#raw material costs

[kapilasteel]

What Determines the Market Price of 8mm Rods?

Knowing the price dynamics of certain construction materials can importantly change project budgets and timelines. Among the many construction materials, there is one type of reinforcement that falls under the category of essential elements in a variety of construction tasks—skyscrapers, residential buildings, or infrastructure projects. The prices of an 8mm rod price per piece vary depending on many factors that need to be considered when buying a piece.

8mm Rods' Role in Modern Construction

Steel reinforcement bars, especially 8mm rods, help give strength to concrete constructions. These versatile components make the foundation, column, and beam strong enough. Without these rods, small-scale or large-scale construction of buildings is not possible, so the knowledge of price fluctuations is important for contractors, builders, and project managers.

Prices of Raw Materials and Market Dynamics

The major raw material for 8mm rods is steel, so essentially, prices relate to global market trends. Some of the key drivers of this price include the following:

Iron Ore Prices

The price of iron ore, as the basic ingredient in producing steel, has a great influence on the final price for an 8mm rod per piece. Market fluctuations in the prices of iron ore directly affect manufacturing costs and, hence, retail prices.

Steel Scrap Rates

Many producers utilize recycled steel during production. The adequate supply and cost of steel scrap lead to sharp fluctuations in production costs, which then affect retail prices.

Factors Affecting Production and Manufacturing

Costs of Energy

Manufacturing steel is an energy-intensive process. A tremendous amount of electricity and fuel is required. Where the cost of energy is higher, production costs tend to be higher as well.

Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

Advanced manufacturing technologies may be more expensive to initiate but result in higher-quality products and more efficient processes that could impact long-term pricing structures.

Market Forces and Distribution

Several market-related factors go into pricing:

Supply Chain Dynamics

Transportation costs, storage requirements, and distribution networks play a vital part in the final costing of 8mm rods. Prices at locations that are remote are usually higher, as logistics costs are higher.

Seasonal Demand

Construction activities are seasonal, meaning demand for the same fluctuates. When peak construction seasons arrive, the demand for 8mm rod per piece goes up, and prices might surge temporarily.

Competition and Market Penetration

Regions where there are several suppliers tend to enjoy better pricing; regions where suppliers are few, prices are on the higher side due to a lack of competition.

Quality Requirements and Certification Impact

Product quality and certification needs tend to affect the prices:

Testing and Certification Costs

The manufacture of quality rods involves many tests and certification processes that raise the production cost but guarantee their reliability and safety.

Grade Variations

Various steel grades provide different strengths and durability, and higher grades are commonly priced higher.

Economic Factors

The general economic factors influencing prices include:

Currency Exchange Rates

In markets where raw materials or finished products are imported, changes in currency may have a huge effect on prices.

Government Policies

Trade policies, taxes, and regulatory requirements often affect the production cost or market price.

Buying Smart

Buying 8mm rods should pay attention to the following key aspects:

Check manufacturers' certification and quality conformance.

Compare the prices of several suppliers with transportation costs.

Get a quote for the bulk buying price and see if there is any economy of scale.

Ensure the material grade conforms to the project requirement.

Check their reputation and delivery history.

Quality Versus Price

While price remains a crucial factor, balancing cost with quality ensures long-term project success. Premium products might offer:

Enhanced durability and performance.

Better stress resistance.

Improved corrosion protection.

Consistent quality across batches.

Reliable warranty coverage.

Conclusion

Prices of 8mm rods per piece represent an interaction of raw material costs, processes involved in manufacturing, market dynamics, and standards concerning quality. Grasping such elements enables the buyer to make informed decisions balancing cost considerations against quality requirements. With careful assessment of suppliers, consideration of long-term value against immediate costs, and monitoring of market trends, construction professionals are able to decide on their purchasing strategy to maintain the quality standards of a project.

[thermodyneengineeringsystems]

Cost of a 1-Ton Boiler in the Indian

Thermodyne analyzes the different elements that impact the pricing of these boilers. These include the cost of raw materials production techniques, technological advances, and demand from the market. In analyzing the intricacies This analysis will give valuable information and advice for potential buyers, assisting to make educated choices when taking into consideration the cost aspect of one-ton boilers sold in India. For more information contact us at https://www.thermodyneboilers.com/

[somecunttookmyurl]

someone (blocked immediately for total lack of reading comprehension) in my notes proclaiming they make jewellery with "real gemstones" in that they can't even get people to "pay the cost of the stones" on because that would be $200-300 and i have never read a bigger load of bullshit in my life

ma'am if your supplier is charging you two hundred fucking dollars for enough gemstones to make one piece of jewellery you are a victim of the biggest scam since ea nasir. you can go and buy fully made fine jewellery for less than that and deconstruct it.

[blue-eyed-giant]

new goal in business major studies: find a cruelty free way of scamming rich people

[costitright]

Navigating Challenges of Managing Raw Material Cost Changes | CostItRight

Learn to manage the ever-fluctuating cost of raw materials effectively with CostItRight. Our in-depth article explores the common challenges and strategic approaches to handling raw material cost changes in manufacturing. By understanding these dynamics, businesses can mitigate risks and maintain profitability despite market volatility.

Understanding Market Volatility: Begin with an overview of the factors that lead to raw material cost fluctuations, including market demand, geopolitical events, and supply chain disruptions. Understanding these elements is crucial for predicting and preparing for cost changes.

Impact on Manufacturing: Discuss the direct impact that fluctuations in raw material costs have on manufacturing operations. Increased costs can squeeze margins, alter production schedules, and necessitate price adjustments for final products.

Strategies for Managing Cost Changes:

Long-term Contracts: Explore the benefits and risks of entering into long-term contracts with suppliers to lock in prices and ensure supply continuity.

Flexible Sourcing: Examine the advantages of diversifying supplier bases to reduce dependency on any single source, which can mitigate the risk of severe supply disruptions and price hikes.

