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strange-dreams-are-made-of-these · 11 months ago

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Playing Games With This Old Heart

Summary: You need to make cash fast after losing your job. After stumbling on a job, you can't help but to think about your first customer. And he can't get you out of his head.

Warnings: no smut, no fluff, still MDNI as this will be a planned series, canon typical violence, hints of death of a loved one (prior to story), animal death (bear), angst, Female Mutant!Reader with regenerative healing factor.

A/N: It's been two years since ive poste dont his account, so i hope you guys wont hold that against me. Please take this sample of a fic with our favorite X-Man.

Word Count: 4.7 k words

The days were shifting between the long summer heat and a cooler breeze as the leaves started to change from their usual green and full thick coverings to reds, yellows, and browns before leaving their life-sustaining tree and falling to the ground. There was something subtle about the sound of leaves crunching under ones footstep that somehow felt calming. The ground around your home was littered with the fine needles of the Douglas Fir trees that had a very distinct pine smell to them. It was a welcoming smell for you, having lived the majority of your life in rural Montana, the fresh smell of pine felt like home.

The colorful coat of the Maine Coon cat you owned stood out against the green throw blanket placed on the couch, the place he dubbed his spot. His name was Felix and he had been your fury best friend of nearly six years now. He showed up one day on your doorstep when it was raining with his mother. Not knowing much about cats, but knowing they were hungry, you couldn't help but open the last can of tuna you had in your pantry, draining it of its liquid before setting it out for the mother and son cats to eat. His mother trusted you enough to leave her son with you before leaving, never to be seen again. You often wondered what happened to the little minx of a feline, though you were happy to assure her you could take care of her baby.

"Okay, Felix. I'm going into town. Don't miss me too bad while I'm gone, okay?" You chuckle a little watching him as he stretches out, adjusting your jacket in the process. With keys in hand, wallet in your warm coat, and a fully charged phone, you left your home. Your next-door neighbor was only five miles away, as was his other neighbor. The only thing you had to worry about here were bears, mountain lions, and wolves showing up unannounced during meal times. Thankfully the only time you spotted any of the three was during their migration journeys at quite the distance from your porch to the open land headed out toward the lake where they could get their fill of fresh fish and other small creatures that dwelled there.

You kept your distance, you respected their space, and in turn, they stayed away from you. Just how it should have been.

Hoping into your truck, an old one of your father's, you kick it into gear and leave your driveway. The roads were bumpy as the broken rock and dirt shifted under the weight of the truck, bouncing you a little as you made the drive into town. There were a few things you needed to make it through the week: gasoline, and a refill of your water containers. One was used for cooking and drinking, one was used for bathing, and the third was the backup. Being out in these parts, you had to prepare for the unthinkable. Trees block major routes to give supplies, unpredictable weather, and supply shortages.

Another thing you would have liked to get was a fresh cut of meat for dinner. Depending on what was at the store would determine the dinner in store for you. Grilled fish? sounded nice. A steak could have been as equally nice to eat.

Though, there was another reason for your outing today. Since Mr. Kirkwood had sold his farm, you had been out of a job and had been running low on funds. You had to find a job today, any job. Anything that would provide you cash for hard work to continue to provide for yourself and Felix. Stocking shelves at the only grocery store in town? Perfect! Cutting down trees for the logging company? You're the girl for the job, nevermind you have never cut a vertical tree before, only when they were already grounded.

You just needed any job, one that you can continue to live your life.

Parking the truck, you walked to the bed, picking up the water containers, two in one hand and the third in the other. Thankfully there had been a man coming out of the store, seeing your hands full he held it open for you. You thanked him, recognizing him as one of your father's old co-workers. You nodded to each other, letting him go back to his day as you entered the door.

"There she is, I was wondering when you would be coming back. I hadn't seen you in a few days," came the beckoning voice of the store's owner, Mr. Morgan. He was almost like an uncle to all of the younger people in town, being about thirty-five and younger. You were toward the older end of his infinite nieces and nephews, though he would swear you were his favorite.

"I was able to get an extra day or two in on my stock. I call that quite the accomplishment."

"Did you make it last longer, or did you go without longer than usual?" He questioned you, peering over his glass at you as you set the water containers down. He knew what your current situation was, but at the end of the day, he still had a business to run. "I can't do anything for you today until you pay your tab." He was serious, but he had a little glint in his eye as if letting a loved one down.

You looked at him, your once welcoming face now placid. "Mr. Morgan, please. You know I'm good for the money." you fished around in your jacket, pulling out the last thirty-seven dollars and change you had. You knew it wouldn't cover your tab plus what you needed, but you also knew he had a business to run. "I just need a little more time. And some supplies. Please."

It was a plea, a simple one. Though you knew he was the holder behind how the rest of your week was going to go. "I'll stock shelves for you to pay the rest of my tab. I'll scrub the floors with a toothbrush. I'm willing to work."

He took his glasses off, looking at the cash in front of him. He didn't want to see anybody struggling, but he couldn't ignore his debts. He shuffled the money around, taking thirty dollars for himself and handing you the seven dollars and change back. "I can't afford to add anybody else to my payroll, or else I would. You can have one water refill, a full tank of gas, and some cat food. Nothing more."

You stared at him, lips parted as if to protest the money exchange, but the sound of the bells chiming against the door flooded those thoughts. You reached for the cash, scooping the change into your hand. All you could muster was a simple "Thank you." Moving the water containers to the side, you placed two of the containers into the designated area, then took one to the refill station, and filled the water container.

You had to figure something out and fast.

A newly filled water container was placed in the truck bed, a full tank of gas in your truck, and a sack of wet and dry cat food sat on the passenger floorboard. Looking around the small main street of the town where ninety percent of the town's businesses resided, you decided to leave your truck where it was. You were on the hunt for a job, and you were damn determined to find employment by the end of the day.

You used your side view mirror to make sure your hair looked fine, adjusting the collar of your jacket and shirt, you straightened up peering back at the main street. The best way to start job hunting was to start at the end of the street and work your way back down, entering every business you spotted. The good thing about small towns was all you needed was to name-drop a couple of people, resumes didn't hold up well.

The bad thing about small towns was that everybody needed work. Store owner after store owner denied your requests. The pawn shop wasn't looking for new employees, the liquor store had too many employees as is, and the antiquities store only hired their family members. The options were dwindling down, and soon you were nervous you were going to have to find a creative way to make money or even worse, entertain the thought of being a lot lizard.

The only two businesses left were the diner on the right side of the street and the motel at the end of the road. Either of them could have positions open, yet they could also deny you a job opening. You had to hope they had an opening somewhere, knowing you were not creative enough to make and sell items for cash. You didn't own many items to sell, beyond the couch, a cot you used to sleep on, and the few little trinkets you received when her father died. The most expensive item you owned was more than likely the truck, and selling it would mean nearly desertion at your home.

Without another thought, you crossed the street as a logging truck passed in front of you. You made some eye contact with the driver, making sure you waited until he drove in front of you before crossing the street.

As you pushed open the doors of the diner, a woman ten years your senior greeted you. "Have a seat wherever you want, sweetheart."

You crossed the room, taking a seat in front of her as she cleaned the counter space. "I know you are busy, and I don't want to take up too much of your time. I'm looking for a job. Mr. Morgan told me you might have something open here?"

The woman looked up from her work, eyeing you down after you mentioned Mr. Morgan. Her ginger curly hair cascaded down her shoulders as she shifted her weight. "Mr. Morgan, huh?" It was hard to tell by her expression, but she seemed to be thinking about something.

The door opened again, and a young blonde woman entered appearing slightly disheveled as if she had just woken up. "I'm here, Rebecca."

The woman in front of you, Rebecca as you read the name tag, turned her body toward the younger woman, then looked to the clock. She placed one hand on her hip. "Only two hours late." She looked between you and the woman, a mischievous look in her eyes. "I told you, show up on time or don't show up at all."

The blonde woman huffed a little, crossing her arms. "It's not like anybody else wants this job."

Rebecca smirked, walking around the counter toward the woman. "Actually she does." She was quick to snatch the apron from the blonde woman. "Clean your uniform and have it dropped by the end of the week, then you will get your check." She then tossed the apron to you, catching it effortlessly.

The blonde huffed, storming out of the diner and throwing a couple of curses in the air. "Your shift starts now. Take a menu, and study it between customers. Orders go to Big Ben. Don't ask us why we call him that and don't make any eye contact. Burgers are made to order, the soup of the day is Italian wedding, and you can give me your jacket."

Her orders came quickly as you stood up, removing your jacket and tying the apron around your waist. There had been a little notebook in the apron and a pen, thankfully saving your ass as you wrote down the notes she gave you. The doorbell rang again, the older woman looked at you with a questionable look. That was your cue, time to work. "Take a seat wherever you want." You nodded, taking a menu in your hands and walking up to your first-ever customer.

As his boots made contact with the ground below him, the man took a moment to adjust his shoulders, rolling them a couple of times as he stretched. He could have sworn the truck cabs were getting smaller and smaller, almost feeling his head touch the rooftop. At least he could rest comfortably during his lunch break. He had contemplated having a liquid diet for lunch paired with a cigar, but the smell of greasy burgers filled his nostrils. Tucking the keys of the truck in his vest pocket, Logan walked toward to diner.

He passed by an unruly blonde woman, muttering under her breath about being fired barely filling his ears. He persisted in, entering the diner. Not looking up, he heard the greeting offered to him, hearing two different footsteps filling the diner. One was the small heels clicking against the tile floors. The other was boots muffled against the tile. A small pair of hands moved to set a menu down in front of him, along with what looked like one single-ply napkin and a fork. "What can I get started for you?"

Logan still hadn't looked up yet, looking at the laminated two-sided menu in front of him. "Coffee." He blurted, though wishing he could have an iced beer with his food. The woman left his table, rounding the counter and finding the coffee pot and cups. A minute may have passed by as he scanned the menu. He wasn't that much of a picky eater, as long as it used to have a heartbeat, he was fine.

The mug was set down in front of him, steam rolling off the black liquid. "I'll have the cheeseburger and fries." He picked up the menu, handing it back to the waitress. That was when he finally turned to look at her, remembering her as the woman who crossed the street behind him. She didn't seem to be dressed for work, not like the other woman who was behind the counter now fiddling with some dishes.

"You got it." She left the table, and walked over to the window, setting a ticket in the designated space that the other woman told her about. His hand wrapped around the mug in front of him, looking outside as he silently observed the town. He was in this stretch of land only long enough to get him enough cash to figure out his next move. He didn't like to stay in the same place too long, maybe a year or two at most. He didn't mind the small circles running in this part of the state, but he knew that if he wanted to go somewhere else he would have to figure it out soon before the snow moved in.

What felt like ten minutes had passed before the woman came back, setting his plate in front of him. "Can I get you anything else?"

He shook his head, brushing her off. As she left, she could smell a strong scent of pine around her, as if she herself was a pine tree. It wasn't a disheartening smell, something he actually liked.

Another set of diners came in, sitting a few booths behind Logan. As he ate his food all he could hear was her voice, despite there being a total of seven beings in the diner he could hear. Somehow her voice was the loudest in his mind. Not the heartbeats of the seven people, not his heartbeat, not her heartbeat. Her voice.

