text:
The hackers who stole the data of hundreds of millions of Yahoo users two years ago were two cybercriminal gangs, InfoArmor reported Wednesday.
That finding contradicts the notion that state-sponsored actors were behind the attack, which Yahoo suggested earlier this month when itdisclosed the breach.
Further, the number of users' records stolen is closer to 1 billion than to the 500 million Yahoo acknowledged, according to InfoArmor.
However, much of the data is useless, the firm said.The Wrong Stuff
Someone with the handle "Peace_of_Mind" had offered data on 200 million Yahoo users for sale on the black market, but "the data previously published by Peace_of_Mind is fake," said Andrew Komarov, chief intelligence officer at InfoArmor.
"This has been confirmed by us and Yahoo," he told the E-Commerce Times.
The confusion around Peace-of-Mind's offering came about because some of the decrypted passwords offered were legitimate, Komarov explained.
After extensive analysis and cross-referencing against its own data breach intelligence systems, InfoArmor determined the dump was based on multiple third-party data leaks unrelated to Yahoo.Money-Making Motive
InfoArmor found the real data dump earlier this month and validated it, but this "is a new and different dataset that was distributed through closed sources," Komarov said.
All the data in the new dump received earlier this month is validated and legitimate, he added, although it "also includes disabled accounts and bots."
Two criminal gangs, Hell Forum and Group E, were involved in the Yahoo breach, InfoArmor found. The two gangs are linked through a proxy with tessa88, a middleman reselling data stolen from LinkedIn and other companies.
The hackers took data from about 1 billion Yahoo users, based on InfoArmor's analysis of several high-profile breaches of files containing Yahoo and other accounts, Komarov said.
"Group E was responsible for the attack ... and sold the stolen data for about (US)$300,000," Komarov disclosed. "Hell Forum is an underground forum."State-Sponsored Buyer One of Hell Forum's members, ROR[RG], previously hacked Ashley Madison, AdultFriendFinder and the Turkish National Police database, according to InfoArmor.
There are more than 100 different parts to the data Group E had, and the files are organized alphabetically by the names of user accounts, InfoArmor noted. Group E obtained the whole database at once and parsed it to proxies.
"We were able to obtain a sample of the database," Komarov said, but he declined to provide further details "so as not to jeopardize this and other investigations."
One of the buyers of the Yahoo data was an Eastern European state-sponsored group, he revealed. Two others were spammer groups.
InfoArmor is certain the data was stolen before December 2014.
However, the hack still poses some risk to consumers, the firm warned, because many people reuse passwords for multiple accounts.Middleman Scorned
Far from being a hacker, Peace_of_Mind is really a middleman who put up the fake Yahoo data for sale on the underground marketplace The Real Deal.
Peace_of_Mind is currently on the outs with tessa88, who in turn has been banned from several underground forums because of the poor quality of the data provided, Komarov said.
"It seems like the relationship is strained at the moment. However, this doesn't mean they won't cooperate with one another in the future. These are cybercriminals."Responsibility Dodge?
It's likely Yahoo blamed state sponsored attackers because "it's nearly impossible to defend against a state-sponsored hack and it becomes a State Department or Defense Department issue and typically doesn't carry the stigma of negligence," suggested Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group .
"A criminal attack doesn't have these protections and you're assumed to have been part of the cause," he told the E-Commerce Times.
Yahoo top management, including CEO Marissa Mayer, refused to fund security initiatives, which may have led to the departure of security czar Alex Stamos, according to The New York Times .
The Yahoo case might trigger an SEC investigation, Enderle speculated, "and those typically don't end well."
Richard Adhikari has written about high-tech for leading industry publications since the 1990s and wonders where it's all leading to. Will implanted RFID chips in humans be the Mark of the Beast? Will nanotech solve our coming food crisis? Does Sturgeon's Law still hold true? You can connect with Richard on Google+ .


text:
I love dumplings of all sorts, but I'm particularly fond of pork dumplings that you can order in Thai or Chinese restaurants. Now I have a pitch-perfect recipe to make them at home that is relatively easy, healthy, and most importantly of all, delicious!
I made these for a special Saturday night dinner, and they were so good, we almost ate the entire batch! I'll admit, dumpling making is tedious and time-consuming, so pour yourself a glass of wine, because you're going to be standing and folding for a while (unless you grab some help), but the end result is so worth it! The filling tastes like what you'd find in a restaurant, and the sauce has just the right amount of heat. I cooked the mushrooms and onions in a spicy sesame oil to add even more spiciness and it was so good!
I buy my dumpling or wonton wrappers frozen (Twin Marquis, a company out of New York) from the Asian market, but because I get there only about twice a year, I keep them in the freezer and defrost a package when I need them. Works perfectly!
I decided to make another batch of these to freeze. Guess what's for dinner tonight?
Pork and Shiitake Pot Stickers
This recipe originally appeared in the March 2014 issue of Cooking Light magazine.
2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
3/4 cup thinly sliced green onions, divided
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
4 ounces thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps
5 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce, divided
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
14 ounces lean ground pork
40 gyoza skins or round wonton wrappers
1/4 cup hot water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons sambal oelek (ground fresh chile paste)
1. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add 1/2 cup onions, garlic, ginger, and mushrooms; stir-fry 3 minutes. Remove from pan; cool slightly. Combine mushroom mixture, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, hoisin sauce, pepper, and pork in a medium bowl.
2. Arrange 8 gyoza skins on a clean work surface; cover remaining skins with a damp towel to keep them from drying. Spoon about 1 1/2 teaspoons pork mixture in the center of each skin. Moisten edges of skin with water. Fold in half; press edges together with fingertips to seal. Place on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornstarch; cover to prevent drying. Repeat procedure with remaining gyoza skins and pork mixture.
3. Combine 1/4 cup hot water and brown sugar in a small bowl, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add remaining 1/4 cup green onions, remaining 1/4 cup soy sauce, vinegar, and sambal, stirring with a whisk until well combined.
4. Heat a large heavy skillet over high heat. Generously coat pan with cooking spray. Add 10 pot stickers to pan; cook 30 seconds or until browned on one side. Turn pot stickers over; carefully add 1/3 cup water to pan. Cover tightly; steam 4 minutes. Repeat procedure in batches with remaining pot stickers and more water, or follow freezing instructions. After cooking, serve pot stickers immediately with dipping sauce.
TO FREEZE: Freeze dumplings flat on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornstarch 10 minutes or until firm. Place in a large zip-top plastic freezer bag with 1 teaspoon cornstarch; toss. Freeze sauce in a small zip-top plastic freezer bag. Freeze up to 2 months.
TO THAW: Thaw sauce in the microwave at HIGH in 30-second increments. No need to thaw pot stickers.
TO REHEAT: Follow recipe instructions for cooking, placing frozen dumplings in pan and increasing steaming time by 2 minutes.
MVK's Endorsement of the Week: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day With a Feast!
I don't have a speck of Irish blood in me, but I always like to celebrate St. Patrick's Day because 1. The month of March is halfway over, one step closer to April and springtime; and 2. Who doesn't want a big dinner of corned beef and cabbage? Cooking Light has created a special menu of healthy Irish recipes just in time for the holiday! You can check them out here. I think the Ploughman's Lunch Platter sounds divine!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Heat rookie Derrick Walton Jr. impressing coaches, teammates with two-way contract
BOCA RATON — With the ability to use two-way contracts to alternate players between the NBA and the G-League, the Miami Heat used their first such contract on Michigan's Derrick Walton Jr.
The Heat's recent history of using the former D-League to their advantage, Walton said, was why he signed with the organization this summer.
"It was (100 percent a selling point)," Walton said Friday. "Coming from the program I came from in college at Michigan where we were all about development and in my four years, I just wanted to get better every day … it was pretty much a no-brainer for me."
As part of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement put into place on July 1, teams can use up to two two-way contracts where players can spend up to 45 affiliate at the NBA level and the rest of the time in the G-League. Any player on a two-way contract is unable to be claimed by another organization.
Miami, which has seen Hassan Whiteside grow into an All-NBA center and Tyler Johnson become a reliable bench option at point guard after their play with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, struck Walton as the perfect opportunity not only to improve his game, but to learn what he should expect in South Dakota.
"I asked them (how their experience was), but I also know mine will be a little different," Walton said. "Overall, just going in with the same mindset that I want to play as well as I can every time."
The only player in Michigan history to score at least 1,000 points, grab 500 rebounds, and record 400 assists, Walton spent this year's Summer League with the Orlando Magic after going undrafted. In July, Walton signed with the Heat, becoming their first two-way player in franchise history.
"The guys welcomed me ever since I got here," Walton said. "I competed really hard and I'm just really looking forward to following the process … and start to learn the professional game."
Though Walton is likely to spend most of his time in Sioux Falls this season, head coach Erik Spoelstra believes the 6-foot-1 guard will get chances to contribute at the NBA level.
"Derrick is fast-tracking," Spoelstra said. "This is a lot for him. We like his promise and what he can bring. He's going to be just fine with a little bit more time, but that position — walking into this training camp where all the other guards are familiar — he has some catching up to do."
Walton added, "I think it's a great situation for me personally being a guy that wants to be really good at this game. Being able to piggyback (off) guys like (Goran Dragic) and Tyler and being able to go and play my game down in Sioux Falls."
Jake Elman can be followed on Twitter at @JakeElman


text:
Ask an expert!
Legal, accounting and compliance advice from qualified professionals.
Yes, you can do that, there are two options available in such cases.
Option 1: A business can register itself through MCA or Registrar of Firms using the existing processes and subsequently register itself on the Startup India portal and mobile app as a "Startup" to avail the benefits.
Option 2: Hire a qualified CA to get c...
View answer
Looking to hire a professional from our handpicked community?
Explore our services, submit your request and let us do the rest for you.