Hedging: Discuss financial strategies like hedging, which can protect against price volatility by fixing prices or rates in advance through financial instruments.

4.Technological Solutions: Highlight how technology, especially cost-estimating software, can aid in forecasting and managing these costs more effectively. This software can analyze historical data to predict future trends and help businesses plan accordingly.

5. Inventory Management: Analyze the role of effective inventory management in balancing the act between too much and too little stock, which can help avoid disruptions during periods of raw material price increases.

6.Communication with Stakeholders: Stress the importance of maintaining open lines of communication with stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, and internal teams. Keeping everyone informed about potential cost changes and strategic responses enhances collaborative efforts to manage costs.

7.Regular Review and Adjustment: Encourage businesses to continually review and adjust their raw material management strategies. Markets are dynamic, and strategies that work today may not be effective tomorrow, necessitating ongoing vigilance and adaptation.

8.Training and Development: Discuss the need for training procurement and supply chain teams on market analysis, negotiation skills, and risk management to better handle raw material cost changes.

By understanding and implementing these strategies, businesses can improve their resilience against the instability of raw material costs. Dive into our detailed guide on CostItRight to gain more insights and practical advice on effectively managing these challenges to maintain operational stability and profitability in the face of raw material cost volatility.

[newbusinessideas]

How to Start an Aluminium Foil Roll Business

Start your own aluminum foil roll manufacturing business! Find out about the required investment, equipment, raw materials, and market strategies to drive profits. #AluminumFoilBusiness #manufacturingbusinessideas #startupideas #Entrepreneurship

Aluminium foil roll used for packaging is a suitable alternative compared to other materials. Aluminium foil is widely used in homes, restaurants and factories for packaging, cooking and insulation. These foils are made of aluminium plates and aluminium foil sheets are used as per the packaging requirements. Aluminium sheets undergo continuous casting along with cold rolling of the sheets. After…

[digitalshree]

https://forceaacplant.com/Force aac plant provide the best aac plant, AAC Block Plant, CLC Plant, CLC Block Plant Making Machine at best cost. It is the best aac plant manufacturers, AAC Block Plant, CLC Plant, CLC Block Plant Making Machine Supplier, Manufacturer company in Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, Kolhapur, Satara, sangli, Bangalore, Chennai, Gujrat, Ahmedabad, India

[cost-masters]

Getting the Most Out of Commodity Price Tracking Services: A Complete Guide

For traders, investors, and companies operating in the dynamic global commodities markets, monitoring commodity prices closely is essential. A dependable and effective tracking service is essential, regardless of the tracking needs—raw materials, commodities futures prices, or industry-specific markets like metal prices. In order to stay ahead of the competition, this article will cover the key tactics and recommended practices for keeping an eye on commodity prices as well as how to use a commodities prices tracking service.

Comprehending Commodity Prices Monitoring Services

Services that track commodity prices provide up-to-date data on a variety of commodities, assisting people and organizations in making wise decisions. Users can estimate future trends, evaluate historical data, and keep an eye on price swings with these services.

Maximizing Your Method

Use Reliable Platforms: Rely on trustworthy tracking services or platforms that focus on commodities pricing data to stay up to date on commodity prices. Generally speaking, these platforms provide in-depth data and analysis on a wide range of commodities, such as energy, metals, food, and more. Utilize additional Tools: For in-depth analysis, trend identification, and price predictions, several tracking services offer additional tools and features. To get the most out of your market insights, make sure you utilize all of these tools.

Keep Up with Raw Materials: Paying attention to raw materials price tracking services becomes essential for companies that depend on raw materials. Monitoring these costs can help with cost estimation and procurement strategy optimization.

Examining Futures Prices for Commodities: Futures prices provide insight into anticipated future market patterns. Monitoring the future prices of commodities can help with risk management, strategic decision-making, and comprehension of the possible direction of the market.

Particular Sector Monitoring - Metal Prices: Because metals are used in so many different sectors, metal prices are essential. Keeping a close eye on metal pricing facilitates prompt decision-making for all parties involved, particularly in the manufacturing, technology, and construction industries.

FAQs

Q: Why is it crucial for firms to monitor commodity prices? A: Keeping an eye on commodity prices helps companies make well-informed decisions about pricing, risk management, procurement, and overall financial planning.

Q: What are the main variables affecting the price of commodities? A: A number of factors greatly affect the price of commodities, including weather patterns, supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical events, economic indicators, and worldwide market trends.

Q: How often should one monitor the price of commodities? A: The kind of business activities and the volatility of the market determine the frequency. But it's wise to keep an eye on prices, particularly when there are significant changes in the market.

Q: Are there any services that track commodity prices for free? A: Indeed, there are platforms that provide free basic versions. However, choosing premium services is advised for more complete features and reliable statistics. In conclusion, knowing how to use commodities price tracking services is a tactical edge in the ever-changing world of international markets. Making educated decisions, reducing risks, and seizing market opportunities are all made possible by using a dependable tracking service, whether it be for raw materials, commodities futures prices, or industry-specific issues like metal prices. Staying ahead in the commodities market is made possible by putting the suggested techniques to use and by utilizing specialist tools.

[reasonsforhope]

Green energy is in its heyday. 

Renewable energy sources now account for 22% of the nation’s electricity, and solar has skyrocketed eight times over in the last decade. This spring in California, wind, water, and solar power energy sources exceeded expectations, accounting for an average of 61.5 percent of the state's electricity demand across 52 days. 

But green energy has a lithium problem. Lithium batteries control more than 90% of the global grid battery storage market. 

That’s not just cell phones, laptops, electric toothbrushes, and tools. Scooters, e-bikes, hybrids, and electric vehicles all rely on rechargeable lithium batteries to get going. 

