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My OnePlus complete and utter customer service failure experience
2023.03.29 07:38 SourTrigger My OnePlus complete and utter customer service failure experience
I purchased a OnePlus 11 5G in Canada on February 12th 2023. I did so with a trade-in of a OnePlus 5T (worth $10 and a bonus trade-in of $240). I've heard stories about OnePlus not honoring the trade-in value and bonuses before and even though my OnePlus 5T is in mint condition other than battery degradation over time with consistent use, I would wager it should qualify for some degree of the bonus if this company offered trade-ins as a functional service.
The problem started just after I got my OnePlus 11 5G delivered to my apartment. The phone is great and works just fine, but the shipping kit that was supposed to be sent by their third party trade-in partner, Phobio, was shipped to my address without my apartment number. The only thing missing was my apartment number, so, naturally, the shipping company sent it back to the sender. I immediately followed up before the package even arrived back to the sender by contacting OnePlus and they provided me a link to the Phobio site to check my trade-in dashboard and request to fix the address via the web form on their site. I did exactly as instructed, and the response from Phobio was to redirect me back to OnePlus support. I did so, and OnePlus "escalated my case to the highest team", to which I then checked in on roughly twice within the month I waited to finally hear back from them.
The response? To request a new shipping kit from the Phobio trade-in dashboard. I did exactly that, and was told the same thing by Phobio that I was told a month before. I lost it on both OnePlus and Phobio at this point and looped in both support teams into the same email thread because I had determined nobody was doing their job. OnePlus was not giving Phobio the proper address, Phobio kept saying they needed to get it from OnePlus and that I could not provide it via what is clearly a publicly available dashboard with options to make those requests on the site. I advised them both to communicate and solve the problem.
Phobio proceeded to lecture me with the following:
The next day, OnePlus responded to the ticket with the following:
I will be calling them tomorrow to get what I hope to be my final status update. At this point I firmly believe they used bad customer service as a tactic to steal my money. The worst part is that in less than a week after I bought the phone they reduced the price of the model I bought from $1149 to $999 and reduced the trade-in bonus to $150. I called them once I saw this deal within a week of buying my phone and asked if I could get the difference in price paid back to me because if I factored in tax it was a better deal by around $40. The customer service rep told me that I couldn't because of the trade-in request. I would have to return the phone and repurchase it in order to get the deal because they wouldn't bother adjusting it since the trade-in value on my offer was worth more with the bonus. I let it go because it was just $40, but they've now effectively robbed me of the opportunity to get a guaranteed $150 off the base cost of the device and now it seems they have robbed me of the trade-in bonus opportunity.
The worst part is that I am still willing to trade-in this phone. It's just sitting here, in the box, perfectly ready to be sent in to be reviewed, so that they may honor the advertised program on their website, but I am unable to even try, because I have an apartment number.
I've never hated a company more in my life. They effectively scammed me. They lied to me, rejected my attempts to solve this simple issue by identifying the problem and chasing it down to correct it, and didn't even give me a chance to send in my device as per the advertised program on their website as part of the sale. I was calm and co-operative until a month had passed and I was told to do essentially the same thing and got the same result with Phobio. This meant they were not resolving the issue and had completely failed. When I call them tomorrow, I expect them to fail again. I hate the people that work there, I hate this company.
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The problem started just after I got my OnePlus 11 5G delivered to my apartment. The phone is great and works just fine, but the shipping kit that was supposed to be sent by their third party trade-in partner, Phobio, was shipped to my address without my apartment number. The only thing missing was my apartment number, so, naturally, the shipping company sent it back to the sender. I immediately followed up before the package even arrived back to the sender by contacting OnePlus and they provided me a link to the Phobio site to check my trade-in dashboard and request to fix the address via the web form on their site. I did exactly as instructed, and the response from Phobio was to redirect me back to OnePlus support. I did so, and OnePlus "escalated my case to the highest team", to which I then checked in on roughly twice within the month I waited to finally hear back from them.
The response? To request a new shipping kit from the Phobio trade-in dashboard. I did exactly that, and was told the same thing by Phobio that I was told a month before. I lost it on both OnePlus and Phobio at this point and looped in both support teams into the same email thread because I had determined nobody was doing their job. OnePlus was not giving Phobio the proper address, Phobio kept saying they needed to get it from OnePlus and that I could not provide it via what is clearly a publicly available dashboard with options to make those requests on the site. I advised them both to communicate and solve the problem.
Phobio proceeded to lecture me with the following:
"While I understand your frustration, the use of the words chosen in your message is not necessary when asking for assistance from any support team. We are working with OnePlus regarding incorrect or invalid addresses that are submitted in their system when a trade is created by a customer. Our Trade Dashboard site does not allow customers to update their address on their own nor is it tied to OnePlus's system where it ultimately needs to be corrected. We receive all trade information from OnePlus's site, therefore, the address needs to be corrected there.And then again in another email:
I'm making the decision to have OnePlus process your full payment and you do not have to ship us your trade-in device. Your trade is now finalized and closed. "
"As we continue to work with OnePlus on shipping label issues, it's best to relieve you of your bad experience and make sure you are taken care of. Your business with us (Phobio) is now complete and your support case will be closed. Any matters concerning your purchase and payment will be answered by the OnePlus support team. Thank you again for voicing your concerns. "The absolutely stupid thing about this is that my address on the OnePlus site is correct because the device I purchased was sent to the correct address with my apartment number. This individual subverted his/her responsibility to fix the problem. I assumed that based on this result they are approving me to get the full credit, but that leaves OnePlus to honor it.
The next day, OnePlus responded to the ticket with the following:
"From your email I understand the concern and I would like to apologies for the inconvenience caused. I will help you with the best possible options available within my scope of support.That is the last I have heard from OnePlus since the 17th of March. It is now March 29th, and it says "Conceded" under my trade-in status on my OnePlus account. I don't understand what this implies and OnePlus seems to be refusing to provide any information at all. They've told me to wait and that my case is escalated to the highest possible team. The upper echelon of people not doing their job to resolve a simple address correction and payment processing request for over a month and a half now.
I will escalate this case to the concerned team to get this checked and get back to you with an update at the earliest. Meanwhile, we request your patience in this regard."
I will be calling them tomorrow to get what I hope to be my final status update. At this point I firmly believe they used bad customer service as a tactic to steal my money. The worst part is that in less than a week after I bought the phone they reduced the price of the model I bought from $1149 to $999 and reduced the trade-in bonus to $150. I called them once I saw this deal within a week of buying my phone and asked if I could get the difference in price paid back to me because if I factored in tax it was a better deal by around $40. The customer service rep told me that I couldn't because of the trade-in request. I would have to return the phone and repurchase it in order to get the deal because they wouldn't bother adjusting it since the trade-in value on my offer was worth more with the bonus. I let it go because it was just $40, but they've now effectively robbed me of the opportunity to get a guaranteed $150 off the base cost of the device and now it seems they have robbed me of the trade-in bonus opportunity.
The worst part is that I am still willing to trade-in this phone. It's just sitting here, in the box, perfectly ready to be sent in to be reviewed, so that they may honor the advertised program on their website, but I am unable to even try, because I have an apartment number.
I've never hated a company more in my life. They effectively scammed me. They lied to me, rejected my attempts to solve this simple issue by identifying the problem and chasing it down to correct it, and didn't even give me a chance to send in my device as per the advertised program on their website as part of the sale. I was calm and co-operative until a month had passed and I was told to do essentially the same thing and got the same result with Phobio. This meant they were not resolving the issue and had completely failed. When I call them tomorrow, I expect them to fail again. I hate the people that work there, I hate this company.
2023.03.29 03:37 Alexandratta Book 3 - Chapter 25 - Echoes of the Past
St. Michael
Failure.
The thought hit me hard. I watched as Xyphiel crested over the wall and stared down upon me. All I could see in his visage was my failure.
Once, so long ago, at the edge of the memory of eternity stood a Niten Dragon whose passion for God and his kind rivaled my own.
He was to be, in truth, my successor.
A man born of peace, not war. A man who would sacrifice everything unto his family, his kin, and at the end of the day, smile and request if there were more he could give.
Now the abomination before me glared at me with contempt and downright glee.
Corrupted by Pride and by my Brother Lucifer. The Fallen Prophet Xyphiel stood before me, in his most impure form.
The darkness in his eyes was an abyss that knew no true depth. Hovering over those twin pits of pitch-black void sat a pair of dark crimson embers. His once scaled, Seraphim wings, were replaced by the Cherubim wings of my Brother Lucifer, yet even those Xyphiel had altered.
No more were they white, nor even blackened by soot as they could easily become. Nay! Now they rose behind him in a charred crimson, catching the fading light of the sun here and there.
His armor, stained with the blood of millions as his hand, clad in a golden gauntlet, wielded the Puriel Blade.
I would free that blade from his hand by the end of this day, one way or another. I knew that within, he drew from the demons imprisoned in the Puriel Blade.
The Puriel blade housed legions of demons, lost souls, and Fallen angels. Xyphiel had not let it out of his sight all this time. Likely drawing from Lucifer and God knows how many other unholy powers which were trapped within.
I knew my goal and my hand was outstretched, waiting for the tool I could use to achieve it.
Geoffery placed my original sword in my hand.
As it touched my gauntlet I could feel the blade’s spirit emboldened. Through Geoffery’s works over the millennia, he had tempered it in Justice and Goodwill, as I had instructed him.
Though far from my disciple, I turned to Geoffrey, appraising the blade and hearing it resonate with the songs of its use as it defended the helpless and smote the wicked by Geoffrey's hand.
As if the blade itself took me through Geoffrey's life as he battled against man and old Gods alike.
This particular blade was forged once from the remains of a defeated Old One. The spirit purified in God’s divine power, its essence cleansed of darkness and void and replaced with unending light and hope.
I had missed this blade, my Blade of Ohr Tahor. With it and my shield of Chazak Choma, I readied myself to do battle with Xyphiel, as it was foretold.
For I knew that Xyphiel wielded the power of my Brother, Lucifer of Pride, and now I would have to defeat him.
If I failed this day, all was lost.
“Geoffrey Karkade, you have done well. Now, return to me my blade, so that I may try and fulfill my Father's prophecy,” I praised Geoffrey, my eyes never leaving Xyphiel.
“Done well??!” Xyphiel scoffed, laughing as he approached, landing several meters from myself, The Metatron Timothy, and Geoffrey. “Do you not know what he is responsible for, Michael?”
I narrowed my eyes at him, readying my shield and sword, “I have had enough of your venom, Fallen Prophet! This ends today!” I shouted.
Xyphiel did not acknowledge me, addressing Timothy, “Ask your supposed mother, Boy! Your dear uncle is the one who destroyed all of Nite at the behest of Lucifer! Now he claims to be Michael’s disciple. Yet…” Xyphiel’s brow furrowed in fury as his eyes fixed on me, “When I came to the Guardian Council, I was offered no mercy…”
Before I could speak, Geoffrey called out, “There’s a difference between you and me, Xyphiel! Though it is true, I did as you said long ago! I set myself upon a path to atone for my misdeeds, rather than wallow further in the mud of corruption!”
I couldn’t help but smile. Of all the people, I never thought a former child of Lucifer would be able to hold a moral high ground over a Niten Dragon.
That being said, neither Geoffrey nor Timothy of Enoch could yet stand against Xyphiel. “Go, now!” I shouted, “Aid your comrades!” I turned to Xyphiel once more, “This fate is mine to face.”
“Archangel, I’ll fight by your side!” Timothy of Enoch protested, “I’m the sundered child, this is my fate as well!”
Geoffrey, for his part, pulled Timothy away, “St. Michael knows what he’s doing. If he says you’re needed elsewhere, then elsewhere you go! Come on, there’s plenty to defend!”
Timothy was pulled, reluctantly, from my side as I approached Xyphiel.
Xyphiel scoffed, “Geoffrey ought to burn for lying to the boy,” he chuckled as he fixed his gaze upon me, “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, Michael.”
I charged ahead, not wanting to listen to Xyphiel’s putrid words a moment longer. My sword was raised high, my shield ready to parry or deflect. The time for speaking had ended.
The Sword of Samael had been drawn and now it was time for the wrath of God to descend upon the damned.
Even if one of those fallen were once our own brightest.
I felt a sense of Déjà vu.
Xyphiel blocked my strike with the Puriel blade and I could hear the blades sing a ballad of anguish and despair as they collided.
“Michael,” Xyphiel tsk’d me, his wrist holding firm, though at its limit as I clashed with him, “Striking first? What happened to turning the other cheek?”
“That is meant for those who might be forgiven for their transgressions, one day!” I growled, pushing my shield against Xyphiel, forcing him back, “Not for the likes of you!”
Xyphiel took a step back, gripping the Puriel blade in both hands, raising it upwards as he crouched down, the point aiming towards me. A Lancing pose, of sorts, like a viper ready to strike, “Ah, yes. I can never forget! I am The Unforgiven, after all.” Xyphiel lunged forward, the tip of the Puriel blade rocketing towards me.
I parried it with my shield, turning and swinging my blade down towards his wrist.
To my shock, his gauntlet-clad hand caught my wrist before I could sever his. I felt the claws of his hand digging into my flesh and wisps of blue mana seeped from my wounds.
“You see, Michael? You think you have the advantage in this battle, but you’re sorely mistaken,” Xyphiel taunted.
I twisted my wrist from his hand and pushed him back once more with my shield.
Xyphiel withdrew, though he continued his verbal onslaught, “While you sat high above in Heaven, singing lovely choirs to God Almighty, I was fighting,” Xyphiel grinned, looking to the chaos unfolding around us, “As were they,” he motioned to the armies of darkness seething around us.
I kept my focus on Xyphiel, waiting for his next strike.
“Ever embattled, even with one another, fighting day in and day out,” Xyphiel grinned, “Growing ever stronger, longing for the day they would destroy you.”
I flexed my hand behind my shield, waiting to make my strike. If I could pull the Puriel blade from him, or better yet, shatter its hilt, then Xyphiel would no longer hold the legions of Demons imprisoned within.
While he wouldn’t be defeated, it would be the first blow to land upon him. I would take his dark powers, piece by piece.
“We have not been resting, Fallen Prophet. We have been preparing as well, for the day to finally set the world right!” I called out, charging forward.
Xyphiel stood firm, pridefully believing he had anticipated my attack.
As I charged forward, I did not attack with my blade, instead moving to strike with my shield.
Xyphiel was caught off-guard, and as he blocked my shield with the Puriel blade, I thrust my sword into the gem of its hilt.
I watched as the jewel was struck firmly, and cracked. “I am sorry, brother Puriel. It had to be done.”
The gem let out a shockingly pitiful spat of light sparks and white smoke before it shattered, crumbling to the ground.
Something was wrong.
I felt no shift in strength from Xyphiel, no change in his temperament.
The Puriel Blade didn’t even feel different as it scraped and trembled along my shield.
“Confused, Michael?” Xyphiel said with a vicious grin.
I leaped back, keeping my guard up as Xyphiel’s grin remained. “Where is the true Puriel blade? The blade that you used to imprison Lucifer and his armies!” I demanded.
It had to be a replica or a fake. Did Xyphiel have the blade elsewhere on him and refused to fight due to the risk it would put him in?
Xyphiel glanced at the sword in his hand and back to me, “This is the Puriel blade, of that I can assure you, Michael. Did you think I would take anything else into battle?” His grin grew ever more contemptible, “My goal was, after all, to slay angels.”
I growled, “If that was the true blade, then the prison would have broken when I shattered the seal upon it!”
Xyphiel took his gauntlet-clad hand off the blade, his eyes locked on mine, “Puriel’s Seal, perhaps, but…” Xyphiel opened his palm, and at its center was the Greater Seal of the Scribe Lord, “But whoever said I was using his seal when I have my own?”
The seal on Xyphiel’s hand now pulsed with horrific energy, a darkness I had never seen before.
But even so, the seal was once used to lock the Damned and Fallen deep within Hell! Unless… Could he have been so mad?! “You couldn’t…” I stammered.
The seal began to rotate slowly on his palm, as a key turns in a lock, “It is as you have said, all those years ago, Michael! I am the Seal!”
Xyphiel’s eyes shifted from his deep crimson to violet, to red, and back to crimson, “You imprisoned those demons within yourself?!” I cried out in shock and horror.
“All at my disposal, but I wouldn’t be a fool to rely on all of their power,” Xyphiel chuckled, “I only needed to leverage one.”
“One?” I asked though I knew who.
Lucifer.
“But, perhaps you’re right, Michael,” Xyphiel spun the Puriel blade in his hand and I watched the jewel pieces lift from the ground and merge once more unto the blade’s hilt. Now the insignia within it was that of a Mobius Crest. The symbol Xyphiel had adorned himself with often.
A reminder of his immortal existence and a perceived curse.
“Perhaps they shouldn’t be imprisoned,” Xyphiel snapped his fingers, grinning at me, “Let us compromise…” I watched as the center of the seal on his hand, opened once more, “I shall release all but one.”
I rushed towards him.
My new goal was clear: I had to take his hand. I had to sever his connection with the seal. I had placed it upon his hand all those eons ago, it was fitting that I remove it.
Xyphiel turned, his seal-bearing hand facing behind him as he blocked my strike with the Puriel blade. “It’s rude to interrupt, Michael!”
A cone of blackened light erupted from Xyphiel’s hand as I watched, powerless, as he unleashed yet more potent demons.
Xyphiel turned to me, grinning wickedly, “You’ve done exactly what I wanted, Michael. All of Heaven is here now… and I can unleash the true breadth of my army!”
I heard a horrific roar as I saw the mighty wings of the gigantic demon of Destruction and Chaos, Abaddon, unfurl into the air.
“I have released you!” Xyphiel called out, “Serve me, Xyphiel, Lord of Pride, and today, you shall feast on the flesh of angels!”
Abaddon soared into the air and bellowed back, “Prisoners of Lucifer - our new Lord gives us freedom! Let us reward it with death upon the children of God!” Abaddon's massive form crashed through one of the walls of the city, roaring in celebration as yet more horrors poured out of the seal upon Xyphiel’s hand.
The flood stopped and I witnessed demons tearing into the forces of God, their numbers more than I could imagine.
“Seems it is far easier to get into Hell than Heaven, dear Michael,” Xyphiel boasted, “While you were busy singing and training, the armies of Hell swelled and readied themselves for this day.”
My eyes widened as Xyphiel’s golden-clad hand took hold of the Puriel blade.
Xyphiel rushed towards me, the Puriel blade readied at my chest, “The day that Heaven itself shall fall!”
…
Ragna
I lay there on the floor where Zepherina had fallen.
She came to save me and now she was trapped here.
Could I have failed her more?
Zepherina, Rachel, Eva, or Timothy?
My regret reached even further back.
Moira, Alyssa, Xahara, and Soradoria?
How many did I let down or fail? Over and over again.
I curled up in a fetal position, a half-empty bottle clutched to my chest.
I envied Alexander of Macedonia.
How death came for him so easily. I wanted nothing but darkness to take me, swallow me up, and ferry me away.
I’d rather feel nothing than an ounce of what I felt now.
The ground shook and I looked around me, the entire room shaking.
“Mom!” I heard Zepherina shout from below.
Ripping out of the floor was a sight I had thought I would never see again.
My eyes went wide as I gazed upon a strange figure rising from the shattering floor.
Was this another illusion from this damned place? Was I just dreaming in a drunken stupor? This figure rising from the floor had the wings of a Nite but the body of a Dei.
She looked like my mom or a version of her. But it couldn’t be, I saw my mother die, Guardians know how long ago.
No, this figure had the face of Zepherina.
This representation of Zepherina had white Niten Dragon wings, and her head adorned with white horns. Her eyes sat in her seemingly empty eye sockets, a glowing white mist around a pair of solid amethyst spheres which gazed upon me with a surprising level of authority.
But it wasn’t authority or pride holding those eyes on mine. I saw hope looking back at me.
“Z-Zepherina?!” I gasped, “What-What is this?!” I stammered.
Zepherina hefted me off the floor like I was nothing more than a cardboard cutout, “Time to sober up and get out of here, Mom!” She declared as she ferried me out of the bar and towards the throne room.
I let the glass bottle and tumbler slip from my fingers as I grabbed a hold of her, unsure if the glass was what I heard shattering or if that was the tower around us crumbling to pieces.
I could hear Madison shouting now, “Zeph, what the fuck did you do?!”
“It wasn’t me!” Zepherina protested, but still running, “Okay, it was but not-Nevermind! Come on, we have to get out of here! The whole tower is coming down!”
Zepherina was right and I glanced around us frantically, unsure where we were or what was what.
I still had some drink in me, my vision wasn’t fully clear and I was still groggy.
All I could do was gaze up at Zepherina’s potent form, holding onto me firmly and securely.
Every step, every movement she made exuded confidence and prowess.
There wasn’t a single moment where I held a shred of doubt in her resolve.
We weren’t in danger, I knew that much. Not with Zepherina here. Not with my daughter here.
I heard the sound of a slight animalistic whine and turned to see that under Zepherina’s other arm was Stalphous, glancing at me, uncertain, his eyebrows raised in concern at the chaos going on around us.
“Madison, get it in the air!” Zepherina shouted as I watched Madison rush into a transport vessel.
The Tower of Mourning was all crumbling around us and Zepherina’s hands were full, Madison was doing all she could.
I could hear Stalphous whine.
I felt the same.
Helpless, unsure of what was going on.
Then the transport started to slip off the edge of the tower!
No! I wasn’t helpless!
I thrust my hand out, something I hadn’t needed to do when using my telekinesis in so long. Addled as I was, I needed a guiding hand to help me focus.
I held the vessel as best I could.
I could feel Zepherina tense up as we flew towards it and we stopped as we came to the vessel, which I held in place with my mind.
Barely, I might add.
We were still collectively falling, just a bit slower than we would had I done nothing.
“I’m not… Completely… Useless…” I stammered, my primary focus less on talking and more on holding the ship in place while Madison got its engines warmed up.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long.
Soon, the vessel was hovering on its own and I could release it.
Zepherina flew in, dropping Stalphous into the loading area and sitting me upright in a passenger seat, “Madison, you got them from here?” Zepherina asked.
Distracting me from the events next was Stalphous rushing me and licking at my face, the foul scent of his breath helping me sober up, “Stal, Stop,” I tried to instruct him as his smooth yet slimy tongue slid over my face.
I had to keep his tongue from my eyes, I wasn’t going to want the bacterial soup of his saliva getting in there. Weakened as I was, I might get an infection.
“I gotta go, Mom,” Zepherina informed me with a reassuring smile.
I had to slow her down or at least get some idea of what was happening before she left, “Zepherina, look at you! What form is this?!” I demanded.
Zepherina’s face remained warm, serene, and confident, “I’ll explain later, I gotta go save Themyscira from Xyphiel, okay?”
Zepherina was going to face Xyphiel? Now? She said the words with such conviction. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind.
Zepherina was going to stop him? My daughter planned to fight Xyphiel head-on?
The fight of her life lay before her, and here I was, holding her back. Yet she still came for me? She saved me? I could not let her go alone.
“You did this, didn’t you? You defeated what was holding me there?” I said, motioning to the collapsing tower below us.
Zepherina simply nodded, stretching out her shimmering Niten wings, getting ready to leave. Standing there, she looked like my mother, Yuki.
I reached out to caress her cheek, “Zepherina…” I wanted to say so much. ‘I’m proud of you,’ ‘you’re incredible,’ ‘that’s my girl!’
So cliché but still, I could barely speak. I was so taken aback by how powerful she had become.
“We’ll talk later,” Zepherina said comfortingly.
I moved to stand, but I was strapped in. I immediately began to undo the belt buckles holding me in place.
I wasn’t going to sit back, drinking myself into a stupor, feeling sorry for myself.
Zepherina’s face fell as she spoke in a concerned tone, “Mom? I gotta go. I don’t have time-”
I didn’t let her finish, “Take me with you,” I demanded.
Zepherina paused for only a single moment before she smiled at me, opening her arms, “Then let’s go.”
Madison shouted over the hum of the engines, “Uh, hey, guys?!” She said as she pointed northward.
There a massive pillar of light reached out from the horizon and high into the apex of the firmament above. A grand spectacle of swirling glowing white clouds at the top with many streaks streaming down from the heavens above.
Zepherina’s voice cracked through the hum of the engine, “They opened up Heaven’s Gate,” she said in awe.
The battle hadn’t just begun, it was well underway.
Even I knew what that meant: Sofia had sacrificed herself to open the gates. Despite my disdain for her, I had to respect her for it. It was certainly no easy feat to give yourself over to a greater cause.
“Well, my old foe, Godspeed to you,” I thought as I turned to Zepherina. “What are you waiting for? Let’s not be the last ones to get a shot at Xyphiel.”
Zepherina smiled, grabbing hold of me, “Hold on tight, Mom.”
I turned to Madison, “Make sure Stalphous is safe, Captain!”
Madison shouted back, “It’s Colonel now!” She shouted as she gave me a thumbs up, “And Stal’s safe with me!”
Stalphous sat calmly on a passenger seat, his thick lizard-like tail wagging back and forth as he licked his snout happily.
