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quirkymarshmallows93 · 10 months

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Gas Station Stream of Consciousness Post

Gas Stations as Liminal Spaces

I've had quite a few hyperfixations in my day - ATMs, laundry detergents, credit cards - so my current one pertaining to gas stations is fitting considering my affinity for liminal spaces and the dedication of this blog to them. Liminal spaces are transitory in nature, hence their portrayal in online circles through photos of carpeted hallways, illuminated stairwells, dark roads, and backrooms, among other transitional points.

Gas stations are posted online as well; images of their fuel pumps or neon signage photographed through a rainy car window communicate their liminality and the universal experiences they provide to all of society. Perhaps they are the ultimate specimen of a liminal space. The machines they are created for, automobiles and tractor trailers alike, themselves are tools for motion, vestibules that enable travel and shipment across long distances at high speeds. Cars and roads are liminal spaces, albeit in different formats, and gas stations serve as their lighthouses. Vehicles at filling stations, therefore, are in a sense liminal spaces within liminal spaces within liminal spaces.

The uniqueness of a gas station as a liminal space, however, is its intersection with the economics and aesthetics of capitalism. Gasoline (and diesel fuel) is a commodity, downstream from crude oil, merely differentiated by octane ratings. Some argue that minute distinctions between agents, detergents, and additives make some brands better than others. Indeed, fuels that are approved by the Top Tier program, sponsored by automakers, have been shown to improve engine cleanliness and performance, but this classification does not prefer specific refiners over others; it is simply a standard. To a consumer, Top Tier fuels are themselves still interchangeable commodities within the wider gasoline commodity market.

The Economics of Gas Stations

The market that gas stations serve is characterized by inelastic demand, with customers who reckon with prices that fluctuate day in and day out. This is not to say that consumer behavior does not change with fuel prices. It has been observed that as prices rise, consumers are more eager to find the cheapest gas, but when prices fall, drivers are less selective with where they pump and are just happy to fill up at a lower price than last week. In response, gas stations lower their prices at a slower rate than when increasing prices, allowing for higher profit margins when wholesale prices fall. This has been dubbed the "rockets and feathers" phenomenon.

When portrayed as liminal spaces, gas stations are most often depicted at night, places of solitude where one may also enter the adjacent convenience store and encounter a fellow individual who isn't asleep, the modern day lightkeeper. The mart that resides at the backcourt of a gas station is known to sell goods at higher prices than a supermarket, simultaneously taking advantage of a captive customer, convenient location, and making up for the inefficiencies of a smaller operation. It may come as no surprise, then, that gas stations barely make any money from fuel sales and earn their bulk through C-store sales. This is a gripe I have with our economic system. Business is gamified, and in many cases the trade of certain goods and services, called loss leaders, is not an independent operation and is subsidized by the success of another division of a business, a strategy inherently more feasible for larger companies that have greater scale to execute it.

Nevertheless, most gas station owners, whether they have just one or hundreds of sites, find this method fruitful. Even though most gas stations in the US sell one of a handful of national brands, they operate on a branded reseller, or dealer, model, with oil companies themselves generally not taking part in the operations of stations that sell their fuels. The giants do still often have the most leverage and margin in the business, with the ability to set the wholesale price for the distributor, which sells at a markup to the station owner, which in turn will normally make the least profit in the chain when selling to the end customer at the pump. This kind of horizontal integration that involves many parties lacks the synergies and efficiencies of vertical integration that are so applauded by capitalists, but ends up being the most profitable for firms like ExxonMobil, who only extract and refine oil, and on the other end of the chain merely license their recognizable brands to the resellers through purchasing agreements. Furthermore, in recent years, independent dealers have sold their businesses to larger branded resellers, in many cases the ones from whom they had been buying their fuel.

A Word on ExxonMobil's Branding Potential

The largest publicly traded oil company in the world is Exxon Mobil Corporation. It is a direct descendent of the Rockefeller monopoly, Standard Oil, which was broken up in 1911 into 34 companies, the largest of which was Jersey Standard, which became Exxon in 1973. This title was generated by a computer as the most appealing replacement name to be used nationwide to unify the Humble, Enco, and Esso brands, decades before AI was spoken of. The latter brand is still used outside of the United States for marketing, arising from the phonetic pronunciation of the initials of Standard Oil. In 1999, Exxon and Mobil merged, and the combined company to this day markets under separate brands. Exxon is more narrowly used, to brand fuel in the United States, while Mobil has remained a motor oil and industrial lubricant brand, as well as a fuel brand in multiple countries.

Mobil originated in 1866 as the Vacuum Oil Company, which first used the current brand name for Mobiloil, and later Mobilgas and Mobilubricant products, with the prefix simply short for "automobile". Over time, Mobil became the corporation's primary identity, with its official name change to Mobil Oil Corporation taking place in 1966. Its updated wordmark with a signature red O was designed by the agency Chermayeff & Geismar, and the company's image for service stations was conceived by architect Eliot Noyes. New gas stations featured distinctive circular canopies over the pumps, and the company's recognizable pegasus logo was prominently on display for motorists.

I take issue with the deyassification of the brand's image over time. As costs were cut and uniformity took over, rectangular canopies were constructed in place of the special ones designed by Noyes that resembled large mushrooms. The pegasus remained a prominent brand icon, but the Mobil wordmark took precedence, which I personally believe to be an error in judgement. This disregard for the pegasus paved the way for its complete erasure in 2016 with the introduction of ExxonMobil's "Synergy" brand for its fuel. The mythical creature is now much smaller and appears only at the top right corner of pumps at Mobil gas stations, if at all.

Even into the 90s and the 21st century the Pegasus had its place in Mobil's marketing. In 1997, the company introduced its Speedpass keytag, which was revolutionary for its time and used RFID technology, akin to mobile payments today, to allow drivers to get gas without entering the store or swiping a card. When a Speedpass would be successfully processed, the pegasus on the gas pump would light up red.

When Exxon and Mobil merged in 1999, the former adopted the payment method too, with Exxon's less iconic tiger in place of the pegasus.

The program was discontinued in 2019 in favor of ExxonMobil's app, which is more secure since it processes payments through the internet rather than at the pump.

What Shell has done with its brand identity is what Mobil should've done for itself. The European company's logo was designed in 1969 by Raymond Loewy, and is a worth contender for the "And Yet a Trace of the True Self Exists in the False Self" meme. In recent years, Shell went all in on its graphic, while Mobil's pegasus flew away. I choose to believe that the company chose to rebrand its stations in order to prevent the malfunction in the above image from happening.

