text:
'Are You The One?' Recap: Some People Just Don't Like Peaches
Hello and welcome back to the few of you that have stuck around this long! Since it's the penultimate episode (I pray), here's a quick refresher of what's happened so far this season in case you've been blacking out during the episodes: two couples have found their perfect match, Bria has put a curse on any girl who thought about Zak, Zak continues to bang anything in front of him, no one else knows what they're doing, and I had a better chance at winning Mega Millions than they do of figuring this out in two weeks. Oh yeah, and last week we ended with Kwasi having a meltdown in the lap of a producer/bunny rabbit. Let's begin!
It seems Kwasi survived, because we open on the morning, everyone tucked into their floor mattresses snug as a bug in a rug. Bria says that Jasmine kissing Cam "set Kwasi back a few steps." By that does she mean he became a violent psychopath over one minor indiscretion? Because then I'd have to agree. Meanwhile, Kwasi has decided he's done with Jasmine, and that Nutsa is really his match. While I don't blame him for being into Nutsa, God's gift to Are You The One, does he really think that after last night's absolute emotional and physical meltdown she's gonna be into it?
Outside, Andrew has pulled Cali aside because he's actually trying hard to make new connections, but is still not trying hard enough with his sunscreen application. They seem to like each other fine, but I guess we'll really know how much Cali likes him if she grinds on him at the next luau.
Then Brett pulls Bria aside, I guess because he's always wondered what it would be like to have his liver cut out with the sharpened end of a toothbrush. Our poor, precious Nutsa is watching from afar, wondering what she did wrong. Nothing, Nutsa! You are perfect just as you are!
Inside, Daniel tells Sam he doesn't think they are a perfect match because he has exes just like her. I'm sorry Daniel, but did you not see that Kenya's perfect match and her ex were actually identical twins separated as babies, sent to live with different parents, only to discover each other's existence years later at summer camp? So I don't think you can rule anyone out just because they're like your ex. MTV is not working that hard, bro.
Brett tells Nutsa he's going to sit with Bria at the match up ceremony "not because she's ahead," but to switch it up.
It's time for the match-up ceremony, so the boys have pulled out their best skinny jeans and they're ready to start picking.
Brett picks Bria. In the process, he says there was no spark with Nutsa and implies that she is not a person of substance. Go home Brett, you're drunk.
Kwasi picks Nutsa. Papa T asks her if she is still with Brett. Nutsa says Brett can go f*ck himself. And then she gives us this beautiful piece of wisdom, "You can be the juiciest peach in the entire world, but there's always somebody that just doesn't like peaches." PREACH, GIRL! Tell me, is it weird if I get a custom sign made on Etsy with a quote I heard on a C-list reality show?
Andrew picks Cali.
Moe picks Kayla.
Daniel picks Lauren.
Tomas picks Jasmine.
Lewis picks Asia. Wait, does this mean he's decided she's hot enough for him now?
Cam picks Morgan.
It's at this point that Maria, who has not been in the house since like WEEK 2, decides to call out the random couples. Um hi, but do you even know what's going on in the house? Aren't you busy plotting ways to get away from Shamoy by now? And then OF COURSE, Zak takes it upon himself to call out the "double standard" that he claims makes him out to be a villain, but when Jasmine kisses someone else on a date she's just "playing the game." Well first of all, how dare you. Second of all, you did that like 80 times this season Zak so it's just a weeee bit different. And third of all, Ted Bundy also claimed he was unfairly accused and we all know how that ended. Look, I'm not saying Zak reminds me of one of the most prolific serial killers of all time, but I'm not not saying that, ya know?
AND THEN Zak says, "Kwasi just thinks Nutsa's the better version of Jasmine." Because he hasn't made enough girls in this house cry yet. You've got one more week Zak, can you collect them all?!
It's at this point Papa T and his floral shirt tells the gang he is disappointed in everyone beefing with each other, but after seeing their faces fall, he reminds them that they can still win! All they need is a little encouragement and to cheat as much as humanly possible. (Okay that last part was me).
Zak picks Sam.
It's time for the beams. Let's see if these dummies can light it up! Lol and they can light it up but only dimly, because once again they only get four beams. When they don't win this million dollars, can MTV throw me some of their leftover cash? I think I deserve it for watching this entire dumpster fire of a season.
