Podium

lol, I am not joining anyone's podium. I mean't getting Balen on the podium. There is plenty to talk about in parliament and they are talking about it, including Harka protesting. The government is definitely communicating, I have seen various representative on media and in the parliament. I think your question regarding Balen not speaking which I have previously addressed. If the government wasn't performing or if they were part of scandals like previous MPs then absolutely PM should be coming to parliament and address them. If you were talking about pattern of not performing, MPs involved in scandals in 1 or 2 years time then yes there may be another uprise. But the current government has bee in government for hardly two months and even then they have made lots of good decisions, some of which were unthinkable before. Like I said if they stopped performing AND PM don't speak I will join you, maybe on your podium if you have one :D

I have my main base built at the podium currently and made a super highway that leads all the way to the scarecrow's hat. Now I'm building an outpost there and it's coming together nicely and thought "should I build my primary base here?" A few downsides to this though. 1) moving an entire base from one spot to another. Playing single player this will be VERY time consuming. Either running items 1 at a time or scraping it all and rebuilding at the new base. 2) the neighbors. Building at the podium I already had wolf spiders and scorpions but they weren't too problematic after building some walls but still dangerous leaving/coming home. The scarecrow has fireflies fly directly up to the base (passive creatue, but if one gets glitched inside the house that AOE attack can be an issue). There is the wasp nest that spawns by the mulch bag and we all know how fun wasps are. And last but not least, the 2 o.r.c.c earwigs that spawn inside his head. Without opening his head I should be alright but one weird glitch and I have one of those causing havoc in the base. 3)Updates. Do you think the scarecrow will have some sort of update that would utterly obliterate my base? Even just some repositioning to the hat will break the floor, thus letting everything plummet to the ground. BUT! On the plus side I'll have a VERY high base so when ziplines come out it'll be able to connect to nearly every place on the map. This will be close to the new location(s) on the south/southeast portion of the map. And, personally, I think it looks pretty sweet building on top. Long rant but I'm just seeing what other people's thoughts were on the new location!

Bimota Kawasaki expanded their superbike programme for 2026 by entering the British Superbike Championship. Remarkably, the project achieved its first podium result during only the second event of the season at Donington Park. Rider Max Cook delivered an impressive weekend performance, finishing second in the opening race before adding two third-place finishes in races two and three. The results marked the first podium appearances for the Bimota Kawasaki project in the championship. Max Cook expressed satisfaction with both the performance of the motorcycle and the team’s progress throughout the weekend. As Cook stated. **"Overall I’m really happy with the result. The bike was working good. Even up to the end, you know, things started to heat up a little bit, and it was nice to be there and be part of that."**

Nancy Pelosi traded $5 million in stocks and Congress lost its mind. Trump literally executed $750 MILLION worth of stock trades in ONE quarter while being President. His ethics filing just dropped and the numbers are genuinely unprecedented in history: Between January and March 2026, Donald Trump personally executed 3,700 individual stock transactions worth between $220 million and $750 million. That's roughly 60 trades PER DAY. While signing executive orders, meeting foreign leaders, and making policy decisions that directly impact the companies he's buying and selling. Now here's where it gets really insane: On February 10, Trump bought between $1 million and $5 million worth of Dell stock. Three months later, on May 8, he stood at a Mother's Day event at the White House, thanked Michael Dell by name, and told Americans to "go out and buy a Dell." Dell stock surged 14.6% that day to an all-time high of $263.99. Since Trump's February purchase, Dell is up 96%. And 5 months BEFORE Trump bought Dell stock, Michael and Susan Dell donated $6.25 billion to Trump Accounts, one of the largest philanthropic commitments to a sitting president's signature program in modern history. So the timeline goes: Dell donates $6.25 billion to Trump's program -> Trump buys Dell stock ->Trump tells America to buy Dell from the White House podium -> Stock hits all-time high And that's just ONE stock... The same filing shows Trump bought Nvidia stock on February 10. One week later, Nvidia