#unless its tuesday or a bank holiday

[cashappreviewus]

What Time Can You Expect Your Cash App Direct Deposit to Hit?

What time does Cash App direct deposit hit? If you are wondering about when you can anticipate receiving your cash App direct transfer, you’re in good company. Cash App direct deposits are delivered as fast as possible once sent. 

However, while Cash App itself doesn’t mention the accurate time of the day on its official webpage, it can take approximately 1-5 days for the funds to show up in your account. Additionally, the money may arrive in your account two days earlier than other banks. This article covers everything you must know concerning Cash App direct deposits.

It is pretty easy to get the Direct Deposit Form using the app. Just open the Cash App and log in to your account. Click on the Banking option, tap Direct Deposit, and select the Get Direct Deposit Form. Next, you will need to fill out your employer information to deposit the paychecks in your account.

You can get your paychecks and government funds deposited automatically into your Cash App account. Do you get Paid 2 Days early with Cash App? When does Cash App direct deposit get credited to your account? What time does Cash App direct deposit hit?

Read on to learn more, and remember that there could be a difference between Cash App direct deposit to your bank or the paychecks of your employer or benefits funds. The Cash App direct deposit filing timing may differ based on your file time.

Direct deposit made by an employer could take between 1-2 pay cycles for the Direct Deposit system to become effective when your employer has received and processed your request Cash App features allow direct deposit of paychecks with minimal requirements: just your account number and routing number to your employer to make an immediate deposit into the Cash App account.

How Long Does Direct Deposit Take On Cash App?

You may be wondering when your Cash App direct deposit will arrive if you are still waiting for your regular payments or paycheck. Direct deposits generally take between 1-5 business days to reach your Cash App after arrival.

Cash App offers an early payment service that allows direct deposit transfers to customers as soon as the sender releases them. You can get your money two days faster if you use Cash App direct deposits instead of transferring it to your regular bank account.

Cash App direct deposits’ exact time depends totally on when they got sent; it’s essential to let the Cash App service team know if your payment hasn’t arrived within five days. Cash App’s service team recommends that you contact them if you don’t receive your payment within five days, and this will allow them to determine if there have been any problems.

What Time Does Cash App Direct Deposit Hit Your Account?

Direct deposit generally gets deposited to your account at midnight on the day of the payment. The funds get released when you are due to arrive at work on payday unless it is a holiday or the transaction occurred post-business hours. If that is the case, it may take a few more days to get money in your account.

The duration of the Posting routine differs from one bank to another and is determined by a variety of variables, including how big the bank is. There will be a quick operating routine if it is that nearby “hometown bank” with only a few branches. However, when we speak about a “big” bank (Wells, BAC, and others) with hundreds of branches and customers throughout the country, the procedure could include millions of transactions. Hence, it takes longer to finish in this case.

For Instance, if your paycheck is scheduled for credit to your account on Tuesday,10th May, the money will most likely be credited to your account on Monday, 9th May.

At this time (on Monday or the 9th), you can look up your account online, and it’ll probably show it as “pending.” It’s likely to remain in this pending state until the post-nightly routine is applied to all transactions – after which point it will show “Posted” to your account.

Does Cash App Direct Deposit Come 2- Days Early?

Direct deposits made through the Cash App can arrive two days earlier than banks. The exact arrival date depends on when the sender authorizes the money into the Cash App.

Cash App will make a direct deposit after receiving it, which may be up to two days before. Also, certain employers and payroll companies can transfer funds via the Cash App Direct Deposits for up to 2 days before payday. It is your employer’s responsibility to provide payment information before the date of your paycheck.

Please be aware that the direct deposit’s availability and timing may vary depending on the payer.

What Time Of The Day Does Cash App Direct Deposit Hit?

Most employees can anticipate their direct deposit from their pay on Cash App to arrive in their accounts at midnight on the day before the pay date. You may receive your money before starting work on the day of your pay.

Employers, for example, employ payroll software to be sure that employees are paid on their scheduled pay date. After the employer has processed and deposited your paycheck, the cash will be available within cash in your Cash App wallet by midnight on the day before your pay date.

Direct deposits to employees usually hit the account between 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. (EST) on the date your employer deposits the money (Monday until Friday). However, it is not a specific timeframe and does not apply to all situations.

How To Enable Direct Deposit On Cash App?

It is easy to enable Direct deposit on Cash App. You can also review your online direct deposit application by clicking View Previous Form in the Banking menu and clicking the button to Get Direct Deposit form. 

Follow the below-mentioned steps to enable direct deposit on Cash App

·   You’ll require an active Cash app card to get direct deposit transactions into Cash App.

·   Download the Cash App, then log in to your account

·   Get an account number or routing number to allow Direct Deposit with Cash App.

·   Choose Direct Deposit in the Banking menu.

·   Get the Direct Deposit Form by selecting the drop-down list.

·   Fill in the direct deposit form by providing your company’s details.

·   Input the total amount you wish to transfer into the Cash App account. Then sign on the form.

·   Select Email Form, and fill in the information for the employer you work for to complete the process.

Note:: You could receive up to $25,000 with one direct deposit, and you can also get $50,000 within 24 hours.

How Do I Set Up Direct Deposit On Cash App?

After you’ve activated the Cash App direct deposits, setting up is straightforward. Here’s how to do it.

1. From the Banking page, log in to your Payroll Provider or Company.

2. Click the Banking tab on the home screen.

3. Choose Direct Deposit as your payment method.

4. Locate your company and Follow the on-screen directions.

5. Be sure you enter the username and password for your employer or payroll service provider.

6. You can send the details of your accounts and routing details according to your company’s specifications.

Why Did My Direct Deposit Fail On Cash App?

When you did not receive your paycheck or your direct transfer failed on the Cash App, the error could be due to the below causes.

The most frequent reasons for not receiving Cash App direct deposit include incorrect information, like your address, name, or zip code, expired credit card, fake or invalid CVV code, and absence of funds in the account, etc . that violates the terms of service.

Double-check everything, and If all is fine, however, you are still unable to resolve the issue, you can reach out to your employer, as they could be wrong or perhaps a typo.

If the problem persists after fixing everything, you may reach the Cash App support to assist you with the issue.

Before we end this topic on” What time does Cash App direct deposit hit?”, we invite our readers to check out our other post published shortly on Why Does The Cash App Say Invalid Card Number?

CONCLUSION:-

This informative post sheds light on the query, “What time does Cash App direct deposit hit?” Moreover, we have also mentioned many other topics regarding Cash App direct deposit.

We are confident that the Cash App users will like this helpful post.

However, if you still have any doubt, you can feel free to contact us for further assistance.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:-

When will direct deposit appear in my bank account?

The money for the direct deposit appears typically in your bank statement between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. when your employer sends it out.

When does the Cash app receive direct deposit?

Direct deposits from the Cash app would arrive at the receiving bank by 5 p.m. PT on the Paycheck day. When your employer sends the money two days before the scheduled date and time, it occurs. The direct deposit time of day falls between 2 and 4 a.m. on the appointed day.

Can you get your Paycheck deposited to Cash App?

Indeed, you can get your Paycheck deposited to Cash App directly with the help of the Cash App direct deposit feature, which allows users to add either all or a portion of their Paycheck to the Cash App account electronically.

[animanightmate]

Good Details

I’m ill (well, I’m not, hopefully but, for Health Reasons, I’ve been awake all night, and fasting, because fml) so of course I’ve been rewatching Good Omens. And because I’m on my PC and close to its excitingly large screen, I can see details I didn’t see before.

Sadly, because certain platforms are Like That these days, I can’t take screenshots, so you get a crappy shot from my mobile phone of Aziraphale’s shop door. And it’s delightful. Seen for seconds, it contains a lovely piece of penmanship outlining his eccentric shopkeeping credo, which I will transcribe below because I want to share the joy):

[Image description: A dark wooden door with a glass panel, through which we can see an old-fashioned “Closed” sign hung from string, some indistinct trinkets and still-lit lamps. Filling the other glass panel is the following handwritten sign: “Bookshop Opening Hours. I open the shop on most weekdays about 9:30 or perhaps 10am. While occasionally I open the shop as early as 8, I have been known not to open until 1. Except on Tuesday. I tend to close about 3:30pm, or earlier if something needs tending to. However, I might occasionally keep the shop open until 8 or 9 at night; you never know when you might need some night reading. On days that I am not in, the shop will remain closed. On weekends, I will open the shop during normal hours unless I am elsewhere. Bank Holidays will be treated in the usual fashion, with early closing on Wednesdays, or sometimes Fridays (For Sundays see Tuesdays). A.Z. Fell, Bookseller” End image description]

It’s on the screen for all of four, maybe five seconds, and someone went to a great deal of love and trouble to produce it.

I adore this show the more I see it, and originally I went in braced to be disappointed, considering my great love for the original text. [happy sigh]

#good omens #props #details #image #image description #aziraphale #aziraphale's bookshop #oc

[pengychan]

[Good Omens] Winging It - Isaiah 40:31

Summary: Shockingly, attempting to destroy an angel without consulting God first comes with consequences. There is more than one way to fall, and a thousand more ways to inconvenience an angel and a demon who just wanted to be left in peace. Characters: Gabriel, Crowley, Aziraphale, Beelzebub, Michael, Uriel, Sandalphon Rating: T  

Prologue and all chapters are tagged as ‘winging it’ on my blog.

A/N: well, shit hits the fan and the end is near.

***

As the boy who was most assuredly Not The Antichrist - but who had nonetheless been their charge for about the first eleven years of his life - walked towards the front door of the bookshop in Soho, entirely unaware of being stalked by a man with a pocket knife, Aziraphale stood in the bedroom of a lovely cottage in the South Downs, not far from the Devil’s Dyke.

He knew it was rather rude, being roughly seventy-five miles away from the place where you happen to have an appointment in about five minutes’ time, but surely it was not too much of an issue, given that they would be right back in the bookshop by crossing the threshold of a rather miraculous door they had installed between the two places. And besides, Crowley had really wanted to show him something. 

That something being a luxurious, huge and hugely gaudy canopy bed with gold-plated columns and red velvet drapes that wouldn’t have looked too out of place in Versailles, before revolutionaries took most of its contents to an uncertain fate. As a piece of furniture still occasionally turned up in flea markets, Aziraphale wouldn’t put it beyond the realm of possibilities.

Said bed now occupied the greater part of the bedroom that Crowley had insisted they ought to have in the cottage, against Aziraphale’s suggestion to turn it into another room for his books. 

“We already have the loft for those, and the bookshop on the other side of the door,” he’d pointed out. “We need a bedroom.”

Aziraphale, who had actually last slept sometime in the nineteenth century and solely out of boredom while watching an especially poor performance of Troilus and Cressida - in itself far from Shakespeare’s best work, and the lead actor’s lisp had done it no favors - had been slightly taken aback. “But, my dear, we don’t need sleep,” he’d said, getting a snort out of Crowley. 

“We don’t need to eat either. So what?”

Aziraphale had to concede he had a point, although he didn’t quite see the allure of laying in a semi-comatose state for several hours while hallucinating the same way he saw the allure of a slice of red velvet cake, and agreed that the cottage would indeed have a bedroom. It was only fair considering the space he had for his books, so that was a compromise he did not regret. 

Telling Crowley he was welcome to choose whatever bed he liked himself, however, was something Aziraphale did regret. He knew that Crowley’s taste when it came to furniture ranged from dreadfully minimalistic to unbearably garish, but this - the golden columns, the red heavy velvet - was… a little too much. 

“Well, what do you think?” Crowley was asking, looking as proud of himself as he had after moving that golden monstrosity he called a throne right next to Aziraphale’s old trusty armchair in the loft, entirely ignoring the way Aziraphale’s right eyebrow had twitched. 

This time, it was the left eyebrow to twitch. 

“Well, it is-- rather…” Aziraphale raked his brain for a polite way to put it. “Eye-catching.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Crowley grinned, even prouder. Aziraphale suspected his euphemism had been a little too subtle. “I remembered what you said when I came to save your butt in France.”

“... That I wanted crêpes?”

“That you had standards. French royalty standards.”

“Well, it was not quite royalty level, more along the lines of a noble--”

“This beauty comes straight from Versailles.”

Ah, of course. Of course it did. 

“Or, well, not so straight. It went around across Europe quite a bit. But here it is, as you see.”

“Yes. I… I do see.” Aziraphale managed a smile. No harm done, he thought - he didn’t have a habit to sleep as Crowley did, so he would hardly ever need to be in that room at all. He would just entirely forget about that bed. Out of sight, out of mind. 

“The mattress is new, clearly. You’ll like it. Real plush.”

Aziraphale blinked. “That sounds nice, but I am not in the habit of sleeping.”

“You should try. Nothing better than some time spent in a semi-comatose state while vividly hallucinating.”

A chuckle. “You’re not making it sound very alluring.”

“Ah, I should up my temptation game. I’m out of practice. When was the last time I tempted you into anything?”

“This morning, actually, you--”

The chiming of the grandfather clock downstairs - a very tasteful eighteenth century clock Aziraphale had long debated whether to move in the cottage or keep in the bookshop - cut him off, and reminded him of… well, of the time. 

“I believe Warlock should arrive any moment now - we should head back,” he said, and they did. It looked like the boy might get there before Gabriel popped in to return the book, and if that turned out to be the case… well, Aziraphale really hoped he had enough sense to put the book in a bag or something like it. If not, they may need to have a few words.

There were things an eleven-year-old boy really didn’t need to see.

***

“Ugh, c’mon, they knew I was coming…” Warlock Dowling huffed, taking a couple of steps away from the door of the bookshop which had stayed closed, no matter how hard he knocked. He glanced at the sign in the window; it made just as little sense as it did the first time he read it. 

I open the shop on most weekdays about 9:30 or perhaps 10am. While occasionally I open the shop as early as 8, I have been known not to open until 1, except on Tuesday. I tend to close about 3:30pm, or earlier if something needs tending to. However, I might occasionally keep the shop open until 8 or 9 at night, you never know when you might need some light reading. On days that I am not in, the shop will remain closed. On weekends, I will open the shop during normal hours unless I am elsewhere. Bank holidays will be treated in the usual fashion, with early closing on Wednesdays, or sometimes Fridays. (For Sundays see Tuesdays). A.Z. Fell, Bookseller

Warlock briefly wondered who A. Z. Fell was, really - the founder? A co-owner? It definitely was not Brother Francis’ name, but he had claimed to be the owner, which was a leap from working as a gardener but not a claim Warlock had any reason to doubt. Brother Francis did not lie, after all. He hated lies and got really cross with him whenever he caught him lying, usually after Nanny-- after Crowley suggested he did.

“Pair of weirdos. Always been,” Warlock muttered, but it wasn’t really a complaint; they were a fun pair of weirdos to grow up around, or else he wouldn’t have tracked them down in London. After checking through the window to see if anyone was in, and seeing, no one, Warlock reached in his pocket for his phone and began looking for Crowley’s number. 

Focused as he was on the screen, he failed to notice the man approaching with a hand in his pocket, eyes fixed on him and pupils blown so wide his eyes looked entirely black. On the opposite side of the road Hastur, Duke of Hell, retreated from the mortal’s mind with a smirk and prepared to enjoy the scene with eyes just as black.

***

“... So no, I really doubt the London Dungeon holds prisoners anymore, but it would be an interesting thing to--”

“Silence,” Beelzebub spoke suddenly, stopping abruptly in their tracks and causing Gabriel to almost bump into them and drop the book, something for which Aziraphale would probably be very, very cross with him. He frowned. 

“It’s not my fault that they have stopped using the dungeons, if that’s such an issue I suppose we could change plans and--”

“Something’s wrong.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you sense-- ah. No, you can’t anymore,” Beelzebub muttered, and looked around with a scowl. “A demon is at work. It was my order that no one was to approach the traitors.”

Gabriel blinked. “Maybe it’s Crowley--”

“It’s not,” Beelzebub all but snarled, staring at someone some distance away. Further down the pavement stood a man that looked… wrong, for the lack of a better word; something not human who made a passingly decent job at masquerading as human, but not quite good enough. Gabriel may not be able to sense demonic or angelic presences anymore, but he could see as much.

“Hastur,” Beelzebub scoffed. 

Ah, Gabriel was vaguely familiar with the name - Hastur, Duke of Hell. Not someone he’d be pleased to meet anywhere in general, but seeing him there was especially worrying. He recalled Michael mentioning that out of all demons, he held a particular grudge against Crowley. Was that grudge really so great that he would ignore a direct order from Beelzebub to find Crowley in Soho and… and do what, exactly? “What is he doing here?”

“I’m about to find out. Wait here,” Beelzebub muttered, and walked - no, marched - directly towards the demon. “Hastur, Duke of Hell. What in Heaven are you doing here?”

Their voice caused the demon to recoil and turn his attention away from… whatever they had been staring at on the other side of the road. He was already deathly pale, but he seemed to grow just a tad paler as his gaze rested on a decidedly annoyed Prince of Hell planting themselves before him, arms crossed and clearly looking for a very good explanation why he would defy a direct order not to be anywhere near the traitorous demon that holy water could not destroy.