Back at the house, people are not pleased.
Kwasi and Andrew rn:
Yes, that's the way to find your perfect match. Terrify everyone so much that they don't want to be near you.
After the rage portion of the evening has passed, our gang gets in a kumbaya circle and starts talking about everything that's wrong with them. Hi guys! I've been doing that for you all season! Y'all should've learned to read and then I could have really saved you a lot of trouble.
Okay actually this circle is a little bit sad, and I don't appreciate MTV serving me this realness rn. It's not as fun to mock someone when you know they were abused as a child. THANKS FOR RUINING IT FOR ME, PRODUCERS. Brb, I'm about to go do some emotional eating about other people's problems. Who knew I was so empathetic?
Papa T shows up overjoyed that he's almost made it to the end of his time introducing a big red button to a group of 20-something alcoholics. It's time to figure out who's going on the dates. This week, fate has decided to send Moe, Brett, Nutsa, and Lauren on a date so magically Hawaiian, it will be a real authentic experience they could have nowhere else.
Oh wait, they're going jet skiing. I'm concerned for Nutsa's safety, and rightfully so since she injures herself almost immediately. Like the f*ckboy gentleman he is, Brett gives her a ride on his jet ski. Not a euphemism.
During the hangout portion of the date, Brett promises Nutsa that he's not going to hold back anymore. So now I'm obviously convinced they're not a match. Anyone wanna bet?
Back at the house, the crew reconvenes to find out who is going in the truth booth. Papa T tells them "time is officially beginning to run out," which is also what my OBGYN says to me everytime I visit her and it leaves me totally not stressed at all. Not even a little bit panicked. Completely fine. So I'm sure our gang feels the same.
And the crew has voted Brett and Nutsa into the truth booth! Jasmine says if they're not a match it will really make her lose faith in that million dollars. Oh honey, you should have lost faith in that money the second Zak walked in the door, swinging his d*ck at anything that was remotely human-shaped. That's on you.
And once again, we're left on a cliff hanger! It's like MTV is DARING ME to burn down their headquarters in a white rage. Next week is it you guys, so we'll find out if Brett and Nutsa are a match, and if the whole damn crew can manage to come up with their perfect matches with money on the line. Or maybe we'll get lucky and the hellmouth will finally swallow them up. See you all next week!
Images: MTV; Giphy (2)
'Are You The One?' Recap: I Know Where You Live
All right people, we're back at it for another week! And by back at it, I mean our gang of lovable losers is blacking out and hooking up, and I'm trying not to get any potato chips on my computer. Thus far I've been successful, but the keys are greasy. Let's begin!
Oh yes!! The "previously on" segment reminds me that we were left hanging last week. We're waiting to see if the strategy devised by a girl who called Brett by the name of Zak for an entire argument worked. Needless to say, I don't have a lot of faith.
And the gang gets four beams! Which means that Cali's strategy did actually kind of work. But it also proved that she picked the wrong person as her perfect match, so I stand by my earlier statement that implied she was a dummy. So let's break down what this actually tells us: Cam and Kayla are not a match, and Cali and Tomas are not a match. And Tevin and Kenya might still be. I'm not sure what else it tells us, though, because I guess I'm a dummy too.
Kenya and Tevin are feeling real smug about this outcome right now, and it's making them about 900% more annoying than they usually are. Fun!
Cam and Kayla go outside to figure out what this means for them. They are sad. Cam says he told Kayla things he never told anyone else, and I'm betting it's definitely about what happened in the basement during rush. They decide they're going to stay together as a couple but also play this game. So like, what does that mean? Can he get a blowie or nah?
Back inside, Morgan is pissed at Zak. He promises not to kiss other people anymore. LOL his promises are worth about as much as Morgan's hair extensions.
Outside, Cali and Tomas are talking about how they're not a match. Here's how it goes.
Tomas: I'm so sad I don't know how I can carry on
Cali:
Kwasi, Daniel, and Lewis decide to pull Moe aside and tell him he needs to start stepping up and looking for his match. Okay, but collectively between these guys, we have one that's hooked up with Samantha and one that got his d*ck sucked by Kenya and THAT'S IT. So we're not really talking to the love experts over here. Moe decides he'll pursue Kayla, and I'm already worried for him because she's over in the corner, breasts being peppered with kisses from Cam, undeterred by the fact they're not a match. Sweet, sweet Moe. I fear you're about to get your heart broken.