announced a massive chip deal with Meta. He bought more Nvidia stock one week BEFORE his own Commerce Department approved the sale of Nvidia chips to Saudi Arabia. He bought Intel stock starting in March 2026. The US government already owned a 9.9% stake in Intel worth over $41 billion. On April 30, Trump posted on Truth Social praising Intel, writing that "Intel Stock continues to rise." Intel jumped 3% in after-hours and is now up 140% year-to-date. He bought Palantir stock while his administration was actively handing them billion-dollar government contracts for immigration enforcement and defense. He bought Robinhood stock while his own Trump Accounts program uses Robinhood as the broker. He's currently sitting on over 100% profit on AMD, Intel, Bloom Energy, Marvell Technology, and at least 10 other positions. Every single president since Lyndon B. Johnson has used a blind trust to avoid exactly this situation. But Trump didn't. His assets sit in a trust controlled by his own children, and the filings show a broker acted as agent on several trades. The White House says the portfolio is "independently managed." But here's what independently managed looks like: Buy Dell stock. Three months later, publicly endorse Dell from the White House. Stock hits all-time high. Buy Nvidia stock. One week later, your own government approves their chip sales. Stock rips. Buy Intel stock. Post about Intel on Truth Social. Stock jumps. The government you run already owns a 10% stake. Buy Palantir. Hand them contracts. Buy Robinhood. Route a federal program through their platform. Nancy Pelosi got absolutely destroyed for her husband's stock trades. Her husband's total disclosed trades in his most controversial year were worth roughly $5 million. Trump just disclosed up to $750 MILLION in a single quarter. While making the actual policy decisions that move these stocks. This isn't a left or right issue. We're talking about the President of the United States averaging 60 stock trades per day in companies his own administration regulates, contracts with, and publicly endorses.

This story is a continuation of this short post I made https://reddit.com/r/EmptyContinents/comments/1t89zab/a_tourist_trapped_2029/ You don't *need* to read it, but it certainly helps. *************************************************************************** **July 19, 2029** **Cocoa Beach Holiday Inn, Florida** Presented below are the recorded minutes for the inaugural meeting and gathering of the Snowbird Society held on July 19th, 2029 at the Cocoa Beach Holiday Inn. [Raymond Cerny stands at the podium in the hotel ballroom. The room is mostly filled, with several people in business casual or casual attire. Several men and women in more formal wear are seated to Raymond’s left on stage.] Raymond: Greetings, and welcome to you all, and thank you for attending the first grand reception of the Snowbird Society. I am the founder and chair, Raymond Cerny of Chicago, and the illustrious guests behind me form the founding members. Please, introduce yourselves! [The man sitting closest to Raymond rises] **Jacob**: Welcome, I am Jacob Matthews of Chicago, as well. Raymond and I actually went to the same high school together, but only reconnected over the past year. I was visiting family in Melbourne for the weekend when I got stuck here. [Applause] [The woman sitting to the left of Tyler rises.] **Chelsea**: Hi, I’m Chelsea Somers of Baltimore, Maryland. I was driving down to visit my parents in Ft. Lauderdale, but made a stop at the local 7-11 when it happened. I count myself fortunate to have survived when the rest of my family hasn’t. [Applause] [The man sitting to Chelsea’s left rises.] **Tyrell**: Hey, my name’s Tyrell Jameson, from Detroit, Michigan. I was down here on summer vacation with my wife and daughter, staying at this very hotel when it happened. I’ve been fortunate to not have to relocate or get sorted to somewhere worse like some other people I’ve gotten to know here. [Applause] [The man sitting to Tyrell’s left stands up.] **Pedro**: Hello, all, I’m Pedro Ortiz, from Kissimmee, Florida. [Slight muttering in the crowd. Pedro continues.] I was on a date with my girlfriend, I’d taken her to one of our favorite spots to eat for our anniversary, at New Smyrna Beach, when I got word of the Rapture. Of the Vanishing. I count myself lucky that I wasn’t as far from home as the men and women next to me, but I was still left with little but the clothes on my back, my car, and the love of my life, who’s with us tonight. [Applause] [The woman standing to the left of Pedro, and the last person, stands up.] **Denise**: Hi, my name is Denise Appleton, and I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was driving down to meet my sister for dinner in Titusville. I’d stopped on my way to admire the sunset at the beach, when suddenly, everything changed. I hope to get to