text:
My latest photo fun happened last February 6 when I was awakened from my day dreaming by the kids outside telling me about an interesting sky. True enough I saw clouds and the sun about to set painting an interesting composition. I scrambled back inside the house and grabbed the camera. I would have wanted to set up my tripod too, but I had a feeling that this interesting work of art is not going to last long. And newbie as I am, I even had a bit of confusion as I tried to adjust my settings after every hurried shot I made.
Here are the photos I took. A professional photographer who has really mastered the equipment surely would have captured and produced a much better picture of the western sky. Alas, I am far from that stage. I hope the next time this grand handiwork happens, I'll be better equiped skill-wise in capturing it.
The spectacle changed quite rapidly I had to hurry with my shooting.
Photo Fun: Night Sky shots
And on the 8th of February, I took this moon-shot. I had taken a couple of moonshots before with the kit lens, but this is the first moonshot I took using the 18-200mm IS lens.
The moon was still going for full moon status (is that how you say it?). So, on the 11th, I took another moon shot. The result was more or less like the one above except that it showed more moon surface this time. However, on DPP I tried adjusting the White Balance and got this result.


text:
We are a prominent manufacturer and supplier of Automotive Exhaust Parts. These parts are well known for their dimensional accuracy and corrosion resistance. We use the coating of zinc plating on these products. These parts are fabricated from CRC/ HRA sheet by blanking, bending & welding processes.
We are majorly looking for foreign enquiries.
Product Details:
|Stainless Steel
|Pipe Clamp
Our clients can avail from us very efficient range of Clamps for Air Cleaner. These Clamps for Air Cleaner are extensively used for clamping and holding air cleaner for tractors. We manufacture our Clamps for Air Cleaner range using CRC/ HRA sheet fabricated by pressing, bending & welding processes. As per the client's requirement, we provide either zinc plating or powder coating.
We are majorly looking for foreign inquiries.
We are instrumental in providing an extensive gamut of T-Handle With Allen Keys. These T-Handle With Allen Keys are highly appreciated for their longer service life,abrasion resistance and dimensional accuracy. Our T-Handle With Allen Keys are extensively used in various industries such as construction, automotive, automobile and electrical & electronics.
Their T-Handle With Allen Keys varied specifications are as follows:
We are majorly looking for foreign enquiries.
Additional Information:
We specialize in manufacturing a wide assortment of Angle Brackets. Fabricated using premium quality raw material, our Angle Brackets are widely acclaimed for their efficient functioning and durability. Moreover, we have installed some of the latest welding and drilling machines that helps us in manufacturing Angle Brackets in compliance with the international market standards.
Additional Information of Angle Brackets:
We are majorly looking for foreign enquiries.
Additional Information:
We are affianced in providing a wide array of Ball mount. These couplings are fabricated using the high quality raw material, which has assisted us in enhancing our client base across the globe. Our products are available at the most economic prices and can be customized in various sizes & dimensions as per the specifications mentioned by the valuable patrons.
Some of their specifications are as follows:
We are majorly looking for foreign enquirers.
Additional Information:
Reviewed by 13 Users
Most Relevant Reviews


text:
by Maxine Benson
Originally featured in the autumn 2005 issue of JCC Circle.
The love story began at a parent orientation meeting. Caryn Frierich came to hear what the year would hold for her daughters, Jeri and Joie. Rob Mandel attended the same meeting to meet Spencer's teachers. Little did they know that this preschool parent's night would result in the first CDC wedding! Their children knowing each other and being friends didn't hurt their relationship, either. It was easy to bring the two families together, since the younger members had already formed a bond at the JCC CDC.
Caryn and Rob, both divorced, wanted their wedding ceremony to be special and meaningful, not only for themselves, but for their children as well.
Because the JCC has played such an important role in all their lives, they chose the CDC as the place to start the next chapter. Other than a few family members, the children and the staff from the JCC and the campus were the only invited guests. In preparation, the preschoolers learned about Jewish weddings and created panels to decorate the chuppah. They participated in the celebration by joining in with the blessings and singing, and being excellent listeners and "witnesses."
The beautiful ceremony was performed by Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn of the New Reform Temple, and Cantor Jeffrey Shron of Congregation Kehilath Israel. Jeri, Joie, and Spencer escorted Caryn and Rob down the aisle and remained standing by them under the chuppah.
Following the chanting of the blessings and sharing of the wine, the exchange of vows and rings, the breaking of the glass and the first kiss, Rob and Caryn heard a very loud Mazel Tov! Then they headed down the aisle to perform what was perhaps the most important part of the ceremony for their many young guests, cutting the delicious wedding cake.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Blayney, Sun Publications


text:
The Queen Series is a weekly feature happening on Wednesdays. Each week one of us from The Digit-al Dozen will introduce you to our blog, tell you about how we got started, and talk a little about how we ended up being the Queen of something. We all have unique talents when it comes to nail art, and our Queen titles reflect that. Check out past posts in this series.
Heather Preston, The Queen of Simple
Blog: www.peaceloveandpolish.com
Twitter: @peacelovnpolish
Facebook: www.facebook.com/peaceloveandpolish
YouTube: www.youtube.com/peacelovenpolish
Google +: https://plus.google.com/+HeatherPrestonPeaceLoveAndPolish/posts
Instagram: www.instagram.com/peaceloveandpolish
During the day I'm superwoman, yea - I wish! I'm a military wife and currently a stay at home mom with a teaching degree. I have a 10-month old son and a 5-year old Sheltie and they fill my day with lots of excitement and adventure!
I've been blogging about 2.5 years (3 in August). My blog started as a hobby to keep me busy while my husband was on a deployment. I never though it would stick around this long, but here it is! There's no real original story behind my blog name. I just though of something that had 'polish' in it - and then Peace, Love and Polish was born. Coincidentally, I am not the only one out there in the blogging world, but I never thought to check.
People may read my blog for giggles, but mostly for nail art! I love to do freehand nail art. You won't find any stamping here (I kind of suck at it). I do some swatches from collections - but nail art is what I love to do. I love to incorporate my personal life and wit into my blog posts - so it's not just strictly nail lingo.
I really love to post and chat with other nail aficionados on Instagram! It's super simple to access right on my phone whenever I have some down time, and I love the nail community on there - all the ladies are so encouraging and I love seeing different kinds of nail art! I get so inspired every time I am on there.
Want to know what my most popular post EVER is? Well, it's a Digit-al Dozen Mani, and one of my personal favorites too! It's my colorful tree done during art week (seen here). It's the most out of the box mani I had done at the time, and it was so well received! I was thrilled!
When it comes to dedication to this blog, so much blood, sweat and tears go into it. Okay, maybe not - but a lot of time does! Prior to my son, I spent a good amount of time working on manis, taking pictures, editing them, writing posts and keeping up with the blog appearance. Now that Connor is here - that time has significantly decreased. I think I am able to get in maybe a few hours a week here and there to work on posts and such. Life as a Mom is time-consuming. I typically plan what I am doing on a calendar on my computer! It's right there - so it's super easy to type up a post and look at the date prior to scheduling!
I certainly wish I were better at fine art details and creativity! I love when I see my fellow Digit-al Dozen-ers think outside the box and produce these amazing, beautifully detailed manis! I try to practice as much as I can, but time constraints due to nap time don't give me much time to really get into a detailed design.
When I think back onto what could possibly be my earliest polish memory, I think it was middle school and those cool Bonnebell scented nail polishes! I was obsessed, and I always had to have my nails painted. Every week I changed a color. It basically continue from there. OF COURSE THE POLISH CAME BEFORE THE BLOG! Where would this blog be if I didn't have a love for polish? I've learned so much about it since then though! I didn't realize my love for polish had become an obsession until one day I was bored and sat down to count my nail polishes. It came to 88 (and I remember distinctly) and I was shocked. Then I realized others had the same passion, so I started reading blogs and buying more polish based on others suggestions. The rest is history.
My collection is rather small compared to most polish hoarders, I'm just below 500. I'm happy with that number though, and I purge often. Hypothetically, if I could only save five polishes they would be (in no order) Essie Limited Addiction, China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint, OPI Excuse Moi, LCN Knitting Wool & Color Club Revvvolution.
Of all brands of polish I love China Glaze the best. OPI is a close second however. They have the best colors and most of their collections appeal to me! I obviously own the most China Glaze polishes - 109! I really love pastels and creams! I am a sucker for a shimmer though, but pastel creams are my heart. I love them. A lot. More than I should.
Here's one of my favorite polish tips to give out - don't forget to cap your tips with top coat! It helps seal the edge of the polish and prevents major chipping! Also, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! It's super critical to help keep your nails and cuticles healthy!
Being a part of the Digit-al Dozen for over a year has been a blast and I am so completely grateful to be in this group of such talent! My absolute favorite theme ever done in Digit-al Dozen History has got to be Black and White. I hated it at the time, but I really knocked out some of my best work that week!
One of my favorite things to see is my work recreated! I absolutely love it, it makes me feel like what I'm doing is worth while. It's nice to know others love my work enough to reproduce it. I kind of feel famous after, if I can even say that! When two of my manicures made it onto the Nail It Mag website - I was floored. That's when I felt I made it big!
Of all the bloggers in the blogging world, I am really inspired by everyone! I like to take a little bit from each blogger and try to work it into my own. I can't pick just one - seriously. I have a love for all of them! Of all the nails in the world, I wish I had the nails of Lindsey from Wondrously Polished. Does that make me creepy? I just love her nail shape and how her nails are on the shorter side, but still look long and feminine.
I don't have a polish workspace, as crazy as it seems. I have a little lap board that I tote ALL over my house to do my nails. On the couch, in bed, on the floor, at the table. I like to have everything portable. When working on my nails, especially when there's a specific theme in mind - it's super hard to be original. I always look for inspiration from patterns or wallpaper. I guess that's not too original - but they are inspiring. I get a lot of inspiration from color palates too :)
Thanks for reading and getting to know me, the Queen of Simplicity a little bit more! I love inspiring everyone to create simple yet beautiful designs!