ExxonMobil should have also discontinued the use of the less storied Exxon brand altogether, and simplifying its consumer-facing identity to just the global Mobil mark. Whatever, neither of the names are actual words. As a bonus, here is a Google map I put together of all 62 gas stations in Springfield, MA. This is my idea of fun. Thanks for reading to the end!

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magicshopaholic · 11 months

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The Boyfriend (Namjoon x OC)

Summary: You use the boyfriend card to get out of a sticky situation.

Pairing: Namjoon x OC

Genre: Smut, some fluff

Word count: 5 K

Rating: 18+

Warnings: dirty talk, making out, fingering, oral sex, unprotected sex, doggy style, lots of insinuations

A/N: Smut. Just shameless smut. Set around six months after Seoul and can be read standalone.

Tagging: @bbl32, @quarter-life-crisis2, @margopinkerton, @faearchives, @whoisbts, @purpleseoul7, @kflixnet (if you want to be added to the taglist, lmk)

Listen to: “i wanna be yours” by arctic monkeys

namjoon masterlist | main masterlist

“So, based on what we’ve just talked about, which of these would be the best decision in a deflationary economy if you’re advising a crude oil giant?”

Answers pop up in a garble of voices, some educated guesses and some plain incorrect. There’s only one who seems to be completely confident in her answer.

“Jane, go for it.”

“Regulating supply to Q-1 until it hits the kink on the curve and the price rises to P-1.”

Before Kaya can respond, a student behind her wrinkles his nose.

“In a deflationary economy? So manufacturing and transportation costs can increase even more?”

“You want prices to increase so there’s greater investment in the economy -”

“How does investment help when there’s -”

“Alright, that’s enough,” calls Kaya, somewhat amused. Both students roll their eyes and each other and face forward. “You’re both right… theoretically. Who can tell me why?”

There’s another mess of answers and she chuckles, her gaze moving instinctively to the back of the class. There’s her thesis advisor, observing her teaching the class. He nods encouragingly behind his glasses, sharing her amusement. Behind him, in the last row, is that student again, the one with the baseball cap still on his head tilted low.

In spite of it, she can’t miss his eyes behind his glasses finding hers, and her heart stutters.

She averts her gaze instantly and takes a step backwards, reaching inside the bowl on her table. The sound of her heels clicking against the floor brings the class to relative silence.

Jane raises her hand again, pushing her glasses up with her other hand. In front of her, the open pages on her notebook are filled with scrawls in black ink of diagrams and text. Feeling a vague sense of kinship, Kaya points at her.

“Increased crude oil prices lead to greater investment in the shale oil space,” she answers immediately, and the guy behind her closes his eyes and sighs, evidently having forgotten this rather important detail. “This leads to an influx of cash in the economy, leading to more jobs and employment. As for the increase in costs,” she adds, turning around conspicuously to look at him, “that’s a side effect that can’t be helped. Those companies would be better off moving from consuming crude oil to shale oil.” Satisfied, she looks back to Kaya.

“Near perfect answer,” she confirms, tossing her a candy.

Despite the compliment, Jane frowns, absently catching the candy. The bell rings then and there’s a rustle as everyone begins standing up and gathering their things.

“Good class, everybody,” says Kaya, doing the same. “Don’t forget your pre-read for Wednesday’s class.”

There’s a murmur of assent as everybody begins heading out through the side doors in front of the class, passing by her desk to do so. Jane bounds up to her.

“Um, just asking for future reference,” she begins, “what was… not perfect about my answer? Because according to my notes,” she says, leafing through her notebook, “it was exactly what you said.”

Kaya winces internally, knowing that while teaching the class requires days of preparation, this is the hard part. Straightening up to face her, she sighs.

“Your answer was perfect,” she admits gently. “The gloating was not. Trust me, I’ve been there. Learnt it the hard way,” she adds honestly when Jane’s shoulders deflate and she trudges out with the rest of the class.

There aren’t too many people left in the class now. Another student, the same one who was caught unawares by Jane, stops by her desk. “I should’ve realised it was the shale thing,” he mutters, sounding disgruntled. “I don’t know how I missed it. I missed another thing last class. I don’t know why… is it possible - I mean…” He shuffles uncomfortably. “Do you… do you tutor?”

Hell no. “You don’t need tutoring, Jakob,” she answers instead, hoping she sounds encouraging. “You just need to pay a little more attention.” Kaya turns to switch off the projector, effectively ending the conversation. She doesn’t turn around until she hears footsteps behind her again, and her smile fades when she sees the student with the baseball cap, his hands in the pockets of his open hoodie. His glasses frame his face, and she sees blond hair peeking out from under the cap.

“I was going to ask the same thing,” he says after a moment, voice deeper than Jakob’s. “About the tutoring.”

Kaya swallows, her eyes darting around at the remaining few people still packing up. “My answer is the same as well,” she says shortly. “You don’t need tutoring.”

“I don’t?”

“No. You just need to pay attention in class.”

His gaze travels down her figure, from the slim white top to the pencil skirt she’d worn in hopes of being professional. The way he’s looking at her, though, is anything but. “You don’t make that very easy.”

She pauses, her heart racing. Still aware that they aren’t alone, she bites her lip. “I have a boyfriend,” she murmurs, too low for anyone else to hear.

There’s a shadow of a smile under the cap. He takes a step closer and she catches a whiff of his familiar cologne. He’s taller than Jakob, too… “That’s what you said last time,” he reminds her.

Kaya’s cheeks grow hot but before she can respond, someone else comes over.

“Kaya,” calls Adam, smiling. “Great class. You’re a natural,” he says, coming over and giving her a friendly one-armed hug.

She chuckles in relief, momentarily diverted. “Thank you. I tried to do everything you told me - notes and all,” she tells him.

“You nailed it,” he assures her, patting her shoulder encouragingly. In contrast to the previous conversation, Adam speaks at a regular volume. Tall and lean in his mid-thirties, he adjusts his laptop bag and a file of papers in his other hand. Behind him, the other student has smoothly stepped back and is leaning against Jane’s desk, pretending to pay attention to his phone even though his thumb isn’t scrolling.

“It was… fun,” she admits. “Kind of like a high.”

“The good ones are,” agrees Adam. “The students really respond to you. Keep it up and I can start unloading even more of my classes onto you,” he jokes, pushing glasses up his nose in a move identical to Jane’s.

“Can’t wait.” Kaya grins and waves as he exits the lecture hall, feeling the unique calmness of relief. She waits until he’s well out of sight, leaving only one other person in the room.

“Was he asking about tutoring, too?” he asks, voice a little dryer than before.