“Be good for your auntie!” I shouted as Zepherina and I took off.
I had to hold on tightly as we soared faster and faster toward the pillar of light.
I couldn’t even see the world around us, the wind was so intense. I shut my eyes, holding onto Zepherina for dear life.
I could feel the feathers of my wings being ripped off by the sheer force of the air, we were traveling so fast.
Yet, somehow, I knew those were feathers that would fall regardless.
I could feel my strength returning. Whether that was by my power or Zepherina’s, I didn’t know. Nor did I care, to be honest.
We slowed and I opened my eyes, watching a final white feather flutter off of my blackened wings.
I smiled at my dark wings, noticing my hair had darkened as well.
I turned to Zepherina, her smile had turned into the stone-cold look of a warrior.
My attention was caught by the sounds of clashing blades, weapons firing, and the din of war cresting over the battlefield.
We landed on the top of the capitol building, Zepherina setting me down.
“Mom, wait here until you’re ready to join in. I’ve got scores to settle,” Zepherina said, a pair of glowing white blades of pure light materializing in her hands.
“Zepherina,” I said, slowly getting to my feet.
Zepherina turned to me, an aura of divinity surrounding her.
I smiled at her, “I’m so proud of you. Thank you. I love you.”
Zepherina’s stone-cold face cracked a smile, “Love you too, Mom.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, she jumped from the rooftops and dove into the fray.
I moved to the edge of the capitol building’s roof, and looked around, “Rage, confirm you can hear me.”
“Confirmed. Welcome back, Mother,” Rage reported.
I sighed, turning to a door on the roof, “I’m not at full strength yet. How functional are the old armature systems?”
“Fully maintained in storage mode at this time. Would you like to exhume it?” Rage asked.
“Yes, Rage. Please do,” I ordered, heading down into the capitol. “I’m not going to be useless. I will fight, to my last breath.”
“Oh, I am so happy to hear that, little Sellenia!” My eyes went wide as I looked out into the distance to see Zelletia’s massive form descend from the sky, landing on the battlefield.
Zelletia’s huge head turned right and left, searching for me below.
Had she not seen me yet?! I rushed into the Capitol building, moving to the stairwell.
Normally, the elevator would be my first inclination, but all things considered, I had to hurry.
The armory was in the basement.
I jumped over the railing and sprung my wings straight up, falling down the center of the stairwell as quickly as gravity could move me.
“Come out, Come out, wherever you are… Or is little Sellenia too afraid to meet her doom with the rest of her supposed empire?!” Zelletia’s voice taunted.
I growled to myself as I landed below, rushing through the hallways as I felt the ground shake under my feet.
Rage was keen enough to know that I needed the doors unlocked and I slammed my way through as many of them as I could while I made my way to the armory.
To where Esmeralda and Brittany should have been.
I smashed into a lab to find only Esmeralda sitting calmly on a stool drinking a glass of wine, a bottle next to her.
I was about to admonish her but it struck me that up until a few minutes ago I was doing the same thing, “Esmeralda!” I shouted.
Esmeralda turned to me, bowing her head and lifting her glass, “My Mistress, however, can I be of assistance?”
“I believe you had considered armor for Zepherina that would nullify demonic power, yes?” I asked.
“Yes my Empress, but I believe you said she was not yet ready…” Esmeralda mused.
“I need it,” I ordered.
“You?” Esmeralda turned to me, confused, “But you do not need such-”
“Did I stutter, Esmeralda?” I growled, narrowing my eyes at her.
Esmeralda flinched, dropping her glass, “O-Of course, My Mistress. My humble apologies… Allow me to fetch it.”
“Now!” I commanded, glaring at her.
Esmeralda was on her hooves and moving quickly through the lab as she did I hurriedly removed my shirt and boots.
Within, Esmeralda opened a large chamber where a set of plate armor stood on a mannequin about Zepherina’s height. Luckily we had similar builds.
Esmeralda was careful not to touch the armor, as she unveiled it to me, “The engineers did well enough where I cannot touch the blessed armor. An alloy made of blessed metals plated in pure silver, with every aspect of the forging, even the plating, performed in the sacred waters of the Guardian Temple, courtesy of the Temple's custodian, what was his name? Juan or Jorge...? Yes, I think it was Jorge. Some Spaniard," Esmeralda turned to me, “Well either way, were you a demon it would burn your skin upon first touch…” Esmeralda looked me up and down, “Or a Fallen.”
I moved towards the armor, hesitating for a moment as my reflection stared back at me from the shined silvery surface. Etchings across the shoulders and chest bore the sigil of Penthesil and etched along its sides were holy symbols and runes.
I paused for a moment, then the ground under my feet shook, “Fuck it. If it burns me the entire time that means it’ll burn anything else I touch.”
My hands moved to the buckles and I quickly slipped the armor on, being as careful as I could to not come into contact with the outside portions of the armor whenever I could.
Esmeralda gave me a curious expression as I donned the armor.
I finally picked up the helm, my hands properly protected by the gloves, “What are you staring at?”
Esmeralda looked me up and down, “...By all accounts, if you were a Fallen Angel, that should burn you. At least as far as I know,” Esmeralda’s eyebrows rose in thought on her otherwise flawless face, “Unless that only applied to Fallen whom were cast down into Hellfire?"
“No time to debate the how or why,” I said as I looked around, “Weapons?”
“There wasn’t much need for a weapon with Zepherina having the so-called Dragon Slayer blade you designed for her,” Esmeralda said with a shrug.
I glanced at my wing and focused on a feather, pulled one out, and tested if I could form it into a blade.
My feather was a proper sword. I nodded and formed a second one. “Taking another method to slay this dragon.”
“Good luck, My Empress,” Esmeralda said with a bow.
“Where is Brittany?” I asked.
“Brittany is aiding Lady Dmitria in the Atlantic States in the Americas, My Mistress,” Esmeralda informed.
I moved past her, “I won’t force you to fight your brethren.”
“I had no intention to do so,” Esmeralda admitted, “You had given me no order to defend the Capitol nor to fight. So I shall remain here.”
I nodded to her, “If you should be captured, you are to claim you never stopped serving my father, make no mention of our pact, and assume your previous responsibilities while avoiding my brother, until I call upon you. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”
Esmeralda’s face soured, “I would have rathered you to order me to fight… But very well, My Mistress,” Esmeralda bowed low to me, “It shall be as you command.”
I rushed out of the labs as the ground shook again.
I could hear Zelletia’s voice in my mind, but I could somehow tell this was not a message just for me. Her voice was ringing out to all those in the city, “Is this how the Empress of Penthesil addresses a challenge?! She hides on the battlefield!? How cowardly of you, Little Sellenia!”
I rushed to the stairwell and jumped up into the air, flying up through the stairwell until I reached the roof.
I did not bother with the door and just crashed through the doorway and into the air, spreading my wings wide to slow myself down once I was over the Capitol building.
I responded as Zelletia did, in the minds of all around me, “Not running from you worm! Just waiting for you to be exactly where I wanted you to be!”
Zelletia was there, where I expected. Standing at the center of my capital city. The last place I wanted to see her, but for my attack, she was just where she had to be.
I dove towards her, my armor blinding her at first as I swung my blades at her eye.
Even as she swatted me away, I could hear her roar in pain as the flesh on her massive paw burned.
That being said, I was still swatted down to the ground.
I pushed myself to my feet and slammed my swords together, reforming them into a polearm as I rushed towards her towering front paw.
I let loose a war-cry as I drove it between the scales on her toes, causing her to lift her foot instinctively. As she raised her front paw, I was riding along with her, my polearm impaled deep into her flesh.
Just as I was about level with her chest I pushed off of Zelletia’s scales, watching as my boot caused her scales to burn and wither.
Zelletia let out a deafening roar, the power of which knocked over a building before her, blowing any soldiers, demons, or angels away as she did.
I was luckily away from the blast as I dove towards her ear.
Zelletia’s head thrashed slightly and I had to adjust, landing on her horn. I wrapped my legs tightly around her massive tree-sized horn and took a firm grip of my polearm, swinging down and thrusting the polearm into her ear.
My blade pierced through her flesh and I felt as I struck her eardrum.
Zelletia’s thrashing increased wildly now, as she stumbled, her equilibrium thrown by my strike.
“You vile little insect!” Zelletia’s voice bellowed as she slammed her horn, and me with it, down into the ground.
I rolled over, pushing myself away from Zelletia as a cloud of dust and debris burst into the air.
The ground shook once more and rising out of the cloud was a surprisingly smaller sight.
Zelletia was in her Rex Dragon form still, but now an eighth the size. Still, Zelletia was over twelve meters tall.
I glared up at her, “What, did I make you dizzy, snake?”
Zelletia growled, turning quickly, far faster than I expected, sending her tail whipping at me at high speed.
I gasped as it collided with me, knocking me through a building’s wall as I tumbled across the battlefield.
I landed in a mass of demons and soldiers.
One large demon grinned down at me. It was some kind of towering goat-like creature with burning green eyes. It reached a massive hand towards me moving to hold me down while it rose a bloodied cleaver the size of a small car in its other hand.
The moment its free hand touched my armor, however, the flesh on the demon's skin burned.
The goat demon reeled back, screaming in pain.
I reached out, grabbing at its wrist as more fur and flesh burned, “The Ragnarök has come for you all!” I pulled hard on its wrist, ripping its arm from the socket and causing the huge beast to tumble forward.
As it fell I whipped the polearm through its body, slicing the creature in half, allowing both sides of its body to fall on either side of me.
I turned to the demons around me who quickly turned and began to run, my soldiers all crying out in joy, “Let none escape!” I shouted.
Zelletia landed before me, roaring at me and the soldiers around me.
They took up arms quickly, ready to fight her.
I shook my head, “Leave this one to me!” I ordered, “Kill the retreating Demons!”
My soldiers quickly took up my charge.
“Oh Sellenia, you must feel so special! Having little pathetic creatures listening to your every command as if it matters…” Zelletia taunted, “How fitting that you become a queen when you have robbed me of my right to rule at every turn!”
“I am no queen! And you have no right to call me Sellenia!” I shouted, readying my polearm, “I am Empress Ragna Misho,” I narrowed my eyes at Zelletia’s, “And I’m going to end you.”
“Try it, Little Sellenia!” Zelletia roared in anger at me, her foul breath making me dizzy.
I held firm and rushed towards her, only to be swatted aside by her paw before I could get in range of her.
The blow carried the same force as she had when she was larger. This time I had to drive the base of the polearm into the ground to stop myself from flying backward.
“My size change was tactical, insect!” Zelletia grinned, spreading her wings, “I was too large to keep track of you before… But now,” Zelletia’s maw turned up into a wicked grin filled with snaggle teeth, “I can find you easily.”
I groaned as I got to my feet, “Just means I can inflict more damage on you.”
“Try it, flea!” Zelletia snapped at me.
I took to the air, polearm at the ready now, dodging her strikes as best I could.
Zelletia was right, however. She was far faster now.
I barely missed her massive jaws as they snapped near my shoulder.
With a swift motion I struck at her cheek with my polearm, but her tail once again swatted me out of the air.
I was sent straight down with such force that I bounced upwards for a moment before I turned and fell onto my back.
Zelletia loomed over me, my vision tunneling and blurred as her voice rang in my ears.
“I will admit, watching you languish in the Tower of Mourning was enjoyable… But I will take just as much satisfaction in killing you. When you get to your mother’s realm of the Dead, do tell her that her throne will be the next I take!” Zelletia laughed heartily, “All that was robbed from me shall be mine at last!”
I heard a roar of pain, followed by a flash of brilliant yellow light.
Landing next to me was one of Zelletia’s massive horns, severed completely from her head.
Zelletia roared in pain and anger, her voice shrill as she cursed, “You pathetic little Niteling!”
Landing next to the horn I saw a pair of draconic paws, with yellow scales and tan claws. Wrapped around them were white leathers and silvery shin guards.
My eyes followed the legs up, looking to see an outstretched claw of a Niten Dragon reaching down towards me.
My vision cleared and my eyes focused on her brilliant blue eyes as she spoke, my heart caught in my throat.
Tears filled my eyes as I looked upon a face I had all but forgotten to time long ago. But now, before me, there was no mistake, it was her!
“You’re lucky I got here in time,” Tassel’s smiling face looked down at me as she took my hand, pulling me to my feet and greeting me with a wry and friendly grin, “Why am I always saving your ass, Sellie?”
submitted by Alexandratta to The_Guardian_Temple [link] [comments]
| Table of Contents |
|---|
| Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23 |
| Chapter 24 |
St. Michael
Failure.
The thought hit me hard. I watched as Xyphiel crested over the wall and stared down upon me. All I could see in his visage was my failure.
Once, so long ago, at the edge of the memory of eternity stood a Niten Dragon whose passion for God and his kind rivaled my own.
He was to be, in truth, my successor.
A man born of peace, not war. A man who would sacrifice everything unto his family, his kin, and at the end of the day, smile and request if there were more he could give.
Now the abomination before me glared at me with contempt and downright glee.
Corrupted by Pride and by my Brother Lucifer. The Fallen Prophet Xyphiel stood before me, in his most impure form.
The darkness in his eyes was an abyss that knew no true depth. Hovering over those twin pits of pitch-black void sat a pair of dark crimson embers. His once scaled, Seraphim wings, were replaced by the Cherubim wings of my Brother Lucifer, yet even those Xyphiel had altered.
No more were they white, nor even blackened by soot as they could easily become. Nay! Now they rose behind him in a charred crimson, catching the fading light of the sun here and there.
His armor, stained with the blood of millions as his hand, clad in a golden gauntlet, wielded the Puriel Blade.
I would free that blade from his hand by the end of this day, one way or another. I knew that within, he drew from the demons imprisoned in the Puriel Blade.
The Puriel blade housed legions of demons, lost souls, and Fallen angels. Xyphiel had not let it out of his sight all this time. Likely drawing from Lucifer and God knows how many other unholy powers which were trapped within.
I knew my goal and my hand was outstretched, waiting for the tool I could use to achieve it.
Geoffery placed my original sword in my hand.
As it touched my gauntlet I could feel the blade’s spirit emboldened. Through Geoffery’s works over the millennia, he had tempered it in Justice and Goodwill, as I had instructed him.
Though far from my disciple, I turned to Geoffrey, appraising the blade and hearing it resonate with the songs of its use as it defended the helpless and smote the wicked by Geoffrey's hand.
As if the blade itself took me through Geoffrey's life as he battled against man and old Gods alike.
This particular blade was forged once from the remains of a defeated Old One. The spirit purified in God’s divine power, its essence cleansed of darkness and void and replaced with unending light and hope.
I had missed this blade, my Blade of Ohr Tahor. With it and my shield of Chazak Choma, I readied myself to do battle with Xyphiel, as it was foretold.
For I knew that Xyphiel wielded the power of my Brother, Lucifer of Pride, and now I would have to defeat him.
If I failed this day, all was lost.
“Geoffrey Karkade, you have done well. Now, return to me my blade, so that I may try and fulfill my Father's prophecy,” I praised Geoffrey, my eyes never leaving Xyphiel.
“Done well??!” Xyphiel scoffed, laughing as he approached, landing several meters from myself, The Metatron Timothy, and Geoffrey. “Do you not know what he is responsible for, Michael?”
I narrowed my eyes at him, readying my shield and sword, “I have had enough of your venom, Fallen Prophet! This ends today!” I shouted.
Xyphiel did not acknowledge me, addressing Timothy, “Ask your supposed mother, Boy! Your dear uncle is the one who destroyed all of Nite at the behest of Lucifer! Now he claims to be Michael’s disciple. Yet…” Xyphiel’s brow furrowed in fury as his eyes fixed on me, “When I came to the Guardian Council, I was offered no mercy…”
Before I could speak, Geoffrey called out, “There’s a difference between you and me, Xyphiel! Though it is true, I did as you said long ago! I set myself upon a path to atone for my misdeeds, rather than wallow further in the mud of corruption!”
I couldn’t help but smile. Of all the people, I never thought a former child of Lucifer would be able to hold a moral high ground over a Niten Dragon.
That being said, neither Geoffrey nor Timothy of Enoch could yet stand against Xyphiel. “Go, now!” I shouted, “Aid your comrades!” I turned to Xyphiel once more, “This fate is mine to face.”
“Archangel, I’ll fight by your side!” Timothy of Enoch protested, “I’m the sundered child, this is my fate as well!”
Geoffrey, for his part, pulled Timothy away, “St. Michael knows what he’s doing. If he says you’re needed elsewhere, then elsewhere you go! Come on, there’s plenty to defend!”
Timothy was pulled, reluctantly, from my side as I approached Xyphiel.
Xyphiel scoffed, “Geoffrey ought to burn for lying to the boy,” he chuckled as he fixed his gaze upon me, “You have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, Michael.”
I charged ahead, not wanting to listen to Xyphiel’s putrid words a moment longer. My sword was raised high, my shield ready to parry or deflect. The time for speaking had ended.
The Sword of Samael had been drawn and now it was time for the wrath of God to descend upon the damned.
Even if one of those fallen were once our own brightest.
I felt a sense of Déjà vu.
Xyphiel blocked my strike with the Puriel blade and I could hear the blades sing a ballad of anguish and despair as they collided.
“Michael,” Xyphiel tsk’d me, his wrist holding firm, though at its limit as I clashed with him, “Striking first? What happened to turning the other cheek?”
“That is meant for those who might be forgiven for their transgressions, one day!” I growled, pushing my shield against Xyphiel, forcing him back, “Not for the likes of you!”
Xyphiel took a step back, gripping the Puriel blade in both hands, raising it upwards as he crouched down, the point aiming towards me. A Lancing pose, of sorts, like a viper ready to strike, “Ah, yes. I can never forget! I am The Unforgiven, after all.” Xyphiel lunged forward, the tip of the Puriel blade rocketing towards me.
I parried it with my shield, turning and swinging my blade down towards his wrist.
To my shock, his gauntlet-clad hand caught my wrist before I could sever his. I felt the claws of his hand digging into my flesh and wisps of blue mana seeped from my wounds.
“You see, Michael? You think you have the advantage in this battle, but you’re sorely mistaken,” Xyphiel taunted.
I twisted my wrist from his hand and pushed him back once more with my shield.
Xyphiel withdrew, though he continued his verbal onslaught, “While you sat high above in Heaven, singing lovely choirs to God Almighty, I was fighting,” Xyphiel grinned, looking to the chaos unfolding around us, “As were they,” he motioned to the armies of darkness seething around us.
I kept my focus on Xyphiel, waiting for his next strike.
“Ever embattled, even with one another, fighting day in and day out,” Xyphiel grinned, “Growing ever stronger, longing for the day they would destroy you.”
I flexed my hand behind my shield, waiting to make my strike. If I could pull the Puriel blade from him, or better yet, shatter its hilt, then Xyphiel would no longer hold the legions of Demons imprisoned within.
While he wouldn’t be defeated, it would be the first blow to land upon him. I would take his dark powers, piece by piece.
“We have not been resting, Fallen Prophet. We have been preparing as well, for the day to finally set the world right!” I called out, charging forward.
Xyphiel stood firm, pridefully believing he had anticipated my attack.
As I charged forward, I did not attack with my blade, instead moving to strike with my shield.
Xyphiel was caught off-guard, and as he blocked my shield with the Puriel blade, I thrust my sword into the gem of its hilt.
I watched as the jewel was struck firmly, and cracked. “I am sorry, brother Puriel. It had to be done.”
The gem let out a shockingly pitiful spat of light sparks and white smoke before it shattered, crumbling to the ground.
Something was wrong.
I felt no shift in strength from Xyphiel, no change in his temperament.
The Puriel Blade didn’t even feel different as it scraped and trembled along my shield.
“Confused, Michael?” Xyphiel said with a vicious grin.
I leaped back, keeping my guard up as Xyphiel’s grin remained. “Where is the true Puriel blade? The blade that you used to imprison Lucifer and his armies!” I demanded.
It had to be a replica or a fake. Did Xyphiel have the blade elsewhere on him and refused to fight due to the risk it would put him in?
Xyphiel glanced at the sword in his hand and back to me, “This is the Puriel blade, of that I can assure you, Michael. Did you think I would take anything else into battle?” His grin grew ever more contemptible, “My goal was, after all, to slay angels.”
I growled, “If that was the true blade, then the prison would have broken when I shattered the seal upon it!”
Xyphiel took his gauntlet-clad hand off the blade, his eyes locked on mine, “Puriel’s Seal, perhaps, but…” Xyphiel opened his palm, and at its center was the Greater Seal of the Scribe Lord, “But whoever said I was using his seal when I have my own?”
The seal on Xyphiel’s hand now pulsed with horrific energy, a darkness I had never seen before.
But even so, the seal was once used to lock the Damned and Fallen deep within Hell! Unless… Could he have been so mad?! “You couldn’t…” I stammered.
The seal began to rotate slowly on his palm, as a key turns in a lock, “It is as you have said, all those years ago, Michael! I am the Seal!”
Xyphiel’s eyes shifted from his deep crimson to violet, to red, and back to crimson, “You imprisoned those demons within yourself?!” I cried out in shock and horror.
“All at my disposal, but I wouldn’t be a fool to rely on all of their power,” Xyphiel chuckled, “I only needed to leverage one.”
“One?” I asked though I knew who.
Lucifer.
“But, perhaps you’re right, Michael,” Xyphiel spun the Puriel blade in his hand and I watched the jewel pieces lift from the ground and merge once more unto the blade’s hilt. Now the insignia within it was that of a Mobius Crest. The symbol Xyphiel had adorned himself with often.
A reminder of his immortal existence and a perceived curse.
“Perhaps they shouldn’t be imprisoned,” Xyphiel snapped his fingers, grinning at me, “Let us compromise…” I watched as the center of the seal on his hand, opened once more, “I shall release all but one.”
I rushed towards him.
My new goal was clear: I had to take his hand. I had to sever his connection with the seal. I had placed it upon his hand all those eons ago, it was fitting that I remove it.
Xyphiel turned, his seal-bearing hand facing behind him as he blocked my strike with the Puriel blade. “It’s rude to interrupt, Michael!”
A cone of blackened light erupted from Xyphiel’s hand as I watched, powerless, as he unleashed yet more potent demons.
Xyphiel turned to me, grinning wickedly, “You’ve done exactly what I wanted, Michael. All of Heaven is here now… and I can unleash the true breadth of my army!”
I heard a horrific roar as I saw the mighty wings of the gigantic demon of Destruction and Chaos, Abaddon, unfurl into the air.
“I have released you!” Xyphiel called out, “Serve me, Xyphiel, Lord of Pride, and today, you shall feast on the flesh of angels!”
Abaddon soared into the air and bellowed back, “Prisoners of Lucifer - our new Lord gives us freedom! Let us reward it with death upon the children of God!” Abaddon's massive form crashed through one of the walls of the city, roaring in celebration as yet more horrors poured out of the seal upon Xyphiel’s hand.
The flood stopped and I witnessed demons tearing into the forces of God, their numbers more than I could imagine.
“Seems it is far easier to get into Hell than Heaven, dear Michael,” Xyphiel boasted, “While you were busy singing and training, the armies of Hell swelled and readied themselves for this day.”
My eyes widened as Xyphiel’s golden-clad hand took hold of the Puriel blade.
Xyphiel rushed towards me, the Puriel blade readied at my chest, “The day that Heaven itself shall fall!”
…
Ragna
I lay there on the floor where Zepherina had fallen.
She came to save me and now she was trapped here.
Could I have failed her more?
Zepherina, Rachel, Eva, or Timothy?
My regret reached even further back.
Moira, Alyssa, Xahara, and Soradoria?
How many did I let down or fail? Over and over again.
I curled up in a fetal position, a half-empty bottle clutched to my chest.
I envied Alexander of Macedonia.
How death came for him so easily. I wanted nothing but darkness to take me, swallow me up, and ferry me away.
I’d rather feel nothing than an ounce of what I felt now.
The ground shook and I looked around me, the entire room shaking.
“Mom!” I heard Zepherina shout from below.
Ripping out of the floor was a sight I had thought I would never see again.
My eyes went wide as I gazed upon a strange figure rising from the shattering floor.
Was this another illusion from this damned place? Was I just dreaming in a drunken stupor? This figure rising from the floor had the wings of a Nite but the body of a Dei.
She looked like my mom or a version of her. But it couldn’t be, I saw my mother die, Guardians know how long ago.
No, this figure had the face of Zepherina.
This representation of Zepherina had white Niten Dragon wings, and her head adorned with white horns. Her eyes sat in her seemingly empty eye sockets, a glowing white mist around a pair of solid amethyst spheres which gazed upon me with a surprising level of authority.
But it wasn’t authority or pride holding those eyes on mine. I saw hope looking back at me.
“Z-Zepherina?!” I gasped, “What-What is this?!” I stammered.
Zepherina hefted me off the floor like I was nothing more than a cardboard cutout, “Time to sober up and get out of here, Mom!” She declared as she ferried me out of the bar and towards the throne room.
I let the glass bottle and tumbler slip from my fingers as I grabbed a hold of her, unsure if the glass was what I heard shattering or if that was the tower around us crumbling to pieces.