text:
Discussion in 'Project Logs' started by S.PiC, 2 Aug 2016.
Looking good man !
Thank You very much!
How did I miss this one!?!?!?! That's some spectacular work!!!
Thank's a Lot! I Hope you liked my video-log
New Video! Episode 6.
Now I have to go back and watch the previous 5 videos! Fantastic work sir, even though the cat was totally unimpressed.
Thanks. Hope you have a lot of FUN waching this videos
Some photos:
New Video from worklog)
So coming to the end of the VEGA modding project. In this video You will see the manufacture of the mounts for SSD drives and their installation. Completed the tail of the spaceship, improved ventilation and the final painting of the hull. Cat are not allowed to moonlight at all stages of works)
The project was originally designed to participate in Cooler Master Case Mod World Series in 2017, I hope You will support VEGA in the contest.
The project's name, gave a successful space program, aimed at the study of Venus and Halley's comet. The name of the program comes from two words: "Venus" and "Halley". In this study, was created by two spacecraft, VEGA-1 and VEGA-2, which was successfully launched from the Earth in 1984. This program was unique in its kind, since its aim is to study the comet at close range (Halley's comet flies close to Earth every 76 years).
waouh...the Vega is just fantastic, but watching you working on wood on your videos start to create an addiction, your accuracy and your ideas are amazing, I think i can say that watching your work is giving me more satisfaction than any modding videos ever...you are a master...and I love your cat attitudes too... thanks for sharing really
Thank's a lot!
I'm very glad you liked my work)
Thank you for such high estimation of my work . Videolog really is the most important feature of this work log. I hope he leaves no one indifferent.
P.S.: You're making me come again to reward the cat for such great participation in my projects))
Some Photos:
Maybe after you get it back from the competition, you could put drone tech in the bottom to make it actually fly!
The spaceship is very large takeoff weight. Need to find a suitable engine))
Amazing work!! You Russian guys are some seriously talented dudes. Much respect!!
Отличная работа, нет слов!
Separate names with a comma.


text:
SuperSU allows for advanced management of Superuser access rights for all the apps on your device that need root. SuperSU has been built from the ground up to counter a number of problems with other Superuser access management tools.
Features include:
– Superuser access prompt
– Superuser access logging
– Superuser access notifications
– Per-app notification configuration
– Temporary unroot
– Deep process detection (no more unknowns)
– Works in recovery (no more segfaulting)
– Works when Android isn't properly booted
– Works with non-standard shell locations
– Always runs in ghost mode
– Wake on prompt
– Convert to /system app
– Complete unroot
– Backup script to survive CyanogenMod nightlies
– Icon selectable from 5 options + invisible
– Theme selectable from 4 options
– Launch from dialer: *#*#1234#*#* or *#*#7873778#*#* (*#*#SUPERSU#*#*)
The Pro version additionally offers:
– OTA survival mode (no guarantees)
– Full color-coded command content logging (input/output/error)
– Per-app logging configuration
– Per-app user override
– Grant/deny root to an app for a set amount of time
– PIN protection
– Per-app PIN protection
– Adjust auto-deny countdown
Get Full Free SuperSU 2.79 APK Latest Version Download
[sociallocker] DOWNLOAD v2.79 or v2.79 DOWNLOAD


text:
Tires crunched under the car as we drove slowly onto uneven parts of the worn, tar road. Riding alongside on her motorbike was Aunty, a private caretaker at the cemetery. One hand steered the bike whilst the other held a broom that she pumped upwards in acknowledgement upon seeing us. Aunty stopped when we parked on the side of the road, dismounted with broom still in hand and began chattering happily to my dad and uncle.
Having worked at this graveyard in Petaling Jaya for most of her life, she remembered them from past years trips. Grave visiting is usually avoided like the plague by the Chinese, but last week was an exception — the 5th of April was Ching Ming. Known as Tomb Sweeping Day in English, the festival is celebrated every April to commemorate the dearly departed. During the week of Ching Ming, relatives turn up at funeral parks to sweep, remove weeds, re-paint faded lettering and conduct the rituals of offering food and symbolic gifts at their ancestors tombs.
Normally, I wouldn't be so enthusiastic over a trip to a graveyard, but my last visit to the final resting place of Apo, my grandmother and Ahgung, my grandfather, was over 10 years ago, at Apo's own funeral. When I was reminded of the festival a week before, it dawned on me that although I'd watched Apo carefully make Ching Ming preparations many times over, I was clueless to the traditions and what they meant. In the spirit of wanting to reconnect with an annual Taoist ritual that I grew up with, I set my alarm for an unearthly hour (pun unint…oh who I am kidding, couldn't resist) and set out with my dad and uncle for the gravesite two Wednesdays ago. We arrived just as Aunty was heading down the road leading to Apo's gravesite on a hill, but she doubled back and trekked up with us in thick rubber boots, broom still in hand. "No charge. Special for you," she beamed, while making quick work of sweeping the cement floor in front of my grandparents' shared headstone. She pointed her chin at her competition, some men in red t-shirts from a cleaning company, hovering about at the foot of the hill. "Watch out for them," she said. "Dishonest." Then, seeing that my uncle was ready to start the rituals, she bade goodbye and gave us a gold sticker with her contact to place on the side of the tomb, a return favour for the free sweep.
Ancient Taoist rituals of Ching Ming in modern Malaysia
My uncle was already laying out the offerings before she had disappeared down the hill. Taoists believe in a variety of gods; amongst them an Earth God, or Tu Di Gong who watches over the affairs of the land. My uncle placed three hard-boiled eggs and three bright pink-yellow prosperity cakes on a plate, clambered on to the burial mound behind the headstone and set the plate on a mini stone altar. He then laid out three cups of tea in front of the food, stuck two lit red candles in the ground and bowed three times at the altar before placing three large sand-brown incense sticks in between the two red candles. The final step was to burn a stack of colored papers, sheets of reds, golds and silvers that represented money — all of this as a sign of respect for Tu Di, whom some fondly refer to as Grampa Tu Di.
While the "money" burned, my uncle moved on to the rituals for Apo and Ahgung. He placed a rectangular sheet of bright red paper atop my grandparents' headstone, weighed down by a prosperity cake, essentially telling other grave "residents" (and their visitors, dead or living) that this tomb was still being cared for by family with means. Tea cups were arranged in a row, accompanied by a second row of rice wine. Then, food was laid out again. Some families go all out by bringing a real feast of roast duck, fish, veggies dishes and even whole roasted pig, because Ching Ming celebrations in the old times included picnicking with family and extended relatives after completing the rituals. But here we were on a workday in the middle of the week. Just me, Dad and Uncle in a cramped, hilly Chinese graveyard that didn't inspire thoughts of picnic.
So we kept it simple: I helped my uncle with small plates of steamed roast pork buns, glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaves, eggs, pears and more bright pink prosperity cakes which, compared to our drab surroundings, stood out prominently. I stared at the cakes, remembering that as a child, I found them dry and unremarkable (they still are,) as Uncle poured rice wine in a ring around the food — a symbolism that it was for my grandparents only, stray spirits keep away. I looked around at my dad. Where was he in all this? Dad had planted himself in one corner of the tomb and was reading the paper like he does every morning on his front porch. Letting your older brother do all the work? C'mon Dad!
Turns out, I was wrong. I found out later that the hang san (walk the mountain) ritual, including pre-ritual prep of food, drink and paper offerings, was primarily my uncle's responsibility, as the eldest son in the family. And in fairness, Dad was just following my uncle's lead. He wasn't really asked to do anything till my uncle handed him three skinny sticks of incense to pay his respects to Apo and Ahgung. We took turns to stand in front of the altar and bow three times before placing the incense into a narrow strip of earth before the headstone. Not having done this in over a decade, awkwardness washed over when it was my turn. The proper way is to hold the incense at eye level and smoothly bow to a 45 degree angle, but I ended up doing three forward half-jerks, and then quickly repeated three more when Uncle shot me a puzzled look. I didn't have time to ponder my ritual faux paux, as Uncle was making his way to neighbouring tombs with a bunch of incense sticks in hand. Leaving incense at the tombs is an act of respect and gesture of goodwill towards my grandparents' "neighbours," in case our activities were disrupting their restful slumber, and more interruption was to come.
There was still another important step in the ritual: sending worldly items to Apo and Ahgung.
Prior to our trip, Uncle had made his purchases from a specialty shop. Two red and yellow cardboard trunks, decorated with gaudy graphics of gold bars and jewellery, contained paper clothes, shoes, and other accessories. Up until this point, the rituals had been quite standard, but beside Apo's trunk lay a paper umbrella, and an additional white package. My uncle, a conservative and unemotional man, had been fond of his mother, and although I wanted to ask what was in the white package, I refrained. I wasn't sure if he would not get embarrassed.
Before we began burning the offerings, each item was tagged with a label to direct the items to the underworld. Apo and Ahgung's names had been added to the labels in Chinese characters, ensuring a speedy delivery to each of them. Once uncle poured rice wine in a ring around the trunks, he lit a few pieces of gold and silver joss papers that had been folded into the shape of a nugget and placed them under the the cardboard trunks, which were elevated by bricks. Soon, as more gold and silver paper nuggets were added to the flames licking the bottom of the trunks, we had a little bonfire going. Papers flickered and withered into soot and ash as Uncle poked at the fire with an iron stick he fashioned from wires. Every piece of paper offering had to be burned down to ash or it wouldn't reach the intended recipients, according to belief. Uncle refused my help in finishing this arduous and smoky task, insisting I would burn myself.
Very well. I sat back and looked around at the graveyard. We weren't the only ones who had the same idea of avoiding the weekend crowds. Nearby, a few other families were also sending their offerings. A decade ago, it was pretty common to see cardboard Louis Vuitton handbag replicas amongst one of the offerings. I chuckled to see that it hadn't gone out of style — perhaps fashion trends are slow to catch on in the underworld. We jumped and looked up when fireworks popped abruptly in several directions, a practice used to ward off evil spirits. And at least two of those red t-shirted men that Aunty had warned us about came by to offer their services; how they were dishonest never came to light, but I was annoyed when a fellow with a big grin came up to sell us lottery tickets. Bad taste much? Dad sent him straight off. Not that it mattered, because he managed to sell some to another family perched further up the hill. Perhaps all this "money" and goods they were sending their dead relatives made them think that it wouldn't hurt to try winning some real cash.
Putting aside thoughts of making a quick buck, I appreciated being able to celebrate a day in my grandparents honor. Ching Ming is a religious Taoist holiday. For me, it's more about honoring Apo and Ahgung for the sacrifices they made to ensure my family's survival. They left Hainan Island around the 1940s, amidst a bloody struggle against the Japanese invasion of the island. Apo and Ahgung fought poverty in Malaysia for many years to raise Dad and my uncle. Not to mention a relative who'd survived being executed at gunpoint. Had they stayed in Hainan and miraculously survived the invasion, Mao's Cultural Revolution and Great Leap Forward policies in the 60s would have robbed them of their traditions before famine starved them to death – slowly. I believe that my grandmother faithfully followed these rituals mostly because of her Taoist background, but also because she knew, that of the people who lived through her experiences, she was one of the lucky ones who got to keep her life and her traditions relatively unscathed.
Knowing what Ching Ming means to her, I'm glad that we still carry it on. Our memories of her and Ahgung are with us always. Still, spending half a day commemorating their lives and legacy once in a year — it's not too much to ask.
Here's more local scoop on Malaysian culture, on the right way to order kopitiam drinks.