Fortunately, this past week, Natron Energy launched its first-ever commercial-scale production of sodium-ion batteries in the U.S. 

“Sodium-ion batteries offer a unique alternative to lithium-ion, with higher power, faster recharge, longer lifecycle and a completely safe and stable chemistry,” said Colin Wessells — Natron Founder and Co-CEO — at the kick-off event in Michigan. 

The new sodium-ion batteries charge and discharge at rates 10 times faster than lithium-ion, with an estimated lifespan of 50,000 cycles.

Wessells said that using sodium as a primary mineral alternative eliminates industry-wide issues of worker negligence, geopolitical disruption, and the “questionable environmental impacts” inextricably linked to lithium mining. 

“The electrification of our economy is dependent on the development and production of new, innovative energy storage solutions,” Wessells said. 

Why are sodium batteries a better alternative to lithium?

The birth and death cycle of lithium is shadowed in environmental destruction. The process of extracting lithium pollutes the water, air, and soil, and when it’s eventually discarded, the flammable batteries are prone to bursting into flames and burning out in landfills. 

There’s also a human cost. Lithium-ion materials like cobalt and nickel are not only harder to source and procure, but their supply chains are also overwhelmingly attributed to hazardous working conditions and child labor law violations. 

Sodium, on the other hand, is estimated to be 1,000 times more abundant in the earth’s crust than lithium. 

“Unlike lithium, sodium can be produced from an abundant material: salt,” engineer Casey Crownhart wrote ​​in the MIT Technology Review. “Because the raw ingredients are cheap and widely available, there’s potential for sodium-ion batteries to be significantly less expensive than their lithium-ion counterparts if more companies start making more of them.”

What will these batteries be used for?

Right now, Natron has its focus set on AI models and data storage centers, which consume hefty amounts of energy. In 2023, the MIT Technology Review reported that one AI model can emit more than 626,00 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent. 

“We expect our battery solutions will be used to power the explosive growth in data centers used for Artificial Intelligence,” said Wendell Brooks, co-CEO of Natron. 

“With the start of commercial-scale production here in Michigan, we are well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for efficient, safe, and reliable battery energy storage.”

The fast-charging energy alternative also has limitless potential on a consumer level, and Natron is eying telecommunications and EV fast-charging once it begins servicing AI data storage centers in June. 

On a larger scale, sodium-ion batteries could radically change the manufacturing and production sectors — from housing energy to lower electricity costs in warehouses, to charging backup stations and powering electric vehicles, trucks, forklifts, and so on. 

“I founded Natron because we saw climate change as the defining problem of our time,” Wessells said. “We believe batteries have a role to play.”

-via GoodGoodGood, May 3, 2024

--

Note: I wanted to make sure this was legit (scientifically and in general), and I'm happy to report that it really is! x, x, x, x

[kapilasteel]

What Determines the Market Price of 8mm Rods?

Knowing the price dynamics of certain construction materials can importantly change project budgets and timelines. Among the many construction materials, there is one type of reinforcement that falls under the category of essential elements in a variety of construction tasks—skyscrapers, residential buildings, or infrastructure projects. The prices of an 8mm rod price per piece vary depending on many factors that need to be considered when buying a piece.

8mm Rods' Role in Modern Construction

Steel reinforcement bars, especially 8mm rods, help give strength to concrete constructions. These versatile components make the foundation, column, and beam strong enough. Without these rods, small-scale or large-scale construction of buildings is not possible, so the knowledge of price fluctuations is important for contractors, builders, and project managers.

Prices of Raw Materials and Market Dynamics

The major raw material for 8mm rods is steel, so essentially, prices relate to global market trends. Some of the key drivers of this price include the following:

Iron Ore Prices

The price of iron ore, as the basic ingredient in producing steel, has a great influence on the final price for an 8mm rod per piece. Market fluctuations in the prices of iron ore directly affect manufacturing costs and, hence, retail prices.

Steel Scrap Rates

Many producers utilize recycled steel during production. The adequate supply and cost of steel scrap lead to sharp fluctuations in production costs, which then affect retail prices.

Factors Affecting Production and Manufacturing

Costs of Energy

Manufacturing steel is an energy-intensive process. A tremendous amount of electricity and fuel is required. Where the cost of energy is higher, production costs tend to be higher as well.

Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

Advanced manufacturing technologies may be more expensive to initiate but result in higher-quality products and more efficient processes that could impact long-term pricing structures.

Market Forces and Distribution

Several market-related factors go into pricing:

Supply Chain Dynamics

Transportation costs, storage requirements, and distribution networks play a vital part in the final costing of 8mm rods. Prices at locations that are remote are usually higher, as logistics costs are higher.

Seasonal Demand

Construction activities are seasonal, meaning demand for the same fluctuates. When peak construction seasons arrive, the demand for 8mm rod per piece goes up, and prices might surge temporarily.

Competition and Market Penetration

Regions where there are several suppliers tend to enjoy better pricing; regions where suppliers are few, prices are on the higher side due to a lack of competition.

Quality Requirements and Certification Impact

Product quality and certification needs tend to affect the prices:

Testing and Certification Costs

The manufacture of quality rods involves many tests and certification processes that raise the production cost but guarantee their reliability and safety.

Grade Variations

Various steel grades provide different strengths and durability, and higher grades are commonly priced higher.

Economic Factors

The general economic factors influencing prices include:

Currency Exchange Rates

In markets where raw materials or finished products are imported, changes in currency may have a huge effect on prices.

Government Policies

Trade policies, taxes, and regulatory requirements often affect the production cost or market price.

Buying Smart

Buying 8mm rods should pay attention to the following key aspects:

Check manufacturers' certification and quality conformance.

Compare the prices of several suppliers with transportation costs.

Get a quote for the bulk buying price and see if there is any economy of scale.

Ensure the material grade conforms to the project requirement.

