#including their inflated paychecks

[fastcardotmp3]

there is literally no one-line explanation brush off they can give for Argyle being gone that isn't gonna piss me off.

You kill off a character we fell in love with offscreen? Gross and negligent storytelling.

You have him ditch the save the world effort? ARGYLE?? the guy /you/ designed to be loyal beyond measure to the point where he becomes a getaway driver for his best friend and a dying man no-questions-asked?? no amount of suspension disbelief is digging you outta that hole.

You just simply don't even mention him?? FUCKED. as if the treatment of characters of color on your show isn't already ABYSMAL you're gonna gaslight us about him ever having been important?? gain one single OUNCE of self awareness please.

just. duffers die by my sword challenge.

#dot thought #recast will with eduardo franco and then maybe i'll forgive you #actually recast will AND murray with eduardo franco #including their inflated paychecks

[phoenixyfriend]

I've been thinking about how it might be useful, if not necessarily entirely fulfilling for whatever it is that I need out of them, to ask politicians how they would define a healthy economy, as opposed to just asking them how they would try to ensure a healthy economy.

President Joe Biden took to the White House lectern Friday to tout the healthy economy – strong job creation, lowering inflation and increased workforce participation and job satisfaction. - US News, Sep. 1, 2023

And

"I think we will see a big pickup in growth. We may not see it in the winter quarter...but I’m hopeful that we’ll see it in the spring,” Larry Kudlow, head of the National Economic Council, said on Fox Business. “It’s a fundamentally healthy economy,” he said, touting the 3.5 percent unemployment rate and “tremendous wage gains.” - The Washington Post, Jan. 30, 2020

In both cases they are offering a few signs of a healthy economy, the things that are quantified and measured as indicators, like unemployment, inflation, and wages.

But... wouldn't 'the ability to buy or rent a living space, and food security, for as many people as possible' make more sense?

Yeah, low inflation is the sign of a good economy, but what is the healthy economy actually doing? The jobs being created, are they actually full time and paying a living wage?

Fuck knows how many times a person at the podium has referenced the stock market as a signifier of the economy's health, and we all know that's barely relevant to the lives of us normal people.

I guess the question I'd want to ask politicians is "if the economy's health were measured in percentage of people who are able to afford housing, food, and other essentials on a full-time job with no government assistance, is the economy actually healthy?"

Low inflation means jackshit if the minimum wage is still no inflation. Job creation means something, but not if it's so far from your home that you spend most of your paycheck commuting. 'Tremendous wage gains' don't mean much if you're looking at an average that includes the CEOs and allows their paychecks to skew the data upwards.

How many of your citizens can afford housing, groceries, and medical care on a full-time wage, without government assistance?

#phoenix talks #economics #phoenix politics #healthy economy #terminology #this is more of a #vent post #than anything else honestly

[thedeliverygod]

Hey all. I'm sorry to be doing this again but I once again got fucked over by a combo of overdraft fees & an automatic payment for my surgery bill, of which came to a total of $144.

On Saturday I sold a variety of books, CDs, video games and toys to my local used bookstore and got $80. I also made $20 doing surveys online. I was already in the negatives & all this money went towards trying to ease that situation. Unfortunately all of that was for naught after the overdraft fees & the auto draft (to be more specific the medical bill was $36 and it was 3 overdraft charges for $36 each, so yeah)

I understand anyone who's just like "nah I don't wanna help you're just irresponsible". I feel like a lot of my friends feel that way about me at this point but I really am trying my hardest to get my shit together. I used to be horrified at the idea of asking for help but now I'm just kinda numb because I don't know what else to do. Short of making an only fans or something like that, I feel like I'm trying to do everything that I'm mentally/physically capable of doing to get 'extra' money.

All of my subscriptions minus crunchyroll are cancelled, I just got a quote for much cheaper car insurance so I'll get that switched over soon. I cut down my phone bill by like $40+ a month or two ago. I talked with a friend about budgeting tips which I did already apply some of those such as a method for grocery shopping.

TLDR: I'm trying my damndest to try and get my money shit in order but I'm still struggling. If you feel comfortable donating any amount please use ko-fi. If you don't, I get it. If you want to help but don't have the funds to do so, I feel you, but if you could please share that'd be appreciated.

As my thank you note on ko-fi says, I'd love to do a fanfic as thanks for any donation if you feel so inclined; you can make the request on ko-fi itself or here on tumblr if you'd prefer (including anonymously).

Lastly, if you're aware of a decent paying job that isn't customer service based that's remote or in the triad or the RTP area of North Carolina, let me know. Job searching sucks ass but the current $16.25 I make isn't holding up to this insane inflation, particularly my rent which is almost entirely 1 of my 2 monthly paychecks.

#need help #signal boost

[abigail-pent]

a donation post, but not for me.

so. the graduate workers at the school I'm about to graduate from are on strike. they* have been on strike for 3 weeks at this point. this has happened because our university administration has shown up all year long to gaslight us at the bargaining table. we showed up, passed proposals, and they refused to pass us back any counteroffers. they spent most of this past year arguing with us about whether or not union members would be allowed to observe the bargaining process. they called in multiple mediators at multiple different times, trying to paint our union as acting unfairly/uncooperatively in this situation, and every time the impartial mediator was like "no this is fine, you should bargain with them, in fact what is your problem here exactly?"

this university is making a big performative deal out of DEI efforts, but pays its workers below the poverty line,** which of course means that graduate education here is effectively inaccessible for people who don't have family money. grad students I know have sold their plasma to make ends meet. and we are asking for many extremely reasonable things: like "don't cut our real wages"*** and "make adjustments to the childcare vouchers so people can actually use them" and "do better with protecting healthcare for trans grad workers and also with protections for survivors of sexual assault and harrassment"****. we are also asking for the creation of a nonviolent crisis response team. it's a lot of things, but a lot of them are pretty fucking basic, and we have gotten nowhere on any of that.

well, that's not entirely true. we have gotten to court. multiple times. because this administration hired fancy and expensive lawyers to sue us instead of bargaining. one of them actually said in court that they could not find more than one undergrad witness that says they have been harmed because we, their classroom instructors, are scaring them the same way a domestic abuser terrorizes their victim. literally the Larry Nasser sex abuse lawyers compared us to domestic abusers. we won one injunction and lost another (nonbinding) case.

and now, the university has decided to pay grad workers only $100 for the entire April paycheck. they saw my colleagues were starving and they said, instead of your regular salary that you already say can't cover rent, have $100. they are doing this not only to striking workers who didn't fill out this bullshit "attestation form" to say they are working, but also to workers who did fill out the form and are scabbing. also a ton of grad workers didn't even see this form because it went straight to the spam folder. this admin is extremely bad at their jobs, except when the job is to be cruel.

all of which is to say, if you have anything to spare, send it over to our union's strike fund. a bunch of folks, myself included, gave $101 just to say we paid a grad student more than the university did this month.