I could hear Madison shouting now, “Zeph, what the fuck did you do?!”
“It wasn’t me!” Zepherina protested, but still running, “Okay, it was but not-Nevermind! Come on, we have to get out of here! The whole tower is coming down!”
Zepherina was right and I glanced around us frantically, unsure where we were or what was what.
I still had some drink in me, my vision wasn’t fully clear and I was still groggy.
All I could do was gaze up at Zepherina’s potent form, holding onto me firmly and securely.
Every step, every movement she made exuded confidence and prowess.
There wasn’t a single moment where I held a shred of doubt in her resolve.
We weren’t in danger, I knew that much. Not with Zepherina here. Not with my daughter here.
I heard the sound of a slight animalistic whine and turned to see that under Zepherina’s other arm was Stalphous, glancing at me, uncertain, his eyebrows raised in concern at the chaos going on around us.
“Madison, get it in the air!” Zepherina shouted as I watched Madison rush into a transport vessel.
The Tower of Mourning was all crumbling around us and Zepherina’s hands were full, Madison was doing all she could.
I could hear Stalphous whine.
I felt the same.
Helpless, unsure of what was going on.
Then the transport started to slip off the edge of the tower!
No! I wasn’t helpless!
I thrust my hand out, something I hadn’t needed to do when using my telekinesis in so long. Addled as I was, I needed a guiding hand to help me focus.
I held the vessel as best I could.
I could feel Zepherina tense up as we flew towards it and we stopped as we came to the vessel, which I held in place with my mind.
Barely, I might add.
We were still collectively falling, just a bit slower than we would had I done nothing.
“I’m not… Completely… Useless…” I stammered, my primary focus less on talking and more on holding the ship in place while Madison got its engines warmed up.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long.
Soon, the vessel was hovering on its own and I could release it.
Zepherina flew in, dropping Stalphous into the loading area and sitting me upright in a passenger seat, “Madison, you got them from here?” Zepherina asked.
Distracting me from the events next was Stalphous rushing me and licking at my face, the foul scent of his breath helping me sober up, “Stal, Stop,” I tried to instruct him as his smooth yet slimy tongue slid over my face.
I had to keep his tongue from my eyes, I wasn’t going to want the bacterial soup of his saliva getting in there. Weakened as I was, I might get an infection.
“I gotta go, Mom,” Zepherina informed me with a reassuring smile.
I had to slow her down or at least get some idea of what was happening before she left, “Zepherina, look at you! What form is this?!” I demanded.
Zepherina’s face remained warm, serene, and confident, “I’ll explain later, I gotta go save Themyscira from Xyphiel, okay?”
Zepherina was going to face Xyphiel? Now? She said the words with such conviction. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind.
Zepherina was going to stop him? My daughter planned to fight Xyphiel head-on?
The fight of her life lay before her, and here I was, holding her back. Yet she still came for me? She saved me? I could not let her go alone.
“You did this, didn’t you? You defeated what was holding me there?” I said, motioning to the collapsing tower below us.
Zepherina simply nodded, stretching out her shimmering Niten wings, getting ready to leave. Standing there, she looked like my mother, Yuki.
I reached out to caress her cheek, “Zepherina…” I wanted to say so much. ‘I’m proud of you,’ ‘you’re incredible,’ ‘that’s my girl!’
So cliché but still, I could barely speak. I was so taken aback by how powerful she had become.
“We’ll talk later,” Zepherina said comfortingly.
I moved to stand, but I was strapped in. I immediately began to undo the belt buckles holding me in place.
I wasn’t going to sit back, drinking myself into a stupor, feeling sorry for myself.
Zepherina’s face fell as she spoke in a concerned tone, “Mom? I gotta go. I don’t have time-”
I didn’t let her finish, “Take me with you,” I demanded.
Zepherina paused for only a single moment before she smiled at me, opening her arms, “Then let’s go.”
Madison shouted over the hum of the engines, “Uh, hey, guys?!” She said as she pointed northward.
There a massive pillar of light reached out from the horizon and high into the apex of the firmament above. A grand spectacle of swirling glowing white clouds at the top with many streaks streaming down from the heavens above.
Zepherina’s voice cracked through the hum of the engine, “They opened up Heaven’s Gate,” she said in awe.
The battle hadn’t just begun, it was well underway.
Even I knew what that meant: Sofia had sacrificed herself to open the gates. Despite my disdain for her, I had to respect her for it. It was certainly no easy feat to give yourself over to a greater cause.
“Well, my old foe, Godspeed to you,” I thought as I turned to Zepherina. “What are you waiting for? Let’s not be the last ones to get a shot at Xyphiel.”
Zepherina smiled, grabbing hold of me, “Hold on tight, Mom.”
I turned to Madison, “Make sure Stalphous is safe, Captain!”
Madison shouted back, “It’s Colonel now!” She shouted as she gave me a thumbs up, “And Stal’s safe with me!”
Stalphous sat calmly on a passenger seat, his thick lizard-like tail wagging back and forth as he licked his snout happily.
“Be good for your auntie!” I shouted as Zepherina and I took off.
I had to hold on tightly as we soared faster and faster toward the pillar of light.
I couldn’t even see the world around us, the wind was so intense. I shut my eyes, holding onto Zepherina for dear life.
I could feel the feathers of my wings being ripped off by the sheer force of the air, we were traveling so fast.
Yet, somehow, I knew those were feathers that would fall regardless.
I could feel my strength returning. Whether that was by my power or Zepherina’s, I didn’t know. Nor did I care, to be honest.
We slowed and I opened my eyes, watching a final white feather flutter off of my blackened wings.
I smiled at my dark wings, noticing my hair had darkened as well.
I turned to Zepherina, her smile had turned into the stone-cold look of a warrior.
My attention was caught by the sounds of clashing blades, weapons firing, and the din of war cresting over the battlefield.
We landed on the top of the capitol building, Zepherina setting me down.
“Mom, wait here until you’re ready to join in. I’ve got scores to settle,” Zepherina said, a pair of glowing white blades of pure light materializing in her hands.
“Zepherina,” I said, slowly getting to my feet.
Zepherina turned to me, an aura of divinity surrounding her.
I smiled at her, “I’m so proud of you. Thank you. I love you.”
Zepherina’s stone-cold face cracked a smile, “Love you too, Mom.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, she jumped from the rooftops and dove into the fray.
I moved to the edge of the capitol building’s roof, and looked around, “Rage, confirm you can hear me.”
“Confirmed. Welcome back, Mother,” Rage reported.
I sighed, turning to a door on the roof, “I’m not at full strength yet. How functional are the old armature systems?”
“Fully maintained in storage mode at this time. Would you like to exhume it?” Rage asked.
“Yes, Rage. Please do,” I ordered, heading down into the capitol. “I’m not going to be useless. I will fight, to my last breath.”
“Oh, I am so happy to hear that, little Sellenia!” My eyes went wide as I looked out into the distance to see Zelletia’s massive form descend from the sky, landing on the battlefield.
Zelletia’s huge head turned right and left, searching for me below.
Had she not seen me yet?! I rushed into the Capitol building, moving to the stairwell.
Normally, the elevator would be my first inclination, but all things considered, I had to hurry.
The armory was in the basement.
I jumped over the railing and sprung my wings straight up, falling down the center of the stairwell as quickly as gravity could move me.
“Come out, Come out, wherever you are… Or is little Sellenia too afraid to meet her doom with the rest of her supposed empire?!” Zelletia’s voice taunted.
I growled to myself as I landed below, rushing through the hallways as I felt the ground shake under my feet.
Rage was keen enough to know that I needed the doors unlocked and I slammed my way through as many of them as I could while I made my way to the armory.
To where Esmeralda and Brittany should have been.
I smashed into a lab to find only Esmeralda sitting calmly on a stool drinking a glass of wine, a bottle next to her.
I was about to admonish her but it struck me that up until a few minutes ago I was doing the same thing, “Esmeralda!” I shouted.
Esmeralda turned to me, bowing her head and lifting her glass, “My Mistress, however, can I be of assistance?”
“I believe you had considered armor for Zepherina that would nullify demonic power, yes?” I asked.
“Yes my Empress, but I believe you said she was not yet ready…” Esmeralda mused.
“I need it,” I ordered.
“You?” Esmeralda turned to me, confused, “But you do not need such-”
“Did I stutter, Esmeralda?” I growled, narrowing my eyes at her.
Esmeralda flinched, dropping her glass, “O-Of course, My Mistress. My humble apologies… Allow me to fetch it.”
“Now!” I commanded, glaring at her.
Esmeralda was on her hooves and moving quickly through the lab as she did I hurriedly removed my shirt and boots.
Within, Esmeralda opened a large chamber where a set of plate armor stood on a mannequin about Zepherina’s height. Luckily we had similar builds.
Esmeralda was careful not to touch the armor, as she unveiled it to me, “The engineers did well enough where I cannot touch the blessed armor. An alloy made of blessed metals plated in pure silver, with every aspect of the forging, even the plating, performed in the sacred waters of the Guardian Temple, courtesy of the Temple's custodian, what was his name? Juan or Jorge...? Yes, I think it was Jorge. Some Spaniard," Esmeralda turned to me, “Well either way, were you a demon it would burn your skin upon first touch…” Esmeralda looked me up and down, “Or a Fallen.”
I moved towards the armor, hesitating for a moment as my reflection stared back at me from the shined silvery surface. Etchings across the shoulders and chest bore the sigil of Penthesil and etched along its sides were holy symbols and runes.
I paused for a moment, then the ground under my feet shook, “Fuck it. If it burns me the entire time that means it’ll burn anything else I touch.”
My hands moved to the buckles and I quickly slipped the armor on, being as careful as I could to not come into contact with the outside portions of the armor whenever I could.
Esmeralda gave me a curious expression as I donned the armor.
I finally picked up the helm, my hands properly protected by the gloves, “What are you staring at?”
Esmeralda looked me up and down, “...By all accounts, if you were a Fallen Angel, that should burn you. At least as far as I know,” Esmeralda’s eyebrows rose in thought on her otherwise flawless face, “Unless that only applied to Fallen whom were cast down into Hellfire?"
“No time to debate the how or why,” I said as I looked around, “Weapons?”
“There wasn’t much need for a weapon with Zepherina having the so-called Dragon Slayer blade you designed for her,” Esmeralda said with a shrug.
I glanced at my wing and focused on a feather, pulled one out, and tested if I could form it into a blade.
My feather was a proper sword. I nodded and formed a second one. “Taking another method to slay this dragon.”
“Good luck, My Empress,” Esmeralda said with a bow.
“Where is Brittany?” I asked.
“Brittany is aiding Lady Dmitria in the Atlantic States in the Americas, My Mistress,” Esmeralda informed.
I moved past her, “I won’t force you to fight your brethren.”
“I had no intention to do so,” Esmeralda admitted, “You had given me no order to defend the Capitol nor to fight. So I shall remain here.”
I nodded to her, “If you should be captured, you are to claim you never stopped serving my father, make no mention of our pact, and assume your previous responsibilities while avoiding my brother, until I call upon you. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”
Esmeralda’s face soured, “I would have rathered you to order me to fight… But very well, My Mistress,” Esmeralda bowed low to me, “It shall be as you command.”
I rushed out of the labs as the ground shook again.
I could hear Zelletia’s voice in my mind, but I could somehow tell this was not a message just for me. Her voice was ringing out to all those in the city, “Is this how the Empress of Penthesil addresses a challenge?! She hides on the battlefield!? How cowardly of you, Little Sellenia!”
I rushed to the stairwell and jumped up into the air, flying up through the stairwell until I reached the roof.
I did not bother with the door and just crashed through the doorway and into the air, spreading my wings wide to slow myself down once I was over the Capitol building.
I responded as Zelletia did, in the minds of all around me, “Not running from you worm! Just waiting for you to be exactly where I wanted you to be!”
Zelletia was there, where I expected. Standing at the center of my capital city. The last place I wanted to see her, but for my attack, she was just where she had to be.
I dove towards her, my armor blinding her at first as I swung my blades at her eye.
Even as she swatted me away, I could hear her roar in pain as the flesh on her massive paw burned.
That being said, I was still swatted down to the ground.
I pushed myself to my feet and slammed my swords together, reforming them into a polearm as I rushed towards her towering front paw.
I let loose a war-cry as I drove it between the scales on her toes, causing her to lift her foot instinctively. As she raised her front paw, I was riding along with her, my polearm impaled deep into her flesh.
Just as I was about level with her chest I pushed off of Zelletia’s scales, watching as my boot caused her scales to burn and wither.
Zelletia let out a deafening roar, the power of which knocked over a building before her, blowing any soldiers, demons, or angels away as she did.
I was luckily away from the blast as I dove towards her ear.
Zelletia’s head thrashed slightly and I had to adjust, landing on her horn. I wrapped my legs tightly around her massive tree-sized horn and took a firm grip of my polearm, swinging down and thrusting the polearm into her ear.
My blade pierced through her flesh and I felt as I struck her eardrum.
Zelletia’s thrashing increased wildly now, as she stumbled, her equilibrium thrown by my strike.
“You vile little insect!” Zelletia’s voice bellowed as she slammed her horn, and me with it, down into the ground.
I rolled over, pushing myself away from Zelletia as a cloud of dust and debris burst into the air.
The ground shook once more and rising out of the cloud was a surprisingly smaller sight.
Zelletia was in her Rex Dragon form still, but now an eighth the size. Still, Zelletia was over twelve meters tall.
I glared up at her, “What, did I make you dizzy, snake?”
Zelletia growled, turning quickly, far faster than I expected, sending her tail whipping at me at high speed.
I gasped as it collided with me, knocking me through a building’s wall as I tumbled across the battlefield.
I landed in a mass of demons and soldiers.
One large demon grinned down at me. It was some kind of towering goat-like creature with burning green eyes. It reached a massive hand towards me moving to hold me down while it rose a bloodied cleaver the size of a small car in its other hand.
The moment its free hand touched my armor, however, the flesh on the demon's skin burned.
The goat demon reeled back, screaming in pain.
I reached out, grabbing at its wrist as more fur and flesh burned, “The Ragnarök has come for you all!” I pulled hard on its wrist, ripping its arm from the socket and causing the huge beast to tumble forward.
As it fell I whipped the polearm through its body, slicing the creature in half, allowing both sides of its body to fall on either side of me.
I turned to the demons around me who quickly turned and began to run, my soldiers all crying out in joy, “Let none escape!” I shouted.
Zelletia landed before me, roaring at me and the soldiers around me.
They took up arms quickly, ready to fight her.
I shook my head, “Leave this one to me!” I ordered, “Kill the retreating Demons!”
My soldiers quickly took up my charge.
“Oh Sellenia, you must feel so special! Having little pathetic creatures listening to your every command as if it matters…” Zelletia taunted, “How fitting that you become a queen when you have robbed me of my right to rule at every turn!”
“I am no queen! And you have no right to call me Sellenia!” I shouted, readying my polearm, “I am Empress Ragna Misho,” I narrowed my eyes at Zelletia’s, “And I’m going to end you.”
“Try it, Little Sellenia!” Zelletia roared in anger at me, her foul breath making me dizzy.
I held firm and rushed towards her, only to be swatted aside by her paw before I could get in range of her.
The blow carried the same force as she had when she was larger. This time I had to drive the base of the polearm into the ground to stop myself from flying backward.
“My size change was tactical, insect!” Zelletia grinned, spreading her wings, “I was too large to keep track of you before… But now,” Zelletia’s maw turned up into a wicked grin filled with snaggle teeth, “I can find you easily.”
I groaned as I got to my feet, “Just means I can inflict more damage on you.”
“Try it, flea!” Zelletia snapped at me.
I took to the air, polearm at the ready now, dodging her strikes as best I could.
Zelletia was right, however. She was far faster now.
I barely missed her massive jaws as they snapped near my shoulder.
With a swift motion I struck at her cheek with my polearm, but her tail once again swatted me out of the air.
I was sent straight down with such force that I bounced upwards for a moment before I turned and fell onto my back.
Zelletia loomed over me, my vision tunneling and blurred as her voice rang in my ears.
“I will admit, watching you languish in the Tower of Mourning was enjoyable… But I will take just as much satisfaction in killing you. When you get to your mother’s realm of the Dead, do tell her that her throne will be the next I take!” Zelletia laughed heartily, “All that was robbed from me shall be mine at last!”
I heard a roar of pain, followed by a flash of brilliant yellow light.
Landing next to me was one of Zelletia’s massive horns, severed completely from her head.
Zelletia roared in pain and anger, her voice shrill as she cursed, “You pathetic little Niteling!”
Landing next to the horn I saw a pair of draconic paws, with yellow scales and tan claws. Wrapped around them were white leathers and silvery shin guards.
My eyes followed the legs up, looking to see an outstretched claw of a Niten Dragon reaching down towards me.
My vision cleared and my eyes focused on her brilliant blue eyes as she spoke, my heart caught in my throat.
Tears filled my eyes as I looked upon a face I had all but forgotten to time long ago. But now, before me, there was no mistake, it was her!
“You’re lucky I got here in time,” Tassel’s smiling face looked down at me as she took my hand, pulling me to my feet and greeting me with a wry and friendly grin, “Why am I always saving your ass, Sellie?”
2023.03.29 03:05 TwinkleeT0es Ivy League dreams to community college schemes
Demographics
Academics
no clue, but I had a good relationship w/ them so I think at least a 7/10
Interviews
the only interview was at UPenn (9/10) - we talked for around an hour and a half
Essays
7/10 - the general idea was to show how over time as a developer, I underwent experiences that shifted my goals of making money to helping people. introduced passion for technology through a superhero-sidekick analogy (spiderman and ned), and to stick with the theme of movies making an impact on my life, the realization I underwent was connected to watching The Social Network.
Additional Information
Talked in-depth about three of the seven international hackathons that I won. Also provided a link to my portfolio for the other 4 winning projects.
Decisions (indicate ED/EA/REA/SCEA/RD)
Acceptances:
submitted by TwinkleeT0es to collegeresults [link] [comments]
- Gender: Male
- Race/Ethnicity: Asian/Indian
- Residence: New England
- Income Bracket: Very very high
- Type of School: Public
- Hooks (Recruited Athlete, URM, First-Gen, Geographic, Legacy, etc.): None
Academics
- GPA (UW/W): 3.8, 4.84
- Rank (or percentile): Rank 28
- # of Honors/AP/IB/Dual Enrollment/etc.: 10 APs
- SAT I: 1450 (700RW, 750M) applied test-optional everywhere except GTech and UMD
- AP/IB: 2 (5), 4 (4), 2 (3)
- Chief Executive Officer at a software solution company I co-founded. We sell affordable, customizable applications (web and mobile) and also build a variety of other systems. Facilitated $15k in contract partnerships; raised $2k in capital; maintain client relations; handle marketing, sales, finances, and employees.
- Lead Software Developer at the same company. Manage team of 4 high-school developers; created and manage 20 apps for clientele; incorporated new frameworks (Flutter, NextJS) and machine learning;
- President of the Speech and Debate Team. Placed top at Harvard; mentored novice debaters; coordinated practice debates and inter-school tournaments;
- Machine Learning and Software Engineering Assistant Team Lead at a nonprofit company based out in Boston. Managed 8+ developers; developed a drunk-driving prevention mobile app; investigated AI models for distracted driving classification
- President of the Ethics Bowl Team. Reinstated team at our school; trained students to develop moral opinions in different situations; placed 1st at Saint Anselm College Tournament
- Junior Developer at mid-sized audio-visual company. Systematically programmed Creston and Extron control automation systems; adjusted audio DSPs to perfect sound systems for ten clients;
- President of Computer Science Club. Provide students with necessary competitive programming skills; create variety of computing problem-sets; placed first regionally every year
- Volunteer at senior adult day care center. Coordinate events for senior citizens (games, celebrations, other activities); aid members by serving food, and walking them to necessary facilities
- Participant in a hackathon. Developed food-waste prevention software; allowed providers to post leftovers and soup kitchens to accept them; worked with helping-hands non-profit; won 1st place
- Warehouse Associate at a different very large audio-visual company. Managed logistics (receiving, creating inventory/database, shelf allocation); assisted in optimizing space management (increasing stored units by 10%)
- Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology (appointed by the University of Rochester)
- Harvard Debate Semi-Finalists
- First Place @ one of my hackathons
- First Place @ another one of my hackathons
- First Place @ another one of my hackathons
no clue, but I had a good relationship w/ them so I think at least a 7/10
Interviews
the only interview was at UPenn (9/10) - we talked for around an hour and a half
Essays
7/10 - the general idea was to show how over time as a developer, I underwent experiences that shifted my goals of making money to helping people. introduced passion for technology through a superhero-sidekick analogy (spiderman and ned), and to stick with the theme of movies making an impact on my life, the realization I underwent was connected to watching The Social Network.
Additional Information
Talked in-depth about three of the seven international hackathons that I won. Also provided a link to my portfolio for the other 4 winning projects.
Decisions (indicate ED/EA/REA/SCEA/RD)
Acceptances:
- Northeastern (NU in) getting fedex'd across the Atlantic
- UMD (undeclared)
- UNH
- UMass Amherst 😭 (thought it was my safety based on past results)
- University of Rochester 😭 (mfs said they'd give me a 5 - 20k scholarship, lol)
- Boston College (sibling legacy)
- UPenn (ED)
- UIUC
- Carnegie Mellon
- UChicago
- UCSD (this one sucked, really wanted to go)
- Johns Hopkins
- UCLA
- Rice
- USC
- UW Madison (defer -> reject) 😭
- UCI
- Georgia Tech (Arts and Sciences Transfer Pathway for 2024) lmaoooooooooooooooo
- UMich (deferred EA)
- Emory
- UCB
- Stanford
2023.03.29 02:56 ParetoOptimalAuthor An Empirical Revolution in Asset Pricing
When we think of economics, we think of markets, and when we think of markets, we think of private incentives moving towards a socially optimal allocation of resources through the invisible hand. Each firm sets its marginal cost equal to its marginal revenue and each consumer pays the price up to their marginal utility. We see in a Hayekian sense how the price system delivers information through no means of its own. Risk and return are adjusted towards equilibrium, and in viewing through this lens, we know how work in finance and asset pricing from Chicago to Yale can tie into the heart and roots of economics built by Smith and Hayek. It is through this lens we see risk and its compensatory returns
The Fama-French three-factor model is an economic model that arose from the need for an empirical asset pricing model to test the efficient-market hypothesis (EMH) in the 1990s. This model was proposed by University of Chicago professors Eugene Fama and Kenneth French in response to empirical evidence against the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), which initially worked as strong evidence in favor of EMH. However, the empirical evidence of volatility in stock prices and dividends inconsistent with market efficiency led to the development of the Fama-French model
The original Fama-French three-factor Model
Originally meant to be a counter to Robert Shiller's 1980 paper on discount rates, the three-factor model served as a response to plenty of empirical evidence against the CAPM.
In asset pricing, there is a famous theory developed by Fama known as the efficient-market hypothesis. There are three forms of EMH: the first one, the weak form, states that past prices do not predict future returns, i.e. they are independent of one another, the second one, the semi-strong form, says that asset prices reflect all publically available information, disincentivizing the public from active investing to the profit of private insiders.
The second form is the one most strongly supported by empirical evidence through event studies
The third form, the strong form, states that asset prices reflect all information. private or public, making inside trading unprofitable.
To test EMH, one needs an empirical asset pricing model, thus we have the Joint hypothesis problem.
The CAPM was developed in the 1960s to help explain stock-market returns; initially, it worked as strong evidence in favor of EMH
Only in the 1980s did empirical evidence against CAPM and thus EMH was born. A group of behavioral and Keynesian economists, including the great Robert J. Shiller, came in with evidence of volatility ins stock prices and dividends inconsistent with market efficiency. CAPM could now explain only 60% of stock-market returns.
Fama, Cochrane, et al. found it hard to reconcile with this until the early 1990s. Noticing various stock market risks and using factor-analysis Fama, et al. found three additional risk factors to explain over 90% of stock-market returns. This would lay the foundation for groundbreaking academic work in Fama and French (1992).
The Fama-French model is an econometric model in asset pricing used to predict stock-market returns based on three risk factors, with two additional risk factors added later. It considers the outperformance of small versus big companies, the outperformance of high book/market versus low book/market companies, and the market excess return as necessary to counter the additional risk. The model helped explain over 90% of stock-market returns, and the research behind it earned Eugene Fama, Robert Shiller, and Lars Hansen the Nobel Prize in economics in 2013.
While the Fama-French model was a major advancement in finance, it has also faced criticisms. Some argue that it relies too heavily on past performance data and ignores other relevant information
Shiller and Hansen's work on behavioral finance and econometric tests of asset pricing also contributed to the development of the Fama-French model. Shiller's research showed that investors do not always behave rationally and that their decisions are often influenced by emotions and behavioral biases. This finding challenged the traditional assumption of rational investors in economic models.
Hansen, on the other hand, developed statistical tools to test asset pricing models, which provided a more rigorous and accurate way to evaluate theories in finance.