Check their reputation and delivery history.

Quality Versus Price

While price remains a crucial factor, balancing cost with quality ensures long-term project success. Premium products might offer:

Enhanced durability and performance.

Better stress resistance.

Improved corrosion protection.

Consistent quality across batches.

Reliable warranty coverage.

Conclusion

Prices of 8mm rods per piece represent an interaction of raw material costs, processes involved in manufacturing, market dynamics, and standards concerning quality. Grasping such elements enables the buyer to make informed decisions balancing cost considerations against quality requirements. With careful assessment of suppliers, consideration of long-term value against immediate costs, and monitoring of market trends, construction professionals are able to decide on their purchasing strategy to maintain the quality standards of a project.

[cmipooja]

Rust Lubricant Market Is Estimated To Witness High Growth Owing To Increasing Demand In Automotive and Industrial Sectors

The Global Rust Lubricant Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 39.0 billion in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 3.40% over the forecast period of 2023-2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Market Overview: Rust lubricants are specially formulated to prevent corrosion and rust formation on various metal surfaces. These lubricants provide a protective coating that prevents moisture from coming into contact with metal, thus reducing the risk of rust and corrosion. Rust lubricants find extensive applications in the automotive and industrial sectors where metal parts are exposed to harsh environmental conditions. Market key trends: One key trend in the Rust Lubricant Market is the increasing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable lubricants. With growing concerns about the impact of chemical pollutants on the environment, there is a shift towards eco-friendly lubricant solutions. Manufacturers are developing biodegradable and bio-based lubricants that offer excellent rust protection while minimizing environmental harm. For example, Total Lubrifiants has introduced biodegradable and non-toxic rust lubricants that are compliant with environmental regulations. PEST Analysis: - Political: The political stability of a region can affect the availability and pricing of raw materials necessary for the production of rust lubricants. Government regulations and policies related to environmental protection may also influence the choice of lubricants used in various industries. - Economic: Economic growth and industrialization drive the demand for rust lubricants. Increasing investments in automotive and industrial sectors, particularly in emerging economies, contribute to the market growth. Fluctuating raw material prices and currency exchange rates can impact the overall cost of production and pricing of rust lubricants. - Social: Increasing consumer awareness about the importance of preventive maintenance and protection against rust and corrosion is driving the adoption of rust lubricants in various industries. The demand for rust protection products is also influenced by factors such as changing consumer preferences, lifestyle trends, and the need for enhancing asset lifespan. - Technological: Advancements in lubricant technology have led to the development of high-performance rust lubricants. Innovations such as nanotechnology-based rust inhibitors and self-healing coatings offer improved protection against rust and corrosion. The integration of IoT and sensor technologies in lubricant formulations enable real-time monitoring of equipment health, reducing the risk of rust-related failures. Key Takeaways: - The Global Rust Lubricant Market Growth is expected to witness high, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.40% over the forecast period, due to increasing demand in the automotive and industrial sectors. - Regionally, Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing and dominating region in the Rust Lubricant Market. This can be attributed to rapid industrialization, infrastructure development, and increasing automotive production in countries like China and India.

[atoltia]

Promise of Wealth

Sylus gave you access to the entirety of his fortune, and yet you keep using it... on him?

In which the MC doesn't really care about his money so much.

Sylus and fem!MC fluff

Disclaimer: I've only been playing the game for less than two weeks so apologies for any mistakes.

---

To obtain power, one must have it.

It was a natural truth, one that he diligently followed. It took discipline to hone his instincts, experience to ensure success in his ventures, a raw, natural brutality that served to enhance his ideals and further his reputation not just as the leader of Onychinus, but as a conqueror known throughout the galaxy.

The simple utterance of his name invoked fear. The visage of him exuded wealth, so much so that he could buy himself a decent-sized country if he so wanted.

Sylus was perplexed.

He had all the wealth that he could possibly covet, is still planning to acquire. He owned several multi-million enterprises, resorts, hotels, villas and manors - all the material gains that one could only dream to have and made sure you had access to every single thing the moment the two of you made your relationship official.

He trusted you with his card, he's opened up your own bank account already filled with millions, acquired property and assets in your name. You could get anything that you'd want and he wouldn't bat an eye.

And yet the only purchase you made for yourself in the several months you've been together was a book that costed no more than twelve credits.

His brows furrowed when he saw the credit card reports. There were purchases made by you. Several, even. But the amounts of the transactions were unimpressive, with a few sizable purchases here and there. And he knew, of course he knew, exactly what those big purchases were.

The new leather coat the you had tailor made for him was hanging over his office sofa. The jeweled cuff links that you got for him twinkled prettily against the light of his desk lamp. You replaced his gun holster, saying that his other one was already worn.

He was sure that the twins were sporting new jackets with bulletproof lining seeing as the last ones got torn to shreds in a gun fight two months ago. Even Mephisto's perch in the living room was brand new.

The refrigerator was always stocked with a variety of ingredients that previously weren't in the usual lists, and after a conversation with the chef and the staff, he knew that they weren't the ones getting the groceries in the last six months.

It's not like it upset him that you didn't use his wealth. It was just rather confusing and amusing to a degree. Was this you being stubborn, perhaps? Or was this your way of keeping your independence? Hm, it wasn't like he was preventing you from doing your work. Not at all.

He thought about looking at the purchases from your own card, but then thought against it. From the time you've spent together, he doubted that the results would be any different.

But he could ask.

You weren't difficult to find. At this time of day he could often find you in the living room, curled up on the couch with a book or fiddling with your phone, and today wasn't any different.

Soft music played from the record player next to the sofa as the curtains near the air conditioner rustled. You hand was outstretched, resting on nothing but air as you slept, the book that you were so diligently reading was strewn on the ground.

Sylus breathed out a chuckle as he leaned against the doorframe, just watching the steady rise and fall of your chest, shushing Mephisto when the mechanical companion fluttered his wings a little too hard.