As he finished the food in front of him, she walked over to him, leaving his ticket and grabbing the empty plate. "Do you want a cup for the road?"

He reached into his vest pocket, pulling out a billfold. "Yeah, sounds good."

She returned with his to-go coffee, handing it over to him as he left cash on the table, adjusting his shirt collar. "Here, let me get your change."

"Keep it." He walked out of the diner, making a bee-line for his truck, fighting everything in him to talk to her again. Little did he know, that wasn't going to be their only interaction for the day.

The daylight began to dissipate, street lights were turning on and the neon signs from the only bar in town began to glow. Rebecca presented to you with a powder blue uniform dress. The diner and the employees looked as if they hadn't left the fifties, just as the regular customers liked to relive. "You did good, peanut. The job is yours. Your next shift is tomorrow, Nine to five, be here no less than ten minutes before clocking in tomorrow. I'll have some shoes for you. Can't have my girls in boots for service."

You took the uniform and hanger, nodding. "Yes ma'am."

Rebecca giggled a little. "Oh darlin', I'm no ma'am. You can call me Becky."

Parting ways with your new manager, you left the diner, uniform in hand and some tips in your apron. You couldn't help but think about the first customer you had that day, a man appearing around your age, how quick your interactions were, but how he almost seemed disinterested in interacting with you. Was it possible he was a regular of the blonde woman? He paid his bill, he tipped you, and you went on about your day. That was all you could ask for.

Returning to your truck still parked in front of the grocery store, you set your items down in the cab. Peering to the bed of the truck, you huff as you realize your water container is missing. At least the thief had the balls to leave your empty gas container. Mr. Morgan's place was closed for the night, so you would have to swing by the store after work. "Cowards." you hum to yourself, getting in the truck and turning over the engine.

Returning home, you fed Felix with the food you acquired today. Becky made sure you had something to eat as well before you left the diner, though Big Ben had made a comment about it. This only solved three of your problems for the day. You still needed to wash up, and without the water container, you only had one choice.

The easiest thing would be to take a bucket to the lake and boil the water before using it to wash up. Not thinking clearly either, you left the house without any type of protection, knowing you were just getting water and heading back to the house. The only light you had to help you was the half-moon above you.

Unknown to you, the man from the diner had followed you home, wondering what you were up to. He wished he could understand what was happening, but your voice was all he could hear and focus on the rest of the day. His truck was parked in the woods opposite your home, and he stood in the tree line listening to the orchestra of insects and animals around the both of you. Foxes howled in the far distance, deer were settling in for the night. But there was another predator within the vicinity, one unbeknownst to you.

You kneeled down to fill the metal bucket with water, you were being watched by a wolverine and a black bear. A bear looking for its next meal, and a wolverine searching for answers, only to find more problems in his way.

The grunt of the bear finally caught your attention. It had been nearly twenty feet in front of you, standing on a rock as it discarded the fish carcass in its claws. He smelled bigger game, and his blood lust was all he could focus on.

Leaving the bucket still in the water, you slowly stood up, keeping your hands to your sides. It stayed on its rock, turning toward you. It must have been fully grown, which spelled danger for you. Black bears did not care and would defend themselves to the death, even if it was not threatened.

Seconds felt like minutes as the bear finally stood up, roaring before falling to all fours and darting toward you. There was no way you could outrun a bear, let alone rely on your home to defend you. Laying down now meant instant death for you. Climbing trees was out of the question.

Your heart pounded in your chest with every footfall, knowing the longer you thought about survival, the more your chances diminished.

The bear caught up to you, pinning you down and tossing you around. Your screams filled the space of the open field around you. Claws tore into your skin and clothes as you felt warm blood escape your body.

Snikt

The bear roared out, turning its attention away from you to something else, attacking it. The sounds of two animals tousling with each other filled the air, but after one minute, the bear grew quiet, a distinct thud was heard as its body fell to the ground.

Something rushed up to you, and before you could react, you felt human hands touching your body. "No, no, no."

You looked up to see the man from the diner hovering over you as his knees collided with the ground next to you. His face was bleeding, but as you watched him, you saw his wounds close and heal within seconds. Almost just like...

He observed you, looking at where your wounds were.

Or used to be.

You sat up, scooting away from him a little. Breathing heavily, the both of, you looked at his tattered clothes and blood stains. yet there was an absence of wounds. "What are you?" You asked hurriedly.

He stared at you, his eyes dancing the same tango where your wounds used to be. "I could ask you the same." He ran a hand over his hair before standing up. He offered you a hand, however you didn't take it. Brushing yourself off from the dirt.

"Nothing happened here, okay?"

Logan turned toward you as he watched you walk back to the lake, picking up the bucket of water.

You realized what you said sounded harsh, and that wasn't your nature. Closing your eyes briefly, you look back at the man. "I have some clothes in my house. I can at least give you something to replace those."

He watched you begin walking toward the cabin you called home. Taking a moment, he decided to follow in your footsteps, quickly matching your pace to walk with you. "I saw you get attacked by that bear. I can see the blood." His eyes scan over your back, where layers of clothes are torn. Not just your jacket, but your shirt, and an undershirt.

You swung open the door of your cabin after walking up the little set of stairs on your porch. "Not to sound like a broken record, but, I can ask you the same."

After both of you were in the cabin, you set the bucket down next to the woodfire stove, pulled some of the water into a pot, then set it on the surface of the stove to boil the water. You then opened up a door, the only closet space in your cabin. There was a box labeled Dad's clothes written in neat handwriting. You pushed it out to the side, then grabbed two jackets. "Here, pick out what you want."

He looked at you, unsure of the idea. There was more to ask now, and he wasn't so sure where to start. He watched as you moved around in the cabin, picking up a little bowl and scooping its contents into a bowl. He could smell the cat, but not see it. He looked around, wondering where it was.

You observed his behavior, wondering what he was doing. Clearing your throat, you took a stab in the dark. "His name is Felix. He doesn't like strangers. If I had to guess, he is on my bed, or under it."

He smirked a little, knowing his suspicion had been confirmed. He approached the box, opening it to look at the different shirts and pants inside.

You observed him, crossing your arms over your chest as you leaned against the wall. "Why are you out here?" You were thankful he showed up when he did, knowing you didn't have many defenses against the bear beyond how you healed.

Instead of giving a bullshit answer or response, he turned to look at you, a gray flannel in hand. "I was just passing through." He lied.

You shook your head, eyeing him as you lowered an eyebrow. "No, you didn't. Nobody passes through this place." Sighing a little, you felt a tug in your back. "Look, I've had a somewhat normal life here, have my entire life. I don't really have anything else to go to, or the drive to go anywhere else. I'll tell you what I can do, and I can answer any questions you have. Then we can part our separate ways. Sound like a deal?"

Logan stood up, tossing the flannel over his shoulder. He held his hands up to his sides, shrugging his shoulders. "I won't complain." He didn't know where this would lead him, but the thought of getting some answers meant his trip wouldn't be wasted.

Nodding, you rolled the sleeve of your torn jacket up, exposing the lower part of your arm to him. you pulled one of the logs out of the stove, holding the unburned end in your hand. The other side was on fire. You held your arm out in front of you, then pressed the fire to your skin, doing your best to stifle the groans from the injury. Pulling the log away, the third-degree burn healed almost instantly as tissue, muscles, and skin grew back together. After showing him the display of your power, you put the log back in the stove. "I was never sick as a child. injured that should have resulted in broken bones never bothered me."

Logan watched you burn yourself and then heal almost instantly. He hadn't met anyone before who had the same healing rate as he did. What were the odds of meeting another mutant out in the middle of nowhere Montana?

"Can I show you what I can do?" He asked, watching your every moment with precision. As he watched you nod, he moved his right hand to cross in front of him. Slowly, the sound of moving metal filled the air as three long knife-like appendages emerged between his knuckles. You stared in a mix of awe and confusion. He smirked, then sliced the pad of his left hand, showing you his own healing rate.

What caught him off guard was how you began to approach him, though it was a slow approach. On instinct, he retracted his claws, the spaces where they had once been healing up. "Does it hurt?" You ask him, rubbing your own knuckles where the blades would have been.

He didn't know how to feel, knowing that the two of you were just strangers passing in the night. "Every damn time." His voice was above a whisper, as if afraid the tone of his voice would break the sound barrier.

Silent moments passed between the two of you, tension filling the air. He couldn't stand it anymore as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. "I should really get going," he spoke, stepping around you. Dazed little you finally felt you weren't the only one anymore.

You turned around to face him as he approached your door. "You know, I have a shift at the diner tomorrow. Maybe you'll happen to forget your lunch and have to stop by the diner?"

He should say no. He should be grabbing his things and heading out of town as quickly as possible. He should put this place in his rearview mirror and forget anything that happened there. But the drum of your heartbeat spoke bigger volumes than his brain did.

"We'll see." He nodded, thanking you silently with a gesture of the shirt before leaving your cabin, and walking toward his truck. He needed out of there as quickly as possible. Another moment with you could have sent him into a coma. How beautiful you smelled, how kind you were. Even though you were quick to block him earlier and run away, you still let him into your home and offered him a simple reward for saving your life.

It was almost too intoxicating to think about. And the promise of tomorrow could never come any sooner.

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mostlysignssomeportents · 2 years ago

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For 40 years, Big Meat has openly colluded to rig prices

On October 7–8, I'm in Milan to keynote Wired Nextfest.

Noted socialist agitator Adam Smith once wrote, "People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the publick, or in some contrivance to raise prices."

Smith was articulating a basic truth: when an industry grows concentrated, it grows cozy. Cultural differences between dominant firms are homogenized as top executives move from company to company, cross-pollinating attitudes and approaches. Ambituous, firm-hopping workaholic top brass make all their friends at the office, and so their former colleagues from one or two jobs back remain in their social circles.

Once an industry consists of half a dozen firms, the people running those companies constitute an incestuous financial polycule. They are executors of one anothers' estates, best men and maids of honor at one anothers' weddings, godparents to each others' kids. They play on the same softball teams and take family vacations together.

It would be heartwarming if it wasn't so costly to the rest of us. Remember Smith's maxim: "the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the publick, or in some contrivance to raise prices." Class solidarity among corporate executives forms a united front to screw us in every conceivable way, from corrupting our politicians to maiming and cheating workers to gouging buyers.

That's the basis of American antitrust law. When Robert Sherman was stumping for the passage of the Sherman Act, America's first major antitrust law, he thundered "If we will not endure a King as a political power we should not endure a King over the production, transportation, and sale of the necessaries of life. If we would not submit to an emperor we should not submit to an autocrat of trade with power to prevent competition and to fix the price of any commodity":

https://pluralistic.net/2022/02/20/we-should-not-endure-a-king/

Or rather, that was the basis of American antitrust law – until the Reagan era, when the fringe theories of the Nixonite criminal Robert Bork were elevated to a new orthodoxy. Under Bork's conception of antitrust, monopolies were evidence of excellence. If a company puts all its competitors out of business, that must mean that it is "efficient."

