Please tell your friends about federated social media site that speaks several fediverse protocols thus serving as a hub uniting them, hubzilla.eskimo.com, also check out friendica.eskimo.com, federated
macroblogging social media site, mastodon.eskimo.com a federated microblogging site, and yacy.eskimo.com an uncensored federated search engine. All Free!
Forever chemicals have polluted the water supply of 60,000 people, threatening human health, wildlife and the wider ecosystem. But activists say this is just the tip of the Pfas iceberg
Schulgebäude, Pflegeeinrichtungen und Krankenhäuser sind laut Verbänden nicht auf starke Wärme vorbereitet. Neben mehr Geld fordern sie auch Schulungen für das Personal.
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
If Armenia becomes a joint Azeri-Turkish protectorate like Pashinyan’s opponents fear that he agreed to, then Turkiye could become a force to be reckoned with in the Eurasian Heartland, but that scenario could be derailed if it becomes Russian-friend…
L’Ajuntament de Barcelona ha rectificat i ha anunciat que obrirà expedient informatiu a FCC, l’empresa per a la qual treballava la dona que va morir dissabte després de la jornada laboral enmig de l’onada de calor.
Ayer la artista Metrika y su equipo sufrieron una agresión que impidió que celebrase su concierto programado en el programa de fiestas de Burgos No a la LGTBIfobia
Lunes a las 20h en la Plaza Mayor, concentración para condenar y denunciar l agresión LGTBIfóbica de Metrika y su bailarina.
Niels Brock, a Copenhagen-based business college, will lay off 186 teachers over the next five years as it closes its international, tuition-based program. Despite enrolling a record 3,500 international students this year—a new high for the institution. The closure is a direct result of recent changes to Danish immigration rules. (Hard rain gonna fall)
Blogger, author, and activist Cory Doctorow is the most provocative, original, and widely admired thinker on the politics of Big Tech in the world today.
You may recall that sometime last November we put up a request for questions to be passed on to author, voice actor, comedian, and card shark Wil Wheaton.
#15yrsago G20 police used imaginary law to jail harass demonstrators and jailed protestors in dangerous and abusive “detention center” memex.craphound.com/2010/06/29…
A European Court ruling allows individuals to request that search engines remove certain web pages from their results. Following the ruling, Google removed a large number of links from certain searches, including some to BBC web pages.
My latest novel is "Picks and Shovels," a historical technothriller set in the Weird Era of the PC, about Ponzi schemes, techbros, and the dawn of enshittification:
My next nonfiction book is "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," out from MCD/Farrar, Straus and Giroux on October 7:
My ebooks and audiobooks (from Tor Books, Head of Zeus, McSweeneys, Beacon, Verso and others) are for sale all over the net, but I sell 'em too, and when you buy 'em from me, I earn twice as much and you get books with no DRM and no license "agreements."
Blogger, author, and activist Cory Doctorow is the most provocative, original, and widely admired thinker on the politics of Big Tech in the world today.
The Booksmith is so excited to be welcoming Cory Doctorow back to San Francisco for the release of Enshittification at Public Works. More to come, but grab a ticket and join us!About the bookEnshittification: its not just youthe internet sucks now.
Novelist, activist, and journalist Cory Doctorow joins Rachel and David in the cafe to talk about the enshittification of the internet and how we ended up in our current enshittogenic environment.
If you prefer a newsletter, subscribe to the plura-list, which is ad-/tracker-free, and is utterly unadorned save a single daily emoji. Today's is "⛸". Suggestions solicited for future emojis!
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Blogger, author, and activist Cory Doctorow is the most provocative, original, and widely admired thinker on the politics of Big Tech in the world today.
hey, just a heads up, your new bot filtering software is breaking firefox with noscript enabled for some reason
this seems to be because of the 301 redirects which attempt to set a deflect_session cookie, which firefox + noscript strips on page reload as far as I can tell, causing an infinite reload loop
I fixed it by pre-allowing your website in noscript before the page even loads, but I'm guessing this is new because it hasn't really happened to me before on your site
my only issue with this comparison is that the recent stories of chatGPT-fueled psychosis don't really fit into the same box as religion, which is more in-group/out-group "mob-behavior" based.