But your training as a hunter wasn't for nothing. Heightened senses, even when asleep, was part of the package Sylus had to accept and fully expected when both of you moved past simply lovers to an official couple.

The flutter of your eyelashes was slight, but there was an alertness to your gaze the moment you awoke, quickly scanning the room without so much as budging any part of your body, and immediately calmed when you realized where you are and who was in the room.

"Mm."

"Hello, sweetie."

From beneath the covers you raised your other arm, reaching towards him when he strode towards you. It would be so easy for him to engulf you in his entirety. It wasn't lost on him that his physicality was so much bigger than you, but it was one of the things that you loved about him - loved at how easy it was for him to just pick you up and hold you, envelop you into his embrace.

"Sylus."

He loved the way you purred out his name, loved the way you just molded in his arms like warmed putty, soft and pliable as you positioned yourself in a more comfortable spot on his lap. He picked up the book from the floor.

"This is the book you bought."

"Yes."

"Why didn't you buy the others?"

You shrugged, pulled the book that hung loosely from his fingers before showing him the cover. "How would I know if the series is good if I don't buy the book first? It's a waste if it sucks."

He looked at you quizzically, smirked. Ruffled your hair.

"Oh, are you afraid to waste my money, sweetie? Fifty credits isn't a sum to be concerned about."

"Still," you pressed, drilling a finger into the spot that you know was ticklish, laughing when he grabbed your arm and bit your finger. "I'm not wasting shit on a mediocre book."

With your hand still in his grasp, he maneuvered you enough to have you be on top of his chest as he took your position on the couch, those long, long fingers of his kneading the dip between your hips. "Is it mediocre?"

"No. It's pretty good, actually."

"Then buy the rest of it."

"What if the third one sucks?"

"Sweetie," he took your chin, had you look into the deep scarlet of his eyes as amusement danced in it. "Just buy it or I'll buy it for you."

The look in your eye was indescribable to him. It was as if you were searching something that she couldn't quite grasp, couldn't quite find. He lightly bit the lip that you jutted out when you pouted.

"Do you not like spending my money?"

"I spend your money."

"Yes, but you spend it on us. Not on you."

Your brows furrowed. "So?"

"Darling," there was resignation on his voice as he flicked your forehead.

You frowned as you sat up, straddled him, your hands splayed on his wide chest. "I don't need anything. You already buy me things."

"And you need not more?"

"Sylus," you dipped down, cupped his cheeks. Kissed the tip of his nose. "I don't buy anything else because you already get me the things I could possibly need and more. So much more."

Those scarlet eyes regarded you as his fingertips ran up and down your back. You knew all too well how cold those eyes could get, how dangerous his hands could be. You knew all to well how easy it would be for him to snap you like a twig. You've seen it many times before, after all.

And yet he looked at you with such warmth right now that if you were a stranger, you would never be able to tell that this was Sylus, leader of Onychinus.

"I'll get you the entire universe if you so wish it."

And you knew, deep in your heart you know, that it was the truth. His truth.

So you told him your truth as well.

You straightened your position on his lap, careful to not... excite any other part of him as you reached from under your shirt, pulled out the necklace that he gave you all those months ago.

It was a simple little thing. A sizable ruby lovingly enveloped by two crow's wings made of polished silver. It was one of the first things he gave you when you accepted him, when you accepted his love and his force of will. When you wore it, you showed him that you accepted all of him, including his shadows, including his pain, including the violence that followed him wherever he went.

No matter how much glitter he decided to get you, all the shiny things he draped on you, you always came back to this necklace. It was a promise to him, as much as it was a promise to you.

"You gave me stability," you said to him as you rubbed circles on his muscled torso. "I won't have to worry about making rent anymore or if I'll have enough money to buy food for the next week. You gave me a home, you gave me companionship, you gave me warmth." And with every single gift of his, you tapped his lips. "Do you drive me insane? Yeah, you do." A kiss to his cheek, his lips. "But I'm sure I drive you insane much, much more."

Stillness descended upon you both, the music from the gramophone the only thing to indicate that time did not, in fact, stop.

"You gave me family, Sy."

Those large hands of his moved, prying your fingers from his chest as he slipped them between your fingertips before pulling you closer, gently, every so gently, peppering your neck with tiny little nips. He sighed.

"You will be my undoing."

You smiled, nuzzled into the crook of his neck. "As you will be mine."

So there you two laid, heartbeats and breaths syncing, his one hand stroking your back as he lulled you back to sleep.

And thought it probably wasn't the time to tell you that he bought a tropical island in your name.

---

still trying to grasp how I wanna write him so it might take a bit more practice haha I do have more sylus fluff planned. feel free to send ideas tho (preferably angst, hurt/comfort, fluff. i don't really like writing smut that much)

[phoenixyfriend]

Ko-fi prompt from @liberwolf:

Could you explain Tariff's , like who pays them and what they do to a country?

Well, I can definitely guess where this question is coming from.

Honestly, I was pretty excited to get this prompt, because it's one I can answer and was part of my studies focus in college. International business was my thing, and the issues of comparative advantage (along with Power Purchasing Parity) were one of the things I liked to explore.

-----------------

At their simplest, tariffs are an import tax. The United States has had tariffs as low as 5%, and at other times as high as 44% on most goods, such as during the Civil War. The purpose of a tariff is in two parts: generating revenue for the government, and protectionism.

Let's first explore how a tariff works. If you want to be confused, then you need to have never taken an economics class, and look at this graph:

(src)

So let's undo that confusion.

The simplest examples are raw or basic materials such as steel, cotton, or wine.

First, without tariffs:

Let us say that Country A and Country B both produce steel, and it is of similar quality, and in both cases cost $100 per unit. Transportation from one country to the other is $50/unit, so you can either buy domestically for $100, or internationally for $150. So you buy domestically.

