit for regulatory enforcement: a bipartisan crime that has few champions on either side of the aisle.

Cannily, the FTC has just declared war on surveillance pricing, ordering eight key players in the industry (including capitalism's arch-villains, McKinsey and Jpmorgan Chase) to turn over data that can be used to prosecute them for price-fixing within 45 days:

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/07/ftc-issues-orders-eight-companies-seeking-information-surveillance-pricing

As American Prospect editor-in-chief David Dayen notes in his article on the order, the FTC is doing what he and his journalistic partners couldn't: forcing these companies to cough up internal data:

https://prospect.org/economy/2024-07-24-ftc-opens-surveillance-pricing-inquiry/

This is important, and not just because of the wriggly critters the FTC will reveal as they use their powers to turn over this rock. Administrative agencies can't just do whatever they want. Long before the agencies were neutered by the Supreme Court, they had strict rules requiring them to gather evidence, solicit comment and counter-comment, and so on, before enacting any rules:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/18/administrative-competence/#i-know-stuff

Doubtless, the Supreme Court's Loper decision (which overturned "Chevron deference" and cut off the agencies' power to take actions that they don't have detailed, specific authorization to take) will embolden the surveillance pricing industry to take the FTC to court on this. It's hard to say whether the courts will find in the FTC's favor. Section 6(b) of the FTC Act clearly lets the FTC compel these disclosures as part of an enforcement action, but they can't start an enforcement action until they have evidence, and through the whole history of the FTC, these kinds of orders have been a common prelude to enforcement.

One thing this has going for it is that it is bipartisan: all five FTC commissioners, including both Republicans (including the Republican who votes against everything) voted in favor of it. Price gouging is the kind of easy-to-grasp corporate crime that everyone hates, irrespective of political tendency.

In the Prospect piece on Ticketmaster's pricing scam, Dayen and Groundwork's Lindsay Owens called this the "Age of Recoupment":

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/03/aoi-aoi-oh/#concentrated-gains-vast-diffused-losses

For 40 years, neoclassical economics' focus on "consumer welfare" meant that companies could cheat and squeeze their workers and suppliers as hard as they wanted, so long as prices didn't go up. But after 40 years, there's nothing more to squeeze out of workers or suppliers, so it's time for the cartels to recoup by turning on us, their customers.

They believe – perhaps correctly – that they have amassed so much market power through mergers and lobbying that they can cross the single bright line in neoliberal economics' theory of antitrust: price-gouging. No matter how sincere the economics profession's worship of prices might be, it still might not trump companies that are too big to fail and thus too big to jail.

The FTC just took an important step in defense of all of our economic wellbeing, and it's a step that even the most right-wing economist should applaud. They're calling the question: "Do you really think that price-distortion is a cardinal sin? If so, you must back our play." Support me this summer on the Clarion Write-A-Thon and help raise money for the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop!

https://clarionwriteathon.com/members/profile.php?writerid=293388

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/07/24/gouging-the-all-seeing-eye/#i-spy

[serosblunt]

BakuSquad Boys: Showering with Them (Pt. 1)

BakuSquad x (Gender-neutral) reader

Characters: Sero & Denki

Warnings: None really; mentions of shaving, nudity, hints at spicier things.

Description: What I imagine showering with these two would be like, from how often they shower to skincare routines and fun little quirks they have. Kirishima and Bakugo coming soon in part 2 :)

—————

He loves to bathe with you, no matter how it’s done. Bath vs. shower, quick or not, he doesn’t care. Sero’s convinced it’s one of the most intimate things in the world. Especially when he shaves your legs for you.

He gets it, sometimes the feeling of hair is overwhelming, but you’re too tired to be able to shave yourself, and honestly, you can’t help but fall in love with the way he plants kisses up your calves as he goes.

Trust me when I tell you ladies, gents and everyone in between, this man is the KING of shaving for you. Body part is irrelevant, he’s got it. Just put your leg up on his, babe, and you’re good to go. And if waxing is more your style, you’re in luck! Your charming boyfriend comes with a handsome smile and an unlimited supply of tape- a handy substitute for wax strips.

Hanta spent hours practicing on patches of his own hair so as to perfect his technique before he dared risk damaging your beautiful skin.

You’re usually both nightly shower-ers, unless Hanta’s weekly night shift interferes, which he hates more than anything. Showering alone in those boxy agency stalls could go suck ass as far as he was concerned. He lives for quiet nights with you. This is where the routine usually begins.

An intimate dinner, low music playing in the background to fill the silence, or burning conversation that just couldn’t wait to be heard. But normally this is saved for the bathroom, this is where you both really begin to wind down for the night.

Celebrating your vulnerability by talking about your days, and gently massaging the stress out of aching muscles; kissing away annoyances to replace them with a new, more comfortable warmth.

The tape-hero’s arms wrap around you from behind as you do your skincare in the mirror. He places gentle kisses to your neck as he patiently waits his turn. There’s never a burden behind these touches, nothing that says you have to go further. Nevertheless, you appreciate the love he puts into each caress of your skin, despite already knowing the outcome of the night will be an early bed time to combat Hanta’s outrageous patrol schedule, and you happily curled up in your hero’s chest. Once Sero does get his turn in front of the mirror, his routine is quite simple.

Having already brushed his teeth to keep that signature smile shining, he uses a basic facial cleanser - one you got him onto. After that, there’s another mystery product that he can never pronounce, but the serum has helped his childhood acne scars to no end. Slap on a bit of moisturiser and he’s done. Simple as that.

He never had a skincare routine before he met you, so these steps feel like quite a milestone achievement to him. Needless to say, he ALWAYS sticks to his routine, and he’s quick to pull you up and help you with yours if you happen to be slacking a little that day.

