#the globe of 8 billion people

[ryukisgod]

@starlight-to-midnight

When you ask a Trans Rights Activist for a crumb of sourcing

[skippersthecat]

I wonder how many espers there are in Saiki's universe. There are at least 3 in Japan that we know of, so there must be others in the rest of the world.

The population of Japan is 125.7 million, making the ratio of espers to non-espers at least 3/125,700,000 if abilities are evenly distributed across the globe.

That means of 8 billion people, there are at least 191 espers. So maybe Saiki is not as alone as he thinks.

[scotianostra]

On 9th November 1769 The Fenwick Weaver’s Co-operative Society, the worlds first co-operative association, was founded.

In the Anglocentric education system that most of us older Scots grew up with we were told that the Yorkshire town of Rochdale were first to have a Co-op, this was in 1844. The truth of the matter is that The Fenwick Weavers' Society is considered to be the earliest known co-operative in the world for which full records exist about 75 years before the English claim.

The cooperative movement was born over 250 years ago in a barely-furnished cottage in the East Ayrshire village, when local weavers manhandled a sack of oatmeal into John Walker's whitewashed front room and began selling the contents at a discount.

In Yorkshire a sign on the railway bridge above the A664 leading into the town from the M62 states: "Rochdale: birthplace of cooperation", while the council's website describes the town as the "home of the worldwide cooperative movement", so I made a wee meme gif with the Still Game Neds to put hings right.

The Fenwick societies foundations started 8 years before when on 14th March 1761, 16 weavers met together in Fenwick Church to sign the foundation charter of the Fenwick Weavers’ Society. By signing the document, they agreed to its terms and conditions. These included ‘being honest and faithful to one another’ and to their employers, making 'good sufficient’ work, and setting prices that were 'neither higher nor lower … than are accustomed in the towns and parishes of the neighbourhood’.

The society members promised to pay an admission fee of two shillings and sixpence which was to be used for the good of the Society. Regular contributions to the poor fund were made from these shared investments. As well as offering mutual support to its members, the society aimed to bring benefit to the wider community.

On 9th November 1769, the society agreed that its funds should be used to buy, 'victuals’, or food, in bulk to be sold to members and non-members at a good price. In addition, members enjoyed the privilege of up to four weeks’ credit.

The society funds were also used to buy books and, in 1808, the members established a library for the local community. In the society records, there is also evidence of a form of 'credit union’, or community-based bank organised on co-operative principles. People could borrow money from the communal funds at a fixed rate of interest.

Sadly handloom weaving could not resist the advance of the factories and, in 1873, with only three members left, they wound up the Society. However, their memory lives on, both in the descendants of the Weavers now all over the globe, and also in our great world-wide Co-operative Movement with almost a billion co-operators affiliated to the International Co-operative Alliance.

The Society was reconvened in March 2008 and has been reconstituted as a co-operative, in legal form as an industrial and provident society, in order to record, collect and commemorate the heritage of the Fenwick Weavers.

The image with the transcript was the initial meeting from March 1761 you can read it in full at the link here https://www.nls.uk/learning-zone/politics-and-society/labour-history/fenwick-weavers/

[gaslightgatekeepgirlbosscombat]

Group F, Round 1, Poll 8:

Propaganda under the cut

Lady Shiva / Sandra Wu San

One of the top martial artists and swordswomen in the world. Travels the globe working for various people depending on how much enjoyment she can get from the job. Very morally grey. Looks for opponents she thinks can best her but still delights when she wins. Doesn’t take on protégés herself but recommends them receive training from others. Doesn’t kill people she finds interesting.

Sophie Devereaux

shes a professional grifter she literally gaslight gatekeep girlbosses her way into billions of dollars over the course of the show + has stashes of art and artifacts hidden around the world that she used that skillset to get prior to the events of the show

[gobblinhours]

helping me through this is thinking about how many people who voted for trump are going to have to deal with the consequences of their decisions. they're gonna be kneecapped and complaining about how it came out of nowhere but deep down they know that they caused this.

but i even more want the people who were smart enough to vote for the common good to live in a world where america hasn't rapidly been getting worse and worse since 2016. i want to live in a world where laws that protect the environment and minorities and low earners and our rights can be passed without having to claw and scratch for it the entire way, and to be spared from what we have allowed in.

i want to live in a world where the system has been purged of partisan politics where elected officials vote along party lines rather than what would be best. I want to live in a world where voting third-party is valid because there's not a looming threat on the horizon. i want to live in a world where people can say that they're voting for someone else because that someone else has a chance. i want to live in a world where instead of slinging mud at eachother electoral candidates treat their opponents with respect. I want to live in a world where the government doesn't let billionaires and the bible tell them what to do and only does things that would be for the good of the people, not what would line pockets or be in line with a 2000-year old book. i want to live in a world where the government cracks down on fascist rhetoric and bigots in positions of power. i want to live in a world where people can go to bed and not be worried about tomorrow. i want to live in a world where we can help and protect what we love. i want to live in a world where hope drives instead of hate. i want to live in a world where people can be who they want. i want to live in a world of international and cultural union. i want to live in a world where the earth can heal. i want to live in a world where billionaires pay their fair share. i want to live in a world where no one has to live in a state of poverty. i want to live in a world where everyone has access to an education and housing and healthcare and anything they might need. i want to live in the world republicans said they would bring before they went full mask-off. i want to live in the world the democrats are telling us they will bring. i want to live in a world where the international community has a backbone and shuts down attacks on others. i want to live in a world where genocide is a grim warning from the past and not something people have to live through. i want to live in a world where everyone has a chance to do what they want and what they love. i want to live in a world where if someone tries to undermine and corrupt the system they are stopped before anything happens. i want to live in a world where money is taken out of politics and the people choose, not corporations. i want to live in a world with clear water and fresh air and snow every winter. i want us to unite across the globe and into the stars. i want a world where those with different skin or different sexes or different bodies or different brains are accommodated because there's 8 billion of us on this planet and we're far past the point where homophobia has any possible minute semblance of logic to it, much less racism sexism and transphobia. i want to live in a world where life of all kinds can thrive in all ways. i want to live in a world where people want to work for the common good and the only differences are in how they want to go about it. i want to live in a world people don't want power for power's sake and don't punch down at every opportunity. i want a world where we can trust our elected officials to do what is right and not have to hope that it won't be blocked at any point. i want to live in a world where everyone has a voice. i want to live in a world where compromises can be made. i want to live in a world where i can't keep thinking of wants. i want to live in a world where people can love who they want. i want to live in a world where all those morally righteous people put their money where their mouths are and actually work to make the world better instead of making perfect the enemy of good. i want to live in a world where people can do the jobs they enjoy. i want to live in a world where people can do what they love. i want to live in a world where transparency and honesty are how we are spoken to and how we speak to others. i want to live in a world where we can grow and evolve and heal and help and advance and love. i want elections to be as stressful as a typical sports game, where everyone hopes that their candidate wins but takes comfort in knowing that their opponent's hands are safe.