With this new wave of research on factor premiums and the beginnings of financial economist Cliff Asness, behavioral finance proponents would need to come up with research against EMH that wouldn't show up nearly a decade later in the early 2000s
You'd think the Nobel committee would be against giving the prize to research opponents. Instead in 2013, the Nobel Prize in economics was awarded to Eugen Fama, Robert Shiller, and Lars Hansen, for their empirical work on market efficiency, behavioral finance, and econometric tests of asset pricing respectively.
The winners of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences
Their research would serve as the background for Fama and French (2015), where two additional risk factors were added.
The updated Fama-French model
Without this credibility revolution in finance, the capital markets would be less information efficient and result in less income per capita for not just the big guys and Wall St., but for the average Joe too. Through no altruistic motive of their own, the profit motive moves millions of traders towards optimal equilibria allowing low trading costs, speed of information, no Pareto improvements, and the free-riding of stock-market returns to savvy investors like you and me.
submitted by ParetoOptimalAuthor to slatestarcodex [link] [comments]
The Fama-French three-factor model is an economic model that arose from the need for an empirical asset pricing model to test the efficient-market hypothesis (EMH) in the 1990s. This model was proposed by University of Chicago professors Eugene Fama and Kenneth French in response to empirical evidence against the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), which initially worked as strong evidence in favor of EMH. However, the empirical evidence of volatility in stock prices and dividends inconsistent with market efficiency led to the development of the Fama-French model
The original Fama-French three-factor Model
Originally meant to be a counter to Robert Shiller's 1980 paper on discount rates, the three-factor model served as a response to plenty of empirical evidence against the CAPM.
In asset pricing, there is a famous theory developed by Fama known as the efficient-market hypothesis. There are three forms of EMH: the first one, the weak form, states that past prices do not predict future returns, i.e. they are independent of one another, the second one, the semi-strong form, says that asset prices reflect all publically available information, disincentivizing the public from active investing to the profit of private insiders.
The second form is the one most strongly supported by empirical evidence through event studies
The third form, the strong form, states that asset prices reflect all information. private or public, making inside trading unprofitable.
To test EMH, one needs an empirical asset pricing model, thus we have the Joint hypothesis problem.
The CAPM was developed in the 1960s to help explain stock-market returns; initially, it worked as strong evidence in favor of EMH
Only in the 1980s did empirical evidence against CAPM and thus EMH was born. A group of behavioral and Keynesian economists, including the great Robert J. Shiller, came in with evidence of volatility ins stock prices and dividends inconsistent with market efficiency. CAPM could now explain only 60% of stock-market returns.
Fama, Cochrane, et al. found it hard to reconcile with this until the early 1990s. Noticing various stock market risks and using factor-analysis Fama, et al. found three additional risk factors to explain over 90% of stock-market returns. This would lay the foundation for groundbreaking academic work in Fama and French (1992).
The Fama-French model is an econometric model in asset pricing used to predict stock-market returns based on three risk factors, with two additional risk factors added later. It considers the outperformance of small versus big companies, the outperformance of high book/market versus low book/market companies, and the market excess return as necessary to counter the additional risk. The model helped explain over 90% of stock-market returns, and the research behind it earned Eugene Fama, Robert Shiller, and Lars Hansen the Nobel Prize in economics in 2013.
While the Fama-French model was a major advancement in finance, it has also faced criticisms. Some argue that it relies too heavily on past performance data and ignores other relevant information
Shiller and Hansen's work on behavioral finance and econometric tests of asset pricing also contributed to the development of the Fama-French model. Shiller's research showed that investors do not always behave rationally and that their decisions are often influenced by emotions and behavioral biases. This finding challenged the traditional assumption of rational investors in economic models.
Hansen, on the other hand, developed statistical tools to test asset pricing models, which provided a more rigorous and accurate way to evaluate theories in finance.
With this new wave of research on factor premiums and the beginnings of financial economist Cliff Asness, behavioral finance proponents would need to come up with research against EMH that wouldn't show up nearly a decade later in the early 2000s
You'd think the Nobel committee would be against giving the prize to research opponents. Instead in 2013, the Nobel Prize in economics was awarded to Eugen Fama, Robert Shiller, and Lars Hansen, for their empirical work on market efficiency, behavioral finance, and econometric tests of asset pricing respectively.
The winners of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences
Their research would serve as the background for Fama and French (2015), where two additional risk factors were added.
The updated Fama-French model
Without this credibility revolution in finance, the capital markets would be less information efficient and result in less income per capita for not just the big guys and Wall St., but for the average Joe too. Through no altruistic motive of their own, the profit motive moves millions of traders towards optimal equilibria allowing low trading costs, speed of information, no Pareto improvements, and the free-riding of stock-market returns to savvy investors like you and me.
2023.03.29 02:42 AwakeSleepMeditation Stillness & Motion - A Scientific View of Meditation (8)
As previously mentioned, the essence of meditation is to keep the mind awake while allowing the body to enter into a state of sleep. The specific method for achieving meditation is to maintain stillness in the body so that the body’s built-in “sensors” cannot detect any muscle movement. With enough practice and time, your brain (more accurately, your unconscious brain), mistakenly believing that you have fallen asleep, will gradually shut down both your motor and sensory nerves, inhibiting the sympathetic nerves while stimulating the parasympathetic nerves. This ultimately leads your body into a completely relaxed state of sleep.
That is why I have repeatedly emphasized that maintaining stillness is the first key element of meditation, and I can even assert that it is the only key element of meditation. Moreover, through simple logical reasoning, I can make a bolder guess that any human activity that is achieved by maintaining stillness in the body is essentially meditation. For example, Zhan Zhuang, Neidan, and various “static exercises” in Qigong, including “Tuna” and “Xingqi” through breath adjustment. Although they may superficially appear to be vastly different, some standing, some sitting, and some lying down, with different internal focusing points as well, they all essentially achieve meditation by maintaining stillness in the body.
However, although most meditation methods are achieved by keeping the body still, there are nevertheless some very special methods that achieve meditation through bodily movement. For example, in addition to “sitting meditation,” Buddhist practitioners sometimes choose an outdoor space, focus their minds without any distractions, and walk back and forth in a straight line with very slow steps, called “walking meditation.” In fact, the slowness of the pace is not necessary, because some experienced practitioners can achieve the same effect with faster speeds. That is to say, slowness is not the key to “walking meditation,” but maintaining a “constant speed” and moving in a “straight line” are the keys. So, what is the connection between moving “at a constant speed in a straight line” and maintaining “stillness”?
People who have studied physics know that Newton’s first law states that when an object is not subjected to an external force, it will remain at rest or move at a constant speed in a straight line. It is common sense and relatively easy to understand that an object that is not subject to external forces remains at rest. However, an object that is not subject to external forces can also maintain constant speed in a straight line, which is a discovery that contradicts common sense and also underlies Newton’s greatness. So again, what is the inherent commonality between maintaining stillness and moving at a constant speed in a straight line, or uniform linear motion? In other words, what is the essential difference between stillness/uniform linear motion and other forms of motion (that is, nonlinear motion and non-uniform linear motion)?
The answer is simple. That is, the acceleration of stillness and uniform linear motion is zero, while the acceleration of nonlinear motion and non-uniform linear motion is not zero. The “sensors” in your body, mentioned earlier, like the “sensors” in smartwatches, are actually “acceleration sensors,” or “accelerometers,” not “velocity sensors.” That is to say, stillness and uniform linear motion are the same for them because the acceleration is zero. This explains why uniform linear motion (like “walking meditation”) and stillness have the same effect, since your unconscious brain mistakenly thinks you are asleep because it cannot detect any “acceleration” of your muscles and thus lets your body go into a sleep state.
In addition, the “sensors” in your body are not as sensitive as you thought. That means that as long as you keep the acceleration of your body movements within a small range, even nonlinear or non-uniform linear movements may cause your unconscious brain to mistakenly assume you are asleep because it cannot detect sufficient “acceleration.”
So, how can you keep the acceleration of your body movements within a small range? You just need to slow down your movements! Tai Chi is a perfect example. Most of the movements in Tai Chi come from Chinese martial arts, but the biggest difference between Tai Chi and other martial arts is the speed of the movements. Therefore, although most of those movements are nonlinear, due to the slow and uniform speed of each movement, and the seamless and continuous transitions between movements, the acceleration throughout the entire flow can be almost ignored.
Also, in various “moving exercises” of Qigong, most (if not all) use very gentle and slow movements based on the same principle. That is to say, whether it is Tai Chi or Qigong, so long as you truly practice “slowly,” you can achieve the effect of meditation. Or to make the point more bluntly, Tai Chi and Qigong are essentially forms of meditation.
Moreover, Newton’s first law is also known as the law of inertia. The so-called “inertia” refers to the property of an object resisting changes to its motion state. By applying this law, we can not only better understand the relationship between stillness and motion, but also unlock the principle behind the “progressive muscle relaxation” method mentioned in Chapter 1, “Awake Sleep.” We already know that this method deliberately tightens and relaxes different muscle groups in the body progressively, thus gradually eliminating the tension and inducing a sense of relaxation. But how exactly does that work?
Suppose the degree of muscle tension ranges from 0 to 10, with several levels in between. That is to say, when we engage in intense physical activity, the muscle tension can rise to 10, whereas when we are asleep, the muscles are completely relaxed, and the tension drops to 0. When we wake up, under normal circumstances, our muscle tension level is not 0 or 10, but rather stays at a value between 0 and 10. Let’s assume that that value is 3, although it may vary slightly for each person.
Note that, under normal circumstances, it is difficult to experience the feeling of muscle relaxation below that normal value of 3. However, if we deliberately tighten our muscles and maintain this for a while, and then suddenly relax them, the muscle tension will quickly drop from 10 to 3. However, it will not stop there, but due to the “inertia” effect mentioned earlier, it will continue to decrease to 2, then 1, and even 0. Of course, after reaching the lowest point, the muscle tension will rebound, and rise back up to 1, and then 2, before finally returning to the normal value of 3 and staying there.
Although this relaxation of muscles below 3 is not long-lasting, usually not exceeding half a minute, it allows us to experience the physical changes that occur only after falling asleep even when we are awake. It can be said that Dr. Jacobson’s invention is truly remarkable. This is also why in Chapter 6, “A Thousand Hours,” we considered achieving full-body muscle relaxation as the criterion for completing the initial phase of learning meditation, because not only is it a very clear and explicit goal, but, more importantly, it is a goal that we can partially experience through the “progressive muscle relaxation” method.
Also, the series of movements in yoga share similarities with “progressive muscle relaxation.” The principles behind both are exactly the same. In fact, the founder of yoga, Patanjali, explained in detail the “Eight Limbs of Yoga” in his book Yoga Sutras. What we typically practice today in the gym is only the third limb, which is the “asana” or posture yoga. The later “pranayama” or breathing yoga is similar to Qigong’s “Tuna” or “Xingqi.” As for the seventh limb, “dhyana,” it is an extremely deep meditation, and the eighth limb, “samadhi,” is the highest state that meditation can bring us to—the unity of Heaven and humanity.
In short, stillness is meditation, as well as uniform linear movement. Slow and continuous nonlinear movement and non-uniform linear movement can also be forms of meditation. As for the various muscle relaxation techniques, they are excellent warm-up exercises for meditation. They help us set meditation goals, experience or partially experience the wonderful feelings that come with achieving those goals, and always have a firm belief and a lively hope.
In many Eastern temples, you will find a stone tablet or plaque inscribed with the words “Entering Samadhi.” It means that no matter who enters there, they must put aside their distractions and purify their minds to discover their true selves. However, most believers do not know that Samadhi is not in the temple or in the wild forests, but in everyone’s own hearts. Instead of looking for immortals and seeking the Tao far away, it is better to sit quietly at home or walk slowly in the yard to find the mysteries of life in the joy of meditation.
May each of us find our own Samadhi and enter it whenever we want to, whenever we need to, and whenever we have to.
submitted by AwakeSleepMeditation to AwakeSleepMeditation [link] [comments]
That is why I have repeatedly emphasized that maintaining stillness is the first key element of meditation, and I can even assert that it is the only key element of meditation. Moreover, through simple logical reasoning, I can make a bolder guess that any human activity that is achieved by maintaining stillness in the body is essentially meditation. For example, Zhan Zhuang, Neidan, and various “static exercises” in Qigong, including “Tuna” and “Xingqi” through breath adjustment. Although they may superficially appear to be vastly different, some standing, some sitting, and some lying down, with different internal focusing points as well, they all essentially achieve meditation by maintaining stillness in the body.
However, although most meditation methods are achieved by keeping the body still, there are nevertheless some very special methods that achieve meditation through bodily movement. For example, in addition to “sitting meditation,” Buddhist practitioners sometimes choose an outdoor space, focus their minds without any distractions, and walk back and forth in a straight line with very slow steps, called “walking meditation.” In fact, the slowness of the pace is not necessary, because some experienced practitioners can achieve the same effect with faster speeds. That is to say, slowness is not the key to “walking meditation,” but maintaining a “constant speed” and moving in a “straight line” are the keys. So, what is the connection between moving “at a constant speed in a straight line” and maintaining “stillness”?
People who have studied physics know that Newton’s first law states that when an object is not subjected to an external force, it will remain at rest or move at a constant speed in a straight line. It is common sense and relatively easy to understand that an object that is not subject to external forces remains at rest. However, an object that is not subject to external forces can also maintain constant speed in a straight line, which is a discovery that contradicts common sense and also underlies Newton’s greatness. So again, what is the inherent commonality between maintaining stillness and moving at a constant speed in a straight line, or uniform linear motion? In other words, what is the essential difference between stillness/uniform linear motion and other forms of motion (that is, nonlinear motion and non-uniform linear motion)?
The answer is simple. That is, the acceleration of stillness and uniform linear motion is zero, while the acceleration of nonlinear motion and non-uniform linear motion is not zero. The “sensors” in your body, mentioned earlier, like the “sensors” in smartwatches, are actually “acceleration sensors,” or “accelerometers,” not “velocity sensors.” That is to say, stillness and uniform linear motion are the same for them because the acceleration is zero. This explains why uniform linear motion (like “walking meditation”) and stillness have the same effect, since your unconscious brain mistakenly thinks you are asleep because it cannot detect any “acceleration” of your muscles and thus lets your body go into a sleep state.
In addition, the “sensors” in your body are not as sensitive as you thought. That means that as long as you keep the acceleration of your body movements within a small range, even nonlinear or non-uniform linear movements may cause your unconscious brain to mistakenly assume you are asleep because it cannot detect sufficient “acceleration.”
So, how can you keep the acceleration of your body movements within a small range? You just need to slow down your movements! Tai Chi is a perfect example. Most of the movements in Tai Chi come from Chinese martial arts, but the biggest difference between Tai Chi and other martial arts is the speed of the movements. Therefore, although most of those movements are nonlinear, due to the slow and uniform speed of each movement, and the seamless and continuous transitions between movements, the acceleration throughout the entire flow can be almost ignored.
Also, in various “moving exercises” of Qigong, most (if not all) use very gentle and slow movements based on the same principle. That is to say, whether it is Tai Chi or Qigong, so long as you truly practice “slowly,” you can achieve the effect of meditation. Or to make the point more bluntly, Tai Chi and Qigong are essentially forms of meditation.
Moreover, Newton’s first law is also known as the law of inertia. The so-called “inertia” refers to the property of an object resisting changes to its motion state. By applying this law, we can not only better understand the relationship between stillness and motion, but also unlock the principle behind the “progressive muscle relaxation” method mentioned in Chapter 1, “Awake Sleep.” We already know that this method deliberately tightens and relaxes different muscle groups in the body progressively, thus gradually eliminating the tension and inducing a sense of relaxation. But how exactly does that work?
Suppose the degree of muscle tension ranges from 0 to 10, with several levels in between. That is to say, when we engage in intense physical activity, the muscle tension can rise to 10, whereas when we are asleep, the muscles are completely relaxed, and the tension drops to 0. When we wake up, under normal circumstances, our muscle tension level is not 0 or 10, but rather stays at a value between 0 and 10. Let’s assume that that value is 3, although it may vary slightly for each person.
Note that, under normal circumstances, it is difficult to experience the feeling of muscle relaxation below that normal value of 3. However, if we deliberately tighten our muscles and maintain this for a while, and then suddenly relax them, the muscle tension will quickly drop from 10 to 3. However, it will not stop there, but due to the “inertia” effect mentioned earlier, it will continue to decrease to 2, then 1, and even 0. Of course, after reaching the lowest point, the muscle tension will rebound, and rise back up to 1, and then 2, before finally returning to the normal value of 3 and staying there.
Although this relaxation of muscles below 3 is not long-lasting, usually not exceeding half a minute, it allows us to experience the physical changes that occur only after falling asleep even when we are awake. It can be said that Dr. Jacobson’s invention is truly remarkable. This is also why in Chapter 6, “A Thousand Hours,” we considered achieving full-body muscle relaxation as the criterion for completing the initial phase of learning meditation, because not only is it a very clear and explicit goal, but, more importantly, it is a goal that we can partially experience through the “progressive muscle relaxation” method.
Also, the series of movements in yoga share similarities with “progressive muscle relaxation.” The principles behind both are exactly the same. In fact, the founder of yoga, Patanjali, explained in detail the “Eight Limbs of Yoga” in his book Yoga Sutras. What we typically practice today in the gym is only the third limb, which is the “asana” or posture yoga. The later “pranayama” or breathing yoga is similar to Qigong’s “Tuna” or “Xingqi.” As for the seventh limb, “dhyana,” it is an extremely deep meditation, and the eighth limb, “samadhi,” is the highest state that meditation can bring us to—the unity of Heaven and humanity.
In short, stillness is meditation, as well as uniform linear movement. Slow and continuous nonlinear movement and non-uniform linear movement can also be forms of meditation. As for the various muscle relaxation techniques, they are excellent warm-up exercises for meditation. They help us set meditation goals, experience or partially experience the wonderful feelings that come with achieving those goals, and always have a firm belief and a lively hope.
In many Eastern temples, you will find a stone tablet or plaque inscribed with the words “Entering Samadhi.” It means that no matter who enters there, they must put aside their distractions and purify their minds to discover their true selves. However, most believers do not know that Samadhi is not in the temple or in the wild forests, but in everyone’s own hearts. Instead of looking for immortals and seeking the Tao far away, it is better to sit quietly at home or walk slowly in the yard to find the mysteries of life in the joy of meditation.
May each of us find our own Samadhi and enter it whenever we want to, whenever we need to, and whenever we have to.
2023.03.29 01:27 accountingjoe ALPP 10Q/A Discussion & Analysis
TLDR Summary:
The changes shown in ALPP's 10Q/A are minimal and substantially all relate to "flow through effects" from the Balance Sheet adjustments made on the 2021 10K/A as summarized in my previous post.
In other words, the changes made to Assets and Liabilities related to the 5 acquisitions ALPP made in 2021, have effects that just "carry through" quarter to quarter. So in most cases it's not something "new" that has changed. Rather it's just the effects of the same changes we discussed on the 10K/A carrying through.
The change to Net Income for the 6 months ended Q2 was $(0.3M).
Detail Analysis:
There are 5 items that impact the $(0.3M) change to Net Income.
Item 1: ($0.1M) related to increased amortization of intangible assets, primarily at RCA.
If you recall my previous post, the changes made for the RCA acquisition related to reclassing of amounts between Inventory, Intangible Assets and Goodwill. Intangible Assets are subject to amortization. A change in the acquired valuation of RCA intangible assets, results in a change to amortization in the subsequent accounting periods. This change is therefore a "carry through effect."
Item 2: $(0.4M) related to increased Cost of Goods Sold at RCA.
Exact same situation as noted in Item 1. Inventory is what turns into Cost of Goods Sold (i.e. when the inventory is sold to a customer). Because the valuation of RCA acquired inventory changed, the resulting Cost of Goods Sold in subsequent accounting periods changes. This change is therefore a "carry through effect."
Item 3: $0.2M related to an increase in the Right of Use Asset on the sale of Alt Labs Property.
It was determined that the right of use asset related to the Alt Labs Property should be valued at $0.2M higher. This increase in the asset results in recognition of a corresponding gain of $0.2M. This is an item specific to the quarter rather than a carry through effect.
Item 4: $(0.2M) related to a re-determination in the classification of some equity compensation paid to Elecjet.
It appears that a certain portion of the equity compensation was determined to be "time based" rather than "performance based." As a result, $0.2M of stock compensation was recognized. This is an item specific to the quarter rather than a carry through effect.
Item 5: $0.2M related to income tax benefits.
If you recall my previous post, certain Deferred Tax Liabilities were recorded as part of the acquisition adjustments. As these deferred tax liabilities reverse, the create income tax benefits. This change is therefore a "carry through effect."
The sum of these items (0.1) + (0.4) + 0.2 + (0.2) + 0.2 = the net $(0.3) change to Net Income in Q2 as noted above.
Opinion:
Just as I stated in my previous post on the 10K/A, it appears that ALPP's original accounting treatment was quite accurate. And now we have a thorough review by Top 10 Audit Firm RSM to confirm that.
The entire net change of $(0.3M) relates to 3 items (Items 1, 2 and 5 above) that are just the carry through effects from the accounting changes related to acquisitions at year end 2021.
The effects of the two changes specific to the quarter (Item's 3 and 4 above) net to zero change.
Also note, there was ZERO CHANGE to cash flows as can be seen under Note 2 of the 10Q/A. None of the changes above are cash. They are non-cash accounting items mostly related to the flow through effects from year end.
Looking forward to seeing ALPP's 2022 Q3 and year end reports!
submitted by accountingjoe to ALPP [link] [comments]
The changes shown in ALPP's 10Q/A are minimal and substantially all relate to "flow through effects" from the Balance Sheet adjustments made on the 2021 10K/A as summarized in my previous post.
In other words, the changes made to Assets and Liabilities related to the 5 acquisitions ALPP made in 2021, have effects that just "carry through" quarter to quarter. So in most cases it's not something "new" that has changed. Rather it's just the effects of the same changes we discussed on the 10K/A carrying through.
The change to Net Income for the 6 months ended Q2 was $(0.3M).
Detail Analysis:
There are 5 items that impact the $(0.3M) change to Net Income.
Item 1: ($0.1M) related to increased amortization of intangible assets, primarily at RCA.
If you recall my previous post, the changes made for the RCA acquisition related to reclassing of amounts between Inventory, Intangible Assets and Goodwill. Intangible Assets are subject to amortization. A change in the acquired valuation of RCA intangible assets, results in a change to amortization in the subsequent accounting periods. This change is therefore a "carry through effect."
Item 2: $(0.4M) related to increased Cost of Goods Sold at RCA.
Exact same situation as noted in Item 1. Inventory is what turns into Cost of Goods Sold (i.e. when the inventory is sold to a customer). Because the valuation of RCA acquired inventory changed, the resulting Cost of Goods Sold in subsequent accounting periods changes. This change is therefore a "carry through effect."
Item 3: $0.2M related to an increase in the Right of Use Asset on the sale of Alt Labs Property.
It was determined that the right of use asset related to the Alt Labs Property should be valued at $0.2M higher. This increase in the asset results in recognition of a corresponding gain of $0.2M. This is an item specific to the quarter rather than a carry through effect.
Item 4: $(0.2M) related to a re-determination in the classification of some equity compensation paid to Elecjet.
It appears that a certain portion of the equity compensation was determined to be "time based" rather than "performance based." As a result, $0.2M of stock compensation was recognized. This is an item specific to the quarter rather than a carry through effect.
Item 5: $0.2M related to income tax benefits.
If you recall my previous post, certain Deferred Tax Liabilities were recorded as part of the acquisition adjustments. As these deferred tax liabilities reverse, the create income tax benefits. This change is therefore a "carry through effect."
The sum of these items (0.1) + (0.4) + 0.2 + (0.2) + 0.2 = the net $(0.3) change to Net Income in Q2 as noted above.
Opinion:
Just as I stated in my previous post on the 10K/A, it appears that ALPP's original accounting treatment was quite accurate. And now we have a thorough review by Top 10 Audit Firm RSM to confirm that.
The entire net change of $(0.3M) relates to 3 items (Items 1, 2 and 5 above) that are just the carry through effects from the accounting changes related to acquisitions at year end 2021.
The effects of the two changes specific to the quarter (Item's 3 and 4 above) net to zero change.
Also note, there was ZERO CHANGE to cash flows as can be seen under Note 2 of the 10Q/A. None of the changes above are cash. They are non-cash accounting items mostly related to the flow through effects from year end.
Looking forward to seeing ALPP's 2022 Q3 and year end reports!
2023.03.29 01:15 MA006 Lost Amongst the Stars (Chaper 1)
Memories of Matriarch Sundisk, 3rd Chief of Sapwater Village, Recovered Post-Mortem
With my back-mounted mechanical arm, I grabbed some of the orange berries from my shoulder bag. My trunk then instinctively handled them into my mouth whilst I stared at the screen. The expenses for Sapwater Village defiantly stared back at me. As the village’s matriarch, it was up to me to handle all this expenditure. The village’s reserves could only stretch so far, even with the generous funding of our benefactors. Maybe if we limited the fuel consumption of the herd, and set limits on-
Suddenly, I was on edge. A low rumbling of distress came from the watchtower west of the village, and my tail stood on end- the low noises communicated something was approaching our village. My species’ ability to communicate over long distances came in handy in situations like this, but what could possibly be such an important threat out here? We were on a rather out of the way planet. Sure enough, a comm from the Northwest watchtower popped up on my device, and I opened the channel. Syrupeyes, the watch guard, appeared on my screen.