As he stammered some sort of reply, Gabriel let his gaze wander across the street. A man was walking towards the bookshop coming from the opposite direction, and he was… wait. Wait, he looked familiar - Gabriel had seen him before, a few months earlier, near the church where Daniel’s funeral service had just been held. He’d given him his coat because it was raining and talked briefly with him, and he had found it funny because his name was… his name…

“Noah!” Gabriel called out with a smile, walking towards him. “How are you doing? How’s your--” 

The next word - dog? - died on his lips when he got to look, to really look, at Noah’s eyes. They looked no more human than those of the Duke of Hell currently getting a tongue-lashing only a few steps away, and they were fixed dead ahead of him as he kept walking, giving no sign of having heard or seen him. Walking towards the bookshop… and towards a boy fumbling with his phone right in front of it, back turned to them all.  Something was off. Something was wrong. 

A demon is at work, Beelzebub had said. Gabriel opened his mouth to cry out, to demand that Hastur, Duke of Hell, released that mortal from whatever hold he had on him - but before he could force out a single word, Noah’s hand came out of his pocket and something gleamed in the sunlight. 

There was no time to cry out. No time for words, no time to think, no time to demand action from anyone other than himself. Gabriel knew there was one thing he ought to do now, one thing only. Ever since finding himself without plan or purpose, choices had not always come easy to him - the terror of choosing wrong often paralyzing him. But this one came with no effort: it was no choice at all. As a dark shadow fell on a boy he didn’t even know, Gabriel dropped the book he had come to return, and ran. 

“NOAH! STOP!”

Noah did not turn, but the boy did. He lifted his gaze from his phone to glance over at Gabriel, clearly confused - then his confusion turned into alarm when Gabriel suddenly grabbed his arm and yanked him away. 

“Hey! The hell?” the boy yelled, just as the knife descended on the spot he’d been standing only an instant before, narrowly missing the back of his neck. He tried to pull away from Gabriel’s grip, turning to call out for someone to get that madman off him  - and froze when he finally saw the man standing behind him, eyes all black and lips pulled back in a snarl, swinging something at him.

Somewhere in his brain, he registered it was a knife. He tried once again to scream - mom, he thought, but if he’d managed to force out his voice he probably would have said something more along the lines of ‘shit’. Gabriel, from his part, didn’t try to speak again; he could tell Noah was beyond hearing him. 

So he yanked the boy back once again, and threw himself between him and Noah. The result was, all things considered, extremely predictable.

Four and a half inches of steel buried themselves into Gabriel’s gut with a wet sound that went almost entirely unheard. There was a sense of heat, the pressure of a handle against his flesh and, at first, no pain. Gabriel found himself staring straight into pitch-black eyes for a moment before the pupils shrank to a normal size again, revealing the human eyes, light blue and filled with confusion. Somewhere behind Gabriel, the boy screamed and turned to bang on the door of Aziraphale’s bookshop. 

People around them stopped walking to turn, not quite having caught up what was going on but slowly getting there. On the other side of the road, a panicked Duke of Hell disappeared in a cloud of smoke as soon as the Lord of the Flies turned to see what the commotion was about. 

Gabriel tried to speak, to call out for Beelzebub - don’t hurt him, he didn’t know what he was doing - but a gurgling sound was all that left him, and something dripped down his chin. 

“What…?” Noah muttered, blinking at him, and looked down. “Oh-- oh God, oh Jesus Christ, oh shit-- !” he cried out, voice high and panicked, and staggered back with the knife still in hand, dislodging from Gabriel’s flesh with another wet sound.

Blood came rushing forth, coldness set in, and so did pain. Gabriel’s knees folded, and he hit the ground just as the bloodied knife did. Noah stepped back again, shaking like a newborn calf. 

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry-- someone call an ambulance, I’m sorry, oh God…!”

Don’t bother calling out for God. They don’t answer. Not for me.

“Gabriel!” Beelzebub’s voice filled his ears, drowning out all the rest. There was a hand on the back of his head, lifting it, and he opened his eyes again to see them looking down at him, wide-eyed and scared in a way he had never seen them.

And Gabriel was scared, too, filled to the brim with the most primal, human terror - the most ancient sort of despair known to man. He suddenly knew why even Yeshua had faltered that night in the Garden of Gethsemane, pleading to escape the fate before him and avoid what he knew was unavoidable.

I don’t want to die.

He tried to speak, choking on his own blood. Somewhere behind him, a heavy door was thrown open and Aziraphale’s voice reached him as though from miles away. 

“Warlock! My boy, what is-- oh. Oh dear, what…?”

“What the Heaven is going on?” Crowley’s voice was a couple octaves higher than usual, and suddenly there was silence, time itself stilled; the crowd all around them, Noah, even a bird flying past right above them remained fixed in time like so many statues. The boy was talking frantically to Crowley and Aziraphale, but Gabriel was unable to pay his words any mind. His gaze remained fixed on Beelzebub, and on Beelzebub only. 

“Heal me,” he choked out. He felt cold all over, even with the wound itself throbbing in heat and pain the way the wounds on his back had, the day his wings were torn off. “Please.”

“Hastur will pay for this, he-- I-- of course, you idiot, be still--” their hand hovered above the blood-soaked shirt, and suddenly they hesitated. Their gaze found Gabriel’s, and held it. “... Sacrifice,” the Prince of Hell murmured.

“What…?”

“You sacrificed your life for another. That’s it. It’s your ticket back home, Gabriel.”

Home. Back in Heaven, where he belonged. Not quite in his old position - a mortal soul - but still, home. Except that… except that if he returned there as a mere mortal soul...

“No,” Gabriel wheezed. “No. I can’t. I-- would never-- be able to leave it-- again.”

“You never wished to leave it in the first pla--”

“Never see you-- again--” Gabriel coughed, and let out a weak groan at the excruciating pain. He could taste blood in his mouth, feel it down his throat, pooling down on the pavement around him; he felt his strength draining away with it. The back of Beelzebub’s free hand wiped some of it off his chin; the other still cupped the back of his head.

“... You will die either way in the end. You do not wish to reside in Hell and I will not force you.” Their plan of leaving behind Hell for good seemed to be far from their mind now. “This may be--” the Prince of Hell paused, and let out a shaky breath. “This may be your best chance, Gabriel.”

“No. Not now. Not yet,” Gabriel managed a smile. His vision was growing blurry. “I will take… all the time I can get. With you.” However little it may be. Such short life spans, but I will make it worth it. I must. I only get one shot. “So don’t-- let me die-- yet.”

For a moment Beelzebub only stared, their hand hovering above his wound. They swallowed, and opened their mouth to say something - only that someone else spoke first. Aziraphale.

“Oh, oh dear, what a dreadful mess-- Gabriel? It’s all right, hold on, I will heal you--”

“Keep away from him!” Beelzebub buzzed furiously, shooting a glare at Aziraphale, at Crowley, at the boy who was currently glued to Crowley’s side, staring with wide eyes at the scene before him and at the crowd frozen in time. The angel reared back, but did not give up. 

“I mean to help him. Heal him.”

“I can heal him myself!” the Prince of Hell snapped, and pressed their hand on the bleeding wound. Pain shot up Gabriel’s body and he ground his teeth, waiting for relief, for healing, for the end of suffering… but none of it came. 

Beelzebub pulled away a now bloodied hand, taken aback, struggling to comprehend what they were seeing. “It’s… it isn’t working. It won’t heal.”

Gabriel closed his eyes, despair sinking in his chest.

No. It cannot be. Not now, God, please. Don’t do this to me. Don’t let me die now that I have learned to live. Don’t take them from me again.

“... May I try, Lord Beelzebub?” Aziraphale spoke again, ever respectful, but the hesitation in his voice made it plain that he didn’t think they could succeed where Beelzebub had failed. Gabriel squeezed his eyes shut, and felt something trickling down his temples. 

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why--

GABRIEL.

That voice, in the back of his mind and yet everywhere. Gabriel hadn’t heard it in such a long, long time, but hadn't forgotten it. His chest shuddered in a gasp, and he tried to speak again, to respond to the call - whether to cry, to beg, to curse he didn’t know. Before he could force out a single sound, another voice rose. Very familiar and decidedly concerned.

“Uuh, angel? Any idea what that is?”

“What-- oh. That might be our cue to move out of the way. Move away-- you too, Warlock, move back, my boy…”

What…?

Gabriel opened his eyes and looked up at the sky. Precisely above him, the blue of it was gone; clouds of blinding white had gathered in a circle, and within that circle was only light. The air around him seemed to crackle, and he knew what that meant. Gabriel tried to speak, to warn Beelzebub, but he could only cough up another mouthful of blood. On his tongue, he could now taste something else.

Ozone. 

From a distance, once again came Aziraphale’s voice. “Lord Beelzebub, you ought to let go and--”

“No.” Beelzebub’s grip on Gabriel tightened, vicious and desperate at the same time. The air crackled, the clouds swirled, and Gabriel’s vision began to fade. His hand weakly gripped their jacket, but he was unable to do anything else. Beelzebub’s face was but a blur, but ah, their grip was unyielding. His eyes slipped shut, his head rolled against their chest. 

“I refuse to let go. God cannot tell me what to do and neither can you.”

Don’t take them from me again. Please, please, please--

“Brother Francis, what the hell--”

“We’ll explain later, my boy - step back now, cover your eyes - don’t look, Crowley, make sure he doesn’t look--”

The crack of thunder covered his next words, filling the world, drowning out all noise. Gabriel felt the grip around him tightening, heard Beelzebub choke out something that sounded a lot like ‘you idiot’, and he opened his eyes. 

And then there was only light.

***

In the instant before lighting struck, three things happened in quick succession.

First, Crowley pulled Warlock’s face to his chest to make sure he wouldn’t be blinded as many mortals had been before Heaven learned to somewhat tone it down; second, Crowley turned his back to the scene to avoid looking himself, and shield the boy while he was at it. 

And third, Aziraphale’s wings unfolded to shield them both.

There was no heat, which was rather typical of Heavenly things: light without warmth, utterly unlike the darkness and heat - humid heat rather than raging flames, but all the more uncomfortable - that Aziraphale had experienced in his first, and hopefully only, visit to Hell.

Shielded by Aziraphale’s wings, Crowley kept his eyes tightly shut behind his glasses and Warlock’s face pressed against his shirt for several more moments after the last echo of the deafening thunder faded. 

“Is it safe to turn, angel?” he asked, while Warlock kept muttering against his shirt a litany of words that mostly sounded like ‘what’, ‘the’ and ‘fuck’, in the order. 

This time Aziraphale didn’t bother to make a mental note of talking with the boy about his language. Aside from being relieved the boy had not been stabbed, turned into salt, incinerated, blinded or deprived of his sanity, Aziraphale suspected they would have different, more pressing matters to discuss very shortly. “I’ll check. Don’t look yet,” he replied, and finally looked back.

The crowd of mortals was still around them, frozen in time, unscathed and unaware. The clouds were gone, quick as they had come - but there was a sphere of light before him, crackling with electricity where Beelzebub and Gabriel had been until moments earlier. In that light, there was… something. At first Aziraphale couldn’t make it out, but as he stepped closer and the light began to dull, he could see something all right. 

And that something was a pair of folded wings. 

At first, Aziraphale thought he must be looking at the wings of a demon and wondered how Beelzebub could survive the full might of the Lord; then, as the light pulsed and faded little by little, he realized that was not it. The wings were not the pure white of angels, but neither were they midnight black. Deep brown with a golden sheen, mottled with darker brown, black, specks of white. The wings of an eagle.  

And they did not belong to Beelzebub.

One last crackle of pure energy, and the pulsing light dissolved. Aziraphale worked his jaw a moment, mouth dry, before he finally called out.

“... Gabriel?”

The wings shifted, and slowly parted. Gabriel was kneeling on the pavement, eyes blinking open as though he struggled to comprehend what was happening. In his arms, held tightly against his chest, was the Prince of Hell; their eyes were screwed shut as though they were waiting to be smited still, but they were in one piece - shielded from the full might of God by the Archangel Gabriel himself, who seemed to be just now beginning to process precisely what had transpired. 

“What…?” he muttered, and the sound of his voice caused Beelzebub’s eyes to snap open. They pulled back from his chest, on their knees themselves, and looked up at Gabriel - and at the wings spread behind him. They opened their mouth to say something, closed it, opened it again. 

“You have wings again,” they finally said. “But they don’t look like--”

Gabriel didn’t so much turn to look at them. “You are all right,” he muttered, and cupped their cheek with a long breath, smiling widely. “Thank-- whoever there is to thank, you’re--”

Beelzebub’s hand grasped the collar of Gabriel’s shirt before he could say another word, and yanked his head down in a sudden kiss. It was definitely not something Aziraphale had expected to happen and neither had Gabriel, by the looks of it, but he seemed… far from displeased. Actually he leaned into it rather enthusiastically, arms slipping around the Lord of the Flies’ waist. 

Aziraphale stepped back, feeling just a touch awkward.

“Angel, is it safe to look or no--” Crowley finally spoke up, and turned without waiting for an answer. A rather unwise move, that. His gaze fell on the scene before him, and he let out a groan. “Uuuugh! No it’s not safe, not it’s not, for Satan’s sake it’s seared in my brain now, why didn’t you warn...”

He turned again and took a few steps away, rubbing his eyes beneath the glasses. Warlock, on the other hand, remained exactly where he was - eyes shifting slowly between Gabriel’s brand new wings and Aziraphale’s own, still in full display.

“... Brother Francis, I don’t mean to be rude or anything,” he finally said. “But what, pray tell, the fuck.”

“Well…” Aziraphale hesitated a moment, knowing he couldn’t count on Crowley stepping in for an explanation for at least another ten minutes, busy as he was trying to jab his eyes out of their sockets. In the end, he said nothing and turned to survey the scene.

Time stood still and so did every single living being in sight, including the man who had wielded the knife, a horrified expression frozen on his face. Gabriel and Beelzebub didn’t seem to plan on letting their mouths part ways anytime soon, still on the very spot where Gabriel had nearly bled out to death minutes earlier. A few steps away, in the middle of the road, was Aziraphale’s antique pornography book. 

With a sigh, Aziraphale went to pick it up and tucked it under his arm, making sure to hide the cover from Warlock’s sight. 

“I believe,” he finally spoke, “that we all could use a nice cup of tea right about now.”

***

"But those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall soar on wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not be faint." -- Isaiah 40:31

***

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#good omens #ineffable beurocracy #ineffable husbands #archangel gabriel #beelzebub #crowley #aziraphale #warlock dowling #winging it

[thefandomsinhalor]

The Lucky Pairs of Christmas Underwear

An Advent Calendar fic by thefandomsinhalor 

Fandom: Supernatural

Pairing: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Gabriel/Sam Winchester

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Rating: Not Rated (it is rated as such until I finish the fic, right now it’s leaning on Mature.)

Summary: Due to heavy workloads and conflicting schedules, Sam and Dean, living in different cities, are both disappointed when it appears that they won't be able to spend the holidays together—something they had always managed to do in the past.

This turn of events, however, offers them both the opportunity to seek someone else to share their respective holidays with, and when Dean's last year crush is paired up with him at the Gift Wrapping booth, and Sam keeps running into a charming new acquaintance, by helping each other, the brothers feel hopeful that Christmas time might not be ruined after all.

Read on AO3

---

Chapter One: A Holly Jolly Time

“Dean? Hello? Did you—are you still there?”

Sitting on a very uncomfortable chair at an overpriced café, for someone of his limited means anyway, Dean swallowed hard. Still holding the phone to his ear, he lowered his eyes as he felt his heart growing heavy at the news he had just heard.

“Dean?” repeated Sam at the other end of the line.

“Yeah. Still here. Sorry. Just—I didn’t expect that.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I feel awful. It’s just—work is crazy.”

“It’s okay, Sammy. I get it. Hell, I’m in the same situation. If not worse.”

“And this is why I’m really sorry. I had agreed to be the one to—”

“Sam, stop.” He cleared his throat. “I—it sucks, but like I said, I get it. We’ve been lucky so far, but I guess that this year…” he let out a deep sigh. He couldn’t even finish the sentence.

“I promise I’ll do my best to change it, but right now, um, it doesn’t seem like I’ll be able to join you for Christmas,” Sam said in a desolate voice.

Dean nodded blankly. “Any other good news?”

Sam let out a deep sigh in turn.

“I—I just, Dean, I hate the idea that you’ll be alone for Christmas.”

“Me? I’ll be fine, Sam. What about you? What are you going to do?”

“I’ll be okay too. I’ll be at work.”

Dean lowered his phone and shook his head for a moment, and then he brought his phone back to his ear. “That’s what I mean, Sam. You, not being able to make it here because of work, deadlines and travelling schedule, that’s one thing. But to actually work on Christmas? I mean, I’m not even doing that and all I do is work.” 

“I don’t have a choice. And honestly, it’s just, you know, one day. For a few hours. Which is really annoying when said like this, but...Work will be a nice distraction. And we can still talk. And skype for the rest of the day if you want. It’s ridiculous, but we can do it. I was almost going to suggest that we postpone Christmas and meet up soon after, but….”

“Nah. I mean, even if I knew for a fact that we could do something in the following week, I feel like we would have missed it. It would still be cool, but you know.”

“That’s what I thought too,” agreed Sam. “But we should do something for New Year’s Eve. I’m definitely working on that.”