Well, unless we frame it's "adapting to what you want to hear" as the targeted advertising equivalent for religion, maybe.
Experience the ultimate indulgence with a four hands massage in London at The Posh Tantric London. This luxurious treatment involves two synchronized therapists working in perfect harmony, delivering mirrored strokes that double the relaxation and relieve stress on a whole new level. Designed to create balance between body and mind, the posh four hands massage is ideal for those seeking deep calm and therapeutic bliss.
At The Posh, each session is tailored to your preferences—be it gentle, flowing movements or firm, muscle-relieving pressure. The choreography of four hands working in unison induces a meditative state, melting away physical and mental tension. Enhanced with warm oils and soothing ambiance, this treatment goes beyond standard massage to offer a full-body sensory escape.
Perfect for high-stress lifestyles or as a decadent self-care treat, the four hands massage is a signature experience at The Posh. Whether it’s your first time or a returning favorite, let our skilled therapists take you on a journey of balance, relaxation, and unmatched luxury. Discover how two therapists and one session can completely transform your sense of well-being.
I know this guy, he used to decapitate ancient statues and women who weren't wrapped in bedsheets being dragged with a rope by their husband/owner as goats.
The Kurds fighting those fascists effectively were bombed by NATO forces (Turk-branch) and Russia pulled out just in time so they can advance and take over Syria.
If there is an equivalent to Nazi-ism in the Arabic world, that is it, #ISIS
Effective corporate governance is about making informed decisions, clearly defining responsibilities, and addressing risks before they become serious problems.
Running a business in Singapore involves more than just meeting filing deadlines. Effective corporate governance is about making informed decisions, clearly defining responsibilities, and addressing risks before they become serious problems.
For companies, especially private limited ones, strong governance reduces legal risks, builds investor trust, and ensures operational efficiency. Here's a practical guide to getting it right.
Understand Your Legal Obligations
Every company registered in Singapore must comply with the Companies Act, which outlines directors' duties: act in the company's best interest, avoid conflicts, and maintain accurate records. Non-compliance can lead to fines or directorship disqualification.
Corporate secretarial services are vital for meeting these requirements. They handle tasks like filing annual returns, drafting resolutions, and ensuring records are accurate and accessible. This isn't just about compliance—it's about protecting your business.
The Crucial Role of a Company Secretary
Singapore law requires every company to appoint a company secretary. This role goes beyond administrative tasks, involving expertise in meeting protocols, ACRA submissions, and compliance with the company's constitution.
Many businesses opt for outsourced corporate secretarial services. This approach is often more cost-effective and ensures a qualified professional keeps things in order, particularly for smaller teams.
Make Board Meetings Effective
Board meetings are more than a legal obligation—they're where strategy is set and risks are identified early. Skipping or rushing them can lead to undocumented decisions and unclear accountability.
Even small boards with a few directors benefit from regular, documented meetings. This ensures alignment and supports the company's growth.
Balance Power and Oversight
In smaller companies, one person might serve as director, shareholder, and manager. While legal, this can lead to unchecked decisions or oversights.
Where possible, separate these roles or ensure key decisions are reviewed by another party. A second perspective on contracts or finances can prevent errors and maintain balance.
Communicate With Shareholders
Shareholder disputes often arise from miscommunication or missing records. These are avoidable. Keep your share register updated, document ownership clearly, and notify shareholders about meetings or major decisions.
These steps are mandated by Singapore law and often managed by a company secretary. However, it's your responsibility to ensure they're done correctly.
Prioritize Accurate Recordkeeping
A common mistake is assuming records are being maintained when they're not. Missing documents can complicate fundraising or business sales.
Ensure your company has: - An up-to-date constitution - Accurate registers - Resolutions for key decisions - Proper financial statements
Many corporate secretarial services in Singapore offer digital storage solutions—use them and review records periodically.