In Bork's fantasy world, the only way a company could attain dominance is by being so beloved by its customers that every competitor withers away. Governments that bust monopolies aren't protecting the public from "autocrats of trade"; they're overthrowing the winners of an election where you "vote with your wallet" to pick the best company.

But Bork and his co-fantasists couldn't quite manage all that with a straight face. They grudgingly admitted that a certain kind of bad monopolist could hypothetically exist, one that used its "market power" to raise prices or lower quality. Only when these offenses against our "consumer welfare" occurred should the state step in to protect its people.

This may sound good in theory, but in practice, it was a dead letter. The consumer welfare test isn't as simple as "If prices go up after a merger, punish the company." Instead, the government had to prove that the price raises came from "market power," and not from an increase in energy or labor costs, or some other "exogenous factor," like Mercury being in retrograde:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/10/you-had-one-job/#thats-just-the-as

And wouldn't you know it, it turns out that the mathematical models prescribed to distinguish greed from unavoidable circumstance inevitably "prove" that the monopolist wasn't at fault. Surely, it's just just a coincidence that the priesthood that understood how to make and interpret these models were Chicago School Economists who sold model-making as a service to companies that wanted to raise prices.

Pro-monopoly economists insist that this isn't true, and that their theory still has room to prosecute bad monopolies and cartels where they occur – more, they say this is already happening. In particular, they insist that "greedflation" can't be real, because it would require the kind of conspiracy that Smith warned of, and that their sickly antitrust enforcement is sufficient to prevent:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/11/price-over-volume/#pepsi-pricing-power

This strains credulity. After all, the CEOs of giant companies in concentrated industries openly boast to their shareholders about how they've used the covid and Ukraine invasion shocks to hike prices to increase their profit margins – not just cover their additional costs:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/23/cant-make-an-omelet/#keep-calm-and-crack-on

While excuseflation is new, open, naked price-fixing by industry cartels is not. Take the meat-packing industry, dominated by a tiny handful of giant corporations whose executives literally ran a betting pool on how many of their workers would get covid each week while working in their cramped, unventilated factories:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55009228

These companies have seen their margins soar – up 300% over the lockdown – while their payments to ranchers and growers cratered:

https://www.reuters.com/business/meat-packers-profit-margins-jumped-300-during-pandemic-white-house-economics-2021-12-10/

All this might leave one wondering whether there isn't something a little, you know, "conspiracy against the publick"-y going on in Big Meat?

Let me tell you about Agri Stats. Agri Stats has been around since 1985. Every large meat packer pays to be a "member" of Agri Stats, and they each submit weekly, detailed statistics about every aspect of their business: all their costs, all their margins, broken out by category. Agri Stats compiles this into phone-book-thick books that each member gets every week, telling them everything about how all of their competitors are running their businesses:

https://www.agristats.com/history

The companies whose data appears in this book are anonymized, but it's trivial to re-identify each supplier. Tyson execs hold regular "naming process" meetings where they go through new books and de-anonymize the data. A Butterball exec confirmed that he "can pick the companies for rankings with 100% certainty."

As David Dayen writes in The American Prospect, these books are incredibly detailed: "bird weights, freezer inventory, and 'head killed per operating hour.'" Within the cozy meat cartels, Agri Stats acts as a clearinghouse that allows every business in the industry to act in concert, running the entire meat-packing sector as a single company:

https://prospect.org/power/2023-10-03-lawsuit-highlights-why-meat-overpriced/

As interesting as the list of Agri Stats members is, the groups that don't get to see Agri Stats' "books" is just as important: "farmers, workers, or retailers." Agri Stats also offers consulting services to its members. As an exec at pork processor Smithfield put it, Agri Stats advice boils down to four words "Just raise your price."

Agri Stats ranks its members based on how high their prices are – they literally publish a league table with the highest prices at the top. Meat packers pay bonuses to their execs based on how high the company's rank is on that table. Agri Stats meets with its members throughout the year to discuss "price opportunities" and to advise them to "exercise restraint" by restricting supply to keep prices up. When one Agri Stats member considered leaving the cartel, Agri Stats wooed them back by telling them how to make an additional $100k by raising bacon prices.

The reason Dayen is writing about Agri Stats now is that the DoJ Antitrust Division has brought an antitrust suit against them. This is part of a wave of antitrust actions brought by Biden's DoJ and FTC, who, along with his NLRB, are shaping up to be the most pugnacious, public-interest force against corporate power since the Reagan administration:

https://www.meatpoultry.com/articles/29124-doj-sues-agri-stats-for-complicity-in-meat-market-manipulation

All this enforcement isn't a coincidence. It comes from an explicit rejection of neoliberalism's core tenets: inequality reflects merit, monopolies are efficient, and government can't do anything. In Biden's DoJ, FTC and NLRB, they're partying like it's 1979:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/08/party-its-1979-og-antitrust-back-baby

What's amazing about the Agri Stats conspiracy to raise prices is that it's been going since the Reagan administration. It's a smoking gun proof that "consumer welfare" never cared about price-fixing and robbing the public (can a gun still smoke after 40 years?). There was never a time when consumer welfare antitrust cared about consumer welfare. It was always and forever a front for "a conspiracy against the publick," a "contrivance to raise prices."

Big Meat has been robbing America for two generations. Some of those stolen funds were used to corrupt our political process. The meat sector gets $50 billion in public subsidies and still gouges us on prices and rips off its suppliers:

https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2022/02/usda-livestock-subsidies-near-50-billion-ewg-analysis-finds

Which means that it's possible that we're simultaneously being ripped off with meat prices and that meat prices are artificially low. Try and wrap your head around that one!

The do-nothing, pro-monopoly neoliberal antitrust is a virus that spread around the world. The EU's antitrust laws were reshaped to mirror American laws after the war through the Marshall Plan, but since the late 1970s, European lawmakers and enforcers have ignored their own laws (just like their American counterparts) and encouraged monopolies as "efficient."

This Made-in-Europe oligopoly, combined with energy and grain shocks from Russian invasion of Ukraine, created the perfect storm for European greedflation. As food prices spiked across the EU, Austrian hacktivist Mario Zechner set out to investigate Austrian grocers' pricing. Using the grocers' own APIs, he was able to compile and analyze a dataset of prices at Austrian grocers:

https://www.wired.com/story/heisse-preise-food-prices/

When Zechner open-sourced his project, collaborators showed up to expand the project across other EU countries, and an anonymous party donated a huge database of prices stretching back to 2017. The data reveals clear collusion among the grocers, who raise prices in near-lockstep, and use gimmicks like cyclic price drops to hide their collusion:

https://github.com/badlogic/heissepreise

Not every grocer has an API, and even the ones that do have APIs could easily block Zechner and co from accessing their data. When that happens, they could – and should – turn to scraping to continue their project. They should also scrape grocers elsewhere, including in Canada, where grocers rigged the price of bread:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/25/deep-scrape/#steering-with-the-windshield-wipers

Because Big Meat's "conspiracy against the publick" isn't unique to meat. It's in all our food, it's in all our goods, it's in all our services. The fact that the meat industry was able to rob American buyers, ranchers and farmers for two generations under a 200' tall neon sign that blinked "AGRI STATS AGRI STATS AGRI STATS" night and day is frankly astonishing.

But there's never just one ant. If the meatheads running Big Meat were able to do this in broad daylight since the NES years, imagine what all the other industries were able to get up to in the shadows.

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/2023/10/04/dont-let-your-meat-loaf/#meaty-beaty-big-and-bouncy

My next novel is The Lost Cause, a hopeful novel of the climate emergency. Amazon won't sell the audiobook, so I made my own and I'm pre-selling it on Kickstarter!

#pluralistic #meat #monoopoly #price fixing #antitrust #austria #mario zechner #scraping #adversarial interoperability #greedflation #price inflation #market power #david dayen #agri stats #meat packers

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mrs-dr-reid · 11 months ago

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My Personal Logan Howlett Headcanons (Part 1/?)

Since he's so tall, he always rests his chin on top of your head when he hugs you from behind

He is your Scary Dog Privilege in every possible situation. His Resting Stab Face™ is probably a major contributing factor to that

He lets you play with his hair, even if he's slightly disgruntled at your insistence that it looks like kitty ears

If you don't like the smell of his cigars, he'll smoke them outside so you don't have to be surrounded by the stench

It's kinda hard for him to get drunk because he metabolizes alcohol so fast, but on the rare occasion he manages to get plastered, he turns into the clingiest son of a bitch on the planet (and the touchiest, but that's besides the point)

He keeps a Polaroid of you in his wallet, so no matter where he ends up going, he always has you with him

Gives you his dog tags to wear when he goes off on his self discovery missions as a promise that he'll come back to you mostly in one piece

Will pick you up and throw you over his shoulder to remove you from a situation. Whether you're trying to fistfight Scott for eating your leftovers, or if he just wants you to himself for a couple of hours, rest assured you will be slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes

He buys an extra copy of whatever romance novel you're currently reading and takes notes, highlighter and everything. Whether it be a run-of-the-mill fluff piece or hardcore smut, you bet your ass he's gonna take notes

Because of his super heightened sense of smell, he knows the second your iron level dips that it's your time of the month, and he immediately springs into doting boyfriend mode

He's a shameless flirt, and he hits on you pretty much non-stop, but the second you stroke his cheek and tell him how pretty he is with a lovesick look on your face? The man is done for

Always shows off for you if you watch him do his workouts, or he just straight up makes you sit on his back while he does push-ups

He always gives you his jacket when it's cold, mostly because he loves seeing you in his clothes because you practically drown in them due to how big on you they are

He runs his thumb over your knuckles all the time when you two are hanging out with the other X-Men, occasionally bringing your hand to his mouth to kiss it, solely because he knows it makes you blush

Forehead kisser. Partially because he's so frickin tall and it's the easiest place for him to reach, but he cannot go fifteen minutes without kissing your forehead

Will use any excuse to get his hands on you in any circumstance. Whether he's drawing circles on your hip when you're sitting on his lap, or sneaking a hand into your back pocket to not-so-subtly palm your ass, he's gonna do it and have a shit-eating grin on his face the entire time

Such a good listener. It's the highlight of his day when you ramble about everything you did that day while playing with his hands, and he'll just sit there and listen, occasionally asking a question if only to keep you talking because he loves the sound of your voice

Will give you piggyback rides if you're tired of walking or you wore the wrong shoes. You're the only one who gets that privilege, though. Anyone else asks him and he tells them to screw themselves

#logan speaks #logan writes #logan has headcanons #logan howlett headcanons

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mariacallous · 10 months ago

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On Tuesday morning, five days after Hurricane Helene ripped through Boone, North Carolina, David Marlett was on his way to the campus of Appalachian State University. The managing director of the university’s Brantley Risk & Insurance Center, Marlett was planning to spend the day working with his colleagues to help students and community members understand their insurance policies and file claims in the wake of the storm. He didn’t sound hopeful. “I’m dreading it,” he said. “So many people are just not going to have coverage.”

Helene made landfall southeast of Tallahassee, Florida, last week with winds up to 140 miles per hour, downing trees and bringing record-breaking storm surges to areas along the Gulf Coast before charging up through Georgia. But perhaps its most shocking impacts have been on inland North Carolina, where it first started raining while the storm was still over Mexico. At least 57 people are dead in Buncombe County in the west of the state alone. Communities like Boone received dozens of inches of rainfall despite being hundreds of miles from the coast. Waters rose in main streets, sinkholes and mudslides wreaked havoc, and major roads were blocked, flooded, or degraded by the storm.