know all of you, and help this difficult transition. [Applause] [The five sit down again.] **Raymond**: Now, I would like to open this gathering by stating something important. The label ‘Snowbird’ or ‘Yank’, or far worse pejorative terms have been used by locals for decades now to describe us out-of-towners, or tourists, to tell us we’re taking up too much space down here. I used it because I wish to use it as a point of pride. That no matter how far you've flown from the nest; be it 2,000 miles or a hundred, you should always find a safe place to perch. Some have fared better than others over this tumultuous year, and while the USPG says the *Farragut* is stationed here for our protection, and its systems have been used for helping maintain control and energy production, I must say, seeing that giant Destroyer feels more like a warning against any ne’er do wells at their new capitol complex near Port Canaveral, and for the rest of the territory under their sway. Now, I am not saying the USPG isn’t unwanted. I am glad that they’ve provided some law and order around here. God knows some of the motels have gotten rather raucous. Like that one who constantly has fights in the parking lot with strange poses, while carrying around things like a fencing sword, a picture frame, an arrow. I saw one of them hauling a canoe with a stuffed gorilla! [Laughter from the crowd.] **Raymond**: Apparently they’re taking inspiration from a Japanese anime, and even have “sworn enemies” in another motel who fight them sometimes in the motel rooms, and the parking lots, and even the streets sometimes. I’d love to see the look on Hugh Desmond’s face when he gets reports of that. [Raymond starts imitating an army officer] “Mr. President, another report from Canaveral.” [Raymond imitates President Desmond “Have they gotten Merritt Island under control, at last?” [Back to the army officer] “Well, mostly, sir.” “Mostly It’s been almost a year, what do you mean mostly?” “Most of the citizens have accepted the rule, albeit begrudgingly. But there’s been some… Gang fights…” “Why the hesitation?” “Well, Mr. President, what do you know about anime?” [Great laughter from the crowd.] **Raymond**: But, they’re a symptom of the chaos of the past year. The disaster stories I’ve come across about isolated pockets of survivors around Florida, around the country, or what’s left of it. There were riots in far flung communities on the Gulf Coast when power ran out, or when supplies ran short. Some of them simply fled to the Conch Republic or Mobile. Hell, I’ve heard there’s a growing, makeshift community trying to rough it out in the wilderness formerly known as Pinellas County. And the less said about the countless car accidents suffered during that split-second, the better. I’ve come across some of you with us tonight, and know that there’s one here who narrowly avoided such a fate by a few seconds, simply because they were cut off in traffic a minute earlier. We should all be thankful to the powers that be that we are still here tonight. That doesn’t mean our pain is over, though, quite the opposite. The USPG has been desperately fighting to help these communities survive and be sustainable, but it can’t be everywhere. The local governments have done their best, but there’s still so many that have slipped between the cracks. The poor, the hungry, who have been stuck in hotels and motels in worsening conditions. Some of us have been relatively fortunate to join the hotel staff and cleaning services, so we could afford some meager savings and food, or found odd jobs mowing lawns, construction, deliveries, maintenance, and so on. The person I’m proudest of is on stage with me. Pedro, stand up again. [Pedro stands up] **Raymond**: Pedro, tell everyone what you’ve been doing for the community. **Pedro**: I’ve been an advocate for the Latino community who got stuck here, away from their homes. Some of them can’t speak English very well, so my girlfriend and I have been helping them find homes, motels, or hotels that could take them in, and get them reliable access to necessities and even a couple of side jobs for some of them. [Applause] **Raymond**: I came across Pedro through Tyrell, who’d come to know a few Latino community members over the past few months. Tyrell was living on the same floor as me in this hotel when I came here in October, when the Sorting got started. Tyrell saw this tired, shaken, middle-aged cook from Chicago who had no kitchen to go back to, and saw someone with potential. Tyrell saw that someone could be a useful cook in the hotel kitchen, and helped me get a position there, and I’ve now helped to oversee multiple new meal options here. I can see that you’ve all enjoyed plenty from the empty buffet platters in the back, too! [Mild laughter] **Raymond**: I’ve come across all the people on stage next to me over the community building that’s happened