Anticipate Potential Risks
Good governance means thinking about what could go wrong. Consider: - Are you monitoring cash flow? - Is customer data secure? - What's the plan if a key employee leaves?
You don't need a formal risk committee to address these. Regular discussions about potential risks can keep your business prepared.
Stay Informed on Regulatory Changes
Singapore's regulations are clear but evolve over time. Deadlines shift, new reporting standards emerge, and incentives change.
A reliable secretarial services Singapore provider will notify you of relevant updates. If managing compliance in-house, ensure someone tracks changes from ACRA, IRAS, or MOM. Ignorance isn't a valid excuse.
Final Thoughts
Corporate governance doesn't need to be complex—it just requires consistency. Clear roles, accurate records, and proactive risk management strengthen your business, whether you're scaling or staying compliant.
A capable company secretary, whether in-house or through corporate secretarial services, is more than a legal necessity. They're a key partner in ensuring compliance and clarity.
Being in business in Singapore is associated with numerous roles, including legal and regulatory requirements of which companies must comply to remain legal.
⚠️ WATCH OUT! European Commission's questionnaire for public consultation on #DataRetention has some really tricky and misguiding questions! ⚠️
But don't worry - we'll be publishing an answering guide in early August to help you understand the questions and avoid the traps. Well in time for the September 12 deadline! 😌
"Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want & need is the only way that we make this world a better place."
"As we grow older & our fire possibly starts to dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage & inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us."
"Let them see us marching in the streets, campaigning on ground level, organising online & shouting about it on any and every stage that we are offered."
The United States Deputy Secretary of State has revealed Bob Vylan's US visas have been rejected following their controversial appearance at Glastonbury
Es curioso como escucho la noticia de la trabajadora muerta por un golpe de calor pero ni nombran a la empresa responsable. Con lo que son para mencionar a la primera de cambio cuando un delincuente es de x nacionalidad o llaman okupas a todo lo que traspasa una puerta. #mediosdecomunicacion
Shido Bunan, master of the master of Hakuin: »There is no instruction, no particular method to study the way,It is enough to see and hear directly.By seeing directly, the action of seein…
The Supreme Court’s first chief justice, John Jay, would have empathized with the billionaires who’ve been freaking out ever since Zohran Mamdani won the
It is now widely accepted that Iraq's alleged possession of nuclear weapons was the excuse, not the reason, for the Israeli/American desire to destroy Iraq.
Lors de l’assise, ce n’est pas tout de passer au travers des pensées.De la même manière que celles-ci sont une émanation de l’esprit,Il convient de passer au travers des « pensées du corps ».J’ente…
La chute primordiale de l’homme est due à un renversement du sablier de son être.Il opère un retournement de son univers intérieur.Ainsi, l’homme chute depuis les profondeurs jusqu’à son être de su…
It’s really lovely to hear you say this. What a simple gesture that anyone can make that has a huge impact for those who need it most.
I once saw a sticker on the streets with this passage, which aligns with your sentiment. I made a graphic of it because that’s how my family rolls, and I’d love to think more people every day are doing the same thing.
Industrial cooperation should become the engine of integration in the Eurasian Economic Union, Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Belarus Roman Golovchenko said on the air of the Belarus 1 TV channel.
Rather than taxing the rich to rescue a welfare system devastated by 14 years of Conservative austerity, a move consistently favoured in opinion polls, Starmer-Reeves have given paltry increases to a few welfare programmes while cutting several of th…
Palestinian media outlets have reported a new wave of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, leaving scores dead and injured amid the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
Guten Morgen @Friendica Support Gibt es mit der RC Probleme in Verbindung mit RSS-Feeds? Im Profil steht zwar, dass die Aktualisierung erfolgreich war, es werden aber keine Beiträge angezeigt. Allgemein dauert es zum Teil extremst lange, bis Feeds abgeholt werden. Teilweise bis zu drei Tagen.
Clashes break out in Jerusalem ahead of flag march
Clashes have broken out in #Jerusalem ahead of the flag day march. The Times of India reports they took place just inside the Damascus gate when Israelis threw stones and attacked local residents.