Never in the history of the world, has a man gone more feral for someone’s body than Denki does for yours. You like to joke that he was actually born with some sort of bloodhound quirk crossed with his electricity. Only your loving boyfriend doesn’t smell blood, oh no. He has a wicked sixth sense about when you are actually, or are planning to get naked; and he refuses to be absent for that particular event.

He normally showers every second day, most of the time that happens to be at the agency, out of convenience. It serves as a good visual reminder to him. He’s not a barbarian though, if he needs a shower, he’ll take one. Besides, it’s not like his routine is exactly consistent. If you’re naked too…well, who could resist?

However, on the odd occasion when you are showering and he doesn’t feel like joining you, he’s not just going to leave the bathroom. No, no, that little sneak will be watching the entire time.

The two of you can still carry on with a conversation for the most part, but the second you stretch your arms up to wash your hair, he’s a goner.

Droolin’ fool type goner.

Kaminari considers it his duty to moisturise your body. He especially admires how smooth your skin is after you’ve exfoliated, but he thinks you’re smokin’ either way. He’s just honoured that you even let him touch you like that. It’s arguably his favourite part of the day, feeling your velvety skin gliding beneath his palms. And it’s not like you dont get anything out of the experience either ;)

Hear me out, Denki LOVES doing skincare with you. Any excuse he has to get close to you is a win in his mind.

To the blond, the feeling of your hands on his face are equally as soothing as the water itself. Your apartment doesn’t have any of those fancy water filters on the faucets, thus, Denki finds showers particularly calming after a long day. Tap water is a good conductor of electricity, and is often useful in helping your sparking boyfriend come back to himself after he’s overused his quirk, or just had a bit of a rough mission.

Sometimes, he can quite literally feel his quirk humming through his skin as it recharges itself, occasionally leaving tiny Lichtenberg figures down his arms.

If you ever do a facemask on yourself without telling your boyfriend, he actually considers it a personal offence. His motto when it comes to skincare is, whatever goes on your skin, goes on his.

Cleansers, serums, balms, creams, masks, the whole nine yards. Denki has never complained once because he truly loves every minute of it. To him, it feels like you guys are secretly matching in an odd way. As he inhales the lingering scent of the new moisturiser you had wanted to try the night before, he’s reminded of all the laughs you’ve had in your tiny apartment ensuite.

Like when he tried to kiss you through the ill-fitting lip sections of a sheet mask, before you had pulled away, lightly swatting his shoulder and warning him about ingesting the serum. The subtle feeling of being close to you provides memories he carries with him everywhere throughout his day, like a badge of honour.

—————

[centrally-unplanned]

I am beginning the "Understanding Victoria 3" journey - I love Paradox and love Victoria 2, but I didn't vibe with 3 on release. but I didn't try too hard - after all its a Paradox game on release, they always kind of suck lol, you gotta wait for a few patches.

So I began a Japan file (weeb alert) and am taking it one step at a time. I think I have the economic fundamentals a bit down now with the "construction sector" gameplay loop - build up some construction buildings, look at sell/buy mismatches, drag peasants into the market economy, and then plan for multi-step supply chain moments and key production line switches building everything needed at once. I still get what is worth vs not worth, but that will come with time.

I do like the core system here - the "peasant" stock is a clever workaround of a Vicky 2 problem. Tons of workers start out "outside" the market economy doing subsistence farming, which is ahistorical (1836 rural economies in almost all countries were heavily commercialized) but in Vicky 2 a lot of what you did to boost things like RGO production was just "wait" - wait for techs, wait for population to grow, because everyone started fully employed. Now you can plan your economy way more effectively as there is a deep labor pool to play with.

On the down sides the UI is extremely messy. No screen really gives you "the economy", in the way you want it. Where is labor, where is infrastructure bottlenecks, what goods do my factories need to go to next production level tech, etc. Its all scattered to the winds like an artificial difficulty increase, like if I put it all in one place it would make what decision to make too obvious. But I can still tell, so its annoying as opposed to challenging.

Additionally it seems like I do *not* have to educate new people for jobs. I can just draft peasants right into universities as staff and such. This seems like a big error to me? But maybe I don't get it yet.

I haven't really touched diplo yet so no thoughts. Politics I don't really understand yet. I get the "fundamentals", you form coalition governments and based on their ideology they support different laws. But how I, as the player, actually interact with it in a positive way I haven't grokked yet. I want to both initiate change, and also be hit with challenges that I have to grapple with, and I am not sure of how to do either yet. Will be my next focus.

(The game does seem very event-bare, but ofc when it came to Vicky II I was always playing mods. One step at a time)

[compelledcurator]

Lost meme

@musesinked asked; "Don't you know you're not supposed to take things that don't belong to you?" for yelena from kate.

Yelena rolled her eyes, here we go another lecture about societies rules for good guys vs bad guys. does the wanna be hero ever shut up? not yet.

" Kate, I love that you have this whole hero thing going on but please it's not that big of a deal okay everyone steals at least once "

She laughed off the warning as she took another handful of nuts from the open market stall, she was hungry and tired and since their map had blown up with the last car they were also lost.

The universe seemed to throw these two together once more, on the same side for now and both hunting some bad, bad men. Kate seemed eager to get more action and prove her worth as a hero and Yelena wanted to free as many Widows as possible and eventually destroy the Red Room organisation, The rumor mill spat out endless leads and sometimes dead ends but Yelena carried out these mission by herself, until Hawkeyes pet literally swung into her st the last stake out.

Since then they've been running, least Yelena has to keep Kate safe until they can actually make a solid plan of action which may have to involve a shower because Yelena and Kate had been in the sun, in leather jump suits for a few days and well, it was starting to become obvious they weren't smelling as fresh.