i want to live in a world where laws are passed to protect and aid, not to harm and bind. i want to live in a world where war is a thing of the past. i want to live in a world where we can come to a peaceful agreement. i want to live in a world where terrorism is a thing of the past because the world is so good that we don't need to change our path. i want to live in a world where everyone is educated and thinking about their decisions and how they would impact themselves and others. i want to live in a world where everyone is educated and happy and free. i want to live in a world where everyone is free from all. i want to live in a world where people can do what they want, and if they can't, then it's not forever. i want the 12-year nightmare to end and just be a story on how things could be worse and we need to all do our part, to all help everyone we share this planet with, to ensure that it won't happen again. that empathy and compassion won't be undermined and torn apart by bigotry and hate. i want to live in a world where we're as far away from this as we are from WWII, far in the background, but still close enough that we know. that we know that it happened. that we know that it hurt. that we know that we have to do better, that we can never go back to that.

i want all of these things and more.

[aceofspades4]

Humanity is so big it’s insane. Like 8 billion people, 8 billion on our planet. And it’s like, with that many people, how can we ever truly know we experience the same things? Has anyone else taken a walk in the morning light with dew on the grass, enjoying the quiet yet loud woods? Has anyone else sat on the porch and watch the sun come up and think “this is what life is”? Has anyone else imagined what it would be like to be someone else? Has anyone stared up at their ceiling and listened to a song with the quiet feeling of melancholy? Am I alone? Do I share this with a stranger across the globe? We have 8 billion people and so many languages, cultures, ideas, identities, bodies, ways to cook, ways to say “I love you”, ways to play a game, ways to make a house, ways to make a toys. We have 8 billion people and we all cry. We all laugh, sing, love, feel bad for the worm on the sidewalk, wrinkle our nose at a bad smell, smile at babies and children, comfort those who need it, make sure the ones we know are safe. “Do you know I am here for you? Do you know I pick up your traits and they will stay a part of me even if you don’t? Do you know I love you?” There’s 8 billion people and we’re all humans. Why would anyone want to destroy someone else? Why is hatred so common when we all are human? Why can’t they sit back and think about how crazy it is that we’re on this planet together, a space rock hurling through space that we play on together. I want to sit in a field and watch life pass me by as I chat with people I don’t know, learn their languages and how to play their games. I want to sit back and watch someone dance because they love the feeling, sing because they enjoy how it makes them feel. I want to sit back and be a human, not a robot or a machine or a cog in something I don’t like. I want to love and live.

[healthyworldera]

8 Side effects of using earphones for a long time:

Technology is shaping our world, connecting humanity, driving progress, and innovation, and offering advancement. But technology also comes with its cons. Earphones are one of the most used technology nowadays. However, people are unaware of the side effects of using earphones for a long time.

It has been estimated by the World Health Organization(WHO), that around a billion young people across the globe could be at the risk of hearing loss due to unhealthy listening habits.

Excess use of earphones can cause serious health issues like hearing loss, ear infections, brain damage, hyperacusis, etc. Read More.

[mariacallous]

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday called for House Republicans to get behind a supplemental spending bill that would send $60 billion to Ukraine for its fight against Russia. He warned that opposing it would play into “Putin’s hands.”

“Supporting this bill is standing up to Putin, Opposing it is playing into Putin’s hands,” Biden said. “History is watching.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad.

The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, using the final hours of debate to argue that the U.S. should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. But 22 Republicans voted with nearly all Democrats to pass the package 70-29, with supporters arguing that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and threaten national security across the globe.

“With this bill, the Senate declares that American leadership will not waver, will not falter, will not fail,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who worked closely with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on the legislation.

The bill’s passage through the Senate with a flourish of GOP support was a welcome sign for Ukraine amid critical shortages on the battlefield.

Yet the package faces a deeply uncertain future in the House, where hardline Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump — the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, and a critic of support for Ukraine — oppose the legislation.

Speaker Mike Johnson cast new doubt on the package in a statement Monday evening, making clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to President Joe Biden’s desk — if at all.

Biden in a statement urged the House to urgently act: “We cannot afford to wait any longer. The costs of inaction are rising every day, especially in Ukraine.”

“Already, we are seeing reports of Ukrainian troops running out of ammunition on the front lines as Russian forces continue to attack and Putin continues to dream of subjugating the Ukrainian people,” the president said.

Schumer said the strong bipartisan support should pressure Johnson to advance the bill. McConnell has made Ukraine his top priority in recent months, and was resolute in the face of considerable pushback from his own GOP conference.

Speaking directly to his detractors, the longtime Republican leader said in a statement, “History settles every account. And today, on the value of American leadership and strength, history will record that the Senate did not blink.”

Dollars provided by the legislation would purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say are desperately needed as Russia batters the country. It also includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance.

“For us in Ukraine, continued US assistance helps to save human lives from Russian terror,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media. “It means that life will continue in our cities and will triumph over war.”

In addition, the legislation would provide $14 billion for Israel’s war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.1 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza and the West Bank, Ukraine, and other populations caught in conflict zones across the globe.

Progressive lawmakers have objected to sending offensive weaponry to Israel, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent of Vermont, as well as two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, voted against it.

“I cannot in good conscience support sending billions of additional taxpayer dollars for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s military campaign in Gaza,” Welch said. “It’s a campaign that has killed and wounded a shocking number of civilians. It’s created a massive humanitarian crisis.”

The bill’s passage followed almost five months of torturous negotiations over an expansive bill that would have paired the foreign aid with an overhaul of border and asylum policies. Republicans demanded the trade-off, saying the surge of migration into the United States had to be addressed alongside the security of allies.

But a bipartisan deal on border security fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. Republicans declared the bill insufficient and blocked it on the Senate floor.

After the deal collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone — as Democrats had originally intended.