Judge excuses Israeli extremist who shot #Palestinian while chanting ‘death to arabs’ because ‘people are on edge’ skwawkbox.org/2025/03/16/judge… Ahmad Nijam, who was shot in the leg during the racist mob’s attack, told an Israeli TV channel that members of the mob approached him and demanded to know why he was hanging around an area supposedly for Jews, before throwing water bottles at him. The Jewish shooter ordered Nijam to get down on the ground before shooting him. Video from the incident, filmed by an acquaintance of Nijam who came to investigate his cries, shows Nijam bleeding on the floor and screaming in pain while the suspect and someone in an #IDF uniform stand a few metres away watching him suffer, before the shooter flees. Police detained the wounded Nijam for questioning as soon as he was released from hospital and demanded to know why he was on the street at night – and when the alleged shooter appeared in court, things went even further downhill.
Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court Judge David Shaul Gabai Richter ordered the suspect’s release to house arrest, suggesting that because people in Jerusalem are ‘on edge’ the shooting was understandable and concluding that:
Although this was an incident in which a weapon was used… I do not believe that the defendant can be deemed a …criminal.
Victim detained while judge says Zionist fanatic should not be ‘deemed a criminal’ Wounded Ahmad Nijam last week. A judge in Jerusalem has ordered the release to house arrest of a Jewis…
Alt text: screenshot of article headline: Culture > Music > News Rap song calling for death of Dua Lipa, Bella Hadid and Mia Khalifa 'tops charts in Israel' 'Every dog will get what's coming to them', the artists apparently rap Maira Butt • Friday 16 February 2024 05:53 GMT
A video of young Israeli children allegedly calling for the destruction of Gaza has gone viral. In the viral video, Israeli kids can be seen singing a song w...
This thing called Narkis, singing about "finish Gaza" while dancing with #idfterrorists is also very interesting. (Do any search about israelí singers ASKING to murder Palestinians and you'll find quite a bunch of videos) The hypocrisy goes to the roof and beyond
Israeli pop singer Narkis is filmed singing with soldiers, calling for “finishing off Gaza”, and for bringing back Gush Katif, a bloc of former Israeli settl...
I do think it is most likely true that one's gender and sexuality is not set at birth but instead emerges later for most people. I mean twin studies for one thing. Doesn't mean it's a choice though.
Considering gender is a social construct it can't exist till a person has assimilated the information needed to create the construction.
Them figuring out where they sit inside of that construction is the tricky part.
Sexuality is hard to say, but considering observation in preferences among other species it's likely to not manifest fully till an organism goes though their equivalent of puberty.
So in either case there's basically no real argument that either is from birth. But also there's even less of an argument that it's a conscious choice. It's a manifestation of the chemicals and/or the perception of the person. Depending on which of the two your talking about.
Now if we talking about biological sex. Then yeah your born with the bits you have. Don't mean you can't have them changed. Or disagree with the social expectations of gender commonly associated with those bits. Thank you modern medicine and fuck expectations!
Pretty sure science does have evidence that there is heavy influence from how someone grows? Obviously how someone is raised can change their attitude towards identities, even as far as making ignorant people closet and resent themselves without even truly knowing why.
So... it's pretty obvious that it's both. It's just an open question as to how much each affect, and I'd bet it's wholly subjective anyways.
Yeah, it just bothers me when people reject "you are not born LGBT" as though it's somehow a bigoted opinion. I guess they hear "not born" and mentally substitute "it's a choice."
Blackness is a social construct, too. You might be born with darker skin, but a lot (if not most) black people in the USA are very visibly mixed race and even if they weren't, it still doesn't follow that they automatically need to have all these socioeconomic issues and stereotypes attached to them.
The opposite is true. If you're gay, God made you that way for a damn good reason! Who are you to question His will? It is a mortal sin for a gay man to sleep with a woman!
Only if he sleeps with a woman because he likes it. Lots of gay men sleep with women to avoid the stigma of being a known homosexual (and/or being in denial and/or internalized homophobia).