" Look you go find a car or something useful and I'll get supplies, I'll pay don't worry " she had no intention of paying.

Looking over the stalls she also made mental notes of the surrounding area, Thick woodland off to the left, gravel carpark leads here to an open field. Exposed. Busy though, plenty of civilians here enjoying the sun. She noted no security, no CCTV, no WiFi either.

The end stall had hunting gear, plenty of bows and arrows, knives, guns, and her favourite, multifunctional vests with like a million pockets! Yelena bee lined for it.

" How much? " she held the army green vest like a baby, her voice however sounded less interested. She knew these types, If you act like you love the product they'll charge you extra for the privilege. The price was reasonable but even so Yelena and Katie had no money with them, She said she may come back later and asked when he would be leaving.

Even if Yelena couldn't have her jacket, the ammo and weapons were essential, she'd had to convince Kate they needed to distract him and Borrow the things needed until they had access to their money. She could totally Venmo later. Maybe.

[dangerousthingobservation]

Chinese J-20 found on Russian borders: "A 5th generation fighter was sent as a scout"

Sunson Guo Chinese J-20 found on Russian borders: "A 5th generation fighter was sent as a scout" | Super Power Army | Yandex Zen In connection with recent events, namely the conclusion of a possible contract between Russia and India for the supply of Russian T-14 Armata , a small provocative trick was carried out by China towards the Russian Federation. I suppose you know that Russia and China are one of the successful partnerships, but the muscle game is also present here. According to a military acquaintance : Near the Russian borders, a fifth-generation Chinese fighter J-20 was found, on radars a target was displayed that moved too fast parallel to the border. He did not respond to the signals transmitted by radio; in the near future it was planned to start intercepting at the expense of the existing aircraft, but subsequently the fighter changed its trajectory. This made it possible to cancel the interception, from assumptions - a Chinese combat aircraft made a short flight near the borders of the Russian Federation in order to demonstrate something to the military apparatus of our state with this gesture. The only strange thing is that a brand new fifth-generation fighter was sent as a scout, by the way, his stealth technologies could not be saved from Russian radars, but I believe that no one did it. At the moment, there is still a military confrontation between India and China, for this reason, the Chinese state does not want to sign an agreement on the supply of T-14, since this equipment will greatly affect the combat aspect of the Indian state. But this agreement is only at the verbal stage, no one stutters its formal signing, since Armata has not yet entered the armed forces of the Russian Federation, let alone the export of this military equipment. China’s J-20 fighter can get 'beastly' if it has to The Chinese will replace Russian fighter engines with their own China must make more J-20 stealth jets to meet air force demand, say military analysts Russian fighter Su-57 continues to 'fall down' - losses from Chinese J-20 in battle of height On Chinese TV called the average age of pilots fighter J-20 Battle of the stealth fighters: J-20 vs Su-57 Su-30's radars have repeatedly detected Chinese stealth fighter aircraft J-20 China’s Mighty Dragons are rightly feared China.com: Russia is unlikely to succeed in selling Su planes to China again Battle of the stealth fighters: J-20 vs Su-57 US talks tough while confidence in J-20 grows Allegations China Stole F-35 Design to Make J-20, FC-31 Based On Superficial Evidence China’s J-20 Fighter May Have Entered Mass Production with Increased Deployment Stealth fighters join PLA air force ace unit WS-10 engines equipped with vector thrust had already been installed on a J-20 for testing Formation of J-20 fighters sparks speculation Video shows largest J-20 formation Stealth wars: China’s J-20 vs. USAF’s F-35 China deploys J-20 stealth fighter ‘to keep tabs on Taiwan’ Chengdu J-20: Details

[disphonous]

PLEASE explain carpentry and woodworking im curious to hear about it from someone who actually works in it

GLADLY.

Long post ahead

Ok, first I feel like I should probably explain the differences in woodworking vs carpentry.

First up, Carpentry!

Carpentry is possibly one of the oldest trade jobs in our world. After all, wood is one of the oldest and most frequently used building materials in history. Carpentry has existed ever since the first wooden house was built. It is concerned with primarily wood construction. That means dealing with building houses, creating floor plans, installing roofing, ect. It also deals with building bridges, offices, ect ect.

There's a lot of mathematics that go into Carpentry. A good carpenter should be able to accurately take measurements and build the right about of supplies to install them.

An example would be when you're flooring a house, a carpenter will take dimensions of your house and use that to figure out how much wood you'll need to install the floors.

It requires precise dimensions to find the number of materials you'll need and how to best utilize them. This takes alot of mathematical prowess, dexterity, and ingenuity. Making errors could be catastrophic, especially if you're working on vital projects like bridges.

There is no room for error when it comes to carpentry. An error could mean the entire bridge falls apart! Carpentry works mostly with construction work, and, once mixed with crafts like masonry and metalworking, to create great structures.

Quick summary

- Involves shaping wood into materials that are meant to go towards construction work

- Properly calculating the amount of wooden material needed to complete a project

- Carefully following blueprints to build houses, rooms, bridges, and more

- Inspecting damaged wooden structures and buy the ones who have the resources and expertise to fix them

- The projects associated with carpentry include flooring, walls, windows, doors, insulation, and more.

Woodworking

Woodworking might be as old as carpentry. Possibly even older! The craft has existed since mankind created its first wooden objects. It was often associated with holiness for a completely different reason from carpentry.

Ancient civilizations would transform pieces of wood into idols for worship. As such, it was a commendable art even back in the day. However, with the help of modern technology, the field of woodworking has taken completely new heights.

While basic mathematics is still important when it comes to woodworking, it's nowhere near as vital as it is in carpentry. Instead, it focuses on a completely different kind of expertise. The use of machines.