over the past year. There’s been some from all across the country, and some who weren’t even born here and face even greater difficulties. Some people say, “go back home!” The United States has been their home for years, even decades! And even worse, their home country has gone too! Pedro has come across a family who moved from Nicaragua 12 years ago, who’s faced such discrimination, even attacks on their house! But Pedro found them a safe community of fellow Latin Americans in a hotel in Satellite Beach, who had found a new community amidst the current tragedy. [More Applause] Raymond: When the talks of forming this community first got started earlier this year, I suggested Pedro be the face of it, but Pedro, ever humble, declined. He said that for a serious, large scale project that we were to undertake, a man of, well- [Raymond gestures to his white skin] **Raymond**: -My appearance, should take the head. For a more widespread appeal, as it were. I’ve only been a small-time chef in a Chicago kitchen, as my highest level of leadership. But as someone who’s helped poor and homeless people back home with giving them some of the leftovers before, volunteered at local soup kitchens, and learned a thing or two from my new friends next to me, I decided I could take on this burden, as long as they would stand with me. [Applause] **Raymond**: Now, this isn’t all about me. This meeting was gathered so that you people could discuss issues you’ve been having, and how we can be of assistance to you and this community that’s formed in the hotel. There’s a podium right there. [Raymond gestures to a podium standing on the ground near the front of the stage.] **Raymond**: Please, come over if you have any comments, questions, or concerns. Let our flock aid your nest. [A man in his mid-30s comes up to the podium] **Riley**: Hello, my name is Riley Swanson. I’m from Pittsburgh, and was staying in a motel at New Smyrna Beach. I was moved down here 2 weeks ago as part of the Sortings, and have exhausted all my savings and almost all belongings except for the clothes in my suitcase and my wallet. Even my phone was pawned for a Razor Scooter so I could get around New Smyrna, and I couldn’t get it back before coming down here, since I need my scooter so I have a means of transportation. I took a plane down here so I don’t even have my car, it vanished along with nearly all my belongings. I was wondering if this Snowbird Society could provide us with potential employment opportunities somewhere in the area. **Raymond**: I’m glad you asked. Denise here worked for the hiring department back in Wisconsin, and helped people in our hotel find employment opportunities in the Merritt Island region. From here to Sebastian Inlet, Diana has set up connections and information across the island. We can set up a meeting after this, and help to get you acquainted somewhere you could be of assistance! **Riley**: Thanks, I was wondering how I was gonna get along in this new place they dumped me. I assume there’s a food kitchen that will be provided for, I’ve had to scrape by on rations provided to me by kind people in the hotel, and some people in this room. **Raymond**: Yes, thankfully there has been a steady supply of food coming in from container ships the past few months, but food has been getting a bit harder to come by. The world population has gone down significantly, but that also means far less people farming. Thankfully, there’s been some talks between the Puerto Rican communities here and in Miami with the mainland, and there may be some trade deals involving farming coming up. In the meantime, there’s been local vegetable gardens grown, and fishing has risen in popularity an innumerable amount, naturally. If you’d like, there’s always room for more people on fishing expeditions. **Riley**: I actually went fishing with my dad on the Allegheny River when I was younger. I never was the biggest fan as a kid, but I always wanted to take any kids I had in the future fishing. Maybe this can be a chance to fulfill it, in a way. **Raymond**: Perfect! Denise will meet with you after this to set up a future meeting, to see which fishing boats could be available for you. Anyone else? [Riley leaves the podium, as a tired, hungry looking woman takes his spot.] **Bonnie**: Hello, I’m Bonnie Winslow, from Denver. I was down here as part of a job training seminar here in town, and was staying at a hotel there when It happened. I was able to stay there for a while but couldn’t seem to get any food after several months. Meanwhile I’ve been staying at an overflowing homeless shelter since the job we were training for got Vanished. I haven’t been getting much food or sleep, and have been sleeping poorly in the hallway for months. Is there a better place somewhere that I could potentially stay? One that has more than one or two meagre meals a day? **Raymond**: Of course! I’ve managed