Wait, christianity doesn't approve of sex for pleasure, and many of these gay men in denial genuinely like their wives (just not sexually). Carry on, then.
As a christian, it deeply saddens me to see oyher people who call themselves "christians", yet they spread hate and antipathy, going agaisnt basically everything that Jesus taught.
I like to imagine I'm not overly susceptible when it comes to marketing but maybe I'm just lucky most of the market doesn't cater to my childlike whimsy.
I'm less susceptible to marketing because I always have adblockers active (where at all possible)! Most people don't even see the fact that they subject themselves to ads as issues, even after you show them how easy it is to set up adblockers in a webbrowser.
But this kind of marketing, it can't be easily blocked ...
I found non-invasive ads exceedingly rare in recent years. I sometimes tried putting certain sites from creators I want to support on allowlists and always went back almost immediately because the ads were so invasive. I'd rather donate to content than view ads, even $0.5 is probably worth years of consuming most ad-paid content, considering how little ads actually pay per visitor.
Does it seem like a higher percent of adult men have a negative chin length in 2025 than in 2015
I have never remember noticed seeing a man or woman with a negative chin length in real life until after the 2019 "pandemic"
Was I just exposed to information about women judging men by chins so I noticed something in plain sight that I did not notice before or have demographics changed
It looks like the front of the bottom of their jaw is behind the part of their face between the nose & the lips
- Palais de l'Élysée, 27 novembre 1967- L' estimation de 15 milliards d’euros de dette publique en 1967 (par chatGPT): "La dette publique représentait enviro...
If you’re new to Umamusume Pretty Derby, the game might feel a bit overwhelming at first. It’s not your typical mobile game—Umamusume blends character development, training strategy, and horse racing into one deep simulation.
Would not have thought the venn diagram of weeb and horsegirl covered enough people to fund a game like this, but the more I think about it the more this makes total sense
It really makes a lot more sense if you consider that a lot of anime fans are AFAB. "Weeb" feels like a very gendered word to me, but is there really such a big difference between male and female anime fans?
Thomas Keith on X: "Israel entered the 12-day exchange convinced it could absorb costs; the ledger now shows a nation bleeding cash, talent, and confidence. Direct military outlays hit $5 B in the first week, then ballooned to $725 M every 24 hours, $593 M on offensive strikes that failed to silence Iran, $132 M on frantic mobilisation and missile intercepts that still let 400 warheads through. Iron Dome batteries alone inhaled $10 M to $200 M per day while Iranian salvos sailed past them and erased $1.47 B in civilian property, triggering 38 700 damage claims, 11 000 evacuations, and 30 condemned high-rise skeletons across Tel Aviv’s financial spine.
The Weizmann Institute, Israel’s prestige export, lies in shards, 45 labs gone and $500 M in biomedical IP incinerated, pulling decades of grant pipelines and pharma partnerships off the table overnight. Intel’s Kiryat Gat fabs froze mid-wafer, choking a supply chain that feeds 64 % of Israel’s exports and 1/5 of its GDP; the high-tech sector now runs on skeleton crews because 300 000 reservists were yanked from R&D floors and data centers to guard empty runways at Tel Nof. Commercial flights halted twice at Ben Gurion, insurers jacked premiums, and foreign airlines rerouted around a country that once sold itself as the region’s safe hub.
Capital is already in flight. More than 80 000 Israelis emigrated in 2024, the largest outflow since 1948, pushing the two-year total above 500 000 and forcing Netanyahu’s cabinet to slap a travel ban on Jewish dual nationals to stem the leak. Investor confidence cratered: venture funds paused term sheets, construction sites stand idle, and mega-projects wait on credit that no longer clears. The finance ministry, staring at a deficit set to shove public debt past 75 % of GDP, begged for an extra $857 M in defence cash while slicing $200 M from hospitals and schools.