Sam sets up a scavenger hunt for Daniel and it's flashing me back to my sorority days when I would show up at chapter, make fun of everyone, and then not participate in dumbass activities like these! Enjoy, Daniel!
Daniel is getting a little thrown off since the cameraman is following him. Yes, Daniel. That's what's been happening for the last few weeks, ARE YOU ONLY JUST NOW NOTICING?! How much has he been drinking? This scavenger hunt shockingly leads Daniel to the bedroom where Sam is waiting for him, dressed as a dominatrix who is attracted to sweaty, smelly men.
Papa T shows up, so you know what time it is. No, not time for a stern lecture about getting their grades up, but time for fate to f*ck some more sh*t up. Fate chooses Tevin and Kwasi and to everyone's SURPRISE, Kenya and Morgan. How LUCKY! She always lands on the couples they want! If this is how fate works, I'm taking her to Vegas and treating her to the penny slots. Mama needs a new car!
Papa T announces that they will be ATV'ing for the date but then announces a surprise that he's throwing the crew A PARTY! Wait, was this not a party all along? Was this a medical conference? Why do they pretend that something they do every night is special? Oh I'm sorry, now that I see them getting ready I realize that a party means more glitter. I'd also say maybe they oil themselves up, but I'm looking at Daniel, and we all know from Sam he is a SWEATY MAN so perhaps it's just his natural juices.
Okay things are getting very soft-core porn-y at this party. Is this what Papa T intended? I would think he'd be very disappointed in all the genital-to-genital contact going on here.
Kwasi and Jasmine, with an assist from tequila, are starting to really get along.
Cam is a hot commodity at his party, apparently his dance moves are really turning the ladies on. Also he's very sweaty so everybody keep Samantha away!
Cali is also getting her freak on and attracting the attention of, you guessed it, ZAK!! That motherf*cker who just promised Morgan he wouldn't make out with anyone else. THAT VERY SAME ONE. He starts telling Cali she could be his match and trying to get her to make out with him!!! Morgan overhears all of this and has finally decided to stop being Zak's doormat in and confronts him saying "So you're saying Cali's what you need, not me?!"
Me rn:
And guys, it gets BETTER!! Nutsa is cracking me up right now! Yelling "Morgan! Love yourself b*tch! Nobody else is going to do it for you!" all the while grinding up on some dude. Multi-tasking! I'm legit recording that and playing it for myself any time I'm feeling down. And you know what, Nutsa's voice is actually growing on me. It's kind of endearing.
Morgan is done with Zak, and I am SO GLAD. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Zak will f*ck whatever is in front of him. Hide your dogs! Hide your sandwiches!
Guys, I appreciate Moe so much. He is really trying! And he's been so nice to Kayla.
Daniel and Cali start dry humping on the dance floor, so I'm sure Sam's earrings are gonna be coming off soon for a fight. Oh! No they're not. She's crying! Now I feel bad. How dare that sweaty man treat her like this?!
Oh WAIT! The earrings have come off! Sam is confronting Cali and poses the age-old question: "Do you think it's okay to rub your vagina on my guy's d*ck?!" Unfortunately Sam, I think the answer to that is yes, because she was just doing it. For a while, actually.
Okay I'm starting to think Papa T threw this party and he knew just what would happen. Perhaps he's less wholesome than he lets on. Because DAMN people are freaking out left and right. Now Tevin is flirting with Jasmine. Did they spike all the drinks with Viagra or something?? Because all the dudes be thinking with their d*cks tonight. And now Kenya is upset.
We've finally made it to morning and the glitter survived, but dignity, livers, and relationships did not. But it's time for our daters to ATV! Hopefully none of them have the spins!
On the date, Tevin and Kenya establish they still like each other. Great. Moving on. It's time to decide who's going in the truth booth. And it's Tevin and Kenya! Why do I get the very bad no good terrible feeling that they are going to leave me on cliffhanger? Don't do me like that, Terry!