While the slimmed-down foreign aid bill eventually won a healthy showing of GOP support, several Republicans who had previously expressed support for Ukraine voted against it. The episode further exposed divisions in the party, made more public as Trump dug in and a handful of lawmakers openly called for McConnell to step down.

Sen. J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican, argued that the U.S. should step back from the conflict and help broker an end to it with Russia’s Putin. He questioned the wisdom of continuing to fuel Ukraine’s defense when Putin appears committed to fighting for years.

“I think it deals with the reality that we’re living in, which is they’re a more powerful country, and it’s their region of the world,” he said.

Vance, along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and other opponents, spent several hours on the floor railing against the aid and complaining about Senate process. They dug in their heels to delay a final vote, speaking on the floor until daybreak.

Supporters of the aid pushed back, warning that bowing to Russia would be a historic mistake with devastating consequences. They pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict — a commitment that Trump has called into question as he seeks another term in the White House.

In the House, many Republicans have opposed the aid and are unlikely to cross Trump, but some key GOP lawmakers have signaled they will push to get it passed.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, traveled to Ukraine last week with a bipartisan delegation and met with Zelenskyy. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that “I reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”

But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position. A majority of his conference opposes the aid, and he is trying to lead the narrowest of majorities and avoid the fate of his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted in October.

Johnson, R-La., said in a statement Monday that because the foreign aid package lacks border security provisions, it is “silent on the most pressing issue facing our country.” It was the latest — and potentially most consequential — sign of opposition to the Ukraine aid from House GOP leadership, who had rejected the bipartisan border compromise as a “non-starter,” contributing to its rapid demise.

“Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters,” Johnson said. “America deserves better than the Senate’s status quo.”

The Republican speaker has repeatedly pointed to a sweeping set of hardline immigration measures passed by the House last year. But that legislation has gained no Democratic support — essentially dooming it in the politically-split Congress.

Schumer at a news conference called on Johnson to put the foreign aid package on the House floor, saying it would pass with “strong bipartisan support.”

[rawralittlerawr]

Read the first three Episodes for FREE!

Episode. 15 - “The Monster in the Mirror” is live on Kindle Vella and Episode 16 - “ ? ” is on the way!

In Episode 15 - Surprise! Readers will be reunited with a character in Jericho that hasn’t been featured since very early in the story. But will it be a double feature? Stay tuned to find out.  

The Event: Season One of The Portal War

Science Fiction / Action and Adventure series with a little fantasy and romance sprinkled in

There is really only one thing anybody can say for sure, with certainty, ten days after the Original Event in Egypt: No matter what happens from here on out, whether the outcome is good or bad - nothing will ever be the same for the citizens of Jericho or the eight billion people who call Earth their home.

Strange things are happening in the small town of Jericho. When similar extraordinary reports start popping up all over the globe, a brilliant young geneticist is compelled to return to her hometown.

The Event: Season One of The Portal War

Serialized fiction on Kindle Vella.

Check out thousands of serialized stories, dished out in bite-sized chunks. Each Episode (chapter) is only 600(minimum) to 5,000(max) words, perfect for book lovers who lead busy lives.

Wondering what Kindle Vella is and how it works?

In a nutshell - Kindle Vella is a platform within the Kindle app and on the web (Amazon) to find and read Serialized Stories. Think of it as a digital library of books, novels, or series that are released a chapter at a time as "Episodes," that can be read on your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. Each Episode is the equivalent of a short chapter.

Or...And this is how I prefer to think of it, how I explain it to my friends who have never tried it before - I liken the Serialized Stories on Vella to their favorite TV shows, where new episodes are dropped in chunks, or perhaps weekly, and those Episodes make up a season. Vella's Serialized Stories are a similar concept.

AND...you can read the first three Episodes of EVERY story for FREE to see if it's a good fit. Kind of like how you watch a trailer for an upcoming movie or a teaser for the next season of a show, to see if it's something that might interest you before investing your time in it.

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*New readers are automatically offered a bundle of 200 tokens for free* that you can use up before purchasing more. And there are various token bundles to choose from, starting at only $1.99.

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Join me on Kindle Vella and discover a different (and sometimes addicting) way to read. And find your next amazing book or series today!

[beardedmrbean]

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu rejected a City Council proposal that would have cut funding for the city's police department and veteran services.

"Our budget must be responsive to the needs of our constituents, fiscally responsible, and built on a foundation of effective delivery of City services that are central to our residents’ quality of life," Wu said in a letter to members of the Boston City Council on Friday, according to a report from the Boston Globe.

The Democrat mayor's letter comes after the council approved a $4.2 billion operating budget for the city that would have reduced funding for the Boston Police Department by $31 million and $900,000 in cuts to veteran services. Along with the proposed cuts were an $8 million increase funding for participatory budgeting, a city process that allows for more engagement on how tax dollars are spent by Boston residents.

The figures came in vastly different from Wu's proposed budget, which only included $2 million for the participatory budget process. In her letter to members, the mayor said the council's proposed cuts to the police budget "are illusory, as the City is obligated to cover salary and overtime expenses incurred by the department."

The veto means the budget will now be sent back to the council where it will need two-thirds of the members to override Wu. With 12 members serving on the council, that would mean eight members would have to vote to override the veto. Seven of the 12 members voted to approve the proposal sent to Wu.

Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, chair of the city's Ways and Means Committee, told the Boston Globe on Friday that the council's proposed cuts would not have led to any city employees losing their jobs, instead arguing that her analysis found the Boston Police Department could have close to $25 million in extra funds next year.

Fernandes Anderson also blasted the Wu administration for not providing more transparency, saying the "administration does not work well with the council."

But Fernandes Anderson, who has a son who serves in the Marines, expressed regret about the proposed cuts to veteran services, noting that funding would not have been affected because the proposed cuts were a line item that was eligible to be reimbursed by the state.

"I want to extend my apology, I don’t want to send that message," she said.

Fernandes Anderson's office did not immediately respond to a Fox News request for comment.

Wu's veto was also criticized by the Better Budget Alliance, a group that has advocated for more participatory budgeting.

"It is unacceptable that Mayor Wu vetoed a higher $10 million [allotment] for participatory budgeting and used false criticisms to undo the council’s critical investments in Boston’s underfunded working class, BIPOC communities," the alliance said in a statement, adding that Wu "has chosen to protect unused police funds and excessive overtime in the bloated BPD budget instead of funding real community investments."

The decision to veto the proposal was praised by the head of the city’s largest police union.