Analysts peg Israel’s aggregate loss between $11.5 B and $17.8 B, up to 3.3 % of GDP, before counting long-tail hits from halted exports, cancelled IPOs, and sovereign-risk downgrades. Iran, still sitting on its uranium stockpile, spent a fraction of that yet forced the self-styled “Start-Up Nation” into a liquidity scramble, an insurance panic, and a brain-drain spiral. Tel Aviv promised deterrence; Tehran handed it a balance sheet in red ink and the visible stamp of strategic humiliation.
Les capitaux sont déjà en fuite. Plus de 80 000 Israéliens ont émigré en 2024, le plus grand exode depuis 1948, portant le total sur deux ans à plus de 500 000 et obligeant le cabinet de Netanyahu à imposer une interdiction de voyager aux Juifs ayant la double nationalité afin d’endiguer l’hémorragie.
Meh. Chomsky lost all moral and intellectual credibility to weigh in on "War" when he justified Putin's illegal and continued war on Ukraine. He's on the side of the fascist Putin and Trump when it fits his global bias and against the side of Netanyahu and Trump when it doesn't.
Japan Times: Immigration raids leave crops unharvested and California farms at risk
""OXNARD, California... In the fields, I would say 70% of the workers are gone," she said in an interview. "If 70% of your workforce doesn't show up, 70% of your crop doesn't get picked and can go bad in one day. Most Americans don't want to do this work. Most farmers here are barely breaking even. I fear this has created a tipping point where many will go bust.""
In the vast agricultural lands north of Los Angeles, farmers and field supervisors have said that ICE raids have led a majority of workers to stop showing up.
For many, the memory of the Holocaust as a break with civilization is the moral foundation of the Federal Republic. To compare it with other genocides is therefore considered a heresy, an apostasy...
for the millionth time, White America is just racist, no Russian interference required.
And also, both major US political parties deserve the criticism. Both parties have advanced capitalist minority rule, white supremacy, and imperialism against (among others) the Vietnamese, Palestinian, and Chilean peoples.
Our Chicago School ratfuckers helped Russia implement capitalist oligarchy (aka "democracy"), and it led to Putin rising to power a couple decades later.
Just like we are seeing here in America with Trump
The US political establishment is complicit in genocide, fascism, and exploitation around the globe, and this criminal enterprise has been going on since the first British colonies were founded on the North American continent in the 1600s.
It's not all Kamala's fault or Biden's fault or even Trump's fault, but they willingly integrated themselves into it instead of working to destroy it and replace it with something less murderous and cruel.
Under Israel lobby pressure, the BBC pulled a documentary showing how Israel has systematically destroyed Gaza's heath care system.
Not everyone is so cowardly. This Wednesday it will be broadcast by Channel 4 in the UK, and Zeteo elsewhere.
Oliver North being invited to Fox News as a “military analyst” talking about how Iran shouldn't have missiles and is a threat to peace in the middle east, as if it wasn't him who sold missiles to Iran in order to create untraceable funds through which to support the Contras in Nicaragua when congress cut funding (which was high treason).
@Nickiquote Media has no ethical scruples. Over here in UK, they frequently get Kwasi Kwarteng (Liz Truss’s chancellor and so co-responsible for crashing our economy) to discuss Government policy and economics. Shameless all round.
The weak will drag you down if you give party to their insufficiencies and weakness. This is no time to side with them Pity them. The insufferable. Those that seek comfort in their inadequacies. They are not made for this. The weak remain so. Be bold.
Ego + arrogance. Trump wields both. That is what is needed. Do you think a squishy feeble untethered elected politician would ever bring you that? Brass knuckles. Truth. Everything is not going to suit you. Big picture. All pieces don’t fall into place according to your vision. Accept that one crucial fact. Relax. Have faith. Trust. Who is willing to stand up in the face of all aligned against him? One last question. Who else has been willing? Go ahead…
The Supreme Court on June 27 handed down a decision restricting federal judges’ ability to impose nationwide injunctions against executive policies, a ruling that was immediately hailed by President Donald Trump as a win for his administration.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Israel codenamed its initial attack on Iran that killed senior military leaders "Red Wedding," referring to a gruesome massacre from the book series "Game of Thrones," which was adapted into a TV series on HBO.