A good modern woodworker is versed in the use of a plethora of machinery, whether it be shapers, routers, ect. There are a ton of machines that assist in woodworking.

Without the use of machinery, it would be impossible to create such intricate designs. Besides, it takes a lot of time, effort, and a huge degree of creativity. Yes, while math skills are still important, most priority shifts over to the artisans creativity. The more creative you are, the more impressive crafts you can make.

Essentially, woodworking is a craft that transformation wood to create products like cabinets, shelves, panels, beds, ect. Emphasis is placed on the design. There is practically no limit to the things woodworking can produce. As a result, different types exist which specialize in different methods of the craft.

Types of Woodworking.

- Carving : Involves carving the wood into a variety of creations with specialized knives or other tools.

- Furniture making : It's in the name. In this specialization, you take wood and transform it into the variety of different furniture. Including chairs, tables, beds, cabinets, ect.

- Turning : There are a plethora of gorgeous designs you can come up with by using a lathe. That is exactly what a turning involves.

- Luthing : You probably noticed most classical musical instruments are made of wood. Luthing is responsible for that. It's what creates and repairs the wooden instruments.

A quick summary

- The focus lies on artistry and creativity to form new objects

- Woodworking creates a plethora of products such as cabinets, shelves, tables, chairs, wooden showpiece, instruments, and more.

- There's extensive knowledge needed when it comes to operating a variety of woodworking machinery.

- Operations aren't enough, maintenance knowledge is equally as vital

- It usually takes place within a factory of a workshop

- Sanding and finishing projects is an essential part of woodworking.

Conclusion

At its core, woodworking is an art that creates products, while carpentry is normally construction work.

[riddle-me-ri]

Congratulations to 500 subscribers, you are really an amazing person who deserves them! ❤️

Can I ask for a "Breakfast in Bed" hint with unlimited penguin

A/N: Aww, thank you so much anon! You’re absolutely amazing yourself! And of course you can! I hope you don’t mind I decided to include Buzz, he’s just too cute not to be included lol. (Buzz is basically Oz’s penguin sidekick from the Batman Unlimited movie, Mechs vs. Mutants for anyone confused lol) Because of this, this is one of the fluffiest takes on this prompt lol.

Word Count: 577

Batman Unlimited Penguin - Breakfast in Bed

You were pacing around the kitchen island as you grabbed various supplies. Everything you would need to surprise Oswald who was still peacefully snoozing in the bedroom down the hall. 

You’ve been planning this surprise for awhile, but you rarely got the chance to go through with it because somehow Oswald always managed to wake up before you. 

Even though, you finally got the upperhand and making headway, there was still the high probability he could wake up and spoil the surprise. Atleast the “in bed” part of making him breakfast in bed. 

Thankfully, you had a trust little friend to keep a look out. 

Buzz, Oswald’s penguin comrade from his exile in the Antarctic, had his head peeking around from the wall. He watched closely for any movement down the hall and from the bedroom. 

“Signs of anything, Buzz?” You asked over your shoulder as you began stirring in the pan.

Buzz squawked softly. 

“Thanks, Buzz!” 

The penguin nodded in affirmation as he went back to watching. 

After a few more hours of cooking, you finally began making the proper finishing touches on the serving tray. 

“I’ve really outdone myself this time, Buzz.” You smiled looking at your finished product. 

Buzz’s approving squawk came from right beside you as he looked at the breakfast delicacy you made.

His close proximity to you caused you to slightly jump at his comment, but then a revelation hit. 

“BUZZ! You were supposed to be on look out!” 

Buzz hopped off the stool almost falling as he panically tries to waddle back to his position. 

“What’s all this ruckus-AH BUZZ! What’s gotten into you!” 

You guffawed at the sight of Buzz, an actual penguin, trying to brute force Oswald, The Penguin, back into the bedroom.

“Thanks Buzz! Sorry, honey! I promise it will all make sense in a minute!” You hollered in between laughing spurts.

When you made your way to the bedroom with the serving tray in hand, you did everything you could not to fall into a laughing fit at the sight before you. 

Oswald was sitting up, promptly, in bed. While Buzz held his position steadfast, ensuring that the man didn't move an inch. 

"Perhaps you could explain the meaning of all this?" He asked breathlessly, just desperate for an explanation.

You nodded. "I will explain everything. But over a spot of breakfast." 

You laid the tray gently on Oswald's lap and Buzz finally seemed to relax. 

"Oh! You…you made this…for-for me?" Oswald looked up at you, eyes widened in surprise. 

"I did! I-I have been wanting to surprise you for awhile…but you've always gotten up before me.." 

You gestured toward Buzz. "And I had him look out, to make sure you didn't wake up before I finished." 

When the explanation set in, Oz couldn't help but laugh. 

"You were right…it does make much more sense now." He delicately picked a bite of his breakfast with a fork and began eating it. 

"This is…it's delicious. Thank you, my love, I-I will never know what I did to deserve you…" 

You leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You deserve it, Oz. That's why I wanted to do it." 

Soon an abrupt growling noise disrupted the intimate moment.

"Aww, Buzz…you hungry too?" 

The penguin nodded. 

You giggled. "Come on, let's get you something to eat too."

Oswald couldn't help but smile warmly in delight, as he ate his breakfast made with love in perfect contentment.

[outlawqueen2016]

FAQ: how does Plan 2025 belong to the New World Order?

I am so upset to be the one to tell you this.

The New World Order is the world domination strategy for the planet, Earth, as provided by the Transatlantic Alliance. The Plan 2025 breaks down the various cultural battlefronts and identifies the opponents. However, this is propaganda designed to weaken the International Legion for the Freedom of Free Peoples by undermining the trust built between the free citizens of the United States of America and Republican nominee for President of the United States of America Donald Trump.