Now, Country B discovers a new place to mine iron very easily, and so their cost for steel drops to $60/unit due to increased ease of access. Country A can either purchase domestically for $100, or internationally for $110 (incl. shipping), which is much more even. Still, it is more cost-effective to purchase domestically, and so Country A isn't worried.

Transportation technology is improved, dropping the shipping costs to $30/unit. A person from Country A can buy: Domestic: $100 International: $60+$30 = $90 Purchasing steel from Country B is now cheaper than purchasing it from Country A, regardless of where you live.

Citizens in Country A, in order to reduce costs for domestic construction, begin to purchase their steel from Country B. As a result, money flows from Country A to B, and the domestic steel industry in Country A begins to feel the strain as demand dwindles.

In this scenario, with no tariffs, Country A begins to rely on B for their steel, which causes a loss of jobs (steelworkers, miners), loss of infrastructure (closing of mines and factories), and an outflow of funds to another country. As a result, Country A sees itself as losing money to B, while also growing increasingly reliant on their trading partner for the crucial good that is steel. If something happens to drive up the price of B's steel again, like political upheaval or a natural disaster, it will be difficult to quickly ramp up the production of steel in Country A's domestic facilities again.

What if a tariff is introduced early?

Alternately, the dropping of complete costs for purchase of steel from Country B could be counteracted with tariffs. Let's say we do a 25% tariff on that steel. This tariff is placed on the value of the steel, not the end cost, so:

$60 + (0.25 x $60) + $30 = $105/unit

Suddenly, with the implementation of a 25% tariff on steel from Country B, the domestic market is once again competitive. People can still buy from Country B if they would like, but Country A is less worried about the potential impacts to the domestic market.

The above example is done in regards to a mature market that has not yet begun to dwindle. The infrastructure and labor is still present, and is being preemptively protected against possible loss of industry to purchasing abroad.

What happens if the tariff is not implemented until after the market has dwindled?

Let's say that the domestic market was not protected by the tariff until several decades on. Country A's domestic production, in response to increased purchasing from abroad, has dwindled to one third of what it was before the change in pricing incentivized purchase from B. Prices have, for the sake of keeping this example simple, remained at $100(A) and $60(B) in that time. However, transportation has likely become better, so transportation is down to $20, meaning that total cost for steel from B is $80, accelerating the turn from domestic steel to international.

So, what happens if you suddenly implement a tariff on international steel? Shall we say, 40%?

$60 + (0.4 x 60) + 20 = $104

It's more expensive to order from abroad! Wow! Let's purchase domestically instead, because these prices add up!

But the production is only a third of what it used to be, and domestic mines and factories for refining the iron into steel can't keep up. They're scaling, sure, but that takes time. Because demand is suddenly triple of the supply, the cost skyrockets, and so steel in Country A is now $150/unit! The price will hopefully come down eventually, as factories and mines get back in gear, but will the people setting prices let that happen?

So industries that have begun to rely on international steel, which had come to $80/unit prior to the tariff, are facing the sudden impact of a cost increase of at least $25/unit (B with tariff) or the demand-driven price increase of domestic (nearly double the pre-tariff cost of steel from B), which is an increase of at least 30% what they were paying prior to the tariff.

There are possible other aspects here, such as government subsidies to buoy the domestic steel industry until it catches back up, or possibly Country B eating some of the costs so that people still buy from them (selling for $50 instead of $60 to mitigate some of the price hike, and maintain a loyal customer base), but that's not a direct impact of the tariff.

Who pays for tariffs?

Ultimately, this is a tax on a product (as opposed to a tax on profits or capital themselves, which has other effects), which means the majority of the cost is passed on directly to the consume.

As I said, we could see the producers in Country B cut their costs a little bit to maintain a loyal customer base, but depending on their trade relationships with other countries, they are just as likely to stop trading with Country A altogether in order to focus on more profitable markets.

So why do not put tariffs on everything?

Well... for that, we get into the question of production efficiency, or in this case, comparative advantage.

Let's say we have two small, neighboring countries, C and D, that have negligible transportation costs and similar industries. Both have extensive farmland, and both have a history of growing grapes for wine, and goats for wool. Country C is a little further north than D, so it has more rocky grasses that are good for goats, while D has more fertile plains that are good for growing grapes.

Let's say that they have an equal workforce of 500,000 of people. I'm going to say that 10,000 people working full time for a year is 1 unit of labor. So, Country C and Country D have between the 100 units of labor, and 50 each.

The cost of 1 unit of wool = the cost of 1 unit of wine

Country C, having better land for goats, can produce 4 units of wool for every unit of labor, and 2 units of wine for every unit of labor.

Meanwhile, Country D, having better land for grapes, can produce 2 units of wool per unit of labor, and 4 units of wine per unit of labor.

If they each devote exactly half their workforce to each product, then:

Country C: 100 units of wool, 50 units of wine Country D: 50 units of wool, 100 units of wine

Totaling 150 units of each product.

However, if each devotes all of their workforce to the product they're better at...

Country C: 200 units of wool, no wine Country D: no wool, 200 units of wine

and when they trade with each other, they each end up with 100 units of each product, which is a doubling of what their less-efficient labor would have resulted in!

The real world is obviously much more complicated, but in this example, we can see the pros of outsourcing some of your production to another country to focus on your own specialties.

Extreme examples of this IRL are countries where most of the economy rests on one product, such as middle-eastern petro-states that are now struggling to diversify their economies in order to not get left behind in the transition to green energy, or Taiwan's role as the world's primary producer of semiconductors being its 'silicon shield' against China.

Comparative advantage can be used well, such as our Unnamed Countries (that are definitely not the classic example of England and Portugal, with goats instead of sheep) up in the example. With each economy focusing on its specialty, there is a greater yield of both products, meaning a greater bounty for both countries.