text:
Shocking structures of people have truly found the opportunity to encounter betting in betting clubs. The tremendousness of the guaranteeing yells and furthermore the rings disregarding the sound of cash could be pulling in everyone. The men and what is more youths discover this as an approach to manage administer kick back; exceptional plans of individuals uncover they don't have adequate chance to look at getting a cost out of with the interruptions. Betting undertakings permit individuals the probability to play with their redirections. They may access on the web club zones 24 Hr standard 7 days 7 days. You have to ensure they have a piece rate that is staggering. Regardless of whether some impersonation s is given by them at no charge, you need to reveal. You ought not to continue running with that you need to pay early. You ought to in all likelihood review raises before appropriating any sort of kind of money avoid forward. You have to pick if the clubhouse supplies pots that are tremendous and over that on the off chance that they have prizes to get individuals that are new.
An astounding methodology to take a gander at the betting club which is quickly open online is to survey the evaluations which were done on them togel online Singapura terpercaya. By doing on an especially basic estimation a part of examination study will excitedly be completely pushed what is more dismissing your opportunity and life you will pure and simple see that. It shields you from blending what is more can save you essential later. Right when prosperity created to web betting clubs, you will altogether observe that stunning structures of gracefully a point where you could glance through a mix of redirections to play. There are tables with different kind of The greatest lottery port page, for example, The greatest lottery port site, 7 card and in addition stud to inspect regardless a couple. You will absolutely watch tables with areas and in addition Black Jack with different all-standard thing contraptions.
The sort of redirection s which you may pick from is ceaseless. On the off likelihood that you regard betting or you have to attempt your hand at it out of nowhere, the areas are amazing structures for you to check your feet light. In the region sitting districts of the online clubhouse you can discover a lot of all the all the all the all the all the all the more watching the approaches what is more structures and what is besides endeavored a few the beguilement s that are all around permitted to see unquestionably how well you wrap up. You are given the probability by the redirection sgp. A touch of the betting attempts will strongly utilize educational exercises that will associate with you to find them snappier so you can be playing with the immense youthful adolescents quickly everything considered.


text:
Resident Evil: Revelations Review
Evil's afoot
Reviewed by Tyler Hall playing a PS4 on
Resident Evil: Revelations is also available for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch
The PS4 port of the PS3 version of the Nintendo 3DS game is finally upon us.
│ For your benefit, Video Chums doesn't indiscriminately promote press releases, Kickstarter campaigns, or industry-fed rumours. 📰
You don't have to look very hard to notice that Resident Evil: Revelations is a previous generation game that's been ported multiple times. While it was probably quite technically impressive on the Nintendo 3DS five years ago, it's pretty rough-looking for a modern day game. This is especially true when focusing on the blocky character designs and unusual animations for both characters and enemies. Fortunately, Resident Evil: Revelations plays a lot better than it looks. It hasn't gone down in history as the most cherished game in the series but it's certainly a competent action-based one. Taking place mostly on a luxury cruise liner stranded out on sea, the spooky vibes and intense action one would expect from the series are found in Revelations. The massive, abandoned ship is a great setting that provides exploration opportunities and creates a creepy atmosphere. v1d30chumz 3-215-190-193
You'll alternate between playing as Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield while investigating the mysterious surroundings of the boat as well as the bioterrorist group Veltro who had destroyed a floating island the previous year using their biological weaponry. The boat is filled with Veltro's gruesome creatures that were created and released as bio-organic weapons.
While intense, the action maintains Resident Evil's trademark controls. Intentionally sluggish and slow-moving at times, you need to put a bit more thought into where you're standing and aiming when compared to more traditional third-person shooters. Ammo preservation is another huge factor in Revelations, especially in the early going. You'll want to look for ways to avoid enemies or take them out using methods that don't involve repeatedly pumping bullets into them. This style of gameplay has always had its critics and understandably so. I fall on the side that really enjoys Resident Evil's slower-paced action and rarely get frustrated when I take damage or die simply because I was too slow to get out of the way or wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. I'm glad every game doesn't play like Resident Evil: Revelations but I do enjoy the more contemplative aspect of the series.
That's not to say Resident Evil: Revelations is insanely challenging or unfair. You'll quickly start to learn enemy patterns, typical spawning locations, each monster's weak spot, and to perfect the dodge ability when in peril. As you progress, you can also upgrade your weapons as well as find stronger guns and an increased amount of ammo boxes. While I enjoy the slower pace of the action, the movement speed when outside of combat is unnecessarily slow. It makes sense that you're not jumping and dodging like Bayonetta while in combat but when exploring the ship or backtracking for collectibles, you'll be rolling your eyes at how miserably slow the characters move.
Revelations also incorporates a scanner item called the Genesis. Once in a while, you'll need to use it to uncover a key item but it can also be used to scan enemies. While I like the concept, I felt it was poorly utilized. Instead of slowly amassing a knowledgebase of information on different enemy types (that maybe would reward you with increased damage), the scanner just counts up to 100% as you scan enemies and then resets back to zero and rewards you with a green herb. After realizing there wasn't much to the scanner besides that, I stopped bothering with it except when it was required to progress through the campaign.
Alongside the core campaign is Raid Mode for one or two players which allows you to replay sections from the campaign with increased enemy counts and new enemy variations. The best part of Raid Mode is the co-op which is available both locally and online. It's always more fun playing games with a pal and Revelations suits itself well to cooperative play. Raid Mode also has several leveling and upgrade systems. You're awarded experience and BP after completing each level which allows you to improve your character and purchase new weapons, upgrades, etc. With three unlockable difficulties, if you want to complete everything, you'll have to play through four times. The only real drawback to Raid Mode is that it features all the same content as the main campaign besides enemy layout.
Visually, Resident Evil: Revelations is a bit rough around the edges but that doesn't hold it back from being an intense and enjoyable action-based entry in the series, either by playing solo or teaming up with a friend in Raid Mode.
- + Exciting Resident Evil action
- + Secluded setting with a creepy atmosphere
- + Cooperative Raid Mode is great to play through with a friend
- - Super-slow movement speed
- - Visually unimpressive
- - If you don't like Resident Evil's shooting mechanics, this won't change your mind