“All right. Work will still be nuts on my end, but it should have diminished a bit by then. Or maybe I could make it to your end this time.”

“Dean, no. I—unless you let me help you out with money—”

“No,” blurted out Dean.

“—but I know you won’t agree to it,” said Sam, sighing.

Biting his bottom lip, Dean pondered on Sam’s suggestion. “I’m not saying yes, but I’ll think about it,” he brought himself to say.

“You will?”

“Just because I haven’t seen your freaking face for far too long now. But still. Not a definite yes.”

“But you’ll consider it?”

“Yeah. But it’s still too early in the month to have a clue of what the situation’s going to be at that point. So, I’ll leave it to that for now.”

“All right. That’s great,” said Sam.

Dean could hear how happy Sam was at the idea, so he decided that he should make an effort to make it happen.

“And Dean, even if for whatever reason that doesn’t work out either, I promise I’ll visit you soon, okay?”

“All right, Sammy. But don’t worry. I’m—it’s disappointing, but I know you tried. It will be okay.”

“Thanks Dean. I—thanks for understanding.” There was a long pause, and then Sam asked, “So, besides that? Anything new?”

Welcoming the change to a less depressing topic, Dean said, “Not really.”

“What about work? Is the holiday frenzy rising?”

A slightly less depressing topic.

“The frenzy is settling in, all right,” he sighed.

“Is the music driving you nuts already?”

“It’s been driving me nuts for the last two weeks. I was actually freaking humming Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer yesterday and I didn’t even notice it. I only did when a customer mentioned it.”

Sam let out a laugh. “Sorry. A few more weeks and it will be all over. And it’s better than last year, right? Since you’re at the Chocolaterie this time. I thought you said it was a bit more shielded than the rest of the store now that they moved its location this year.”

“Yeah, well that was the plan, but not anymore.” Dean leaned back into his seat.

“What? I—what do you mean?”

“I was about to tell you earlier. I was transferred a couple days ago to another department. Sort of.”

“No! What? But why?”

Dean cleared his throat. “It just needed to be done.”

“Why? Dean, what does that mean?” asked Sam, nearly aggravated as though he already knew the answer.

Dean debated for a moment whether or not he should share the specifics with his brother, knowing that Sam would most undoubtedly be worried and annoyed at him.

Nor would he be shy to express his views about it.

And Dean had worked really hard to avoid this particular lecture.

But since Sam had been honest about his work situation, he concluded that he owed him the same courtesy.

So, Dean replied, “Because another position opened up at the last minute and it offered more hours. I gave my name and here we are.”

“Dean,” groaned Sam.

I knew I shouldn’t have said anything.

“It’s all right, Sam.”

“Is it? How many hours are we talking about now?”

Silence.

“Dean?”

“Twenty hours.”

Sam swore loudly. “On top of your full time job at the garage? And the gig that Jo got you with Pam?”

“I was hoping you forgot about that…”

“I didn’t. Dean, this is nuts. How are you even able to pull this off?”

Dean crossed one arm over his chest, lowering his eyes.

“Bobby is helping me out. I’m solid during the day at the garage throughout the week, so I can have my nights and the weekends to do the rest.”

“That’s not what I meant. Do you even have a day off? A night off?”

“You’re one to talk, Sam. And it’s just for December. Everything will be back to normal after that.”

“December starts tomorrow and it’s already insane. And answer the question.”

Dean sighed. “I work at the store on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. And in the afternoon during the weekend. And then Saturday nights, I wait at Pam’s events, which is really not a big deal. I did it this summer. It’s good money.”

“You did it once, Dean. One wedding. Not four in a row on top of—”

“No weddings this time. Pam said it will be Christmas parties for companies. The first one is tonight. It’s gonna be fine.”

“That leaves you with what, though? For free time?”

“I still have my evenings Sunday through Tuesday.”

“If you’re not pulling extra hours at the garage, you mean? Which I’m guessing you’re already doing in the mornings during the weekends? Am I right?”

“Sam,” warned Dean.

Sam remained silent for a good minute, until he said, “Dean, I’m worried.”

“Don’t be. It’s all going to go in the piggy bank so I’ll be able to catch my breath during the harsh winter,” he joked.

Sam let out a deep sigh. “And what about the new position at the store? Shit, Dean. I—I know you were really happy about—you were actually looking forward to the Chocolaterie. Now, I feel even worse about not being able to go.”

“It’s not your fault. And anyway, it’s just a job for the holidays. No matter what it is, we both know the novelty would have worn off eventually.”

“Okay, hold on here. Because we both know the real reason you wanted to work in that department. And it had absolutely nothing to do with the job in question…”

Dean pursed his lips, lifting his head to look at the ceiling, annoyed.

“Ugh. Not this again, Sam. I told you, it was…it’s not important.”

“Bull. You’ve been whining about this guy for, like, literally a freaking year now. A year.”

“Well, whatever,” urged Dean. “Doesn’t change anything now as he’s not even here.”

“But you said that last year he hadn’t shown up until a week or so before Christmas.”

“I said I only noticed him at the end of the season. Nuance.”

“But you also said they had added employees as Christmas approached. So maybe he was one of them. And he will be this year too.”

Dean let out a sigh. “I don’t know, Sam. All I can do is wait and see.” And after a short pause, he added in an urgent manner, “If I cared. Which, I don’t. Not really.”

Sam snorted. “Right.”

“What about you, huh? Made any headway with your office crush?”

“I—there’s been progress.”

“Yeah? Asked her out yet?”

“In a manner of speaking.”

At the sound of Sam clearing his throat, Dean shook his head.

“Did you or did you not ask her out, Sam?”

“I…okay, I haven’t yet, but—”

“God, Sam,” said Dean, cutting him off. “What are you waiting for?”

“If you would let me finish, I was going to say I’m going to. I’m just waiting for the right opportunity.”

“And when’s that? On your wedding day?”

Sam huffed. “I’ll get to it. The timing and the setting have to be right.”

Dean was not impressed by this statement.

“Don’t wait too long.”

“I won’t.”

Not wanting to push it too far, Dean asked, “Got anything else planned for today?

“Not sure. Kevin texted me. He and some of his friends are going out tonight. He told me the address of the bar. He said he invited Bela too…”

“Perfect! You can make your move then. You’re going, right?”

“I don’t know. I have so much work to do.”

“Sam, I swear if you don’t go, I will somehow teleport to Chicago and drag you there myself.”

“Dean, this isn’t really my scene.”

“That’s precisely why you should go. Live a little. And if Bela’s there, she gets to see you somewhere else than at the office. A different setting, like you’ve been waiting for. And if she’s not there, you still get to have fun.”

“But hitting on her at a bar? Like, that’s just—that’s not really how I had pictured it.”

“Sam, maybe start by finding out if she’s interested? And when you know that she is, feel free to execute whatever fantasy of courtship you had planned out,” he said with a grin on his face. “At least, go to the damn bar and enjoy yourself, huh?”

“In which department are you working at The Milton’s now?” asked Sam.

“Changing the subject, huh? Nice try.”

“I’ll think about what you said,” he assured him. “But I’m curious and you didn’t say earlier.”

There was a reason for that.

“The…I’m working at the Gift Wrapping Booth.”

There was a pregnant pause. “Sorry, the what?”

Dean groaned. “You heard me.”

After a long pause, Sam said, “I see.” Sam hadn’t laughed, but Dean knew full well his brother was most likely holding down a massive fit of laughter. “I’m—wait, aren’t those usually managed by volunteers? And it’s for donations or—”

“It still is. The donation part, I mean. Look, I don’t know the whole story, but apparently, there was an issue last year with some of the volunteers, so this time, they decided to offer their own Gift Wrapping services. Nothing has changed. Every customer is entitled to the services, to donate however much they want, and all the funds goes to the Children’s Hospital, just like last year. The only difference is that the store is employing people instead of relying on volunteers.”

“Is this unusual?”

“I have no clue, but it creates jobs, so I’m not gonna complain about it. It’s actually kinda nice of them to do that since they really don’t have to. And the store is providing the wrapping paper and everything, and let me tell you, it’s not the cheap stuff either.”

“Cool. Cool. I just have one question.”

Dean rolled his eyes. “Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

“Had they seen you wrap anything before they gave you the job or…”

“It’s wrapping, not rocket science.”

“Dean.”

“I’m fine,” he said defensively. And then, after a short hesitation, he added, “They do have a certain fancy way of doing it.”

“Thought so.”

“But I’ll manage. I practiced at home a bit—I mean it’s wrapping for God’s sake!”

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine, Dean. I was just curious,” said Sam sincerely. “And how do you feel about it so far?”

“Well,” sighed Dean, “honestly, it’s been somewhat uneventful. I’m the only one in the booth—it’s more like a box, but whatever. At least I don’t have anyone boring to tear my ears off, but people haven’t been super eager to have their purchases wrapped so far. So it’s basically been me, sitting on a stupid chair and looking at people buying stuff I can’t afford. While listening to the same twelve songs.”

“Well, I don’t know if that’s encouraging or not, but I’m pretty sure the pace will pick up soon enough.”

“Yeah. Not sure that’s a silver lining.” Moving the phone away from his ear, Dean looked at the time on his phone. “All right,” he said, after putting the phone back, “I have to head back. My break is almost over. I’m lucky they even give me one, so… Thanks for the phone call.”

“Same. Though, I wish I had better news. Hang in there, Dean. The holiday season will be over soon.”

“I will. I’ll call you back tonight after my gig. And you better not answer because you’re out having fun for once,” he said with glee.

“We’ll see.”

“You freaking better.”

“Fine! Bye!”

Dean, walking to his booth, trying not to drag his feet, passed by toys’ department and spotted his friends, Charlie and Jo, looking at the board games.

Not in a talking mood, he simply waved at them and continued his route.

“Dean, wait!” said Jo.

Dean came to halt and let his friends catch up to him. “Sorry, I have to go back.”

“We’ll walk with you a minute,” said Jo. “Are you still good for tonight?”

“Yup. Pam called me Thursday night to double check. She gave me the address and everything. And a reminder of the regulations. I’m trying not to take it personally,” he said, beaming.

“Don’t. She did the same for me too.”

“Thanks again for giving her my name.”

“No problem.”

“You going too, Charlie?”

“Yes,” she sighed. “Which sucks. That’s when I had my D&D meet ups.”

“Create a new one, then,” said Jo. “I’ll join.”

Charlie lifted an eyebrow. “Don’t toy with me, Harvelle.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Then Charlie, smiling, said, “You think we can convince this one too,” she said, poking Dean’s chest with her finger.”

“If I had time to have a life,” he said, “I would.”

Charlie squinted at him. “We’ll have to see about that then.” Continuing walking side by side, she asked him, “So, do you like your new position, Dean?”

“I’m not thrilled, but it’s not bad, either. And if I’m honest, it’s certainly an improvement from last year…”

“That wasn’t very hard to beat,” pointed out Charlie, remembering full well as she had been stuck in the same boat as he had.

“True.”

Having reached the booth, Dean pushed the half-door, stepped inside the booth, and approached the counter facing the girls.

“Wait, I thought you were at the Chocolaterie?” said Jo. “That was like perfect for you.”

“Yeah. I agree,” said Dean. “But I switched for the hours.”

“So, who is manning the Chocolaterie now?”

“Meg,” said Charlie. “I saw her this morning.”

“What?” exclaimed Dean. “Oh, man! I didn’t even know she was back.” And he made a face of disgust.

“She’s actually not that bad,” said Charlie.

An opinion that was not, it seemed, overly shared with her friends.

“Not that I care about that kind of stuff, but she always seemed kind of a manipulator to me,” said Jo.

“I don’t trust her,” said Dean simply.

Charlie lifted an eyebrow. “Um, one, you barely trust anyone. And two, I’m pretty sure the main reason why you don’t like her is because you saw her lurking around that guy you had heart-eyes for last year.”

Jo turned briskly towards her. “What’s that now?” A smirk appeared on her face. “What guy?”

“You didn’t know this?” asked Charlie.

“No. What guy?” she repeated.

“No one,” said Dean, busying himself by moving the wrapping paper around, which was utterly unnecessary.

“Not no one,” said Charlie. “Last year, there was this guy—dark hair, killer blue eyes, about yay-high—he was one of those last-minute employees. You know the ones who are brought in within the last few days before Christmas for emergencies, substitution or additional help?”

Jo nodded, understanding and eager to hear the rest.

“Okay, well, last year,” she continued, “Dean and I were elves helping out kids to have their picture taken with Santa. Which was not very far from the Chocolaterie. And this guy showed up just a few days before Christmas for additional help there, and from that moment on, all Dean did was constantly stare at his pretty face.”

“I didn’t constantly stare at him…”

“You didn’t ask him out?” said Jo.

Dean, pursing his lips, let out a deep sigh. “I never got to. As it was the last days before Christmas, I didn’t have one second to myself. I don’t even know his name or even exchanged a few words with him. And I didn’t work here after Christmas. I, um, did stop by the store a few times, but…and since I’ve been back, I tried to find out if anyone knew anything, but I haven’t had much luck so far.”

“I asked around too since they kept me on after Christmas, but nothing,” said Charlie.

“The only one who may have something is Meg and the only thing she had said to me last year was that his name was Clarence and I’m pretty sure it’s a goddamn lie. Hence: I don’t trust her.”

“Uh-huh. Were they a thing?” asked Jo to Charlie. “‘Clarence’ and Meg, I mean.”

“Who knows?” said Charlie. “It’s possible. I think Meg was the only one who got to interact with him. But he didn’t stay around for that long and I haven’t heard anything suggesting that either. The guy’s a mystery.”

Frowning, something was still bothering Jo. “Why not ask Rowena? If anyone knows who he is, it would be her, no?”

But Dean and Charlie shook their heads. “Rowena wasn’t here last year, remember? It was that atrocious-ass Adler.”

“Right. I think I had repressed that,” she said with a grim face. “Still, there has to be a way to find out. A record or something?”

But Dean was officially done with the subject. “Whatever,” he shrugged. “It’s not like my life depends on it. It was, like, one guy. Who may or may not have been good-looking. From afar. Whatever.”

Charlie and Jo exchanged devious looks.

Ones that made Dean roll his eyes. He waved them goodbye, as he knew they both needed to head back to their own departments, and watched them stroll down the aisle.

And so, left by himself, and with no customers in sight (for him, at the very least), just as he had told Sam, Dean pulled up a chair, sat down and…waited.

Attempting to seem alert and ready to help.

And not appear overly depressed at doing nothing.

At least it’s not complicated and it certainly beats dealing with rude customers.

On the other hand, killing time by staring in front of him blankly felt like a waste of time. Even if he was technically earning money while doing it.

But he knew he shouldn’t complain. As Sam had mentioned earlier, soon enough, he would most likely reminisce on the time when he was bored out of his skull.

But being kept in that booth with nothing else to do but to watch the people around him, while he was stuck alone, served as a painful allegory to his life. Everything around him was moving and there he stood, waiting for someone to come to him, while he was expected to just smile as if he was having the time of his life.

And now, the one silver lining he had had for the holidays was apparently gone as well.

No Sammy. No traditional cookies. And no making fun of old Christmas movies, while eating junk food and drinking eggnog.

They had never spent Christmas apart before. Even when Sam had been away at college. Even when either of them had been in a serious relationship (though that had mostly been Sam’s case, not Dean’s), they had still celebrated the holidays together.

No matter what. That was their thing.

And now he would have to spend it on his own.

Alone.

Assuming he would survive the crazy amount of workload awaiting him in December.

And not be driven mad by this infuriating Christmas music.

Awesome.

I hate my life.

“Hello.”

Dean nearly jumped out of his skin. A hand over his heart, he turned to his left only to realize someone was standing next to him.

In the booth.

“My apologies, I didn’t mean to startle you. I was told to join you today.”

Regaining his composure, Dean said, “Cool. Um, the place has been pretty de—”

And the rest of his sentence died in his throat, the moment his eyes fell on his new co-worker.

Dark hair.

Killer blue eyes.

About yay-high.

It’s him.

And he’s here.

With me.

At the freaking booth.

Dean gawked at him.

Chapped lips.

Stubble beard.

And a deep voice that—

And all I’ve been doing is staring at him like a complete moron.

“Hi!” Dean nearly yelled, waving his hand.

Stop now.

And he immediately dropped his hand.

“Hello,” the man repeated.

“Dean,” said Dean, pointing at himself.

“Hello, Dean. I’m Castiel. Nice to meet you.”

Castiel.

“Um, same. Hi, Castiel.”

And he smiled at him like an idiot.

--End of Chapter One----

Read Chapter Two and the rest of the fic on AO3 :)

#spnpetra #spn fic #xmas fic #advent calendar #destiel fluff #sabriel fanfic #my fanfic #christmas shopping #spn xmas

[cute1dfacts]

New Zealand dollar hurt by jobs setback; investors eye Fed meeting

New Post has been published on https://worldwide-finance.net/news/commodities-futures-news/new-zealand-dollar-hurt-by-jobs-setback-investors-eye-fed-meeting

New Zealand dollar hurt by jobs setback; investors eye Fed meeting

© Reuters. Illustration photo of a New Zealand Dollar note

By Tommy Wilkes

LONDON (Reuters) – The New Zealand dollar fell on Wednesday after weak jobs data added to expectations for an interest rate cut as investors worldwide waited for news from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at the end of a two-day policy meeting.

