#tpg; reserved

[theplaygroundkrp]

GISELLE of AESPA has been RESERVED!

“Don't be afraid to ask for what you need... Look us in the eyes, and just say please. We're ready for you, anytime of the day. Your personal playground... Where only you... get to play.”

We’ve been waiting for you! We can’t wait to play with you! Please fill out your application and submit it within 3 days of your set reservation date to be reviewed for entrance into the roleplay, and for your muse to be counted in roll call. See you soon! 

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[missingn000]

hey, all! it’s that time!

there will be a live tpg q&a TONIGHT with me (tpg's author) and getoswrongs (tpg's beta reader) in the tpg discord starting at 8:30PM PST! (approximately 9 hours from now) we will be there for many hours, so don’t worry if you can’t come until later! use this time zone calculator to determine what time it will be for you. you can enter california as PST.

as the main purpose is a tpg q&a, try to stay on topic! you can come with questions, or just to listen and chat about the story. i also want to make sure everyone who wants to has a chance to talk, in the interest of fairness! further, discussions of sukuna’s backstory will be reserved until PAST 10:00-10:30PM PST to avoid spoilers for those who have not read it yet.

you can find a link to the discord here. hope to see y'all there!!

[kannymaei]

Steamy Love (TPG! Special Chapter 1) Kamisato Ayato x Reader

MASTERLIST

Author's Note: IT'S HERE IT'S HERE, SMUT CHAPTER MINORS DNI! I can't believe we reached 1000+ reads! I'm rushing to finish this special Chapter soon! Also, what is your opinion regarding the latest chapter? I believe it's quite… heavy and dark but hey at least Childe and Diluc confessed indirectly to Y/N? IDK how's that any better but 🧍🏻‍♀️ Ok so! This chapter is a special one since it's not connected to the main storyline because this is a smut chapter (eheh~) Yeah, we're kinda lacking Y/N and Ayato sweet moments… I'll allow you guys to think this happened inside Y/N's mind while she's in a coma pf!

Synopsis: It's spring vacation and you took your sweet time to try out the new hot spring in Inazuma City. Little did you know that one of the staff wasn't aware that Kamisato Ayato rented the hot spring the whole day. 

— 

"Welcome to the Narukami Hotspring! I hope you enjoy your stay!" One of the staff nervously said you could tell this was their first time working here. 

"Is your manager here?" You asked the staff, they were startled because they think that they did something wrong that prompted you to call the manager. 

"N-no, the manager left a while ago. Though they didn't say anything before they left." They scratched their heads trying to remember something. 

— 

"We wouldn't be accepting any customers today because of Kamisato Ayato's reservation today!" The manager said too bad the staff who's Y/N talking to right now was in the bathroom. 

— 

You went to the female locker room and started to undress as you put your clothes and undies into the basket and wrapped yourself in a towel. 

You stepped out to the hot spring to admire the scenery, it's a little steamy and foggy. You thought of a joke to yourself there's probably no one that's hiding beyond those steam right? 

You let out a loud sigh as you stretch your back before you remove the towel revealing your perfect body that has a perfect waist and a perfectly round breast. The temperature is hot but perfect when you stoop down the stairs of the hot spring. 

When your body was fully submerged in the water it truly was a relaxing feeling after all of the stress you felt in school. It's also peaceful that no one was here, you thought to yourself that you should have invited Lumine and Yanfei today but you didn't have the chance either since they're also busy. 

The thought of Kamisato Ayato entered your mind, let's say that… you started to have feelings for him a while ago but he has been bullying and teasing you for quite some time. You remembered how he pinned you on the wall multiple times in the janitor's closet because he wanted to see you embarrassed yourself. Other students already got the wrong idea whenever he does this because what if you and Ayato were secretly making out? 

The temperature of the water in the hot spring is hot but you, yourself, have been feeling a little too hot inside your body. The thought of Ayato pulling your hair 

"Hmm, what do I even think of Kamisato Ayato?" You said, talking to yourself. This has alerted the man on the other side of the spring and instead of bothering you, he decided to listen to your thoughts on him. You bent over to the corner of the hot spring and rested your head. 

"I hoped the rumors were true about us kissing each other in the janitor's closet! I can't even confess my feelings to him, I'm so scared of his reaction, what if he stops bullying me—" "*gasp* I-I wonder what does he look like w-without the shirt o-on. Is he sexually active? H-he's probably sleeping with a lot of girls—" You went imagining him in that image that made your body feel hot inside, you're starting to desire something lustful. You imagine how his long fingers would fondle your breasts as you start to touch yourself beneath alongside your other hand playing with your right nipple. 

You turn your back from the edge of the hot spring and spread your legs while your left-hand stop rubbing your clit and fingering yourself. Little did you know that the position you're in at the moment was the perfect spot for Kamisato Ayato as he's seeing his crush's whole body in front of him. Seeing you play with yourself while letting out small moans was enough to make his cock hard, he couldn't keep it to himself and decided to swim quietly towards you.

Closing your eyes was your greatest mistake as you were about to hit your climax. 

"Wanna find out if I'm sexually active? Coming from the reserved Lady of the L/N Family?" 

(T-that voice!) You opened your eyes immediately and lost the knot below your stomach as you saw the man of your dreams in front of you… topless. He has a toned body, everything that you'd want to dominate you, and his wet hair makes him extra hot as if those eyes are luring you to his trap that you would gladly accept. You were so distracted by his eyes and body that you somehow forgot that you don't have any clothes on in front of the person you've been admiring for a long time? But wait, does that mean that…

(H-he d-doesn't have anything beneath!) You thought to yourself! There's no time for admiring him. 

"K-kyah! Pervert!" You said and grabbed the nearest wooden bucket and threw it at him but because of his fast reflexes, he was able to catch it with his hand. You're so unlucky that the next wooden bucket you could throw at him needs you to get out of the hot spring then it would mean he would have a full view of your exquisite body. You could recall your mom saying that no boys should see a girl's body if they aren't married but what would you tell your mom the moment you get back home that the man you're adoring just caught you masturbating while thinking of him? (A/N: Special chapters would also mean no one died/ Y/N's parents are alive :)!)