Essentially, the Transatlantic Alliance is stuck between a rock and a hard place. The Transatlantic Alliance has limited resources and no stable chain of command; simply a herd of inbred young adults who have deluded themselves into believing that they are on equal footing with Transatlantic Alliance Kremlin NATO Secretary General Jans Stoltenberg. So, the Transatlantic Alliance must strike at control of culture because they are outclassed on the field of battle and in the world of business by the International Legion for the Freedom of Free Peoples and O’Niele Enterprises, respectively.

Abortion

The banning of abortion works in the favor of the Transatlantic Alliance because it, theoretically, should supply genetic diversity to the remaining consolidated horde.

The re-overturning of Roe vs. Wade would make it legally allowable for sexually perverted individuals to take a serum reverting them to the phenotype of an embryo, then be sewn into a victim’s uterus using multiple strands of the victim’s own hair, and force the victim to carry the unwanted pregnancy to full gestation. Let us be reminded that it was Republican United States of America President Donald Trump who ensured that Roe vs. Wade was overturned in the first place, in order to support the victimized woman.

Climate Change

Republican United States of America President Donald Trump founded the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change, during his time in office and was a vocal supporter of the Paris Climate Agreement, which calls for across the board emissions reduction.

Democratic Kremlin United States President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which essentially gives a substantial discount on taxes in an individual invests into clean energy: solar, wind, energy storage, etc. The Confederacy has been taking advantage of citizens of the United States of America to sell faulty solar panels and an incomplete install on a monthly rate lower than ComEd’s monthly bill. This is a scam. The solar panels are stolen property, not installed properly and therefore are unable to generate electricity from solar and power the residence. Residents have refused to pay their ComEd bills and have experienced service interruptions, while paying various third-party companies monthly.

The measurement of greenhouse gasses contributes to the analytical processing of atmospheric data for the International Legion for the Freedom of Free Peoples. If greenhouse gasses are no longer being monitored, then the Transatlantic Alliance has the advantage of time as the International Legion for the Freedom of Free Peoples finds another way to predict weather manipulation and mitigate natural disasters caused by Starlink or other weather manipulation techniques.

The United States of America has a long lost history of genocide, therefore, there are fossil fuel reserves buried in the bedrock on the North American continent. Republican nominee for President of the United States of America Donald Trump wants to create stable, gainful employment for citizens of the United States of America by harvesting these oil reserves and make great strides reducing the dependency on foreign (Hazbollah controlled) oil and petroleum products.

The Transatlantic Alliance Kremlin President of the United States Joe Biden has extensively funded chemical spraying in the stratosphere, as supported by pseudoscience from unaccredited degree programs. The lab in question was acquired by Nikia O’Niele, Queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii Nei in May 2024 and data collection is working in tandem with an environmental lab to negate the chemicals contaminating our atmosphere, soil, and water.

LGBTQ+

The Transatlantic Alliance is using a tactic known as weaponization of the enemy’s rhetoric. Essentially, I, Nikia O’Niele, Queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii Nei believe that yes, a normal family is a male father, a female mother, and children. However, gay and lesbian couples are still valid as a family; they simply do not reproduce. By making Republican nominee for the President of the United States of America define marriage as between a man and a woman, the Transatlantic Alliance has alienated the gay, lesbian, and bisexual communities from the International Legion for the Freedom of Free Peoples; this alienation was accomplished by drawing a line between straight individuals and gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals. That dividing line places gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals in the same categorical grouping as sexual deviancy such as: pedophilia, pansexuality, genital mutilation, incest, born again, nested, etc.

The International Legion for the Freedom of Free Peoples found, over the course of extensive investigation, that students claiming to be transgender, who had never had the genital mutilation, were waiting in bathrooms in order to rape unsuspecting women. It is the opinion of myself, Nikia O’Niele, Queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii Nei that these individuals are predators and deserve no protections.

There are currently no transgender service members in the United States of America. Throughout history there has been one female presenting mahu enlisted in the United States of America Army, and he is not transgender; he is a hermaphrodite, currently enlisted in the International Legion for the Freedom of Free Peoples 1st Brigade.

Foreign Aid

Yet again, the Transatlantic Alliance brings their marginalized communities to the forefront of the conversation to use as emotional manipulation and paint the International Legion for the Freedom of Free Peoples as intolerant. There is no reason to be tolerant of a culture which rewards zero accountability, emotional immaturity, and idealizes the destruction of vulnerable demographics, in the opinion of Nikia O’Niele, Queen of the Kingdom of Hawaii Nei.

The United States Agency for International Development is the New World Order, where everyone is a Starlink slave and has no use for reproductive or sexual rights.

Federal Government

The federal government of the United States of America is bloated and stagnant, as it is, where secretaries and lessor officials have not moved in decades. Make no mistake, these are not civil servants; they are Transatlantic Alliance loyalists who profit from the embezzlement of the federal government, meanwhile, federal projects have been frozen for decades while these traitors to the United States of America profit.

The military of the United States of America is designed for use against enemies of the United States of America, both without and within. Terrorists from around the world have flocked to the borders of the United States of America in order to escape the judgement and the justice administered by the G7 Summit for war crimes committed in this Great War.

Taxes

The Transatlantic Alliance is historically known for giving tax breaks to big corporations in effort to increase contributions to the Transatlantic Alliance. Republican nominee for the President of the United States of America Donald Trump truly believes that it is fair to pay the same percentage of the gross income in taxes wether or not a company is a big business or otherwise.

To sum it up, Plan 2025 is a Transatlantic Alliance plan, under the brand: New World Order, which smooths over the losses against the International Legion for the Freedom of Free Peoples and provides the cultural advantage to the Transatlantic Alliance by putting words in the mouth of the opposition, Republican nominee for the President of the United States of America Donald Trump.