The relief still seeping through her veins, she shrugs. “No. He was complimenting my class, as I’m sure you heard.”

“I was going to do that, too.”

She chuckles. “I appreciate it, but Adam is my thesis advisor,” she tells him, now giving him her full attention as he approaches her. “In this case, his opinion matters the most.”

He nods, jaw hardening slightly. “Well, good thing I’m not your boyfriend or that would actually hurt a little,” he tells her, now standing right in front of her. His hand strokes her hip and she gasps softly, grabbing it to move it.

“Not here,” she whispers. “Anyone could walk in.” When he smirks, presumably in anticipation of exactly that, she deliberately shoves his hand away. “And there are cameras.”

“Afraid your boyfriend’s going to see? You weren’t this worried the last time.”

“That’s because the last time we did this, it was in the privacy of your studio,” she reminds him, slipping out from in front of him and grabbing her bag. “How did you even get in here? Didn’t anybody see you?”

“Um… no, actually,” he answers, shaking his head. “I literally just gave my name at the gate and walked in. Security’s not great here, now that you mention it,” he informs her, now at a more normal volume.

Kaya frowns, not expecting this. “Seriously? What - you just said your name is Kim Namjoon and just… walked in?”

“Oh, no, I gave a fake name, obviously,” he says as they walk out together. “But it still worked. No one gave me a second look,” he adds, sounding almost uncertain. “Quite surprising. But a good thing.”

“That is surprising,” she agrees in a low voice, hoping it stays true for the short walk to her office as well. Namjoon is taller than average; even wearing heels, it feels like he’s towering over her, shielding her whole figure. Still, the clothing probably works, for no one seems to pay them any attention. She’s thankful it’s a Sunday - the number of people on campus is fewer than usual. They reach her office in relative silence and it isn’t until they’re both inside and she’s shut the door that she finally relaxes.

“I don’t allow hats and hoods in my class, by the way,” she tells him pointedly, grinning when he takes the hat off. “Don’t make me give you detention,” she warns.

“I can handle detention,” he says easily, running a hand through his hair. Kaya allows herself to admire him freely now, leaning back against her table in the small, air-conditioned office.

“What are you doing here?” she asks him finally, tone softer than before.

“It’s your first class; I wanted to be there,” he answers, coming up to her and placing his hands on her hips again, tracing the shape in the pencil skirt. “And you were amazing. So confident and sexy,” he murmurs, tilting his head and brushing his lips against her collarbone.

Kaya feels goosebumps appear on her skin. “That’s… really sweet. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well…” Namjoon straightens up. “I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get in,” he admits. “And I didn’t want you to be nervous. Wanted you to focus on nothing but the class.”

She nods, biting her lip and wrapping her arms around his neck. “Thank you,” she says softly, leaning up before stopping abruptly. “Wait, what fake name did you use? I need to know who I’m making out with in my office.”

He raises an eyebrow. “And cheating on your boyfriend with?”

“Exactly.”

Namjoon rolls his eyes but tugs her hips closer to his. “I said my name was Jackson. It was the first one that popped into my head.”

“Jackson?” Kaya frowns, something stirring in her memory. “Don’t you have a friend called Jackson? Didn’t we - hang on, didn’t we go to a party at his house or something?”

“No, that wasn’t Jackson. Jackson was the one who sent me flowers and soup when I got a cold, remember? I think it was May,” he says vaguely.

“Oh, yeah, I remember you told me about that. He was a better girlfriend than me,” she teases, leaning up again.

“You still edge him out just a bit,” he mutters, pulling her closer and kissing her. She sinks into him instantly, the day’s stress, anxiety and relief disappearing in his taste and his scent. She feels his hands roaming her body with ease, running down the curves of her top and skirt, the pads of his thumbs pressing into the flesh, and she can tell here a restrained intake of breath.

“Don’t you think it’s unfair?” Namjoon murmurs, trailing kisses across her jaw. He takes a step forward and backs her into the table.

It takes Kaya a moment to respond. “What is?” she asks, eyes still closed.

“Expecting your students to concentrate the whole time when you’re up there looking like this,” he answers calmly, softly sucking the skin under her earlobe.

She almost rolls her eyes at this line but the feel of his body pressing up against hers makes it difficult to do so. “If they want that grade, they’re going to have to,” she says instead, tugging at the bottom of his hoodie. “Take this off,” she whispers, running her hands up to his shoulders and slipping it off.

He pulls away slightly. “What else can they do for a grade?”

She grins. “What can they do…” Hooking her fingers through the belt loops on his jeans, she pulls herself closer.

“... or what can you do?”

Being a famous person, presumably, is fraught with the possibility of scrutiny and inappropriate invasion of privacy. Namjoon seems to be an unwilling expert at it, knowing the ins and outs of using disguises, fake names, timed outings and secret exits.

Being with a famous person, at least for Kaya, is a black box. It sounds dangerous and mysterious, like the depths of Tartarus with the sounds of cameras clicking echoing from inside it. She doesn’t do well with not knowing, but this is one area where she’s restrained herself from Googling more than she should, for she knows the kind of stories she’s bound to stumble across.

In a somewhat insane attempt to cope, she’d convinced herself that as long she doesn’t see them, there’s a chance her mind is exaggerating and they don’t exist at all, like Schroedinger’s paparazzi. She hates the phrase, doesn’t believe in it - but Ignorance is bliss seems to be the safest option in this case, letting Namjoon take the lead when it comes to navigating a relationship in secret.

A good thing that’s come out of it? The desire to take advantage of every situation that presents itself, even at the most inopportune moments.

The last time Kaya had been in Seoul, she’d made a calculated decision to ask Hoseok to sneak her into the Big Hit building so she could find Namjoon in his studio.

“With respect, Hobi,” she’d said carefully on the phone, biting her lip, when he’d asked her curiously why she wanted to do this, “don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to?”

It had taken Hoseok a full minute to understand what she might be referring to, during which time she wished very much that Yoongi wasn’t out of town at this time. Still, Hoseok had been kind enough to help her out and she’d smoothly made her way inside and knocked on her boyfriend’s studio, hoping the lace wouldn’t start chafing before it could be taken off.

To her horror, Namjoon hadn’t been alone. His eyes had widened in shock and she’d been ready to turn around and run, but whoever it was with him had frowned and pointed at her, asking Namjoon something in Korean.

Namjoon had stuttered out a response, tacking on “an intern” at the end in English, she knew, for her benefit. There had been some conversation after that which Kaya could make no sense of, following which Namjoon had handed her a folder filled with papers and a pendrive, apparently waving her away.