"Shhhh, you wouldn't be wanting anyone to hear us right?" Ayato said as he covered your mouth with his index finger, it's also the same finger that you'd want rubbing inside of you. Due to your embarrassment, you tried to cover your chest with your arms but who knows if he already saw everything the pearls that you've been hiding. 

"The audacity of you calling me a pervert. I wonder who was talking to herself about her crush without the shirt on, she didn't even get contented since she also got curious about my sexual life." Ayato teased as he began to put away the sakura petals that fell on your head. You let out a small moan when his hands went beyond your head and took off the flowers on your shoulder. The feeling of his hand touching your bare skin gave you the shivers. 

"Y/N why did you bottle up all these feelings for me?" He said but you remained quiet. 

He went up closer to you and pulled you gradually closer to him while he placed some of your hair to your ear so he could have a clear view of your face. He is surprised that you weren't stopping him from pulling you closer and fixing your hair, could this hold a different meaning? 

He looked down at you and said. 

"Y/N, the reason I love annoying you is that I… I also like you. I love every bit of your reaction." He lifted your chin so both of your faces would be closer to each other. Both of you are in trance and probably forgot for a while that you don't have clothes on. 

Uncontrollably, you just went in wrapping your arms around his neck and shoulders, and pulled him for a kiss that he gladly accepted. He was shocked at first but then closed his eyes to savor the moment the two of you were sharing. 

You felt something hard touch your lower abdomen which made you moan a little in the middle of your kiss, Ayato noticed what you felt and inserted his tongue to divert your attention to his growing problem. You gladly accepted his tongue and wrapped yours against his. Your erected nipples have been rubbing his toned body for quite some time but you wanted more than kissing, you wanted him. 

You wrapped your legs around him, to his surprise he immediately let go of the kiss between the two of you. Your folds hug his cock in between rubbing it. His gaze was glued to your form, you were fondling your breasts in front of him as you pleasure yourself by rubbing him and he wasn't left with much choice but to pull you again and hug you. 

"Y-Y/N, w-we c-can't do this—" Ayato wasn't able to finish his sentence due to you closing his lips by kissing him before you let go of him again and look at him with your eyes. Ayato's heart was racing although he already knew what you wanted, and he can't believe to himself that he might have sex with the woman of his dreams right now. 

"Y/N, b-before we continue to do anything. I'm asking for your consent; and once you agree to it, I'm not going to hold back." Ayato managed to finish his sentence as he watched your pretty face nod to the part where he was going to rail you. 

You let out a loud moan when you felt his cock slide inside you, it wasn't gentle, it was rough. This was so much better than using a sex toy to grant your sexual desires for him. He wanted you as much as you do, he didn't start slow at all.

"Rail. me. senseless. until. I. tell. you. to. stop, A-Ah~" You said each word with each thrust of his cock inside you. 

Ayato moans in-between yours as he thrusts inside you at a normal pace. 

"Water isn't a good lube Y/N but since you were fingering yourself earlier while thinking of me it slid off easily inside," Ayato said but you can't comprehend what he was saying due to his cock has been hitting your g-spot recently and all you did was fondle your breasts massaging your nipples in a circular motion that prompted him to grab one of your breasts and suck your right nipple while his other hand was grabbing your ass so you wouldn't be able to escape each thrust he gives you. 

This went on for a couple of minutes and none of you was saying a thing but all moans and pants in between. Ayato has been wary of the sound of your moans becoming different, he decided to speed up his pace a little to see your reaction but he was right all along. 

"A-Ayato! M-my love! I'm going to; a-ah!" Ayato pulled out and gave you a smug face because he wasn't going to let you finish without him. Your eyes widened at him and gave him a death stare because he doesn't want you to cum early or by yourself. 

He stood up and carried you in a bridal manner as he walked towards the room behind the hot spring before throwing you down on his bed with a towel to dry yourself. 

You glanced at Ayato whose lower half is wrapped with his towel, it looks like he didn't try to dry himself up since he was busy getting something to drink. Your face reddens at the fact that you just had sex with the man of your dreams, the love of your life. 

You've admired him for quite some time, his body looks so good as if he dedicated his whole life shaping it. You groaned a little bit because your lower abdomen has been hurting after the knot inside you wasn't able to undo itself. 

"What are you thinking darling?" You got spooked a little when you felt his presence behind you. 

"N-nothing!" You replied to him and decided to play off little tantrums. Instead of making him confused, he grinned at you. 

"Y/N L/N, can I court you?" He said and kissed your hand while his eyes were fixed on your face. 

"Y-yes! Hmph!" You looked at him, pulling his face towards you as the both of you fell onto the bed, kissing him. 

You turned yourself over him and pinned him on the bed as the two of you shared a hot make-out session when you're positioning your opening to his hard cock. A small moan was heard when the tip of his cock entered you, little did you know that Ayato was amused by the reactions you're making when you felt strong hands holding your thighs and pushing your thighs down immediately instead of going in gentle he always wanted it the other way around, the shock made you press on his chests, making your way up to his face before kissing him again. You could tell that Ayato was doing this on purpose to annoy you! 

You started slowly bouncing on his cock letting out small moans while he looked as if he was avoiding moaning and admiring the scenery he's currently feeling. He found it attractive that you held up both his hands while in that position.

"A-Ayato! It's so good!" You said while moaning as his cock is hitting your core with each bounce you make. 

"O-oh no! My hips are moving on its own~" You added as you paced up a little while Ayato fondles your breasts with his fingers playing with your nipples

Ayato moaned loudly and sat up so he would have more control over you, he couldn't hold back when you were the one fucking yourself to him. He wrapped his arms around you and kissed your neck as he fully took control of you. 

"A-Ayato!" You shouted since his thrusts were strong and hard, it wasn't slow or fast. Each of his thrusts has a meaning of how much he loves you, it's so meaningful that Ayato took it seriously when you said that you wanted him to fuck you senselessly until you tell him to stop but you don't want him to stop at this point. You don't know what would happen if he keeps up with the strong thrusts at a faster pace, you might as well have a more intense orgasm that was subdued earlier because of his cunningness. 

"I'm going to c-cum!" You said when your fingers are starting to grab the back of his head after wrapping it around him tightly. 

"I-I'm also going to..c-cum!" He said that made him moan when he felt that you've become tighter than you were earlier because you're about to finish already. 