Annnnnnd I was right! I'm boycotting! I'm never watching this show again. GET A NEW RECAPPER. Okay fine, I'm being dramatic but oh hey hi MTV publicist that sends me these episodes early, can I get next week's real quick?
Well that was a wild ride, and a really fun episode. See all you peeps next time, and I hope that you all remember this week to love yourself, b*tch!
'Are You The One?' Recap: Andrew Forgot His Sunscreen
Hi friends! We're back for the Are You The One season 7 episode 3 recap, and I, for one, am on the edge of my seat. Will Zak continue to hit on every girl in the house? Will my eardrums sustain permanent damage from Nutsa's voice? Will Bria skin Zak and wear him as a suit? Let's find out!
We open on Bria screaming, and already I'm traumatized because I had a rough subway ride home today. It also involved a lady screaming "you can suck my dick!" Although in her case, I think she was just trying to get me to give her money. Bria is actually insane.
In the other room Nutsa is telling Zak he deserves better than Bria, and in the confessional Morgan is telling us that Nutsa isn't right right for Zak. There is some major girl-on-girl crime going on here.
Asia decides to spare us all a reenactment of the red wedding, and attempts to give Bria a pep talk. She tells her she needs to move on from Zak and will physically not let her back in the house until she calms down.
Bria is grunting and heavy breathing like someone deeply in need of an exorcism as Asia leads her back to the house. She crab walks right up to Zak.
Bria: *voice dripping with depression and sorrow* Listen to me, it's done
Moving on to our second most f*cked up couple of the house, Tevin and Kenya. Tevin is whispering to Kenya, asking what she did in the boom boom room with Lewis. He says he's whispering to preserve his voice, not because he wants to keep their sexual exploits private or anything.
Kenya: We didn't do anything
Tevin: *whispers* You gave him head
Kenya: *shouts* I gave him head
It's all highly disconcerting. They leave this conversation agreeing they are still into each other, but only one of them leaves with vocal chords that are fresh as a daisy.
Bria is icing her hand because she injured it in one of her rage blackouts. She is also wearing Zak's shirt even though I THOUGHT WE WERE DONE WITH THIS, GOD! Samantha tells Zak that it's basically like a dog peeing on something to mark its territory. Oh, Sam. I'm sure Bria did that too!
Okay now Sam is talking about how she and Zak are similar and she thinks he might be her match. I'm starting to wonder what it is about this dude that makes him female kryptonite? Is he actually a slice of pizza underneath his clothes?
Sam thinks they connect intellectually, and I'm wondering if they're not showing us the parts of the day where Zak walks around reciting Yeats from memory cause otherwise I DON'T SEE IT.
Now we transition to Andrew, who is declaring that everyone has made a connection and there are a lot of playboys there and he just doesn't have that game. You mean the ladies aren't impressed by the diamond studs in each ear, Andrew? I am shook!
Andrew is using the precious few minutes of screen time he has to talk about the weather with Asia. Apparently he got sunburned because it was overcast out and he "just didn't think." Well, Andrew, us fair-skinned folk need to be vigilant about the sun. Always wear sunscreen! Melanoma does not discriminate, although I'm sure it would pass over your diamond-studded self if it had the choice.
I honestly never thought I'd say this about someone on this show, but Andrew definitely needs to consume more alcohol. This conversation is so awkward and the only way to get past that is by drinking so much your ability to feel shame goes away.
Morgan is letting Nutsa do her makeup even though they are both crushing on Zak. Morgan better watch out because Nutsa has a crazy look in her eye and a lip liner that looks suspiciously like a shiv.
Morgan immediately runs from her conversation with Nutsa to tattle on her to Bria. She tells Bria that Nutsa is petty but she is GREAT AND PERFECT AND WILL BE PURSUING ZAK. And isn't it honorable that she's telling Bria before she does it? In the confessional, Morgan lets us know that she told Bria about her crush on Zak because she's afraid of her. Same.
Morgan goes right over to Zak and greets him vag first. He accepts with open arms.
Nutsa see this happen and is offended and upset. And I am offended and upset by the sounds coming out of her mouth right now. My ears, they bleed.
Morgan tells Nutsa that she went to Zak to tell him to respect her. Then she tells us in the confessional that she lied. I'm very into Morgan's use of the confessional. She knows what it's about. Also she might want to avoid everyone from the show now that this is airing. Save yourself, Morgan!