Now, there’s a good chance that many homeowners in North Carolina won’t see any payouts from their insurance companies—even if they have policies they thought were comprehensive.

“The property insurance market for homes was already a patchwork system that really doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Marlett says. “Now you’re adding in the last couple of years of economic uncertainty, inflation, climate change, population migration—it’s just an unbelievably bad combination happening all at once.”

For North Carolinians, the issue right now has to do with what, exactly, private insurance is on the hook for when it comes to a storm. An average homeowner policy covers damage from wind, but private homeowners’ insurance plans in the US do not cover flooding. Instead, homeowners in areas at risk of flooding usually purchase plans from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The way a hurricane wreaks havoc on a state is a crucial deciding factor for insurers’ wallets. Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida as a category 4 storm with some of the highest wind speeds on record, caused $63 billion in private insurance claims. In contrast, the bulk of the $17 billion in damage caused by 2018’s Hurricane Florence, which tore up the North Carolina coast, was water damage, not wind; as a result, private insurers largely avoided picking up the check for that disaster.

This breakout of flood insurance from home policies dates back to the 1940s, says Donald Hornstein, a law professor at the University of North Carolina and a member of the board of directors of the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association. Private insurance companies decided that they did not have enough data to be able to accurately predict flooding and therefore could not insure it. “In some ways, that calculation of 50 years ago is still the calculation insurers make today,” he says.

While the NFIP, which was created in the late 1960s, provides virtually the only backup against flood damage, the program is saddled with debt and has become a political hot potato. (Project 2025, for instance, recommends phasing out the program entirely and replacing it with private options.) Part of the problem with the NFIP is low uptake. Across the country, FEMA statistics show that just 4 percent of homeowners have flood insurance. Some areas hit by Helene in Appalachia, initial statistics show, have less than 2.5 percent of homeowners signed up for the federal program.

“Even in coastal areas, not many people buy that, much less here in the mountains,” Marlett says. “People have never seemed to fully understand that flood is a separate policy.”

Flooding is not unprecedented in the mountains of North Carolina: Hurricane Ivan swept through Appalachia in 2004, and flash floods from rivers are not unheard of. Purchasing flood insurance is mandatory with a government-backed mortgage in some areas of the country, based on flood zones set by FEMA. But the data is based on extremely outdated floodplain maps that have not taken the most recent climate science on record rainfall into account.

“The biggest non-secret in Washington for decades is how hopelessly out of date these flood maps are,” Hornstein says.

Even if water wasn’t the cause of destruction for some homeowners in North Carolina, the storm’s disastrous mudslides—another risk supercharged by climate change—may not be covered either. Many home insurance policies have carve-outs for what are known as “earth movements,” which includes landslides, sinkholes, and earthquakes. In some states, like California, insurers are mandated to offer additional earthquake insurance, and homeowners can purchase private additional policies that cover earth movements. But in a state like North Carolina, where earthquake risk is extremely low, homeowners may not even know that such policies exist.

It’s also been a tough few years for the insurance industry across the country. A New York Times analysis from May showed that homeowners’ insurers lost money in 18 states in 2023—up from eight states in 2013—largely thanks to expensive disasters like hurricanes and wildfires. Payouts are increasingly costing insurers more than they are getting in premiums. Homeowners are seeing their policies jump as a result: According to statistics compiled by insurance comparison shopping site Insurify, the average annual cost of home insurance climbed nearly 20 percent between 2021 and 2023. In Florida, which has the highest insurance costs in the country, the average homeowner paid over $10,000 a year in 2023—more than $8,600 above the national rate.

Florida has made headlines in recent months as ground zero for the climate-change insurance crisis. More than 30 insurance companies have either fully or partially pulled out of Florida over the past few years, including big names like Farmers’ and AAA, after mounting losses from repeated major hurricanes like 2022’s Ian, the most expensive natural disaster in the state’s history. Florida’s insurer of last resort, now saddled with risk from multiple homeowners, has proposed a rate increase of 14 percent, set to go into effect next year.

In comparison, North Carolina’s insurance market looks pretty good. No insurers have exited the state since 2008, while homeowners pay an average of $2,100 per year—high, but avoiding the sky-high rates of states like Florida, California, and Texas.

“What traditionally has happened is that there’s a rate increase every few years of 8 to 9 percent for homeowner’s insurance,” says Hornstein. “That has kept the market stable, especially when it comes to the coast.”

But as natural disasters of all kinds mount, it’s tough to see a way forward for insurance business as usual. The NFIP is undergoing a series of changes to update the way it calculates rates for flood insurance—but it faces political minefields in potentially expanding the number of homeowners mandated to buy policies. What’s more, many homeowners are seeing the prices for their flood insurance rise as the NFIP adjusts its rates for existing floodplains using new climate models.

Many experts agree that the private market needs to reflect in some way the true cost of living in a disaster-prone area: in other words, it should be more expensive for people to move to a city where it’s more likely your house will be wiped off the map by a storm. The cost of climate change does not seem to be a deterrent in Florida, one of the fastest-growing states in the country, where coastal regions like Panama City, Jacksonville, and Port St. Lucie are booming. (Some research suggests that the mere existence of the NFIP shielded policyholders from the true costs of living in flood-prone areas.)

Asheville, at the heart of Buncombe County, was once hailed as a climate haven safe from disasters; the city is now reeling in the wake of Helene. For many homeowners, small business owners, and renters in western North Carolina, the damage from Helene will be life-changing. FEMA payouts may bring, at best, only a fraction of what a home would be worth. Auto insurance generally covers all types of damage, including flooding—a small bright spot of relief, but not enough to offset the loss of a family’s main asset.

“People at the coast, at some point after the nth storm, they start to get the message,” Hornstein says. “But for people in the western part of the state, this is just Armageddon. And you can certainly forgive them for not having before appreciated the fine points of these impenetrable contracts.”

Marlett says that there are models for insurance that are designed to better withstand the challenges of climate change. New Zealand, for instance, offers policies that cover all types of damage that could happen to your house; while these policies are increasingly tailored price-wise to different types of risk, there’s no chance a homeowner would experience a climate disaster not covered by their existing policies. But it’s hard, he says, to see the US system getting the wholesale overhaul it needs, given how long the piecemeal system has been in place.

“I sound so pessimistic,” he said. “I’m normally an optimistic person.”

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moodymelanist · 2 years ago

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What Happens in Vegas

Happy @cassianappreciationweek everyone! I had a lot of fun with this one and major shoutout to @c-e-d-dreamer for giving me the plot idea for this ❤️‍🔥

Summary: Cassian and the guys spend a weekend in Vegas to celebrate his upcoming marriage to Nesta.

✵✵✵✵✵✵

Cassian

When Cassian had agreed to let Rhys take him to Vegas for an all-expenses-paid bachelor party weekend, he’d been so excited that he hadn’t been able to stop talking about it for days.

He just hadn’t factored in how much he’d miss Nesta.

“You have everything?” Nesta asked, leaning against one of their living room walls as Cassian wheeled his suitcase to the door.

“I think so,” Cassian answered. He did a last-minute check that he had his phone, wallet, and keys, along with a light jacket for the flight. “If not, I can just buy it there.”

“Assuming you’ll be sober enough to think straight,” she teased, following him as he walked to the front of their home.

When they’d been throwing around bachelor party ideas, originally Cassian had wanted to do something chill. He wasn’t into the stereotypical strip club party — especially not when he had Nesta at home waiting for him — but Rhys, Azriel, and Lucien had managed to convince him to visit Vegas for the weekend. Cassian wasn’t a huge gambler, but there were lots of things to do other than throw money away at the casinos, and he’d always wanted to go to Vegas. So he’d agreed to make the trip, and now the moment of truth had finally come.

Cassian wheeled his suitcase outside to see that Rhys’ familiar black Range Rover was sitting in front of their townhouse, the trunk already open for Cassian to add his suitcase to the mix. He waved toward the car and turned back to Nesta so he could give her a proper goodbye, leaning in and pulling her into his arms in a fierce hug. He buried his face into the side of her neck and inhaled the familiar smell of her perfume while she wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into his embrace. Maybe he was being a little dramatic, but who cared? She was the love of his life. He could be a little dramatic if he wanted.

“I’ll miss you,” Cassian murmured. He pulled back from the hug to fix her with what was probably one of the dopiest looks he’d given her yet. “So much.”

“I’ll miss you too, Cassian,” Nesta replied, the hint of a pleased smile making the corners of her lips turn up. “Have a safe flight.”

“Let’s go, lover boy!” Rhys called out from the car. He honked the horn like an asshole and Cassian whirled around to flip him off. “We’re gonna be late for our flight!”

“Shut the fuck up, Rhys, I’m saying goodbye to my wife,” Cassian yelled back. “Who I love very much!”

Nesta laughed, pulling Cassian’s attention back to her. “I love you too. Now hurry up, I have to keep packing for my trip.”

Nesta had decided on taking a beach trip for her bachelorette party, her and the rest of the ladies deciding to drive down to Myrtle Beach to spend a few days relaxing by the water. She and her sisters – along with Emerie and Gwyn – had rented out a beach house for a long weekend, and Cassian couldn’t wait to see just how many freckles would appear on her skin.

“Have fun at the beach,” Cassian said. He leaned in for a goodbye kiss and forced himself to eventually pull away, but not before he cupped her face and ran his thumb across her cheek. “Bye, sweetheart.”

“Bye, baby,” Nesta said back. She waited until he’d put his suitcase in the trunk and got in the car before she turned around and went back inside, though not before blowing him one last kiss.

God, he loved her.

“Fucking finally,” Rhys muttered once Cassian had strapped himself into the passenger seat. “You’re leaving for a few days, not going off to war.”

“I’m not going to apologize for giving the love of my life the goodbye she deserves,” Cassian said primly.

“Cut him a break, you know he can’t help it,” Azriel chimed in from the backseat. “We might as well get used to it. He’ll probably call her every night for a bedtime story.”

“If you got the kind of bedtime stories I did, you’d be calling every night too,” Cassian fired back with a smirk.

“I don’t think any of us want that level of trauma,” Lucien teased, pulling

Thankfully, once they made it to the airport, the rest of their traveling went smoothly. They made it through security without any problems, their flight left on time, and Cassian even got to take a nap in first class, all while he was texting Nesta about how nice it was to have real legroom. By the time they touched down in Vegas and made it to their hotel, Cassian was more than ready to walk around and see all that Vegas had to offer.

Rhys had gotten them some super fancy suite that had a loft and room for everyone to have their own bed, and Cassian could hardly believe the view when they got upstairs. They were so high up that all of Vegas was spread out below them, and Cassian couldn’t stop gaping at how expensive everything must have been.

“Rhys—” Cassian tried to thank him once Rhys had emerged from putting his stuff away, but he only waved Cassian off.

“Don’t even think about it,” Rhys replied. “Come on, we have reservations in an hour.”