Ayato decided to switch your position to a missionary one and you grabbed the sheets of his bed tightly when he was ramming his length inside you roughly but it was hitting your cervix either way. 

"Y/N! My love! Darling! I'm going to cum!" He quickly said as he was thrusting you faster than he was before. 

"Inside me— do it inside me!" You said and locked your legs and arms to him. 

Ayato paused from his thrusts and looked at you with assurance. You just nodded at him that you were sure that you wanted it inside. His heart raced that filling you up with his love juices, that impregnating you, breeding you was a feeling that he'll love for a lifetime. 

"Inside me! Inside me! Cum inside me!" You screamed followed by moans because his pace was fast, strong, and hard. This is something you can't even do with a sex toy that you bought a long time ago. 

"Ayato!/Y/N! I'm cumming~" You said in unison as his one final thrust, you felt a very hot liquid was being shot deep inside your core. Ayato moaned a little more when he let out more cum as you squirt on him. 

"Ayato, it feels so good. So fucking good~" You said before he pulled out his cock with his cum dripping outside you.

"Darling, I must tell you that I am not content with cumming once inside you." He said after he composed himself a little. 

"W-what?" You asked him. 

"Y/N, after I finished inside of you. I remember that you didn't tell me to stop after that" He said and grinned at you. 

"A-archons~," You said before Ayato kissed you. The two of you fall into the bed after the intense session you just had. 

"I love you so much" You felt Ayato's breath crawl on the bare skin behind your neck. You faced him and curled up to him as you rested your face on top of his chest.

You dozed off for a while until your heard the love of your life wake you up by kissing your neck.

“What is it? My love?” You said, your body felt cold with the air conditioning of his room which made you hug him.

“Do you want to do another round?” He said that completely woke you up, maybe you’re still asleep?

“Y/N? Do you want me to repeat what I said?” He said kissing your forehead and brushing your hair with his long fingers.

“You’d have to find out then~ Try to make me say stop~ Hihi” You teased him pinching his nose, the man next to you smirked and decided to pin you in bed. 

“Oh Y/N~ I’m only sexually active for you~,” He said and began touching the sensitive parts of your body.

“You wouldn’t mind if I tell you that I want that monthly stock of your love juices inside me?~ I’m in my safe day afterall~” You said alluring Ayato with your bewitching eyes even if he has seen you with no clothes on, you still managed to make him flush. 

“My love~,” Ayato said and hardly kissed you with your tongues clashing.

—

This went on and on after a couple of hours with breaks in-between before he always successfully turn you on each time. Meanwhile, in the staff’s quarters, the staff that took you in was being scolded by their manager for how they didn’t listen when they announced that only Kamisato Ayato is allowed and he doesn’t want any visitors in the hot spring. 

The staff has been impatient while waiting for Sir Kamisato to pick up the phone, on the contrary, Ayato seemed pissed off that someone was bothering your sweet time. He gets off you and walked towards the ringing phone.

“I’m so sorry! You may have met the uninvited customer! I’m sorry for the inconvenience!” The staff pleads for forgiveness.

“No worries, I wouldn’t say the uninvited customer is an inconvenience.” He said and took a glance at you completely destroyed, legs wide open in bed with a lot of hickeys from your neck to your thighs while a lot of his cum dripped outside your sex before hanging up the phone. He then walked towards you smiling at how sexually satisfied you are based on your eyes looking straight upward. 

“Still not telling me to stop?” He teasingly asked you but all he saw was your beautiful face nodding at him wanting him to go on until you wouldn’t be able to walk tomorrow.

<3

—

A/N: I FINALLY MANAGED TO FINISH IT AUGHSH IT TOOK ME 3-4 DAYS TO WRITE THIS THING!! I HOPE YOU ALL LIKED IT. I also find it funny how Chapter 7 was so dark then here comes the Special Chapter <3 Thank you so much for the support! <3

[oren-perez]

connecting academic work with local cause

It's not often that you can connect your academic work with your everyday life. I had the opportunity to publish two papers this past month, both exploring the unique ecosystem of my hometown, Ness Ziona, and the rare black iris that flourishes there The first paper, co-authored with Reuven Cohen and published in PLOS ONE ('Emergent Coordination in Temporal Partitioning Congestion Games'), is more theoretical. It examines the social dynamics of temporal partitioning congestion games (TPGs), where participants must coordinate the optimal use of a limited resource. We used the short blossom season of the black iris as a real-world illustration of TPGs. Here is a link: https://lnkd.in/eDpURFFh. The second paper, co-authored with Orit Rotem and Noam Katzir and published in Land ('Identifying Regulatory Barriers in the Management of Ecological Corridors in an Increasingly Congested Space'), examines the regulatory frameworks for managing ecological corridors in congested areas, using the sandstone hills of Ness Ziona as one of our case studies. Available here: https://lnkd.in/eyhH-iUb. The Black Iris Reserve is currently under threat from a major construction project. If you'd like to join us in our efforts to protect it, please sign the petition here: https://lnkd.in/e8SckfVc Did you have a similar experience? I'd be happy to hear more!

[enterprisewired]

DirecTV to Acquire Dish TV and Sling in Landmark Deal

EchoStar and DirecTV Join Forces

In a significant shakeup in the pay-TV industry, EchoStar announced on Monday that DirecTV to acquire Dish TV and its digital streaming service Sling. The agreement will bring together two of the largest satellite TV companies in the U.S., allowing them to better compete in a market increasingly dominated by streaming services. EchoStar shares fell more than 11% following the announcement.

DirecTV to acquire Dish TV for a nominal fee of $1 while assuming approximately $9.75 billion in debt. According to a press release, the agreement hinges on approval from some of Dish’s bondholders and is expected to be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2025. Once the merger is completed, the combined entity will serve nearly 20 million customers.

A Strategic Move to Regain Market Strength

EchoStar CEO Hamid Akhavan emphasized that this merger comes at a pivotal time. “We needed to create a company with enough scale to negotiate better deals with programmers and offer more flexible, smaller packages that consumers are asking for,” Akhavan said in an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street.” He added that the pay-TV industry has been on a downward trend, with traditional satellite providers like Dish and DirecTV struggling to keep up with newer streaming platforms that offer a broader reach.