*not me, I'm on fellowship

** for a single-person household, as defined by the city where we live

*** nominal wage = real wage + inflation. inflation has been going absolutely hogwild lately, and admin is offering a small % wage increase that doesn't keep up with the inflation rate. and in fact is so small relative to inflation that it would erase the gains of our past 2 contract cycles.

**** our institution has had big, public problems with this recently

#academia #solidarity #like. is there also a ton of union drama? yes. do i loathe a lot of our union leadership? also yes #but we have people who are really struggling and suffering and all because they asked to please be able to eat and get housing

[beardedmrbean]

A dozen poor countries are facing economic instability and even collapse under the weight of hundreds of billions of dollars in foreign loans, much of them from the world’s biggest and most unforgiving government lender, China.

An Associated Press analysis of a dozen countries most indebted to China — including Pakistan, Kenya, Zambia, Laos and Mongolia — found paying back that debt is consuming an ever-greater amount of the tax revenue needed to keep schools open, provide electricity and pay for food and fuel. And it’s draining foreign currency reserves these countries use to pay interest on those loans, leaving some with just months before that money is gone.

Behind the scenes is China’s reluctance to forgive debt and its extreme secrecy about how much money it has loaned and on what terms, which has kept other major lenders from stepping in to help. On top of that is the recent discovery that borrowers have been required to put cash in hidden escrow accounts that push China to the front of the line of creditors to be paid.

Countries in AP’s analysis had as much as 50% of their foreign loans from China and most were devoting more than a third of government revenue to paying off foreign debt. Two of them, Zambia and Sri Lanka, have already gone into default, unable to make even interest payments on loans financing the construction of ports, mines and power plants.

In Pakistan, millions of textile workers have been laid off because the country has too much foreign debt and can’t afford to keep the electricity on and machines running.

In Kenya, the government has held back paychecks to thousands of civil service workers to save cash to pay foreign loans. The president’s chief economic adviser tweeted last month, “Salaries or default? Take your pick.”

Since Sri Lanka defaulted a year ago, a half-million industrial jobs have vanished, inflation has pierced 50% and more than half the population in many parts of the country has fallen into poverty.

Experts predict that unless China begins to soften its stance on its loans to poor countries, there could be a wave of more defaults and political upheavals.

“In a lot of the world, the clock has hit midnight,” said Harvard economist Ken Rogoff. “ China has moved in and left this geopolitical instability that could have long-lasting effects.”

HOW IT'S PLAYING OUT

A case study of how it has played out is in Zambia, a landlocked country of 20 million people in southern Africa that over the past two decades has borrowed billions of dollars from Chinese state-owned banks to build dams, railways and roads.

The loans boosted Zambia’s economy but also raised foreign interest payments so high there was little left for the government, forcing it to cut spending on healthcare, social services and subsidies to farmers for seed and fertilizer.

In the past under such circumstances, big government lenders such as the U.S., Japan and France would work out deals to forgive some debt, with each lender disclosing clearly what they were owed and on what terms so no one would feel cheated.

But China didn't play by those rules. It refused at first to even join in multinational talks, negotiating separately with Zambia and insisting on confidentiality that barred the country from telling non-Chinese lenders the terms of the loans and whether China had devised a way of muscling to the front of the repayment line.

Amid this confusion in 2020, a group of non-Chinese lenders refused desperate pleas from Zambia to suspend interest payments, even for a few months. That refusal added to the drain on Zambia’s foreign cash reserves, the stash of mostly U.S. dollars that it used to pay interest on loans and to buy major commodities like oil. By November 2020, with little reserves left, Zambia stopped paying the interest and defaulted, locking it out of future borrowing and setting off a vicious cycle of spending cuts and deepening poverty.

Continued in the link

#nunyas news

[oh-he-grows]

I was about to donate to my local University Master Gardener extension and the Arbor Day Foundation, but turns out the charitable tax deduction for Standard Deductions (which 95%+ of Americans take) was only for 2020 and 2021 as part of covid relief.

Now the only way to get any tax-advantaged benefit to charitable donations is to file with Itemized deductions.

In 2016, 35% of Americans filed itemized deductions.

In 2021, various sources say between 5% and 13% of households file itemized.

Republicans and Democrats have both been submitting proposals to allow charitable donations to apply regardless of standard/itemized deduction since 2017, but even after it was included for 2020 and 2021 it was allowed to expire and is now back to normal.

I can't even imagine the kind of impact this has had on revenue for charities and nonprofits, eliminating any kind of incentive for the average American to donate their already-dwindling paycheck. The American public and both political parties want to be able to donate, but the incentive is not there anymore. Fucking sort it out.

#taxes #charitable giving #charity #economics #politics #rant post

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Drew Sheneman, The Star-Ledger

* * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

September 22, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

Two major stories today seem to bring together both the past and the future of the country to chart a way forward.

The first involves a historic workers’ strike. A week ago, on Friday, September 15, after workers’ four-year contracts expired, the United Auto Workers union declared a limited and targeted work stoppage in which about 13,000 workers walked off the job at three Midwestern auto plants. For the first time in history, those walkouts included all three major automakers: workers left a General Motors plant in Missouri, a Stellantis (which includes Chrysler) plant in Ohio, and a Ford plant in Michigan. 

Workers accepted major concessions in 2007, when it appeared that auto manufacturers would go under. They agreed to accept a two-tier pay system in which workers hired after 2007 would have lower pay and worse benefits than those hired before 2007. But then the industry recovered, and automakers’ profits skyrocketed: Ford, for example, made more than $10 billion in profits in 2022.