to convince the hotel manager to let me assist in gathering food and supplies needed here, and we snagged a solid deal with port officials to let some hotels where the disenfranchised people, with nowhere to go, who have children as well, have priority feeding. Turns out even hardened merchant marines have a soft spot for hungry kids. Shoutout to my main man Pagasa for being the middleman in that discussion. **Bonnie**: Thank you, I wish I could ask for employment too, but I’ve just been so drained after everything… **Raymond**: Not to worry. At the Snowbird Society, we always help anyone who comes to roost. Anyone else? [Bonnie leaves, and a young man comes up] **Reggie**: Hey there, I’m Reggie Wainwright, and I’m from Gainesville. I was born and raised in this state, and decided to go to University of Florida, naturally. I was in my 3rd year when the Vanishing happened, and was staying at Sebastian Inlet with a friend at the time. Well, fortunately I’ve stayed with him and his family, but we got in a big fight and I got kicked out a couple weeks ago. I tried staying at that one motel you mentioned earlier, with the canoe and gorilla. Well I couldn’t stand that place so I came here hoping to find some help. Anything a 3rd year biology student can get for help? Like some kinda job? [Jacob stands up and speaks] **Jacob**: I believe I could be of assistance. I know a motel nearby that’s been having… trouble, lately.You know the one you’ve been staying at recently? **Reggie**: I am NOT staying at the hellhole again! **Raymond**: Jacob, seriously, is this the time for jokes? **Jacob**: I’m serious! The cleaning lady at the hotel down the street from there has been looking for another set of hands, one to clean the men’s rooms, since she can’t exactly go in there while the men are staying. And there’s not been any instances of the fights spilling over to that one for almost a month! [Raymond pinches the bridge of his nose.] **Raymond**: Jacob, I swear… **Jacob**: Hey, it comes with free food and board! Plenty have tried to stay there but between the guests' attitude and dealing with “Boyz II Men” harassing people with rock-paper-scissors every other week, it’s had high turnover. I know it sounds difficult, Reggie, but if you’re looking for a roof over your head and 3 square meals a day, it’s a good spot. **Reggie**: Well, I guess beggars can’t be choosers. Besides, I’ve been meaning to give a couple of those guys a rematch. “Atom Heart Father” stabbed me lightly with an arrow, trying to “awaken me”, when all he did was give me a scar on my forearm. I’ll “awaken” him if he comes down there again… **Raymond**: O-kayyyy, any other people? Please, someone with a less violent problem and/or solution, Jacob. [Raymond turns to glare at his old friend, who silently slumps back into his seat.] [Reggie returns to his seat, and another man comes up, carrying a toddler in his arms.] **David**: Hello, I’m David Rodriguez, from Atlanta. I was taking my son to his first beach vacation in Melbourne when it happened. My wife had family nearby and was visiting them when it happened. I never liked them, so I decided to take my boy Davey, here, to the beach at the time. I wanted to leave earlier so we could meet them for dinner, but we stayed a bit late due to traffic, and ended up getting saved from oblivion. It’s just been the two of us since then, and while it’s been hard getting food for the two of us, taking care of and raising a child, I had nowhere to put him while I tried to find work. I found some gigs landscaping, to make ends meet, but I had to leave Davey in the homes of whoever’s lawn I was mowing. I hate to do it, some of them have kids of their own and don’t like Davey crying whenever the lawn mower sound comes by. Is there some kind of free daycare for young children available? **Raymond**: I’m glad you asked, and so sorry to hear for your loss. In this very hotel, on the 4th floor, we’ve had a couple people who had child care experience set up a daycare! It’s free, and we pay the workers with meal vouchers that are recognized in a couple other hotels we’ve had connections with. If anyone here has children they can’t watch for most of the day, or feels like they may want to assist in this childcare endeavor, feel free to talk to Denise after the meeting. Now, I think we can move on from me talking, and let the rest of you connect with others in this room. I have a few people I want to talk with one-on-one, and I hope that all of us can be of assistance to you. Remember, Here at the Snowbird Society, No matter how far you've flown from the nest- [The rest of the people on stage join in-] ”You should always find a safe place to perch!” [Applause comes from the audience, with a few giving standing ovations. The people on stage leave, and join the crowd, going from table to table, conversing with others and meeting new people they can assist.]