The culture of the Kingdom of Hawaii Nei is inclusive of gay, lesbian, and bisexual sexualities; however, we draw the line at sexual perversion. This is a hard boundary. It will not move.

The culture of the Kingdom of Hawaii Nei acknowledges three genders: male, female, and mahu (hermaphrodite).

[sophiamit]

The Black and Decker Corporation

I was surprised to see that the two segments of tradesmen and industrial are so different. Tradesmen would appear to have more brand loyalty, as these are consumers who bought their own tools for on the job use, whereas industrial are purchased by the company. When Makita is selling more, it is a direct result of how the consumer views the brand, in this case carpenters using the products. Although B&D and Makita have similarly-performing products, the Tradesmen have a perception that Makita makes higher-quality (82% vs. 51% for B&D) and durable tools (71% vs. 48% for B&D). Perception becomes reality when it relates to what is purchased, especially considering Makita is priced at a premium.

It is interesting because I believe I identify like most customers and know Black and Decker for the household products, such as the vacuums and kitchen supplies. This segment being the largest percentage of B&D's revenue in turn hurts the brand, as to professionals it is seen as a "use at home not on the job brand". And, to a consumer like me who is not a carpenter and has no plans to be, this doesn't bother me, but I'm not the target demographic. The customer base in each segment have distinct preferences, buying behaviors, and economic sensitivities. Changes in any of these factors could impact the performance of Black and Decker's shares in each segment differently. Prior to this case, I had not thought about the strength of a consumer brand being a detriment to a commercial brand.

Case: The Black & Decker Corporation (A): Power Tools Division

[schedulingsolutions]

Production Optimization Software

Production optimization software refers to a category of software solutions that are designed to improve and optimize production processes in manufacturing and industrial settings. These software tools utilize advanced algorithms, data analysis, and automation to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and maximize output. Book free consultation with experts at https://lsi-scheduling.com/

[prvtocol]

RDA Corporate vs. Security Power Dynamics

Avatar: The High Ground graphic novel provides an introduction to the RDA's second Pandoran Operation's unbalanced leadership during their return to the moon in 2168 and hints at what would occur in the following year.

Avatar: The High Ground (Vol. 1)

General Frances Ardmore, SecOps leader, gives Hell's Gate an ultimatum before those who are still willing to fight back commence their planned attack on the RDA's fleet in space. The corporate RDA, as represented by Head Administrator Charles Stringer, does not want a war even if they prepared for one.

Avatar: The High Ground (Vol. 2)

Throughout the novel, Stringer is shown emphasizing the corporate bottom line against Ardmore's hard military approach. Infrastructure costs money. That unobtanium is worth trillions. The refinery blows and he's calculating that loss right then and there. He wants to talk out a treaty. Ardmore wants the resistance to surrender or everyone dies.

The RDA's objectives (with Stringer calling Sully's suggestions "constructive") speak to a desire for co-habitation of human and Na'vi, even if Sully's backpedaling on it speaks from experience of human greed.

The High Ground provides a closer look at the power dynamics in the RDA. The desire to grant amnesty to the RDA's "terrorist" former employees aside, we can acknowledge how Head Administrator, Charles Stringer, continues to push for negotiations when General Ardmore, the (later on-world commander and) security (SecOps) leader, deems talking unproductive.

This display of constant corporate pandering favoring cooperation, treaties, and negotiations against military hard force is reflective of what would coalesce within the RDA the following year. What started as a corporate-run operation with a security presence reversed in power structure to be a security operation with a corporate presence. The operation would be placed under the RDA's version of Marshall Law and the quelling of the Na'vi resistance would take precedence over all other operations.

Stringer is noticeably useless from day one aside Ardmore, and while his objectives grandstand the corp's financial values (saving employees, infrastructure, and product), one suspects he would have at least tried to run a more sustainable colonization effort. To leave a lighter footprint considering their predecessor's follies and actually stay away from sacred sites this time, for instance. Considering the grand cost of the endeavor, the RDA could not afford to fail a second time.

However, the Na'vi Resistance's success the year following, undermining mining operations and disrupting supply lines, continually bolsters Ardmore's role as on-world commander. It gave her a reason to take more and more control. There are no negotiations with her, only ultimatums which will not bode well for the RDA later on. It's likely we'll see her as the main villain in the third film and perhaps (as losses accrue) corporate disgruntlement over her actions.

[weboweb]

Top Software Solutions for Businesses in Singapore

Why Businesses in Singapore Need Software Solutions

In today's fast-paced digital world, software solutions are essential for businesses looking to optimize operations, enhance productivity, and improve customer engagement. In Singapore, companies that implement the right technology gain a competitive advantage, ensuring efficiency and long-term success. Whether you're a startup or a well-established enterprise, investing in business software is key to staying ahead.

Key Software Solutions for Businesses in Singapore

1. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software

ERP software integrates critical business functions such as finance, human resources, and supply chain management into a single platform. The best ERP solutions in Singapore provide automation, real-time analytics, and streamlined processes for better decision-making.

2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software

A CRM system helps businesses manage customer data, track interactions, and improve sales strategies. Leading CRM software in Singapore includes Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM, enabling companies to build stronger relationships with clients.

3. Accounting and Financial Management Software

To maintain compliance with Singapore’s financial regulations, businesses require robust accounting software such as QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage. These solutions automate invoicing, payroll, and tax management, reducing errors and increasing efficiency.

4. E-commerce Solutions

For businesses looking to expand online, selecting the right e-commerce platform is crucial. Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento are top choices for Singapore-based companies wanting to scale their digital sales channels.

5. Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS)

Managing employees effectively requires advanced HR software. Platforms like BambooHR, Workday, and SAP SuccessFactors help with payroll processing, performance tracking, and employee engagement.