Cassian obliged and went to get changed, the four of them eventually making their way downstairs to the hotel’s restaurant. The food was amazing and the service was impeccable, and by the time they made it back upstairs, Cassian’s stomach was pleasantly full and was more than ready to pass out.

“You’re getting an hour, and then we’re going back downstairs,” Azriel told him, waggling his phone at Cassian to show him the timer. “Chop chop.”

“Fine,” Cassian huffed. Once he reached his bed, he kicked off his shoes and stripped down to his underwear before flopping on top of the comforter. “Good night.”

When Lucien came to shake him awake, Cassian was abruptly pulled out of his dream and nearly rolled off the bed. “Morning, sleeping beauty.”

“Fuck off,” Cassian replied good-naturedly.

Lucien just laughed and left him to get dressed, and once Cassian was presentable, he left the warmth of his bed to find Rhys pouring out a round of shots.

“Look who’s finally back to the land of the living,” Rhys said as he put the cap back on. “Nice of you to join us, lover boy.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Cassian said back, flipping him off. “What are we drinking?”

“Tequila,” Azriel answered. He pushed everyone’s shots toward them before moving a little bowl of limes to where the glasses had just been. “If you want one.”

Cassian took one and turned toward Rhys expectantly, since he tended to lead their toasts. His brother was already holding his little shot glass up in the air and waited for the rest of them to follow suit before saying, “To Cassian, who I still can’t believe managed to convince Nesta Archeron to let him follow her around for the rest of their lives. Salud.”

“Trust me, I can’t believe it either,” Cassian joked once he’d tossed back his shot and sucked down on his lime. He’d hardly believed it when she’d said yes to a date, let alone to spending the rest of their lives together, but he wasn’t about to question any of it. “Hit me again.”

By the time they all made it downstairs, they were three shots down and ready for more. Cassian had never really been much of a gambler, but it was cool to see so many different games spread out across the casino floor. There were slot machines and card tables and people cheering or booing depending on how things were going, and Cassian was feeling just enough of a buzz for it to all be exciting.

Of course, it didn’t take long for the buzz to turn into being full-on drunk. Lucien got him one of those enormous daiquiris while Azriel showed him how to use the slot machines, and Cassian felt like a kid in a candy store. He wanted to try everything at least once no matter how much money he won or lost, and his friends were more than willing to encourage him. There were also plenty of women willing to help him out, but Cassian was far too quick to mention Nesta for any of them to get too close.

“You want another one?” Azriel asked once Cassian hit the bottom of his daiquiri. It was so loud inside the casino that it was almost hard to hear him.

“Yeeeeeeeah,” Cassian answered, grinning widely for no reason. Well, not for no reason. He had the greatest friends in the world. “I love you so much, man.”

“Likewise,” Azriel replied. He looked only a little alarmed when Cassian leaned over and threw his arm around him.

“Nooooo,” Cassian whined. “You gotta say it back. Stop being so repressed. And depressed.”

“Yeah, Az,” Rhys chimed in, laughing. “Tell the man you love him, for God’s sake. It’s not healthy to keep everything inside.”

“He knows that I care about him,” Azriel responded with a heavy sigh.

“Just say it,” Lucien told him. “He’s not gonna let it go until you do.”

“Fine.” Azriel turned to Cassian and awkwardly patted the side of his face. “I love you too, Cassian. Now can you please let go of me?”

“Yes,” Cassian replied with a big grin. “You’re the best.”

Azriel patted him again before extracting himself from Cassian’s grip, muttering about how he preferred sober Cassian before he and Lucien headed off to the bar.

“You’re a mess,” Rhys told Cassian fondly.

“I’m your mess,” Cassian replied just as happily. “Well. Mostly Nesta’s mess now.”

“And isn’t that something,” Rhys said, chuckling. He let Cassian lead him over to another slot machine and made a disappointed noise when he didn’t win. “Let me try.”

Halfway through the game, Rhys frowned and pulled his phone out of his pocket. Cassian saw Feyre’s photo lighting up the screen and he couldn’t help but pout. He wished Nesta would call him.

“I’m gonna talk to Feyre for a few minutes,” Rhys said, leaning over to poke his finger into Cassian’s chest. “ You better stay right here. Do you hear me?”

“Yup,” Cassian said back. “Stay right here. Got it.”

Naturally, the moment Rhys walked away to call Feyre, Cassian couldn’t help but wander a little too. He didn’t go far, he just wanted to go somewhere that wasn’t as loud as their corner of the casino was, but that was basically impossible. So he just ended up at one of the smaller bars, sighing as he fiddled with his phone and wished Nesta’s photo would show up on his screen.

Cassian wished Nesta was here. He’d wanted her here with him the entire time, of course, but he was really feeling her absence now.

Maybe he should call her.

Yeah. Yeah. He really wanted to hear her voice, and tell her how much he loved her in case she forgot, which she definitely wouldn’t, but it never hurt. Just in case. And if she wouldn’t call him, then he could always call her to remind her. The perfect compromise.

He dialed her number from memory just because he could, and pressed the phone to his ear while the line rang. He hoped she picked up because he really missed her and wanted to talk to her about Vegas and hear her laugh. God, she had the best laugh. The best everything, really. She was so perfect it was almost too much to handle. But he could manage. For her, he’d do anything.

Nesta didn’t answer, which — Cassian was not going to cry about it. He was not. She was having a good time with her friends, and between the time difference and her being on a well-deserved girls' trip, no way she was picking up the phone right now.

Still. He could be a little sad about it.

“Hi, you’ve reached Nesta Archeron,” came the start of her very professional voicemail. “I’m not available right now, but please leave a message and I’ll call you back as soon as I can.”

“After the tone, please record your message,” the automated voice told him. Cassian blinked away the not-tears in his eyes as he waited for it to finish. “When you are finished recording, you may hang up or press one for more options.”

“Heeeeeeey, sweetheart,” Cassian began once he heard the beep. “Nes. Nesta. Babe. I don’t wanna be annoying or anything. But. I miss you. So, so much. I know it hasn’t even been a day but I wish you were here. I lost all the money Rhys gave me and I wanted to buy you something good but you’re not even here to make me feel better and I hate it.”

Wait. Fuck. It wasn’t her job to make him feel better.

“Not that that’s your responsibility because I am a grown man.” He made sure to stress those last two words so she knew he was being serious. “I just. I’m having fun, but I know I’d have a lot more fun if you were here too.”

He took a deep breath before continuing. “Not that I’m not having fun. I hope you’re having fun. You work so fucking hard and you never do nice things for yourself even though you deserve it. You deserve all the nice things because you are the best fucking person I know.”

God, he was so drunk. Nesta was definitely going to laugh at him about this later, but then she’d kiss him and it would all be worth the embarrassment.

“I just love you so much,” Cassian said, a distressing sniffle making its way out of his nose before he pulled himself together. “Okay. Okay. I’m okay. I’ll see you when you get back. I love you, sweetheart. Okay. Bye.”

Cassian forced himself to hang up and then released a heavy sigh, putting his head in his hands for a few moments to collect himself.

“You alright, man?” someone asked.

Cassian pulled his head out of his hands to see the bartender giving him a semi-worried look. “Yeah. I just really miss my fiancée.”

“Bachelor weekend?” the bartender asked with a sigh. At Cassian’s nod, he added, “You should be enjoying yourself.”

“I am,” Cassian insisted. “I just. Really miss her.”

The guy’s name tag read Kallon, and he looked distinctly unimpressed. “Aren’t you going to see her in a few days?”

“Yeah,” Cassian answered slowly. “So?”

“So?” Kallon repeated. “So? So you’ll see her in a few days, man. You gotta get it together.”

“I’m trying,” Cassian told him.

“Maybe you could order a drink and that would make you feel better,” Kallon suggested pointedly. “Or maybe you could go mope upstairs in your room?”

“Trust me, you’d be moping too if you had a fiancée like mine and she wasn’t here,” Cassian promised.

“Oh yeah?” Kallon replied, sounding extremely skeptical. “Sure, buddy.”

“I’m serious.”

“I’m sure you are, man.”

“I’ll prove it to you.”

“You really don’t need to do that.”

“No, I think I do.” Cassian fumbled with his phone before pulling up some of their engagement photos, his heart squeezing all over again at how gorgeous Nesta looked in them. “Here.”

“Huh,” Kallon said, surprised. “Would you look at that.”

“See?” Cassian said back smugly. He accepted his phone and slid it into his pocket so he wouldn’t lose it. “I told you so.”

“Yeah, alright,” Kallon replied. “You can have that one. She’s beautiful. You two look great together. Now are you gonna order a drink, or are you gonna keep moping?”

Cassian was just about to pull up some more photos and keep being snarky when he felt someone’s hand roughly spin the back of his barstool around. “What the fuck — Rhys?”

“Where the fuck have you been,” Rhys hissed into his ear.

“Right… here?” Cassian replied, confused. He hadn’t gone that far. “I just went to sit down somewhere else.”

“We have been looking for you for the last fucking half hour,” Rhys continued. “We thought we lost you!”

“How the fuck could you lose me? I’ve been here the whole time,” Cassian told him. He turned toward the bartender and made a flapping motion with his hands that he hoped got his point across. “Tell him!”

“It’s true,” Kallon replied resignedly. “He’s been here the whole time, moping about missing his fiancée and not ordering anything .”

“My gorgeous fiancée,” Cassian corrected automatically.

“Yeah, yeah, the sun shines out of Nesta’s ass, we get it,” Azriel chimed in, sounding exhausted.

“Let’s just be grateful nobody had to tell her we lost him,” Lucien muttered. He exchanged a relieved look with Rhys and Azriel before turning his attention back to Cassian, pulling one of Cassian’s arms over his shoulder so he could bodily haul Cassian out of his seat. “Come on, lover boy. That’s enough shenanigans for one night.”

#cassianappreciationweek2023 #Cassian #nesta archeron #Nessian #Rhysand #azriel #lucien vanserra #moodymelanistwrites #acotar #acomaf #acowar #acofas #acosf

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yolondon · 5 months ago

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PART 1: THE BASICS

What is your full name?

• London Matías McClure.

Where and when were you born?

• July 14th,1995 in a small town in Cambridge, England.

Who are/were your parents? (Know their names, occupations, personalities, etc.)

• Mom is Nicola McClure, a 56 year old woman who migrated from the Dominican Republic to the UK in her early twenties to pursue her dream of becoming a model, which she had some success in before she transitioned into journalism. She could be described as nurturing, always jumping into “mom mode” no matter what room she’s in.

• Dad is Adonis McClure, a 55 year old man of jamaican descent who was born in England shortly after his parents moved there for a better life. While pursuing his dream of becoming a pro soccer player he worked as a wielder to help support his parents and siblings. His children would describe him hardworking, intimidating, and a jokester.

Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like?

• 3 sisters ages 35, 33, and 27. The two oldest were like additional moms to him at times. They are very goal driven women who helps their dad with running his self-starting foundation. His younger sister is the token “baby” to a tee who is still trying to find her footing in life. Despite their age gaps they are all very close and have a dedicated imessage groupchat.

Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.