Can I just take a brief moment here to discuss the living accommodations MTV provides for the cast members? It's literally mattresses thrown on the floor with a comforter on top. They look like they're squatters. Did MTV even pay for this house or did they make the cast members break into a vacation home that wasn't currently being rented?
Cut to Cali and Brett in some sort of khaki-colored hammock contraption. I'm having a hard time figuring out what's going on here because everything is the same color. The people are tan, the hammock is tan, Brett's shirt is tan. I think they're making out. They seem to like each other. Cute.
Terrence J shows up. Is the J an extension of his first name, or is it his last name? Do we think I can drop it by now? Is Terrence too familiar for a man I've never met? Eh what the heck, let's go with Terry.
Terry shows up. He reminds them that one week and seven hangovers ago they got three beams at the matching ceremony. Papa Terry was very proud. He shows off his beloved, the fate button, which will again pick the dates this week.
The producers Fate picks Nutsa and Asia as the women going on the date. For the second week in a row, Bria threatens the life of the fate button if it picks Zak. I really fear this this button is not long for this life. Luckily, the fate button is spared this week because it chooses Cam and Andrew. Don't forget your SPF 50, Andrew!
So for this date they are zorbing. Zorbing is a word I just learned that means rolling around in a plastic ball like a drunken hamster. How nice of MTV to send the cast to Hawaii and let them do something I could do at I Play America in central Jersey. Really spending the big bucks! I hope someone suffocates.
Cam and Asia pair up for some time by the water, where Asia asks if his political views affect his dating life. He is open and honest and so in return she tells him she hates him for his political views.
Nutsa spends the day telling the boys she's not into them. Gentlemen, this is a blessing. You don't need that voice in your life.
Oooh now I see what Andrew was talking about with his sunburn. That baby's gonna peel. A pink-tinted Andrew tells Asia he would be interested in her if he saw her walking down the street. Asia says she thinks he has a wallflower personality and is wary of him because he seems shy. Wow, I never knew shy was a dealbreaker. So ladies, we're into rage issues, cheaters, and unemployed losers, but we draw the line at shy? This is where we are now?
Andrew convinces Asia that he would never be so disgusting as to be a shy dude, and she believes him enough to think they might be a match.
Back at the house, Terry is there to announce who is going in the truth booth. Asia and Andrew admit they're feeling each other, and the house thought they might be too. They're headed to the Truth Booth.
And it's no match! Looks like Andrew was lying about being shy and the experts just blew up his spot, huh? They seem a little upset at first but then Andrew starts yelling "That's information! That's information!" which is basically what I do after every late-night Wikipedia deep dive.
Post-Truth Booth, Kenya approaches Jasmine for saying she would pop off on her. I must have missed that part, but apparently it's a big issue. Kenya screams at Jasmine and then peaces out. Jasmine trying to calm herself down right now is me after anyone asks me to do a simple task at work. I ALREADY TOLD YOU TO ADD YOURSELF TO THE DISTRO LIST, LINDA!
Nutsa pulls Zak aside and asks him what he likes in a girl.
Zak: Looks don't really matter to me
Also Zak:
He also mentions he wants a woman that's loyal. So loyal like you were to Bria with Morgan and Nutsa and Samantha, like that kind of loyal? Nutsa eats it right up and says she thinks they could be a match.
Bria then comes in and pulls Zak away from this sweet conversation and legit pulls him into the boom boom room and jumps his bones. Oh so like this kind of loyal, Zak?
Nutsa then asks Samantha where Zak is.
Samantha: Yeah he's f*cking Bria in the boom boom room
Samantha! I want only good things for you! My kindred spirit.
Before Bria lets Zak leave the boom boom room, she squeezes his balls until he says she can trust him. I believe Zak about as much as I believe myself when I say I'll come out but just for one drink.
We have finally made it to the second match-up ceremony, and no one is dead yet! That's how I'm measuring success on this season. Who even cares if they get the million dollars this year? At this point if they all make it out alive I'm calling it a win.
Tonight is ladies choice! So many eligible bachelors, how will they ever decide?