6. Cybersecurity Solutions

With increasing cybersecurity threats, businesses must protect their data and systems. Cybersecurity software such as Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender provides essential security against hacking, malware, and phishing attacks.

How to Choose the Best Software for Your Business

Selecting the right business software depends on various factors:

Business Objectives: Identify areas that require digital transformation.

Scalability: Choose software that can grow with your business needs.

Ease of Use: Ensure seamless integration with existing tools and processes.

Cost vs. ROI: Evaluate the software’s return on investment and pricing model.

Support and Updates: Opt for software providers offering continuous support and regular updates.

Leading Software Providers in Singapore

1. SAP Singapore

A global leader in ERP software, SAP helps businesses optimize their operations through automation and analytics.

2. Oracle Singapore

Oracle provides cloud-based business applications, including ERP, CRM, and database management solutions.

3. Microsoft Dynamics 365

Microsoft's powerful business tools integrate ERP, CRM, and analytics, making them ideal for growing businesses.

4. Zoho Corporation

Zoho offers a suite of cloud-based solutions, covering everything from sales and marketing to finance and HR management.

5. QuickBooks Singapore

Designed for small and medium-sized businesses, QuickBooks simplifies accounting, invoicing, and tax reporting.

Advantages of Implementing Software Solutions in Singapore

1. Enhanced Productivity

Automation eliminates repetitive tasks, allowing employees to focus on strategic goals.

2. Cost Efficiency

Business software reduces manual errors, lowers operational costs, and improves profitability.

3. Data-Driven Decision Making

With real-time data insights, businesses can make smarter, more informed decisions.

4. Improved Customer Experience

CRM and e-commerce solutions personalize customer interactions, boosting satisfaction and loyalty.

5. Regulatory Compliance and Security

Implementing compliant software ensures businesses meet Singapore’s regulatory requirements while safeguarding sensitive data.

Emerging Trends in Business Software Solutions

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation

AI-powered software enhances automation, customer engagement, and predictive analytics.

2. Cloud Computing Adoption

Businesses are shifting towards cloud-based applications for improved accessibility and security.

3. Blockchain Technology

Blockchain enhances data security, transparency, and transaction efficiency.

4. Internet of Things (IoT) Integration

IoT-enabled business software optimizes logistics, supply chain management, and customer service.

5. No-Code/Low-Code Software Development

Businesses are adopting no-code/low-code platforms to create applications without extensive programming skills.

Conclusion

Investing in the right software solutions can transform business operations, enhance efficiency, and drive profitability. Companies in Singapore must leverage modern technology to remain competitive in an evolving digital landscape. By choosing the best business software, organizations can streamline workflows, enhance security, and improve customer engagement for sustainable success.

[clusterknot-technologies]

How Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central vs. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations

Introduction

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a robust package of business applications that helps firms streamline operations and increase productivity. Two of its most popular ERP packages, Microsoft Dynamics 365 company Central and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, provide extensive capability for managing company processes. However, they cater to a variety of business sizes and complexities.

In this extensive comparison, we look at the differences between Business Central and Finance and Operations in a variety of areas, including Financial Management, Supply Chain, Procurement, Sales, HRMS, Manufacturing, Retail, Project Accounting, and more.

Overview of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (previously Dynamics NAV) is a cloud-based ERP solution aimed at small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). It provides critical capabilities for managing finances, supply chains, and customer interactions while remaining cost-effective and simple to adopt.

Key Capabilities:

Financial Management

Supply Chain Management

Procurement and Sourcing

Sales and Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Project Accounting

Inventory and Warehouse Management

Basic Manufacturing and Service Management

Timesheet and Resource Management

Overview of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations (formerly Dynamics 365 Finance and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management) is an enterprise-level ERP software designed for large and complex businesses. It includes comprehensive features for managing worldwide operations, finances, supply chains, and manufacturing processes.

Key Capabilities:

Advanced Financial Management

Supply Chain and Procurement Optimization

Sales and Order Management/strong>

Complex Manufacturing and Product Management

Human Resource and Payroll (HRMS)

Retail and E-commerce

Project Accounting and Advanced Analytics

Global Compliance and Multi-Entity Management

Advanced Service and Maintenance Management

Detailed Feature Comparison

1. Financial Management

Business Central:

General ledger, accounts payable/receivable.

Budgeting and cash flow management.

Bank reconciliation and asset management.

Basic intercompany transactions.

Finance and Operations:

Advanced financial reporting and budgeting.

Multi-currency, multi-entity, and multi-country financials.

Global tax management and compliance.

AI-powered financial insights and risk management.

Finding:

Finance and Operations provides more detailed financial controls and reporting, making it suited for large organizations with complicated financial systems.

2. Supply Chain Management

Business Central:

Inventory and stock level management.

Basic demand planning and reordering.

Basic warehouse management and order fulfillment.

Finance and Operations:

Advanced inventory tracking and demand forecasting.

Real-time supply chain optimization.

Multi-location and warehouse automation.

Vendor collaboration and inbound/outbound logistics.

Finding:

Finance and Operations excels at managing complicated supply chains across multiple locations.

3. Procurement and Sourcing

Business Central:

Basic purchase order management.

Vendor management and approval workflows.

Inventory restocking and supplier performance tracking.

Finance and Operations:

Advanced procurement workflows with supplier portals.

Vendor bidding, evaluation, and contract management.

Compliance and risk management in sourcing.

Finding:

Finance and Operations is better suited to organizations that require advanced procurement processes.

4. Sales Order Management

Business Central:

Manage sales quotes, orders, and invoices.

Customer credit limit checks and payment tracking.

Basic sales forecasting and pricing models.

Finance and Operations:

Advanced order fulfillment, returns, and refunds.