text:
Thank you for all your submissions! These resemble a lot of the submissions we received last season around this time, so check out the NSDeep articles from last season too!
- "Handling school and debate together"
I will note that I did not work on debate outside of prepping for tournaments because I was busy with other extra-curriculars and schoolwork. However, I managed my time between debate and school by doing a few things:
- I maximized my time during school so that I got as much work done instead of talking to my friends or being on my phone for more than 5 minutes. This was really helpful because it decreased the amount of work, I had to take home and sometimes I completed my actual homework in school so when I got home I could do what I wanted, including work on debate.
- If there are tournaments on the weekend, knock out school assignments in the earlier part of the week so that Thursday and Friday can have more time towards debate prep.
- I often reminded myself that debate is not that deep, and that it is just an extracurricular activity, but school comes first. Also, my coach maintained that our grades had to be good in order for us to be eligible to compete, so I always kept that in mind.
The honest answer is that you have to prioritize school, so maybe schedule in debate work after your homework or use debate work as a break from school work (e.g. do speed drills in between homework assignments).
As much as we love to kid ourselves, we don't always get work done at tournaments. I will personally admit that I took a lot of my homework with me to tournaments and never touched it until I got back home. Debating every weekend is hard to balance with school but not impossible! Here are a few tips:
- Make sure when you're at school, you're completing as much work as possible to minimize the amount of homework. This may seem obvious, but it actually takes a decent amount of self-discipline to do other work when in a class that's not doing anything instead of just talking to your friends.
- Plan out the work you have due for next week, and if possible, start/complete it before you leave for the tournament
- Be realistic with the amount of work you take with you on the trip. If you think you can get work done while you're on the trip, take specific assignments, or ones that you think you can finish in a reasonable amount of time.
2. "How to effectively crossapp a K to case or crossapp a K aff to whatever neg strat they read"
Some amazing tips from NSD Staff-member, Katherine Fennell!!
Cross applying K to case:
An important thing to note when you are answering case in the 1N is that you do not want to just reference cards in the K that you read to answer particular arguments and move on. For example, let's say the aff is a Kant position with arguments about how practical reason is constitutive of agency and the subject is defined by their ability to reason and you read a Deleuzian K about how the subject is fluid and relational, with links to state action. When you are answering the framework cards in the aff, you don't want to just say, "Cross apply X card from the K – it disproves this argument." Not only is that redundant (you have already read the K, you don't want to spend the time on case restating the argument), but the aff is going to use their framework to answer the K. You want to do warrant comparison (i.e. why is your K correct on the question of how the subject is formed, and why is the aff incorrect on that question).
You can also use the K to indict the starting point of the aff, to prove why the K comes at a higher level than the aff. For example, if you are reading a cap K against a util aff, you can make arguments about how capitalism infiltrates the way we generate knowledge and think about the world, thus the K comes at a higher level than the aff arguments because the aff arguments have an epistemic bias that isn't accounted for. The more specific you can be with this, the better. For example, you can make arguments about why the logic of utility is rooted in capitalism, in which we only see people as bodies to be counted within neoliberalism.
You can also make arguments about how the links to the K also turn and outweigh the aff. You can make arguments about why the link is something that would matter under the affirmative framework, and turns the affirmative offense.
You can make arguments about why the alternative solves the affirmative (i.e. why the alternative is able to resolve the problems that the aff claims to solve). For example, if the aff is about disability, and you read a cap K, you can make arguments about why the alt solves the case because capitalism is the root cause of ableism.
For a more in depth explanation of these types of arguments, you can look to this article: http://nsdupdate.com/2017/intro-to-k-strategy-the-2nr/
Cross applying a K aff to neg strats:
This is a great thing to be thinking about! When you are writing an aff, you want to be thinking about how you can use parts of the aff in the 1AR against various positions.
This question is hard to answer in the abstract, though, because the arguments you can make to leverage the aff against various 1N positions depends heavily on what the aff is and what the 1NC positions are. For example, is the aff a soft left K aff that defends state action, or is it less topical, like a performance aff?
You can use the framing of the aff to answer various off positions. The theory of power of the aff can be used to deny assumptions of parts of the 1n strategy. For example, if the framing of the aff discusses how power operates by the imposition of norms to exclude and eradicate deviancy, you can use that argument to answer T by saying that T is an instance of the imposition of norms to eradicate deviancy.
If you are answering a K, you make arguments about why the offense of the aff outweighs the K, and is a net benefit to the perm. You can win that there is some barrier to solving oppression that the K cannot solve or account for, which means the alt can't solve.Katherine Fennell
3. How do I not get overwhelmed at tournaments?
Here are some tips and the link for last year's article that gave a slew of responses to this! http://nsdupdate.com/2018/nsdeep-responses-week-1/
- Make sure to take care of yourself right before tournaments! Instead of stressing out & staying up super late the night before to cut loads of prep, try to work out and sleep early! Or watch some Netflix. If you can get yourself in a more relaxed mood and take care of yourself before the tournament, you won't feel as stressed during the weekend.
- Music! Before one of the biggest rounds of my career all I wanted to do was cry after I got my pairing. My coach put these giant headphones on me and played Beyoncé, and it calmed me down. Make pump up playlists, calming playlists, distracting playlists—whatever you need.
- Do non-debate things between rounds. My teammates and I played a lot of Contact, trivia games, card games, etc. Even 5 minutes can help get your mind off of what's stressful. Using a fidget spinner, cube or kinetic sand at tournaments, helps to have something small to fidget or play with to help focus more
- Get up and move around if you are able to. Especially when I'm on a big campus like UF or Harvard, I just go for a walk. I put on my comfy shoes and put in my ear buds and I just walk and take in deep breaths and just reflect. This works best in areas where the air is cool because I can feel the air going in my noise and that makes it easier for me to focus on my breathing and make sure it's slow and controlled.
- Maintain healthy relationships, a lot of times it's easy to make toxic friendships which just made debate seem less fun.
- Speak your truth in the midst of anxiety due to fear of retaliation against your identity. "Being Black and talking about structural violence in debate usually comes off as 'aggressive' or 'unconvincing' but when these same arguments are spewed from a white mouth they somehow become more coherent. In order to cope with this anxiety of going into rounds in front of white judges and white judging panels, adopting a form of hope by continuing to speak truth to power can be a great thing in itself. Bringing these issues into round is a good thing in itself, regardless of the results of the ballot." – Delon Fuller
- Do yoga. It's very grounding.
- Do what you love!!! If you love policy style debate, if you love high theory, if you like kritikal literature – do it. This activity is meant to be fun regardless of what anyone tells you, so do what you love in the space. When you're excited to run your new AFF, it can block out some of your anxious fears.
4. How to deal with tough losses?
"If you're holding on to the idea that winning is everything then that is a problem, because that cannot be the only goal. Through your own sense of self-compassion you can become your inner ally instead of your inner enemy. So, it's about developing self-compassion; self-esteem and confidence aren't it. Self-compassion is the ability to talk to yourself, just like you talk to a friend you believe in or care about. If you have this, you see that failure is a stepping stone and not something that defines you. This does not mean accept less than your best, but it is really about working towards your mission and vision for your goal. If your goal is to win the debate and get the bid, that's okay. However, if you don't, you have to withstand the disappointment rather than letting it destroy you because you want to have a rational perspective about yourself and your experience. Sometimes you're going to lose when you should've won, because the world isn't fair and that is frustrating. However, you can be willing to take the risk and approach yourself with a strong sense of self compassion." – Shirley Matthews PhD.
Interested in learning more about this concept? Dr. Shirley Matthews is citing one of her favorite books: The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook: A Proven Way to Accept Yourself, Build Inner Strength, and Thrive by Kristin Neff, PhD and Christopher Germer, PhD.
5. "How do i go as an independent to nat circ tournaments if my school doesn't do progressive tournaments (like if we only go to locals)?"
Two responses from NSD Staff-members Megan Wu and Matt Moorhead!!
"Since this question is fairly vague, I'll answer it in two parts – administrative approval and economics.
First, with administrative approval, there are a few things you have to do.
1. Most tournaments either allow completely independent entries (you can literally go alone) or just require a signature from your school, in which case you just need to go to your admins and get them to a sign a form. However, if it is a tournament that requires a school administrator to be present, you need someone signed off by the school to attend with you. I know a few independents who had their parents signed off by the school to be representatives, but it all depends on your admins. 2. Get access a coaches tabroom account and register for the tournament on your own OR have a coach from your school do it for you if they are okay with it.
For economics, there are also a few things –
1. Stretch your dollar where you can – book cheap flights, cheap hotels, and drive to whatever tournaments you can. My entire run on the circuit I drove to any tournament within six hours of me and never flew to a tournament. I had one tournament with registration, entry, and hotel costs come down to under $200.
2. If you are in need of financial support, contact tournament admins before the tournament to see if they can help with registration costs. You'd be surprised how many directors are incredibly supportive and helpful of low-income programs.
3. Get local judging that has transportation and lodging already covered. There are people all over the high school LD and policy pages that are usually available.
Best of luck!"Matt Moorhead
"1) Talk to your coach about whether you would be allowed to compete at national circuit tournaments, and under what conditions. Some coaches will be okay with it if you have a parent there with you to chaperone you, but other coaches/schools have more rules about liability and using your school's name.
2) In the case where your school doesn't allow you to compete using your school's name, you need to make a school on Tabroom with a name that meets your school's requirements. Some possibilities are "[City] Independent," "[School Name] Independent," or just "Independent." Instructions for creating a school on Tabroom can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/small-schoolindependent-debate/faq/194487060977702/!
3) Register for tournaments using your new school on Tabroom. Remember to register early, pay fees on time, and be clear and honest with tournament directors about your situation."Megan Wu
6. "How to find coaching"
The High School Lincoln Douglas Debate FB group is a good resource to look for coaches — prospective coaches often post in it when they are looking for kids, and you can make a post if you are looking for a coach.
Also, reach out to any coaches that you know, and see if they can recommend coaches to you. Don't be afraid to email or message coaches on Facebook and ask if they are looking to pick up more kids or know coaches who are. If you aren't sure where to start, you can look at the staff of camps and start reaching out to those people.
Don't be afraid to have some intro sessions with more than one coach, to see who you think would be the best fit for how you learn and what you are interested in working on.Katherine Fennell
7. "How to prosper despite disparities such as not having school coaches or teammates"
As a former small school debater myself, I understand how it feels to be feeling as if you have to go above and beyond to face schools that are larger and have more resources. Honestly, work hard and do your best to write frontlines to and block out some suggested answers to your cases (e.g. ask other people how they would respond to your case and then write responses to that) and then take a break to take your mind off debate. Do not let foolish social stigmas like "rep" or how many TOC bids someone has bog you down or cause you to be salty when you get pairings, just be confident. Keep in mind, coaches can write things out for you and tell you which cases to read but they can't give anyone's rebuttal speech for them, so always try your best and that will be more than enough to keep up.


text:
Triumph has partnered with augmented reality technology provider Holition to offer shoppers at Selfridges in London, the opportunity to virtually try on its new collection.
Through the 'Fantasy Mirror', women can see themselves wearing items from the Triumph Essence line, without removing a single item of clothing. The mirror uses a motion sensor camera that scans anyone standing in front of it. Infra-red technology then creates an accurate 3D reconstruction of the environment, facilitating a female avatar with real-time movement.
Jonathan Chippindale, CEO of Holition, said: "The Fantasy Mirror demonstrates how 3D virtual reality solutions can be used to develop the consumer experience. We have integrated elegant design with innovative technology to give female shoppers something they have never seen before. The mirror is not an alternative to trying-on clothes, but an additional shopping experience. Consumer expectations are constantly changing as technology evolves and Holition is proud to support this evolution by providing complementary services."
The Fantasy Mirror was created in partnership with OgilvyAction, and unveiled at Selfridges last month alongside the new Triumph collection, by Helena Christensen (as pictured).