However, should something happen to Country C up there, like an earthquake that kills half the goats, they are suddenly left with barely enough wool to clothe themselves, and nothing for Country D, which now has a surplus of wine and no wool.

So you do have to keep some domestic industry, because Bad Things Can Happen. And if we want to avoid the steel example of a collapse in the given industry, tariffs might be needed.

Are export tariffs a thing?

Yes, but they are much rarer, and can largely be defined as "oh my god, everyone please stop getting rid of this really important resource by selling it to foreigners for a big buck, we are depleting this crucial resource."

So what's the big confusion right now?

Donald Trump has, on a number of occasions, talked about 'making China pay' tariffs on the goods they import into the US. This has led to a belief that is not entirely unreasonable, that China would be the side paying the tariffs.

The view this statement engenders is that a tariff is a bit like paying a rental fee for a seller's table at an event: the producer or merchant pays the host (or landlord or what have you) a fee to sell their product on the premises. This could be a farmer's market, a renaissance faire, a comic book convention, whatever. If you want to sell at the event, you have to pay a fee to get a space to set up your table.

In the eyes of the people who listened to Trump, the tariff is that fee. China is paying the United States for access to the market.

And, technically, that's not entirely wrong. China is thus paying to enter the US market. It's just the money to pay that fee needs to come from somewhere, and like most taxes on goods, that fee comes from the consumer.

So... what now?

Well, a lot of smaller US companies that rely on cheap goods made in China are buying up non-perishables while they can, before the tariffs hit. Long-term, manufacturers in the US that rely on parts and tools manufactured in China are going to feel the squeeze once that frontloaded stock is depleted.

Some companies are large enough to take the hit on their own end, still selling at cheap rates to the consumer, because they can offset those costs with other parts of their empire... at least until smaller competitors are driven out of business, at which point they can start jacking up their prices since there are no options left. You may look at that and think, "huh, isn't that the modus operandi for Walmart and Amazon already?" and yes. It is. We are very much anticipating a 'rich get richer, poor go out of business' situation with these tariffs.

The tariffs will also impact larger companies, including non-US ones like Zara (Spanish) and H&M (Swedish), if they have a huge reliance on Chinese production to supply their huge market in the United States.

If you're interested in the repercussions that people expect from these proposed tariffs on Chinese goods, I'd suggest listening to or watching the November 8th, 2024 episode of Morning Brew Daily (I linked to YouTube, but it's also available on Spotify, Nebula, the Morning Brew website, and other podcast platforms).

[mostlysignssomeportents]

What kind of bubble is AI?

My latest column for Locus Magazine is "What Kind of Bubble is AI?" All economic bubbles are hugely destructive, but some of them leave behind wreckage that can be salvaged for useful purposes, while others leave nothing behind but ashes:

https://locusmag.com/2023/12/commentary-cory-doctorow-what-kind-of-bubble-is-ai/

Think about some 21st century bubbles. The dotcom bubble was a terrible tragedy, one that drained the coffers of pension funds and other institutional investors and wiped out retail investors who were gulled by Superbowl Ads. But there was a lot left behind after the dotcoms were wiped out: cheap servers, office furniture and space, but far more importantly, a generation of young people who'd been trained as web makers, leaving nontechnical degree programs to learn HTML, perl and python. This created a whole cohort of technologists from non-technical backgrounds, a first in technological history. Many of these people became the vanguard of a more inclusive and humane tech development movement, and they were able to make interesting and useful services and products in an environment where raw materials – compute, bandwidth, space and talent – were available at firesale prices.

Contrast this with the crypto bubble. It, too, destroyed the fortunes of institutional and individual investors through fraud and Superbowl Ads. It, too, lured in nontechnical people to learn esoteric disciplines at investor expense. But apart from a smattering of Rust programmers, the main residue of crypto is bad digital art and worse Austrian economics.

Or think of Worldcom vs Enron. Both bubbles were built on pure fraud, but Enron's fraud left nothing behind but a string of suspicious deaths. By contrast, Worldcom's fraud was a Big Store con that required laying a ton of fiber that is still in the ground to this day, and is being bought and used at pennies on the dollar.

AI is definitely a bubble. As I write in the column, if you fly into SFO and rent a car and drive north to San Francisco or south to Silicon Valley, every single billboard is advertising an "AI" startup, many of which are not even using anything that can be remotely characterized as AI. That's amazing, considering what a meaningless buzzword AI already is.

So which kind of bubble is AI? When it pops, will something useful be left behind, or will it go away altogether? To be sure, there's a legion of technologists who are learning Tensorflow and Pytorch. These nominally open source tools are bound, respectively, to Google and Facebook's AI environments:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/18/openwashing/#you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means

But if those environments go away, those programming skills become a lot less useful. Live, large-scale Big Tech AI projects are shockingly expensive to run. Some of their costs are fixed – collecting, labeling and processing training data – but the running costs for each query are prodigious. There's a massive primary energy bill for the servers, a nearly as large energy bill for the chillers, and a titanic wage bill for the specialized technical staff involved.

Once investor subsidies dry up, will the real-world, non-hyperbolic applications for AI be enough to cover these running costs? AI applications can be plotted on a 2X2 grid whose axes are "value" (how much customers will pay for them) and "risk tolerance" (how perfect the product needs to be).

Charging teenaged D&D players $10 month for an image generator that creates epic illustrations of their characters fighting monsters is low value and very risk tolerant (teenagers aren't overly worried about six-fingered swordspeople with three pupils in each eye). Charging scammy spamfarms $500/month for a text generator that spits out dull, search-algorithm-pleasing narratives to appear over recipes is likewise low-value and highly risk tolerant (your customer doesn't care if the text is nonsense). Charging visually impaired people $100 month for an app that plays a text-to-speech description of anything they point their cameras at is low-value and moderately risk tolerant ("that's your blue shirt" when it's green is not a big deal, while "the street is safe to cross" when it's not is a much bigger one).