Trading was thin with large parts of Asia and Europe off on holiday, and most currency pairs were trading within tight ranges.

The Fed meeting comes after a run of strong U.S. economic data last month sent the dollar surging to a two-year high.

“The risk for this Fed meeting is that, unless the FOMC meets the market’s dovish expectation for their stance, we would expect another leg higher in USD,” Mizuho strategists said in a note.

The dollar, measured against a basket of currencies, was little changed at 97.460.

The euro inched higher against the dollar, hitting $1.1224. Strong economic growth data out of the euro zone on Tuesday had pushed it higher and prompted some short covering from hedge funds who have been betting big against the single currency in recent weeks.

The big mover of the day was the New Zealand dollar, which fell half a percent after government data showed employment unexpectedly fell in the March quarter, even as the jobless rate eased a tick to 4.2 percent.

Markets responded by further cutting the odds on a rate cut from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, which has already stated that the next move was likely to be down. The RBNZ holds its policy meeting next week.

The was 0.4 percent lower at $0.6649 at 0720 GMT.

“The RBNZ appears to be ahead of other G10 central banks in shifting to a more dovish policy stance, and this adjustment should continue to keep the kiwi under downward pressure in the near-term,” MUFG analysts wrote.

The Australian dollar was little moved by the weakness in its neighbor, trading at $0.70525.

Sterling extended its run this week to hit a new two-week high, supported by growing optimism that the ruling Conservative and opposition Labour parties can break the Brexit deadlock in their negotiations over how to leave the European Union.

The pound rose 0.1 percent to $1.3058, leaving it up 1.6 percent so far this week.

The Japanese yen fell marginally to 111.50 yen per dollar in quiet trading. Japanese markets are closed for a series of holidays.

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[myaustralia5-blog]

35 Things You Want to Know Prior to Traveling to Australia

My Australia

1. Due to its enormous size, Australia provides a broad selection of climatic zones - in the temperate climes of Southern Australia into the tropical humidity of north Queensland and the arid desert heat of the inside. The summer months (December to February) are usually the very popular for seeing coastal regions like Sydney and Melbourne, while winter (June to August) is a fantastic time to explore the Red Centre.

My Australia

2. Winters are usually mild across the southern countries, but temperatures could be surprisingly nippy in Tasmania.

3. Back in Australia, the very long summer, particularly the 2 weeks around Christmas Day, is the busiest period of the season and also you need to book flights and accommodation well in advance if you'd like to be in Australia during this period.

4. Also Keep in Mind that resort lodging  Is at a premium throughout major sporting events like the Melbourne Cup (first Tuesday in November), the Australian Open (also in Melbourne, each January), Adelaide's engine occasion in March and the Australian Grand Prix held in Melbourne during March.

5. Unless You're an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you'll require a visa to enter Australia.  It is possible to apply for a selection of visas, such as tourist visas and working holiday visas, but you have to do this prior to leaving home.

6. Back in Australia, tipping is becoming a lot more common, particularly in pubs and pubs. Giving 10 percent of the Entire invoice Is Usually considered proper

7. Back in Australia, driving is on the left, therefore many UK guests will feel at home.

8. Australia is a casual society - do not be surprised to be known as"partner" by strangers.

9. Dress codes are both relaxed: when exercising, except in smart restaurants, most guys wear shorts and T-shirts.

10. Australians have a strong sense of humor.

11. If you are aged between 18 and 30 you might be qualified to apply for a Working Holiday Visa, letting you live, travel and work anywhere in Australia for a year.

12. You can apply for vacation working license if you meet the following requirements

• Be aged between 18 and 30 (inclusive) in the beginning of employing

If You're awarded a Working Holiday Visa, you are able to:

• Input Australia anytime in 12 months of the visa grant

• Stay for up to 12 weeks in Australia

• Leave and re-enter Australia any number of occasions in the 12 months from the date of original entry

• Undertake temporary employment in Australia for up to six weeks with any company

13. Having another Working Holiday Visa you can extend your stay in Australia or return again for one more year until you turn 31. To acquire the next visa, you want to have done a minimum of 3 weeks'specified work', such as fruit harvesting, in a qualified regional place.

14. Australia is a remarkably varied island, continent, and country- both culturally and geographically speaking.

15. Virtually all of Australia's population lives within 50 kilometers of the shoreline.

16. As a former penal colony, the nation is currently a combination of contemporary cosmopolitan civilization and historical Aboriginal customs.

17. A trip to Australia guarantees excellent nightlife, sightseeing, and daring adventures to remember forever.

18. The very best time for Australia travel is involving mid-April to late August, when airfares are the cheapest, although the peak travel season in many areas of Australia is through their winter, the very pleasant time to go to Australia is from April through September.

19. Daytime Temperatures are hot, and it seldom rains. September and October are perfect, once the heat is enough to protect you on the shore in the southern countries and the wildflowers of Western Australia have been in blossom.

Hostels Begin at 20 AUD per night for a dorm room, although they get as large as 40 from the large coastal cities.  Personal rooms with a double bed and a shared bath in hostels array between 80-100 AUD each night.

20. For budget resorts, you're seeking to spend around 75-95 AUD to get a double room, private toilet, TV, and breakfast. Larger, string hotels cost nearer to 200 AUD. Camping prices between 15-30 AUD each night (cheaper if you bring your own tent, more costly if you are parking an RV).

21. Food is not cheap in Australia! Most decent restaurant Eateries price at least 20 AUD.  The ideal value food would be the Indian and Asian restaurants where you could find a really satisfying meal for under $10 AUD!

22. Local city buses and trains price 3-4 AUD. The hottest and most affordable way to travel would be to push yourself.

23. Flying can be quite expensive as a result of limited competition, particularly if going from shore to shore. I normally avoid flying in Australia unless I'm pressed for time or there's a sale.

24. Multi-day Tours and activities are expensive, usually costing 400-540 AUD. Day excursions will cost approximately 135-230 AUD. As an instance, a one-way visit to the fantastic Barrier Reef can price 230 AUD as a two-night sailing trip round the Whitsunday Islands can cost up of 540 AUD. A three-day Visit to Uluru out of Alice Springs is about 480 AUD. Walking tours are approximately 50 AUD and afternoon excursions to wine regions are between 150-200 AUD.

25. Suggested daily funding - $60-80 AUD / / 43-57 USD (Notice: This is a proposed budget assuming you are staying at a hostel, eating a bit, cooking all your foods, and utilizing local transport. This also depends heavily on the amount of excursions you're doing! Employing the budget suggestions below, you always have the option to reduce this amount. But should you keep in fancier lodging or eat more frequently, anticipate this to be greater!)

26. The amount of crime is not any greater than in the united kingdom. Be cautious with personal possessions and travel records in towns and popular tourist destinations.

27. Avoid carrying everything in 1 bag. Do not  Leave bags unattended in vehicles, public areas or nightclubs.  Theft from safety deposit boxes is normal in the more affordable hotels and hostels.  Be particularly attentive at night at the busy tourist regions of Sydney such as Kings Crossdown city George Street, Hyde Park and Centennial Park.

28. There have been a few significant sexual assaults against British nationals in Australia.  Be careful at the city center of Alice Springs in the nighttime. There have been quite a few incidents of harassment, robberies and attacks (including sexual assault) on overseas tourists.

29. Alcohol and drugs may result in you being alert, less accountable and not as conscious of your surroundings. If you're going to drink, know your limit.  Drinks served in pubs abroad tend to be more powerful than people in the united kingdom.

30. Beware of scams where potential tenants Are requested to move a deposit into an overseas bank accounts in exchange for keys into a rental home in Australia. British travellers have fallen prey to such scams.

31. You can reduce the danger of  Losing your passport by acquiring a proof of credit. This can be a recognized form of ID for several services such as opening bank account or entering licensed premises. By acquiring a card shortly after you arrive you may limit the requirement to take your passport with you.

32. In case your passport is stolen or lost you could have the ability to acquire an Emergency Travel Document in the nearest British Consulate. .

33. Australia is a massive country. If you are researching national parks it may take some time to get help in the case of an emergency.

34. The terrain and extreme heat could have a serious influence on your capabilities. Take loads of water and also a way of rigging up shield from sunlight.

35. Australia is home to some of dangerous Animal species, out of crocodiles, jellyfish and sharks to venomous  Insects, snakes and spiders are present in many areas of the nation.

[obsidianarchives]

To All The Wizards: The Date

January trudged on with freezing wind and icy rain. Professor Flitwick led the Charms Club in special measures to strengthen the heating charms placed around the castle. Students spent most of their time huddled around fires with their friends, avoiding going outdoors when at all possible.

It was just as well. The start of the new term had brought heaps of new work that most students, besides Hermione, had not been expecting. Harry had additionally been tasked by Dumbledore with retrieving a memory from Professor Slughorn. Hermione knew the assignment must be incredibly important for Dumbledore to personally task him with it. However, instead of heeding her advice on how to carefully retrieve it, he had approached Professor Slughorn after a particularly irksome lesson that left Slughorn lauding his potion making skills, per Ron’s advice, and asked him directly. Unsurprisingly, this didn’t work, and Professor Slughorn had shut him out since.

That Potions class in particular was also why she wasn’t speaking to Harry. They had been instructed to devise and brew an antidote for a poison they selected at random. This was an assignment that would require a working understanding and application of the theory, something the Prince could not do for Harry. However, despite her hard work, he had still managed to cheat his way through the lesson.

She had been certain the milky white poison she selected was Bane of Beasts. Specialis Revelio had confirmed that its ingredients included baneberry, death caps, and lacewing flies. This was her moment, she knew it.

A feeling of guilt had crept over her, as she stirred the contents of her cauldron, glancing at Dean who had been hunched over his cauldron, muscles taut in deep concentration, sweat dripping off his brow. She wished she could sit next to him so that she could help. That she could tell, Dean was over-stirring his antidote when it needed to sit and simmer. Glancing at Harry, meanwhile, proved that he was stumped, staring frustratingly at the Prince’s book.

Quickly, she’d shoved a few last ingredients into her bottle as Professor Slughorn walked around. It wasn’t complete, but it was no doubt closer than anyone else’s in the classroom. She felt smug as Professor Slughorn came around to their table. Bane of Beasts was a poison more commonly used in North America because of its use of baneberries. Unless someone had read the entirety of Advanced Potion-Making, they wouldn’t have read the last section regarding foreign poisons and their antidotes.

All of her hope soon dissipated, however, as Professor Slughorn stood over Harry, marveling at the shriveled bezoar that sat on the table in front of him. He had been so taken with Harry’s nerve that he hadn’t even looked at her antidote, and even though — like the rest of the class — she hadn’t finished, her attempt hadn’t even been marked.

She had stormed out of the classroom, livid. It took Dean’s best cautious attempts at soothing her and assuring her that everyone knew Harry was a fraud to convince her not to break down Professor Slughorn’s office door and force him to mark her antidote.

Instead, she redirected her energy into being angry with Harry. As far as she was concerned, if he’d rather rely on the Prince than put an honest effort into anything then maybe the blasted book could help him get Slughorn’s memory and find out about Horcruxes for him.

Of course, she was still concerned. She just refused to tell him anything about it. The library had still proved unfruitful in her many attempts at locating any literature on “Horcruxes.” All the while, the news in the Daily Prophet was constantly reminding her of the urgency of the tasks at hand. Some days the weight of it was too much and she couldn’t finish reading the paper. If disappearances and burning fields were what they were printing, what were the things they were hiding?

One Tuesday in late January, Dean and Hermione were looking over the Prophet together, as they had taken to doing over breakfast.

“Any news?” Seamus asked, peeking his head over the top of the paper.

Hermione set the paper down and with a sigh said, “‘Farmhouse and nearby farmland set ablaze south of Dungannon, suspected work of Death Eaters’.”

“What in Merlin’s name are they burnin’ out there for?” Seamus asked incredulously.

Dean and Hermione exchanged looks. The Death Eaters had been getting bolder since the holiday break. They were committing blatant acts of terror, but thus far had kept it out of urban areas, not daring to assert themselves that boldly against the Ministry. People were frightened. But apparently, there were those who still weren’t frightened enough, who thought things weren’t serious until the terror was brought to their back doors.

“What in Merlin’s name are they doing any of this for, mate?” Dean said a bit harshly. He stabbed at the eggs on his plate, gripping Hermione’s hand tightly with his other hand.

Seamus, tactfully realizing when more thoughts from him weren’t welcome, bowed out of the conversation.

Even with Harry off, busy courting both Draco Malfoy and The Prince, Hermione found herself easing into her new routine. Without Harry and Ron around, she generally found herself lonely. Especially last term, she had spent a lot of her time missing Ron, but she wasn’t now.

On the one hand, this might be because she found that she was, despite herself, less angry with him. There were times his blue eyes would find hers across the classroom, and she could still faintly feel her heart race. And though his treatment of her hadn’t much improved, she felt more accepting and less angry at the situation they were in.

Meanwhile, she was spending more and more time with Dean. It was beginning to feel like they were becoming friends in their own right. There was their public persona, which was still garnering quite a bit of attention. Since she had sat in his lap, Dean had taken it as some sort of challenge. Who could outdo the other as the superior significant other? Hermione’s favorite play was to sit on the floor against his legs while he sat in an armchair in the common room as she looked over his essay or homework. Dean would sometimes play with her hair, or braid it like he would for his sisters as he looked over her shoulder at her corrections, his breath tickling the back of her neck. This seemed to irritate both Weasleys to no end, to the point that they would disappear from the common room altogether.

Generally, Dean won in the sentimentality aspect, with all of the sketches he was still providing. He had treated her to a few more of his more detailed pieces. She now had a sketch of Seamus cheering from the Gryffindor Quidditch stands, one of Luna sitting on the ground, legs crossed, Quibbler in her lap, and one of Neville bent over some succulents in the greenhouse. He drew whatever inspired him or whatever he thought she’d like to see that day.

None of this, however, was what Hermione liked best. Her favorite moments were when they were by themselves, with no Weasleys, no Seamus, and no other prying eyes around. This is when they could laugh and joke about their predicament or at the antics of the wizards around them that seemed bizarre to them as Muggle-borns.

They had passed an enjoyable afternoon in just this manner, the Friday before their first Apparition Lesson. They were situated at a table in the library near the windows — Dean sat across from Hermione, who was surrounded with books on the theory and principles of Apparition. Outside was a muddle of grey and white. More freezing rain fell from grey clouds, creating slush with the grey week-old snow banks on the grounds below.

Hermione was engrossed in Flying Feats in Artful Apparition. It was a nice change of pace from all of the other literature on the subject, full of horror stories of hideous splinches and people who had Apparated and never arrived at their destination. Dean had spent most of the day teasing her for being over-worried. Once she had threatened to take House points for being disruptive in the library, he finally agreed to leave her be and work on some new sketches with the new charmed pencil set she had bought him.

As she read, she came across the story of a man who was recorded to have successfully Apparated the furthest distance in history (1,707 km). Particularly intrigued by this, she pulled out the quill she had tucked behind her ear and began scribbling on her parchment, making notes for later research.

Dean chuckled. Hermione looked up to see him smiling slightly, watching her. When her gaze met his, he didn’t look away. He leaned forward, hands clasped in front of him, propped on his elbows. His shirt sleeves were rolled up again, no smudges of ink on his forearms this time.

A smirk played on his lips before he finally said, “You’re cute.”

Hermione’s stomach did a somersault as if she were riding the back of a Thestral that had dropped into a sudden dive. She furrowed her brow, confused. Turning in her seat to look around, she found the library was mostly empty. There were no Weasleys around, or anyone else for that matter, only Madam Pince with a large stack of books in her boney arms, three more stacks floating behind her. She turned back to him. Was he joking?

“W-what?”

He leaned back in his chair, seemingly satisfied with her reaction. “You heard me, Granger.” He opened his sketchbook back to the page he had been working on, unbothered, as if he always complimented her in this way.

Her nose wrinkled, as she realized what was going on. A blush was threatening to bloom on her cheeks, and she felt uncomfortable. “Don’t flirt.”

“Oh, is that in the contract as well, then?” he said, not looking up from his sketch. There was laughter in his voice. He was laughing at her. Of course he was. They were friends and he was clearly teasing her.

Indignantly, she pressed on. “This isn’t some teen drama TV show. We don’t flirt.”

He pretended to be focused on his sketching.

“Besides,” she said with a sigh, “I’m not Ginny. Conserve your energy.”

She had meant it as a joke, but he looked up from his sketch then, his warm eyes searching hers. The distinct feeling of having said something she shouldn’t have came over her. Things were going well with their plan, she thought. Perhaps he and Ginny had had an argument. Should she not have brought her up?

After a moment he seemed to come out of whatever thoughts he was having and instead said, “Have you thought about what you might want to do next week for the Hogsmeade trip? Madam Pudifoot’s is a treat this time of year.” Another joke.

The school had been buzzing about the upcoming Hogsmeade trip for weeks. It was a Hogsmeade trip on Valentine’s Day weekend. Hermione had never cared for the day. Shops were overcrowded, sweets and pastries were overpriced. She had fully intended to spend the day curled up in the good chair by the fireplace, reading up on any material their Apparition Instructor recommended.