Automakers’ chief executive officers’ pay has soared—GM CEO Mary Barra made almost $29 million in 2022—but workers’ wages and benefits have not. Barra, for example, makes 362 times the median GM employee’s paycheck, while autoworkers’ pay has fallen behind inflation by 19%. 

The new UAW president, Shawn Fain, ran on a promise to demand a rollback of the 2007 concessions in this summer’s contract negotiations. He wants a cap on temporary workers, pay increases of more than 40% to match the salary increases of the CEOs, a 32-hour workweek, cost of living adjustments, and an elimination of the tier system. 

But his position is not just about autoworkers; it is about all U.S. workers. “Our fight is not just for ourselves but for every worker who is being undervalued, for every retiree who’s given their all and feels forgotten, and for every future worker who deserves a fair chance at a prosperous life,” Fain said. “[W]e are all fed up of living in a world that values profits over people. We’re all fed up with seeing the rich get richer while the rest of us continue to just scrape by. We’re all fed up with corporate greed. And together, we’re going to fight to change it.”

Fain has withheld an endorsement for President Biden out of concern that the transition to electric vehicles, which are easier to build than gas-powered vehicles, will hurt union jobs, and out of anger that the administration has offered incentives to non-union plants. That criticism created an opening for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to announce he would visit Detroit next week to show autoworkers that he has “always had their back,” in hopes of winning back the support of Rust Belt states.

But for all his talk of being pro-worker, Trump recently attacked Fain, saying “The autoworkers are being sold down the river by their leadership, and their leadership should endorse Trump.” Autoworkers note that Trump and the justices he put on the Supreme Court have been anti-union, and that he packed the National Labor Relations Board, which oversees labor laws and union elections, with officials who reduced the power of workers to organize. Before he left office, Trump tried to burrow ten anti-labor activists into the Federal Service Impasses Panel, the panel in charge of resolving disputes between unions and federal agencies when they cannot resolve issues in negotiations. 

Fain recently said: “Every fiber of our union is being poured into fighting the billionaire class and an economy that enriches people like Donald Trump at the expense of workers.” 

President Biden prides himself on his pro-union credentials, and as soon as he took office, he fired Trump’s burrowed employees, prompting the head of the union representing 700,000 federal employees to thank Biden for his attempt to “restore basic fairness for federal workers.” He said, “The outgoing panel, appointed by the previous administration and stacked with transparently biased union-busters, was notorious for ignoring the law to gut workplace rights and further an extreme political agenda.”

Today, in the absence of a deal, the UAW expanded the strike to dozens more plants, and in a Facebook live stream, Fain invited “everyone who supports our cause to join us on the picket line from our friends and families all the way up to the president of the United States.” Biden has generally expressed support for the UAW, saying that the automakers should share their record profits with their workers, but Fain rebuffed the president’s offer to send Labor Secretary Julie Su and White House senior advisor Gene Sperling to help with negotiations. 

Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and John Fetterman (D-PA) have both visited Michigan to meet with UAW workers, but it was nonetheless a surprise when the White House announced that the president will travel on Tuesday to Michigan, where he will, as he posted on X, “join the picket line and stand in solidarity with the men and women of UAW as they fight for a fair share of the value they helped create. It’s time for a win-win agreement that keeps American auto manufacturing thriving with well-paid UAW jobs."

If President Biden is showing his support for the strong unions of the past, Vice President Kamala Harris is in charge of the future. The White House today announced the establishment of a National Office of Gun Violence Prevention, to be overseen by the vice president. 

Lately, Harris has been taking the lead in embracing change and appealing to younger voters. On September 9 she hosted a celebration honoring the 50th anniversary of hip hop, and she is currently in the midst of a tour of college campuses to urge young people to vote. She has been the administration’s leading voice on issues of reproductive rights and equality before the law, issues at the top of concerns of young Americans. Now adding gun safety to that list, she is picking up yet another issue crucially important to young people. 

When 26-year-old Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) introduced the president today, he said that he got involved in politics because he "didn't want to get shot in school."

If the president and the vice president today seemed to represent the past and the future to carry the country forward, the present was also in the news today, and that story was about corruption and the parties’ different approaches to it.

ProPublica has published yet another piece about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s connections to wealthy donors. Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott, and Alex Mierjeski reported that Thomas attended at least two donor summits hosted by the Koch family, acting as a fundraising draw for the Koch network, but did not disclose the flights he accepted, which should have been considered gifts, or the hospitality associated with the trips. His appearances were coordinated with the help of Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society, who has been behind the court’s rightward swing.

The Koch family network funds a wide range of right-wing political causes. It has had interests in a number of cases before the Supreme Court during Thomas’s term, including an upcoming challenge to the government’s ability to regulate businesses—a principle the Koch enterprises oppose. 

Republicans have been defending Thomas’s behavior since these stories began to surface. 

Also in the corruption file today is Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), who, along with his wife, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in New York on three counts of conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion in connection with using his influence to advance the interests of Egypt. 

This is Menendez’s second legal go-round: in 2015 he was indicted on unrelated charges of bribery, trading political help for expensive plane flights and luxury vacations. Ten of the twelve members of the jury did not agree with the other two that he was guilty and after the hung jury meant a mistrial, the Department of Justice declined to retry the case. 

That the DOJ has indicted Menendez again on new charges undercuts Republicans’ insistence that the department has been weaponized to operate against them alone. And while Menendez insists he will fight the charges, he has lost his position at the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee under the rules of the Democratic Conference, and New Jersey Democratic leaders have already called on him to resign.

“So a Democratic Senator is indicted on serious charges, and no Democrats attacking the Justice Department, no Democrats attacking the prosecutors, no Democrats calling for an investigation of the prosecution, and no Democrats calling to defund the Justice Department,” wrote former Republican representative from Illinois and now anti-Trump activist Joe Walsh. 

“Weird, huh?”

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

#CEO pay #income inequality #Letters From an American #Heather Cox Richardson #corruption #Drew Sheneman #UAW #history

[newstfionline]

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Irreparable (ABC News) Auto repair prices are up and outpacing the overall rate of inflation considerably, with government data showing motor vehicle repair prices up 23 percent over the course of the past year. The cause is a combination of a shortage of workers—the industry will be 642,000 workers short of capacity by 2024—and an inconsistent supply of auto parts. There are also fewer car repair stops still in business: In 2016 there were 225 vehicles on the road for every service bay, a level that in 2021 rose to 246 cars and trucks for every bay.