Fortunately, his companion had also left then, leaving only Namjoon and the intern in the studio.

“I’m sorry,” he’d said instantly, seeming a little confused, “but, what are you…”

“Obviously, since I’m an intern here,” she’d begun wryly, “I am doing my job. I’m… interning.”

“M-hm.”

There had been a moment where they’d met each other’s eyes and it occurred to Kaya that her surprise visit could unearth more than just a quickie in his studio.

“Anything else you need?” Namjoon had asked after a moment, taking a seat in his chair, elbows resting on his thighs and feet flat on the ground.

He was playing along. Kaya’s heart had raced in excitement and she’d tried to suppress her smile. “I’ve always admired your work,” she’d ventured, feeling just the tiniest bit ridiculous. But she’d tried to push the thought out of her mind and stay committed to the bit. “Could you teach me something?”

Namjoon hadn’t responded for a moment and she’d cringed, hoping it hadn’t gone from sexy surprise to average porno in three seconds straight. But then he’d cleared his throat and gestured for her to come closer. “Sure. I can teach you.”

Kaya had walked over and once she’d reached him, pretended to look around the studio. “Um… there’s no other place to sit,” she’d said, ignoring the four seater sofa and armchair. “From where I can see the monitor,” she’d added quickly.

He’d nodded thoughtfully and simply leaned back in the chair, gazing up at her calmly. Even sitting down, he was almost her height, torso long and broad, jeans stretching over his thighs and making his lap look most inviting.

“Have a seat.”

Her toes had curled inside her shoes and she’d nodded mutely, carefully resting on his knee while his hands lightly guided her hips. The slightest touch made her heart palpitate, as though sitting on his lap wasn’t one of the most natural parts of her days with him.

“Are you comfortable?” he’d asked.

Kaya had nodded. “Yeah. I mean,” she’d shrugged, going where her inspiration took her, “my boyfriend won’t like it, though.”

She’d felt him stir then, just a bit, underneath her. The next moment, he’d leaned forward so his chest was touching her back and his nose brushed her hair.

“Jackpot,” he’d whispered.

Kaya had only gone over with the intention of surprising her boyfriend during a busy week, maybe making out for a while like they had in his home studio years ago, maybe sneaking out to go grab a coffee. Unearthing a rudimentary fantasy that neither of them knew existed had not been part of the plan, but they’d rolled with it to achieve vastly satisfying results.

Now, Kaya feels similar stirrings low and deep in her abdomen, the same impulse in response to how intensely Namjoon is gazing at her, almost amused, but mostly hopeful - and this time, on her turf.

“I’m sure I can offer you something in return,” he suggests after a moment.

She raises an eyebrow, trying to ignore the leap in her chest. “Are you bribing me for a grade?”

“I’m bribing you really well for a grade,” he corrects her, reaching for her hips and gently squeezing her arse. “Fuck, that’s tight,” he mutters, his eyes falling to her skirt.

Kaya gasps, feeling her core tingle suddenly. “So far, you’re only teasing me for a grade,” she retorts, unable to keep the annoyance out of her voice.

Namjoon grins, dimple popping and eyes darkening. Without another word, he lowers his head to kiss her again, slipping his tongue into her mouth instantly. He squeezes her arse again before bringing his hands up higher, his fingers tightening on every curve and quietly grunting in pleasure when he reaches her chest.

“Have I mentioned how much I love this top?” he murmurs against her lips, squeezing her left breast and swallowing her sigh. “It makes your boobs look so sexy. I couldn’t look away the whole time,” he adds quietly, running his thumb over her nipple. Even through her bra, he can feel it hard and straining against the fabric.

“I can take it off,” she offers, struggling to keep her legs pressed together and her wits about her amidst his body up against hers. She fumbles in the chiffon ruffles for the string and tugs at it, loosening the top and feeling the tops of her breasts exposed to the cool air conditioner. She moves to take it off but he stops her.

“Keep it on,” he says, catching her wrist and bringing it down. “It’s too pretty to take off.” His lips move down her jaw to her neck, cupping her breast and thumbing her nipple again.

Kaya finds herself torn between regretting and being glad that she isn’t wearing a padded bra today. She lets out a soft sigh as he thumbs it again, his hair brushing her neck as she drops her head back slightly. His lips move lower, sucking a mark above the hem of her bra and she waits eagerly for him to pull down her top, knowing he’ll take his time.

He never does, though, straightening up as his hands smoothly moving down her chest and to her hips.

“I hate you,” she groans softly, her heart fluttering at his chuckle next to her ear.

Namjoon reaches down and pulls her skirt up her thighs until he can slide his hand in between her legs. He places his palm against her cunt and squeezes it, feeling her soaked through her underwear. “No, you don’t,” he murmurs, swallowing her gasp.

He rubs her through her underwear, his palm at her clit and his fingers right at her entrance. Kaya’s hands fall backwards to land on the table, supporting her as her knees feel weaker by the second. Namjoon holds her to him, though, his other hand on her arse as he presses her into his palm.

“Take it off, take it off,” she whines, dropping her head on his shoulder and grabbing his forearm for support. She breathes a sigh of relief as he silently tugs her underwear down, feeling the fabric fall down her legs just before he resumes his position: his palm rough against her clit and his fingers slowly sliding inside her walls.

“How close are you?” he asks against her lips, his tongue teasing hers.

“So - so fucking -” She breaks off into a moan as he moves his hand in a circular motion, giving her exactly the friction she so desperately needs. “Yes, yes…”

Namjoon pulls her closer as she climaxes, kissing her exposed neck and holding her as she screws her eyes shut, breathing heavily as she comes down from her high.

“Shit,” she whispers, eyes fluttering open after a few moments when she feels his hands slide off her. “That was - that was - wait, what are you doing?”

He simply raises an eyebrow as he unbuckles his belt and unbuttons his jeans, his erection straining through the material of his boxers. “What do you think?” he asks, wrapping an arm around her waist and hitching her up on the table. “I’m earning my grade.”

Kaya laughs breathlessly, her heart racing at his strength and the desire in his eyes. “You know this is my office, right?” she tells him as he gently spreads her legs and comes to stand in between them. “I work here.”

“And I work in my studio,” he replies, lowering his head to kiss her. “Didn’t mean I couldn’t take a break.”

It’s true, she agrees privately, kissing him back. The intern bit had gone on only for a few minutes before she’d felt Namjoon’s hand come up from behind her and slide in between her thighs, palming her until she’d silently unbuttoned her jeans in response. He’d fingered her there, too, muttering soothingly that her boyfriend would never find out - that, as his other hand reached up her top to squeeze her breast, her secret was safe with him.