Before I could say anything, she cut me off. “A human is coming.”
“What?” I trumpeted. My mind raced. Why were the uplifters here? We were a small colony on the outskirts of treaty-space. What had we done which was important enough for direct contact? To my knowledge, we hadn’t breached any treaties, let alone a major one! The humans even gave their blessing to this colony! If our funding got cut, we likely wouldn’t survive the dry season! Maybe it was just a civilian… I held on to that hope.
“Did you see any insignia on them? Are they an ambassador?” I asked.
“They were in a blank exosuit. Seemed to be Library-of-Gaia-make. What should I tell the people to do?” replied Syrupeyes.
This did put my mind somewhat at ease, Gaians would probably only be interested in documenting the wildlife of the planet. Still, it would probably be best if the human put in a good word with the library, so we should at least have a welcoming ceremony.
“Well, a welcoming ceremony is likely in order. I’ll make an announcement shortly, just let them know to prepare,” I replied.
With a simple affirmative, Syrupeyes shortly ended the comm. Promptly, a rumble let everyone know to prepare for festivities. I chuckled softly to myself as I heard squeaks and trumpets of excitement from the nursery. No time to waste then, people were probably confused. I opened the announcement system and started explaining the situation to people, and giving instructions. Bustling noises made it through the door as activity in the village picked up. Time to prepare.
I walked through the curtains into a small dark room lit by luminescent strips around the central mirror. I started falling into the routine of applying the ceremonial face paint, grounding myself in the familiar textures and colours of the powders. Face paint finished, I then chewed on some of the aromatic herbs available. Finally, I replaced my current shoulder-pack with a more elegant one for special occasions. With that, I was ready to head out.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Log (error, indexing corrupted) of Pino Jacinta, Unaffiliated
The clanking of my exosuit was what kept me awake, despite my body screaming at me to rest after walking for what felt like days. Yet a feeling of inertia kept me going, unable to make the effort to stop. At that point, I was certain the only reason I could still stand was thanks to the hydraulics system of the suit. I was in a constant state of near-collapse.
I had put on the suit in a haze after I had fallen out of my cryo chamber. When the suit had turned on, it immediately started processing notifications about translator updates and unsent messages which my mind did not let me focus on. Maybe due to the cryosleep, my memories were hazy and I did not remember how I ended up here from Shi Maria station. I don’t know why but I started walking, but not knowing what else to do, I continued on, held up by the hydraulics of the suit. In the periphery of my vision, the notifications still sat there, easy to ignore.
It was then that a notification popped up, more prominent than the rest - no, too loud to be a notification, an alarm? My mind was feeling even more hazy. I had to force myself to read it, word after word. I had to repeat the word “low” thrice, the word “oxygen” seven times and the word “warning” four times before my brain processed them into a coherent sentence.
Low oxygen warning. Huh.
I then noticed it was getting harder to breath, to the point where I was hyperventilating. Then, the world was spinning. Despite my suit’s best efforts, I stumbled. That was when the panic began to set in. I was going to choke. Not knowing who I was. Not knowing where I was. This is where my life would start flashing before my eyes, if I remembered any of it. There were plants outside. Despite the hours I spent walking, it only just set in. Plants meant atmosphere, oxygen. Grasping at my helmet, I looked for a way, any way to pull it off. It was firmly stuck on. I was struggling to breathe now. Half-remembered, a memory flashed in my mind. A warm presence, a hand around my wrist guiding it up to the base of the helmet. I gripped a latch, and pulled. The faceplate slid up. Air.
I breathed deeply. The air was rather hot and dry, but to my oxygen-deprived lungs felt incredibly refreshing. It carried the scent of dried grass and hard-packed earth. My eyes began to focus, and the lilac grasses and distant trees once again came into view, in bright light. Sounds of alien birds and insects carried across the plains, unfamiliar sounds. With what little strength I could gather, I rolled myself onto my back, and saw a soft blue sky, and clouds weren’t blocking the intensity of the bright white star of this planet. Only a few thin wisps of cloud could be seen at all, and the sky was otherwise featureless except for the birds circling overhead. A cool breeze was blowing against my skin, softening the harsh heat.
Whilst I rested, out of some ingrained instinct, I started mentally scanning my body. My feet felt numb, but otherwise seemed fine. Other than my feet, my legs ached the most, and I felt fibres of stiffness in them. My waist hurts slightly, some kind of a stitch in my lower abdomen. Resting soothed the pain, I could barely feel it now. I could still feel a burning sensation in my lungs, from earlier, and my heart was fluttering still. Deep breaths. Shoulders and arms were surprisingly alright, although with the same strands of stiffness, and my hands felt slightly clammy but otherwise good. Since I had gotten out of cryo my neck still ached, a strange kind of itchy ache. Best I could do at the moment was to squirm in my suit to soothe the itchiness. My face was fine, but my eyes hurt a bit. There was no reason to have done that self-scan, I couldn’t exactly treat any of those, but my mind had been acting weird since I had woken up, so I didn’t question it. Now that I had taken some time to rest, I forced myself up, pushing against my exhaustion with a bit of help from the suit.
I then took time to orient myself, and looked around. To one side, the land got more flat, and rather unremarkable as even the sparse trees faded out in the distance. Other than that, the land was mostly similar to where I was now, except for one more hilly region where trees seemed slightly concentrated around. Looking closer, I saw silhouettes on that hill, strange bumps and squares-
Was that a village?
Once again, the repetitive clanking of my suit was keeping me awake.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Memories of Matriarch Sundisk, 3rd Chief of Sapwater Village, Recovered Post-Mortem
I had ordered the villagers to collect up a basket of fruit, as part of the ceremony. One of the elder Yaan had provided a flower garland, to place upon our guest. We had also set up the sunset lamps, traditional for all festivities. For as much as this young colony had traditions. We also set up air-cons near the entrance, as wasteful as air-cons in the open were. It was proper to be lavish for a welcoming ceremony. The reception crew consisted of myself, some guards, and the village priest. (It was determined that role was necessary for colony morale. As long as they didn’t interfere with my work, I went along with it.) We were still preparing, and I heard some murmuring about the ceremony, so I felt the need to intervene.
“Remember, the Gaians have been partial to our colony so far. They’ve been pressuring various human governments to maintain our funding. We need to maintain amicable terms with them for the sake of this colony! This ceremony is clearly in order! It is not worth it to risk a grievance, even if it does turn out to be a civilian,” I reminded them. Communication, as always, was important.
As I watched, I noticed the human was not using a vehicle at all, just walking. Would it be polite to offer a ride, or would that be viewed as an insult? I wasn’t entirely sure about human customs. After some consideration, I decided on a compromise: I would walk down the hill to meet them. It couldn’t be considered an insult as I was only walking with them, not making them take a transport, but still provided some level of courtesy to a guest, if nothing else at least signifying good will. I walked down to meet the human, and noticed their odd walk. Likely thanks to the help of the Gaian exosuit, the human’s legs moved perfectly, even mechanically, but the torso was slightly swaying as if it was unsteady. Maybe that was just how bipeds walked? I ran with that theory, right up until I reached the human.
When we met, the human promptly collapsed.
I panicked. This was not how the ceremony was supposed to go. Immediately, I tried to pull the human up by my trunk, and the rest of the ceremony crew rushed down to help me. Unsurprisingly, the human wasn’t that heavy. Still, we did need to pull them uphill, so with considerable effort we carried the unconscious human. I was slightly relieved that this likely meant they were not sent by the Library, unless something had gone seriously wrong in their mission.
We carried the human into one of our guesthouses, and I had called for the village’s medic. The human’s faceplate was off, but the helmet was still on. They had brownish-beige skin and dark brown hair with streaks of green. I couldn’t narrow down an origin from that though - that was a common skin colour amongst humans as far as i knew, and humans often changed hair colour. I had the guards prepare a bed - the regular beds were overly large for the human, but we managed to find a smaller one made for children. We’d probably need to remove the suit to provide medical attention, so I decided to work on that.
Removing the helmet was the easy part, there were a few buckles along the collarbones, along with some airtight seals. Once I pulled the helmet off, I tried looking for a way to remove the rest of the suit, searching the interlocking plates and fabric of the exosuit until I found some more latches. After pulling on three, along the back, the suit opened at last. I was shocked at how cute the human was - I always imagined them as regal and somewhat intimidating. They wore an old fashioned starship uniform, with “CSS Carmina” embroidered on it. Looking past that, I layed the human on the bed and let the doctor, Dawn, tend to them.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Log (error, indexing corrupted) of Pino Jacinta, Unaffiliated
I woke up under the blaring sun. In a building, without my suit. The building was simple, made out of clay, but had intricate patterned windows carved out of it, which conveniently let the bright sunlight fall right on my face. I felt some kind of air mattress below me, although I could tell there was no bedframe with low to the floor I was. What little furniture was present in this room towered over me. Luckily, whoever my hosts were were courteous enough to provide an air-con unit, which cooled down my skin despite the sunlight on me. My throat felt dry and cracked. Pushing myself away from the sunlight, I saw a bowl of water on the floor next to me, which I tried my best to drink from despite the very awkward shape. Looking up from the bowl, I noticed an elephant sitting across from me. It had a mechanical arm mounted on its back. It trumpeted at me, and the translator picked it up.
“You were talking in your sleep.”
Huh. Elephant was sapient. Good to know.
Slightly unsure as to how to proceed, I asked; “where am I?”
“You are in Sapwater Village. You fell unconscious so we provided medical attention. You were severely dehydrated and fatigued,” came the reply.
“No I mean.. What planet? I thought I was on Shi Maria”
The translator read the elephant’s expression as confusion.
“... Shi Maria was destroyed 50 years ago. You’re on a planet called Aisha.”
submitted by MA006 to HFY [link] [comments]
With my back-mounted mechanical arm, I grabbed some of the orange berries from my shoulder bag. My trunk then instinctively handled them into my mouth whilst I stared at the screen. The expenses for Sapwater Village defiantly stared back at me. As the village’s matriarch, it was up to me to handle all this expenditure. The village’s reserves could only stretch so far, even with the generous funding of our benefactors. Maybe if we limited the fuel consumption of the herd, and set limits on-
Suddenly, I was on edge. A low rumbling of distress came from the watchtower west of the village, and my tail stood on end- the low noises communicated something was approaching our village. My species’ ability to communicate over long distances came in handy in situations like this, but what could possibly be such an important threat out here? We were on a rather out of the way planet. Sure enough, a comm from the Northwest watchtower popped up on my device, and I opened the channel. Syrupeyes, the watch guard, appeared on my screen.
Before I could say anything, she cut me off. “A human is coming.”
“What?” I trumpeted. My mind raced. Why were the uplifters here? We were a small colony on the outskirts of treaty-space. What had we done which was important enough for direct contact? To my knowledge, we hadn’t breached any treaties, let alone a major one! The humans even gave their blessing to this colony! If our funding got cut, we likely wouldn’t survive the dry season! Maybe it was just a civilian… I held on to that hope.
“Did you see any insignia on them? Are they an ambassador?” I asked.
“They were in a blank exosuit. Seemed to be Library-of-Gaia-make. What should I tell the people to do?” replied Syrupeyes.
This did put my mind somewhat at ease, Gaians would probably only be interested in documenting the wildlife of the planet. Still, it would probably be best if the human put in a good word with the library, so we should at least have a welcoming ceremony.
“Well, a welcoming ceremony is likely in order. I’ll make an announcement shortly, just let them know to prepare,” I replied.
With a simple affirmative, Syrupeyes shortly ended the comm. Promptly, a rumble let everyone know to prepare for festivities. I chuckled softly to myself as I heard squeaks and trumpets of excitement from the nursery. No time to waste then, people were probably confused. I opened the announcement system and started explaining the situation to people, and giving instructions. Bustling noises made it through the door as activity in the village picked up. Time to prepare.
I walked through the curtains into a small dark room lit by luminescent strips around the central mirror. I started falling into the routine of applying the ceremonial face paint, grounding myself in the familiar textures and colours of the powders. Face paint finished, I then chewed on some of the aromatic herbs available. Finally, I replaced my current shoulder-pack with a more elegant one for special occasions. With that, I was ready to head out.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Log (error, indexing corrupted) of Pino Jacinta, Unaffiliated
The clanking of my exosuit was what kept me awake, despite my body screaming at me to rest after walking for what felt like days. Yet a feeling of inertia kept me going, unable to make the effort to stop. At that point, I was certain the only reason I could still stand was thanks to the hydraulics system of the suit. I was in a constant state of near-collapse.
I had put on the suit in a haze after I had fallen out of my cryo chamber. When the suit had turned on, it immediately started processing notifications about translator updates and unsent messages which my mind did not let me focus on. Maybe due to the cryosleep, my memories were hazy and I did not remember how I ended up here from Shi Maria station. I don’t know why but I started walking, but not knowing what else to do, I continued on, held up by the hydraulics of the suit. In the periphery of my vision, the notifications still sat there, easy to ignore.
It was then that a notification popped up, more prominent than the rest - no, too loud to be a notification, an alarm? My mind was feeling even more hazy. I had to force myself to read it, word after word. I had to repeat the word “low” thrice, the word “oxygen” seven times and the word “warning” four times before my brain processed them into a coherent sentence.
Low oxygen warning. Huh.
I then noticed it was getting harder to breath, to the point where I was hyperventilating. Then, the world was spinning. Despite my suit’s best efforts, I stumbled. That was when the panic began to set in. I was going to choke. Not knowing who I was. Not knowing where I was. This is where my life would start flashing before my eyes, if I remembered any of it. There were plants outside. Despite the hours I spent walking, it only just set in. Plants meant atmosphere, oxygen. Grasping at my helmet, I looked for a way, any way to pull it off. It was firmly stuck on. I was struggling to breathe now. Half-remembered, a memory flashed in my mind. A warm presence, a hand around my wrist guiding it up to the base of the helmet. I gripped a latch, and pulled. The faceplate slid up. Air.
I breathed deeply. The air was rather hot and dry, but to my oxygen-deprived lungs felt incredibly refreshing. It carried the scent of dried grass and hard-packed earth. My eyes began to focus, and the lilac grasses and distant trees once again came into view, in bright light. Sounds of alien birds and insects carried across the plains, unfamiliar sounds. With what little strength I could gather, I rolled myself onto my back, and saw a soft blue sky, and clouds weren’t blocking the intensity of the bright white star of this planet. Only a few thin wisps of cloud could be seen at all, and the sky was otherwise featureless except for the birds circling overhead. A cool breeze was blowing against my skin, softening the harsh heat.
Whilst I rested, out of some ingrained instinct, I started mentally scanning my body. My feet felt numb, but otherwise seemed fine. Other than my feet, my legs ached the most, and I felt fibres of stiffness in them. My waist hurts slightly, some kind of a stitch in my lower abdomen. Resting soothed the pain, I could barely feel it now. I could still feel a burning sensation in my lungs, from earlier, and my heart was fluttering still. Deep breaths. Shoulders and arms were surprisingly alright, although with the same strands of stiffness, and my hands felt slightly clammy but otherwise good. Since I had gotten out of cryo my neck still ached, a strange kind of itchy ache. Best I could do at the moment was to squirm in my suit to soothe the itchiness. My face was fine, but my eyes hurt a bit. There was no reason to have done that self-scan, I couldn’t exactly treat any of those, but my mind had been acting weird since I had woken up, so I didn’t question it. Now that I had taken some time to rest, I forced myself up, pushing against my exhaustion with a bit of help from the suit.
I then took time to orient myself, and looked around. To one side, the land got more flat, and rather unremarkable as even the sparse trees faded out in the distance. Other than that, the land was mostly similar to where I was now, except for one more hilly region where trees seemed slightly concentrated around. Looking closer, I saw silhouettes on that hill, strange bumps and squares-
Was that a village?
Once again, the repetitive clanking of my suit was keeping me awake.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Memories of Matriarch Sundisk, 3rd Chief of Sapwater Village, Recovered Post-Mortem
I had ordered the villagers to collect up a basket of fruit, as part of the ceremony. One of the elder Yaan had provided a flower garland, to place upon our guest. We had also set up the sunset lamps, traditional for all festivities. For as much as this young colony had traditions. We also set up air-cons near the entrance, as wasteful as air-cons in the open were. It was proper to be lavish for a welcoming ceremony. The reception crew consisted of myself, some guards, and the village priest. (It was determined that role was necessary for colony morale. As long as they didn’t interfere with my work, I went along with it.) We were still preparing, and I heard some murmuring about the ceremony, so I felt the need to intervene.
“Remember, the Gaians have been partial to our colony so far. They’ve been pressuring various human governments to maintain our funding. We need to maintain amicable terms with them for the sake of this colony! This ceremony is clearly in order! It is not worth it to risk a grievance, even if it does turn out to be a civilian,” I reminded them. Communication, as always, was important.
As I watched, I noticed the human was not using a vehicle at all, just walking. Would it be polite to offer a ride, or would that be viewed as an insult? I wasn’t entirely sure about human customs. After some consideration, I decided on a compromise: I would walk down the hill to meet them. It couldn’t be considered an insult as I was only walking with them, not making them take a transport, but still provided some level of courtesy to a guest, if nothing else at least signifying good will. I walked down to meet the human, and noticed their odd walk. Likely thanks to the help of the Gaian exosuit, the human’s legs moved perfectly, even mechanically, but the torso was slightly swaying as if it was unsteady. Maybe that was just how bipeds walked? I ran with that theory, right up until I reached the human.
When we met, the human promptly collapsed.
I panicked. This was not how the ceremony was supposed to go. Immediately, I tried to pull the human up by my trunk, and the rest of the ceremony crew rushed down to help me. Unsurprisingly, the human wasn’t that heavy. Still, we did need to pull them uphill, so with considerable effort we carried the unconscious human. I was slightly relieved that this likely meant they were not sent by the Library, unless something had gone seriously wrong in their mission.
We carried the human into one of our guesthouses, and I had called for the village’s medic. The human’s faceplate was off, but the helmet was still on. They had brownish-beige skin and dark brown hair with streaks of green. I couldn’t narrow down an origin from that though - that was a common skin colour amongst humans as far as i knew, and humans often changed hair colour. I had the guards prepare a bed - the regular beds were overly large for the human, but we managed to find a smaller one made for children. We’d probably need to remove the suit to provide medical attention, so I decided to work on that.
Removing the helmet was the easy part, there were a few buckles along the collarbones, along with some airtight seals. Once I pulled the helmet off, I tried looking for a way to remove the rest of the suit, searching the interlocking plates and fabric of the exosuit until I found some more latches. After pulling on three, along the back, the suit opened at last. I was shocked at how cute the human was - I always imagined them as regal and somewhat intimidating. They wore an old fashioned starship uniform, with “CSS Carmina” embroidered on it. Looking past that, I layed the human on the bed and let the doctor, Dawn, tend to them.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
Log (error, indexing corrupted) of Pino Jacinta, Unaffiliated
I woke up under the blaring sun. In a building, without my suit. The building was simple, made out of clay, but had intricate patterned windows carved out of it, which conveniently let the bright sunlight fall right on my face. I felt some kind of air mattress below me, although I could tell there was no bedframe with low to the floor I was. What little furniture was present in this room towered over me. Luckily, whoever my hosts were were courteous enough to provide an air-con unit, which cooled down my skin despite the sunlight on me. My throat felt dry and cracked. Pushing myself away from the sunlight, I saw a bowl of water on the floor next to me, which I tried my best to drink from despite the very awkward shape. Looking up from the bowl, I noticed an elephant sitting across from me. It had a mechanical arm mounted on its back. It trumpeted at me, and the translator picked it up.
“You were talking in your sleep.”
Huh. Elephant was sapient. Good to know.
Slightly unsure as to how to proceed, I asked; “where am I?”
“You are in Sapwater Village. You fell unconscious so we provided medical attention. You were severely dehydrated and fatigued,” came the reply.
“No I mean.. What planet? I thought I was on Shi Maria”
The translator read the elephant’s expression as confusion.
“... Shi Maria was destroyed 50 years ago. You’re on a planet called Aisha.”
2023.03.29 00:22 Puginator Lululemon earnings - shares jump as holiday-quarter sales surge
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/28/lululemon-shares-jump-as-holiday-quarter-sales-surge.html
Lululemon on Tuesday reported strong holiday-quarter sales, suggesting wealthier shoppers are still purchasing yoga pants and tops despite rising prices for essential goods.
The company also issued upbeat guidance for its new fiscal year.
Shares of Lululemon jumped about 11% in after-hours trading following the report. Through Tuesday’s close, the stock is about flat for the year, putting the company’s market value at $40.87 billion.
Here’s what the company reported for the three-month period ended Jan. 29, compared with Wall Street expectations based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv:
Earnings per share: $4.40 adjusted vs $4.26 expected
Revenue: $2.77 billion vs. $2.7 billion expected
Lululemon’s fourth-quarter net income fell to $119.8 million, or 94 cents per share, from $434.5 billion, or $3.36 per share, a year ago. Excluding impairment and other charges related to the acquisition of Mirror, as well as other items, per-share earnings were $4.40.
Revenue rose to $2.77 billion from $2.13 billion a year ago.
The company expects fiscal 2023 revenue of between $9.3 billion and $9.41 billion, topping Wall Street’s expectations of $9.14 billion, according to Refinitiv estimates. The company expects full-year profit of between $11.50 and $11.72 per share, compared with Refinitiv estimates of $11.26 per share.
“Looking ahead, we remain optimistic regarding our ability to deliver sustained growth and long-term value for all our stakeholders,” said Chief Financial Officer Meghan Frank in a statement.
The Vancouver-based athletic apparel retailer said total comparable sales for the fourth quarter increased by 27%. Also called same-store sales, the metric includes sales from stores open continuously for at least 12 months.
“We believe that it is one of the few companies in the space that has a very long pathway for growth, and it’s also a very highly visible one,” said Rick Patel, managing director at Raymond James.
Patel said his firm, which maintains a strong buy rating on the stock, sees upside in Lululemon’s international business and its men’s business, and that the worst of the company’s inventory struggles are in the past.
In December, Lululemon said inventories at the end of its third quarter were up 85% year-over-year. The company said Tuesday that as of the end of 2022, inventories were up 50%.
submitted by Puginator to stocks [link] [comments]
Lululemon on Tuesday reported strong holiday-quarter sales, suggesting wealthier shoppers are still purchasing yoga pants and tops despite rising prices for essential goods.
The company also issued upbeat guidance for its new fiscal year.
Shares of Lululemon jumped about 11% in after-hours trading following the report. Through Tuesday’s close, the stock is about flat for the year, putting the company’s market value at $40.87 billion.
Here’s what the company reported for the three-month period ended Jan. 29, compared with Wall Street expectations based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv:
Earnings per share: $4.40 adjusted vs $4.26 expected
Revenue: $2.77 billion vs. $2.7 billion expected
Lululemon’s fourth-quarter net income fell to $119.8 million, or 94 cents per share, from $434.5 billion, or $3.36 per share, a year ago. Excluding impairment and other charges related to the acquisition of Mirror, as well as other items, per-share earnings were $4.40.
Revenue rose to $2.77 billion from $2.13 billion a year ago.
The company expects fiscal 2023 revenue of between $9.3 billion and $9.41 billion, topping Wall Street’s expectations of $9.14 billion, according to Refinitiv estimates. The company expects full-year profit of between $11.50 and $11.72 per share, compared with Refinitiv estimates of $11.26 per share.
“Looking ahead, we remain optimistic regarding our ability to deliver sustained growth and long-term value for all our stakeholders,” said Chief Financial Officer Meghan Frank in a statement.
The Vancouver-based athletic apparel retailer said total comparable sales for the fourth quarter increased by 27%. Also called same-store sales, the metric includes sales from stores open continuously for at least 12 months.
“We believe that it is one of the few companies in the space that has a very long pathway for growth, and it’s also a very highly visible one,” said Rick Patel, managing director at Raymond James.
Patel said his firm, which maintains a strong buy rating on the stock, sees upside in Lululemon’s international business and its men’s business, and that the worst of the company’s inventory struggles are in the past.
In December, Lululemon said inventories at the end of its third quarter were up 85% year-over-year. The company said Tuesday that as of the end of 2022, inventories were up 50%.
2023.03.28 22:23 Battlegrog Help on 3 different variations with NR200P or NR200P Max
So Im either looking to get the NR300P with a AIO mounted to the front panel. Or the same case but go with a regular air cooler. Or get the Max model which of course the AIO is built in from the top. Trying to get info about the few people that have the NR200P model with a AIO mounted to the front panel. I would assume that would be the best possible setup for airflow. Since you could then have 2 fans at the top and 2 at the bottom and possibly 1 at the rear. The max model you can only have 2 slims on the bottom. Here are the specs i would be getting. Only leaving out a heatsink but im open to that option. Though it eliminates way more space for airflow around the case. The price does go up a few hundred more if i go with the max case. Im also open to different specs and models, Just over all Im wanting a 4080 and likely that 13700.