Akhavan also acknowledged that EchoStar could no longer sustain both its video distribution and core wireless internet businesses, prompting the decision to focus resources on its wireless offerings. He expressed optimism about the company’s future, though he signaled that no significant expansions would occur soon as the company adjusts to these changes.

DirecTV to Acquire Dish TV as AT&T Exits Ownership

In a related move, AT&T announced it would sell its remaining 70% stake in DirecTV to private equity firm TPG for $7.9 billion. AT&T had previously sold 30% of its stake in 2021 for $16.2 billion. The telecommunications giant originally acquired DirecTV in 2014 for a staggering $48.5 billion but has since been scaling down its investment.

A Long-Awaited Merger Finally Realized

Rumors of DirecTV to acquire Dish TV have circulated for decades as part of potential merger discussions. The two companies nearly sealed a deal in 2002, but it was blocked by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Since then, the satellite TV industry has faced multiple setbacks as consumers turned toward streaming services. EchoStar has been grappling with financial struggles, including a $2 billion debt looming and a failed attempt to refinance it. The company’s diminishing cash reserves had led to increased bankruptcy concerns.

Looking ahead, Akhavan believes that the merger puts the newly combined entity in a better position to compete. “We are as competitive as anybody else in terms of our offerings, whether it be price, coverage, or quality,” he said, indicating that the focus will now shift toward customer acquisition.

[isfeed]

TPG nears $150M funding in India’s Eruditus at $2.3B valuation

Eruditus, an Indian edtech startup, is in advanced stages of talks to secure about $150 million in new funding, two sources familiar with the matter told TechCrunch, in what would be the largest fundraise by an Indian education firm in years. TPG, a major private equity player, is discussing to lead the investment, the sources […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use…

[petnews2day]

Spirit Airlines' pet policy: Here’s how to fly with your pet on Spirit

New Post has been published on https://petnews2day.com/pet-industry-news/pet-travel-news/spirit-airlines-pet-policy-heres-how-to-fly-with-your-pet-on-spirit/

Spirit Airlines' pet policy: Here’s how to fly with your pet on Spirit

Looking to take your pet with you on your next trip? If so, the Spirit Airlines pet policy lets you travel with more pet types than most other airlines. Specifically, the Spirit pet policy allows you to bring domestic dogs, domestic cats, small household birds and small domestic rabbits on board.

But before you book your flight and take your pet to the airport, know that you must follow certain rules and regulations. Here’s everything you need to know about flying with your pet on Spirit Airlines.

Sign up for our daily newsletter for more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox.

Spirit Airlines’ pet policy

(Photo by GabrielPevide/Getty Images)

According to the Spirit pet policy, domesticated dogs and cats can fly on Spirit Airlines flights throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. And while small “household birds” (excluding such things as chickens and ducks) and small domestic rabbits are allowed to fly in-cabin on Spirit, these pets can only fly domestically (not to or from Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Additionally, Spirit doesn’t allow any animals to fly as cargo. So, unfortunately, larger dogs can’t fly on Spirit according to the Spirit Airlines dog policy.

All pets must be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned from their mother. Additionally, health certificates are required for pets flying to the U.S. Virgin Islands, and a rabies vaccination certificate is required when traveling to Puerto Rico.

While Spirit doesn’t allow any pets to fly on international flights, service animals can fly internationally.

When flying with an approved pet on Spirit, you may choose any seat except the first row and the emergency exit row. Your pet must remain in its carrier for the entire flight, can’t require attention and must be “harmless, inoffensive and odorless.”

Related: Everything you should know before flying Spirit Airlines

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Booking your pet on a Spirit Airlines flight

(Photo by Bread and Butter Productions/Getty Images)

Spirit Airlines charges a fee of $125 one-way to bring a pet with you in the cabin. Reservations are recommended but not required. However, it is probably best to reserve a spot for your pet on the plane as soon as possible since Spirit doesn’t allow more than six pet carriers per flight. To add a pet to your reservation, contact Spirit directly.

When checking in at the airport with your pet, the Spirit Airlines pet policy states you’ll need to visit the ticket counter (curbside or self-service check in isn’t allowed). When you visit the ticket counter, a Spirit agent will inspect and approve both your pet and its carrier.

Related: 8 things to consider before flying with your pet

Spirit Airlines’ pet carrier requirements

(Photo by vasiliki/Getty Images)

When traveling on Spirit, you may bring two similar pets if they can fit in one pet carrier. The carrier must be large enough to allow the pet (or pets) to stand and turn around. Only soft-sided carriers are allowed — although the type that allows the pet’s head to poke outside is prohibited — and the dimensions cannot exceed 18 inches by 14 inches by nine inches.

You must place the carrier under the seat in front of you and keep it there for the entire flight. Additionally, per the Spirit pet policy, the pet and carrier have a combined weight restriction of 40 pounds.

Due to Spirit’s baggage policy, your pet carrier will count as one of the items you’re allowed to bring on board. So, you can only bring a personal item (for free) or a carry-on item (with the associated fee) — not both — in addition to your pet carrier.

Related: How to change or cancel a Spirit Airlines flight

Bottom line

Thanks to the relatively generous Spirit Airlines pet policy, you can bring your dog (as long as it’s small enough), cat, rabbit or bird with you on most flights. And despite Spirit charging a pretty penny for anything “extra” during your travels, the fee to bring your pet with you is similarly priced to the other major U.S. airlines (although on the higher end of the scale).