“I don’t think I want to go,” she said, no longer looking at him, trying to ignore her irritation from the previous conversation.

They could hear Madam Pince shuffling amongst the stacks a few rows over. Dean leaned in close and said in an insistent whisper, “It’s in the contract that we would go to Hogsmeade together.”

“Yes, but it’s going to be madness if we try to go next weekend. Everyone is planning on going that day!” Hermione said desperately. She couldn’t think of anything she’d least like doing on Valentine’s Day weekend than going to that tea shop.

“You’re my girlfriend. What will it look like if I don’t do anything for you on Valentine’s Day?” Before she could open her mouth to respond that she, in fact, wasn’t his girlfriend, he added in exasperation, “I know you aren’t my actual girlfriend. Look, don’t let Ginny’s attitude fool you. She may look like she doesn’t care about that stuff, but if she knows I’ve taken you out for the day it will drive her crazy.”

The eye roll came of its own accord. She sympathized with his plight, she did. But she felt unwilling to give up a perfect and quiet day of studying to the grimy hands of the Valentine’s Day crowd. “I’m not trying to drive her crazy. I just want to help you, help make her aware of her own feelings, if they’re there.”

“Trust me, if they are there, you going with me will absolutely stir them up a bit. Besides, don’t you want Ron to see you having a perfectly good and unbothered Valentine’s Day weekend?”

Of course, when he put it like that, she couldn’t say no. It would look bad if they didn’t go. She didn’t want Ron to even think she was moping around, because of him or any boy. Besides, if they didn’t honor the contract, what was the point of any of this?

So a week later, she found herself walking hand in hand with Dean, down to Hogsmeade the Saturday after Valentine’s Day.

The actual day-of had already proven to be a trial for all who had to bear witness to the antics of Lavender and Won-Won. She had made Ron a huge and rather loud singing card that stood as tall as she did. When opened, little cherubs flew out and threw glitter and confetti at the recipient. This of course was fine, because Lavender had bought them matching pink jumpers with hearts on them, in which she insisted he change into, once he was covered in glitter from the attack. She then spent the rest of the day following and cooing after Ron, who bore it fairly well, looking more like he was serving a detention with Filch.

The morning of the Hogsmeade trip, however, they had left Ron and Lavender arguing in the common room. Giving into her more selfish thoughts, Hermione enjoyed having the consolation of knowing they may not join the festivities at all, while she would be seen out having a great time with her boyfriend, Dean.

A cold breeze whipped past them as they walked onto the Hogwarts grounds. Shivering, Hermione moved closer to Dean. Although the weather was still cold, there was no longer any snow on the ground. Taking advantage of any respite from the winter weather, most students had shed their winter cloaks for their lighter every day cloaks, paired with festive pink and red scarves and hats. Hermione wished she hadn’t been so hasty, and had opted for her coat rather than her lighter pink jacket.

Casually, Dean pulled her closer, throwing his arm around her as they walked. They stumbled a bit and he laughed.

“Couldn't conjure a couple of blue flames in a jar could you?”

“Ah, but if we carried those around how could we hold hands and signal to everyone that we are, in fact, dating?” Hermione said knowingly.

He squeezed her tighter, chuckling. “Too right you are. In favor of the mission, I suppose we'll have to make do.”

Looking at Dean, in his leather bomber jacket, eyes alight with excitement, it occurred to Hermione that maybe this might actually be fun. She'd spent so much time dreading the crowds and simpering couples, she hadn't stopped to consider that it would essentially just be a day spent hanging out with Dean, when away from prying eyes.

Dean looked away from her and grimaced. Following his line of sight she saw Peter Davis, a 7th year Ravenclaw, and his girlfriend Sabrina Stevens, a 7th year Hufflepuff, cooing at each other. Hermione wondered if a love potion had been employed by either of them.

Clearing his throat, Dean said, “I suppose we should count ourselves lucky we found each other to be in a fake-relationship with. Anyone else might have expected that.” He indicated towards Davis and Stevens, who were now somehow tangled up with each other while still walking.

“We are lucky I suppose. That looks awful.” They laughed together as they strolled through the grounds entrance flanked by two winged boar statues. After a moment of thought, Hermione added, “It almost could have been Ernie Macmillan for me. What a nightmare.”

“Ernie? Why Ernie?”

“He was one of the ones who received my, erm, notes. He was decidedly not happy about it.”

Dean gaped at her, dropping his arm from her shoulders. “You considered Ernie as a potential boyfriend? You know he’s gay, right?”

“You don’t know that he’s gay.” Dean gave her a doubtful look. “And yes. He has the second best marks in most classes.”

“But he’s a pompous idiot!” Hermione shrugged sheepishly at him. “I mean, I suppose that’s a hex dodged, but your choice in men Hermione, I just don’t know.”

Instead of explaining that she too had come to that conclusion in her notes, she stopped, placing her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong with my choice in men?” Sure, not all of the boys who she had taken an interest in were winners, but she was young. Mistakes happen when you’re still learning.

“Well Ernie we’ve covered. Viktor was apparently about as bright as a mountain troll. Ron, no explanation needed there.”

With each name he ticked off on his finger, she let out another cry of indignation. At the end of his list she reached to whack him on the head, which he easily dodged. “Viktor is very kind! And I wrote a ‘note’ to both Harry and you, didn’t I? My taste in men can’t be that bad.”

He rolled his eyes and began walking, leaving her to catch up with him. “Sure. You included Harry in your notes specifically to rule him out. That leaves you one out of four. Odds say you have bad — taste —” Each of these last words resulted in a poke in Hermione’s side.

“Five,” she said, correcting him.

“Five? Five what?”

She stared at the village looming ahead, refusing to look at him. “Five notes.”

“You wrote notes about five boys? Who else, then?” Dean looked agitated. He looked at her insistently, demanding to know who else might have received the honor of getting an accidental letter from herself. It was actually quite funny.

“Oliver Wood.” As soon as she said it, her smug demeanor was replaced with a searing blush. She had never told anyone that she had ever had a crush on Oliver Wood. It had been short lived, from first year until third — a school girl crush.

“Wood?!” If Ernie had surprised him, Oliver Wood had left him gobsmacked. Seeing that she didn’t intend to convey anymore than that, he pressed on. “Why Wood? What did he say? Did he owl you?”

“No, of course not,” she said waving him away. “I imagine he’s busy with traveling for matches and training. He probably missed the owl altogether.” That’s what she had assumed, what she had hoped. Her letters to Viktor often got missed when he was traveling internationally. Besides, he would likely barely remember her if he had received her letter. How odd it would seem to get a letter from a girl from your school days gushing about her old crush on you. She shook her head, No, he couldn’t have received it.

“Do you just think Quidditch players make good potential suitors or something?”

“Suitors?” She raised an eyebrow and snorted. “No, I had a small crush on him in like first year. It wasn’t cause he was handsome, although he was. He was just so driven, and kind, and watching him on a broom—”

“Earth to Hermione.” Dean snapped in front of her face. She had trailed off, stopping in the middle of the road, while she stared out in the distance, eyes full of memory and imagination. “So you do have a thing for Quidditch players. Alright, alright! No need to hit me. I, too, have dated a Quidditch player, I get it.”

He was smirking at her. How insufferable. She narrowed her eyes at him. “If you tell anyone Dean, I swear I will hex you.”

He raised his hands in surrender. “No worries, Granger. Shall we add it to the contract?” His eyes were shining down at her, as they always did when he was feeling playful.

Without a word of response, she continued walking. Couples moved around them quickly, eager to secure a table at Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop. The faint smell of sweets and freshly baked bread rose to meet them. It was so inviting, Hermione couldn’t help but smile at the thought of sitting with a plate of biscuits and a warm cup of tea, away from the cold wind.

“Shall we head to Madam Pudifoot’s first?” She blinked in surprise at his ability to read her thoughts before wrinkling her nose in her tell-tale sign of disgust. “I’m joking Granger. Where would you like to go?”

Now that they were in the village, she realized they had made no solid plans, other than agreeing that the goal was to get out of the castle and be seen having a good time.

Hermione tilted her head up. Grey clouds loomed threateningly in the sky, warning of rain to come later that evening. As a precaution, she ruled out any outdoor activities.

“Maybe we could just go to the Three Broomsticks? I imagine anywhere else is going to be too busy today,” she suggested.

“OK, sure. Maybe first we can head to Tomes and Scrolls and look around?” Dean added.

Hermione looked at him with surprise. “You want to spend the day walking around a bookshop?”

“With you? Absolutely.”

She snorted. He really was so effortlessly charming. Most of the time, she got the sense he wasn’t even aware he was doing it. She wondered if this was the side of him that Ginny had seen that made her fall for him.

Spending the day in the bookshop seemed more preferable to anything else that Hogsmeade had to offer. Plus, she had only visited the shop a few times, because most of the time Harry and Ron didn’t want to go. They thought it was boring. Dean had never been and was excited to go.

A bell tinkled overhead as they pushed the door open to the admittedly rather dingy looking storefront. Tomes and Scrolls was a much smaller and more cramped store than Flourish and Blotts and a lot less clean. Shelves lined the walkways, packed tight with dusty old books. Some shelves featured strange foreign objects in addition to the books.

“What a creepy place to bring your boyfriend,” Dean said under his breath, chuckling.

That gained him a swift elbow to the side as a distant voice was heard from the back, welcoming them.

Though the books themselves weren’t pretty — most were worn, torn, stained, or some combination of the three — the bookshelves in Tomes and Scrolls were full of unique and interesting books and other objects. They specialized in the oddities and the rare. This seemed to genuinely interest Dean as he perused the cases with her, rather than standing back, like Harry and Ron might have done.

They spent a couple of hours laughing their way through the shelves, sliding past one another through the tight rows as they reached for a book or an object. There was a collection of magical taxidermy, which held their attention for a while. It wasn’t unlike Muggle taxidermy, except for the fact that when you touched a piece it became animated momentarily, almost indistinguishable from the living creature.

Hermione gave a great shout when she reached out to touch the silver fur of a life-size Hidebehind, deadly and dangerous when alive, only for it to suddenly reach out and snarl at her. She jumped back into Dean, who quickly moved her behind him. Clutching each other, they devolved into laughter when they realized it was merely enchanted, similar to an animatronic at a Muggle theme park.

At another point, Dean handed her a long rectangular book. When Hermione opened it she squealed, pushing it back in his grasp and pushing him away. He was bent over with laughter. The book had been sitting nondescript on the shelf of art books he had been perusing. Inside however, were a bunch of sketches of creepy crawly bugs. Being that this was a magical art book, the pictures of the bugs moved around the page, as if they were actually there ready to jump at her.

Deciding it was time to bring their visit to an end, they exited the shop with tears of mirth streaming down their faces. Both of them left empty handed, wanting to leave before they disturbed the shop owner any more with their giggles and shouts.

Silence settled between them as they walked down the sidewalk, taking a moment to catch their breath. Hermione wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and looked around. The atmosphere around Hogsmeade was very strange. It was almost eerie.

Posters of wanted wizards and decrees of warning appeared in shop windows and notice boards just as in Diagon Alley. Here, more shops had been shuttered, windows boarded up, appearing to have been recently vacated. Amongst the crowds, she spotted Aurors, posted in their Ministry attire, badges pinned to their chests, on official duty.

In stark contrast to the atmosphere, students milled about, seemingly oblivious to signs of dangerous times around them, too young to have eyes for anything else this day besides love and candy. Hermione shivered.

“It’s a bit eerie, isn’t it?”

She looked up at Dean. His face was serious, his jaw set. This was a look she’d seen from time to time while they read the news together and that one time when he had driven her back to the train station.

Nodding, she looked back to the people walking around them, at the couples laughing as they walked, exchanging kisses as they went. Others didn’t notice the poster with the photograph of a dark haired man who seemed to snarl at them as they passed.

WANTED:

Amycus Carrow

Amycus Carrow is wanted under the suspicion of aiding and abetting He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He is the brother of Alecto Carrow — both are suspected Death Eaters and are extremely dangerous. Approach with caution.

If you have any information, please contact your local Auror office.

Dean laced his fingers through hers, tugging at her arm to make her face him. She jumped at the contact, not having noticed that she had stopped to stare at the poster and the snarling face of the angry man.

“You alright?”

Shaking the dark thoughts from her head, she smiled. “Yeah, let’s get out of the street.”

The Three Broomsticks, they were relieved to find, wasn’t as crowded as they had expected. Ginny passed with her friends as they entered. She gave them a curt nod, appearing to Hermione unfazed. She supposed not each of their schemes was going to result in drastic reactions in both Weasleys each time.

They found a secluded table in the not often sought after second level, which was quiet with plenty of seating, albeit a little drafty. Dean bought them both butterbeers. Hermione sipped hers, letting the sweet warmth of the beverage overtake her as she looked out over the lower level of the pub.

“You sure you’re alright?” Dean asked after a moment. He looked sincerely concerned. His eyes were almost in a squint, trying to ascertain any distress in her face.

“Yes,” she said with a sigh, taking another drink of butterbeer. “It’s just a little unsettling to see Hogsmeade this way. Even more unsettling how unbothered some wizards are about it. Things are getting worse and—“ she trailed off not knowing what else to say.

He sighed, leaning back and rubbing his face with his hands in frustration. “I know. I don’t know what I’m going to do. It seems like people with wizarding families and wizarding parents aren’t worried at all.”

“Some of them are worried.” She thought of the Order, of Lupin going undercover in werewolf dens, and of Dumbledore training Harry. Then she remembered their inability to find time to help protect her family. “They mean well, they’re just a bit nearsighted.”

After a moment of silence, both of them mulling over their own grim thoughts and drinking occasionally from their mugs, Dean finally asked, “Do you know what you’re going to do, if things turn?”

His darkened expression told her this was something that had been bothering him for some time now. Below, raucous laughter rose up, a group of villagers had begun singing “She’ll be Striking Down the Mountain,” which she recognized to be a Holyhead Harpies chant about Gwenog Jones that Ginny would often sing around the Burrow.

“Yes.” Her voice came out squeakier than she intended. She cleared her throat. “Yes, of course.”

She hoped she didn’t sound as scared as she felt. What could she do to prepare for the worst? Instinctively, she knew running away with her parents was not an option. She knew she would be with Harry until the end. That was a foregone conclusion. It was what would become of her family that worried her the most.

“You’ll be with Harry, then?” His voice was gruff, but his face was kind, unjudging.

She nodded as she tipped the remaining contents of her mug back.

“I’m thinking of sending my family into hiding. My mom still has relatives in America.” He then added more forcefully, “I just don’t know when. Or how. I keep reading the news, waiting for the sign. The news is always bad, but never any worse than it was before.”

“I think we’ll have to start making preparations soon.” Another shiver passed over her as she considered the weight of the words and what they meant for her. “The sign you’re looking for will come suddenly and there won’t be time to prepare. It will be too late when it does come.”

She reached out across the table, covering his hand with hers, trying to be of some comfort. There was a closeness between them in that moment that she had never felt even with Harry and Ron. Like her, he was a Muggle-born. He too felt the gravity of what decision lay before her because a very similar decision lay before him. All of the signs and ill tidings were direct threats to their humanity and their families.

It was his turn to drain his drink. What a pair they must seem. Two teenagers, throwing back drinks in a pub, looking morose on what was supposed to be a romantic date. She laughed suddenly.

“What?” he asked, foam covering the top of his lip.

“I was just thinking we must look like a sorry excuse for a Valentine’s date,” she said, giggling as she moved to wipe the foam from his lip.

He jumped a bit, surprised by her touch. She grinned sheepishly, dropping her hand. A moment passed before he too laughed.

“Two more butterbeers, I think, and some chips,” she then said, trying to lighten the mood.

“Here, here!” he said, raising his empty glass.

She lifted her glass to meet his before standing to place another order. As she passed she placed her hand on his head, letting her thumb briefly rub back and forth. Having a friend like Dean made her feel less alone, which was kind of nice on Valentine’s Day weekend.

“She’ll be sending back the Chasers from where they come!” There were shouts of enthusiasm as the crowd below bellowed the final lines of the chant.

She dropped her hand from his head and smiled down at him. His expression was indiscernible as he looked up at her.

“I’ll be back,” she said before descending the stairs into the festivities.