Kenya picks Tevin
Terry remembers at this point America's favorite host Ryan Devlin would start stirring up shit. So he asks Tevin if he would prefer to be standing up there next to Jasmine. Tevin's mouth says he's "happy" but his eyes say "call the police."
Kayla picks Cam
Jasmine picks Lewis
Asia picks Brett
Nutsa picks Daniel because they have "cultural backgrounds together"
My number one girl Samantha picks Zak, and the mutiny begins.
Bria says Zak has been talking sh*t on all these girls that like him, and he even dared call Nutsa "ditzy."
Nutsa: I'm smart!
Also Nutsa:
Zak then calls Bria trash, which is funny because I was just thinking the same thing about him. Also can we get a rewind to about 5 minutes ago when he said she could trust him?
Sam still picks Zak, and I hope this is all some sort of elaborate John Tucker Must Die plot.
Sidenote: I do appreciate that Zak is playing the game. The whole point of Are You The One? is to get to know the other people to find your match. But Zak, you do not have to promise every girl you won't hook up with anyone else. No one has a gun to your head! Sorry. Only Bria has a gun to your head! Just be open and honest and let the ladies know you want to swap bodily fluids with everyone, mmkay?
Bria picks Mo and may God have mercy on his soul
Morgan picks Andrew and his brand new layer of skin
Cali picks Tomas
Lauren picks Kwasi
Maria picks Shamoy
They get three beams again! Terry is already scolding them because they didn't do better than last week. The gang heads back to the house to "get to know each other" and I head back to my dark place, attempting to come to terms with the state of the singles left in the world.
See you fools next week!
Marie From 'The Challenge' Has Some Choice Words For Cara Maria
Guys. I know I piss most of you off (hi, enemies in the comment section! I see you and I cry about you!) on a regular basis, but I never expected to be the subject of a Twitter rampage. When we posted my interview with Cara Maria ahead of The Challenge: Final Reckoning premiere two weeks ago, her partner Marie had A LOT to say about it.
You're dead to me @betchesluvthis A thread. https://t.co/xgWrbHwXfa
— Marie_TBD (@Marie_TBD) July 13, 2018
So I summoned up all my courage, prayed that there was no way to be murdered through the phone, and called up Marie for her side of the story. And you know what I learned? This girl is brutally honest, not afraid to laugh at herself, and definitely someone I would want to steal an entire box of pizza with. Or two boxes of pizza, whatever, I'm hungry! Check out her version of events here, and be sure to tune in to The Challenge: Final Reckoning tonight 9/8c on MTV.
Why don't we just dive right in—you obviously weren't too happy with what Cara said about you in our interview. So I just wanted to hear your side of the story. I know you mentioned a little of it in on Twitter.
Oh god, you guys actually saw that? Okay. I'm so extra. So basically I was reading through and I was like, "This mofo." So here's the thing about Cara. She's somebody that, listen, don't take this the wrong way, she has definitely grown up and glown up through her Challenge years. But when she started, she was no champion right off the bat. She had all these different issues to deal with and she was kind of the underdog. And I think that a lot of the cast, including myself obviously, get really upset when she tries to say that we're using her to get attention or storylines and all of that bullsh*t.
So when I was reading it and I saw that you guys mentioned "oh she's such a betch" and I was like, "this betch isn't a betch." You know? Betches are, we're like brutally honest, self-aware. Yeah I smoke a lot of cigarettes and drink a lot of alcohol, I don't go to the gym, you know? But with Cara, she's not self-aware. She doesn't realize that her reactions to other people are taken the wrong way. When I tweet or when I troll anybody in life, I'm doing it honestly. It's not like I'm thinking "this is gonna get me on a season with Cara as my partner." That's never my thought. So I was just so bothered by that. And I was just like, "that's so annoying and so typical Cara."
She did mention that you were campaigning to get her as your partner on Twitter. What did she mean? Was that true?
I assume that she means campaigning by like, tweeting at her. It's not like I made signs or anything. Listen. All this craziness started over something really, really stupid. But I'm petty, like most people, and it's annoying. Here's how it all started. We went on a season together, had no issues, thought we were totally fine. I get back from the season, everything's going fine, and the fans are really the ones that antagonize a lot of these situations. They'll be like "oh she said this," or "she said that," and you're not really looking for it but then when it's in your inbox, like alright, what now bitch?