Morganstanley doesn't talk about the trillions the AI industry will be worth some day because of these applications. These are just spinoffs from the main event, a collection of extremely high-value applications. Think of self-driving cars or radiology bots that analyze chest x-rays and characterize masses as cancerous or noncancerous.

These are high value – but only if they are also risk-tolerant. The pitch for self-driving cars is "fire most drivers and replace them with 'humans in the loop' who intervene at critical junctures." That's the risk-tolerant version of self-driving cars, and it's a failure. More than $100b has been incinerated chasing self-driving cars, and cars are nowhere near driving themselves:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/09/herbies-revenge/#100-billion-here-100-billion-there-pretty-soon-youre-talking-real-money

Quite the reverse, in fact. Cruise was just forced to quit the field after one of their cars maimed a woman – a pedestrian who had not opted into being part of a high-risk AI experiment – and dragged her body 20 feet through the streets of San Francisco. Afterwards, it emerged that Cruise had replaced the single low-waged driver who would normally be paid to operate a taxi with 1.5 high-waged skilled technicians who remotely oversaw each of its vehicles:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/03/technology/cruise-general-motors-self-driving-cars.html

The self-driving pitch isn't that your car will correct your own human errors (like an alarm that sounds when you activate your turn signal while someone is in your blind-spot). Self-driving isn't about using automation to augment human skill – it's about replacing humans. There's no business case for spending hundreds of billions on better safety systems for cars (there's a human case for it, though!). The only way the price-tag justifies itself is if paid drivers can be fired and replaced with software that costs less than their wages.

What about radiologists? Radiologists certainly make mistakes from time to time, and if there's a computer vision system that makes different mistakes than the sort that humans make, they could be a cheap way of generating second opinions that trigger re-examination by a human radiologist. But no AI investor thinks their return will come from selling hospitals that reduce the number of X-rays each radiologist processes every day, as a second-opinion-generating system would. Rather, the value of AI radiologists comes from firing most of your human radiologists and replacing them with software whose judgments are cursorily double-checked by a human whose "automation blindness" will turn them into an OK-button-mashing automaton:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/23/automation-blindness/#humans-in-the-loop

The profit-generating pitch for high-value AI applications lies in creating "reverse centaurs": humans who serve as appendages for automation that operates at a speed and scale that is unrelated to the capacity or needs of the worker:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/04/17/revenge-of-the-chickenized-reverse-centaurs/

But unless these high-value applications are intrinsically risk-tolerant, they are poor candidates for automation. Cruise was able to nonconsensually enlist the population of San Francisco in an experimental murderbot development program thanks to the vast sums of money sloshing around the industry. Some of this money funds the inevitabilist narrative that self-driving cars are coming, it's only a matter of when, not if, and so SF had better get in the autonomous vehicle or get run over by the forces of history.

Once the bubble pops (all bubbles pop), AI applications will have to rise or fall on their actual merits, not their promise. The odds are stacked against the long-term survival of high-value, risk-intolerant AI applications.

The problem for AI is that while there are a lot of risk-tolerant applications, they're almost all low-value; while nearly all the high-value applications are risk-intolerant. Once AI has to be profitable – once investors withdraw their subsidies from money-losing ventures – the risk-tolerant applications need to be sufficient to run those tremendously expensive servers in those brutally expensive data-centers tended by exceptionally expensive technical workers.

If they aren't, then the business case for running those servers goes away, and so do the servers – and so do all those risk-tolerant, low-value applications. It doesn't matter if helping blind people make sense of their surroundings is socially beneficial. It doesn't matter if teenaged gamers love their epic character art. It doesn't even matter how horny scammers are for generating AI nonsense SEO websites:

https://twitter.com/jakezward/status/1728032634037567509

These applications are all riding on the coattails of the big AI models that are being built and operated at a loss in order to be profitable. If they remain unprofitable long enough, the private sector will no longer pay to operate them.

Now, there are smaller models, models that stand alone and run on commodity hardware. These would persist even after the AI bubble bursts, because most of their costs are setup costs that have already been borne by the well-funded companies who created them. These models are limited, of course, though the communities that have formed around them have pushed those limits in surprising ways, far beyond their original manufacturers' beliefs about their capacity. These communities will continue to push those limits for as long as they find the models useful.

These standalone, "toy" models are derived from the big models, though. When the AI bubble bursts and the private sector no longer subsidizes mass-scale model creation, it will cease to spin out more sophisticated models that run on commodity hardware (it's possible that Federated learning and other techniques for spreading out the work of making large-scale models will fill the gap).

So what kind of bubble is the AI bubble? What will we salvage from its wreckage? Perhaps the communities who've invested in becoming experts in Pytorch and Tensorflow will wrestle them away from their corporate masters and make them generally useful. Certainly, a lot of people will have gained skills in applying statistical techniques.

But there will also be a lot of unsalvageable wreckage. As big AI models get integrated into the processes of the productive economy, AI becomes a source of systemic risk. The only thing worse than having an automated process that is rendered dangerous or erratic based on AI integration is to have that process fail entirely because the AI suddenly disappeared, a collapse that is too precipitous for former AI customers to engineer a soft landing for their systems.

This is a blind spot in our policymakers debates about AI. The smart policymakers are asking questions about fairness, algorithmic bias, and fraud. The foolish policymakers are ensnared in fantasies about "AI safety," AKA "Will the chatbot become a superintelligence that turns the whole human race into paperclips?"

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/27/10-types-of-people/#taking-up-a-lot-of-space

But no one is asking, "What will we do if" – when – "the AI bubble pops and most of this stuff disappears overnight?"

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/2023/12/19/bubblenomics/#pop

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

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[costitright]

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