[irvinenewshq]

Deal alert: Accor winter sale slashes costs at 2000 inns by 25%

Beginning Nov. 2 and working by Nov. 17, Accor is providing stays at over 2,000 inns throughout Europe with a 25% low cost. Stays should be for no less than two nights and brought between December 12 and March 5, 2023, and with such a various vary of resort manufacturers underneath the Accor umbrella — Novotel, ibis, Mercure, Pullman and Sofitel to call however just a few of its 19-strong lineup — there’s lots to select from. Relying on the time of the 12 months and the placement, there are some unimaginable offers available, together with £31 per night time for a Commonplace Double room at ibis Kinds in central Krakow [above], which is as fashionable as it’s spacious. ibis Kinds Krakow Centrum. ACCOR HOTELS Fancy trying out Budapest’s fabled Christmas markets? Go for two nights in a Superior Room on the Mercure Budapest Korona Resort from as little as £68 per night time. Nearer to residence, why not get an early style of Hogmanay in Edinburgh with a two-night keep in a Twin Room or Queen Single on the metropolis’s downtown Novotel? That’ll be £68 per night time as nicely. Don’t seize your bank card simply but although. The primary day of the sale is completely open to members of Accor’s world loyalty scheme, Accor Dwell Limitless, or ALL for brief, who will even obtain an additional 10% off on reserving. Associated: Iberia strikes to revenue-based Avios incomes, British Airways to observe go well with in 2023 Join our every day e-newsletter You’d do nicely to enroll. It’s really a program with huge rewards and a portfolio giant sufficient that you just received’t be restricted in lodging, click on right here for our information to Accor Dwell Limitless. Mercure Budapest Korona Resort. ACCOR HOTELS The sheer reality you possibly can guide proper up till the top of spring is a pleasure, too. From premium metropolis centre abodes to luxurious ski resorts, inns within the countryside to inns at airports (FYI, we liked our keep at Sofitel London Heathrow Resort in Terminal 5), each sort of Euro traveler is catered for. One other a part of what makes this deal so tantalising is that most of the manufacturers owned by Accor cater brilliantly to these touring for work, enterprise inns that don’t really feel like enterprise, as tacky as which may sound. Living proof: Resort Sofitel Bellecour Lyon [below], which TPG gave a large thumbs as much as in 2018, is a pleasure for vacationers and enterprise sorts alike. Centrally situated, sumptuously designed and preferrred for these armed with laptops in pressing want of espresso. The apéro terrace in entrance of the Sofitel Bellecour Lyon. ACCOR HOTELS And sure, you possibly can bag your self a cope with some winter sports activities motion, too, shaving 1 / 4 off the worth of your subsequent keep round rocky terrain. You’ll be able to seek for a few of the finest in France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland and Italy right here. Associated: Now you can guide these superior Accor inns with miles And for a full record of Accor resort manufacturers collaborating within the 25% off sale, right here you go: Adagio Adagio Entry EtapHotel Greet Hotelf1 ibis funds ibis Inns ibis Kinds Mercure MGallery Mövenpick Novotel Novotel Suites Pullman Rixos Sofitel Sofitel Legend Swissôtel Fairmont Originally published at Irvine News HQ

[wintwholesale]

Sunny rest resort

This is also the time to visit Playa Grande’s other attractions since summer vacationers have returned to the U.S., Canada and Europe and you can partake in a more serene experience. Surfers know to save their Costa Rica travels for September, which brings the best promise for solid and uncrowded Pacific Coast waves to the Nicoya Peninsula, sans the summertime masses. Playa Grande, Costa Rica September is the best time to travel to Costa Rica for uncrowded Pacific Coast waves. We’ve spun the globe to bring you some of the best beach destinations from late September right through October - places where you will enjoy mostly empty beaches everywhere from exotic climates to Southern Europe to a smattering of options across the U.S.įor more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. The autumn months also bring with them discounted accommodations and lower reward stay redemptions compared to summertime.Īdd to that less-crowded biking and hiking trails, easier-to-come-by restaurant reservations and more parking spots within steps of the sand and you’ll have plenty of reasons to consider a late 2022 beach vacation. After all, who wants to be crammed shoulder to shoulder with other people on the hot sand or marinating in a sea of sunscreen if it can be at all avoided?Īutumn temperatures are often a little cooler than July and August - and that’s definitely part of the appeal for people who prefer not to sweat it out at the shore. The beach lover’s best kept secret? That’s easy - offseason anywhere and everywhere is where it’s at for maximum holiday enjoyment.

[theplaygroundkrp]

SUNGHOON of ENHYPEN has been RESERVED!

“Don't be afraid to ask for what you need... Look us in the eyes, and just say please. We're ready for you, anytime of the day. Your personal playground... Where only you... get to play.”

We’ve been waiting for you! We can’t wait to play with you! Please fill out your application and submit it within 3 days of your set reservation date to be reviewed for entrance into the roleplay, and for your muse to be counted in roll call. See you soon!  

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[missingn000]

aaa, feel free to ignore this ask

okay this feels slightly silly but also your fic lives rent free in my brain at all times and i’ve started noting down songs that fit various characters and can i just say that

Loti by Eidola is such a tpg!gojo song. i think about him every time i listen to it

Rabbit Hole by Mindy Glendhill is totally tpg!maki (but also could fit most of the kids tbh, i just think of her first)

and The Balencer’s Eye is so tpg!yuuta-coded

oh my god these are all SO perfect also can i just say you have fantastic taste in music. these are all going on the playlist i reserve for songs that prove i have refinement beyond dubstep and hyperpop

[one-way-dream]

komaeda day but i cant be deranged on here (the mental illness is reserved for the dr side twt i have specifically for hikoma + tpg) for the sake of my sonic and other mutuals so just know that there is an entire party worm inside my head for the guy <3

[irvinenewshq]