So a fan had tweeted out "Why is Marie even invited to these things she should never come back" and she liked it. It was just so passive-aggressive and so typical Cara that I was like, "are you kidding me I didn't even know we had problems." And from there it just really escalated. But then she goes on to say all this other stuff, like on Vendettas her name kept coming out of my mouth. But, Cara, you've been doing these for how many seasons now? You should know that when we're sitting down and being interviewed they're building stories. So if they're asking me about Cara, I'm answering about Cara. Like, by all means, I would love to talk about something else! But it's what I'm being asked!
Right. They're going to stir you up.
Obviously. And my last two seasons I've looked like the biggest loser. Like, the biggest loser.
I was a big fan of the pizza incident last season, so I can't hate on that.
I didn't even steal the pizza box! That's the issue. I literally put it aside for my roommates like a normal girl would, because the guys were all scarfing it down. And I come back and Brad goes crazy Brad—I think he ate too much protein that day, I don't know—but he's freaking out. And I'm like okay and I actually ended up bringing the whole pizza box back to the kitchen because it's so weird that he's freaking out about this and the whole thing escalated. And then I'm someone that likes to poke at people until they kind of break. So if you're flipping out over a pizza box, that's kind of hilarious, are you kidding? So that's when I decided to bring the pizza down and throw it on him. But it was all with good intention (laughs).
I don't blame you. I didn't mean to get you off track, though.
Yeah, and then I get trapped in the basket the next episode but there's a whole other story behind that that they didn't show. Because, listen. At the end of the day, I really did not like Cara. And I know that when she gets to a final she's probably gonna win that final. So if it's a competition of me and Kailah going home, Kailah who is a very strong player, and me, I have my days sometimes. Ya know, I'm not gonna be able to beat Cara in a final. And when I'm very very close with someone like I was Kailah, it was kind of like, "look if I'm gonna send you home today I'm just going to be next anyway. And I'd rather give you this opportunity to really lock this down and shut her up for once." Unfortunately it didn't work, but that's where we are.
Cara did say some nice things about you in our interview. She said you're the team to watch and that things change a little bit over the season. Do you agree with that?
100%. But it's gonna take a while. A lot of the teams there, it's kind of like those fake rivalries. Like, "oh he threw me in." That's not a rivalry. Me and Cara genuinely didn't like each other. And it takes a lot of different situations to occur for us to actually start talking, but I mean eventually we sort of get there. If we stay there, I don't really know…
Were you worried throughout the game about Cara's preoccupation with Kyle?
Yeah, 100%. And I told her with the Paulie situation that was not gonna be a good look for her in the house and outside of the house. But with the Kyle situation—I mean, right away she tells Brad she wants Kyle out of the house. That's Brad's partner, probably not the best game play. Kyle's getting annoyed now. And then there's the Faith situation happening. So on top of everyone else not liking Cara in the house, now all of the people that might have been able to like Cara don't like Cara. So of all seasons for me to be paired with this monster competitor, like are you kidding me? I'm like, "everybody hates you!" This whole season is me trying to keep Cara cool. And also myself cool. Because, like, the second I get a little bit saucy I'm known to kinda ruin everything, for lack of a better word. So it was a mixture of keeping her cool and me also cool. Which was extremely hard.
Angela was screaming at people in last week's episode and they still seem to like her.
This is what I'm saying! Like HOW does she throw a temper tantrum—like when I throw a temper tantrum, I get put in a corner. Like, time out Marie. When she throws a temper tantrum, she has Johnny come downstairs and save her. I don't get it.
Is there any other gossip from this season you can spill to us? Is there anything that happens that we might not see on the show?
Oof. Well maybe we can do this again at the end, because I'm not sure how much I can give. But I will say lots of fans and stuff have been tweeting that they're upset that there hasn't been an elimination episode, and they have to understand that once we learn the format and all that other stuff, there's so much relationships involved. Relationships are huge in this challenge. With the format, with the voting. The first two episodes, I honestly thought they were hilarious. It's just building up. Because the stuff that happens this season you can't even write. I swear I really do believe it will be the best season ever. It will just take a second to warm up, because everyone has to understand these situations that are happening, but it's gonna blow up.