Built specs below
Intel Core i7-13700K - Core i7 13th Gen Raptor Lake 16-Core (8P+8E) P-core Base Frequency: 3.4 GHz E-core Base Frequency: 2.5 GHz LGA 1700 125W Intel UHD Graphics 770 Desktop Processor - BX8071513700K
ASUS ROG STRIX B660-I GAMING WIFI LGA 1700 (Intel 12th & 13th Gen) Mini-ITX Gaming Motherboard (PCIe 5.0, 8+1 power stages, DDR5, WiFi 6, 2.5 Gb LAN, 2xM.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD support, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C)
CORSAIR Vengeance 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR5 5600 (PC5 44800) Desktop Memory Model CMK32GX5M2B5600C36
MSI Ventus GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X PCI Express 4.0 Video Card RTX 4080 16GB VENTUS 3X OC
Cooler Master V850 SFX Gold White Edition Full Modular, 850W, 80+ Gold Efficiency, ATX Bracket Included, Quiet FDB Fan, SFX Form Factor, 10 Year Warranty
WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe M.2 2280 2TB PCI-Express 4.0 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) WDS200T2X0E
MSI MAG Series CORELIQUID P240 AIO Liquid CPU Cooler, 240mm Radiator, Dual 120mm PWM Fans LGA 1700 Ready / AM5 Compatible
Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 V2 Addressable RGB Fan (White Edition, 3 in 1 with ARGB LED Controller) - 120mm Square Frame Fan, Air Balance Curve Blade Design, PWM Control for PC Case & Liquid Radiator
GIGABYTE 27" 170Hz IPS 1440P KVM Gaming Monitor 0.5ms FreeSync Premium, 2560 x 1440 SS, 92% DCI P3, HDR Ready, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB Type-C Height Adjustable M27Q
Microsoft Windows 11 Home (USB)
submitted by Battlegrog to NR200 [link] [comments]
Built specs below
Intel Core i7-13700K - Core i7 13th Gen Raptor Lake 16-Core (8P+8E) P-core Base Frequency: 3.4 GHz E-core Base Frequency: 2.5 GHz LGA 1700 125W Intel UHD Graphics 770 Desktop Processor - BX8071513700K
ASUS ROG STRIX B660-I GAMING WIFI LGA 1700 (Intel 12th & 13th Gen) Mini-ITX Gaming Motherboard (PCIe 5.0, 8+1 power stages, DDR5, WiFi 6, 2.5 Gb LAN, 2xM.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD support, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C)
CORSAIR Vengeance 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR5 5600 (PC5 44800) Desktop Memory Model CMK32GX5M2B5600C36
MSI Ventus GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X PCI Express 4.0 Video Card RTX 4080 16GB VENTUS 3X OC
Cooler Master V850 SFX Gold White Edition Full Modular, 850W, 80+ Gold Efficiency, ATX Bracket Included, Quiet FDB Fan, SFX Form Factor, 10 Year Warranty
WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe M.2 2280 2TB PCI-Express 4.0 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) WDS200T2X0E
MSI MAG Series CORELIQUID P240 AIO Liquid CPU Cooler, 240mm Radiator, Dual 120mm PWM Fans LGA 1700 Ready / AM5 Compatible
Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 V2 Addressable RGB Fan (White Edition, 3 in 1 with ARGB LED Controller) - 120mm Square Frame Fan, Air Balance Curve Blade Design, PWM Control for PC Case & Liquid Radiator
GIGABYTE 27" 170Hz IPS 1440P KVM Gaming Monitor 0.5ms FreeSync Premium, 2560 x 1440 SS, 92% DCI P3, HDR Ready, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB Type-C Height Adjustable M27Q
Microsoft Windows 11 Home (USB)
2023.03.28 22:19 Battlegrog Help on 3 different variations with NR200P or NR200P Max
What would be the best option.
So Im either looking to get the NR300P with a AIO mounted to the front panel. Or the same case but go with a regular air cooler. Or get the Max model which of course the AIO is built in from the top. Trying to get info about the few people that have the NR200P model with a AIO mounted to the front panel. I would assume that would be the best possible setup for airflow. Since you could then have 2 fans at the top and 2 at the bottom and possibly 1 at the rear. The max model you can only have 2 slims on the bottom. Here are the specs i would be getting. Only leaving out a heatsink but im open to that option. Though it eliminates way more space for airflow around the case. The price does go up a few hundred more if i go with the max case. Im also open to different specs and models, Just over all Im wanting a 4080 and likely that 13700.
Built specs below
Intel Core i7-13700K - Core i7 13th Gen Raptor Lake 16-Core (8P+8E) P-core Base Frequency: 3.4 GHz E-core Base Frequency: 2.5 GHz LGA 1700 125W Intel UHD Graphics 770 Desktop Processor - BX8071513700K
ASUS ROG STRIX B660-I GAMING WIFI LGA 1700 (Intel 12th & 13th Gen) Mini-ITX Gaming Motherboard (PCIe 5.0, 8+1 power stages, DDR5, WiFi 6, 2.5 Gb LAN, 2xM.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD support, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C)
CORSAIR Vengeance 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR5 5600 (PC5 44800) Desktop Memory Model CMK32GX5M2B5600C36
MSI Ventus GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X PCI Express 4.0 Video Card RTX 4080 16GB VENTUS 3X OC
Cooler Master V850 SFX Gold White Edition Full Modular, 850W, 80+ Gold Efficiency, ATX Bracket Included, Quiet FDB Fan, SFX Form Factor, 10 Year Warranty
WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe M.2 2280 2TB PCI-Express 4.0 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) WDS200T2X0E
MSI MAG Series CORELIQUID P240 AIO Liquid CPU Cooler, 240mm Radiator, Dual 120mm PWM Fans LGA 1700 Ready / AM5 Compatible
Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 V2 Addressable RGB Fan (White Edition, 3 in 1 with ARGB LED Controller) - 120mm Square Frame Fan, Air Balance Curve Blade Design, PWM Control for PC Case & Liquid Radiator
GIGABYTE 27" 170Hz IPS 1440P KVM Gaming Monitor 0.5ms FreeSync Premium, 2560 x 1440 SS, 92% DCI P3, HDR Ready, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB Type-C Height Adjustable M27Q
Microsoft Windows 11 Home (USB)
submitted by Battlegrog to NR200P [link] [comments]
So Im either looking to get the NR300P with a AIO mounted to the front panel. Or the same case but go with a regular air cooler. Or get the Max model which of course the AIO is built in from the top. Trying to get info about the few people that have the NR200P model with a AIO mounted to the front panel. I would assume that would be the best possible setup for airflow. Since you could then have 2 fans at the top and 2 at the bottom and possibly 1 at the rear. The max model you can only have 2 slims on the bottom. Here are the specs i would be getting. Only leaving out a heatsink but im open to that option. Though it eliminates way more space for airflow around the case. The price does go up a few hundred more if i go with the max case. Im also open to different specs and models, Just over all Im wanting a 4080 and likely that 13700.
Built specs below
Intel Core i7-13700K - Core i7 13th Gen Raptor Lake 16-Core (8P+8E) P-core Base Frequency: 3.4 GHz E-core Base Frequency: 2.5 GHz LGA 1700 125W Intel UHD Graphics 770 Desktop Processor - BX8071513700K
ASUS ROG STRIX B660-I GAMING WIFI LGA 1700 (Intel 12th & 13th Gen) Mini-ITX Gaming Motherboard (PCIe 5.0, 8+1 power stages, DDR5, WiFi 6, 2.5 Gb LAN, 2xM.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD support, USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C)
CORSAIR Vengeance 32GB (2 x 16GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR5 5600 (PC5 44800) Desktop Memory Model CMK32GX5M2B5600C36
MSI Ventus GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X PCI Express 4.0 Video Card RTX 4080 16GB VENTUS 3X OC
Cooler Master V850 SFX Gold White Edition Full Modular, 850W, 80+ Gold Efficiency, ATX Bracket Included, Quiet FDB Fan, SFX Form Factor, 10 Year Warranty
WD_BLACK SN850X NVMe M.2 2280 2TB PCI-Express 4.0 x4 Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) WDS200T2X0E
MSI MAG Series CORELIQUID P240 AIO Liquid CPU Cooler, 240mm Radiator, Dual 120mm PWM Fans LGA 1700 Ready / AM5 Compatible
Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 V2 Addressable RGB Fan (White Edition, 3 in 1 with ARGB LED Controller) - 120mm Square Frame Fan, Air Balance Curve Blade Design, PWM Control for PC Case & Liquid Radiator
GIGABYTE 27" 170Hz IPS 1440P KVM Gaming Monitor 0.5ms FreeSync Premium, 2560 x 1440 SS, 92% DCI P3, HDR Ready, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB Type-C Height Adjustable M27Q
Microsoft Windows 11 Home (USB)
2023.03.28 20:11 Dishy31983 Nothing says buy this bed like a headless torso!
 | submitted by Dishy31983 to facepalm [link] [comments] |
2023.03.28 20:01 KhoaFraelich REVIEW BMW 220d Coupé M Sport offers driving thrills without the thirst
 | submitted by KhoaFraelich to CarScannerOBD2 [link] [comments] https://preview.redd.it/fl3sw2e95gpa1.png?width=750&format=png&auto=webp&s=fe1a8c4b5fa52902da95a904ecd776d2dfb1ee1d The 2 Series is one of the few modern BMWs not styled with a contentiously large grille. Picture: DENIS DROPPA The sensible turbodiesel engine was somewhat out of kilter with the racy looks of this low-slung coupé as the car’s athletic shape seemed to call for high-revving petrol power. But that’s not to say the BMW 220d Coupe M Sport is deficient in the performance department. The four-cylinder 2.0 turbodiesel engine has been a stalwart in BMW’s range, powering several of its larger models with verve and efficiency, and its 140kW and 400Nm feel satisfyingly lively in the light and compact 2 Series. The respectable seven-second 0-100km/h sprint and 237km/h top speed attest to this, and the 220d has peppy pace when the throttle is thrust in anger, scooting off the line with spirit and almost no turbo lag. There is enough power whenever you need it, whether stealing gaps in traffic or punching past long trucks on the open road. It’s just that the quiet and low-revving engine has an easygoing demeanour that doesn’t inspire hard-throttle driving, which contributed to the economical 6.8l/100km average we attained in the car. At R889,706 the 220d seems like the most sensible buy in the 2 Series Coupé range for its mix of performance and economy. The car is also available as the 220i coupe M Sport (R842,590) with outputs of 135kW and 300Nm, and the flagship M240i xDrive Coupe with 285kW/500Nm (R1,138,662). The M2 will arrive later this year as the Alpha of the range, wielding 338kW and 550Nm. Despite being one of the Munich firm’s smallest cars, the new 2 Series delivers the typical business class BMW experience. The second generation 2 Series Coupé, now more closely based on the larger 4 Series, is more grown up than the 1 Series-based coupé that preceded it in 2014. At 4,537mm the car is 105mm longer than the model it replaces, with increases in width and wheelbase too, and with its 12% improvement in torsional rigidity it feels impressively solid. Chassis components carried over from the 4 Series further distinguish the new 2 Series Coupé from the compact 1 Series. Standard M Sport suspension and low-profile 19-inch tyres give the car a ride that’s on the firm side, but without being uncomfortably jarring, while the lengthened wheelbase prevents it from feeling choppy. Though there is some noticeable jittering over bumps and potholes, the car generally delivers an acceptably smooth ride. It may not be Munich’s most powerful beast, but the 220d Coupé delivers the typically slick and pointy handling of compact rear wheel drive BMWs. It’s a treat to throw this car through a curve and experience its pressed-down nature and well-weighted steering, and there are eco, normal and sport drive modes that affect throttle, steering and gearshift responses. There’s enough power to kick the tail out when you apply the juice too hard, though electronic nannies ensure such playful diversions are kept safely in check. https://preview.redd.it/xrjz0wqd5gpa1.png?width=750&format=png&auto=webp&s=d062a815f448e84b5ac6703a5ed1ba23dfb69d95 Inside the new 2 Series the executive flair is laid on with high-quality trimmings. The sporting appeal is raised by leathesuede bucket seats and M colour trim on the doors. The obligatory digitisation comes in the form of an infotainment touchscreen and a digital instrument panel, but user-friendly physical controllers, including the tried and tested iDrive knob, remain for many of the oft-used functions. Despite the car’s increase in size, the two rear seats remain cramped for adults and are best suited to small children. Boot space is a creditable 390l , however, and the split rear seats flip down to provide extra loading space. Gadgets include a reversing camera, doors that automatically unlock and lock when you approach/leave the car and USB chargers. Like most German premium cars, the 220d is not overly endowed with features, and items such as electrically adjustable front seats, adaptive cruise control and parking sensors all have to be ticked in the options list. https://preview.redd.it/0g8j7y9h5gpa1.png?width=750&format=png&auto=webp&s=f2ee9ee1fbc60e15db5b7494f7b02fc9ac0f8b94 Larger and lower than its forerunner, the new 2 Series is a more grown-up car. Picture: DENIS DROPPA The 2 Series is one of the few modern BMWs not styled with a contentiously large grille, and has conventionally sized air intakes — much to the relief of some, we suspect. Instead of oversized nostrils it uses flared wheel arches and a “power dome” on the bonnet to relay a youthful and extrovert aura, aided by sitting 28mm lower than its predecessor for a more sporty and pressed-down look. Two-door cars are rare these days and the BMW 220d Coupé M Sport makes no pretensions at family practicality. It’s a car that will be enjoyed for its athletic looks and sporty driver appeal, with the thirst of a teetotaller as a bonus. Tech specs ENGINE Type: Four-cylinder petrol turbo Capacity: 2.0l Power: 140kW Torque: 4000Nm TRANSMISSION Type: Eight-speed Steptronic automatic DRIVETRAIN Type: Rear-wheel drive PERFORMANCE Top speed: 237km/h 0-100km/h: 7.0 seconds (claimed) Fuel consumption: 4.8l/100km (claimed); 6.8l/100km (as tested) Emissions: 126g/km STANDARD FEATURES Electronic stability control, ABS brakes, six airbags, run flat tyres, electric windows, LED daytime running lights, adaptive headlights, climate control, keyless access, cruise control, driving modes, rain sensor wipers, automatic headlamps, tyre pressure sensor, sports suspension, trip computer, infotainment system, suede and artificial leather seats, navigation. COST OF OWNERSHIP Warranty: Two years/unlimited km Maintenance plan: Five years/100,000km Price: R889,706 Lease: R18,998 a month *at 10% interest over 60 months no deposit BMW 220d Coupé M Sport WE LIKE: Fun-to-drive nature, styling, fuel economy. WE DISLIKE: Cramped rear seat, not overstocked with features. VERDICT: Driver’s car without the thirst. Motor News star rating Design **** Performance **** Economy ***** Ride *** Handling **** Safety ***** Value For Money **** Overall **** The Competition Audi A3 sedan 40 TFSI S line, 140kW/320Nm — R725,600 Mercedes A200d sedan AMG Line, 110kW/320Nm — R816,095 Source: Heraldlive |
2023.03.28 18:47 robrobrooo Latex topper help
I’m tall, slim, and sleep on my stomach. Last year, I purchased a Comfort Tech serene foam mattress from Costco (2” firm serene foam on top of 8” foam base).
Honestly, it’s overall a fantastic mattress, and has no signs of aging after a year. It’s done wonders for the neck and shoulder pain I’d get from tummy sleeping.
The only thing is, it’s a little too firm under my feet, so I have to sleep with my feet hanging off the end of the bed, otherwise there’s too much pressure on them from the firmness of the mattress. It also is a bit hot in the warmer months, but not terrible.
Would a 1” or 2” soft latex topper from SoL help soften it just a bit, as well as cool down the bed? I noticed the toppers from that company are much cheaper than other latex toppers on the market, is there any reason for that?
submitted by robrobrooo to Mattress [link] [comments]
Honestly, it’s overall a fantastic mattress, and has no signs of aging after a year. It’s done wonders for the neck and shoulder pain I’d get from tummy sleeping.
The only thing is, it’s a little too firm under my feet, so I have to sleep with my feet hanging off the end of the bed, otherwise there’s too much pressure on them from the firmness of the mattress. It also is a bit hot in the warmer months, but not terrible.
Would a 1” or 2” soft latex topper from SoL help soften it just a bit, as well as cool down the bed? I noticed the toppers from that company are much cheaper than other latex toppers on the market, is there any reason for that?
2023.03.28 17:52 hairshirtofpurpose Lauren Audio Aerocomet
 | This arrived yesterday (along with a Mustang from Lauren Audio as well). submitted by hairshirtofpurpose to guitarpedals [link] [comments] It's based off the 1176 Rev A compressor's preamp. Left to right the controls are Level, Tone (low pass filter), and Gain. Excuse my garbage cell phone recording. It's really warm, like cozying up with a gritty wool blanket. This is the first time I've plugged into a preamp/OD/distortion and felt like it was complementing rather than adjusting/altering. The gain control goes fucking nuts in the last ~15% of travel and puts it firmly into RAT fuzzstortion territory, but the lack of a low pass filter limits the usefulness of the full gain spectrum. No chugging/riffing here, but could be neat for lead work? I tend to go for bright and hairy rather than warm, but this thing absolutely has that rackmount grit sound, and it pairs really well with the Surveyor next to it that can tighten things up a little and blow up the harmonics. Still need to mess around with the Mustang more, but I'm definitely preferring this pedal at the moment. |
2023.03.28 17:44 TolkienJustice TJ timeline 55(TJ55): 2036 Republican Convention Round 1
Please don't vote for the candidate just because of their views aligning with yours. I also made neotrumpism a more modern and compassionate version of Trumpism. Please let me know if you think I translated the ideas well! The primaries now determine the six candidates who go to the convention because I like conventions, they're fun story stuff.
POD isn't relevant, but here's the lore relevant to the election right now:
America has just finished a war with Fascist Assad Syria which attempted to invade and Genocide Israel. Israel easily repulsed the invasion, but Turkey warned Israel against occupying Golan Heights. Then, a Syrian bombing plot against the President was discovered and the bomb exploded, failing to kill the American President but killing Florida Senator Maxwell Frost.
This outrage resulted in American forces invading the rogue Syrian regime, which after the death of Putin had grown more radical and openly Fascist.
The economy is stable, and the Republican Party is far different than in 2023. Full of Liberals, Progressives, Moderates, and Conservatives the major differences in both parties are mixed and for each candidate after the 2027 Party Reforms of each after the party truce.
(We'll use fictional characters for the most part from political families, because it's easier)
Candidates:
Bob Romney:
The Liberal Republican Governor of Michigan who is well known for balancing Unions and Business, raising the minimum wage, cutting taxes for the middle class, and raising them on the rich. He has helped fund Green infrastructure with subsidies and has been part of the major revival of manufacturing in America after the 2028 Make America Manufacture Act(MAMA).
He's popular in his state, winning 61% of the vote against a popular candidate who polled well against other popular Republicans.
He's greatly reduced crime in his state while avoiding police brutality. He's been popular for his free trade school policy.
He supports tariffs and a balanced foreign policy.
John Dole:
The Moderate Conservative Senator of Nebraska, he is popular for pursuing middle income and lower income tax cuts while also seeking to balance the budget and push aggressive market based green energy, and market based affirmative action incentives. He's an advocate of fair trade and is not hostile to Unions, but favors business interests.
He's pursued aggressive policies on crime and supported a lot of affordable housing subsidies.
He supports an aggressive foreign policy, especially against the PRC.
Scott Paul:
The founder of "New Libertarianism", he's a popular Governor of Missouri for his tax cuts for the poor and middle class, raising them on the rich, and encouraging market based affirmative action and market based pro union tax incentives offering tax breaks to unionized small businesses, in combination with a small businesses bill of rights.
He's raised taxes on the rich and wealthy, and pursued school vouchers that emphasize lower income and students of color's needs. His aggressive "Green Freedom" policy has been seen as a popular market based Green New Deal alternative.
His wage subsidies program has been popular, though controversial, and he champions it as the government providing what business can't, while supporting businesses.
He supports defending nations from invasion, but otherwise supports neutrality and using market based free trade geopolitics.
Chris Walker:
Seen by many as the first of the great neotrumpism candidates, he's won bipartisan plaudits for his comprehensive tax reform plan that gives a tax credit to all minorities adjusted yearly to inflation in addition to modest tax cuts for working and middle class anericans, while raising taxes on the rich, balancing the budget and funding universal preschool and almost universal healthcare based on a combination of Trump's old pre-presidency proposals.
He has made history by picking the first woman of color lieutenant governor in Wisconsin history and had pursued a popular UBI program combined with tax raises on the rich.
His policies on housing and crime have been popular and balanced police reform and strong law enforcement. He supports an American First foreign policy, but also is anti imperialism and pro human rights like most neotrumpism candidates. He pursued a balance of market and government based green energy programs.
Ted Scott:
Another neotrumpism candidate, and Governor of South Carolina. He's African American and has pursued aggressive police reform while generously funding law enforcement.
His policies of tax credits for lower income voters in combination with expanding SNAP and TANF while pursuing tax cuts for the middle class have been popular. Like others he's raised taxes on the rich, and has also pursued pro union policies through the market, yet is beloved by small businesses and big business for his aggressive financial deregulation policies.
His education policy has targeted low income and communities of color with an aggressive charter school program with higher standards -the area he's pursued regulations the most -and graduation rates have increased.
He supports free trade, and has pursued aggressive renewable energy policies. His foreign policy balances America First and Human Rights with protecting allies.
Jack Rubio:
Latino Congressman from Florida who gained fame for his eulogy for his friend Maxwell Frost, he also is one of the founders of "Small Government Progressivism". He's supported aggressive tax cuts for everyone, but also aggressive pro Union Policies, raised the minimum wage, market based green energy programs, and affirmative action tax incentives.
He's pursued a market based progress works administration, a market based "Green American Subscription" to solve environmental problems, and has been firmly neutral in Labor and Business disputes.
His crime policies are quite liberal, and he's also supported contracting out defense policy arguing they could have cheaper defense if they hired mercenaries instead. He takes a case by case basis on interventions, focusing on the tax burden.
He supports making social security a public option anyone can purchase into but supports expanding it to be universal, and has pursued a private company based universal healthcare program.
View Poll
submitted by TolkienJustice to Presidentialpoll [link] [comments]
POD isn't relevant, but here's the lore relevant to the election right now:
America has just finished a war with Fascist Assad Syria which attempted to invade and Genocide Israel. Israel easily repulsed the invasion, but Turkey warned Israel against occupying Golan Heights. Then, a Syrian bombing plot against the President was discovered and the bomb exploded, failing to kill the American President but killing Florida Senator Maxwell Frost.
This outrage resulted in American forces invading the rogue Syrian regime, which after the death of Putin had grown more radical and openly Fascist.
The economy is stable, and the Republican Party is far different than in 2023. Full of Liberals, Progressives, Moderates, and Conservatives the major differences in both parties are mixed and for each candidate after the 2027 Party Reforms of each after the party truce.
(We'll use fictional characters for the most part from political families, because it's easier)
Candidates:
Bob Romney:
The Liberal Republican Governor of Michigan who is well known for balancing Unions and Business, raising the minimum wage, cutting taxes for the middle class, and raising them on the rich. He has helped fund Green infrastructure with subsidies and has been part of the major revival of manufacturing in America after the 2028 Make America Manufacture Act(MAMA).
He's popular in his state, winning 61% of the vote against a popular candidate who polled well against other popular Republicans.
He's greatly reduced crime in his state while avoiding police brutality. He's been popular for his free trade school policy.
He supports tariffs and a balanced foreign policy.
John Dole:
The Moderate Conservative Senator of Nebraska, he is popular for pursuing middle income and lower income tax cuts while also seeking to balance the budget and push aggressive market based green energy, and market based affirmative action incentives. He's an advocate of fair trade and is not hostile to Unions, but favors business interests.
He's pursued aggressive policies on crime and supported a lot of affordable housing subsidies.
He supports an aggressive foreign policy, especially against the PRC.
Scott Paul:
The founder of "New Libertarianism", he's a popular Governor of Missouri for his tax cuts for the poor and middle class, raising them on the rich, and encouraging market based affirmative action and market based pro union tax incentives offering tax breaks to unionized small businesses, in combination with a small businesses bill of rights.
He's raised taxes on the rich and wealthy, and pursued school vouchers that emphasize lower income and students of color's needs. His aggressive "Green Freedom" policy has been seen as a popular market based Green New Deal alternative.
His wage subsidies program has been popular, though controversial, and he champions it as the government providing what business can't, while supporting businesses.
He supports defending nations from invasion, but otherwise supports neutrality and using market based free trade geopolitics.
Chris Walker:
Seen by many as the first of the great neotrumpism candidates, he's won bipartisan plaudits for his comprehensive tax reform plan that gives a tax credit to all minorities adjusted yearly to inflation in addition to modest tax cuts for working and middle class anericans, while raising taxes on the rich, balancing the budget and funding universal preschool and almost universal healthcare based on a combination of Trump's old pre-presidency proposals.