His mouth is on her clit now, sucking softly at the swollen nub. The thought of him on her knees for her, here, in her office, only gets her wet again. His lips, soft and ample, glide through her folds as he holds her legs apart, hands gentle but firm on her thighs.

“God, I want you so bad,” he mutters, standing back up and wiping his mouth. Kaya tugs him closer by the t-shirt, kissing him while he lowers his boxers until she feels his tip on the inside of her thigh. She whimpers in anticipation into his mouth, their lips separating but brushing against each other as he eases himself inside her.

“Yes - oh, God…”

Namjoon feels so big, so thick inside her that she doesn’t even register when he starts moving, his groan low and throaty. She leans back slightly, resting her elbows back on the table so he can get a better angle as he keeps going, his arm tight around her waist.

“Fuck, you feel amazing, baby,” he murmurs at her neck, his voice reverberating through her bones. His lips trail down her collarbone, to her breasts, partially uncovered and moving in rhythm with every whimper she makes. He grabs her other thigh, fucking her harder with each thrust.

“How am I doing?” he asks after a few moments, pulling her up to kiss her again.

“What?” she answers absently, her hands reaching for his neck as she kisses him back. One of her hands glides through his hair and he grunts at the feel of her nails against his scalp.

“How am I doing?” he repeats pulling away slightly and picking up the speed. “Grade-wise?”

“Oh.” She chuckles, pulling playfully at his hair. He suspects she can barely focus on what he’s saying until she meets his eyes, her lips an inch away from his. “B-minus,” she murmurs, her body still moving from the intensity of his thrusts but her gaze steady.

Namjoon’s chest leaps. “Have to fix that,” he mutters, pulling out abruptly. Ignoring her momentary gasp, he picks her up to put her back down on the floor, before holding her shoulders and turning her around until she’s facing the table. She falls forward on her hands in surprise, feeling him sweep her long hair over one shoulder.

He kisses the other shoulder softly, one arm coming protectively around her waist. “Tell me if you want me to stop, okay?” he whispers clearly next to her ear, kissing her cheek tenderly.

Kaya nods, feeling his arm tighten around her and knowing the moment has passed. She bends forward a bit more as he enters her, trying to suppress her groan so it doesn’t carry out of the room but it’s too difficult. He feels incredible; the new angle allows him to hit every nerve ending he couldn’t reach before and he begins moving again, sliding smoothly in and out of her, his low grunts in sync with his movements.

Back then, in his studio, Kaya had been the one to change the tone, turning around on his lap and straddling him on his chair. Ground-breaking music swept aside, she’d rode him in the Big Hit building until they’d both cum together for the first time that afternoon. The walls were soundproof and there had been no fear of being heard; the sounds Namjoon had elicited from her less than hour later when they’d fucked on his couch had been unbelievable, leaving her with legs too shaky to walk herself out after that.

Now, in a quieter work environment, the air is filled with sounds of pleasure; her whimpers increasing in frequency and the soft sounds of skin on skin escaping in between. Namjoon’s hands are tight on her hips, holding her steady as he pounds into her.

Kaya has no opportunity to warn him when she cums again, finally letting herself moan out loud as he hits the spot and she feels the the heat travel from her core to the rest of her body. She shudders and falls forward on her hands, trying to catch her breath as Namjoon keeps going, faster now, his grip on her hips tightening.

“Fuck, baby, I’m gonna cum…” Namjoon’s thrusts are harder, his hips slamming against her until he pushes forward with a muffled groan against her shoulder, followed by two more slower thrusts, emptying himself inside her. As he pulls out slowly, Kaya feels his seed drip down her legs; cringing slightly, she reaches for the box of tissues at the corner of her desk and wipes herself down as Namjoon pulls up his jeans and zips them up.

“Come here,” he murmurs, turning her around gently and capturing her lips in a kiss before she has a chance to respond. It’s less desperate this time, more loving. Kaya, still trying to breathe normally, kisses him back but pulls away quickly.

“I need a moment,” she says tiredly, leaning back against the desk and panting. He chuckles and nods, wrapping his arms around her waist and lowering his head to her shoulder.

“How about now?” Namjoon murmurs against her skin, stroking her back and pressing soft, lingering kisses to her neck. “Did I do better? Oh, hang on.” He notices something on the floor and kneels down.

Kaya’s forehead clears when she remembers. “Oh. I guess you talked yourself into an A,” she ventures, looking down when he taps her leg. It’s her underwear on the floor; a blush creeping up her neck, she awkwardly steps into it, her hands on his shoulders for support. He pulls it up her legs and she adjusts her skirt over it, biting her lip as he stands up again.

“Okay, an A plus,” she allows, giggling as he pulls her back into his arms.

He winks. “I thought so. Although, I really feel like I have to clear this up,” he adds, running a hand through his hair and taking a deep breath. “I was… I was a really good student. A grea student, in fact. I studied really hard and never skipped a class, so I never actually needed to go the extra mile or do anything that -”

Kaya laughs, pushing him away playfully and stepping away from the desk. “I never doubted you, honey. Don’t worry,” she reassures him, rifling through a stack of test papers before stopping. “I still have a quick meeting with Adam about the next class… do you want to wait? Or I can meet you at home?”

Namjoon frowns slightly before shrugging. “I can wait.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” He nods, linking his fingers with hers. “I’ll take you out to dinner after, at that place by the river,” he adds, tugging slightly and kissing her cheek.

Kaya chuckles. “You love that place. Alright, I’ll be back in about half an hour, I think.” With a massive effort, she steps away from him and grabs her bag.

“Alright, love you. Oh, wait -” He reaches forward and adjusts the sleeve of her top, covering the corner of a hickey on her chest. “There.”

“Stop it, you already got the grade you wanted,” she teases, walking backwards.

Namjoon grins. “Don’t let him keep you too long,” he warns her as she leaves, “or I might have to come find you and ask for another grade.”

—

Thank you for reading. Don't forget to drop a review :)

#namjoon x oc #namjoon x reader #namjoon fanfic #thebtswritersclub #btshoneyhive #bangtanwhq #bangtantheatrenet #bangtanbathhouse #micdropnet #houseofddaeng #hyunglinenetwork #k-vanity #wkcnet #bts rm fanfic #namjoon smut #bts rm smut

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katchwreck · 2 years

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The price of crude oil in US dollars hits highest point (and still rising) since 2008. If we compare the current price with euros and pounds, we can see that we are passed the 2008 level.

Hence why the United States' regime now has allowed Venezuelan oil to Europe. Because, at all costs, the united western ruling class wants to avoid popular uprisings.