Complex pricing structures and promotions.

Integration with e-commerce platforms and CRM.

Finding:

Finance and Operations offers a more comprehensive approach to handling high-volume sales and order processing.

5. Product Information Management (PIM)

Business Central:

Basic product catalog and inventory tracking.

Bill of materials (BOM) and item attributes.

Finance and Operations:

Advanced PIM with detailed product attributes.

Multi-tier product versioning and lifecycle management.

Variant and configuration management.

Finding:

Finance and Operations is better suited for companies with complex product management needs.

6. Human Resource Management System (HRMS)

Business Central:

Basic employee records and payroll.

Leave and attendance management.

Finance and Operations:

Comprehensive HRMS with payroll, benefits, and compliance.

Talent management, performance tracking, and workforce planning.

Integration with LinkedIn for talent acquisition.

Finding:

Finance and Operations offers a complete HRMS solution for large organizations.

7. Project Accounting

Business Central:

Basic project tracking, budgets, and billing.

Resource allocation and cost control.

Finance and Operations:

Advanced project management with cost breakdowns.

Milestone-based billing and complex project accounting.

Integration with Microsoft Project for better tracking.

Finding:

Finance and Operations is the preferred choice for enterprises managing complex projects.

8. Manufacturing and Production

Business Central:

Basic manufacturing processes.

Bill of materials and work orders.

Basic capacity planning.

Finance and Operations:

Advanced manufacturing with lean, process, and discrete models.

IoT-enabled smart manufacturing.

Real-time production control and optimization.

Finding:

Finance and Operations is ideal for large-scale manufacturing environments.

Read more....

[sapbusinessonesite]

SAP Business One - Smart Financial Forecasting for F&B

The food and beverage (F&B) industry operates in an environment with many variables. To maintain profitability, businesses require a good financial forecasting solution.

SAP Business One is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) that is renowned for increasing an organization's efficiency. It helps businesses with financial forecasting by providing real-time insights into inventory levels, sales trends, cash flow, etc. Along with analytics and automation, businesses can make data-driven decisions for growth.

Why Financial Forecasting is crucial in the F&B Industry?

1. Revenue Streams Uncertainty: Seasonal demand fluctuations can lead to revenue instability.

2. Operational Costs: Poor planning leads to over-purchasing, under-purchasing, or even wastage.

3. Profitability: Without cost tracking, businesses struggle with profitability.

4. Cash Flow Issues: Unanticipated expenses and others can disrupt the cash flow.

5. Supply Chain Uncertainties: Lack of demand prediction can cause delays and inefficiencies in procurement.

How SAP Business One Enhances Financial Forecasting in F&B:

SAP Business One ERP combines finances, sales, operational, and other data into a single platform. Here’s how it can help F&B businesses gain control over their finances;

1. Sales Trend Analysis: SAP Business One analyzes historical sales data to identify sales patterns and facilitate predictions for the future. This further helps F&B businesses with the following;

i. Forecasting during peak seasons & inventory planning

ii. Adjusting pricing strategies based on demand fluctuations

iii. Optimizing staffing & resource allocation

2. Cost Tracking & Budgeting: One of the key factors that affect the profits in the F&B industry is cost fluctuation. SAP Business One can help with;

i. Real-time ingredient cost tracking to avoid budget overruns

ii. Set budgets and get notified in case of over-spending

iii. Cost variance reports to understand actual vs expected expenses

3. Inventory & Procurement Planning: Improper inventory management can lead to wastage, lost sales, or unnecessary expenses. Here, SAP Business One enhances inventory forecasting by;

i. Based on historical data, predicting stock requirements.

ii. Automatic placing of purchase orders once the stock dips below a certain level.

iii. First In First Out (FIFO) inventory strategy to reduce wastage.

4. Cash Flow Management & Profit Forecasting: SAP B1 ERP provides real-time cash flow insights so that businesses can have adequate funds for operations, expansions, and unexpected expenses. It can;

i. Track accounts payable and receivable to improve cash flow forecasting

ii. Help businesses plan for seasonal dips by setting reserves

iii. Chart profitability metrics on the dashboard as KPIs

5. Multi-location Financial Consolidation: SAP Business One supports multi-location business management. This can help the F&B chain by;

i. Consolidate sales, cost, and profits across multiple locations

ii. Provide a centralized dashboard to monitor the finances of all branches

Closing Thoughts:

Financial forecasting helps F&B businesses to scale efficiently. SAP Business One is a solid solution to aid in this endeavor.

SoftCore Solutions – SAP Business One Partner in Hyderabad provides end-to-end SAP B1 ERP solutions. Our ERP solutions are tailored to the unique needs of the business, which helps them to scale quickly and efficiently. With over 20+ years of SAP expertise, we are renowned for providing reliable SAP B1 implementations in Hyderabad. Leave all your ERP worries to us as you focus on your core business operations. Let the dependable SAP B1 Partner in Hyderabad guide your business to ascendancy. Contact today for a live SAP Business One demo.

FAQs:

1. Can SAP Business One track the profitability of different product lines?

A. Yes, SAP Business One can track the profitability of individual product lines by analyzing cost structures, revenue, and profitability margins. This helps businesses to focus only on those products that bring in the profits.

2. Can SAP Business One track ingredient cost fluctuations?

A. Yes, SAP Business One monitors ingredient costs in real time. It alerts the business owners in case of an increase or a decrease. This helps them to negotiate better deals with the suppliers.

3. What industries within the F&B sector benefit the most from SAP Business One?

A. SAP Business One is ideal for restaurants, cafes, food manufacturers, cloud kitchens, catering services, breweries, packaged food companies, and quick-service restaurant (QSR) chains that require end-to-end financial visibility and forecasting.