text:
This post contains plot points for The Handmaid's Tale episode "Faithful."
We've seen the last of Alexis Bledel's Ofsteven, née Ofglen, née Emily, in The Handmaid's Tale this season. Both Bledel and Hulu confirmed that the fifth episode, "Faithful," is the final of the series' initial 10 in which she'll appear. But her future is still very much up in the air. "They haven't told me what happens to her, so I'm really eager to find out," Bledel told us.
Bledel's character is, in many ways, the most changed from Margaret Atwood's novel. Her tale has also been arguably the most upsetting. After having watched her lover, a house servant referred to as a Martha, executed, Emily wakes up in an operating room to find that the ruling regime's doctors have mutilated her genitals to rob her of her sexual desire. In "Faithful," she has been assigned to a new commander and ostracized from the Mayday resistance. But as Handmaids mill about at an outdoor market, she sees a car left unmanned and takes the opportunity to get behind the wheel. After driving around for a few exhilarating moments, she finds herself stopped, the body of a guard caught in her path. She drives over him, and is ultimately taken away. We spoke with Bledel about the sequence.
The A.V. Club: Episode three is a gut punch of an episode for Ofglen. How did you get into the headspace for when she returns in episode five?
Alexis Bledel: In talking to Bruce [Miller, producer] about what he had planned for episode five, what her action ultimately is for the end of the episode, I felt it would be most interesting to come from a place of she's been through a horrible trauma. I think she's still quite traumatized. Even though some time has passed, my interpretation of where she was at physically, emotionally—what her capability was to actually reintegrate into the society as if she could be the same person that she was before—what I was thinking was that she was still quite affected by it. In her body and her mind and her emotions, it all still feels quite recent. I was trying to play that she's still traumatized to a certain extent, but trying to be who she was before, trying to pretend that she can blend in and pretend that she can play that pious role, that cover she usually is able to put on. I think she's still trying to do that while trying to cope with what's happened to her.
AVC: It's a very emotional trauma, but it's also a physical trauma. She's been mutilated.
Friday the 13th Collection Deluxe Edition [Blu-ray]
Over a dozen movies
Relive all of Jason Voorhees' greatest moments in this Friday the 13th Collection Deluxe Edition Blu-ray set containing 14 movies and a bonus disc with additional interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
AB: And the way it happens to her is really a violent act. I think it's considered a violent act no matter what. And of course you mentioned what happened to her before that, seeing the Martha that she was involved with so brutally and swiftly killed. It's all a huge amount of trauma. She is still reeling, still processing. They were interesting scenes to play, because there's so much there, so much circulating in her mind: feelings of anger, feelings of total loss. She was connecting with another woman in a way that was keeping her alive. For her survival, they had formed this human connection that was keeping them going, and that was just stripped away from her. That was, I think, the way that she knew to keep herself going. And now she doesn't know. She doesn't know what to turn to, who to turn to. She can't turn to other people in the same way. So she's kind of lost inside herself.
AVC: While you're driving, you race through so many emotions: There's fear, there's a moment of joy and liberation. What was the process like?
AB: We rehearsed with the stunt crew—the timing of jumping in the car and then driving around the circle. I tried to go as fast as I could to give me a little bit of actual fear, but within reason, mostly around the turns. That was part of what the stunt coordinator advised in order to make it look a little more chaotic, a little more impulsive. I was feeling a tiny bit of fear. It's not my car, obviously. You know when you're kind of punching the accelerator in a car you don't know? There's a little bit of uneasiness, so that helped me get into a little bit of the fear.
It really was thinking where the character is at. This is an impulsive thing that she does. It was such a great moment to play when she's looking around the square. She's in that headspace that we just talked about. Really at a loss and not knowing what to do next or how to be. She's somebody who, as a member of Mayday, she's kind of always looking for opportunities like this one to either actually escape or at least make a statement like she does with this joyride, as we called it. It's kind of a statement to the guards saying that she can have at least this moment of doing whatever she wants. She's not going to be held down in this moment. It's also a statement to the Handmaids present: She's providing a bit of entertainment and inspiration. It's something they're going to tell the other Handmaids about who weren't there. And it's going to be talked about, and it's going to hopefully give them a sense that there is possibility for rebellion for them. If this Handmaid could do that, then what could any Handmaid be capable of even under this harsh oppression?
AVC: It's left open for the viewer whether it is a genuine escape attempt or a suicide mission. How did you read it?
AB: I don't think she intended to commit an act of violence when she jumped in the car. I don't think she intended to jump in the car in the first place, and then once she's in the car, I think there are a few moments where she's not sure what she's doing. There's definitely no plan, and then she gets to the point where she's twice around the circle, and she pauses, and she see's Offred, and Offred gives her the slightest nod. It's not like there is a clear communication there. It's the tiniest encouragement, and I think Ofglen just takes that as she's in this car, and it's finally become a weapon because of the placement of the fallen guard in front of her. She decides to, in that moment, commit this act of violence. It's certainly open to interpretation. It also remains to be seen what the fallout is after this and what happens next.
AVC: For some characters in the show, there are paths that we have hints of because of the book. Ofglen has been taken in such a different direction that we don't know. We learn in the third episode that Gilead wants to keep her alive because she is fertile. This could be the end for Ofglen, but is it?
AB: I actually don't know for sure. But I believe that there will be more. But I don't know what happens to her. I haven't been told what happens to her.
AVC: Rory from Gilmore Girls is such a talkative role. Ofglen is so internal, so quiet. You have so many scenes where there is no dialogue. How did you approach that?
AB: It was a really welcome challenge for me because it is so different from other roles. I loved a performance I saw a very long time ago: Samantha Morton in Sweet And Lowdown. I only saw it once, but it really stayed with me. She didn't speak at all in that role, and I found her performance to be so impactful and moving. Just really moving emotionally. She was able to do so much without speaking. I remembered that when I started the work and was inspired by it. I relished the challenge.
AVC: You said it's a "joyride." Where did you find the joy in that moment?
AB: It's a tiny moment of freedom in the scope of the entire experience of a Handmaid living under the regime of Gilead. It's a stolen moment that could only be stolen. She would never be allowed to drive a car or to create such a display of rebellious chaos. I think to her it's fun to create such a display for the entertainment of the Handmaids. The same way that Janine is enjoying the show, she's kind of enjoying providing the show and the spectacle and the disruption. She's throwing a wrench into the system for one fleeting moment.
AVC: She's been throwing these wrenches quietly, and this is a public act.
AB: Maybe she also can't believe she's doing it. Because it wasn't premeditated, I think she's also like, "Is this really happening? Am I really doing it? Am I going around in a circle again?"
AVC: The Handmaid's Tale has gotten caught up in our current moment. Last week Hillary Clinton referenced the show at a Planned Parenthood event. Either while you were filming or after, has its present-day relevance impacted you at all?
AB: I definitely benefit from one of the ideas in the show, which is that it's important to stay awake, to pay attention to what's happening. I think that's something that Offred says, not in those words, but something she expresses early on in the show, and there's this urgency behind it, and that is one of the many ideas that people have picked up on. That's one for me that I think I have absorbed from the experience. It's an important time to pay attention to what's happening and not lose sight of the important issues and the opportunities and the ways that we can stay involved.


text:
Ali Fedotowsky shares an Instagram Story of daughter Molly enjoying her lunch.
On the center left of the pic, you can see the Chewbeads Gramercy Stroller Toy that was gifted in our Celebrity Babies First Christmas Gift Bag.
Chewbeads are made with beads that are 100% silicone (similar to pacifiers & nipples). They are Soft on babies gums and emerging teeth and easily cleaned with dish soap & water (dishwasher safe). No BPA, PVC, Phthalates, Cadmium, or Lead. Necklaces have a breakaway clasp for added safety, great sensory tool and bracelets can be used as a reminder of which side you've just nursed.
Additional celebrity sightings with Chewbeads include: Amy Davidson and Lisa Ling.


text:
vrijdag 12 december 2014
Editors choice award
Arno, builder of floris his awesome bike I had the honor to paint with the editors choice award. Congratz guys!!!
donderdag 4 december 2014
The duc
All parts I made are weld up, only making a taillight/licenceplate bracket and than it's going home for a few weeks. After that it's comming back for some fresh powder coating and paint! Can't wait!! Love my job!
For the ladies
Did this tank already a while ago. But she made a slide on the road :-( So she needed some new sparkles. All shiny and new now! :-)
dinsdag 18 november 2014
My sons
first time with me to a show. He loved it and gave a good hand, loading all the stuff into the van afterwards. Proud dad!!
donderdag 13 november 2014
Restaurant door
woensdag 12 november 2014
maandag 10 november 2014
Bigtwin Bikeshow
Had a great time with my neighbour mike from lucky nuts custom cycles. Did all the driving, building up and talking bullshit together ;-) Thanx for that bro! Thanx everyone who stoped by for a talk or kiss, great seeing all you guys again marcel miller, el parro gert-jan, the guy's from wingpalace, iron-pit etc. Ben oud thanx for the snacks and beer, and chris from tin can and especially his sister for uuuh just being there ;-) All winners congratz!!! Sorry for all you guy's I forget, love you just as much! Seeing foreward to next weekend, the jalopy folks can't miss that one!!
Almost done
woensdag 5 november 2014
Fresh from the oven. Available at the bigtwin bikeshow or just send me a mail. All sizes up to XXL and even kids tees. € 15,-
dinsdag 4 november 2014
This weekend
Bigtwin bikeshow 2014 in rosmalen holland. See you all there. Will be doing some live pinstriping, striping your helmet for € 70,- instead of € 85,- But if you just want to have a talk your just as welcome!!
Sneak peak
New tank
Party time
Had a party at the scrapers cc clubhouse to celebrate bow and willems birthdays! We had a great time, a big thanx for a great great party!!! Always a pleasure to see you guy's again! ;-)
donderdag 23 oktober 2014
Happy customer
Striping time
Ruudje and me
New bender
donderdag 2 oktober 2014
AMD world championship bikebuilding
2nd hub
zaterdag 27 september 2014
New tanks
woensdag 24 september 2014
Digger update
1st place
For janus his high-gooseneck chopper on the old school bike and car show in gent.
Well deserved buddy!!! Sorry not the best photo, as usual!
zondag 7 september 2014
Choppertown nation show
was a blast, only pics I took :-( These guys scared the shit out of me to be honest! Thanks to all who stoped by and bought my shit or let me paint theirs!
vrijdag 29 augustus 2014
donderdag 28 augustus 2014
Lucky nuts
vrijdag 22 augustus 2014
New show material
1000 hills run
Butcher's having a party, to bad I can't make it myself. Maby next year?!
woensdag 20 augustus 2014
Got a gift from a very talented painter in Thailand. Twocs custom paint, remember that name! Thanx man hope to meet you in person ones!
Abonneren op: Posts (Atom)