He has made history by picking the first woman of color lieutenant governor in Wisconsin history and had pursued a popular UBI program combined with tax raises on the rich.
His policies on housing and crime have been popular and balanced police reform and strong law enforcement. He supports an American First foreign policy, but also is anti imperialism and pro human rights like most neotrumpism candidates. He pursued a balance of market and government based green energy programs.
Ted Scott:
Another neotrumpism candidate, and Governor of South Carolina. He's African American and has pursued aggressive police reform while generously funding law enforcement.
His policies of tax credits for lower income voters in combination with expanding SNAP and TANF while pursuing tax cuts for the middle class have been popular. Like others he's raised taxes on the rich, and has also pursued pro union policies through the market, yet is beloved by small businesses and big business for his aggressive financial deregulation policies.
His education policy has targeted low income and communities of color with an aggressive charter school program with higher standards -the area he's pursued regulations the most -and graduation rates have increased.
He supports free trade, and has pursued aggressive renewable energy policies. His foreign policy balances America First and Human Rights with protecting allies.
Jack Rubio:
Latino Congressman from Florida who gained fame for his eulogy for his friend Maxwell Frost, he also is one of the founders of "Small Government Progressivism". He's supported aggressive tax cuts for everyone, but also aggressive pro Union Policies, raised the minimum wage, market based green energy programs, and affirmative action tax incentives.
He's pursued a market based progress works administration, a market based "Green American Subscription" to solve environmental problems, and has been firmly neutral in Labor and Business disputes.
His crime policies are quite liberal, and he's also supported contracting out defense policy arguing they could have cheaper defense if they hired mercenaries instead. He takes a case by case basis on interventions, focusing on the tax burden.
He supports making social security a public option anyone can purchase into but supports expanding it to be universal, and has pursued a private company based universal healthcare program.
View Poll
2023.03.28 16:27 Taylor-Swifty A4A Come Read This, I Got Something To Show You!
[possible fandoms: Transformers, Disney, TMNT, Street Sharks, Pixar, Star Wars, G. I. Joe, Nintendo, Marvel, DC, possibly more!]
I am 18+ and all participants and characters must be 18+.
Hey there! Most people call me Desi. I am a role player, obviously! I usually spend my time indoors every day with a mild excursion here and there to the store, movies, or beach. I adore writing, but that's obvious.
I am very versatile on genre, I have major preference for romance, drama, slice of life, mysteries, action and adventure, Hallmark-esque plots, and anything else we might conjure up! I do have tons of canons and OCs! I’m sure you can find one you like. I can write from a paragraph to novella.
I am looking for any gender of partner and character, I have so many unique characters and ideas for each one!
Ideas:
your character replaces Sam/Charlie in the Transformers franchise while fixing various mistakes made by Michael Bay. I have the characters set up on my server, with alternate designs for Jazz, Sideswipe, and Hot Rod.
I also have a ton of Disney characters, I’ve been dying to play out a ripple in the space time continuum where one or a group of them get sent to the real world.
My character is a Spanish heiress, who lives a life of luxury, only her father is murdered, and the people who did it, are now after her. She runs away in search of a bodyguard to help her get back what was stolen from her.
The next idea I have is for a relationship that is on the rocks, and the two are left trying to navigate their lives past the honeymoon phase and learn how to adapt to living together.
This is specific to my character but she was a championship surfer, and she got injured at the top of her game. I really want to play out her becoming a mentor, teaching someone how to become the next champion.
One of my characters goes undercover to try and expose a illegal ring, this would play out like a suspense or thriller, could play male or female.
An emotionally damaged stripper who is abused by staff spends her days trying to get by, until the day comes where she meets someone who could help her pursue her true dreams of running her own operation.
A Russian woman who was stolen from her family as a little girl and tormented into becoming a living weapon is hired to bring your character to them. On the way, she finds out that the people who hired her are working for the militia that made her the way she is, and so, she decides to take a stand, and wipe them out.
This is only a third of my ideas, not even that, a fraction! Come check out my characters, let’s discuss something!
I have men, women, young and mature, thieves, business owners, single mothers, wayward young adults, college students and staff, bounty hunters, detectives, police officers, victims, patients, crooked therapists, strippers, so many unique stories to tell! I guarantee one of them will strike your fancy!
I am looking for a romantic role play as one of my many OC characters, drama or major events will happen depending on the character you select, and I have 300+ so far.
I also have many canon characters I would love to play as, such as Legolas, Transformers, Marvel and DC , Avatar and Disney.
I have many ideas depending on who you choose!
I am a very affectionate person, I love to make people happy, so I am always open to adjusting characters or role plays.
I don't like role plays with action asterisks, Sorry! I also don't like to role play without proper punctuation and grammar. I usually write at least one paragraph. 25 being my record.
I am a firm believer in conversation so I most likely will text you OOC for any reason, I also prefer to keep things adult, meaning I don't take part in petty or childish arguments.
I don't ghost either, so Ill probably rip the bandage off and tell you why I don't want to role play anymore.
I also love having friends! I used to get bullied quite a lot for many, many reasons, so I haven't had many friends in my 20 years of living. Lets chat, get to know one another!, I've been role playing for a long time, about 6-8 years give or take? I typically enjoy modern role plays with real life basing.
I enjoy stories of the romantic genre as well as action and adventure. My characters are original with face claims, some are canon characters from Marvel and DC. Characters like Barney, Captain America, Superman, just really selfless characters have always been my inspiration.
I always try to write my characters with loving aspects if I can. Life is broken and many people suffer, life isnt perfect so I usually write some darkness for a character if I feel it.
I don't use random face claims, I use actors or media icons I feel fit the character, I mentally put myself in the position of director, my role play is a movie, and I am casting the character, that is how I usually go about it, and if you don’t like it I am not the partner for you.
I definitely want a partner who can be a friend, who can be detailed yet tame, someone who can give me something to reply to, I am not very picky. I don't like people who are judgmental though, I prefer good vibes only.
Replies from me are vary. Sometimes I cant write as much as Id like because I get a writers block.
Sometimes I can reply 5 times a day, but sometimes I cant reply for a day maybe even two or three. But usually I update OOC. I look for people who aren't looking for perfection, I don't like role players who are too arrogant about their skill. I wouldn't say I'm the best role player out there, so if we don't mesh I completely understand.
I keep my characters location/job vague so that I can work them into a plot better. They are pieces to the puzzle, and I keep them so they can fit better into any story we choose!
I will only be role playing on discord partly just to be able to show you my original character portfolio server, which has channels with their backgrounds, age, and their galleries.
Simply DM me for my tag and we can get things started.
Sexuality wise all my characters are adjustable.
Reply wise, this will be fairly advanced. I strive to keep things above a paragraph but I can go lower depending on the plot. I write a maximum of 10 paragraphs but my usual is 3-4.
my character portfolio will be the main key to our discussion, so you will be viewing it upon your interest. I have 100+ characters. I can also role play over email or reddit chat, that way I can just copy the bios and send the photos.
That being said our characters will have romance, and adult content will be ahead If desired. All my characters are adults.I am looking for action, adventure, romance of course is my favorite, mystery, drama, anything is up for debate!
I am looking for both male or female characters to partner my own with, as well as trans or non binary as well, all are welcome.
I hope we can have a fun role play together!
submitted by Taylor-Swifty to roleplaying [link] [comments]
I am 18+ and all participants and characters must be 18+.
Hey there! Most people call me Desi. I am a role player, obviously! I usually spend my time indoors every day with a mild excursion here and there to the store, movies, or beach. I adore writing, but that's obvious.
I am very versatile on genre, I have major preference for romance, drama, slice of life, mysteries, action and adventure, Hallmark-esque plots, and anything else we might conjure up! I do have tons of canons and OCs! I’m sure you can find one you like. I can write from a paragraph to novella.
I am looking for any gender of partner and character, I have so many unique characters and ideas for each one!
Ideas:
your character replaces Sam/Charlie in the Transformers franchise while fixing various mistakes made by Michael Bay. I have the characters set up on my server, with alternate designs for Jazz, Sideswipe, and Hot Rod.
I also have a ton of Disney characters, I’ve been dying to play out a ripple in the space time continuum where one or a group of them get sent to the real world.
My character is a Spanish heiress, who lives a life of luxury, only her father is murdered, and the people who did it, are now after her. She runs away in search of a bodyguard to help her get back what was stolen from her.
The next idea I have is for a relationship that is on the rocks, and the two are left trying to navigate their lives past the honeymoon phase and learn how to adapt to living together.
This is specific to my character but she was a championship surfer, and she got injured at the top of her game. I really want to play out her becoming a mentor, teaching someone how to become the next champion.
One of my characters goes undercover to try and expose a illegal ring, this would play out like a suspense or thriller, could play male or female.
An emotionally damaged stripper who is abused by staff spends her days trying to get by, until the day comes where she meets someone who could help her pursue her true dreams of running her own operation.
A Russian woman who was stolen from her family as a little girl and tormented into becoming a living weapon is hired to bring your character to them. On the way, she finds out that the people who hired her are working for the militia that made her the way she is, and so, she decides to take a stand, and wipe them out.
This is only a third of my ideas, not even that, a fraction! Come check out my characters, let’s discuss something!
I have men, women, young and mature, thieves, business owners, single mothers, wayward young adults, college students and staff, bounty hunters, detectives, police officers, victims, patients, crooked therapists, strippers, so many unique stories to tell! I guarantee one of them will strike your fancy!
I am looking for a romantic role play as one of my many OC characters, drama or major events will happen depending on the character you select, and I have 300+ so far.
I also have many canon characters I would love to play as, such as Legolas, Transformers, Marvel and DC , Avatar and Disney.
I have many ideas depending on who you choose!
I am a very affectionate person, I love to make people happy, so I am always open to adjusting characters or role plays.
I don't like role plays with action asterisks, Sorry! I also don't like to role play without proper punctuation and grammar. I usually write at least one paragraph. 25 being my record.
I am a firm believer in conversation so I most likely will text you OOC for any reason, I also prefer to keep things adult, meaning I don't take part in petty or childish arguments.
I don't ghost either, so Ill probably rip the bandage off and tell you why I don't want to role play anymore.
I also love having friends! I used to get bullied quite a lot for many, many reasons, so I haven't had many friends in my 20 years of living. Lets chat, get to know one another!, I've been role playing for a long time, about 6-8 years give or take? I typically enjoy modern role plays with real life basing.
I enjoy stories of the romantic genre as well as action and adventure. My characters are original with face claims, some are canon characters from Marvel and DC. Characters like Barney, Captain America, Superman, just really selfless characters have always been my inspiration.
I always try to write my characters with loving aspects if I can. Life is broken and many people suffer, life isnt perfect so I usually write some darkness for a character if I feel it.
I don't use random face claims, I use actors or media icons I feel fit the character, I mentally put myself in the position of director, my role play is a movie, and I am casting the character, that is how I usually go about it, and if you don’t like it I am not the partner for you.
I definitely want a partner who can be a friend, who can be detailed yet tame, someone who can give me something to reply to, I am not very picky. I don't like people who are judgmental though, I prefer good vibes only.
Replies from me are vary. Sometimes I cant write as much as Id like because I get a writers block.
Sometimes I can reply 5 times a day, but sometimes I cant reply for a day maybe even two or three. But usually I update OOC. I look for people who aren't looking for perfection, I don't like role players who are too arrogant about their skill. I wouldn't say I'm the best role player out there, so if we don't mesh I completely understand.
I keep my characters location/job vague so that I can work them into a plot better. They are pieces to the puzzle, and I keep them so they can fit better into any story we choose!
I will only be role playing on discord partly just to be able to show you my original character portfolio server, which has channels with their backgrounds, age, and their galleries.
Simply DM me for my tag and we can get things started.
Sexuality wise all my characters are adjustable.
Reply wise, this will be fairly advanced. I strive to keep things above a paragraph but I can go lower depending on the plot. I write a maximum of 10 paragraphs but my usual is 3-4.
my character portfolio will be the main key to our discussion, so you will be viewing it upon your interest. I have 100+ characters. I can also role play over email or reddit chat, that way I can just copy the bios and send the photos.
That being said our characters will have romance, and adult content will be ahead If desired. All my characters are adults.I am looking for action, adventure, romance of course is my favorite, mystery, drama, anything is up for debate!
I am looking for both male or female characters to partner my own with, as well as trans or non binary as well, all are welcome.
I hope we can have a fun role play together!
2023.03.28 16:22 Taylor-Swifty A4A Come Read This, I Got Something To Show You!
[possible fandoms: Transformers, Disney, TMNT, Street Sharks, Pixar, Star Wars, G. I. Joe, Nintendo, Marvel, DC, possibly more!]
I am 18+ and all participants and characters must be 18+.
Hey there! Most people call me Desi. I am a role player, obviously! I usually spend my time indoors every day with a mild excursion here and there to the store, movies, or beach. I adore writing, but that's obvious.
I am very versatile on genre, I have major preference for romance, drama, slice of life, mysteries, action and adventure, Hallmark-esque plots, and anything else we might conjure up! I do have tons of canons and OCs! I’m sure you can find one you like. I can write from a paragraph to novella.
I am looking for any gender of partner and character, I have so many unique characters and ideas for each one!
Ideas:
your character replaces Sam/Charlie in the Transformers franchise while fixing various mistakes made by Michael Bay. I have the characters set up on my server, with alternate designs for Jazz, Sideswipe, and Hot Rod.
I also have a ton of Disney characters, I’ve been dying to play out a ripple in the space time continuum where one or a group of them get sent to the real world.
My character is a Spanish heiress, who lives a life of luxury, only her father is murdered, and the people who did it, are now after her. She runs away in search of a bodyguard to help her get back what was stolen from her.
The next idea I have is for a relationship that is on the rocks, and the two are left trying to navigate their lives past the honeymoon phase and learn how to adapt to living together.
This is specific to my character but she was a championship surfer, and she got injured at the top of her game. I really want to play out her becoming a mentor, teaching someone how to become the next champion.
One of my characters goes undercover to try and expose a illegal ring, this would play out like a suspense or thriller, could play male or female.
An emotionally damaged stripper who is abused by staff spends her days trying to get by, until the day comes where she meets someone who could help her pursue her true dreams of running her own operation.
A Russian woman who was stolen from her family as a little girl and tormented into becoming a living weapon is hired to bring your character to them. On the way, she finds out that the people who hired her are working for the militia that made her the way she is, and so, she decides to take a stand, and wipe them out.
This is only a third of my ideas, not even that, a fraction! Come check out my characters, let’s discuss something!
I have men, women, young and mature, thieves, business owners, single mothers, wayward young adults, college students and staff, bounty hunters, detectives, police officers, victims, patients, crooked therapists, strippers, so many unique stories to tell! I guarantee one of them will strike your fancy!
I am looking for a romantic role play as one of my many OC characters, drama or major events will happen depending on the character you select, and I have 300+ so far.
I also have many canon characters I would love to play as, such as Legolas, Transformers, Marvel and DC , Avatar and Disney.
I have many ideas depending on who you choose!
I am a very affectionate person, I love to make people happy, so I am always open to adjusting characters or role plays.
I don't like role plays with action asterisks, Sorry! I also don't like to role play without proper punctuation and grammar. I usually write at least one paragraph. 25 being my record.
I am a firm believer in conversation so I most likely will text you OOC for any reason, I also prefer to keep things adult, meaning I don't take part in petty or childish arguments.
I don't ghost either, so Ill probably rip the bandage off and tell you why I don't want to role play anymore.
I also love having friends! I used to get bullied quite a lot for many, many reasons, so I haven't had many friends in my 20 years of living. Lets chat, get to know one another!, I've been role playing for a long time, about 6-8 years give or take? I typically enjoy modern role plays with real life basing.
I enjoy stories of the romantic genre as well as action and adventure. My characters are original with face claims, some are canon characters from Marvel and DC. Characters like Barney, Captain America, Superman, just really selfless characters have always been my inspiration.
I always try to write my characters with loving aspects if I can. Life is broken and many people suffer, life isnt perfect so I usually write some darkness for a character if I feel it.
I don't use random face claims, I use actors or media icons I feel fit the character, I mentally put myself in the position of director, my role play is a movie, and I am casting the character, that is how I usually go about it, and if you don’t like it I am not the partner for you.
I definitely want a partner who can be a friend, who can be detailed yet tame, someone who can give me something to reply to, I am not very picky. I don't like people who are judgmental though, I prefer good vibes only.
Replies from me are vary. Sometimes I cant write as much as Id like because I get a writers block.
Sometimes I can reply 5 times a day, but sometimes I cant reply for a day maybe even two or three. But usually I update OOC. I look for people who aren't looking for perfection, I don't like role players who are too arrogant about their skill. I wouldn't say I'm the best role player out there, so if we don't mesh I completely understand.
I keep my characters location/job vague so that I can work them into a plot better. They are pieces to the puzzle, and I keep them so they can fit better into any story we choose!
I will only be role playing on discord partly just to be able to show you my original character portfolio server, which has channels with their backgrounds, age, and their galleries.
Simply DM me for my tag and we can get things started.
Sexuality wise all my characters are adjustable.
Reply wise, this will be fairly advanced. I strive to keep things above a paragraph but I can go lower depending on the plot. I write a maximum of 10 paragraphs but my usual is 3-4.
my character portfolio will be the main key to our discussion, so you will be viewing it upon your interest. I have 100+ characters. I can also role play over email or reddit chat, that way I can just copy the bios and send the photos.
That being said our characters will have romance, and adult content will be ahead If desired. All my characters are adults.I am looking for action, adventure, romance of course is my favorite, mystery, drama, anything is up for debate!
I am looking for both male or female characters to partner my own with, as well as trans or non binary as well, all are welcome.
I hope we can have a fun role play together!
submitted by Taylor-Swifty to RoleplayPartnerSearch [link] [comments]
I am 18+ and all participants and characters must be 18+.
Hey there! Most people call me Desi. I am a role player, obviously! I usually spend my time indoors every day with a mild excursion here and there to the store, movies, or beach. I adore writing, but that's obvious.
I am very versatile on genre, I have major preference for romance, drama, slice of life, mysteries, action and adventure, Hallmark-esque plots, and anything else we might conjure up! I do have tons of canons and OCs! I’m sure you can find one you like. I can write from a paragraph to novella.
I am looking for any gender of partner and character, I have so many unique characters and ideas for each one!
Ideas:
your character replaces Sam/Charlie in the Transformers franchise while fixing various mistakes made by Michael Bay. I have the characters set up on my server, with alternate designs for Jazz, Sideswipe, and Hot Rod.
I also have a ton of Disney characters, I’ve been dying to play out a ripple in the space time continuum where one or a group of them get sent to the real world.
My character is a Spanish heiress, who lives a life of luxury, only her father is murdered, and the people who did it, are now after her. She runs away in search of a bodyguard to help her get back what was stolen from her.
The next idea I have is for a relationship that is on the rocks, and the two are left trying to navigate their lives past the honeymoon phase and learn how to adapt to living together.
This is specific to my character but she was a championship surfer, and she got injured at the top of her game. I really want to play out her becoming a mentor, teaching someone how to become the next champion.
One of my characters goes undercover to try and expose a illegal ring, this would play out like a suspense or thriller, could play male or female.
An emotionally damaged stripper who is abused by staff spends her days trying to get by, until the day comes where she meets someone who could help her pursue her true dreams of running her own operation.
A Russian woman who was stolen from her family as a little girl and tormented into becoming a living weapon is hired to bring your character to them. On the way, she finds out that the people who hired her are working for the militia that made her the way she is, and so, she decides to take a stand, and wipe them out.
This is only a third of my ideas, not even that, a fraction! Come check out my characters, let’s discuss something!
I have men, women, young and mature, thieves, business owners, single mothers, wayward young adults, college students and staff, bounty hunters, detectives, police officers, victims, patients, crooked therapists, strippers, so many unique stories to tell! I guarantee one of them will strike your fancy!
I am looking for a romantic role play as one of my many OC characters, drama or major events will happen depending on the character you select, and I have 300+ so far.
I also have many canon characters I would love to play as, such as Legolas, Transformers, Marvel and DC , Avatar and Disney.
I have many ideas depending on who you choose!
I am a very affectionate person, I love to make people happy, so I am always open to adjusting characters or role plays.
I don't like role plays with action asterisks, Sorry! I also don't like to role play without proper punctuation and grammar. I usually write at least one paragraph. 25 being my record.
I am a firm believer in conversation so I most likely will text you OOC for any reason, I also prefer to keep things adult, meaning I don't take part in petty or childish arguments.
I don't ghost either, so Ill probably rip the bandage off and tell you why I don't want to role play anymore.
I also love having friends! I used to get bullied quite a lot for many, many reasons, so I haven't had many friends in my 20 years of living. Lets chat, get to know one another!, I've been role playing for a long time, about 6-8 years give or take? I typically enjoy modern role plays with real life basing.
I enjoy stories of the romantic genre as well as action and adventure. My characters are original with face claims, some are canon characters from Marvel and DC. Characters like Barney, Captain America, Superman, just really selfless characters have always been my inspiration.
I always try to write my characters with loving aspects if I can. Life is broken and many people suffer, life isnt perfect so I usually write some darkness for a character if I feel it.
I don't use random face claims, I use actors or media icons I feel fit the character, I mentally put myself in the position of director, my role play is a movie, and I am casting the character, that is how I usually go about it, and if you don’t like it I am not the partner for you.
I definitely want a partner who can be a friend, who can be detailed yet tame, someone who can give me something to reply to, I am not very picky. I don't like people who are judgmental though, I prefer good vibes only.
Replies from me are vary. Sometimes I cant write as much as Id like because I get a writers block.
Sometimes I can reply 5 times a day, but sometimes I cant reply for a day maybe even two or three. But usually I update OOC. I look for people who aren't looking for perfection, I don't like role players who are too arrogant about their skill. I wouldn't say I'm the best role player out there, so if we don't mesh I completely understand.
I keep my characters location/job vague so that I can work them into a plot better. They are pieces to the puzzle, and I keep them so they can fit better into any story we choose!
I will only be role playing on discord partly just to be able to show you my original character portfolio server, which has channels with their backgrounds, age, and their galleries.
Simply DM me for my tag and we can get things started.
Sexuality wise all my characters are adjustable.
Reply wise, this will be fairly advanced. I strive to keep things above a paragraph but I can go lower depending on the plot. I write a maximum of 10 paragraphs but my usual is 3-4.
my character portfolio will be the main key to our discussion, so you will be viewing it upon your interest. I have 100+ characters. I can also role play over email or reddit chat, that way I can just copy the bios and send the photos.
That being said our characters will have romance, and adult content will be ahead If desired. All my characters are adults.I am looking for action, adventure, romance of course is my favorite, mystery, drama, anything is up for debate!
I am looking for both male or female characters to partner my own with, as well as trans or non binary as well, all are welcome.
I hope we can have a fun role play together!
2023.03.28 14:19 HauntedHouseMusic Mattress Elevator + Adjustable Base Bed
Hi Everyone,
For the past two years, I have been battling GERD caused by a Hiatal Hernia. Gradually, I've discovered the right combination of foods (primarily alkaline) and exercise (heel drops), along with PPIs, to help manage my condition. However, sleeping comfortably remained a challenge.
I initially tried using specialized pillows, then transitioned to an adjustable base bed, but I still experienced a pinching sensation on my right side that seemed to exacerbate the problem. Though this may sound like a promotional testimonial, it's simply my experience. I purchased the Lucid Mattress Elevator (7-inch) and combined it with the Lucid300 Adjustable Base Bed that I already owned. This allowed me to sleep "flat" on the mattress elevator and, when needed, introduce a subtle 1-2 inch curve using the adjustable base. As a result, I have enjoyed my first good night's sleep in over two years. You can probably combine other mattress elevators + bases as well - these are just the ones I own.
I haven't encountered anyone else who has combined these two products, so I wanted to share that it has worked for me. One minor caveat is that the adjustment process seems slightly slower than before, but the overall outcome is worth it.
submitted by HauntedHouseMusic to GERD [link] [comments]
For the past two years, I have been battling GERD caused by a Hiatal Hernia. Gradually, I've discovered the right combination of foods (primarily alkaline) and exercise (heel drops), along with PPIs, to help manage my condition. However, sleeping comfortably remained a challenge.
I initially tried using specialized pillows, then transitioned to an adjustable base bed, but I still experienced a pinching sensation on my right side that seemed to exacerbate the problem. Though this may sound like a promotional testimonial, it's simply my experience. I purchased the Lucid Mattress Elevator (7-inch) and combined it with the Lucid300 Adjustable Base Bed that I already owned. This allowed me to sleep "flat" on the mattress elevator and, when needed, introduce a subtle 1-2 inch curve using the adjustable base. As a result, I have enjoyed my first good night's sleep in over two years. You can probably combine other mattress elevators + bases as well - these are just the ones I own.
I haven't encountered anyone else who has combined these two products, so I wanted to share that it has worked for me. One minor caveat is that the adjustment process seems slightly slower than before, but the overall outcome is worth it.