"Undoubtedly, we’re grateful the mayor saw fit to reject the council’s misguided efforts to dramatically and disproportionately impact the BPD budget, and, by extension, the department’s ability to effectively protect and serve the people of Boston," Larry Calderone, the president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, said in a statement, according to the Boston Globe.

The mayor's office did not immediately respond to a Fox News request for comment.

[filmsfromreel]

Wizarding World Universe Ranked Worst to Best

You can listen to our discussion this list on our podcast, available here.

With the release of Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore we thought it would be a good idea to revisit all the films that have come from the Wizarding World Universe. All the way back to 2001 from the franchise's start with Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone to the prequel films we’ve seen in the past few years, the franchise has made billions worldwide and become one of the most beloved franchises of all time. But, with a total of 11 films to its name, just how good are the individual instalments?

11. Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018)

Elements of the second Fantastic Beasts film worked but overall it was a static and oddly paced film that struggled to find its personality. Whatever the first film had done to create a slicker, more adventurous look into the wizarding world felt low on the agenda as Crimes of Grindelwald struggled to find wonder, instead opting for choppy sequences and lengthy scenes of dialogue that aim to shock and allure but merely bore.

One aspect that the Fantastic Beast films have achieved is the interesting exploration of different wizarding eco-systems across the globe, more specifically the fantastical elements of a magical Paris are the highlight of this particular film - it’s just unfortunate that the exploration becomes bogged down by everything else around it. While David Yates could probably recreate the tone of the universe in his sleep by now, Crimes of Grindelwald suffers more from its dodgy pacing and lacklustre story which often leave the final product devoid of anything magical.

10. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them (2016)

Like with most successful franchises Warner Bros. maintained a ‘never say never’ attitude towards the Wizarding World which meant an obvious rehash was inevitable. There was no doubt that something new was going to come after the behemoth franchise made such a stamp on popular culture and it was a nice surprise to see a film that maybe didn’t blow people away, but gave enough entertainment to merit its existence. 

The film comfortably paddles in the shallow end without ever really taking a dive into something deeper, the world it is building expands on a world that people know and love and much like the title suggests, explores the interesting creatures in the hopes of finding commerciality. With it mostly being set in New York, the Americanisation of such a British product was jarring but as stated earlier, it was just exploring something new while never daring to go too far. It was a well balanced welcome back into the world, albeit a safe one. 

9. Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)

The newest film to the franchise, Secrets of Dumbledore is by no means perfect. What it does do however, is understand where to grow and how to maintain consistent levels of entertainment. It expands the world into a more political landscape while never sacrificing the ingredients that make the world so entertaining. Arguably its biggest faults are its complete demotion of what seemed like an important story, as well as being unable to find the small moments of literal magic that made Harry Potter so great to watch as a younger viewer. 

Sometimes the film feels like it’s rushing through its story despite a runtime of 2 hours 20 minutes, but the reason it’s able to sit above its predecessors is its ability to interject a lot of scenes of fun in and around its more political backdrop. To add to that a new and improved Grindelwald in Mads Mikkelsen, what you have is a film that broadens its world without over stretching, while never forgetting to have a little fun.

8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

It may seem a little transparent to have all eight Harry Potter films in the final eight spots, but the truth is that the newest films struggle to match the originals in a lot of aspects. One is character, the source materials are able to ignite a connection to the characters on screen before the film has even come out and it’s hard to match something that has that advantage. While the characters of the film were well established and beloved in Order of the Phoenix, it’s the tone that makes it the weakest out of the Potter saga. 

When the franchise started it felt much more kid friendly, but as the stars got older and the stories demanded more maturity the films had to adjust. The third and fourth instalments are great examples of slow change, moulding to a new style each time but with Order of the Phoenix it felt too dark and gloomy to really capture any kind of magic or humour. That’s not to say it wasn’t an enjoyable film that honours its source material, as well as adding some great actors to it’s cast, but as the franchise slowly ascended to a darker tone and mood Order of the Phoenix felt a little too much. 

7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)

In the latter stages of the franchise when tone was fully established and it was all about story, the studio opted for the Part 1 and 2 split of the final book. While that allowed the final film to flourish, what happened to Part 1 was it became an overly stretched film fighting to justify its 2 hour 20 minute runtime. It was honest to the scenes that fans awaited and ended at a tear jerking part of the story, but long stretches in between felt endless and less than exciting. 

This film was always a precursor to the finale, with its intentions much more about establishing anticipation, as well as grabbing the money along the way, rather than being about creating a well balanced film. When the scenes of action do arise they are filled with popcorn entertainment of the highest order, but it is a shame it can’t find the same engagement in its connecting scenes, as well as giving us one of the most uncomfortable dance scenes you’ll see between Harry and Hermoine.   

6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

The sixth instalment to the franchise felt like one of the better films to come from the Potter series. It was entertaining, tonally consistent and managed to balance its humour and maturity well. Harry Potter has always been a family friendly franchise and Yates understood that Half-Blood Prince needed to feel lighter, while never allowing the more mature and character defining moments to suffer.

It sits pretty in the middle of the list because, although it’s a good Potter film, it’s not a great one. It doesn’t stick with you as much as the very best do and it does fall victim to some very stale dialogue that even the very best of British acting can’t salvage. However, Half-Blood Prince felt like it captured a tone that would be the benchmark going forward for the franchise. 

5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001)

The film that ignited the worldwide cinematic phenomenon, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was a joyous experience for younger ages that was able to capture the wonder of the wizarding world in a very warm way. This is partly because of Chris Columbus' direction, someone who’s experience directing child-driven stories was well established, who visualised the book with a wonderful insight which allowed the film to imprint on popular culture with instant impact. 

The first film is by no means perfect, with its three main stars still finding their feet as performers and the franchise still in its infancy, but it still opened up the Harry Potter world to those who hadn’t already experienced it from the books. If you go back now and watch the first film in the franchise you may not find the giddy immaturity or lighter approach as entertaining, but it will more than likely grasp at your nostalgia as you fondly remember where you were when you first experienced the charming world.

4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Stakes were high when Chamber of Secrets was released, it demanded a similarly lighter tone because of its characters' ages but also demanded a rougher exterior as its story and fantasy became bolder. This one is often regarded as a personal favourite for many people because of the time it was released, but also because it felt like the film in which everyone became sold on Harry Potter as a cinematic icon and not just a literary one. 

The performances from its younger actors felt more seasoned and the grizzlier plot points served as the foundations in which the rest of the franchise would follow, add to that a cast of adult actors all having copious amounts of fun with their roles and what you have is a sequel that surpasses its predecessor comfortably. The franchise was always going to be a goldmine, but Chamber of Secrets proved that the Harry Potter story stretched further than the title of a ‘kids film’. 