To Be Continued…

#To All The Wizards #Hermione Granger #Dean Thomas #Hogwarts #Harry Potter

[entireoranges]

Been sick since Tuesday night (its Friday now) sore throat, bad runny nose, and though the thermometer never says I have a fever you can feel the heat coming off of me. I was off Wednesday and Thursday which worked out however Thursday night, early Friday morning was hell (and first time the temperature was like 99.8) Jason and I decided for me to go ahead and fail the health assessment and call off. I have discussed that assessment many times, it's purpose is to catch people with covid from going into work, though in reality if you answer honestly ANY illness gets triggered as stay home. Like one question is something like "have you had any of the following symptoms not diagnosed by a medical professional; cough, sore throat, lose of smell, dizziness, fever..." Etc. Well I haven't been to a doctor so no nothing has been diagnosed and I have some of those symptoms which means an answer of yes. Automatically I fail and get told to stay home. But here is the part I really don't understand... why aren't associates failing the assessment left and right? So many people go in with sickness symptoms and I guarantee most didn't go to the doctor and get told it was just a cold; the truth likely is (and reddit posts/comments confirm this) they think it's 100% only for official covid and they'll get fired if later they don't show proof they had it. Totally one hundred percent not true. Or the associate is a goody two shoes and a suck up and even with a 103 fever and barfing they'd go in to be a team player. Eh, sorry but screw those people LOL. I have lost track of how times I have failed, five at least. Yes, I have lied before because I needed some paid time off. Do I think there is a chance work might be suspicious? Yeah, but they can't do anything about it. It's not my fault I understand how the assessment really works and am aware of my emergency time off bank, which I think the bulk of people don't know that's a thing. Jason wants me to file an official claim which hopefully will be accepted (don't see why not) and get paid. It's the 19th now, assessment said stay home until the 29th... I'm pretty confident I'll be better by then but since I don't know when exactly I will be better... yeah I'm thinking of putting in for all ten. Because why the fuck not. I'm aware Black Friday is this coming week, oh well they can figure out what to do with one missing cashier. One thing I'm unsure about is if I'll still get my 25% holiday shopping discount bonus where you have to work all Black Friday events unless an excused absence, does failing the assessment and being gone a week plus a bit too much? It'll suck to miss it, though in reality life will move on as normal and we don't need more stuff anyways. More likely would use towards groceries. Yet we have NO money anyways... Oh and in a few days I'll get a fb message from personal lead which will come off as pretty sarcastic of "I see you failed the assessment AGAIN" not in caps but trust me the energy is there. Why yes ___ I did! And you can't do shit about it. But don't worry I'll be be out of your hair in a few months when I move. No, I won't actually say that 😉

#my thoughts #stupid work

[inkovsky]

The Hong Kong market opened high and closed low for three consecutive days. Driven by the historical rise of the US stock market's Dow Index above the 30,000-point mark, the HSI gap opened 231 points higher to 26,819 points. It climbed to an all-day high of 27,040 points in the early afternoon, rising 452 points. It hit a 9-month high since February 24. However, the pressure on the high level to retreat was heavy, and the rate of increase continued to narrow. It returned to 26,591 points in the afternoon, only up 3 points, and closed at 26,669 points, up 81 points, and the market turnover increased to HKD 178.1 billion. The Hang Seng Technology Index fell below the 8,000-point mark to close at 7,921 points, bucking the market and fell 185 points.

The European Central Bank hinted that it would start to lift the ban on bank dividends next year. HSBC Holdings surged. Its stock price soared 8% to reach $42.95 , it closed at $42.35 , up 6.5%. It was the best performing blue chip and contributed 147 points to the Hang Seng Index, more than the market’s rise. At present, HSBC has broken its position, which is good for holders to earn interest and earn prices. Therefore, it is still strong in the short term. The initial target price is at least $45 .

The Hang Seng Index rose from 24,000 to the current level, an increase of nearly 3,000 points. It is over-completed and reached the target. Investors will take the opportunity to reduce their pounds and enter the adjustment stage in the short term. It is expected to test the support of 10 DMS (26,422) unless it falls below 250 DMA (25,375) , the market outlook may rise above 26,782 points, year-end fund decoration window activities, December is expected to challenge the 27,600 points level.

After the US stock market closed above 30,000 points of Dow for the first time on Tuesday (24th) and before Thanksgiving holiday, the three major indexes developed individually on Wednesday (25th). The Dow closed at 29,872 points, down 173 points. The S&P index closed at 3,629 points, down 5 points. The Nasdaq closed at 12,094 points, up 57 points.

[johnsellph]

Tour de France Guide

  Here’s the 2020 Tour de France guide. There’s a profile of every stage with a quick take on the day. You’ll also find reference material on the race rules like time bonuses, the points scale for the green and polka-dot jersey, time cuts and plenty more. This is a blog post but you’ll find a permanent page on the menu at the top of the page or just remember or bookmark inrng.com/tour in case you need it for reference.

Route Summary The map says plenty, the race sticks to France’s southern half which means more hills and mountains. This is an anti-siesta Tour course, there will still be some majestic slow moments but there are few sprint stages and the race is never far away from a tricky climb. There’s no gentle introduction, the opening weekend in Nice will be hectic, there’s a ski station summit finish on Stage 4 and there are many mid-mountain stages with Mont Aigoual, the Suc-au-May, the Puy Mary and the Grand Colombier before the final Alpine week and the final 36km time trial.

Stage 1 – Saturday 29 August A circuit in Nice that’s reminiscent of the final stage of Paris-Nice which is often a highlight of the season. This time it’ll be different as an opener, more riders and teams with cards to play and way more hectic.

Stage 2 – Sunday 30 August A solid day in the Alpes-Maritimes, with the big climbs of the Colmiane and the Turini mid-stage before a hilly circuit around Nice.

Stage 3 – Monday 31 August One for the sprinters, they have few chances in this race so their teams have to make today count and they’ll aim to control the race here.

Stage 4 – Tuesday 1 September The Tour returns to Orcières-Merlette, a ski resort with its place in Tour history thanks to the stage in 1971 where Luis Ocaña got the better of Eddy Merckx for once, and by eight minutes. But no time for nostalgie, it’s only Stage 4 and here’s a summit finish to see the GC contenders in action.

Stage 5 – Wednesday 2 September Another chance for the sprinters, the late climbs are gentle and on a wide road and if the profile suggests an uphill finish into Privas it’s only the softest of rises.

Stage 6 – Thursday 3 September Mont Aigoual but to get there the Col de la Lusette which is narrow, rough and steep, it should be selective before the more gentle passage across to the finish.

Stage 7 – Friday 4 September Another chance for the sprinters but watch out for the vent d’Autan, the local wind which caused havoc in last year’s race on the roads to Albi.

Stage 8 – Saturday 5 September The Pyrenees and three passes which get successively easier but still make for a hard day because of the intensity, it’s only 141km and things should be lively from the start.

Stage 9 – Sunday 6 September A busy day in the Pyrenees, the Marie Blanque might look small on the profile but the final 4km are 10-12% most of the way so if riders can get a gap here they’ve got a good chance of holding it to the finish.

Stage 10 – Tuesday 8 September A scenic stage along the Atlantic coast between two islands famous as prized Parisian holiday destinations. An obvious day for the sprinters but watch out for the sea breeze.

Stage 11 – Wednesday 9 September The probable siesta stage, unless the weather intervenes there’s not much going on, even the scenery is a bit plain.

Stage 12 – Thursday 10 September The longest stage of the race and it should allow time to evoke a golden age of cycling with Raymond Poulidor, Jean Ségurel and Antoine Blondin to fill the time. But for the riders it’s a hard stage, the route gets progressively hillier and the Suc-au-May is far harder than the profile suggests, all before an uphill finish in Sarran.

Stage 13 – Friday 11 September Another long stage and a tough finish in the volcanoes of the Auvergne, climbing the Puy Mary via the Col de Neronne is hard going and the final 2km are at 13%.

Stage 14 – Saturday 12 September A good day for a breakaway, many will have today marked in their diary because it’s accessible to anyone who goes in the day’s move. Cycling is essentially a rural sport but here’s an urban finish in Lyon and there are some tricky climbs on the approach.

Stage 15 – Sunday 13 September A really hard stage, what the climbs lack in altitude they make up for in attitude. The “Selle de Fromentel” is the steepest side road up the Grand Colombier with long sections at 14-16% before the steep Col de la Biche and its bone-rattling descent. There’s a short breather before climbing the Grand Colombier from Culoz, via the increasingly famous lacets or hairpins.

Stage 16 – Tuesday 15 September A quick crossing of the Chartreuse Alps and then it’s across to the Vercors and a finish in Villard-de-lans, the same used in the 2015 Critérium du Dauphiné. It’s a great day for the breakaway.

Stage 17 – Wednesday 16 September A tough Alpine stage, there’s a dash up the Grésivaudan valley to start the giant Col de la Madeleine and then comes the Col de la Loze. After a difficult ascent to Méribel with plenty of selective 8% sections the race flicks onto the brand new Loze cycle path for a summit finish like nothing else, there are 20% ramps and other nasty surprises.

Stage 18 – Thursday 17 September A very hard day’s racing with no let up, there’s barely a metre of flat all day. The Saisies and Aravis are regular cols before the climb to the Plateau de Glières. There are steeper climbs, there are longer climbs but few in France are as steep for as long and then it’s the scenic traverse of the plateau across the gravel road before a technical descent, then the big ring climb of the Col des Fleuries on the way to the finish.

Stage 19 – Friday 18 September A tug of war between the breakaway riders and the sprinters’ teams, there’s a flat finish but the last 60km are on lumpy roads.

Stage 20 – Saturday 19 September The only time trial of the race and in three parts: a flat section through Mélisey, home of Thibaut Pinot – and where his father Régis is both mayor and undertaker – then a drag up to the Col de la Chevestray and its descent. Finally there’s the awkward climb of the Planche des Belles Filles and this time “just” the normal finish, the riders are spared the gravel extension used in 2019.

Stage 21 – Sunday 20 September Assuming the race has made it this far then it’s the usual 60km parade that mutates into a 60km criterium and the evening finish on the Champs Elysées.

The Jerseys Yellow: the most famous one, the maillot jaune, it is awarded to the rider with the shortest overall time for all the stages added together, the rider who has covered the course faster than anyone else. First awarded in 1919, it is yellow because the race was organised by the newspaper L’Auto which was printed on yellow paper. Today it is sponsored by LCL, a bank. There are time bonuses of 10-6-4 seconds for the finish of each stage except the time trials. There are also 8-5-2 seconds at the bonus sprints marked “B” on the profiles above on Stages 2,6,8,9,12,13,16 and 18, typically atop various mountain passes.

Green: the points jersey, which tends to reward the sprinters. Points are awarded at the finish line and at one intermediate point in the stage and the rider with the most points wears the jersey. It is sponsored by Skoda, a car manufacturer

Flat stages (Stages 1,5,7,10,11,19,21) 50-30-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-7-6-5-4-3 and 2 points for the first 15 riders

Hilly finish / Medium mountain stages (Stages 2,3,6,12,14,16): 30-25-22-19-17-15-13-11-9-7-6- 5-4-3-2 points

Mountain Stages + individual TT (Stages 8,9,13,15,17,18) : 20-17-15-13-11- 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 points

Intermediate sprints: 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 points

Polka dot: also known as the “King of the Mountains” jersey, points are awarded at the top of categorised climbs and mountain passes, with these graded from the easier 4th category to the hors catégorie climbs which are so hard they are off the scale. In reality these gradings are subjective. Again the rider with the most points wears the jersey. It is sponsored by Leclerc, a supermarket.

Col de la Loze: 40-30-24-20-16-12-8-4 points for first eight riders

Hors Catégorie (4 in total): 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-2 points

Category 1 climbs (15): 10-8-6-4-2-1 points

Category 2 (9): 5-3-2-1 points

Category 3 (21): 2-1 points

Category 4 (15): 1 point

White: for the best young rider, this is awarded on the same basis as the yellow jersey, except the rider must be born after 1 January 1995, ie aged 25 or under. It is sponsored by Krys, a retail chain of opticians

Obviously a rider can’t wear two jerseys at once, they’d get too hot. So if a rider leads several classifications, they take the most prestigious jersey for themselves and the number two ranked rider in the other competition gets to wear the other jersey. For example if a rider has both the yellow jersey and the mountains jersey they’ll wear yellow while whoever is second in the mountains jersey will sport the polka dot jersey. If a rider has all the jerseys the priority yellow, green, polka dot then white.

There’s also a daily “most combative” prize awarded every day to the rider who has attacked the most or tried the hardest. It is a subjective prize and awarded by a jury. The rider gets to stand on the podium after the stage and wear a red race number the next day. There will be a final Supercombatif prize with involvement from the jury and social media. It is sponsored by Antargaz, a bottled gas company.

Time Cuts

The time cut depends on the stage in question. Look up the stage and its coefficient on the table above and then match it to the listings below. It’s the same tight schedule for the mountains as the last two years, sprinters beware.

Timekeeping Normally a one second gap on the finish line is needed to separate groups in a finish but for Stages 1,3,5,7,10,11,14,19 and 21, the likely sprint stages, three seconds is needed for a split in the field. The three kilometre rule doesn’t apply on Stages 4,6,13,15,16,17 and 20.

The unmissable stages This is the Tour de France and there’s always something to watch but there are some stages that matter more than others. If you need to plan ahead, here are some suggestions for the stages to watch.

Stage 1: the hectic opener around Nice

Stage 2: a big day in the hills behind Nice

Stage 4: the first summit finish

Stage 6: Mont Aigoual via the tough Col de la Lusette

Stage 8: the first day in the Pyrenees

Stage 9: more Pyrenees with the tricky Col de Marie Blanque

Stage 15: the Grand Colombier summit finish

Stage 17: the manic Col de la Loze

Stages 18: the final day in the Alps

Stage 20: the Planche des Belles Filles time trial

TV Guide Every stage will be shown live from start to finish. Think of it like the radio, something to have in the background or in a more modern way you can tune in from time to time via your phone in case there’s early action. The daily finish time varies between 5.00pm-5.55pm CEST each day.

The race will be broadcast on a variety of channels around the world. There is no free stream on the internet but you will find a feast of legitimate feeds from local broadcasters and international sources like Eurosport.

The Prizes

Each day on a normal stage there’s €11,000 for the winner, €5,500 for second place and a decreasing scale down to a modest €300 for 20th place

For the final overall classification in Paris, first place brings in €500,000 and the Sèvres porcelain “omnisports trophy”, awarded “in the name of the Presidency of the French Republic”. The full breakdown is €500,000 for first place, €200,000 for second place, €100,000 for third place and then €70,000, €50,000, €23,000, €11,500, €7,600, €4,500, €3,800, €3,000, €2,700, €2,500, €2,100, €2,000 €1,500, €1,300, €1,200 and €1,100 for 19th place. €1000 for 20th-160th overall

There are other pots of money available in the race:

€500 a day to whoever wears the yellow jersey, €300 for the other jersey holders

€25,000 for the final winner of the green and polka dot jerseys

€20,000 for the final winner of the white jersey

There’s also money for the first three in the intermediate sprint each day: €1,500, €1000 and €500

The climbs have cash too with the first three over an HC climb earning €800, €450 and €300 and lesser sums for lesser climbs

The highest point in the race sees a prize when on Stage 18 the Henri Desgrange prize is awarded at the top of the Col de la Loze and is worth €5,000

The “most combative” prize is awarded and worth €2,000 each day, the “Super combative” prize is awarded in Paris and the winner collects €20,000.

There’s also a team prize with €2,800 awarded each day to the leading team on the overall, €50,000 for the final winners in Paris. Note the team prize is calculated by adding the time of the best three riders each day rather than the best three on GC. For example if a team has riders A, B and C make the winning break one day then their times for the stage are taken and added together. If riders X, Y and Z on the same team go up the road the next day, their times are taken. So it’s the times of a team’s best three riders each day as opposed to the best three riders overall.

The total prize pot is €2,293,900, meagre for an event of this scale but remember that unlike, say tennis or golf, pro cyclists are salaried and prize money instead is incidental. The money is shared around the team (as well as levied and taxed) rather than pocketed by the winner, it’s quite possible the actual prize winner actually collects 5-10% of the headline sum. In addition, every team that starts gets paid €51,243 to cover expenses. And should a squad make it to Paris with six or more riders they stand to collect an additional €1,600 bonus for each rider.

  Tour de France Guide published first on https://motocrossnationweb.weebly.com/

[arnaldologgia]

Lack Of Content Dooms Fall TV; EBay Sells Classified Ads Biz For $9.2B

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Here’s today’s AdExchanger.com news round-up… Want it by email? Sign up here.

Falling Out Of Favor

Cord cutting was already rising before the pandemic, and a lack of new programming and live sports this fall will only accelerate that trend. This week, Netflix said it doesn’t believe production will resume in the United States before 2021, driving skepticism that other content producers will be able to fill their fall slates. Networks have already begun canceling hit shows and filling prime-time slots with licensed programming as production delays drag on, Axios reports. Pay TV’s fate really comes down to the return of live sports, but it’s still not clear if college football or the NFL will return in the fall (or in what form) as players voice concern about returning to the field.

Held At ’bay

This has already been a busy week for eBay. Its five-year contract with PayPal expired on Monday, and eBay switched to Adyen as its primary payment service. And on Tuesday, eBay sold its classified ads business to Adevinta, a relatively small Norwegian online marketplace company, in a $9.2 billion stock-and-cash deal. Adevinta was considered a long shot for the classified business, with huge funds bidding, but its size was an advantage because eBay prized the 44% stake it gets in Adevinta, Bloomberg reports. 

SMS SOS

The M3AAWG, a trade group for mobile cell carriers, quietly released new political texting guidelines in April. The problem for carriers such as T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon is that they’re flooded with customer complaints about politicians badgering them by text. And that was an issue before the coronavirus pandemic forced campaigns to switch door-to-door canvassers to text-banking. Political campaigns can send texts individually, not by an automated system or in a bulk blast unless they have direct consent – a holdover from the law on political robocalls. But from the carrier’s perspective, that’s indistinguishable from spam, especially when there are prompts to donate or download something, which is why the Trump campaign had its texting program shut down for five days over the July Fourth holiday, Politico reports.     