Jaded with education, more Americans are skipping college (AP) When he looked to the future, Grayson Hart always saw a college degree. He was a good student at a good high school. He wanted to be an actor, or maybe a teacher. Growing up, he believed college was the only route to a good job, stability and a happy life. The pandemic changed his mind. A year after high school, Hart is directing a youth theater program in Jackson, Tennessee. He got into every college he applied to but turned them all down. Cost was a big factor, but a year of remote learning also gave him the time and confidence to forge his own path. Hart is among hundreds of thousands of young people who came of age during the pandemic but didn’t go to college. Many have turned to hourly jobs or careers that don’t require a degree, while others have been deterred by high tuition and the prospect of student debt. Nationwide, undergraduate college enrollment dropped 8% from 2019 to 2022.

Bank’s failure shakes companies worldwide (AP) It was called Silicon Valley Bank, but its collapse is causing shockwaves around the world. From winemakers in California to startups across the Atlantic Ocean, companies are scrambling to figure out how to manage their finances after their bank suddenly shut down Friday. The meltdown means distress not only for businesses but also for all their workers whose paychecks may get tied up in the chaos. U.S. customers with less than $250,000 in the bank can count on insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. But many companies had millions (and in at least one case billions) of dollars that are now frozen or gone, and have no idea how to meet payroll. Silicon Valley Bank worked with startups, and many “are terrified,” according to one depositor.

Atmospheric river floods California towns, brings rain, snow (AP) More than 9,000 California residents were under evacuation orders Friday as a new atmospheric river brought heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds, swelling rivers and creeks and flooding several major highways and small rural communities. In Santa Cruz County, a creek bloated by rain destroyed a portion of Main Street in Soquel, a town of 10,000 people, isolating several neighborhoods. In the San Francisco Bay Area, flooding blocked portions of several major highways, including Interstate 580 in Oakland, disrupting travel. The storm marked the state’s 10th atmospheric river of the winter, storms that have brought enormous amounts of rain and snow to the state and helped lessen the drought conditions that had dragged on for three years.

Matamoros victims found, but 550 Americans are still missing in Mexico (Washington Post) Lisa Torres was glued to her phone, watching news reports on the kidnapping last week of four Americans in the Mexican city of Matamoros. She lived in the Houston suburbs, hundreds of miles away, but knew well the pain of having a relative snatched on the other side of the border. Her son, Robert, was just 21 when he vanished in 2017. More than 550 Americans are reported as missing in Mexico, a little-known facet of a broader tragedy that has honeycombed this country with mass graves. Soaring violence and government dysfunction have fueled a crisis that’s left at least 112,150 people missing, according to government records here. Americans make up a small part of that ghastly toll. And they are a tiny percentage of the millions of U.S. citizens who travel to Mexico every year for tourism, work and family visits. But just as there’s been an uproar in Mexico over the government’s all-out effort to find the four Americans, compared with its far more limited search for its own abducted citizens, relatives of the Americans still missing are asking why their loved ones haven’t been a higher priority for Washington.

Chile’s president shakes up Cabinet, replaces five ministers (AP) President Gabriel Boric shook up his Cabinet on Friday, replacing five of his 24 ministers on the eve of beginning his second year in power, announcing the change two days after Chile’s lawmakers rejected a proposed tax overhaul for financing most of his government program. It was the second time Boric has carried out a major Cabinet reshuffle. The previous overhaul came in September when 62% of voters rejected a new constitution that had been championed by the president. The Cabinet reshuffle came after an unexpected defeat Wednesday for Boric as Congress rejected a tax package that would have helped the president fund his progressive social agenda. Rodrigo Espinoza, director of the School of Management at Diego Portales University, said one of the difficulties Boric now faces is that “a significant part of his program will no longer have financing.”

German Officials Had Gotten Tip About Jehovah’s Witness Gunman (NYT) Weeks before a gunman opened fire on his former congregation at a Jehovah’s Witness hall in northern Germany, the authorities got a tip that he “harbored a special rage” toward religious groups, officials said Friday. But when they checked on him, they said, they determined they did not have grounds to seize his weapons. The gunman killed six people, including a pregnant woman, before turning his weapon on himself as police stormed the building in Hamburg on Thursday in what the authorities called “the worst such mass shooting incident of this dimension” to affect the city. Eight people were wounded, four of them severely. In keeping with German privacy laws, the police identified the gunman only as Philipp F., a 35-year-old German who, according to the authorities, had been a member of the congregation until a year and a half ago, “but apparently did not leave on good terms,” said Thomas Radszuweit, the head of state security in Hamburg. Mass shootings are extremely rare in Germany, where regulations limit who can own a weapon, and make training and testing compulsory before a gun can be purchased. Fully automatic weapons are considered “weapons of war” and are illegal.

Female and nonbinary swimmers can go topless in public pools, Berlin says (Washington Post) Berlin’s authorities want to make it very clear: Women are free to swim topless in municipal pools, as are those who identify as nonbinary, if that’s what they want. Topless swimming in public pools wasn’t forbidden in the German capital anyway, but a woman recently lodged a complaint alleging discrimination after a pool prevented her from swimming without covering her chest, a restriction that wasn’t applied to the male swimmers. The city and its public pools operator will now ensure that men and women are treated equally when it comes to swimming topless, the Berlin state government said in a press release Thursday. Germans “are generally quite relaxed about” nudity, Keon West, a professor of social psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, who has conducted studies into nakedness and body image, previously told The Washington Post. Nudity, also known as “free body culture,” is not seen as sexual.