Meanwhile, US oil company ExxonMobil hit an all-time high of $104.8 per share, as you can see on the second picture.

#crude oil #price #exxonmobil #capitalism #imperialism #graphs

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kitchen-light · 6 months

Text

Good morning Gaza, get up, drink my coffee, and rise. Our funeral has arrived. Good morning Gaza, get up and recite the verse of return to a land we have carried like a tattoo on the hand. Good morning, you stranger to your house. Not all God’s earth is Rome even if your flesh is a window-shop for the masters of words. Your flesh, is it Christ’s brittle bread? Good morning, you offering on the altar of the Mediterranean basin, cut your path short. You’re a prayer rug for idolators, a cave of ancient civilizations, a tent for bedouin rulers, you’re the armor of the poor and the alms of millionaires. They auction you as surplus to the market’s demands. And you are the dream of Palestinians on the streets, a river of bodies in one. Good morning Gaza. Get up. Gather your one arm. The one you have left. Good morning Palestinian flesh on the tables of ministers and presidents. You’re a stone of solidarity and balance among your executioners. Not even your language protects you, so take a short cut. Your flesh legitimates the police and the saint, they swap names, take turns, merge, bond, and sometimes split into two kingdoms that war over you, but when you rise, they reunite over your flesh. You’re the geography of chaos, the history of this East, so take a short cut. You’re a field of experiments for both heavy industry and light. An encyclopedia of gunpowder, from the age of the catapult to the rage of missiles that were manufactured in the West. Palestinian flesh, in tribal nations and suited states that disagree over the price of potatoes, leather shoes, beets, crude oil, but agree on expelling you from your blood, gather in one arm, gather as one, and write the verse of return. —From “The Final Meeting in Rome” by Mahmoud Darwish, translated by Fady Joudah (sourced here)

#mahmoud darwish #poetry #words #found*#palestine #on the spiritual

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robertreich · 2 years

Video

youtube

How America Can Lower Gas Prices Like Other Countries

Gas prices are going down, but they’re still way too high. While you pay through the nose at the gas pump, Big Oil is lining its pockets.

I’ll get to how to funnel some of these profits back to you in a moment, but first let me explain why and how gas prices got so high.

The major drivers of price increases are pent-up demand after two years of the pandemic, coupled with supply shocks and shortages.

But let’s be clear about another major cause of rising prices: American corporations enjoying their highest profits in 70 years, and using inflation as a cover to push up prices even further.

Recently, the average price of gas gushed to over $5 a gallon across the country — a near record high. It’s now down somewhat, but it’s still way higher than it should be. And this is not just because the cost of crude oil has gone up. It’s because Big Oil’s profit margins have surged above that cost.

The annual U.S. inflation rate was 8.6% in May. Meanwhile, gas prices rose a whopping 47%.

Last year, when Americans were already struggling to pay their heating bills and fill up their gas tanks, the biggest oil companies posted profits totaling $75 billion. This year, Big Oil is on the way to an even bigger bonanza.

In the first quarter of 2022, the five biggest oil companies siphoned off over 200 percent more in profits than the year before. That’s more than $35 billion in profits in just three months. They’re on track to make a record $140 billion this year.

Big Oil could easily absorb the higher costs of crude without raising prices at the pump. But they’re raising prices more than their costs are rising – because they have so much market power. So they’re passing on higher costs to consumers in the form of higher prices and pocketing record profits on top of that.

Lower-income people are bearing the brunt of these higher gas prices. Not only are they less likely to work from home, but they’re more likely to commute longer distances in order to afford housing.

Meanwhile, the profits flow to Big Oil investors and executives. In 2021, oil giants spent over $35 billion on stock buybacks in order to pump up share prices. This year, ExxonMobil alone is planning on buying back $30 billion of its own shares of stock – triple what it had originally planned on.

Make no mistake: this is a direct upward redistribution from consumers like you to Big Oil and its investors.

What can we do about all this? Hit Big Oil with a windfall profits tax.

A windfall tax is aimed at profits that come from taking advantage of a crisis, such as were imposed in World War II.

Britain’s Conservative government just enacted a 25 percent windfall profits tax on oil and gas giants. The revenue from that tax will go to lower-income households to help them weather the energy crisis.

If Britain’s Conservatives can do this, so can the United States. This should be a no-brainer.

There’s currently a bill in Congress to do just this. This windfall profits tax is estimated to recoup $45 billion per year, which would be rebated directly to consumers.

The windfall tax is exactly what we need to stop the gush of money flowing from consumers to Big Oil and its investors.

It’s good policy, good politics, and it’s the right thing to do.

#Big Oil #windfall profits #windfall profits tax #oil profits

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missedstations · 6 months

Text

From “The Final Meeting in Rome” - Mahmoud Darwish, translated by Fady Joudah

Good morning Gaza, get up, drink my coffee, and rise. Our funeral has arrived.

Good morning Gaza, get up and recite the verse of return to a land we have carried like a tattoo on the hand.

Good morning, you stranger to your house. Not all God’s earth is Rome even if your flesh is a window-shop for the masters of words. Your flesh, is it Christ’s brittle bread?

Good morning, you offering on the altar of the Mediterranean basin, cut your path short. You’re a prayer rug for idolators, a cave of ancient civilizations, a tent for bedouin rulers, you’re the armor of the poor and the alms of millionaires. They auction you as surplus to the market’s demands. And you are the dream of Palestinians on the streets, a river of bodies in one.

Good morning Gaza. Get up. Gather your one arm. The one you have left. Good morning Palestinian flesh on the tables of ministers and presidents. You’re a stone of solidarity and balance among your executioners. Not even your language protects you, so take a short cut. Your flesh legitimates the police and the saint, they swap names, take turns, merge, bond, and sometimes split into two kingdoms that war over you, but when you rise, they reunite over your flesh.

You’re the geography of chaos, the history of this East, so take a short cut. You’re a field of experiments for both heavy industry and light. An encyclopedia of gunpowder, from the age of the catapult to the rage of missiles that were manufactured in the West. Palestinian flesh, in tribal nations and suited states that disagree over the price of potatoes, leather shoes, beets, crude oil, but agree on expelling you from your blood,

gather in one arm, gather as one, and write the verse of return.

translated by Fady Joudah

#Poems #The Final Meeting in Rome #Mahmoud Darwish #Fady Joudah

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mikeneedsadrink · 7 months

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Well I'm officially seeing "I stand with current thing" posts for this one. The price of crude oil is up and I'm sure a previously prepared multi-billion dollar aid package is already hitting the house floor as we speak.