text:
Curl Care Pre & Post Workout By Nicole Dash
If you have naturally curly hair like myself, you'll know it's not a good idea to over wash it as this will lead to loss of natural oils and leave you with dry, lifeless curls prone to breakage. Basically a big no no! Because of this, I wash my hair twice a week only. So what do we do when it comes to exercise and the dreaded sweat and humidity frizz ball that often comes with it? Some may say avoid exercise, but for me, being a Personal Trainer and fitness enthusiast, that's not an option.
So rather than adding your hair to the list of 100 reasons why you shouldn't go to spin, I'm going to give you my five top tips on how to manage those locks pre and post workout. Whether your smashing a 5k before work or attending your weekly Hiit at the end of the day, these tips will be sure to keep those curls looking effortlessly gorgeous throughout.
1) Keep your hair away from any neck or facial sweat by tying it loosely on top of your head with a scrunchie. The Bouclème Animal Print Scrunchies are perfect for this as their not too tight, so won't disrupt the curl pattern for the rest of the day.
2) If you're prone to getting really sweaty, wear a head band, but be sure to use a sweat-wicking one that isn't too tight as this will flatten your curls (like hat hair).
3) Don't be tempted to keep touching your hair throughout your workout, again this will only disrupt the curl and will only contribute to the already dreaded frizzy hair. On top of this, your hands will be full of sweat, yuck!
4) When you've finished your workout, let your hair down (assuming all the sweat is long gone), and give it a good shake. Turn your head upside down, rub some curl cream in your hands and apply to the roots and ends in particular, giving that extra moisture boost and much needed gloss.
5) If you're totally grossed out by not washing your hair because you got so sweaty, the Bouclème Travel Kit consisting of the Hydrating Hair Cleanser, Curl Conditioner and Curl Defining Gel is the perfect size to slip into your gym bag.
So there you have it, my five top tips to ensure your curls look as bouncy and alive after your workout as when you started, even if you don't feel the same.
Come and follow me on instagram @nicoleclewer16


text:
New signing shines on Turf Moor debut
Despite having to borrow some boots, Tendayi Darikwa got his Burnley career on the right footing.
The 23-year-old signed for the Clarets on Thursday from Chesterfield for a fee in the region of £600,000, but had travelled north without his boots.
He trained in a borrowed pair on Friday, before going back for his favourite pair, and he impressed on his debut against Bradford City at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Darikwa said: "I trained on Friday for the first time and I didn't have my boots!
Most Popular
"The first session could have gone horribly wrong but I borrowed some – they weren't too bad, they were some brand new adidas ones!
"I'm just grateful to the club for looking after me the way they have. Thankfully I managed to get back home and get my stuff and played on Saturday, which I'm pleased about. It happened very quickly. I came up on Wednesday evening, the manager had a few meetings on Thursday, so I was in the town for a while but I got the deal over the line on Thursday night and trained on Friday."
Darikwa, once a target for David Moyes at Manchester United, was an instant hit with the Burnley fans, composed in possession, linking well with George Boyd down the right, and putting over a string of inviting crosses, and he smiled: "I loved it. It was my first time playing at the stadium but the fans gave me a warm welcome and I'm grateful for that."
Burnley beat Lancashire rivals Preston North End to his signature, but Darikwa admitted: "I don't want to talk about other clubs.
"I'm happy to be at the football club now and the club have given me the opportunity to play in the Championship and hopefully I can repay that with some more performances like Saturday.
"After speaking to the manager and the board members it was a no-brainer to try to help the club get back to the Premier League. I think that's where we belong.
"I've plied my trade in League Two and League One and I feel like I'm ready for the step up. But obviously I've a lot to learn.
"Hopefully the management staff and the players can help me improve quickly and hopefully I can play in the team.
"There are some experienced players and a lot of the squad we've got now played in the Premier League last season so I'm sure I'll learn very quickly and break into the team as soon as possible."


text:
Chairman, Energy Action
David is Executive Vice-President, Deputy Chief Financial Officer at Great-West Lifeco Inc. He previously was the Financial Director of Irish Life Group and before that Financial Director of Irish Life Permanent. He also worked with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) in Ireland and the UK. A business school graduate of Trinity College Dublin he is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a former non-executive director of Alcatel (Ireland) Limited, Software Resources Limited and Crampton Housing Limited. He is a director of a number of companies within the group including the associated company Allianz-Irish Life Holdings PLC.


text:
renewable electricity
Facts on renewables
We concede:
|"For now the spotlight is shining
brightest on wind and solar power, which contribute less than 2% of the
nations total energy," says Kathryn Brown, writing in the 30 July, 1999
issue of Science; in truth, the spotlight isn't even as bright as
Brown pretends.
Renewable sources account for 12% of our electricity. Eighty-three percent of the renewable energy comes from hydroelectric plants. (We note that the EPA is busy reclassifying hydro as non-renewable, because dams inevitably cause flooding of land upstream, an environmental no-no). Some 13% of the renewable energy comes from biomass. (Most of that is waste sawdust from sawmills.)
Geothermal (which isnt solar energy and isnt renewable) accounts for 3% of the "renewable" energy.
Finally, wind and solar (PV and solar-thermal engines) combined account for less than 1.1% of our renewable electricity. Thats less than 0.13% of all our electricity. Scholar-scientist Brown correctly concludes that 0.13% is less than 2%. How could she do otherwise?
To main Energy Advocate Index
The Energy Advocate


text:
***Pre-Season Sale for Polo Parties & Season Passes Begins Oct. 1***
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram for Contest Winner Announcement
Time: August 18, 2018 7:30 PM
Location: Newport International Polo Grounds 250 Linden Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871
Immediately following USA vs. Jamaica, the authentic Jerk Grill dinner shares the popularity of one of our fan's favorite teams, known for their horsemanship and exciting play.
Join us for a cultural dining experience with the teams after the match! The meal, including meats, traditional side dishes and dessert will be served buffet-style under the polo tent immediately following the trophy presentation. Tickets* $33/members, $38/non-members, available online no later than WED, August 15 while supplies last. Polo match tickets sold separately. The meal will be served buffet-style at the polo tent, in the Pavilion, immediately following the trophy presentation. For more info, email email@example.com.
Start Time: 7:30 PM End Time: 8:30 PM
August is the month that Jamaica celebrates its independence from Britain. The 'jerk' tradition began over a century ago, when a group of Jamaican slaves called the "maroons" fled into the Blue mountains, evading British troops. They survived by rubbing indigenous allspice, blazing hot Scotch bonnet peppers, and fresh thyme into pork and chicken. They then used the branches of the allspice trees to slow-smoke the meat for hours. They called the spicing and the cooking method "jerk" and the tradition carries on with great appeal to locals and visitors alike!
If you did not make a reservation before the cutoff, then please sign up to our mailing list to receive timely notifications in the future. Your information remains private, and the notifications are minimally scheduled, monthly during the offseason, and weekly during the polo season. Then you won't miss out.
*Must present ticket at the time of service; Tickets are for individual dinner portions. This is NOT an unlimited buffet.
Refunds must be requested in writing by the customer, via email, at least 7 days prior to the ticketed event (by noon on the previous Friday) sent to: firstname.lastname@example.com. RAIN DATE: In the event of the cancellation of the USA vs. Jamaica polo match prior to its start, (due to weather/field conditions), the Apres Polo dinner will be postponed to the following Sunday at the same time. All original Jerk Grill dinner reservations will be transferred to the rain date. For more details on our ticket policies, please follow this link. In the event of inclement weather, always check the Match Status recording on our Info Hotline (401) 846-0200 x2 and our website, nptpolo.com for Alerts, both of which are updated with any status change for the impending match.


text:
ad here
Linen Club is one of the top manufacturers producing pure linen fabric for over six decades. This pioneering brand has over 200 exclusive stores, more than 7000 multi-brand outlets, making them India's leading linen brand. They approached VGC to help the brand expand their offering across the both fashion as well as lifestyle. VGC designed a new brand identity for them, let's have a look!
Industry: Creative Advertising Agency
Services: Strategic Brand Identity, Packaging, Communication, Digital and Experiential Design
With a rise in competition and a surge in look-alike blended linen brands, Linen Club, the 60-year-old pioneer required renewed vigour and unique brand expression to reestablish their leadership position in the industry. Showcasing the natural origin of the linen and the proud legacy of the brand is essential for the brand's identity and expansion. The premium experience of the product, the sophistication and luxury must be woven together to enchant the consumers and establish the brand in the fashion and lifestyle industries.
The timelessness of the brand and its vast portfolio remained a challenge. It was essential to simplify the brand's portfolio and restructure its brand architecture. It was also pertinent to stay unique and distinctive in the sea of sameness, this called for demystifying the pastels and limited colours associated with the category. The brand's proud legacy and heritage must be showcased while paying homage to its European origin and natural characteristics of Linen.
VGC designed a new brand identity for the brand celebrating its rich heritage and legacy while imbibing the natural characteristics of linen. Packaging remained a crucial element in the rebranding process. To capture the sophistication and premium quality of the product while also honouring the brand's European origin, VGC drew inspiration from the hues and shades of flax, thus introducing a vibrant colour palette for the brand.
Through an intelligent, comprehensive and robust navigation system, the brand's identity was further enhanced through a hybrid brand architecture system as well as a navigation system for the various brand offerings. It was also pertinent to provide a strong presence in the linen ready to wear segment, and hence VGC geared the brand for its ready to wear offering which paved the way for Linen Club Studio.
Every year many exceptional design briefs are being answered with brilliant solutions by many talented designers. Some manage to reach the limelight through awards and other recognitions, but not all. And that is where the 'DCS-01' comes into the picture with detailed case studies highlighting the challenges, research, and the unique solutions to each obstacle faced in reaching these final design solutions. An inspiration and a collection of quality design projects created in India recently.
So, if you are creative freelancer, agency, studio, corporate or a design student, who needs inspiration and want to know the process of making great designs, then this is a must-have book for your collection. Order it today to reserve a copy of this limited stock book.