• He lives alone in a townhouse that is apart of a gated community, it is 2 stories with a finished basement that has been transformed into game-room. Majority of his home is decorated with different tones of blue and a neutral nude color. He has a lot of his collectibles (funko pops, signed movie posters, special edition lego sets etc) displayed around his home.

What is your occupation?

• Physician’s Assistant in a clinic that specializes in cosmetic augmentations.

Write a full physical description of yourself. You might want to consider factors such as: height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, and any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks.

• He stands at around 5'9", his frame solid and grounded, a fusion of Jamaican and Dominican roots woven into his very presence. His skin, a warm tawny beige with the faintest olive undertones. Dark brown hair, thick and tightly coiled, that is grown out a bit. His eyes, a striking hazel, flicker with a quiet intensity, contrasting with the calm stoicism of his full, well-kept beard—trimmed low.

To which social class do you belong?

• Upper-Middle Class.

Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses?

• Seasonal allergies.

Are you right- or left-handed?

• Left-handed.

What does your voice sound like?

• In professional settings, his voice carries the calm precision of a neutral British accent, tinged with the understated charm of Cambridge. But when he's with friends and family, his tone shifts, taking on a rhythmic cadence shaped by the melodies of Jamaican Patois and Dominican Spanish. The result is an accent that feels both rich and melodic, infused with a subtle warmth, like the soft hum of the Caribbean breeze.

What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently?

• Bless up, Wah gwann (more so when he’s joking with his dad), Whatever TikTok sound is stuck in his head for the week.

What do you have in your pockets?

• Car keys, Wallet, chipotle receipt and trident gum.

Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?

• Tends to switch accents without even thinking about it — Has a thing for hand gestures. When they talk, especially when excited, they can’t help but snap their fingers or move their hands in rhythm with their words, like the beat is built into their conversation — They’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth too. Hard-dough bread or fried plantains are always their go-to comfort food. It’s a habit that’s stuck with them from their roots. — When they’re with family, there’s a lot of teasing and joking around in a way that feels both playful and familiar

PART 2: GROWING UP

How would you describe your childhood in general?

• He would describe his childhood as a blend of cultures and experiences, one that always felt rich but never quite predictable. Growing up in the UK, he was surrounded by the calm, often reserved atmosphere of Cambridge—quiet streets, green parks, and the kind of politeness that came naturally to people from his father’s side. But there was always a vibrant energy at home, thanks to his mother, who brought a bit of the Dominican warmth and flair with her.

His mother had migrated to the UK in her early twenties to pursue a modeling career, and though she was successful, there were always hints of nostalgia for the island life she left behind. Her stories of the Dominican Republic filled the house, and the music—merengue, bachata—was often playing, even when it was just a lazy Sunday afternoon. She had a certain regal confidence, and he couldn’t help but admire her, especially when he realized how hard she worked to make her way in a new country, all while raising him and his siblings.

His father, a first-generation Jamaican immigrant, had a different kind of presence. He had that calm intensity that came with his pro soccer career—focused, driven, but always managing to weave in laughter and stories of his Jamaican roots. Sundays at home would sometimes be filled with soccer games on TV, and his dad would teach him little bits of Patois, though he always seemed to push him to be the best version of himself, both on and off the field.

What is your earliest memory?

• His earliest memory is of sitting on his dad’s lap in front of the TV, watching a soccer match. The smell of jerk chicken cooking in the background and the sound of his mom laughing with her friends while his sister’s helped her.

How much schooling have you had?

• He completed his undergraduate degree in a science-related field, where he first developed an interest in healthcare, before going on to complete the rigorous training to become a physician’s assistant. It took him a few years of intense coursework, clinical rotations, and hands-on experience in various medical settings to earn his certification.

Did you enjoy school?

• He wasn’t always the biggest fan of school, but he appreciated the structure and the opportunities it gave him.

Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?

• He learned most of his skills through a combination of formal education and hands-on experience. His medical knowledge and clinical abilities came from years of rigorous training to become a physician’s assistant. But a lot of his personal skills—like empathy, communication, and adaptability—were shaped by his upbringing in a multicultural home. Growing up around his parents’ diverse backgrounds, he learned to navigate different perspectives and connect with people from all walks of life, which made him especially effective in his medical career.

While growing up, did you have any role models? If so, describe them.

• His parents were always his biggest role models. His mother, with her strength and determination, showed him what it meant to chase your dreams. Her resilience and grace in navigating two very different cultures left a lasting impact on him. His father, a former pro soccer player, taught him the importance of discipline, focus, and hard work. Even though he was a quiet figure, his father’s unwavering commitment to excellence in everything he did inspired him to push himself, both personally and professionally.

While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family?

• Growing up, he had a strong bond with every member of his family. He was especially close with his three sisters, who he considered his closest allies. They had a natural camaraderie and always looked out for one another, whether it was supporting each other through school or just hanging out at home. With his parents, the dynamic was a blend of admiration and respect.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

• He wanted to be a professional soccer player.

As a child, what were your favorite activities?

• Soccer, school trips, swimming, going to his dad’s games.

As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display?

• As a child, he displayed a sensitive and intuitive nature. He was very in tune with the emotions of those around him, often picking up on how others were feeling without them needing to say much. Family was incredibly important to him, and he had a protective streak, always looking out for the people he loved. He was imaginative and creative, often lost in his own world of stories and drawings. Though he could be a bit shy at first, especially with new people, once he felt comfortable, he was warm, loyal, and deeply caring.

As a child, were you popular? Who were your friends, and what were they like?

• He was what you would consider popular thanks to the status of his parents and the weight it held in his community. He had a handful of friends, most of them also had affluent families who had raised spoiled brats. They tended to push the boundaries of London and many times bumped heads over moral compasses.

When and with whom was your first kiss?

• Kory Wilson at their 3rd grade ball.

Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity?

• Kory Wilson after their sophomore Leaver’s Ball.

PART 3: PAST INFLUENCES

What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?

• Finishing the schooling needed for his current role.

Who has had the most influence on you?

• His older sisters.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

• Building a solid foundation in a different country for himself.

What is your greatest regret?

• Missing out on some of the fun in college.

What is the most evil thing you have ever done?

• Ignoring his dad during his first year of college due to a disagreement about his future goals.

Do you have a criminal record of any kind?

• No.

When was the time you were the most frightened?

• Coming out to his parents and family.

What is the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you?

• Getting too drunk and vomiting on his crush.

If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?

• Taking a gap year to just travel some and have real down time.

What is your best memory?

• Any holidays spent at home or when he had opportunities to travel back to his mom’s home to meet relatives.

What is your worst memory?

• Having his fiancé end things via text.

#L.A. Task 101

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fantasyfantasygames · 1 year ago

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Metal Gods

Metal Gods, Walla Walla Wallet Games, 2022

The official Transformers RPG came out in 2022. It was generally not received positively. By December of that year, an indie developer had created a tiny game that started off as an "I can do better" project and ended up as something quite different.

Metal Gods' roots as a Transformers game are fairly obvious. You play transforming robots from outer space. There are default good guys and bad guys. Despite the "eldritch angel" appearance of several of the robots, there's not much else you really need to make this identifiable as a knockoff. The key difference is that the game's other major inspiration is Demon: the Descent. These robots transform into people rather than vehicles. Specifically, people who were dying as the Metal Gods arrived on Earth. This makes them much less toyetic, but also changes the feel. Instead of hiding out in a mountain, you blend into society, seek out energy reserves, try to track down your evil counterparts, and attempt to repair your starship.

Resolution mechanics are simple dice-wise but take an unusual bent on what success means. You're rolling d6+number, with values generally between +2 and +8. Your target number to do the thing you want to do is a flat 5, so you're very likely to succeed. Your target number to do the thing while staying hidden to various degrees is higher, and you have to basically wager on that. You can trade flat bonuses for more dice, but rolling 1s (or losing a contested roll) gives you Fallout dice, which is how bad things happen to you.

There's no chargen or advancement. You pick out a robot card and a human card and that's your character. The art consists just of stock photos for the humans, and rendered stock 3d models for the robots. Congrats on finding a stock model for a biblically accurate ophanim.

Walla Walla Wallet Games was based in Washington state. You can guess where. They stole Button Shy's form factor except that they do RPGs instead of board/card games. They blame their recent financial collapse on the unfortunate choice of "WWW Games" as their official company name, which in addition to being longer to say, basically made them ungoogleable.

#ttrpg #imaginary #indie ttrpg #rpg #review #transformers #more than meets several dozen eyes and wings

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yagimorten · 2 months ago

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Crypto Theft Nightmare: How Astraweb Recovered $150,000 Lost to Hackers

When David Robinson., a 58-year-old retired software consultant from Denver, Colorado, transferred his entire retirement savings $150,000 into a cryptocurrency portfolio, he believed he was securing his financial future. Instead, he walked into a digital minefield. In a single night, everything he had worked for was stolen by anonymous hackers. It was the kind of nightmare many investors fear but few believe could happen to them.

“I thought I had done everything right,” David said. “I had cold storage, I used two-factor authentication, and I only traded on what were considered reputable exchanges. But somehow, someone got in.”

The breach wasn’t just technical it was deeply personal. Decades of disciplined saving, investing, and planning had been wiped away with a few keystrokes. And in the opaque world of blockchain anonymity, there seemed to be little recourse.

A New Kind of Crime, an Old System Ill-Equipped David’s case is not isolated. According to recent figures from the Federal Trade Commission, over $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency was reported stolen in the U.S. last year alone. What’s more chilling is the vast majority of these crimes go unresolved. Law enforcement agencies, though increasingly aware of crypto fraud, are often hampered by jurisdictional boundaries, limited training in blockchain forensics, and the sheer complexity of digital asset recovery.

David contacted local police, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), and even attempted to escalate the issue through the exchange’s customer service channels. All efforts ended in frustration. “Everyone was sympathetic,” he recalled, “but no one could help. They didn’t have the tools. I felt like I was shouting into the void.”

That void, however, was about to echo back.

Astraweb: The Digital Recovery Force Behind the ScenesWith few options left, David turned to a name he had seen mentioned in niche online forums and cybersecurity discussion threads: Astraweb. A private digital asset recovery agency, Astraweb has earned a quiet but powerful reputation for solving complex crypto theft cases especially those deemed too advanced or impossible by other channels.David sent a tentative email to [email protected], not expecting much. Within 12 hours, he received a reply. “From the first message,” he says, “I could tell they were different. They didn’t just want transaction IDs. They asked smart, precise questions. They were calm, confident, and, most importantly, they listened.”Astraweb’s team began work immediately.Digital Surveillance Meets Blockchain ForensicsWhile the average consumer may understand Bitcoin or Ethereum as abstract tokens, Astraweb views the blockchain as a massive, living map of transactions. Every move a stolen coin makes leaves a trace however faint.

Using a proprietary method called wallet triangulation, Astraweb identified the exit points the thief had used to shuffle and launder the funds. These techniques involve advanced blockchain analytics, surveillance of darknet exchange patterns, and metadata correlation to monitor crypto mixers and swap protocols often used to obscure fund movements.

According to sources familiar with Astraweb’s methods, their teams blend cybersecurity expertise with behavioral analytics to predict a thief’s next move. “It’s part code, part cat-and-mouse,” one expert commented. “But when you understand the flow of crypto like a language, the signals start to emerge.”