Russia’s hypersonic missile attack on Ukraine highlights Western vulnerability (Washington Post) Russia fired a half-dozen of its rare Kinzhal hypersonic missiles at Ukraine on Thursday, as part of a broader barrage that killed six people and that the Russian Defense Ministry described as revenge for an incursion into western Russia last week by a far-right Russian nationalist group fighting on Ukraine’s side in the war. Russia’s use of the hypersonic missiles—“Kinzhal” means dagger in Russian—renewed alarm over the Kremlin’s sophisticated arsenal, and it highlighted that Putin possesses difficult-to-intercept, nuclear-capable weapons that the United States and its allies do not yet have. Hypersonic missiles are highly maneuverable weapons that travel at speeds above Mach 5, or more than five times the speed of sound, making them extremely hard to intercept. The United States and China are also developing hypersonic weapons. After Russia used them in Ukraine for the first time in March last year, President Biden called the missiles “almost unstoppable.” Russia has other nuclear-capable hypersonic weapons, but its flaunting of the Kinzhal in battle adds to the pressure on Washington as a hypersonic arms race heats up, one in which Washington has catching up to do, with both Russia and China.

Hong Kong activists behind Tiananmen vigil jailed for months (AP) Three former organizers of Hong Kong’s annual vigil in remembrance of victims of China’s 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protests were jailed Saturday for four and a half months for failing to provide authorities with information on the group in accordance with a national security law. The now-defunct alliance was best known for organizing candlelight vigils in Hong Kong on the anniversary of the 1989 Chinese military’s crushing of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, but it was voted to disband in 2021 under the shadow of the Beijing-imposed national security law. Before its disbandment, police had sought details about its operations and finances in connection with alleged links to democracy groups overseas, accusing it of being a foreign agent. But the group refused to cooperate, arguing the police did not have a right to ask for its information because it was not a foreign agent and the authorities did not provide sufficient justification. In her mitigation, one member said the alliance was not a foreign agent and that nothing had emerged that proved otherwise, so sentencing them was about punishing people for defending the truth. “Sir, sentence us for our insubordination if you must, but when the exercise of power is based on lies, being insubordinate is the only way to be human,” she said.

South Korea proposes a 69-hour workweek, up from an already long 52 (Washington Post) South Korea’s conservative government has proposed increasing the legal cap on weekly work hours from 52 to 69, triggering backlash from the opposition and wage-earners who fear the plan will ruin work-life balance in a country already well known for workaholism. South Koreans already toil more than many of their overseas counterparts. They work an average of 1,915 hours per year, compared with 1,791 hours for Americans and 1,490 hours for the French, who have a 35-hour workweek, according to figures from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. The OECD average is 1,716 hours. The proposal has sparked a backlash from workers who fear it will give employers legal grounds to encourage grueling hours on busy weeks.

Saudi deal with Iran worries Israel (AP) News of the rapprochement between long-time regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran sent shock waves through the Middle East on Saturday and dealt a symbolic blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has made the threat posed by Tehran a public diplomacy priority and personal crusade. Saudi Arabia’s decision to engage with its regional rival has left Israel largely alone as it leads the charge for diplomatic isolation of Iran and threats of a unilateral military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities. The UAE also resumed formal relations with Iran last year. “It’s a blow to Israel’s notion and efforts in recent years to try to form an anti-Iran bloc in the region,” said Yoel Guzansky, an expert on the Persian Gulf at the Institute for National Security Studies, an Israeli think tank. “If you see the Middle East as a zero-sum game, which Israel and Iran do, a diplomatic win for Iran is very bad news for Israel.”

#headlines #news

[shoryukenpizza]

I’m seriously struggling lmao. I recently made the decision to take out a loan to attend my best friend's wedding in Cabo, but unfortunately, I ended up getting scammed by a number of individuals, including some of the bride's friends and even strangers in a bathroom. To make matters worse, I work in education (I like it here) and the holiday break has left me with only a few hours of work per week until the school semester begins. This means I can barely afford to pay my phone bill with my paychecks. On top of this, I have not received my raise this year, despite the fact that there has been a lot of inflation. While we were close to going on strike in November, the board eventually agreed to our union's demands for a lower pay increase than demanded, but did not offer any benefits for professionals in my hourly position. I am still waiting on the retro pay. My credit card has been maxed out since the summer due to less hours working there too. I’ve always been trying to play catch up. I do love my job (despite the low pay) as it provides excellent experience for my professional development, but that's about all it offers at this point. I don't have any financial support from my family either, so I am completely at your mercy. Just my cat (cat is fine!) and I in a studio apartment. Share or come hang.  Twitch Cashapp PayPal

[freedfromthegalactichivemind]

Might be absent for a week or so.

God damn capitalism, God damn inflation, God damn insurance companies taking payment when they’re not scheduled to, not leaving payments ready for utilities that are scheduled to be paid!   My household is the definition of paycheck-by-paycheck living and everything is budgeted on a tight schedule for payments, as I’m sure most other people have things.  Well, my household’s car insurance took out money before they were supposed to, leaving Internet / phones / communications, which was on schedule to be paid today dry, and it means we might get cut off, and if so, it will be at least until payday (next week) before we can get anything done about it and if we get cut off tomorrow, that’s it, and we’ll be charged a re-instatement fee in that case, because nothing is ever easy.   This is not a beg for money.  If you offer it, I will refuse.  If thing were really super bad, we’d update the Go-Fund-Me account that was birthed from a car accident a few years ago and I’d link to it.  We aren’t in that much trouble yet.  We actually may have a way around this and, even if not, it’s not like we haven’t gone without Internet and main phone for 1-2 weeks.  (In fact, the last time that happened... was when my fiance’ had a heart-attack and I was panicked for trying to get in touch with family and was desperately scavenging the local hospital’s wi-fi, we had no cell phones then and I couldn’t get in touch with ANYONE while at home, including if the hospital needed to get ahold of me), so trust me when I’ve said “I’ve been through worse” and I’m not really worried about it.   Also, this time around, we do have cell phones. They’re on limited data plans, so I cannot use mine as a regular Internet service, but I can pop on every now and again.   Just, if I’m scarce for a little while, don’t worry, I’m *probably* not dead and will be back shortly.  I hope.  

#fuck capitalism

[ginger-snaps014]

New Income Class Brackets - 2022

Given inflation, the slow disappearance of the “middle class”, and increased cost of everyday necessities, I think we need new definitions for income classes.

Because salaries fail to keep up with inflation and $ only goes so far based on location, I’m going to define based on lifestyle. Here is my best guess at the current breakdown of America. Let me know how far off I am…. Because let’s be honest, I am too inundated with people like me and a lack of viewpoints.