3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2004)

Arguably the instalment with the most popcorn entertainment, Goblet of Fire boasted a step away from the usual school life we had seen from the franchise and gave us a new branch of the world with the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Dragons, underwater creatures and a mystical maze were all a part of a film that felt more fun and also broadened in scale.

It was also the first time we got a taste of our main characters feeling the angst and romance of their youth, with Harry getting his first taste of attraction as well as Hermoine and Ron offsetting their awkward relationship. Like a lot of the Potter films, the runtime is a little bloated, but the reason this film is high on the list is its ability to further story and character while never lacking in blockbuster entertainment.  

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

You can have the smoothest take off of your life but the most crucial part of any franchise, or saga, is sticking the landing. With the split of the final story across two films the last one was able to really shine with epic proportions. Fans eagerly awaited to see the Battle of Hogwarts chapter be brought to life and the film delivered by making nearly the entire runtime dedicated to magical warfare. 

Like all the Potter films the final one isn’t without its hiccups but it manages to find pockets of heroism, humour and sadness amongst the chaos in order to give the multitude of characters their own sense of closure. Very often franchises feel scattered and incomplete but Deathly Hallows: Part 2 allowed Harry Potter to feel well-rounded, bringing the episodic films to one complete halt and giving the franchise some finality.

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2003)

The third instalment to the franchise excelled on multiple levels, as the cast were growing up and becoming adults the style and story had to feel akin to the people we were watching without ever losing the charm that the first two films had. What Prisoner of Azkaban had though was the classy touch of Alfonso Cuarón. A director that nervously approached the project, not being familiar with blockbuster filmmaking before this, and executed a film with a sense of personality that would also please the millions of fans waiting for it. 

In a list of Cuarón films ranked this wouldn’t sit too highly, but as a Potter film it surpasses all others in entertainment and precision. Its sense of humour felt maturer and its time hopping climax felt light, not getting bogged down in logic but instead rejoicing in the fun that can be had with such a plot. There is a reason that the worldwide phenomenon has captured so many hearts across the globe, and Prisoner of Azkaban feels like the poster child for everything that is great about the Harry Potter franchise. 

[theculturedmarxist]

Having read the below article in Scientific American, I have to confess it actually addresses many good points. It drives home the facts that endlessly growing consumption (capitalism, essentially) is unsustainable and a declining human population would help solve many of our greatest challenges.

It also goes on to note that we (read: our leadership and ourselves) have to get our shit together on a number of fronts, including putting human rights square in the center of the overall solution of reducing population growth, consumption, etc.

But here’s the problem: our world is run by a bunch of greedy, thoughtless wealthy elites who don’t see us as human, who don’t give the slightest fuck about us. The politicians are just puppets they manipulate.

We keep asking things like why has COVID been allowed to run rampant? While many of us have surmised the answer – the mass culling of us proles – here we have it now laid out in a major publication, in Scientific America. The authors don’t point fingers, but I’m happy to do so.

COVID was a gift to the Davos crowd (the billionaires, essentially). They’re perfectly aware of how dangerous SARS-CoV-2 is, and they’re also perfectly aware of how transmission can be prevented. And even those who aren’t in the Davos league but are rich enough know better send their kids to Davos-safe schools (e.g., Ashish Jha and Rochelle Walensky).

But the oligarchs tell us – the proles, the worker bees, the expendables – through their bought and paid for politicians and media outlets that it’s just a cold, just the flu, nothing to worry about! Masks are bad. Vax and relax! Or don’t vax at all. It’s all good. You do you!

Just like from the movie “They Live,” our purpose in life is to breed, to work, to consume, to enrich the billionaire class, and maybe create a few more Davos scions who are seen as sufficiently morally bankrupt as to be worthy of elevation.

“But how long can mass disablement and death go on before even the Davos elite are impacted?”

Good question. I don’t have a specific answer, but let’s consider: there are currently around 3,000 billionaires (depending on which source you read) in the entire world who’ve amassed over $12 TRILLION in wealth. And remember, that’s only what those 3,000 or so individuals have in their pockets, it says nothing about additional assets – and power – they may directly or indirectly control, including politicians across the globe.

That 3,000 works out to about 0.0000375% of the world’s population; I figure it’s likely more like 100 to 500 families, as some of the billionaires are in the same family groups. Even if you added in the 56 million or so millionaires globally, that’s only 0.7% or so of the population. And let’s face it: in the eyes of the billionaires, the millionaires are just higher-ranked proles, nothing more. Even our wealthiest politicians are nothing more than boot-licking kapos to the billionaires.

So, do you think the billionaires and their families NEED anywhere close to 8 billion people to build their yachts, service and fly their private jets, or – when the climate becomes so extreme we proles are dying by the millions – to raise their atmosphere-controlled gilded domes and ivory towers? Of course not. Somehow, I’m sure they’ll have the “human resources” they require.

I doubt the super wealthy want to live in cages, though, even gilded ones. They must realize how the endless human growth and consumption that has made them wealthy beyond dreams is also poisoning their world (yes, to them it’s “their” world, not ours). Granted, some won’t give a damn and want to do the ultimate YOLO in their own lifetimes. Others, like Musk, think they’ll find salvation on Mars; I suspect he and his followers will be badly disappointed. Still others, I suspect, would like to salvage this planet. They don’t want to live in a shithole any more than we do.

To do so, however, billions of proles globally must die. Yes, billions. But this is a difficult problem to solve. While war could do it (and would make a LOT of money in the process), war is messy, has a great deal of uncertainty (you don’t want someone blowing up any of YOUR yachts or mansions!), and the only way to kill billions in a reasonable amount of time is the generous use of nuclear weapons, which are *really* messy.

Starvation can help, but typically works only on impoverished countries: most of the problems (e.g., climate catastrophe, pollution, etc.) beyond raw “surplus population,” as Scrooge might say, are actually created by the wealthy countries, and starvation isn’t going to work on them. The same with water: while some countries in the northern hemisphere (the rich) are going to suffer under the coming water shortages, they won’t suffer enough. A few million dying here or there simply won’t do.