In David’s case, Astraweb tracked the funds as they moved through a network of wallets, some automated, others human-controlled, eventually leading to a decentralized exchange platform that allowed partial recovery. In collaboration with international legal intermediaries and with careful timing, Astraweb executed a legal intercept of the funds as they entered a liquidity pool.

The Outcome: Full Recovery, Real Relief Just 48 hours after their initial contact, Astraweb notified David that the entire $150,000 had been recovered and would be transferred back to his newly secured wallet.

Reach out to them Now If you have Related Issues Like This:

[email protected]

#bitcoin #blockchain #crypto #recovery

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mxghxnx · 2 months ago

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Title: Pet Insurance in a Nutshell: How to Have Your Pet's Health and Your Own Peace of Mind Insured

Our animals rely on us for everything from shelter and sustenance to cuddles and doctor visits. As having pets moves from companionship to an intense emotional bond, the job of pet parents has expanded. One area getting more attention is pet insurance, a trend finding its way into mainstream pet care discourse.

Though not yet widely utilized globally, especially in the developing world, pet insurance is not a fad or something for the indulgent. It's an intelligent, forward-thinking decision that supports your pet's health and your pocketbook's protection. Here, we cut through the basics of pet insurance — what it is, why you should have it, and what you should know as a pet owner before signing up.

What Is Pet Insurance?

Simply stated, pet insurance is an animal policy that pays for some of the health-related costs of animals, mainly dogs and cats. Similar to human medical insurance, it is a financial shield against surprise medical crises. Based on the policy, it reimburses for accidents, illness, surgery, testing, medicine, and, in some instances, preventive treatment such as shots and check-ups.

There are three most frequently utilized forms of pet insurance coverage:

Accident-only plans: Pay for accident-induced injuries such as fractures, bites, or poisoning.

Accident and illness plans: All of the above and coverage for diseases such as cancer, infection, or diabetes.

Comprehensive plans: accident and illness protection and wellness or preventive care, such as yearly checkups, flea protection, and dental cleaning.

Why Is Pet Insurance Important?

1. Healthcare Costs Are Increasing

Veterinary care today is more advanced than ever before. Giving digital X-rays, chemotherapy, and even organ transplants, these treatments can keep life in a being—and they are expensive. A surgery may clean out the wallet of a few thousand, while a chronic illness may demand far more. Use pet insurance to somewhat alleviate such bills, allowing people to opt for treatments based on a pet's needs rather than money.

2. Unpredictable Emergencies

No matter how careful we might be, pets can fall victim to sudden illness or injury. Whether it's swallowing a toy, a car crash, or an illness spread by ticks, emergencies happen when we don't expect them. Insurance prepares you financially to act fast without hesitation.

3. Peace of Mind

Knowing that you have a safety net allows you to make more intelligent decisions for your pet's health. It removes the anxiety of incurring high vet charges and permits you to pursue the best treatment possible.

Myths Surrounding Pet Insurance

Even with its advantages, pet insurance is sometimes misconstrued. Let's dispel some myths:

"It's not worth it if my pet is healthy."

Insurance is most effective when purchased before a pet develops health issues. Waiting until your pet is ill can mean the condition is excluded as a pre-existing issue.

“It covers everything.”

No policy insures 100% of all expenses. The majority of policies contain exclusions, deductibles, and maximums. Reading the small print is essential.

“It’s too expensive.”

Premiums differ with the pet's breed, age, and where they live. Most standard policies are cheap and can cut your expenses by thousands in the long term.

What to Look for When Selecting a Plan

If you need pet insurance, these are factors to consider in order to make a positive decision:

Breed-Specific Risks: Certain breeds make their owners more likely to have certain health problems. Be aware of what conditions are prevalent in your pet's breed and select a policy that insures them.

Coverage Limitations: Select policies that offer great annual or lifetime limits. Low-limit policies might be useless for more than minor emergencies.

Exclusions and Waiting Periods: Pre-existing conditions, genetic disorders, and cosmetic treatments are usually excluded. Most plans also have a waiting period before coverage starts.

Claim Process and Reimbursement: Know how the claim is processed. Does the vet pay directly, or do you have to pay in advance? What's the rate of reimbursement?

Customer Service and Reputation: Because insurance is an investment for the long haul, select a company with an open claims process and positive customer ratings.

Is Pet Insurance Right for Everyone?

Not necessarily. Pet insurance is a vehicle — not a universal fit. It provides peace of mind and actual financial security to some. To others with the means to self-insure (by setting aside money on a regular basis for pet health), it may be unnecessary. It depends on assessing your pet's health, your finances, and your tolerance for risk.

Even if you choose not to insure, creating an emergency fund just for your pet is a good habit. It won't give the formalized advantages of a policy, but it does condition you for future medical bills.

The Global Perspective

In nations such as Sweden and the UK, the majority of pet owners are insured. In other countries, such as India, awareness is only increasing. With more individuals keeping pets and veterinary treatment becoming highly developed, insurance is set to become increasingly part of pet parenting. Government initiatives and industry innovation can further drive this process, making coverage available and bespoke to local requirements.

Final Thoughts

Pet insurance is not about planning for the worst; it's about planning for it. As good pet parents, we can't possibly predict every fever or fall, but we can institute policies that provide our pets with timely and proper care. Whether you decide to insure or not, being knowledgeable is step number one.

We believe in giving pet parents the power of knowledge at Petsfolio. Because wise choices mean healthier, happier lives — for humans and animals alike.

#pets

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quickpay1 · 3 months ago

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Benefits of Fast Online Payments — Quick Pay

In today’s digital economy, fast online payments are no longer just a convenience—they are a necessity. From e-commerce stores to freelancers and service providers, everyone is shifting toward quicker, safer, and smarter payment solutions. Among the many options available, Quick Pay has emerged as a leading platform offering seamless online payment experiences for both businesses and customers.

If you're a business owner or entrepreneur looking to scale your operations and improve customer satisfaction, understanding the benefits of fast online payments is crucial. And when it comes to delivering these benefits efficiently, Quick Pay stands out with its cutting-edge features and reliable service.

1. Enhanced Customer Experience

The first and most obvious benefit of fast online payments is an improved customer experience. Today’s consumers expect instant transactions. A slow or complicated checkout process can lead to cart abandonment and loss of revenue.

With Quick Pay, customers can complete payments in just a few clicks. The user-friendly interface, minimal redirects, and fast processing ensure that your clients enjoy a hassle-free payment journey, increasing the chances of repeat business.

Quick Pay Advantage:

One-click checkout

Mobile-optimized experience

Multiple payment options: UPI, cards, wallets, net banking

2. Faster Cash Flow for Businesses

One of the major benefits of fast online payments is accelerated cash flow. Unlike traditional bank transfers that may take days, fast payment systems like Quick Pay ensure that your money reaches you quickly—often on the same day.

For small businesses and startups, this is a game-changer. You no longer have to wait endlessly for payments, allowing better cash management, investment in growth, and operational efficiency.

Quick Pay Benefit:

Same-day settlements (T+0 and T+1 options)

Instant payment notifications

Transparent tracking of incoming funds

3. Higher Conversion Rates

Online businesses thrive on conversion rates. A complicated or slow payment process can discourage potential customers right at the final step. By offering a quick and secure payment gateway like Quick Pay, businesses can increase their checkout success rate dramatically.

Speed combined with security builds trust and reduces the bounce rate.

Quick Pay Features That Help:

Secure payment environment (PCI DSS compliant)

Optimized checkout for mobile and desktop

Auto-fill and tokenized payments for returning users

4. Increased Trust and Credibility

When customers notice that your website or app uses a reputed and fast payment solution like Quick Pay, it instantly boosts your brand’s credibility. Shoppers feel more secure transacting on your platform, knowing that their personal and financial data is in safe hands.

This trust translates into higher engagement, more referrals, and long-term brand loyalty.

Quick Pay Security Standards:

End-to-end encryption

Two-factor authentication

Fraud detection and chargeback control

5. Support for Recurring Payments

Many businesses today rely on subscription models—whether it's digital services, SaaS platforms, or fitness memberships. A major benefit of fast online payments is the ability to automate recurring billing.

Quick Pay makes recurring payments smooth and effortless. Customers don’t need to re-enter their details every time, and businesses enjoy predictable revenue without delays.

With Quick Pay, You Get:

Automated recurring billing setup

Smart invoicing and reminders

Custom billing cycles

6. Lower Operational Costs

Handling cash or bank transfers manually involves time, risk, and additional staff. Online payments automate this entire process, reducing overhead costs. Quick Pay’s all-in-one dashboard helps manage your transactions, analytics, and customer data in one place.

Over time, businesses save money on labor, reconciliation, and administrative tasks.

Quick Pay’s Business Dashboard Offers:

Real-time transaction tracking

Sales reports and analytics

Easy refund and dispute management

7. Wider Customer Reach

Fast online payments open up a global customer base. Whether you're selling in your local city or shipping products across the world, a payment gateway like Quick Pay ensures that you never miss a sale due to geographical or banking limitations.

Quick Pay supports multi-currency payments and international cards, making it easier to scale your business globally.

Quick Pay Global Features:

Support for major global currencies

Acceptance of Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and more

Integration with international platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and others

8. Seamless Integrations with Online Platforms

The benefits of fast online payments are amplified when your payment gateway easily integrates with your website, mobile app, or POS system. Quick Pay offers ready-made plugins and robust APIs for smooth integration.

This reduces developer time, lowers setup costs, and gets you live faster.

Quick Pay Integration Highlights:

Easy plugins for WordPress, Shopify, Magento

Android/iOS SDKs for mobile apps

API documentation and 24/7 tech support

9. Better Customer Retention

A smooth payment experience not only helps you close a sale but also encourages customers to return. Fast refunds, saved payment options, and friendly interfaces make users feel valued.

Quick Pay includes customer retention features like:

Smart retry on failed transactions

Branded payment pages

Custom thank-you messages and emails

10. Real-Time Analytics and Insights

Understanding how your customers pay can guide better business decisions. Quick Pay’s powerful analytics tools offer deep insights into payment trends, user behavior, and settlement reports—all in real time.

This data can be used to optimize your marketing campaigns, identify high-value customers, and plan inventory.

What Quick Pay Analytics Offers:

Dashboard with payment trends and patterns

Conversion rate tracking

Refund and dispute summary

Why Choose Quick Pay?

When it comes to maximizing the benefits of fast online payments, Quick Pay checks all the boxes:

✅ Fast and secure transactions ✅ Same-day settlements ✅ Easy integrations ✅ Scalable for small to enterprise businesses ✅ Exceptional customer support

Whether you're a growing startup, a large enterprise, or a freelancer, Quick Pay empowers your business to accept payments quickly, securely, and with minimal friction.

Final Thoughts

The world is moving fast, and so should your payments. Embracing the benefits of fast online payments can revolutionize your business operations, boost customer satisfaction, and drive consistent revenue.

With its reliable technology, business-friendly features, and unmatched customer support, Quick Pay is the ideal partner for modern businesses looking to thrive in the digital age.

Ready to Get Started?

Visit www.usequickpay.com to create your free account and start accepting payments within minutes.