text:
Gorsuch Confirmed – Victory for McConnell
[guest post by JVW]
By a 54-45 vote with three red state Democrats up for reelection in 2018, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, and Joe Donnelly of Indiana, joining with 51 Republicans in voting to seat him on the court. Republican Johnny Isakson of Georgia missed the vote due to health issues.
We have had ample reason to criticize Senate Majority Mitch McConnell in the past, but from the moment that we learned of the passing of the great Justice Antonin Scalia the majority leader has been nothing short of a conservative stalwart from how he handled Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to his ability to keep his caucus together and invoke the Reid Option in ending the Democrats' filibuster. No doubt we'll have reason to criticize him again down the road, but let's take this moment to extend to him our most sincere thanks and congratulations for his fine work.
[Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.]


text:
Tilly and Jasper baby sleepsuits are a range of practical sleepwear and day wear for children and adults with learning disabilities, dementia and autism. Designed to prevent the wearer removing their clothing and interfering with nappies/pads.
The reason the suits are so competitvely priced is that this is a notforprofit venture. As the mother of Baby Sleepsuit a little girl with severe autism my aim is to provide affordable practical sleepwear and clothing for those in a similar position.
Available in many sizes and designs, specific to your requirements. Suits are available with loose sleeves and legs, ribbed cuffs at sleeve and legs as well as a button tab fastening over zip to deter the most determined. Also available with openings for feeding tubes.
The suits available on the market were not suitable as tilly would draw her knees up inside stretchy fabric and rip the fabric within a matter of hours. Other suits were not made of natural fabrics and as organic baby dress also has eczema it was important to me that the suits were cool and breathable.
Therefore I decided to make suits for her and they have been a great success. I have also provided suits to many parents and also local authorities and care establishments. Every child and adult I Tiny Baby Sleepsuits make a suit for has individual requirements and my aim is to provide a bespoke service at an affordable price.
Arts and crafts are a highly rewarding hobby, because the time and effort spent working on a project Sleepsuits For Baby Boy usually translates into a tangible object that will last a long time. However, that also means you need to learn certain basic skills and techniques so that the things you create turn out as intended.
If you're wondering where to start, look no further: I wrote a few simple tutorials to get you started Cute Baby Sleepsuits right here on my website! And just in case my instructions leave you pining for more, I've included a list of recommended courses to further advance your skills. Enjoy!


text:
Real Salt Lake Making a Statement Early in Major League Soccer SeasonMarch 19, 2012
Real Salt Lake is proving that they are the team to beat in Major League Soccer this season.
In its two matches so far this year, Real Salt Lake has dominated two of the league's most popular teams and held their opponents' international superstars to frustrating performances.
Following a season-opening victory on the road against the defending MLS Cup Champion Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake returned home and easily took care of the New York Red Bulls.
Although head coach Jason Kreis does not consider any of his contributing players to be "second-string" guys, Real Salt Lake is finding success with several key players and usual starters on the bench due to injuries.
With Nat Borchers not playing in either of the two opening matches and usual scoring threats Alvaro Saborio and Javier Morales coming in as second-half substitutions, players like Chris Schuler and Paulo Jr. have stepped up to help the team to prove that the "team is the star" concept employed by Kreis can be successful.
In addition to Schuler and Paulo Jr., other players are stepping up at the right time as well.
Defender Tony Beltran and midfielder Ned Grabavoy have both played well in both matches, and striker Fabian Espindola is finishing his scoring chances.
The team has allowed only one goal against the likes of Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, David Beckham and Thierry Henry.
Real Salt Lake now has the opportunity to put more points in the win column, as it plays three of its next four matches at home.
The team also gets a chance to continue to prove that their reaching the late stages of the Western Conference Finals last season was well-deserved and that they are the team to beat in Major League Soccer.


text:
It might feel like it's been years since Sean Spicer resigned from his White House press secretary post, but it's actually only been a few weeks. Spicey is reportedly wasting no time dreaming up his second act, though; in fact, he's reportedly started asking around about getting onto Saturday Night Live. Sorry, Dancing with the Stars. (Spicer reportedly turned down the ABC reality competition due to his busy fall schedule . . . and because, as a source told TMZ, "he's not a good dancer.")
According to Us Weekly, Spicer is interested in spoofing himself on NBC's venerable sketch show. "He is asking people about getting on—it was his idea," says the tabloid's source. "He asked someone he knows that is close to a cast member to help him. Yes, he criticized S.N.L. before, but he's changed his tune. He wants to make a cameo!" (We've reached out to an S.N.L. representative for comment and will update this post accordingly.)
Hmm. How do we feel about this? Obviously, Spicer wouldn't be the first politician to go live from New York, or even the first Republican to appear on the show after being relentlessly mocked by it. (Remember when Sarah Palin appeared in 2008 after Tina Fey's impression of her went viral?) Still, given the backlash that S.N.L. faced after Donald Trump hosted in 2015—and its recently elevated status as one of the most celebrated series on TV—we're guessing the series might think twice this fall about allowing another controversial figure on stage.
And perhaps more importantly: is Sean Spicer even funny?
At the very least, Spicer has demonstrated more good humor about late night's mockery than the president has. He reportedly wanted to joke about Melissa McCarthy's Spicer impression from his press secretary podium in February, shortly after her first appearance—but Trump allegedly wouldn't let Spicer go through with that. And when Sean Hannity asked Spicer what he thought of McCarthy's performance in July, the exiting press secretary was fairly measured: "I think that there were parts of it that were funny, but there's a lot of it that was over the line. It wasn't funny. It was stupid, or silly, or malicious. But there were some skits on late-night television that I did crack up at. So sometimes it can be funny, Some of the memes you have to crack up about. But sometimes it goes from funny to mean."
As for whether Spicer himself could actually get a laugh, there's reason to believe that he could, given the right material. During his press briefings, he occasionally slipped in a joke or two, including, "I can sense the love in the room"—and at least once, he did directly reference McCarthy's impression by mock-threatening, "Don't make me make the podium move." Is Spicer the next Chevy Chase? No. But we're also pretty sure he could do better than the president's own lackluster S.N.L. performance—which, we're guessing, Spicer wouldn't mind upstaging at this point.


text:
Long Range Carry Bag
Read MoreShow Less
The BRCC Long Range Coffee Bag was designed to help you travel with your own coffee brewing kit. Made with lightweight ripstop fabric, this bag accommodates everything from your travel mug and pour over kit to your hand grinder. It measures at 12" x 7" x 5", so it's plenty compact to be a no-brainer when you're off traveling.
- Lightweight ripstop fabric
- 12" x 7" x 5"
- Compact for traveling


text:
Trans-solutions supply chain consulting work largely involves the creation of practical models designed to examine exactly how changes to your current approach will impact your freight rates and service levels. Our modeling tools can examine any number of strategic and practical alternatives, including changing modes, services, carriers, freight shipping rates, and distribution locations.
We use several proprietary tools to conduct our data gathering and analysis.
Network modeling tool
It all starts with the construction of an accurate baseline of your current operations. Our Xact Network Modeler© is a flexible software tool that captures all key components of your existing program, then calculates the impact of a change.
The tool is not "one size fits all." It can be modified to capture your own unique practices. This flexibility allows us to get an accurate read on your current methods and costs.
Freight rate benchmarks
In most freight rate negotiations, shippers see only their rates, giving the carrier, who has visibility to everyone's rates, a decided negotiation advantage.
Because Trans-solutions negotiates small parcel rates for many companies, we maintain extensive freight rate benchmarks. This allows us to compare your rates with similar freight to get the best deal.
Freight rate negotiation tool
Xact Negotiator© is proprietary software developed by Trans-solutions to determine specifically how a carrier's proposal affects a shipper financially. It operates much like the model used by carriers to determine a shipper's freight rates. Analyzing your freight like a carrier gives you a negotiating advantage.
Xact Negotiator© avoids use of averages or aggregates when analyzing carrier proposals because this calculation shortcut can create a false read. For instance, a 10% rate discount doesn't necessarily reduce the freight bill by 10%, as many shippers assume. Accessorial charges, minimum charge thresholds and other factors may eliminate or offset the discount.
You should know more about your traffic patterns than your carriers. The more data and information you have about your freight, the better equipped you will be to make effective decisions.
Trans-solutions' supply chain consulting services provide the tools, systems and services to capture information that can be used to recognize trends, flag trouble spots and plan for the future. Check out sample freight reports we can provide.


text:
Fleets have been buffeted by the economic storm for the past three years. Historically, counties and cities have shown recovery from recessions as long as 18-24 months following the national economic recovery. This is due to the lag in tax revenue collection associated with an economy in recession.
Three key concerns that public sector fleets have faced the past few years have included zero-growth budgets, fuel prices and green fleet initiatives.
Making the right choice of truck equipment and accessories – particularly with regards to a vehicle-mounted air compressor – can assist fleets in addressing these issues. Fuel costs and alternative fuels continue to be a crucial issue for all fleets. Fuel volatility makes forecasting a fuel budget extremely difficult. As a result, fleets are budgeting tightly and looking for ways to reduce fuel consumption in the hope fuel prices will have less of an impact on their bottom line.
Despite budget constraints, 'green initiatives' continue to gain priority throughout the public works and utility fleet industry. Support for 'green' fleets is expected to continue despite increasing pressure to reduce costs. Reducing emissions and fuel consumption continue to lead the response to these initiatives. Fleet managers continue struggling to avoid the trap of making the wrong decision for what appears to be the right 'green' choice, and choosing the right air compressor system can be part of this challenge.
Regardless of location, fleets are expected to operate in extreme conditions. Finding an air compressor that is designed for these conditions can go a long way toward addressing budgetary and environmental concerns.
Not all air compressor systems have all the necessary features, or are reliable in those circumstances. The types of vehicle-mounted air compressors available that could manage these conditions include:
Gas/Diesel Drive
• Can be skid mounted, chassis mounted or trailer mounted
Making Green Decisions:
Saving With Your Air Compressor System


text: This time of year Pinterest is filled with pastel deserts and petit sweets. I've seen several variations of cupcakes made to look like birds nests and because I'll be a guest for Easter dinner this year, I thought I'd give them a test run before Easter Sunday. […]Read more →