Lower classes:

F’ing Poor - this sucks. Can’t afford basic needs. Sorry you live here. Sorry we failed you.

Working poor - much like the working class, but never able to make ends quite meet. Work your butt off. Does not matter. Screwed by the system. Know where the homeless shelters are. Hope you don’t have to stay there. Know which of your friends will help you. If you can pay all your bills, it’s a miracle. Needs are NOT all met. Targeted advertising by tobacco companies for some reason. Will be called trash by the wealthy. You work more than they do. May get governmental assistance… if you are lucky

Working class - working low income jobs for little respect or money. Screwed by the system. Likely making minimum wage. Living paycheck to paycheck. Very little to no savings. Do not have resources for luxuries like vacations or eating out on non-special occasions. Targeted advertising by tobacco companies for some reason. Lower credit score. Because you don’t have much of a credit history. You never qualified. Constant money anxiety. High interest payments for any loans. Public schools. Likely no health insurance. Likely would benefit from the governmental safety nets that have been denied to Americans. Likely stuck in cycle of poverty out of your control. Likely working multiple jobs. Still wondering how you don’t qualify for food stamps despite not being able to afford groceries after paying your bills for a single unexpected expense. Buying property is a pipe dream.

Lower middle - may have a more respected job (like teacher) or a full time job that does not pay enough. May work multiple jobs. May not. Have some spending money or savings, but not a lot. Live paycheck to paycheck, but with a small buffer. One large expense can ruin you. May afford some luxuries like eating out, but will need to focus on budgeting to make it work. Prior to the 80s, would have been main middle class. Now, likely a two income household and still scared of paying rent. May be college educated. Have debt. Will always have debt. It was the only way to get where you are. Often doubt if the debt was worth it. Buying a house is a pipe dream. People keep saying if you save, you can afford one. People are dumb. Always on edge about money because you know how close you are to falling

Middle Class - magical unicorns that don’t exist anymore. Should be able to afford the American dream (including the house) with a little bit of savings. What every politician claims to protect despite laws passing that only benefit the upper class. Still work, but have a future planned for their kids. Money is still on your mind, but not stressed about it. Only boomers really exist here anymore. This class is dying, and it’s disappearance will result in instability for the country

Upper Classes

Upper Middle Class/“comfortable” Millennial Edition - college educated. Often called educated professionals. Lawyers. Doctors. tech people. Have high paying jobs. During any other point in American history would be able to buy homes, but if you are a millennial you can cry in the corner with your avocado toast. Can afford luxuries like small vacations, eating out etc. but paying for a decent home or child’s college sends you into depression. Despite your decent amount of savings, you have no future. Investors own all single family homes… so you pay rent. Single income households are somewhere between an aspiration and a joke. Everyone says wow you make so much, but you know that actual adult milestones for your class will never be reached. At least you don’t worry about bills. You invest. You have health insurance. You have more money than the boomers did at your age, but can’t afford kids. At least, not kids that go to college. No matter how hard you work, you are stuck. It’s like there is a money glass ceiling. Maybe you could buy a fixer upper an hour away from the city. Oh never mind…. You are lucky. You know you are lucky. You are seeing a therapist. You are depressed.

Upper Middle Class/ “comfortable” Boomer Edition - college educated. Educated professionals. Like lawyer. Doctor. You can afford a house. A 2 story house. In a nice neighborhood. You can afford to have a family. You invest. You have savings. Your home was only 600k when you bought it, but now is worth over a million. Single income households. Fancy vacation. Still nothing as crazy a trust funds or vacation homes, but you are not worried for yourself or the future. Except if there is another recession. That could hurt your retirement funds. Not in debt from college. Hope your kids will stop being depressed. Hope your kids start settling down. At their age, your were married with a house and 2.5 kids (except if you lived in NYC or San Fran.) Why aren’t the millennials growing up? It’s not that hard. You even sent your kids the to summer camp and private school. You have a nice life.

Upper crust - small trust funds and family money. May have a vacation home, or family may have a vacation home. Not worried about money at all, but “I am not part of the 1%”… even though you may be. Usually get money from generational wealth or successful business start-up. You have luxuries. Mainly point out the crazy rich to say “I’m not them. I’m still normal.” You have never worried about money. You never will. Your finance guy made sure of that.

The 1%, who can’t deny it - your main money problems come down to (1) not being a billionaire and (2) being upset about having to pay taxes…. Like sure, you are still paying less percentage-wise for taxes than everyone in the lower/upper middle classes. But you don’t even want to pay that. You are going to rent out a whole island due to the stress of doing the bare minimum. maybe spend several million on your youngest kid’s birthday party. Maybe use a bribe to get your oldest kid into college. Money is no object.

Crazy Rich - Bezos, Elon, Etc. Could save the world. Don’t want to. Would rather buy Twitter.

Ps: the only reason upper middle class is divided by age group is that it’s the only class where age matters (that I’m aware of). If you are ANY age in the lower income classes, you are screwed. If you are upper crust or higher, you have enough money that age stops being important. You can buy a house- so what if the cheapest one is over 750k. Upper-middle millennials are weird because they can afford the luxuries of the wealthy, but not the single family houses that middle classes has historically bought

#classwar #class #working class #upper class #USA #america #middle class

[financebyfinbin]

Financial planning and Its importance

Introduction: Financial planning is a crucial aspect of life that often gets overlooked, especially in Nepal. Many of us tend to live paycheck to paycheck without considering our long-term financial goals. However, taking the time to plan our finances can make a significant difference in achieving financial stability and success.

Understanding Financial Planning: Financial planning involves setting goals for your financial future and creating a roadmap to achieve them. It includes managing your income, expenses, savings, investments, and debts in a way that aligns with your objectives.

Importance of Financial Planning:

Goal Setting: Financial planning helps you identify your short-term and long-term financial goals, whether it's buying a house, saving for education, or planning for retirement. Setting clear goals gives you direction and motivation to work towards them.

Budgeting: Creating a budget allows you to track your income and expenses, ensuring that you live within your means and avoid overspending. In Nepal, where managing expenses can be challenging due to inflation and rising costs, budgeting is essential for financial stability.