What about…a plague? A pandemic? Hmm. Now that has some possibilities. We’ve had several major human depopulation events stemming from plagues in the past. You could argue that SARS-CoV-2 doesn’t have a high enough fatality rate to really “do the job” (and I’m not being glib as I write these awful things: I believe this is the cold calculus the Davos elite are using to compute our fates). That would be true, perhaps, if we only take into account deaths from acute infections – a few tens of millions in three years is hardly a dent, after all!

On the other hand, mass disablement leading to latent sudden death, infections by other pathogens due to compromised immune systems, premature death, the collapse of health care services leading to more deaths, plunging life expectancy among the proles…now we’re talking!

And yet, one set of problems remains: how to get people to embrace mass infection, disablement, and death when viral transmission can be broken fairly easily? If people were properly informed about the virus, the pandemic could be brought under control with a proper layered strategy enabled globally, which would cut the party short.

How to get past this conundrum?

That’s an easy one: lie to the proles! Terminate collection and distribution of the data showing what the virus is doing. Demonize or outright prohibit masking and other mitigations, along with the people promoting them or trying to get the proles to see the truth. Demonize vaccination for one demographic, and make it difficult to get vaccinated/boosted with vaccines that already do little to prevent infection, transmission, and long COVID for another. Have the billionaire-owned politicians and media outlets censor information about the pandemic except to say it’s over, COVID is no worse than a cold or the flu, vax and relax. Live your best life! YOLO!

This is what they’ve done, and on a global scale. SARS-CoV-2 may not be THE solution…but it could go a long wy. Consider where we’ll be in 10 or 20 years with multiple infections per year if we don’t globally try to stop it: hundreds of millions, and quite possibly billions, will die of the sequelae or other infections, if not from the acute infections themselves, or being left to die after being disabled, or “humanely euthanized.”

Even climate change: could that be intentional? The rich and shameless know it’s real and what’s causing it (us, primarily from using fossil fuels), but they’re doing nothing to change course. Why?

A workable theory is that they WANT it to happen, because it will likely kill hundreds of millions, perhaps billions, in a matter of decades. There will still be habitable, even nice, places left, and that’s where the billionaires will have us proles build their new ivory towers.

But what about supply chain disruptions? Grain and food shortages? Water? Fuel? Energy? Surely the “big issues” are going to disrupt the rich and shameless as millions or billions die, right? Right?

No, they’re not. Remember, these are people who buy blue water yachts on a whim, often have multiple personal helicopters and private jets, plop down millions of dollars for a warehouse full of fancy cars, have mansions on every continent but Antarctica, and enjoy a lifestyle that most of us literally can’t even imagine. They see themselves as lords and act like it.

Do you think ANY of the things that affect our survival are going to affect the Davos elite? Don’t be foolish: they simply buy their way to the front of the line for anything and everything they want. When it comes to it, they’ll have their own personal armies just like feudal lords of old. There’s no “competing” with this demographic: they take what they want, when they want. They don’t even see us as real people. The only value we provide in their world is whatever we can do for them. And right now, the vast majority of us are nothing but useless eaters in their eyes and just need to die, the faster, the better.

But what about productivity? If too many of us die, won’t we stop making them rich? Again, literally billions of us could die and there would be plenty of proles to keep them in comfort: they control the system, they control the dynamics, and they’ll rearrange things to suit their needs. When you own all the assets that are worth owning (that’s called “privatization,” folks), the nature of “income” and wealth change, and the rest of us be damned.

That’s what it really boils down to: this small group of people (and those who are really pulling the levers are no doubt only a small subset of this group of 3,000 or so) have damned the rest of us to suffering and death. They have embraced SARS-CoV-2 and likely climate change as at least part of the solution to planetary overpopulation. They’re driving this agenda, which is a long-term one, home through their influence over and ownership of our leaders, media, and various proxies who have been waging a war of information to convince us that mass infection is good, that mass disablement and death are normal, that there’s no reason to worry about climate change. Everything’s going to be okay. For them, at least.

Finally, if you think this is limited to one party or another, or one segment of the political spectrum, you’d be sorely mistaken. The Davos crowd aren’t liberals or conservatives. As I said earlier, they see themselves as lords unto themselves, and we are here only to serve them.

[kylie]

Is Salesforce’s Ohana dead? Layoffs continue to batter the cloud giant, eroding the upbeat culture

Below is my newsletter for Fortune Magazine's Data Sheet, you can read the original here.

Aloha! Tech reporter Kylie Robison here.

If you ever watched the Disney classic Lilo & Stitch, you know that Ohana means family. At business software giant Salesforce, Ohana is their entire schtick. However, over the last few weeks, it’s been a whole lot less about family and more about saving cash.

The $136 billion public company announced its plans to lay off 10% of its family—or staff—in the new year. The first round of cuts came in early January, and an ominous all-hands led by CEO Marc Benioff left many uneasy and confused. He hinted that layoffs were not finished, but didn’t provide a precise date for when the hammer would drop.

Yesterday, shortly after the end of the fiscal year, the dreaded second round of layoffs pummeled the company. Several thousand Salesforce employees across the globe were told aloha, but instead of hello, this one meant goodbye. 

We reported that the company’s “#all-salesforce” Slack channel went from roughly 82,500 members on Feb. 1 to roughly 80,600 today, signaling that 1,900 workers may have been cut. Many people took to the company’s “#airing-of-grievances” channel to, well, air their grievances.

In screenshots of the channel viewed by Fortune, one person told a rather morbid story. The employee wrote that at 8 a.m., he was notified of his redundancy. Less than an hour later, he received a surfboard in the mail from Salesforce congratulating him on reaching 5 years at the company.

“There was the complimentary note from [CEO Marc Benioff] thanking me and hoping I’ll keep ‘riding the wave’ with Salesforce for many more years to come,” he wrote. “Ironic!”

Salesforce isn’t the only major tech company being rocked by layoffs at the moment. However, the firm’s specific culture of positivity and kinship has taken a particular beating. Employees have been leaking to the press at an unforeseen pace, the grievances channel has been bustling with complaints, and Benioff is “asking for a friend” why his employees aren’t their usual upbeat, profit-making selves.

It’s unclear if Salesforce’s cheerful culture will be able to bounce back. The company is under the ever-growing pressure of activist investors demanding cost-saving measures, and a looming recession seems to be sucking the fun out of Silicon Valley.

The fostering of Salesforce’s Ohana will be something to keep an eye out for. However, it’s unlikely this is the end of belt-tightening at the firm.

Do you have insights to share? Got a tip? Contact me at kylie.robison@fortune.com, through secure messaging app Signal at 415-735-6829, or via Twitter DM @kyliebytes.