😡😡😡 🇺🇸💰🇮🇱 While Americans argue over rent hikes, groceries, and student loans, Israel has extracted $124 M per day from the U.S. Treasury for an entire year, much of it hidden behind opaque appropriations and congressional loopholes.
According to Brown University’s Costs of War project, Washington has shouldered 70% of Israel’s military costs since Oct 7, 2023. That includes $17.9 B in direct aid, $4.86 B in Pentagon regional ops, $20.3 B in deferred arms deals, and billions more in shipping losses, stockpile transfers, and corporate handouts.
Since 1948 the United States has pumped $317 B into Israel, including $251.2 B in military aid since 1959; that torrent began with the first Pentagon loan in 1959, switched to grants in 1974, became 100% grants in 1985, and now flows automatically as a $3.8 B lump-sum every Oct 1 plus a $500 M missile-defense kicker under the 2019-2028 MOU, money on which Israel pockets the interest because Washington lets it sit in a Fed account. Even so, FY-2024 set a new single-year record: $17.9 B, dwarfing the 1973 and 1978 surges and landing entirely on U.S. taxpayers.
That FY-2024 fire-hose breaks down as $6.8 B Foreign Military Financing, $4.5 B for Iron Dome and David’s Sling reloads, $1.2 B for the Iron Beam laser, $1 B to crank out more 155 mm shells in U.S. factories, and $4.4 B to refill Pentagon stockpiles stripped for Israeli use, again, $17.9 B in 11 months. The administration also slid at least 100 separate weapons deals under congressional reporting thresholds to keep the true cost opaque.
On 8-13-2024 Washington promised another $20.3 B: 50 F-15EX fighters priced at $18.8 B for delivery in 2029, 32 000 120 mm tank rounds at $774 M, $583 M in tactical vehicles, 30 AMRAAMs at $102 M, and 50 000 mortar bombs at $61 M, all deferred to future U.S. budgets via Israel’s “cash-flow” privilege.
Meanwhile the money flows back to the usual corporate feeders. 60 % of the $14 B April supplemental, $8.4 B, went straight to U.S. arms firms. Boeing’s defense arm booked $8 B in Q4-2023 orders, 36 % of its annual revenue. The Financial Times projects $52 B in free cash flow for the top-15 defense contractors in 2026, $26 B pocketed by the U.S. “big five,” cash they historically plow into buybacks and dividends. Israel still may divert 25 % of each yearly grant, $950 M this cycle, to its own industry before that carve-out expires in 2028.
Add it up and the past 12 months have drained $17.9 B in direct aid, $20.3 B in new contractual obligations, $4.86 B (and climbing) in Pentagon regional costs, and $2.1 B in trade losses, a $45.16 B extraction. That works out to $124 M every day, $1.5 M every hour, funneled from American households to a foreign military and a handful of weapons conglomerates that treat the U.S. Treasury like an open vein.
When then US Senate passes the budget bill which defunds Medicaid, raises energy costs to protect a dying and toxic fossil fuel industry by crippling renewables, and give a huge handout to the domestic criminal cartel known as "Department of Homeland Security", it will result in more carnage than if a foreign adversary aerially bombed the whole country for a couple years.
But the oligarchs who own our politicians have their interests protected, which is the point of all of this.
thinking about how refusing to burn oil or buy plastic looks a lot like a general strike. Smash the oligarchs and save the earth for our descendants at the same time
@h2onolan unfortunately it doesn't really work like that for this, as energy generation for electricity is where much of the emissions come from, and it's impossible to just not use electricity. Additionally things like air travel (including private jets) and our food system also use a lot of fossil fuels and boycotting would actually just make it cheaper for, say, those who fly in private jets to fly more, since the demand would go down
Carter Braxton
in reply to Emmanuel Florac • • •@Emmanuel Florac
That's good news for those who oppose capitalism then, isn't it? Things are looking up for them, if one can believe what one reads or hears.
Emmanuel Florac
in reply to Emmanuel Florac • • •