I stand with "fuck these rising gas prices and the ever growing national debt".

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greywolf8725 · 5 days

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Biden has canceled plans to refill America's emergency oil reserve — here's why and what it means for you

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced it has axed plans to refill its “oil piggy bank” in August and September due to surging oil prices.

The DOE previously announced in March that it was soliciting 3 million barrels of oil for its Bayou Choctaw site in Louisiana — one of four major storage facilities for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

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The SPR is the world's largest supply of emergency crude oil and was established back in 1975 in case of a severe oil supply crisis or economic disruption.

"We monitor market dynamics to remain nimble and innovative in our successful replenishment approach to protect this critical national security asset," said DOE spokesperson Charisma Troiano, noting the energy department is keeping “the taxpayer’s interest at the forefront.”

Rising prices are halting refills

The Energy Department has been gradually refilling the emergency oil supply after stockpiles hit a historic low last year.

The administration withdrew a record 180 million barrels in 2022 to counter supply issues created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — but Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in March that the strategic oil reserve would be replenished by the end of the year.

The DOE has said it’s aiming to buy back oil for the SPR at $79 per barrel or below, less than the average of about $95 it received for the 2022 sales.

However, amid increasing prices — currently hovering at around $88 per barrel — the DOE has decided to pull back on further purchases until market conditions improve.

The SPR currently holds about 365 million barrels, according to Energy Department data — down from nearly 600 million at the beginning of 2022.

What this means for you

Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group, who served as an adviser to former President George W. Bush, told Bloomberg he believes domestic crude prices will likely remain high for the rest of the year, which means the refill program could remain paused for a while.

“If pump prices keep rising, the Biden administration will shift gears and reconsider SPR releases, though we currently do not think they are imminent,” McNally says.

But critics have concerns that the depleted oil reserves could put the U.S. at risk, especially in a time of crisis, or if the global supply hits dangerously low levels. It also means prices at the pump could remain high for the foreseeable future.

“It’s pure insanity to watch the Biden administration cut American oil production and then claim they can’t refill our critical reserve because of the price,” Daniel Turner, founder and executive director for energy advocacy organization Power The Future, said in a statement.

“As a result, Americans are paying more at the pump, more at the grocery store and our SPR is less full during a time of rising turmoil in the Middle East.”

#forget tags

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dragonflycap · 17 days

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What to expect from the stock market this week

Last week, the review of the macro market indicators saw with the first week of April in the books, equity markets looked in need of a rest. Elsewhere looked for Gold ($GLD) to continue its record run higher while Crude Oil ($USO) continued its move to the upside as well. The US Dollar Index ($DXY) continued to short term trend to the upside while US Treasuries ($TLT) might resume their downtrend. The Shanghai Composite ($ASHR) looked to continue the short term move higher while Emerging Markets ($EEM) consolidated under long term resistance.

The Volatility Index ($VXX) looked to remain low making the path easier for equity markets to the upside. Their charts also looked strong, especially on the longer timeframe. On the shorter timeframe the $QQQ was at risk for some downside with the $IWM in a messy short term uptrend and the $SPY the strongest but also seeing some profit taking show up.

The week played out with Gold continuing it run of record highs while Crude Oil met resistance and consolidated at 5½ month highs. The US Dollar found strength and pushed to 5½ month highs as well while Treasuries made new 4 month lows before a bounce Friday. The Shanghai Composite pulled back from a lower high while Emerging Markets broke down out of the rising short term channel.

Volatility rose up from a short term consolidation to the top of a rising wedge. This put pressure on equities late in the week and they responded by moving lower. This resulted in the IWM back at support which was prior resistance for 2 years, the QQQ continuing sideways in consolidation near the highs and the SPY touching a 1 month low. What does this mean for the coming week? Let’s look at some charts.

SPY Daily, $SPY

The SPY came into the week holding at the 20 day SMA on the daily chart after a pullback from the top. It held there Monday and Tuesday and then dropped below Wednesday in a reaction to the hotter than expected CPI print. Thursday saw it rise to retest the 20 day SMA and then fall back Friday to touch the 50 day SMA for the first time since the beginning of November. Price ended at the lower of the Bollinger Bands® with the RSI heading toward the bottom of the bullish zone and the MACD positive but dropping and approaching zero.

The weekly chart shows a second week headed lower, this one with a longer red candle. The RSI on this timeframe has dropped out of overbought territory with the MACD about to cross down. There is support lower at 510 and 503.50 then 501.50 and 498.50 before 495 and 491.50 with the retest of the Cup and Handle breakout at 476.75 lower. Resistance above is at 513.50 and 517.50 then 520.50 and 524.50. The 138.2% extension of the retracement of the 2022 pullback is above at 530 and then the Cup and Handle target at 560. Pullback in Uptrend.

SPY Weekly, $SPY

Heading into the April options expiration, equity markets showed some cracks in the uptrends. Elsewhere look for Gold to continue its uptrend, but with perhaps a short term pause while Crude Oil consolidates the move higher. The US Dollar Index looks to break to the upside while US Treasuries resume their downtrend. The Shanghai Composite looks to consolidate in its move higher while Emerging Markets consolidate in a broad channel.

The Volatility Index looks to continue to slow move higher keeping pressure on equity markets. The QQQ looks the strongest, especially on the longer timeframe as it consolidates while the SPY digests its strong move with a pullback. The IWM seems to have given up any chance of breaking out of the long consolidation as it falls back into the channel. Use this information as you prepare for the coming week and trad’em well.

Join the Premium Users and you can view the Full Version with 20 detailed charts and analysis: Macro Week in Review/Preview April 12, 2024

#$GLD #$US #$DXY #$UUP #$TLT #$ASHR #$FXI #$EEM #$VIX #$VXX #$SPY #$IWM #$QQQ #$USO

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zvaigzdelasas · 2 years

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Battles of attrition are defined as those in which opposing forces do not confront each other in direct combat with the full strength of their teams but instead aim to wear each other down over a period of time. [U]nilaterally-imposed economic policy sanctions that coerce certain desired patterns of international trade and economic exchange may be cast as attempts to win a battle of attrition.

The latest headlines in the attrition front from Germany, the epicentre of the continent’s unsettled energy geopolitics after the launch of Western sanctions on Russia, seem incredible at first sight. It was only about a month ago when what seemed a dumbfounding report by Deutsche Bank predicted that "wood will be used for heating purposes where possible." The Business Insider headlined its column “Germans could switch to wood this winter to heat their homes as Russia withholds natural gas, Deutsche Bank says”.