Emergency Preparedness: Financial planning involves setting aside an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies or job loss. In a country like Nepal, where access to healthcare and social security systems may be limited, having an emergency fund provides a safety net during times of crisis.

Debt Management: Proper financial planning helps you manage your debts effectively by prioritizing repayment and avoiding high-interest loans. With easy access to credit in Nepal, many individuals find themselves trapped in debt cycles. Financial planning can help you pay off debts and avoid falling into debt traps.

Wealth Accumulation: Through smart investing and saving strategies, financial planning enables you to build wealth over time. Whether it's investing in stocks, mutual funds, or real estate, having a well-thought-out financial plan helps you grow your assets and secure your financial future.

Retirement Planning: Planning for retirement is crucial, especially in a country like Nepal where social security systems may not provide adequate support. Financial planning helps you build a retirement corpus and ensures a comfortable lifestyle post-retirement.

Conclusion: In conclusion, financial planning is a fundamental aspect of achieving financial stability and success in Nepal. By setting clear goals, creating budgets, preparing for emergencies, managing debts, accumulating wealth, and planning for retirement, you can take control of your finances and build a secure future for yourself and your loved ones. Start your financial planning journey today to reap the benefits tomorrow.

[thelistingteammiami]

Here's Why You Shouldn’t Max Out Your Budget When Buying A Home

When it comes to purchasing a home, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding your dream property. However, it's important to consider the potential drawbacks of maxing out your budget for this significant investment. By buying a home that is within your means, you can maintain financial stability and preserve the ability to pursue other important financial goals. 

In this blog, we will explore several compelling reasons why stretching your budget to its limit when buying a home may not be the wisest choice. After all, homeownership isn't cheap, and the expenses that come with it don’t just end at the closing table.

Maybe you love to travel but still want to settle roots in one location. Or you want to start saving as early as now for your retirement. Or maybe you just want to guarantee you'll have enough funds in case of emergencies. Buying less house than you can afford means you’ll still be able to free up money in your budget which you can use for your other goals: savings, travel and leisure, emergency fund, college fund if you have kids, and even retirement fund. You don’t want to give up these objectives just to pay a large mortgage payment, ensuring that you have the freedom and flexibility to live your life as you’d like.

If you borrow the maximum amount you can afford, you might find it harder to stay current on your mortgage payments in case your life situation changes. Just think of any of these worst-case scenarios that can happen after you sign the dotted line: you lose your job, take a pay cut, your car breaks down, or you or anyone in your family have had a medical emergency. 

Depleting your savings just so you can buy a bigger home puts you at a greater financial risk in case such things happen. You can lessen this risk by keeping your monthly mortgage payments affordable and ensuring you have an emergency fund that won't leave you financially vulnerable.

While your potential mortgage payments are more fixed than rent and you think you can afford it, remember to give yourself as much wiggle room for rising costs. Higher grocery bills and energy costs, especially if you're moving to a bigger home, can make it harder to figure out a budget that you can comfortably afford each month. Likewise, homeowners association fees and property taxes also go up every year. While no one can plan for inflation, try to leave enough room when you’re putting together a post-home buying budget.

Perhaps one of the things you're looking forward to the most when it comes to having your own place is decorating it to your style and liking. And since most homes don’t have furniture and appliances, you’ll most likely need to buy these big-ticket items, which could dent your wallet. Even things such as rugs, blinds, and other necessary fixtures aren’t cheap. Purchasing a house within your budget will help you afford pieces of quality furniture and decor that will complement your space, as well as durable appliances that will last.

Finding the perfect property is a dream come true until you realize you aren't truly prepared for situations like leaky pipes, pest infestation, tree removal, or even gutter cleanings. If you’ve been renting for a long time before buying your first home, know that you can no longer count on your landlord to come over and fix things. 

Maintaining and improving a home isn’t cheap, nor will it be easy. This is why it’s critical to limit your spending during your home search so you can have extra funds available for any maintenance and repair. It’s safer as well to have a cash cushion for renovation projects after move-in day so you can improve your home to your specifications and enjoy your space comfortably.

Being house poor means you're spending most of your total income on homeownership expenses, including mortgage payments, property taxes, maintenance and repair costs, utilities, and insurance, among others. If you’re living paycheck to paycheck and are having a hard time making ends meet because your mortgage is too expensive, the bliss and excitement of living in your dream home could be short-lived. You will soon find yourself stressed out just thinking about your house-related bills, and having little cash for the occasional splurge or a well-deserved vacation.

#fade-blog-header-image

[jaffetilchin]

All About Financial Challenges

Financial challenges can arise due to various factors and circumstances. Here we will try to understand the financial challenges for individuals and business owners, along with potential strategies for addressing them:

Income Instability: Fluctuations in income, such as irregular paychecks or seasonal work, can make it difficult to budget and plan for expenses. Strategies for addressing income instability include creating a budget based on average income, building an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses, and diversifying sources of income through side gigs or passive income streams.

Debt Management: High levels of debt, including credit card debt, student loans, or mortgages, can strain finances and make it challenging to achieve financial goals. Strategies for managing debt include prioritizing high-interest debt for repayment, negotiating lower interest rates or payment plans with creditors, and consolidating debt with a personal loan or balance transfer credit card.

Insufficient Savings: Inadequate savings for emergencies, retirement, or other financial goals can leave individuals vulnerable to unexpected expenses or financial setbacks. Strategies for increasing savings include setting specific savings goals, automating contributions to savings accounts, reducing discretionary spending, and exploring opportunities to boost income.

Unplanned Expenses: Unexpected expenses, such as medical bills, car repairs, or home maintenance costs, can disrupt financial stability and strain budgets. Strategies for dealing with unplanned expenses include building an emergency fund, prioritizing expenses based on necessity, and negotiating payment plans or seeking financial assistance when needed.

Lack of Financial Literacy: Limited knowledge or understanding of personal finance concepts can hinder individuals' ability to make informed financial decisions and manage money effectively. Strategies for improving financial literacy include seeking education and resources on topics such as budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management through books, courses, workshops, or online resources.

Inadequate Insurance Coverage: Insufficient insurance coverage, such as health insurance, auto insurance, or homeowners/renters insurance, can leave individuals vulnerable to financial risk in the event of accidents, illnesses, or property damage. Strategies for addressing insurance gaps include reviewing existing policies to ensure adequate coverage, comparing rates and coverage options from multiple insurers, and considering additional coverage as needed.