But Wait, There’s More!

You’re Hired

[swedna]

Domestic markets, which remained subdued for better part of the day on the back of weak investment sentiment in a holiday-truncated week, witnessed sharp fall in the last trading hour on Tuesday. The steep fall followed reports that the government might miss its divestment target for fiscal year 2019-20.

The benchmark S&P BSE Sensexdeclined 181.4 points, or 0.44 per cent, to close at 41,461.26 level, dragged by heavyweights like Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, TCS, and Larsen and Toubro. At close, Indusnd Bank, ONGC, and PowerGrid closed as top gainers, while HCL Tech, RIL, and HDFC Bank were the top losers. The Sensex slipped 219 points in the intra-day trade today to hit a low of 41,423.07.

On the NSE, the Nifty50 ended at 12,213.40-mark, down 49.35 points or 0.40 per cent

Shares of state-owned Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) tanked up to 4.2 per cent to Rs 471.75 on the BSE in the intra-day deals after media reports said that the government was wary of fixing a timeline for the proposed divestment as it belived the "investors needed at least six to eight weeks to do the due diligence of Expression of Interest (EoI)". The BSE PSU index was 0.12 per cent lower at close, with Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), BPCL, HPCL, Concor, and GAIL settling in the red.

The broader market, however, settled near the flatline. The S&P BSE mid-cap index closed 0.07 per cent lower at 14,812.70, while the S&P BSE small-cap index ended at 13,382.97-mark up 0.01 per cent.

GLOBAL CUES

Asian shares edged lower and US stock futures darted in and out of losses on Tuesday, as the holiday lull offset optimism that a U.S.-China trade deal will boost exports and corporate earnings.

While MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan, and South Korean shares fell 0.14 per cent and 0.54 per cent, respectively, Japan’s Nikkei and Australian shares nudged 0.04 per cent and 0.13 per cent higher.

MARKET HOLIDAY

Domestic markets will remain shut on Wednesday on account of Christmas.

(With inputs from Reuters) CATCH ALL THE LIVE UPDATES Auto Refresh 03:55 PM Market Closing Comment :: Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services Lack of fresh triggers seems to have held markets to trade flat. We may see lacklustre trading sessions due to holiday mood and December month F&O expiry due this week. Investors to stay focused on budget as hopes are alive that government will consider options to push consumption and investments

03:55 PM Market Closing Comment :: Gaurav Bissa, AVP Derivatives & Technicals at LKP Securities. Index closed a day at 12,212-mark, down 51 points, after a choppy day on Tuesday and formed a bearish candle on daily chart. Overall, index has formed a narrow range of 100 points (12,200-12,300)and it is trading in the same since 4-5 sessions hinting we may not see a clear trend unless index will give either side breakout. We expect December series can see expiry in between the same range of 12,200-12,300 zone.

03:44 PM Sectoral trends at NSE at close

03:43 PM Sensex heatmap at close

03:43 PM Closing Bell >> The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex declined 181.4 points, or 0.44 per cent, to close at 41,461.26 level, dragged by heavyweights like Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, TCS, and Larsen and Toubro.

>> On the NSE, the Nifty50 ended at 12,213.40-mark, down 49.35 points or 0.40 per cent

03:26 PM NEWS ALERT | Cabinet approves IBC Amendment Ordinance: CNBC TV18 03:09 PM NEWS ALERT | THDC, NEEPCO acquisition to be complete this fiscal: sources to CNBC TV18 >> FY20 divestment target 'ambitious'

03:06 PM NEWS ALERT | Govt stake sale in BPCL can't be tied to a date: sources to CNBC TV18 >> Investors need minimum 6-8 weeks for due diligence

>> Selected bidder will have to make a open offer

03:06 PM NEWS ALERT | Govt stake sale in BPCL can't be tied to a date: sources to CNBC TV18 >> Investors need minimum 6-8 weeks for due diligence

>> Selected bidder will have to make a open offer

02:47 PM Contribution to S&P BSE Sensex's loss today

02:38 PM NEWS ALERT | Heineken mulls an open offer to raise stake in United Breweries: sources to CNBC TV18 >> Heineken could launch open offer for 10-15% stake

>> Cos seeks to strengthen control by holding over 51%

>> Heineken already largest shareholder with 46.7% stake

>> Heineken may look at higher Board position post offer

>> Vijay Mallya, other promoters hold 11% stake

02:37 PM Heatmap: S&P BSE Sensex

02:36 PM MARKET UPDATE:: Sensex falls 100 pts

02:32 PM Asian Markets check Asian shares and U.S. stock futures darted in and out of losses on Tuesday, as the holiday lull offset optimism that a U.S.-China trade deal will boost exports and corporate earnings. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was down 0.01 per cent. Australian shares were unchanged, while Japan’s Nikkei stock index edged 0.02 per cent lower.

02:19 PM Rise in defaults could make things even worse for India, China in 2020 Companies in the region have been on a buying spree fueled by debt. Those factors could make things even worse in 2020 after China onshore defaults rose to a record in 2019. As some economies in Asia slow, companies are left vulnerable to any tightening in liquidity. A rise in defaults would likely further weigh on investor sentiment, and raise the cost of borrowing for the riskiest firms. READ MORE

02:08 PM NEWS ALERT | CBI books former Maruti MD Jagdish Khattar for cheating PNB of Rs 110 cr: PTI 02:04 PM Sterling Tools zooms 20% on inking JV with Chinese co for Indian EV sector Shares of Sterling Tools were locked in the upper circuit band of 20 per cent at Rs 215 on the BSE on Tuesday after the company said it has entered into a Joint Venture (JV) agreement with Jiangsu Gtake Electric Company, a China based company. The JV Company, which will commence production by Q1FY21, will be a subsidiary of Sterling Tools with an equity ratio of 51:44. The company said the two companies have agreed to join hands to provide the Indian electric original equipment manufacturers (OEM's) with best in class motor control units (MCUs). READ HERE 01:59 PM BUZZING STOCK | Aarti Ind surges nearly 3%

01:51 PM Stocks that hit 52-week high on BSE

01:43 PM RBI conducts first simultaneous OMO, buys more bonds than it sells The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducted its first simultaneous ‘buy and sell’ open market operations (OMOs), in which it bought more bonds than it sold, showed results. The central bank had planned to buy up to Rs 10,000 crore of 10-year bonds and sell up to Rs 10,000 crore of four short-term bonds. READ MORE

01:32 PM Buzzing | Nalco gains over 4%

01:22 PM World's top rated power stock seen recovering from 10-month low NTPC Ltd. is the world’s most-loved power producer by equity analysts, and yet the shares of India’s largest utility are trading near a 10-month low. What gives? The New Delhi-based company is the top rated stock among the world’s largest utilities, with a recommendation consensus of 4.9 on a Bloomberg scale where 5 is a unanimous buy. Analysts expect the company to wring more profit from soon-to-be acquired hydro-power assets, helping it lift its earnings and share price. READ MORE NTPC prepares war chest to bid for stressed assets; shortlists 8-9 projects

01:08 PM Top BSE500 losers today COMPANY PRICE(RS) CHG(RS) CHG(%) VOLUME DISHMAN CARBOGEN 72.10 -18.00 -19.98 1512143 ARVIND FASHIONS. 383.80 -16.40 -4.10 1217 CRISIL 1911.25 -77.50 -3.90 11517 CAPLIN POINT LAB 299.20 -11.05 -3.56 1177 KPIT TECHNOLOGI. 87.80 -2.75 -3.04 1724 » More on Top Losers 12:59 PM Infra to banks: What will it take to fix Indian finance after the crisis The turnaround in economic thinking triggered by that balance-of-payments humiliation saw the state shed controls on production and imports. The emergence of a globally attuned software services industry as well as vibrant capital markets—which India opened up to the world faster than China—helped spawn entrepreneurship and create a middle class. Hundreds of millions were lifted out of poverty; the 1990-91 crisis became the starting point of two decades of rising prosperity. READ MORE

12:49 PM Has India's growth slowdown bottomed out? Animal spirits indicate so India’s economy showed nascent signs it may be turning a corner after six straight months of anemic activity. Two of the eight high-frequency indicators compiled by Bloomberg News came in stronger in November based on a three-month weighted average reading, although that wasn’t enough to move the needle on a gauge measuring overall activity. READ MORE

12:41 PM India business to drive Tata Global Beverages' growth and margins The rally in Tata Global Beverages stock, which began in May this year, is expected to continue, given the company’s focus on higher margin India business and sales uptick of the Starbucks joint venture (JV). This, coupled with the merger of the consumer business of Tata Chemicals and exit from non-profitable ventures, would add to net profits of the new consolidated entity. READ MORE

12:34 PM Market check

12:31 PM STOCK ALERT | IFCI surges 11% post realisation of Rs 805.6 cr from the divestment of 2.44% stake in NSE >> The Rs 805.6 cr represents about 82% of the total committed amount.

>> Process for receipt of approval for remaining quantity is underway

12:25 PM Navin Fluorine gains for 9th straight day on board's nod for capex plan Shares of Navin Fluorine International were quoting higher for the ninth-straight trading day, up 3 per cent at Rs 1,019, also its new high on the BSE on Tuesday. The stock of the commodity chemicals manufacturer rallied 15 per cent after the company announced a capex plan of Rs 450 crore at Dahej through a wholly-owned subsidiary, which is to be incorporated. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 3 per cent during the same period. READ MORE stocks, stock market, m arket, sensex, growth, revenue, earnings, results, Q2,Q1, Q3, Q4, COMPANY, nse, bse,

12:22 PM NEWS ALERT | BHEL commissions India’s first lignite 500 MW thermal unit in Tamil Nadu: BSE Filing

#Sensex

[morganbelarus]

U.S. Stock Futures Drop as Trade-Talk Doubts Swirl: Markets Wrap

U.S. equity futures fell as Chinese and American officials struggled to schedule a planned meeting this month to continue trade talks. The pound slumped with the U.K. facing a showdown in Parliament over delaying Brexit again.

Contracts on the three main U.S. indexes extended their declines after Bloomberg reported the difficulties the two countries were having in arranging the talks, following Washington’s rejection of Beijing’s request to delay tariffs that took effect over the weekend. Stocks in Shanghai rose earlier as authorities vowed to support liquidity and growth. Elsewhere in Asia, equities in Japan, Hong Kong and Australia declined in thin volumes. The Stoxx Europe 600 advanced for a third straight session, led by financial services shares.

Cash markets for both U.S. stocks and bonds are closed for the Labor Day holiday. Treasury 10-year futures erased a decline while a gauge of the dollar increased for the sixth consecutive day. In the U.K., the pound headed for its biggest one-day drop in three weeks and gilts rose as Parliament looked set to seek a vote that would delay Brexit by three months unless there’s a new accord with the European Union by mid-October. Prime Minister Boris Johnson today responded that he would not delay under any circumstances. Johnson will tell rebels that if they defy him tomorrow he will on Wednesday ask parliament to call a general election for Oct. 14, according to a senior government official.

Focus on low-risk investment strategies, says John Stopford, head of multi-asset income at Investec Asset Management.

Source: Bloomberg

“The risks of an early election and the increasing political uncertainty, I think, is really weighing on investors minds” in the U.K., Jeremy Stretch, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce head of G-10 FX Strategy, said on Bloomberg TV.

Investors are still reeling from a volatile August that saw a collapse in Treasury yields and declines for equities globally. Crude oil continued slipping after completing its first monthly drop since May amid fears that the fading global economic growth will hurt fuel demand. In China, a drop in the official purchasing managers’ index on Saturday highlighted pressures facing the world’s second-largest economy from escalating trade tensions with the U.S.

Elsewhere, Hurricane Dorian, tied in ranking as the most powerful storm to hit land along U.S. Atlantic shores, slowed to a crawl over the Bahamas and while the National Weather Center said it is still “dangerously close” to the Florida shoreline a direct hit seemed less likely.

Argentina’s government is imposing currency controls to halt the flight of dollars out of the country as it teeters on the brink of default. Turkey’s lira jumped after data showed the economy shrank less than expected in the second quarter.

Here are some key events coming up:

Australia sets monetary policy on Tuesday.

Fed speakers include New York Fed’s John Williams on Wednesday and Fed chair Jerome Powell on Friday.

The U.S. jobs report on Friday is projected to show nonfarm payrolls rose by 158,000 in August, slightly above the month prior. Estimates of the employment situation are for unemployment to be steady at 3.7% and the average hourly earnings rate of increase to slow to 3.0%.

These are the main moves in markets:

Stocks

Futures on the S&P 500 Index declined 0.9% as of 4:51 p.m. New York time.

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index increased 0.3%.

Germany’s DAX Index advanced 0.1%.

The U.K.’s FTSE 100 Index increased 1%.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index fell 0.3%.

Currencies

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index gained 0.2%.

The euro dipped 0.1% to $1.0969.

The British pound dipped 0.7% to $1.2065.

The Japanese yen climbed 0.1% to 106.20 per dollar.

The Hong Kong dollar was little changed at 7.8426 per U.S. dollar.

The Turkish lira strengthened 0.4% to 5.8074 per dollar.

Bonds

Germany’s 10-year yield was little-changed at -0.705%.

Britain’s 10-year yield decreased six basis points to 0.415%.

Commodities

Gold increased 0.6% to $1,528.95 an ounce.

Brent crude dipped 1% to $58.66 a barrel.

Published on Updated on

Original Article : HERE ;

The post U.S. Stock Futures Drop as Trade-Talk Doubts Swirl: Markets Wrap appeared first on MetNews.

U.S. Stock Futures Drop as Trade-Talk Doubts Swirl: Markets Wrap was originally posted by MetNews

#MetNews

[badgersmash9-blog]

2:00PM Water Cooler 11/13/2018

By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Trade

“Port Tracker report points to increased import activity ahead of next round of tariffs” [Logistics Management]. “United States-bound imports trended down from the pre-holiday peak while still coming in at higher-than-usual levels, with retailers importing merchandise in advance of a coming tariff increase in January, according to the new edition of the Port Tracker report issued today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and maritime consultancy Hackett Associates…. ‘Imports have usually dropped off significantly by this time of year but we’re still seeing numbers that could have set records in the past,’ NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said in a statement. ‘Part of this is driven by consumer demand in the strong economy but retailers also know that tariffs on the latest round of goods are set to more than double in just a few weeks. If there are shipments that can be moved up, it makes sense to do that before the price goes up.'”

“Growing trade restrictions are triggering tensions between companies in automotive supply chains. … [Q]uestions over tariffs have prompted some blunt warnings between buyers and suppliers and even a lawsuit between a major auto parts maker and a key components provider” [Wall Street Journal]. “Pierburg US LLC says a supplier is trying to exact ‘extortion’ by refusing to ship parts from China unless the 25% tariff cost is paid in full. The disputes highlight the complexity of supply chains that may take in roughly 30,000 individual parts and hundreds of direct or downstream suppliers. The business is underpinned by thousands of detailed long-term contracts that now have big new costs and uncertainty thrown into the mix.”

Politics

“But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?” –James Madison, Federalist 51

2020

Perhaps not entirely safe for work:

Ojeda and Avenatti as candidates are like the guy who thinks good sex is pumping away while you’re making a grocery list in your head wondering when he’ll be done.

O’Rourke is like the guy who is all sweet and nerdy but holds you down and makes you cum until your calves cramp.

— Leah McElrath (@leahmcelrath) November 12, 2018

2018

“Most House Democrats Will Be in Majority for First Time Ever” [Roll Call]. “Of the 227 Democrats who are guaranteed to be serving in the 116th Congress — 10 House races remained uncalled as of Tuesday morning — 58 percent will be new to the majority. That includes 79 members who have served in Congress already and 53 new members. Only 95 Democrats returning next year have experienced life in the majority.” • And I can’t imagine anybody better equipped to show them the ropes than Nancy Pelosi….

Pelosi (1):

Nancy Pelosi: “None of us is indispensable, but some of us are just better at our jobs than others.” https://t.co/R0h3X8auA1

— Taegan Goddard (@politicalwire) November 13, 2018

Pelosi (2):

Now @Ocasio2018 has joined the sit-in by @sunrisemvmt & @justicedems at Pelosi's office calling for a #GreenNewDeal.

Pelosi has planned to relaunch a weak committee from 2008 to "study" the effects of climate change — essentially denying the serious reality of climate change. pic.twitter.com/tSjuJ5OTTU

— Waleed Shahid (@_waleedshahid) November 13, 2018

“Black Lawmakers Set to Assume More Powerful Roles in U.S. House” [Bloomberg]. “The Congressional Black Caucus is on the verge of becoming the most powerful bloc in the U.S. House when Democrats take control in January, with members to lead at least five committees and more than a dozen subcommittees.” • For more on the CBC, see Black Agenda Report: “The Black Political Class? The Congressional Black Caucus? These Joes Ain’t Loyal.” The black misleadership class, BAR calls them.