#finance #online payments #payments #branding #economy #quickpay #bestpaymentgateway #FastOnlinePayments #QuickPayIndia #DigitalPaymentsSolution

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thebrandscalingexpert · 4 months ago

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How to Develop a P2P Crypto Exchange and How Much Does It Cost?

With the rise of cryptocurrencies, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) crypto exchanges have become a popular choice for users who want to trade digital assets directly with others. These decentralized platforms offer a more secure, private, and cost-effective way to buy and sell cryptocurrencies. If you’re considering building your own P2P crypto exchange, this blog will guide you through the development process and give you an idea of how much it costs to create such a platform.

What is a P2P Crypto Exchange?

A P2P crypto exchange is a decentralized platform that allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies directly with each other without relying on a central authority. These exchanges connect buyers and sellers through listings, and transactions are often protected by escrow services to ensure fairness and security. P2P exchanges typically offer lower fees, more privacy, and a variety of payment methods, making them an attractive alternative to traditional centralized exchanges.

Steps to Develop a P2P Crypto Exchange

Developing a P2P crypto exchange involves several key steps. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

1. Define Your Business Model

Before starting the development, it’s important to define the business model of your P2P exchange. You’ll need to decide on key factors like:

Currency Support: Which cryptocurrencies will your exchange support (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins)?

Payment Methods: What types of payment methods will be allowed (bank transfer, PayPal, cash, etc.)?

Fees: Will you charge a flat fee per transaction, a percentage-based fee, or a combination of both?

User Verification: Will your platform require Know-Your-Customer (KYC) verification?

2. Choose the Right Technology Stack

Building a P2P crypto exchange requires selecting the right technology stack. The key components include:

Backend Development: You'll need a backend to handle user registrations, transaction processing, security protocols, and matching buy/sell orders. Technologies like Node.js, Ruby on Rails, or Django are commonly used.

Frontend Development: The user interface (UI) must be intuitive, secure, and responsive. HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and React or Angular are popular choices for frontend development.

Blockchain Integration: Integrating blockchain technology to support cryptocurrency transactions is essential. This could involve setting up APIs for blockchain interaction or using open-source solutions like Ethereum or Binance Smart Chain (BSC).

Escrow System: An escrow system is crucial to protect both buyers and sellers during transactions. This involves coding or integrating a reliable escrow service that holds cryptocurrency until both parties confirm the transaction.

3. Develop Core Features

Key features to develop for your P2P exchange include:

User Registration and Authentication: Secure login options such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and multi-signature wallets.

Matching Engine: This feature matches buyers and sellers based on their criteria (e.g., price, payment method).

Escrow System: An escrow mechanism holds funds in a secure wallet until both parties confirm the transaction is complete.

Payment Gateway Integration: You’ll need to integrate payment gateways for fiat transactions (e.g., bank transfers, PayPal).

Dispute Resolution System: Provide a system where users can report issues, and a support team or automated process can resolve disputes.

Reputation System: Implement a feedback system where users can rate each other based on their transaction experience.

4. Security Measures

Security is critical when building any crypto exchange. Some essential security features include:

End-to-End Encryption: Ensure all user data and transactions are encrypted to protect sensitive information.

Cold Storage for Funds: Store the majority of the platform's cryptocurrency holdings in cold wallets to protect them from hacking attempts.

Anti-Fraud Measures: Implement mechanisms to detect fraudulent activity, such as IP tracking, behavior analysis, and AI-powered fraud detection.

Regulatory Compliance: Ensure your platform complies with global regulatory requirements like KYC and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) protocols.

5. Testing and Launch

After developing the platform, it’s essential to test it thoroughly. Perform both manual and automated testing to ensure all features are functioning properly, the platform is secure, and there are no vulnerabilities. This includes:

Unit testing

Load testing

Penetration testing

User acceptance testing (UAT)

Once testing is complete, you can launch the platform.

How Much Does It Cost to Develop a P2P Crypto Exchange?

The cost of developing a P2P crypto exchange depends on several factors, including the complexity of the platform, the technology stack, and the development team you hire. Here’s a general cost breakdown:

1. Development Team Cost

You can either hire an in-house development team or outsource the project to a blockchain development company. Here’s an estimated cost for each:

In-house Team: Hiring in-house developers can be more expensive, with costs ranging from $50,000 to $150,000+ per developer annually, depending on location.

Outsourcing: Outsourcing to a specialized blockchain development company can be more cost-effective, with prices ranging from $30,000 to $100,000 for a full-fledged P2P exchange platform, depending on the complexity and features.

2. Platform Design and UI/UX

The design of the platform is crucial for user experience and security. Professional UI/UX design can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the design complexity and features.

3. Blockchain Integration

Integrating blockchain networks (like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, etc.) can be costly, with development costs ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 or more, depending on the blockchain chosen and the integration complexity.

4. Security and Compliance

Security is a critical component for a P2P exchange. Security audits, KYC/AML implementation, and regulatory compliance measures can add $10,000 to $50,000 to the total development cost.

5. Maintenance and Updates

Post-launch maintenance and updates (bug fixes, feature enhancements, etc.) typically cost about 15-20% of the initial development cost annually.

Total Estimated Cost

Basic Platform: $30,000 to $50,000

Advanced Platform: $70,000 to $150,000+

Conclusion

Developing a P2P crypto exchange requires careful planning, secure development, and a focus on providing a seamless user experience. The cost of developing a P2P exchange varies depending on factors like platform complexity, team, and security measures, but on average, it can range from $30,000 to $150,000+.

If you're looking to launch your own P2P crypto exchange, it's essential to partner with a reliable blockchain development company to ensure the project’s success and long-term sustainability. By focusing on security, user experience, and regulatory compliance, you can create a platform that meets the growing demand for decentralized crypto trading.

Feel free to adjust or expand on specific details to better suit your target audience!

#business #blockchain #crypto #bitcoin #cryptocurrency #altcoin

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appears · 2 years ago

Text

20th Anniversary

Namie Amuro: Style (2003.12.10)

There are at least four distinct eras in Namie Amuro's career: 1) her initial debut with the idol-ish super eurobeat/dance group SUPER MONKEY'S (which spawned the group MAX) from 1992 to 1995, 2) her major debut as a solo artist with Avex Trax in 1995, kicked off by the single "Body Feels EXIT," through to the height of her popularity as a leading figure in the J-pop industry alongside producer Tetsuya Komuro until her abrupt hiatus in 1997, 3) the awkward, not-very-well-received comeback and transition to post-TK R&B, which saw the lowest sales numbers of her career, and lasted roughly until the release of Queen of Hip-Pop in 2005, and 4) her meteoric rebound, transition back to dance-pop, and the cementing of her status as a legend, until the abrupt announcement of her retirement in 2017. There are a lot of mini-moments within these eras, and many parts overlap so that it's not exactly seamless, but that's the gist of it.

While Namie's comeback was one of the rarest in music history, the factors that led to the initial nadir are just as interesting and numerous. For one, she had squandered the goodwill of the public by engaging in activity that was frowned upon in Japan at the time: she hooked up with a backup dancer, got pregnant, got married, got tattoos, and got divorced, all within the space of a couple of years. On top of it, Namie's success was tied to that of her producer, the mega-popular and prolific Tetsuya Komuro, who was basically running a personal empire in the 1990s. While Namie's popularity and success was never due solely to the music he was writing for her, it was an enormous contributing factor to her sales numbers. TK's brand of pop was the defining style of the 90s, with no one better able to pry open wallets in what was the CD format's most lucrative era. But just as quickly and completely as he ruled hearts and charts, his music fell out of style, also as a result of several factors (mostly the rise of singer-songwriters and R&B/hip-hop in the mainstream, and personal issues involving everything from tax evasion, to drug rumors and a wild romantic life). Namie teaming up with him again for her immediate comeback never stood a chance against so much drama. So major changes were made when Namie ditched the Komuro baggage, taking the plunge with new support -- Dallas Austin, m-flo, ZEEBRA, even Teddy Riley -- into the world of R&B and hip-hop.

This brave step didn't immediately produce amazing results: if anything, Namie's early forays proved lackluster and indecisive on albums like GENIUS 2000. It wasn't until 2003's STYLE that she finally and fully committed to the change. Gone were the days of chasing the chance and dreaming that she was dreaming, Namie was now putting up her dukes, wishing on the same star, and shining more. The songs on the album were all heavily influenced by contemporary Western trends of the time, especially Black hip-hop, fashion, and culture. The early 00s was still the era of P. Diddy, Jennifer Lopez, Nelly, Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott, and in some ways, STYLE samples sounds from all of these artists in different ways, with the inclusion of a few softer songs, such as "Four Seasons," "As Good As," and "Come," which were deliberately added for variety. But for the most part, the album is built on beats, bars, and rhymes. This was still a fairly new thing to see in the Japanese mainstream, and certainly by an Avex Trax artist -- for comparison, Ayumi Hamasaki had just released her rock opus I am..., while RAINBOW merely dipped a toe into R&B on a song like "Real me," Ai Otsuka was less than a year out from releasing LOVE PUNCH, Hikaru Utada was actually going softer and more art-pop with Deep River, and both BoA and Kumi Koda had just debuted in Japan with LISTEN TO MY HEART and affection respectively, which stayed squarely on the softer R&B/pop side of the fence. Only Crystal Kay, HEARTSDALES, and maybe DOUBLE were a step ahead of Namie, but I would argue that STYLE and Namie's involvement in projects like SUITE CHIC really let the sound transition into the broader and bigger Oricon mainstream, prompting a rash of copycat records.

Even so, STYLE did poorly. It still hit #1 in its first week, but it stands as Namie's least popular record with the fewest sales numbers to this day. It does, however, have something of a cult following by fans who now look back at the early 00s with nostalgia. Personally, I didn't like this album when I first heard it -- its lack of pop and dance music, which I was used to hearing from Namie, coupled with what seemed like a desperate bid for relevancy in a genre that I wasn't particularly interested in at the time, turned me off from spending much time with it. Nowadays, I dislike this album less -- there are songs on here that I actually really like. My only real caveat is that the album is split too abruptly at the halfway point between the bangers and the non-hip-hop tracks. In hindsight, STYLE is clearly Namie still getting comfortable in this milieu, and it's especially obvious next to albums like Queen of Hip-Pop and PLAY that were more successful at capturing something both influenced by hip-hop and unique to what only Namie could bring.

This CD album comes in a standard jewel case with an OBI and a booklet that features additional photos and lyrics. First press editions featured two exclusive bonus tracks: a remix of "SO CRAZY," and an alternate version of "Wishing on the Same Star." For me, this album is more interesting for what lead to it, what it lead to, and what it said about the state of Namie Amuro and J-pop at the time. It's not great, but it's not nearly as bad as I remember it being. Avex Trax, of course, would politely disagree, largely ignoring it on the career-summarizing compilation album Finally (only "SO CRAZY" represents). After something as tentative and a bit try-hard as this, the world was not ready for what was coming down the pipe with Queen of Hip-Pop, making that era all the more wild and magical.

Catalog Number: AVCD-17372

#namie amuro #j-pop #japanese pop #anniversaries #avex trax

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