Job Loss or Reduced Income: Unexpected job loss, layoffs, or reduced work hours can significantly impact individuals' financial stability and ability to meet expenses. Strategies for managing job loss or reduced income include creating a financial buffer through emergency savings, exploring alternative income opportunities such as freelancing or part-time work, and seeking assistance from unemployment benefits or community resources.

Tax Burden: High tax liabilities or unexpected tax bills can strain finances and reduce disposable income available for other purposes. Strategies for managing taxes include maximizing deductions and credits, taking advantage of tax-advantaged retirement accounts and investment vehicles, and consulting with a tax professional for personalized tax planning advice.

Inflation and Rising Costs: Inflation and rising costs of living can erode purchasing power and increase expenses over time, making it challenging to maintain financial stability. Strategies for coping with inflation and rising costs include adjusting budgets to account for price increases, seeking opportunities to increase income, and investing in assets that can provide protection against inflation, such as stocks, real estate, or commodities.

Financial Planning and Goal Setting: Lack of a clear financial plan or defined goals can make it difficult to prioritize spending, save effectively, and make progress towards achieving long-term objectives. Strategies for financial planning and goal setting include setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) financial goals, creating a budget to track income and expenses, and regularly reviewing and adjusting financial plans based on changing circumstances.

Addressing financial challenges requires a proactive and disciplined approach to managing money, setting priorities, and making informed decisions. By implementing strategies tailored to their individual circumstances and goals, individuals and businesses can navigate financial challenges more effectively and work towards achieving greater financial stability and success.

[kirlewlawfirm]

Myths and Facts About PPP Loan Fraud

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a critical financial support mechanism for businesses during the Covid pandemic. The program has now become a hotbed for fraud allegations. Separating the truth from misconceptions is vital for individuals and companies. Besides, recognizing a criminal lawyer’s role is essential for those facing allegations. The Kirlew Law Firm, a leading white-collar litigation firm in Miami, FL, is dedicated to defending those under investigation or accused of fraud violations in relation to the PPP loan program.

1. Myth: Only Large Businesses Commit PPP Loan Fraud

Fact: PPP loan fraud knows no size. Both small and large businesses have been implicated. The misconception that only large firms may be involved overlooks the inaccuracies in loan applications and intentional fraud across all business sizes.

2. Myth: All Mistakes Are Considered Fraud

Fact: Not all inaccuracies lead to fraud charges. The distinction lies in the intention behind the loan applications. Honest mistakes are different from deliberate attempts to mislead for financial gains.

3. Myth: PPP Loan Audits Are Rare

Fact: Contrary to popular belief, audits are likely and part of the program’s integrity measures. The SBA has been actively reviewing loan applications, especially for loans above certain thresholds.

4. Myth: If You Repay the Loan, You Can’t Be Charged with Fraud

Fact: Repaying the PPP loan does not automatically shield you from fraud charges. Investigations can reveal fraudulent activities in the application process, and authorities can pursue charges if deceit or illegal activities are identified.

5. Myth: PPP Loan Fraud Charges Concern the Misuse of Funds

Fact: While the misuse of PPP funds is a significant aspect of fraud charges, the scope of PPP loan fraud also includes false statements on the application, inflating payroll expenses, or applying for multiple loans through different entities. The legal system thoroughly investigates the acquisition and the use of funds under the PPP.

A Criminal Lawyer in Miami Can Help

If you’re facing PPP loan fraud allegations, you’ll need the expertise of a seasoned white collar criminal defense lawyer in Miami, FL.  The Kirlew Law Firm specializes in navigating these charges with exceptional legal acumen. We deliver outstanding legal representation and prioritize protecting your rights, securing the best outcome.

Remember, with proper knowledge and the right legal partner, steering through storms becomes a journey of empowerment and resolution. Contact us to book your consultation now.

#divorce attorney in miami fl #criminal lawyer in miami fl

[readitreviewit]

Are you tired of living paycheck to paycheck? Do you dream of becoming a Black Woman millionaire? Look no further than Brandy's debut book, which provides never-seen-before strategies to help you achieve financial freedom. As we all know, the statistics for Black households and net worth can be disheartening. But Brandy's book doesn't just dwell on the negatives. Instead, she empowers readers with historical context and, more importantly, actionable steps to overcome the barriers that have held us back. But let's get to the juicy stuff. What can you expect to learn from this book? Well, for starters, Brandy discusses the #1 investment to own to survive the next recession (hint: it's not gold coins), as well as untapped side hustles to take advantage of (including one that nobody knows about on page 95). And if you've been hesitant to dip your toes into the stock market, fear not. Brandy provides advice on how to avoid making rookie mistakes on page 145. Plus, she highlights the three fastest-growing industries for high-paying salaries this decade. If you're struggling with credit card debt, Brandy's got you covered with her #1 secret to consolidating and paying it off (found on page 54). And for those interested in cryptocurrency and NFTs, she provides a complete primer on how to invest wisely (including best coins/tokens and hot wallets vs. cold storage). But that's not all. Brandy also shares four budgeting strategies to beat high inflation without sacrificing fun, as well as advice on how to attain the highest "multiple" when selling your online business (found on page 121). And if you're wondering exactly how much you'll need to retire at the age of your choice, Brandy's got that covered too. But perhaps most excitingly, Brandy shares how some Black Women are taking home $500K+ with one simple hack (found on page 83). And in chapter 8, she even reveals how she sold her latest online business for 45x its average profit margin and received a wire transfer of four years' worth of future income in one day. Ultimately, Brandy's book is a financial education that school never gave you. It empowers readers with the knowledge and strategies needed to achieve financial independence and build a net worth of over $1M and beyond. So, if you're serious about becoming financially FREE this year, simply scroll up and click "Add to Cart." Your millionaire self will thank you. Don't miss out on the opportunity to dive into the captivating world of our book. Get your hands on a copy today and experience a journey unlike any other. Or, if you prefer to listen on-the-go, sign up for a 30-day trial of Audible and immerse yourself in the story with the power of narration. Don't wait, start your adventure now! Price: [price_with_discount] (as of [price_update_date] - Details)