Ebook your Southwest flight to Hawaii by Thursday to get 30% off

For the subsequent two days solely, Southwest vacationers can e-book discounted flights to Hawaii at 30% off, utilizing the code “GOHAWAII30” at checkout. This sale solely goes by way of the top of the day Nov. 3, so remember to e-book your journey by then for flights by way of early March. Deal fundamentals SOUTHWEST AIRLINES Airline: Southwest Airways. Routes: Sacramento; Oakland, California; San Jose, California; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; San Diego; and others to the Hawaiian locations of Lihue, Honolulu, Kahului, Kona and Hilo. Methods to e-book: Instantly with the airline utilizing the promo code “GOHAWAII30.” Journey dates: Dec. 1, 2022-March 8, 2023. Excludes journey from Dec. 16-Jan.9, Feb 15-Feb. 19 and Feb. 19-Feb. 24. Ebook by: 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on Nov. 3. Pattern flights Provided that this sale is somewhat restrictive, it solely leaves a restricted journey window. Nonetheless, you’ll find some good offers, together with the under one-way routes from the West Coast: Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL) and Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Worldwide Airport (SJC) to Lihue Airport (LIH), beginning at $91. San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN) to Kahului Airport (OGG), beginning at $95. LAX to OGG, beginning at $119. Sacramento Worldwide Airport (SMF) to OGG and Oakland Worldwide Airport to Hilo Worldwide Airport (ITO), beginning at $138. Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS) to OGG, beginning at $154. To look this deal, use Southwest’s Low Fare Calendar to view flights out of your departing airport to your Hawaiian island of selection. Then, filter outcomes for the months of December, January, February and March. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES As you’ll be able to see from the calendar, you should use the promo code “GOHAWAII30” to e-book two discounted one way-flights to make a round-trip flight. For instance, you can e-book LAX-HNL in mid-January for $186 round-trip. Make sure you choose the discounted fare kind, which is indicated by the unique fare with a line by way of it, as proven under. Learn extra: Everybody on this Southwest Airways flight bought a ukulele and classes on the way to play it SOUTHWEST AIRLINES You would additionally e-book this flight for 10,918 Southwest Fast Rewards factors which, based mostly on TPG’s present valuations of RR factors, would prevent $10. Be aware that this sale is for discounted flights for all Southwest fare sorts, which embrace two free checked luggage and two free carry-on gadgets. All of its fare sorts, together with probably the most restrictive Wanna Get Away fare, are eligible for cancellation as much as 10 minutes forward of flight time. Should you used factors to e-book your fare, these factors will return to your account. In any other case, those that use money to e-book a Wanna Get Away fare will obtain a flight credit score for future use (which may actually be used at any time because it does not expire). Join our day by day publication Maximize your buy Make sure you use a bank card that earns bonus factors on airfare purchases to e-book this deal. If you’re a Southwest frequent flyer, use your Southwest Fast Rewards Precedence Credit score Card to earn 3 factors per greenback on Southwest purchases. Or contemplate the Citi Premier® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve, which each offer you 3 factors per greenback on airfare. Or attempt the American Specific® Gold Card for 3 factors per greenback on airfare when booked straight with the airline or by way of Amex Journey. In any other case, consider using the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card which earns 2 factors per greenback on journey. See this submit for extra methods to maximise airfare purchases. Backside line GADO/GETTY IMAGES Although this sale is restrictive in date availability, it is a good alternative for vacationers who’re based mostly on the West Coast to get to Hawaii. Make sure you use the promo code “GOHAWAII30” to e-book your one-way or round-trip flight to Hawaii by Thursday. Originally published at Irvine News HQ

[theplaygroundkrp]

WINTER of AESPA has been RESERVED!

“Don't be afraid to ask for what you need... Look us in the eyes, and just say please. We're ready for you, anytime of the day. Your personal playground... Where only you... get to play.”

We’ve been waiting for you! We can’t wait to play with you! Please fill out your application and submit it within 3 days of your set reservation date to be reviewed for entrance into the roleplay, and for your muse to be counted in roll call. See you soon! 

▲ Ask ▲ Rules ▲ Mod ▲ Apply ▲ Mobile Nav ▲

[olko71]

New Post has been published on All about business online

New Post has been published on http://yaroreviews.info/2021/05/att-to-combine-warnermedia-assets-with-discovery

AT&T to Combine WarnerMedia Assets With Discovery

The new business, which isn’t yet named, will be led by current Discovery Chief Executive David Zaslav. The companies said Jason Kilar will retain his title as CEO of AT&T’s WarnerMedia division but declined to say whether he would remain with the newly combined company after it secures regulatory approval.

Shares of AT&T rose Monday, while Discovery’s stock slipped after an early rise. Discovery’s market value traded above $17 billion. AT&T, which draws most of its revenue from the telecommunications business, had a roughly $240 billion market value. The new media business will hold a little more than $55 billion of debt, Mr. Zaslav said.

AT&T Chief Executive John Stankey said in an online news conference Monday that he had been “contemplating the structure of our business for some time” and eventually decided that the pairing with Mr. Zaslav’s company would benefit both parties.

Mr. Zaslav, a media mogul and longtime friend of WarnerMedia executive and CNN boss Jeff Zucker, said the transaction came together over several months of talks that included chats in the Discovery chief’s Greenwich Village brownstone.

Mr. Zaslav said the combined entities spend $20 billion on content, a level that tops Netflix Inc.’s recent programming budget. WarnerMedia owns cable channels such as HBO, CNN, TNT and TBS as well as the Warner Bros. television and film studio. Discovery has a portfolio that includes its namesake network and HGTV.

Both companies also offer streaming video portals that compete with larger on-demand services like Netflix and Walt Disney Co. ’s Disney+. The two CEOs declined to detail their long-term plans for HBO Max and Discovery+, which could remain separate or be combined into an even larger online video library.

“You gotta have content people love so much they would run home and pay for it before they pay for dinner or a roof over their head,” Mr. Zaslav said on a call with investors.

Under the deal, AT&T shareholders will hold a 71% stake in the new entity, while Discovery shareholders own a 29% stake. In exchange, AT&T said it will receive $43 billion of cash, debt securities and WarnerMedia’s retention of certain debt.

AT&T also signaled it will cut its dividend to reflect its smaller size once the media business is carved out into a separate company. The Dallas company said it expects an annual dividend payout ratio of 40% to 43% from more than $20 billion of expected free cash flow, implying a total payout of between $8 billion and $8.6 billion. That payment to shareholders would amount to a little over half what investors have collected from the media and telecom conglomerate in past years.

A scene from the show ‘The Nevers’ on cable channel HBO, another media asset owned by WarnerMedia.

Photo: HBO/Associated Press

AT&T reported $169 billion of net debt at the end of March, a level that has troubled some investors worried about the conglomerate’s financial flexibility. AT&T Finance Chief Pascal Desroches said in an interview Monday that the Discovery deal would allow the telecom company to reach its debt-reduction target a year ahead of schedule.

The transaction unwinds a hard-fought acquisition that AT&T closed for about $81 billion in 2018 after beating a court challenge by U.S. Justice Department officials, who argued that the combination would hurt competition in the pay-TV market.

The telecom company at the time controlled the country’s largest pay-TV distribution network, mostly through DirecTV, before it added one of the biggest cable channel owners.