Last week, Bloomberg’s Javier Blas tweeted with his “chart of the day” showing Google seearches for firewood ("Brennholz") surging in the past two months as Germans increasingly realize that firewood (yes, firewood!) might stand between them and a freezing winter with electricity rationing “as the country braces for natural gas shortages”. Germany’s citizens — living in the world’s pre-eminent engineering nation with its flagship BMWs and Audis in manufacturing, its world leading petrochemical sector typified by behemoth BASF and much else besides — face the prospects of surviving winter as their forebears did over 2 centuries ago, huddling around a firewood hearth. [...]

A few days after the launch of Russia’s “special military operations” in eastern Ukraine on 24th February, the U.S., U.K. and the European Union along with their closest allies (Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and a few other countries) imposed the most wide-ranging economic blitzkrieg on a sovereign nation since the Second World War. The sanctions launched on Russia were meant to devastate the Russian economy and force President Vladimir Putin to sue for peace on Ukraine’s terms or even engender regime change.

Russia responded with a “roubles for gas” scheme for “non-friendly” countries (i.e. those participating in the sanctions) as a prototype for all of Russia’s major commodity exports to a hostile Western alliance. In the days after the sanctions, Russia’s rouble fell to almost half of its pre-invasion levels, its stock market was shut, and its central bank jacked up interest rates to contain the fallout. Contrary to expectations and President Joe Biden’s boast of collapsing the ‘rouble to rubble’ however, the currency soon recovered sharply. It strengthened to its highest levels in 7 years while the country’s current account surplus surged to record levels by May.

This was due only in part to the Russian central bank's actions limiting currency outflows and raising interest rates. It was primarily an outcome of the surge in the global prices of fossil fuels and industrial commodities which constitute the major commodity exports of the country. According to a Reuters report yesterday, higher oil export volumes, coupled with rising gas prices, will boost Russia's earnings from energy exports to $337.5 billion this year, a 38% rise on 2021, according to an economy ministry document seen by the newswire.

While there was some fall-off in energy exports to the Western countries, China and India rapidly increased their energy imports from Russia at discounted prices. While China is in talks with Russia to buy oil to replenish its strategic reserves according to Bloomberg, India has been refining cheaper Russian crude to then export as petroleum products to Europe and the US. [!]

In an irony that will not be lost to observers of European affairs, Robin Brooks, Chief Economist at the Institute of International Finance, says that the West is “paying a high price” for denying Russian energy to itself, although EU “exemptions” to sanctions are multiplying. Meanwhile, Russia’s financial conditions now are almost as relaxed as before the war.

He also notes that the German current account surplus “is back to levels last seen in the early 2000s, when Germany was the ‘sick man’ of Europe” adding that Germany is “sick again now” having had a growth model that was “heavily predicated on cheap Russian energy”. The Nordstream-1 gas pipeline — Germany’s main gas supply artery — running at 20% level of normal supply and the resulting Eurozone energy price shock — is Putin’s grapple-hold across the throat of Europe threatening “catastrophic industrial shutdowns” and mass layoffs.

Russia’s citizens, while poorer, do not seem to be doing so badly relative to their German neighbours. Retail spending at cafes, bars, and restaurants is doing fine. Well-heeled Muscovites might miss their I-phones and Gucci handbags under sanctions and voluntary exits by publicity-conscious Western corporations. But ordinary citizens are certainly not searching for firewood this winter or worried about being able to have hot baths.

The battle of attrition between the G-7 and Russia continues as the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently went on “a charm offensive in Africa to regain the US popularity which was lost ostensibly during the Trump administration, and to counter the attempts from Russia to get more African countries on their side.” In pointed remarks to the press with Mr. Blinken sitting at her side, South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said that she objected to “patronizing bullying” coming from the West: “Because when we believe in freedom – as I’m saying, it’s freedom for everybody – you can’t say because Africa is doing this, you will then be punished by the United States…. One thing I definitely dislike is being told ‘either you choose this or else.’”

Making the same point more diplomatically, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar said in a June conference when he took questions from an audience: "I am one-fifth of the world's population. I am what today the 5th or 6th largest economy in the world… I feel I am entitled to have my own side. I am entitled to weigh my own interests, and make my own choices. My choices will not be cynical and transactional. They will be a balance of my values and my interests. There is no country in the world which disregards its interests."

In a speech delivered yesterday in Bangkok when attending a India-Thailand Joint Commission meeting, the minister defended India’s crude oil imports from Russia. He referred to the surge in energy prices across the world due to the Russia-Ukraine war and said: “We have been very open and honest about our interest. I have a country with a per capita income of USD 2000, these are not people who can afford higher energy prices. It’s my moral duty to ensure the best deal.”

In a blistering article last week headlined “Washington has only itself to blame for growing de-dollarization trend”, China’s Global Times stated: “The thought the US may move to grab anybody's assets who refuses to obey Washington's dictates is truly unnerving, which is now inducing more countries to diversify their reserve assets away from US dollars.” Russia, China and India have been engaged in efforts to facilitate trade via the use of their national currencies and a potential BRICS basket as the basis of commodity trade among those outside the Western alliance.

Potential future members of the BRICS bloc such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Indonesia, Nigeria and Thailand have made clear — either overtly or by their neutrality in trade and diplomatic relations with Russia and the West – that they will not “pick sides” as India’s Dr. Jaishanker put it. There is little reason to believe that the EU or the US can browbeat developing countries to join in the anti-Russia sanctions.

Financial and trade sanctions on Russia by Western protagonists has led to an economic battle of attrition the results of which remain uncertain and far-reaching. It looks increasingly likely that Russia will achieve at least its immediate goals in the military battlefield in the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine, albeit at great cost of men and materiel. Yet the costs of the Western economic sanctions on Russia which have boomeranged are far more consequential to people’s lives and livelihoods around the world.

The Western alliance, led by the US under the Biden administration, offers no prospects for a negotiated solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict as called for by Henry Kissinger at the Davos conference in May. Indeed, the mainstream media and Western political leaders have continued escalating the narrative of a Russian military defeat with a seeming endless supply of funds and arms by the Biden administration to Ukraine.

Pensioners and poorer sections of society across Western Europe and the UK, unable to afford skyrocketing heating and electricity bills, will be the most affected proximate victims. But even worse injuries to people’s lives and livelihoods will be among the vast populations of the developing countries that live in poverty or on the edges of it. The surge in the price of food, fertilizer and fuel as a result of the sanctions will punish the far-flung innocent poor the most.

Yeowch, when even Forbes is turning on your political class & waving this big of a white flag, you know youve lost (18 Aug 22)

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