NEWSWORTHY

It’s a bird, it’s a plane. It's been a couple of years since Alphabet grounded its fleet of internet-beaming Loon balloons. But balloons are back! A suspected Chinese spy balloon has been spotted floating around the U.S. CNN reported that government officials have advised President Biden to avoid shooting it down, as it presents a risk of harming civilians. The report adds that although the balloon has floated over “a number of sensitive sites,” it poses no serious intelligence-gathering risk.

Move over rabbit. Meta has done little to quell investor fears over its ambitious metaverse goals, until now. During its earnings call on Wednesday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg dubbed 2023 the ‘Year of Efficiency’ and said the company is focused on “becoming a stronger and more nimble organization.” The quip, and the sentiment behind it, helped propel Meta’s stock almost 20%, reaching its highest level since last July.

Money now, please. Social media platform Twitter seems to be addicted to making controversial feature changes. This week, the company announced its intent to replace its free API, which allows developers access to Twitter data in order to make bot accounts like year progress bot, alt text reader bot, and SF earthquake bot, with a paid tier. The action would essentially eliminate accounts like these unless they’re ready to pay up. Twitter's new API rate card starts at $99 per month and goes all the way up to $1,899.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

How did JPMorgan fall for Frank? Several execs played a role in buying the $175 million startup that’s been accused of fraud, by Luisa Beltran

Microsoft-owned GitHub’s CFO and CRO depart for new startup jobs, by Kylie Robison

ChatGPT may be increasing cybercrime, but not in the way some cybersecurity experts fear, by Jeremy Kahn

This billionaire CEO skis 5 hours a day and ‘runs like a deer’. Now he has the same body fat percentage as peak Michael Phelps, by Eleanor Pringle

In France, Gen Z is taking to the streets to defend their work-life balance. The fight for retirement starts at age 18, by Vivienne Walt

Silvergate at center of DOJ fraud investigation for hosting FTX and Alameda accounts, by Ben Weiss

Making workers commute for meetings that are a ‘killer’ of freedom and time is a punishment, says workplace expert, by Jane Thier

BEFORE YOU GO

Creators, creators, creators. Speaking of new Twitter features, CEO Elon Musk declared the platform would start sharing ad revenue with creators for ads that appear in their tweet threads. There’s a twist though—the creator has to be subscribed to the company’s subscription product, Twitter Blue. The latest in a string of stunts at the social media giant could be useful in competing with behemoths like TikTok and YouTube in a race to lure creators onto their platforms. Yet, a creator program that users have to pay to use hasn’t been done before and has some users comparing it to a pyramid scheme.

[mythgirlimagines]

You ever wonder why there's only one Hope's Peak. Like, in the world. Otherwise Sonia probably would've just gone to whatever Europe's version of Hope's Peak is instead of halfway across the globe (excluding Angie for... 3-6 reasons).

There's almost 8 billion people on this rock we call home. Are Ultimates that rare???

I know the anime (?) mentioned they were building overseas locations (iirc I haven't seen the anime since like. 2018 or 2019), so I think lore-wise they're looking to expand (and some fangans capitalize on that for sure) but as for regularly, yeah I think Ultimates may be that rare considering there are only 2 (????? Maybe more) classes in each year and the majority of those people are from Japan

There's also considering that HPA sends out scouts rather than taking applicants so it may be a convenience thing as well

[iquallinfoweb]

Indian IT Industry Outlook: A Deep Dive into Growth, Trends, and Opportunities

India’s IT industry is a powerhouse, fueling economic growth and establishing itself as a leader in the global technology landscape. With rapid advancements, increased digital adoption, and evolving technologies, India’s IT sector is not only redefining the future of tech in the country but also setting benchmarks worldwide. This article provides a detailed outlook on the Indian IT industry, examining key trends, future projections, challenges, and the role of companies like i-Quall, an innovative player in the Indian IT service ecosystem.

Analysis of the Indian IT Industry Outlook

The Indian IT industry has grown tremendously over the past few decades, transforming from a provider of basic services to a creator of comprehensive, high-end technological solutions. The sector has expanded into multiple domains, including software development, business process outsourcing (BPO), cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain. Notably, as companies across the globe seek more affordable, skilled labor, the Indian IT industry has become an attractive destination for outsourcing and offshoring.

Key Statistics on the Indian IT Industry

Revenue Generation: In FY2023, the Indian IT industry reached approximately $245 billion, with a significant portion contributed by software exports.

Employment Opportunities: Employing over 4.5 million people directly and millions more indirectly, the IT industry is one of India’s largest employment sectors.

Digital Transformation: With increased investments in digital services, India’s IT sector is expected to grow by around 8-10% annually over the next few years.

Shaping the Future of the Indian IT Industry

To understand the trajectory of the Indian IT sector, it’s crucial to examine the key steps driving its evolution and growth. Here’s a breakdown of the core factors shaping this industry:

Increased Digital Adoption

With the government pushing for digital initiatives, the Indian IT sector has embraced widespread digital adoption, leading to transformative changes in businesses and service delivery.

Sectors like healthcare, retail, and education have experienced massive shifts towards digital platforms, further bolstering the demand for IT services.

Focus on Innovation and Research

With an emphasis on cutting-edge technologies such as AI, machine learning (ML), and data analytics, Indian IT companies have been investing significantly in research and development.

Organizations are prioritizing solutions that improve data management, enhance cybersecurity, and streamline operations.

Rise of Cloud and Data Center Services

Cloud computing and data centers are revolutionizing how businesses operate, especially in terms of scalability and cost-efficiency.

Companies like i-Quall have established themselves in the cloud service space, providing solutions that enable seamless data storage, management, and processing.

Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures

The rise in cyber threats has led to an increased demand for cybersecurity services.

Indian IT companies have responded by creating robust security frameworks and compliance solutions to protect both national and international data privacy and security.

Expansion in Global Markets

Indian IT companies have expanded their footprints globally, catering to clients across the United States, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific regions.

This expansion has made Indian IT firms more competitive and has contributed significantly to the country’s GDP.

Base on the Indian IT Industry Outlook

Key Factors Influencing the Indian IT Industry

Skilled Workforce: India’s large pool of talented, English-speaking professionals is one of the most valuable resources driving the IT industry. The sector continually invests in skill development, particularly in emerging areas such as cloud computing and blockchain technology.

Government Policies and Support: The government’s initiatives, such as the Digital India campaign and Startup India, have paved the way for IT growth. Policies aimed at improving data security and fostering tech innovation have empowered local and international IT companies alike.