The deal unveiled Monday will complete AT&T’s retreat from the media business. The company earlier this year reached an agreement with private-equity firm TPG to shed a 30% stake in its DirecTV business for $1.8 billion. AT&T had acquired DirecTV in 2015 for $49 billion, at the height of a pay-TV market that has since collapsed due to cord-cutting subscribers.

AT&T, meanwhile, faces mounting demands on the wireless and broadband networks that still generate most of its profits. The company spent more than $23 billion on a recent Federal Communications Commission auction of wireless licenses and will need to spend tens of billions of dollars more in the coming years to match investments by rivals Verizon Communications Inc. and T-Mobile US Inc. in improving their networks.

AT&T-Discovery Deal

More WSJ coverage of the deal, selected by the editors

AT&T on Monday said it would boost its planned capital expenditures to about $24 billion a year once the transaction closes. Executives earlier this year projected $18 billion of capital spending in 2021.

The companies said they expect to close the transaction in mid-2022.

AT&T shares were up nearly 2%, and Discovery shares were down more than 2% after the premarket surge.

For WarnerMedia, access to Discovery’s popular unscripted and reality content will give it programming that it desperately needs to compete with Netflix, Disney+ and other streaming platforms. Unscripted programming has become a very popular asset on streaming sites, particularly at Netflix. While HBO Max has some unscripted programing, Discovery has a huge library of content including “90 Day Fiancé” and “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

The combined companies also will have a huge footprint in sports, particularly overseas. Discovery has a long-term international rights agreement for the Olympics and has been aggressive in acquiring rights to other major European sports and events.

WarnerMedia has rights to the National Basketball Association, the “March Madness” college basketball tournament and some playoff baseball. It recently signed a seven-year deal to carry National Hockey League games.

“We’re pretty flush with sports rights,” Mr. Zaslav said on the call with investors.

He said that strong relationships with the creative community will be his top priority when he assumes leadership of the new company.

Under Mr. Kilar, talent relations between WarnerMedia and the creative community have been strained due in part to decisions regarding the distribution of theatrical movies in the past year.

—Ben Mullin, Dana Cimilluca and Nina Trentmann contributed to this article.

Write to Drew FitzGerald at andrew.fitzgerald@wsj.com, Cara Lombardo at cara.lombardo@wsj.com and Joe Flint at joe.flint@wsj.com

Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

[orbemnews]