“Democrats Say Their First Bill Will Focus On Strengthening Democracy At Home” [NPR]. “The bill would establish automatic voter registration and reinvigorate the Voting Rights Act, crippled by a Supreme Court decision in 2013. It would take away redistricting power from state legislatures and give it to independent commissions. Other provisions would overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, which declared political spending is First Amendment free speech; they would mandate more disclosure of outside money and establish a public financing match for small contributions.” • We’ll need to see the details, of course, but this sounds good. However, I don’t see anything about hand-marked paper ballots, hand-counted in public. If the ballot system is broken, everything is broken, because no vote count can be trusted.

AZ Senate: “Kyrsten Sinema becomes first Democrat to win a Senate race in Arizona in 30 years” [Salon]. “Kyrsten Sinema has been elected as Arizona’s next senator — as well as the first openly bisexual United States Senator ever.” • She’ll immediately join the “Bisexuals Opposed to Medicare for All” caucus.

CA Leg: “Nearly a Week After Election Day, California Democrats Regain Supermajority in Legislature” [Governing]. “Democrats claimed victory Monday in two state Senate races, giving them back the two-thirds supermajority they lost in June when Orange County Democrat Josh Newman was recalled after he voted in favor of Gov. Jerry Brown’s gas tax increase.” • Great! Maybe now they can fix CalPERS without those pesky Republicans obstructing everything.

FL Vote: “Bay County accepted ballots through email—which state law doesn’t allow: report” [Florida Politics]. “Elections officials in Bay County, a Republican stronghold recently battered by Hurricane Michael, accepted votes via email. The catch: That’s counter to state law.”

ME-02: “Poliquin sues in federal court to stop ranked-choice vote count” [Portland Press-Herald]. “Republican 2nd District Rep. Bruce Poliquin filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap in an attempt to stop a tabulation of ranked-choice ballots in his race against Democratic challenger Jared Golden.” • This is ridiculous. Poliquin knew the rules going in.

The suit filed in federal court in Bangor is asking for an injunction against Dunlap to stop what would be the first congressional race in the nation to be decided through ranked-choice voting.

“The Week in Public Finance: How Tax Policies Fared at the Ballot Box” [Governing]. “With a few exceptions, voters across the country on Election Day approved statewide proposals to reduce or limit taxes while also widely rejecting any efforts to raise them. But that wasn’t the story at the local level, where several tax increases passed.”

2018 Post Mortems

Why you’ve got to focus on the districts:

I feel like the broad take I come away from 2018 is that voters don’t process ideology the way pundits do and the relationship between campaign coverage, candidate rhetoric, actual candidate positions and actual candidate votes is tenuous. https://t.co/VgVNsSxHBR

— we&#39;re going to abolish ICE (@SeanMcElwee) November 12, 2018

Focusing on the districts is something I wish I had had more time to do. It’s not just a useful corrective for the media critique, it’s more important.

“How Did Medicare for All Candidates Fare in the Midterms?” [Splinter News]. “This year, a majority of House Democratic candidates endorsed Medicare for All, according to the union National Nurses United. If you had told me in 2014, or even 2016, that this would happen, I would have frowned at you, walked away, and possibly tried to contact someone who cares about you out of concern for your mental health. This was pretty damn huge….Only seven candidates in the 30 races Cook labeled as toss-ups endorsed Medicare for All; of those candidates, two won, three lost and two races are still undecided, but only one reduced the vote share over 2016. Harley Rouda, who supports Medicare for All, increased the Democratic share of the vote by 10 percent to beat Dana Rohrabacher, per current totals. Incredibly, a district that previously looked at Dana Rohrabacher and said yes, I want him, now wants a guy who supports single-payer instead.”

Realignment and Legitimacy

A very unfair portrait of the Democrats:

pic.twitter.com/BG4IqS9qKB

— Max Jerneck (@MaxJerneck) November 12, 2018

An even more unfair portrait of the Republicans:

For the sake of fairness, I should provide the Republican credo as well pic.twitter.com/qK35PlEml7

— Max Jerneck (@MaxJerneck) November 12, 2018

Stats Watch

NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, October 2018: “Optimism among small business owners remains near record levels” [Econoday]. “Along with glowing business optimism, the NFIB October survey also showed inflation heating up, with the net percent of owners raising selling prices up… The survey results should thus reinforce the Federal Reserve’s resolve to continue in its current policy of gradual increases in the Fed funds rate.” But: “Small Business Optimism Index decreased in October” [Calculated Risk]. “Most of this survey is noise, but there is some information, especially on the labor market and the ‘Single Most Important Problem’…. Usually small business owners complain about taxes and regulation… However, during the recession, ‘poor sales’ was the top problem. Now the difficulty of finding qualified workers is the top problem.”d

Banks: “New Supervisory Rating System for Large Banking Organizations” [Sullivan & Cromwell]. “On November 2, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB”) issued a final rule (the “Final Rule”) that establishes a new rating system for the supervision of large financial institutions (“LFIs”). The LFI rating system applies to all bank holding companies with total consolidated assets of $100 billion or more…. [T]he new rating system still involves substantial subjectivity in the rating process.[25] Both the capital and liquidity components emphasize planning and risk management, as well as actual financial positions. The governance and control component is inherently subjective. The element of subjectivity may be intensified because an institution will not be considered well managed unless it is rated at least “Conditionally Meets Expectations” for each of the three rating components.” • Well, I imagine that whatever the banks can come up with, including the books, would involve a considerable amount of subjectivity in any case. No worries!

Retail: “How the ‘dark stores’ loophole helps big-box retailers evade millions in property taxes” [The New Food Economy]. “Since 2013, national retailers have successfully sued local governments in Midwest states to lower their property taxes. They claim that assessors shouldn’t determine their stores’ property value based on what they cost to build, or how much money the stores are taking in. In other words, they shouldn’t be taxed like occupied, functioning stores. Instead, say the stores (which also include supermarkets like Meijer, hardware stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Menards, and pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens), the tax assessments should be based on what comparable stores sold for elsewhere. And that’s where things get tricky. For comparison, they’re pointing to so-called “dark stores”—those empty supercenters that blight small-town America…. The retailers were collectively seeking over $700 million in tax revenue.”

Shipping: “Think small when it comes to warehousing” [Logistics Management]. “[A]s the folks [ugh] at CapRock put it in a press release: ‘Typically less than 200,000 square feet in size and in a nearby infill location, and surrounded by housing with substantial purchasing power, small-box warehouses are now the linchpin in the e-commerce ecosystem.'” • My town used to have several small stores. Maybe now we’ll have a small warehouse instead. Exciting times.

Shipping: “Disruption in global oil trade is giving the tanker industry a much-needed boost. Daily freight rates for big crude carriers have soared four-fold to the highest levels in two years, WSJ Logistics Report’s Costas Paris writes, as buying patterns and shipping routes adjust to U.S sanctions on Iran and the trade battle with China” [Wall Street Journal]. “Tanker owners fear the rebound is short-lived, but they’re reaping the benefits now.”

Transportation: “Self-Driving Hotel Rooms May Soon Become a Reality” [Traveler (J-LS)]. “Imagine a world where you no longer fly between your house and your hotel. You drive there. Or more accurately, your hotel room drives you there.” • We call this a “train.”

Transportation: “Driverless cars will lead to more sex in cars, study finds” [MarketWatch]. “People will be sleeping in their vehicles, which has implications for roadside hotels. And people may be eating in vehicles that function as restaurant pods,” Scott Cohen [of Annals of Tourism Research said.] ‘That led us to think, besides sleeping, what other things will people do in cars when free from the task of driving?'” • Indeed. This works if the robot car industry retains today’s ownership model. If robot cars are hailed and rented, a la Uber, not so much. Who wants to find food, or body fluids, in their robot car?

Tech: “Apple’s new bootloader won’t let you install GNU/Linux — Updated” [Boing Boing]. “The chip comes with a user-inaccessible root of trust that allows for the installation of Apple and Microsoft operating systems, but not GNU/Linux and other open and free alternatives…. To make things worse, publishing tools to allow for bootloader overrides is legally risky under section 1201 of the DMCA, which provides for 5 year prison sentences and $500,000 fines (for a first offense) for anyone who trafficks in tools to override access controls for copyrighted works….. Update: After some doing, it’s possible to install GNU/Linux by disabling boot security altogether, though some further tweaking is required.”

Gaia

“Why did the Catastrophic Camp Fire Start Where it Did?” [Cliff Mass Weather and Climate Blog]. Good use of maps: “The power line failure occurred on the northeast side of a terrain feature, where the canyon narrowed. The terrain features would have blocked the flow and thus the winds could well have been substantially accelerated at EXACTLY the location of the failure.”

“Meat Has a Replacement But No One Knows What to Call It” [Bloomberg]. “Lab-grown. Cell-based. Clean. In vitro. Cultured. Fake. Artificial. Synthetic. Meat 2.0. These are all terms that refer to the same kind of food, one that’s not even on the market yet. But the companies making it have already raised hundreds of millions of dollars worth of investor cash and earned the close attention of U.S. regulators. Rather than methodically slaughtering animals, this industry uses science to grow what it claims is essentially the same thing as traditional meat. Given the planetary damage wrought by mass-market animal husbandry, such cellular agriculture is seen as the future of meat. But what to name it, and getting people to eat it, is another matter altogether.”

Guillotine Watch

“I understand your house is on fire….”

Fuck work. Fuck bosses. Fuck capitalism. pic.twitter.com/VPl3hu7yFp

— Los Angeles SRA (@LA_SocialistRA) November 11, 2018

I would love for this to be a hoax…..

Class Warfare

Interestingly, the Long Island City Amazon so-called HQ is on DSA’s patch. They’re on it. Thread:

As news spreads of a possible Amazon headquarters in Queens, let&#39;s review Amazon&#39;s history of worker abuses, shall we? https://t.co/3HiP0VGkHA

— New York City DSA 🌹 (@nycDSA) November 6, 2018

And DSA is canvasssing:

Wanna come canvass with us in Queens? https://t.co/F8cTuiKKwY

— Aaron Taube🌹 (@aptaube) November 13, 2018

Amazon is on AOC’s patch as well:

Amazon is a billion-dollar company. The idea that it will receive hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks at a time when our subway is crumbling and our communities need MORE investment, not less, is extremely concerning to residents here.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 13, 2018

So certainly the possibility for some interesting dynamics here. Chance for DSA to flex its muscles, if any.

* * *

“UPS Freight avoids strike, plans to accept new volumes ‘immediately'” [Supply Chain Dive]. “Teamsters Local 25 member and UPS Freight employee for 12 years Nicholas Mayo told Supply Chain Dive that closing the network and “threatening closure” of the UPS Freight business, as he described it, left voters fearing for their jobs. ‘Look, I and everyone else that voted ‘no’ understood their need to get the freight out of the system protecting the customers’ interests, but it was the initial planted threat that caused the about-face creating fear amongst those that knew no better,’ said Mayo. The Teamsters’ main issues with the contract as it stands approved are around the prevalence of subcontracting and a two-tiered wage system.” • Ugh. So UPS muscled the Teamsters.

“When low-income families can meet their basic needs, children are healthier” [Boston Medical Center]. Ya think? More: “The study team created a composite measure of hardships that included a family’s ability to afford food, utilities, and health care, and maintain stable housing. All hardships described in the study have previously been associated with poor child and caregiver health. This study, however, examined the differences between children living in hardship-free families versus those in families with any or multiple hardships. In all cities, living in a hardship-free family was associated with good overall health for children and caregivers, positive developmental outcomes for young children, and positive mental health among mothers.”

“The unequal vulnerability of communities of color to wildfire” [PLOS One]. “[O]ver 29 million Americans live with significant potential for extreme wildfires, a majority of whom are white and socioeconomically secure. Within this segment, however, are 12 million socially vulnerable Americans for whom a wildfire event could be devastating. Additionally, wildfire vulnerability is spread unequally across race and ethnicity, with census tracts that were majority Black, Hispanic or Native American experiencing ca. 50% greater vulnerability to wildfire compared to other census tracts. Embracing a social-ecological perspective of fire-prone landscapes allows for the identification of areas that are poorly equipped to respond to wildfires.”

“Plans to microchip UK workers spark privacy concerns” [Independent]. “Several legal and financial firms in the UK are reportedly in discussions with a company responsible for fitting thousands of people with chips in Scandinavia… ‘These companies have sensitive documents they are dealing with,’ Biohax founder Jowan Österlund told the publication. ‘[The subdermal microchips] would allow them to set restrictions for whoever.'” • “For whoever.”

Workerdote:

When you work alone a lot.

pic.twitter.com/DPdkVC5B0i

— laney (@misslaneym) November 12, 2018

News of the Wired

“New Study Details Toxic Particles Spewed by 3D Printers” [Gizmodo]. “A newly published, two-year investigation to assess the impacts of desktop 3D printers on indoor air quality, conducted by scientists at UL Chemical Safety and Georgia Institute of Technology, now overcomes these shortcomings. The results, published in two separate studies in Aerosol Science and Technology (here and here), were not encouraging; in tests, the researchers were able to identify hundreds of different compounds, some of which are known health hazards. These findings come at a time when these low-cost machines are increasingly appearing in commercial, medical, and educational settings.” • Of course. I should have known….

“Mother of Invention” [Nnedi Okorafor, Slate]. Short SF story. The premise: “The post-oil city New Delta is now the greenest place in the world, thanks to the innovative air-scrubbing superplant known as periwinkle grass, a GMO grass created in Chinese labs by Nigerian scientist Nneka Mgbaramuko.” • Also, smart houses.

“Stan Lee, Marvel Comics’ Real-Life Superhero, Dies at 95” [Hollywoood Reporter]. “Born Stanley Martin Lieber on Dec. 28, 1922, he grew up poor in Washington Heights, where his father, a Romanian immigrant, was a dress-cutter. A lover of adventure books and Errol Flynn movies, Lee graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School, joined the WPA Federal Theatre Project, where he appeared in a few stage shows, and wrote obituaries. In 1939, Lee got a job as a gofer for $8 a week at Marvel predecessor Timely Comics. Two years later, for Kirby and Joe Simon’s Captain America No. 3, he wrote a two-page story titled “The Traitor’s Revenge!” that was used as text filler to qualify the company for the inexpensive magazine mailing rate. He used the pen name Stan Lee.”

“What Marvel Comics’ Stan Lee Thought About Death and the Afterlife” [E! News]. “‘I don’t fear death. I’m curious. I can’t imagine what it could be like, because I personally feel when you die, that’s the end. It’s the machine that the engine is off,’ Lee said on Hulu’s Larry King Now. ‘But how can there be nothing forever? You know what I mean? I can’t believe it.'”

“The ‘me’ illusion: How your brain conjures up your sense of self” [New Scientist]. “A mind is just an object that some brains can model, and so become aware of. Moreover, it is hard to establish whether this ability is associated with uniquely complex biological machinery.” • Hmm.

* * *

Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Today’s plant (EM):

EM writes: “Calocybe carnea possibly but I’m not sure. There are some brownish ones but no pink.” Readers?

* * *

Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser, now completed. So do feel free to make a contribution today or any day. Here is why: Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know I’m on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of small donations helps me with expenses, and I factor that trickle in when setting fundraising goals. So if you see something you especially appreciate, do feel free to click below! (The hat is temporarily defunct, so I slapped in some old code.)

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This entry was posted in Guest Post, Water Cooler on November 13, 2018 by Lambert Strether.

About Lambert Strether

Readers, I have had a correspondent characterize my views as realistic cynical. Let me briefly explain them. I believe in universal programs that provide concrete material benefits, especially to the working class. Medicare for All is the prime example, but tuition-free college and a Post Office Bank also fall under this heading. So do a Jobs Guarantee and a Debt Jubilee. Clearly, neither liberal Democrats nor conservative Republicans can deliver on such programs, because the two are different flavors of neoliberalism (“Because markets”). I don’t much care about the “ism” that delivers the benefits, although whichever one does have to put common humanity first, as opposed to markets. Could be a second FDR saving capitalism, democratic socialism leashing and collaring it, or communism razing it. I don’t much care, as long as the benefits are delivered. To me, the key issue — and this is why Medicare for All is always first with me — is the tens of thousands of excess “deaths from despair,” as described by the Case-Deaton study, and other recent studies. That enormous body count makes Medicare for All, at the very least, a moral and strategic imperative. And that level of suffering and organic damage makes the concerns of identity politics — even the worthy fight to help the refugees Bush, Obama, and Clinton’s wars created — bright shiny objects by comparison. Hence my frustration with the news flow — currently in my view the swirling intersection of two, separate Shock Doctrine campaigns, one by the Administration, and the other by out-of-power liberals and their allies in the State and in the press — a news flow that constantly forces me to focus on matters that I regard as of secondary importance to the excess deaths. What kind of political economy is it that halts or even reverses the increases in life expectancy that civilized societies have achieved? I am also very hopeful that the continuing destruction of both party establishments will open the space for voices supporting programs similar to those I have listed; let’s call such voices “the left.” Volatility creates opportunity, especially if the Democrat establishment, which puts markets first and opposes all such programs, isn’t allowed to get back into the saddle. Eyes on the prize! I love the tactical level, and secretly love even the horse race, since I’ve been blogging about it daily for fourteen years, but everything I write has this perspective at the back of it.

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Source: https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2018/11/200pm-water-cooler-11-13-2018.html

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