Demand for IT and Digital Transformation: The post-pandemic world has underscored the need for digital resilience, with companies worldwide relying on IT to modernize and improve operational efficiency. India has become a go-to hub for these services due to its vast, specialized IT resources.

Technological Advancements: Advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are shaping the Indian IT sector, providing companies with the tools they need to stay competitive in a fast-evolving market.

Investment in Infrastructure: Indian companies have been heavily investing in infrastructure, especially data centers and 5G networks, to keep up with the increasing demand for seamless digital experiences.

i-Quall and Its Role in the Indian IT Industry

i-Quall has been a prime example of a forward-thinking IT solutions provider that embodies the potential of the Indian IT sector. With a specialization in cloud services, software development, and digital transformation, i-Quall has supported businesses in adopting cutting-edge technologies to improve efficiency and scalability.

For instance, i-Quall recently partnered with a leading e-commerce company to implement AI-driven data analytics solutions. This partnership not only boosted the client's operational efficiency but also provided critical insights for decision-making, demonstrating i-Quall’s capability to drive value through innovative IT solutions.

Conclusion

The future of the Indian IT industry holds immense potential, driven by rapid digital transformation, a skilled workforce, and strong government support. Companies like i-Quall Infoweb are at the forefront, harnessing India’s tech ecosystem to deliver innovative, scalable solutions that cater to both domestic and international markets.

By keeping pace with the latest trends and responding proactively to market demands, the Indian IT industry is well-positioned to continue its upward trajectory. This comprehensive industry outlook demonstrates the potential that lies ahead, making it clear that India’s role as a global IT leader will only strengthen in the years to come.

URL : https://www.i-quall.com/ahmedabad/indian-it-industry-outlook/

[mariacallous]

Editor's Note: A version of this op-ed was originally published by Smerconish on April 8, 2023.

What is Mitsubishi? Most Americans say a car company, and while that’s true, Mitsubishi is also the sixth largest bank in the world, a business that dwarfs its auto arm. Mixing a car company and a bank is illegal in America, where the Bank Holding Company Act separates banking and commerce. Bank holding companies are regulated by the Federal Reserve, a job that requires the Fed to monitor the relationship between the bank and affiliated companies under the parent holding company. The failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) exposes a dirty little secret about what holding company regulation often entails: not that much.

SVB was not your typical bank. America’s 16th largest bank before its failure, SVB had $200 billion in assets but only 16 branches; most banks that size have around 1,000. SVB didn’t bank people; it banked tech firms, ranging from small start-ups to those who hit it big, like Roku and Roblox. Its ten largest customers had $13 billion in total deposits, such as the crypto/stablecoin company Circle which had over $3 billion in deposits at the bank when it failed.

SVB Financial Group was SVB’s bank holding company. Sitting under the Financial Group umbrella was SVB Capital. SVB Capital had $9.5 billion in assets under management, investing in over 760 “unicorns” and other venture capital (VC) firms, which themselves banked at SVB. As SVB Capital’s website touted: “Through our relationships with more than 50% of all venture-backed companies in the U.S., and with funds and corporations across the globe, SVB Capital’s family of investment solutions give you unmatched access to this unique asset class.” This same reliance on venture capital to gain customers returned to bite SVB when the VC community turned on it. The day before SVB went under, while its stock was still trading at over $100 per share, multiple VCs told their companies to run, exacerbating the bank’s problems.

The Federal Reserve had two regulatory and supervisory roles for SVB Financial Group: one for just SVB, the other for the entire holding company, including SVB Capital and its relationship with the bank. What requirements did SVB Capital place, legally or informally, on firms it invested in to bank with SVB? This includes other VC firms in which SVB Capital invested, who then pressured the companies they invested in to bank at SVB. What did the Fed uncover in its regular supervision and regulation of SVB Capital that could have offered insights into what was going on at SVB?

While the Federal Reserve has started reporting what it did as a bank regulator, including filing reports, flagging problems, and giving management passing grades, it has said nothing about what it was doing to regulate the holding company. The Federal Reserve’s official testimony to Congress mentions SVB’s bank holding company in a footnote and never mentions SVB Capital. It was as if that company played no role in the bank’s failure.

Ironically, newly-elected Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), formerly a venture capitalist, raised the question of VCs’ role in SVB’s collapse, tying SVB’s provision of services to VCs having their portfolio companies to bank at SVB.

Problems in holding company regulation go beyond SVB. Take the case of Dickenson Financial, a bank holding company based in Kansas City. Dickenson owns two small banks: Armed Forces Bank and Academy Bank. These two banks serve very different customers: Armed Forces branches are on military bases, and Academy branches are at Walmarts. But they operate the same business model: hitting low-income consumers with high overdraft fees. Both banks are routinely among the highest in the nation in their reliance on overdraft fees for profit. Armed Forces Bank routinely makes over half its profit on overdrafts, while Academy Bank made over 100% of its profit from overdrafts for four straight years.

This is not a coincidence but rather the outcome of a clear business strategy articulated by their parent holding company. Each of these banks has been operating under this strategy for many years. Yet, there is no evidence that the Kansas City Fed has done anything other than bless this strategy. After all, both banks have continued to operate with regulatory blessing.

There is a real question of how much actual regulation and supervision occurs at bank holding companies like SVB and Dickenson. In both cases, holding companies operate business models that cry out for stricter supervision and stronger regulatory action. One wonders how many more bank holding companies have similar problems and where are the Federal Reserve Regional Banks in doing their job.

One area where holding company regulation is quite active is with the so-called “globally systemically important banks” (GSIBs). These are the largest, most interconnected banks, like JPMorgan Chase or Goldman Sachs. These holding companies generally include investment banks and other smaller entities providing services. The Federal Reserve has been focused on these companies, particularly the merged commercial and investment banks, since the Fed advocated for allowing those giant bank mergers, culminating in Congress repealing parts of the Glass-Steagall Act at the end of the Clinton presidency.

SVB failing is a painful lesson that more than just the handful of largest banks are what the Fed deems “systemically important.” The Fed has committed to an internal review of its regulatory and supervisory failures. Many are skeptical that the Fed will honestly assess its own failures, myself included. One litmus test is whether the Fed includes in its report what, if anything, it did as SVB’s holding company regulator. Either way, the Fed needs to act far more aggressively when it sees bank-holding companies employing unsafe business practices before we have more multi-billion-dollar bank failures.