2023.03.28 14:15 HauntedHouseMusic Adjustable Base + Mattress Elevator = First full nights sleep!
Hi Everyone,
For the past two years, I have been battling GERD caused by a Hiatal Hernia. Gradually, I've discovered the right combination of foods (primarily alkaline) and exercise (heel drops), along with PPIs, to help manage my condition. However, sleeping comfortably remained a challenge.
I initially tried using specialized pillows, then transitioned to an adjustable base bed, but I still experienced a pinching sensation on my right side that seemed to exacerbate the problem. Though this may sound like a promotional testimonial, it's simply my experience. I purchased the Lucid Mattress Elevator (7-inch) and combined it with the Lucid300 Adjustable Base Bed that I already owned. This allowed me to sleep "flat" on the mattress elevator and, when needed, introduce a subtle 1-2 inch curve using the adjustable base. As a result, I have enjoyed my first good night's sleep in over two years.
I haven't encountered anyone else who has combined these two products, so I wanted to share that it has worked for me. One minor caveat is that the adjustment process seems slightly slower than before, but the overall outcome is worth it.
submitted by HauntedHouseMusic to HiatalHernia [link] [comments]
For the past two years, I have been battling GERD caused by a Hiatal Hernia. Gradually, I've discovered the right combination of foods (primarily alkaline) and exercise (heel drops), along with PPIs, to help manage my condition. However, sleeping comfortably remained a challenge.
I initially tried using specialized pillows, then transitioned to an adjustable base bed, but I still experienced a pinching sensation on my right side that seemed to exacerbate the problem. Though this may sound like a promotional testimonial, it's simply my experience. I purchased the Lucid Mattress Elevator (7-inch) and combined it with the Lucid300 Adjustable Base Bed that I already owned. This allowed me to sleep "flat" on the mattress elevator and, when needed, introduce a subtle 1-2 inch curve using the adjustable base. As a result, I have enjoyed my first good night's sleep in over two years.
I haven't encountered anyone else who has combined these two products, so I wanted to share that it has worked for me. One minor caveat is that the adjustment process seems slightly slower than before, but the overall outcome is worth it.
2023.03.28 14:04 bigbear0083 (3/28) Tuesday's Pre-Market Stock Movers & News
Good morning traders and investors of the StockMarketChat sub! Welcome to the new trading day and a fresh start! Here are your pre-market stock movers & news on this Tuesday, March the 28th, 2023-
(CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL SOURCE!)
Stock futures are little changed Tuesday: Live updates
Stock futures were little changed Tuesday after the S&P 500 posted its third positive session in a row and banking sector concerns continued to ease.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 35 points, or 0.1%. Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures traded around the flatline.
The moves follow a mixed session on Monday. Investors fought to extend last week’s gains, but tech shares came under pressure. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 194.55 points, or 0.6%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.16%. The Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.47% as tech stocks moved lower.
A slew of positive news reports helped lift sentiment on Wall Street, including First Citizens BancShares’ agreement to buy large parts of Silicon Valley Bank. Further, CNBC reported that deposit flows out of small institutions and into banking behemoths have slowed.
Eight of 11 S&P 500 sectors finished in positive territory on Monday, led to the upside by a 2.1% gain in energy. Beaten-up regional bank stocks, including First Republic, climbed along with the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE). Communication services and information technology, which have enjoyed a strong 2023, both slipped.
“Basically, you have an oversold bounce in these areas that have been beaten up and you’re having a pause from some of these areas that are leadership,” said Keith Lerner, Truist’s co-chief investment officer. “I don’t think this is a trend reversal; I don’t think this is new leadership.”
Markets may also be taking news of First Citizens’ plan to buy a large chunk of SVB as a positive, he said.
Earnings season continues Tuesday with results from Micron Technology, Lululemon and Dave & Buster’s. Investors also await home price data and The Conference Board’s consumer confidence report.
The Federal Reserve’s Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr will appear before the Senate Banking Committee. He will speak on recent bank failures and federal regulators’ response.
STOCK FUTURES CURRENTLY:
(CLICK HERE FOR STOCK FUTURES CHARTS!)
YESTERDAY'S MARKET MAP:
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S MARKET MAP!)
TODAY'S MARKET MAP:
(CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S MARKET MAP!)
YESTERDAY'S S&P SECTORS:
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TODAY'S S&P SECTORS:
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TODAY'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
(CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR!)
THIS WEEK'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR!)
THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING IPO'S:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING IPO'S!)
THIS WEEK'S EARNINGS CALENDAR:
($CCL $BNTX $LULU $MU $IZEA $SKLZ $WBA $HTHT $FUTU $LOVE $RH $PAYX $IHS $GOEV $CALM $PLAY $RUM $CTAS $CNM $MKC $BB $EVGO $VERO $AUGX $RGF $GMDA $SNX $RAIL $AEHR $PVH $SRT $UGRO $AADI $PRGS $DNMR $NEOG $CONN $IMBI $SOL $LOV $GROY $EE $ABOS $CNXC $UNF $AMPS $JEF $ESLT $CURI $DARE)(CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S EARNINGS CALENDAR!)
THIS MORNING'S PRE-MARKET EARNINGS CALENDAR:
($WBA $FUTU $LOVE $MKC $CNM $SNX $IHS $AADI $YTRA $ESLT $IMBI $BNR $NOTE $PDSB $BTTR $PRPH $STIX $VRME $GRNT)(CLICK HERE FOR THIS MORNING'S EARNINGS CALENDAR!)
EARNINGS RELEASES BEFORE THE OPEN TODAY:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS MORNING'S EARNINGS RELEASES!)
EARNINGS RELEASES AFTER THE CLOSE TODAY:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS AFTERNOON'S EARNINGS RELEASES!)
YESTERDAY'S ANALYST UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES:
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S ANALYST UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES LINK #1!)
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S ANALYST UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES LINK #2!)
YESTERDAY'S INSIDER TRADING FILINGS:
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S INSIDER TRADING FILINGS!)
TODAY'S DIVIDEND CALENDAR:
(CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S DIVIDEND CALENDAR!)
THIS MORNING'S MOST ACTIVE TRENDING TICKERS ON STOCKTWITS:
- BABA
- XRP.X
- VKTX
- FUTU
- WBA
- DIS
- KWEB
- BNB.X
- PARA
- VEEV
THIS MORNING'S STOCK NEWS MOVERS:
(source: cnbc.com)
Alibaba — Shares jumped 9.8% after the e-commerce giant said it would split its company into six separate business groups. Each will have the potential to raise outside funding and go public.
STOCK SYMBOL: BABA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Lyft — The ride-sharing company added 5% after announcing its cofounders, CEO Logan Green and President John Zimmer, will soon step down from their day-to-day roles. Former Amazon executive David Risher will take the helm April 17.
STOCK SYMBOL: LYFT
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
First Republic Bank — The closely followed regional bank gained 3.6%. That follows an 11.8% rally in Monday’s session as investors bought back into the stock after selling off last week. Investors were contemplating if a $30 billion rescue plan from a group of banks would be enough to shore up its liquidity.
STOCK SYMBOL: FRC
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Walgreens Boots Alliance — The pharmacy stock advanced 1.7% after the company posted better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.16, above the $1.10 anticipated by analysts, per Refinitiv. Meanwhile, the company reported revenue at $34.86 billion, beating the $33.53 billion expected by Wall Street.
STOCK SYMBOL: WBA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
PVH — Shares of the apparel company jumped more than 12% following a better-than-expected fourth quarter report. PVH generated $2.38 in adjusted earnings per share on $2.49 billion of revenue. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting $1.67 in earnings per share on $2.37 billion of revenue. Revenue from the Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands grew by 3% each, and PVH’s revenue guidance also topped expectations.
STOCK SYMBOL: PVH
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
PagSeguro — Shares gained 5% after Citi upgraded the Brazilian payment stock to buy on the back of fourth-quarter earnings. While the firm said the earnings report was largely unsurprising and the company was still in “rough waters,” shares were more attractive following a bout of underperformance.
STOCK SYMBOL: PAGS
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Ciena — The technology company added 3.1% following an upgrade to strong buy from outperform by Oppenheimer, which cited Ciena’s entry in the edge router market as a catalyst.
STOCK SYMBOL: CIEN
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Occidental Petroleum — The energy stock jumped 1.9% in premarket after a regulatory filing showed Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway purchased an additional 3.7 million shares for $216 million on Monday and last Thursday. The move boosted the conglomerate’s stake in the oil giant to 23.5%.
STOCK SYMBOL: OXY
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Paramount — Shares of the legacy media giant advanced 5% on Tuesday morning on a rating upgrade from Bank of America from neutral to buy. The firm highlighted the company’s strong lineup of assets that could help Paramount value itself at a premium compared to the market in the event that the business is ever put up for sale.
STOCK SYMBOL: PARA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Fox — Shares slipped more than 1% after Bank of America downgraded the media company to neutral from buy, saying there were no near-term catalysts to drive the stock price up.
STOCK SYMBOL: FOXA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Array Technologies — The renewable energy stock added 3.6% following an upgrade to buy from hold by Truist. While the firm said the company should see some weakness in the first quarter, it will be helped by domestic and international tailwinds later in the year.
STOCK SYMBOL: ARRY
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
FULL DISCLOSURE:
bigbear0083 has no positions in any stocks mentioned. Reddit, moderators, and the author do not advise making investment decisions based on discussion in these posts. Analysis is not subject to validation and users take action at their own risk. bigbear0083 is an admin at the financial forums StonkForums.com where this content was originally posted.
Join the Official Reddit Stock Market Chat Discord Server HERE!
DISCUSS!
What's on everyone's radar for today's trading day ahead here at StockMarketChat?I hope you all have an excellent trading day ahead today on this Tuesday, March 28th, 2023! :)
2023.03.28 14:04 bigbear0083 (3/28) Tuesday's Pre-Market Stock Movers & News
Good morning traders and investors of the WallStreetStockMarket sub! Welcome to the new trading day and a fresh start! Here are your pre-market stock movers & news on this Tuesday, March the 28th, 2023-
(CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL SOURCE!)
Stock futures are little changed Tuesday: Live updates
Stock futures were little changed Tuesday after the S&P 500 posted its third positive session in a row and banking sector concerns continued to ease.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 35 points, or 0.1%. Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures traded around the flatline.
The moves follow a mixed session on Monday. Investors fought to extend last week’s gains, but tech shares came under pressure. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 194.55 points, or 0.6%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.16%. The Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.47% as tech stocks moved lower.
A slew of positive news reports helped lift sentiment on Wall Street, including First Citizens BancShares’ agreement to buy large parts of Silicon Valley Bank. Further, CNBC reported that deposit flows out of small institutions and into banking behemoths have slowed.
Eight of 11 S&P 500 sectors finished in positive territory on Monday, led to the upside by a 2.1% gain in energy. Beaten-up regional bank stocks, including First Republic, climbed along with the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE). Communication services and information technology, which have enjoyed a strong 2023, both slipped.
“Basically, you have an oversold bounce in these areas that have been beaten up and you’re having a pause from some of these areas that are leadership,” said Keith Lerner, Truist’s co-chief investment officer. “I don’t think this is a trend reversal; I don’t think this is new leadership.”
Markets may also be taking news of First Citizens’ plan to buy a large chunk of SVB as a positive, he said.
Earnings season continues Tuesday with results from Micron Technology, Lululemon and Dave & Buster’s. Investors also await home price data and The Conference Board’s consumer confidence report.
The Federal Reserve’s Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr will appear before the Senate Banking Committee. He will speak on recent bank failures and federal regulators’ response.
STOCK FUTURES CURRENTLY:
(CLICK HERE FOR STOCK FUTURES CHARTS!)
YESTERDAY'S MARKET MAP:
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S MARKET MAP!)
TODAY'S MARKET MAP:
(CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S MARKET MAP!)
YESTERDAY'S S&P SECTORS:
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S S&P SECTORS CHART!)
TODAY'S S&P SECTORS:
(CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S S&P SECTORS CHART!)
TODAY'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
(CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR!)
THIS WEEK'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR!)
THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING IPO'S:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING IPO'S!)
THIS WEEK'S EARNINGS CALENDAR:
($CCL $BNTX $LULU $MU $IZEA $SKLZ $WBA $HTHT $FUTU $LOVE $RH $PAYX $IHS $GOEV $CALM $PLAY $RUM $CTAS $CNM $MKC $BB $EVGO $VERO $AUGX $RGF $GMDA $SNX $RAIL $AEHR $PVH $SRT $UGRO $AADI $PRGS $DNMR $NEOG $CONN $IMBI $SOL $LOV $GROY $EE $ABOS $CNXC $UNF $AMPS $JEF $ESLT $CURI $DARE)(CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S EARNINGS CALENDAR!)
THIS MORNING'S PRE-MARKET EARNINGS CALENDAR:
($WBA $FUTU $LOVE $MKC $CNM $SNX $IHS $AADI $YTRA $ESLT $IMBI $BNR $NOTE $PDSB $BTTR $PRPH $STIX $VRME $GRNT)(CLICK HERE FOR THIS MORNING'S EARNINGS CALENDAR!)
EARNINGS RELEASES BEFORE THE OPEN TODAY:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS MORNING'S EARNINGS RELEASES!)
EARNINGS RELEASES AFTER THE CLOSE TODAY:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS AFTERNOON'S EARNINGS RELEASES!)
YESTERDAY'S ANALYST UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES:
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S ANALYST UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES LINK #1!)
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S ANALYST UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES LINK #2!)
YESTERDAY'S INSIDER TRADING FILINGS:
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S INSIDER TRADING FILINGS!)
TODAY'S DIVIDEND CALENDAR:
(CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S DIVIDEND CALENDAR!)
THIS MORNING'S MOST ACTIVE TRENDING TICKERS ON STOCKTWITS:
- BABA
- XRP.X
- VKTX
- FUTU
- WBA
- DIS
- KWEB
- BNB.X
- PARA
- VEEV
THIS MORNING'S STOCK NEWS MOVERS:
(source: cnbc.com)
Alibaba — Shares jumped 9.8% after the e-commerce giant said it would split its company into six separate business groups. Each will have the potential to raise outside funding and go public.
STOCK SYMBOL: BABA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Lyft — The ride-sharing company added 5% after announcing its cofounders, CEO Logan Green and President John Zimmer, will soon step down from their day-to-day roles. Former Amazon executive David Risher will take the helm April 17.
STOCK SYMBOL: LYFT
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
First Republic Bank — The closely followed regional bank gained 3.6%. That follows an 11.8% rally in Monday’s session as investors bought back into the stock after selling off last week. Investors were contemplating if a $30 billion rescue plan from a group of banks would be enough to shore up its liquidity.
STOCK SYMBOL: FRC
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Walgreens Boots Alliance — The pharmacy stock advanced 1.7% after the company posted better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.16, above the $1.10 anticipated by analysts, per Refinitiv. Meanwhile, the company reported revenue at $34.86 billion, beating the $33.53 billion expected by Wall Street.
STOCK SYMBOL: WBA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
PVH — Shares of the apparel company jumped more than 12% following a better-than-expected fourth quarter report. PVH generated $2.38 in adjusted earnings per share on $2.49 billion of revenue. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting $1.67 in earnings per share on $2.37 billion of revenue. Revenue from the Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands grew by 3% each, and PVH’s revenue guidance also topped expectations.
STOCK SYMBOL: PVH
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
PagSeguro — Shares gained 5% after Citi upgraded the Brazilian payment stock to buy on the back of fourth-quarter earnings. While the firm said the earnings report was largely unsurprising and the company was still in “rough waters,” shares were more attractive following a bout of underperformance.
STOCK SYMBOL: PAGS
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Ciena — The technology company added 3.1% following an upgrade to strong buy from outperform by Oppenheimer, which cited Ciena’s entry in the edge router market as a catalyst.
STOCK SYMBOL: CIEN
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Occidental Petroleum — The energy stock jumped 1.9% in premarket after a regulatory filing showed Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway purchased an additional 3.7 million shares for $216 million on Monday and last Thursday. The move boosted the conglomerate’s stake in the oil giant to 23.5%.
STOCK SYMBOL: OXY
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Paramount — Shares of the legacy media giant advanced 5% on Tuesday morning on a rating upgrade from Bank of America from neutral to buy. The firm highlighted the company’s strong lineup of assets that could help Paramount value itself at a premium compared to the market in the event that the business is ever put up for sale.
STOCK SYMBOL: PARA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Fox — Shares slipped more than 1% after Bank of America downgraded the media company to neutral from buy, saying there were no near-term catalysts to drive the stock price up.
STOCK SYMBOL: FOXA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Array Technologies — The renewable energy stock added 3.6% following an upgrade to buy from hold by Truist. While the firm said the company should see some weakness in the first quarter, it will be helped by domestic and international tailwinds later in the year.
STOCK SYMBOL: ARRY
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
FULL DISCLOSURE:
bigbear0083 has no positions in any stocks mentioned. Reddit, moderators, and the author do not advise making investment decisions based on discussion in these posts. Analysis is not subject to validation and users take action at their own risk. bigbear0083 is an admin at the financial forums StonkForums.com where this content was originally posted.
Join the Official Reddit Stock Market Chat Discord Server HERE!
DISCUSS!
What's on everyone's radar for today's trading day ahead here at WallStreetStockMarket?I hope you all have an excellent trading day ahead today on this Tuesday, March 28th, 2023! :)
2023.03.28 14:03 bigbear0083 (3/28) Tuesday's Pre-Market Stock Movers & News
Good morning traders and investors of the StockMarketForums sub! Welcome to the new trading day and a fresh start! Here are your pre-market stock movers & news on this Tuesday, March the 28th, 2023-
(CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL SOURCE!)
Stock futures are little changed Tuesday: Live updates
Stock futures were little changed Tuesday after the S&P 500 posted its third positive session in a row and banking sector concerns continued to ease.
Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 35 points, or 0.1%. Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq-100 futures traded around the flatline.
The moves follow a mixed session on Monday. Investors fought to extend last week’s gains, but tech shares came under pressure. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 194.55 points, or 0.6%, while the S&P 500 gained 0.16%. The Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.47% as tech stocks moved lower.
A slew of positive news reports helped lift sentiment on Wall Street, including First Citizens BancShares’ agreement to buy large parts of Silicon Valley Bank. Further, CNBC reported that deposit flows out of small institutions and into banking behemoths have slowed.
Eight of 11 S&P 500 sectors finished in positive territory on Monday, led to the upside by a 2.1% gain in energy. Beaten-up regional bank stocks, including First Republic, climbed along with the SPDR S&P Regional Banking ETF (KRE). Communication services and information technology, which have enjoyed a strong 2023, both slipped.
“Basically, you have an oversold bounce in these areas that have been beaten up and you’re having a pause from some of these areas that are leadership,” said Keith Lerner, Truist’s co-chief investment officer. “I don’t think this is a trend reversal; I don’t think this is new leadership.”
Markets may also be taking news of First Citizens’ plan to buy a large chunk of SVB as a positive, he said.
Earnings season continues Tuesday with results from Micron Technology, Lululemon and Dave & Buster’s. Investors also await home price data and The Conference Board’s consumer confidence report.
The Federal Reserve’s Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr will appear before the Senate Banking Committee. He will speak on recent bank failures and federal regulators’ response.
STOCK FUTURES CURRENTLY:
(CLICK HERE FOR STOCK FUTURES CHARTS!)
YESTERDAY'S MARKET MAP:
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S MARKET MAP!)
TODAY'S MARKET MAP:
(CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S MARKET MAP!)
YESTERDAY'S S&P SECTORS:
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S S&P SECTORS CHART!)
TODAY'S S&P SECTORS:
(CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S S&P SECTORS CHART!)
TODAY'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
(CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR!)
THIS WEEK'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S ECONOMIC CALENDAR!)
THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING IPO'S:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING IPO'S!)
THIS WEEK'S EARNINGS CALENDAR:
($CCL $BNTX $LULU $MU $IZEA $SKLZ $WBA $HTHT $FUTU $LOVE $RH $PAYX $IHS $GOEV $CALM $PLAY $RUM $CTAS $CNM $MKC $BB $EVGO $VERO $AUGX $RGF $GMDA $SNX $RAIL $AEHR $PVH $SRT $UGRO $AADI $PRGS $DNMR $NEOG $CONN $IMBI $SOL $LOV $GROY $EE $ABOS $CNXC $UNF $AMPS $JEF $ESLT $CURI $DARE)(CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEK'S EARNINGS CALENDAR!)
THIS MORNING'S PRE-MARKET EARNINGS CALENDAR:
($WBA $FUTU $LOVE $MKC $CNM $SNX $IHS $AADI $YTRA $ESLT $IMBI $BNR $NOTE $PDSB $BTTR $PRPH $STIX $VRME $GRNT)(CLICK HERE FOR THIS MORNING'S EARNINGS CALENDAR!)
EARNINGS RELEASES BEFORE THE OPEN TODAY:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS MORNING'S EARNINGS RELEASES!)
EARNINGS RELEASES AFTER THE CLOSE TODAY:
(CLICK HERE FOR THIS AFTERNOON'S EARNINGS RELEASES!)
YESTERDAY'S ANALYST UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES:
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S ANALYST UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES LINK #1!)
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S ANALYST UPGRADES/DOWNGRADES LINK #2!)
YESTERDAY'S INSIDER TRADING FILINGS:
(CLICK HERE FOR YESTERDAY'S INSIDER TRADING FILINGS!)
TODAY'S DIVIDEND CALENDAR:
(CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S DIVIDEND CALENDAR!)
THIS MORNING'S MOST ACTIVE TRENDING TICKERS ON STOCKTWITS:
- BABA
- XRP.X
- VKTX
- FUTU
- WBA
- DIS
- KWEB
- BNB.X
- PARA
- VEEV
THIS MORNING'S STOCK NEWS MOVERS:
(source: cnbc.com)
Alibaba — Shares jumped 9.8% after the e-commerce giant said it would split its company into six separate business groups. Each will have the potential to raise outside funding and go public.
STOCK SYMBOL: BABA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Lyft — The ride-sharing company added 5% after announcing its cofounders, CEO Logan Green and President John Zimmer, will soon step down from their day-to-day roles. Former Amazon executive David Risher will take the helm April 17.
STOCK SYMBOL: LYFT
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
First Republic Bank — The closely followed regional bank gained 3.6%. That follows an 11.8% rally in Monday’s session as investors bought back into the stock after selling off last week. Investors were contemplating if a $30 billion rescue plan from a group of banks would be enough to shore up its liquidity.
STOCK SYMBOL: FRC
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Walgreens Boots Alliance — The pharmacy stock advanced 1.7% after the company posted better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.16, above the $1.10 anticipated by analysts, per Refinitiv. Meanwhile, the company reported revenue at $34.86 billion, beating the $33.53 billion expected by Wall Street.
STOCK SYMBOL: WBA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
PVH — Shares of the apparel company jumped more than 12% following a better-than-expected fourth quarter report. PVH generated $2.38 in adjusted earnings per share on $2.49 billion of revenue. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting $1.67 in earnings per share on $2.37 billion of revenue. Revenue from the Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein brands grew by 3% each, and PVH’s revenue guidance also topped expectations.
STOCK SYMBOL: PVH
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
PagSeguro — Shares gained 5% after Citi upgraded the Brazilian payment stock to buy on the back of fourth-quarter earnings. While the firm said the earnings report was largely unsurprising and the company was still in “rough waters,” shares were more attractive following a bout of underperformance.
STOCK SYMBOL: PAGS
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Ciena — The technology company added 3.1% following an upgrade to strong buy from outperform by Oppenheimer, which cited Ciena’s entry in the edge router market as a catalyst.
STOCK SYMBOL: CIEN
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Occidental Petroleum — The energy stock jumped 1.9% in premarket after a regulatory filing showed Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway purchased an additional 3.7 million shares for $216 million on Monday and last Thursday. The move boosted the conglomerate’s stake in the oil giant to 23.5%.
STOCK SYMBOL: OXY
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Paramount — Shares of the legacy media giant advanced 5% on Tuesday morning on a rating upgrade from Bank of America from neutral to buy. The firm highlighted the company’s strong lineup of assets that could help Paramount value itself at a premium compared to the market in the event that the business is ever put up for sale.
STOCK SYMBOL: PARA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Fox — Shares slipped more than 1% after Bank of America downgraded the media company to neutral from buy, saying there were no near-term catalysts to drive the stock price up.
STOCK SYMBOL: FOXA
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
Array Technologies — The renewable energy stock added 3.6% following an upgrade to buy from hold by Truist. While the firm said the company should see some weakness in the first quarter, it will be helped by domestic and international tailwinds later in the year.
STOCK SYMBOL: ARRY
(CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STOCK QUOTE!)
FULL DISCLOSURE:
bigbear0083 has no positions in any stocks mentioned. Reddit, moderators, and the author do not advise making investment decisions based on discussion in these posts. Analysis is not subject to validation and users take action at their own risk. bigbear0083 is an admin at the financial forums StonkForums.com where this content was originally posted.
Join the Official Reddit Stock Market Chat Discord Server HERE!