Global Markets Drop Sharply, Following Wall Street’s Slump Here’s what you need to know: Commuters in Osaka, Japan, this month. The Nikkei stock index in Japan fell 4 percent on Friday, part of a widespread fall in stocks following a rise in yields in U.S. Treasury bonds.Credit…Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Global markets fell sharply on Friday following the worst day on Wall Street in weeks, led by a 4 percent drop in stocks in Japan. Investors around the world took their cues from Thursday’s stock market rout in the United States, when the S&P 500 index fell nearly 2.5 percent. But Wall Street futures were betting on a rise in the S&P 500 when trading begins later today. Major European markets opened sharply lower on Friday, but then improved somewhat by midmorning. The Stoxx Europe 600 was down 0.6 percent, the CAC 40 in France was 0.5 percent lower and the FTSE 100 in Britain was trading 0.2 percent lower. In Asia, stocks in Hong Kong and Taiwan fell by more than 3 percent. Markets in South Korea and Australia fell by more than 2 percent. The performance in Asia was its worst since March, by one measure, though it followed months of significant gains as investors bet on the prospect of emergence from the coronavirus outbreak. The sell-off was broad-based, hitting stocks, bonds, gold and oil. Even Bitcoin fell. Investors were reacting to a rise in yields in U.S. Treasury bonds, which many read as a signal that the Federal Reserve and other central banks could soon begin to edge away from the easy-money policies they have used since even before the coronavirus pandemic to stoke growth. The recent rise in bond yields could make borrowing more expensive, slowing progress toward the Federal Reserve’s economic goals.Credit…Leah Millis/Reuters A tumultuous day in financial markets left onlookers questioning whether the Federal Reserve had showed too little concern as longer-term interest rates crept higher — and spurred speculation that the central bank’s leadership may need to speak out against the rise. Yields on all but very short-term government debt moved sharply higher on Thursday, driven in part by expectations that economic growth will snap back after the pandemic. Fed officials had been sanguine as rates moved up in recent weeks, pointing to the increase as a sign of growing economic confidence and downplaying the risk of a sudden increase in borrowing costs. Still, the sudden jump Thursday rippled through financial markets, and analysts at Evercore ISI said the Fed’s message might change as a result. The jump in yields could make borrowing by the government, consumers and businesses more expensive, slowing progress toward the Fed’s economic goals. “The Fed leadership holds some responsibility for this, as the absence of any indication of concern or — more appropriately in our view — central bankerly carefulness” in recent days “has been read in markets as a green light to ramp real yields higher,” Krishna Guha and Ernie Tedeschi wrote in a reaction note, capturing a narrative fast developing among financial analysts. On Thursday, yields on the 10-year Treasury note surged as high as 1.6 percent. That rate was below 1 percent for much of 2020 and had been steadily increasing this year in part as investors expect that a flood of new government spending and the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine would lead to fast economic growth later this year. Despite several public appearances in recent days, central bank officials including the Fed chair, Jerome H. Powell, and John C. Williams, the New York Fed chief, have not voiced concerns over the shift in yields. Raphael Bostic, the Atlanta Fed president, said as recently as Thursday afternoon that he did not yet see the increases as cause for concern. “The Fed has thus far not been willing to soothe markets” and that has helped fuel the move in yields, analysts at TD Securities wrote on Thursday. Some economists are speculating that the Fed might shift the size or style of its bond buying so that it is better-targeted at holding down longer-term interest rates. “A change of tone at least seems warranted in our view and possibly more,” Mr. Guha and Mr. Tedeschi wrote. “This could well come in the next 24 hours.” DirecTV has been bleeding customers faster than most pay-TV services.Credit…Christopher Gregory/The New York Times AT&T is selling part of its TV business, which consists of the DirecTV, AT&T TV and U-verse brands, to the private equity firm TPG in a spinoff deal as it looks to shed assets to deal with a burdensome debt load and focus on its mobile telephone and streaming businesses. The deal, which will give TPG a minority stake, values the TV business at $16.25 billion — about a third of the $48.5 billion AT&T paid just for DirecTV in 2015. AT&T carries $157 billion of debt, as of December, the result of megadeals including its purchases of DirecTV and Time Warner, which it paid $85.4 billion for in 2018. The entertainment industry has been disrupted by Netflix and an array of competitors fighting for viewers’ attention, complicating plans for DirecTV, which lost more than 3.2 million subscribers in 2020, and for HBO, considered the crown jewel of Time Warner’s business. Investors have worried that AT&T will not be able to become profitable enough to manage the debt load. The company made about $53.8 billion in pretax profit last year, meaning it carries a little more than $3 of total debt for every dollar of pretax profit. Traditionally, AT&T prefers that ratio to be closer to 2.5 to 1. Under the terms of the deal with TPG, AT&T will own 70 percent of the new stand-alone company, which will go by DirecTV, and TPG will own 30 percent. The board of the new entity will include two representatives from each company and the chief executive of AT&T’s video unit, Bill Morrow. The companies hope to fix challenges facing DirecTV — namely a subscriber base that has been bleeding customers faster than most pay-TV services. Annual sales at the DirecTV group fell 11 percent last year to $28.6 billion, and operating profit decreased 16.2 percent to $1.7 billion. The company is also counting on growth of AT&T TV, the company’s new service that streams TV over the internet to a set-top box. “We certainly didn’t expect this outcome when we closed the DirecTV transaction in 2015, but it’s the right decision to move the business forward,” said John Stankey, AT&T’s chief executive, who as an executive at WarnerMedia led both the DirecTV and Time Warner deals. TPG has ample experience with corporate partnerships, including taking a joint stake in Intel’s McAfee computer security unit and teaming up with Humana in its deal for the hospice provider Kindred. It has owned parts of Spotify, Creative Artists Agency, the cable provider Astound Broadband, and Entertainment Partners, which provides software to the entertainment and video industry. AT&T has not ruled out more divestitures. As DoorDash’s orders grew, so did its losses.Credit…Sean Sirota for The New York Times In its first earnings report as a public company, DoorDash showed how it has benefited from the pandemic even as it hinted that difficulties might lie ahead. The delivery company on Thursday posted revenue of $970 million for the fourth quarter, up 226 percent from a year earlier, as total orders jumped 233 percent. The company’s fortunes have been buoyed by the pandemic, as people have stayed home to keep safe from the coronavirus and have used DoorDash to order in food and other items. Yet it also reported a loss of $312 million, compared with a loss of $134 million a year earlier. The company, which went public in December, said it had increased spending on advertising, customer recruitment, research and development, and other expenses. DoorDash said it had also lost money because of costs associated with stock-based compensation related to its initial public offering. More important, DoorDash warned that its boost from the pandemic might fade. The widespread availability of vaccines in the coming months, the company said, is likely to create “headwinds” to growth. “We expect declines in consumer engagement and average order values, though the precise amount remains unclear,” the company said. The cautionary notes sent DoorDash’s stock tumbling nearly 13 percent in after-hours trading. Beyond the short-term effect of the pandemic, DoorDash faces other challenges. Restaurant owners have complained that its fees, often 30 percent of orders, are too high to allow them to cover their costs. Some cities, including Cleveland, Denver and Chicago, have passed temporary measures to curb the fees that delivery apps charge restaurants during the pandemic. DoorDash has responded by charging customers extra fees in those cities. In an earnings call, DoorDash executives said they were focusing on long-term success and growth. Tony Xu, the chief executive, said that even when restaurants reopened, people were likely to continue to rely on DoorDash’s deliveries because they had become “habituated to a convenience economy.” “This business is even more critical as we come out of the pandemic,” he said. An image of Brian Chesky, the chief executive of Airbnb, on the Nasdaq screen in Times Square on Dec. 10, the day the company’s shares began trading.Credit…Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Airbnb, which has faced sky-high expectations since its blockbuster initial public offering in December, posted declining revenue and a whopping $3.9 billion loss on Thursday in its first earnings report as a publicly traded company. The company brought in $859 million in revenue in the last three months of the year, down 22 percent from a year earlier. Its loss was driven by $2.8 billion in costs associated with stock-based compensation related to its I.P.O., as well as an $827 million accounting adjustment for an emergency loan it took out last year to weather the pandemic. Airbnb’s loss approaches the $5.2 billion lost by Uber in its first full quarter as a public company and renewed questions about whether unprofitable tech start-ups can turn a profit. Although most money-losing tech companies say that they are spending money to fuel fast growth, Airbnb’s shrinking revenue makes that argument a harder sell. Airbnb presented its declining revenue as a show of resilience in a year when travel came to a standstill because of the pandemic. Last spring, the company lost $1 billion in bookings, laid off staff and raised emergency funding in response to lockdowns and other restrictions. By the summer, bookings had bounced back, though not enough to make up for the hole in revenue. In December, the company went public and raised $3.5 billion, valuing it at more than $100 billion. Since then, its valuation has risen as high as $120 billion on investor expectations that a fast vaccine rollout would spur a new boom in travel. Ron Josey, an analyst with JMP Securities, said Airbnb’s revenue was higher than anticipated. That showed the company was ready to take advantage when people begin traveling again. “Nobody knows how quickly demand comes back,” he said, but when it does, “Airbnb is a share gainer.” Airbnb’s stock rose 2 percent in after-hours trading. Yet even if travel bounces back this year, Airbnb faces challenges. Its hosts, who provide its inventory in the form of property listings, have become increasingly frustrated with the company and are seeking to list their rentals independently. Its problems with “party houses” worsened in the pandemic and the company has rushed out new rules. And regulators around the world continue to scrutinize the “Airbnb effect” of turning housing stock in residential areas into hotels. In a call with analysts, Brian Chesky, Airbnb’s chief executive, said the company’s priority was to prepare for a rebound in travel with efforts including marketing, recruiting hosts and improving its customer service. “Travel is coming back,” he said. “We believe people are yearning for what’s been taken away from them.” Source link Orbem News #Drop #Global #Markets #Sharply #slump #streets #Wall