So you think once the season's over there's going to be more stuff that happened they're not gonna show?
Oh, 100%. There's so much stuff that happened day one that they didn't even show. Like, unless they want to make this season go on for the next year and a half you're definitely not going to see everything.
Is there anything else you want us to know? Now's your chance to talk off Twitter!
Okay, let's see. First and foremost, I'm not as bad as everyone thinks. If they actually watch the show, I do fare well in competitions. I just have a big mouth. You know how you always have that leader that like pushes people to do stuff? I'm that person and I've been that person behind the scenes and they haven't shown it. And I think this time with Cara as my partner everyone will be able to see a little bit more how I'm, for lack of a better word, a puppeteer for the drama.
Yeah I mean, I don't suck. Listen. I can't run for seven miles straight, I'm not there yet. But I'm a cute girl. And look people say the camera adds 10 pounds. I'm gonna say I hope it adds 35 because if I look like that in person I'm gonna be so upset.
But your Instagram does look good.
Well, there's FaceTune (laughs). But yeah I mean there's so many people that meet me that are like, "you're actually pretty in person." I'm like, "wonderful." When people give you those actually comments I'm like, interesting.
And that's all folks! You can catch more of the drama on tonight's episode of The Challenge: Final/Reckoning on Tuesdays at 9pm/8c only on MTV.
Images: @Marie_TBD/Twitter; Giphy; Courtesy of MTV (2)


April 04, 2018: I presented a talk on Robotics in Neurosurgery to a group of 15 freshman students. These students belonged to the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) gifted student program. The program provides talented Saudi high school graduates interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math with the guidance and support to successfully navigate an undergraduate degree at universities in the U.S.
My talk focused on robotics in surgery and the benefits of computer vision and extended reality for surgery. This talk helped introduce students to a field they were not familiar with, and I'm glad I could play a role in it. It was challenging and interesting to present technical work to students interested in STEM by just getting started in the field. The Q & A session was the most exciting part to me, which led to a great discussion about research in surgical robotics, safety and tech policy.


text:
FilmOn Buzz MOVIES SPORTS
7000 RPMs: It's Kung Fu vs Kung Flu with Jackie Chan's Ten Fingers of Death
Jan 21, 2014 7000 rpms, action, Asian film, jackie chan, kung fu, MMA, movies
I'm sick. I have ropes of snot spurting from my nose every few minutes. I shake like I just woke up in an ice cream freezer. I'm so weak I probably couldn't start a lawn mower. Worst of all, I can't even drink. Sure, my Grandpa Ray always swore by a glass of milk with a heavy dose of Old Crow Reserve as a cold cure, but he was apparently sick every day of his life and always out of milk so who knows if it works. And anyway, I'm a beer man and to me right now, it tastes like windshield wiper fluid and cat piss so I'm screwed.
The good news? Kung Fu. Even now, every time I get sick I remember the days my mom would let me stay home from school sick as a kid, laid up on the couch, and I would watch old kung fu movies from the '70s with my Uncle Frank. We watched for different reasons, but both got a lot out of it. For Uncle Frank, all the fighting usually stirred him up to where he had to go get all the cutting boards from the kitchen and punch them until his hands bled; for me, these things were practically medicine. Watching a kung fu movie when you're physically wrecked is like taking a long nap in a warm bath. So I set up the couch for a solid two-or-three-day visit, propped the laptop on a stack of Game Informers and cued up Ten Fingers of Death.
Not seven. Not nine. But all ten, asshole.
You might also like: Kung Fu: Miss Lydia is back with advice on how to manage your obsession
As a plus, this one's got Jackie Chan in it, and he starred in one of my absolute favorites: Snake in Eagle's Claw, I think it's called. He's so young in Ten Fingers that he looks like he's in middle school. Turns out it was his first real movie made in 1971 when he was 17. At that age I was masturbating to Britney Spears videos and making flamethrowers out of lighter fluid and discarded PVC piping, not doing backflips and memorizing complex fighting techniques. So I'm impressed.
This one starts strong, with the head bad guy Lu Chi doing all kinds of training in a stupid mustache, a lot of it blindfolded. At one point he kicks a hanging kettle to pieces and birds fly out of it. If I were a superhero, I would want my power to be that birds fly out of all the shit I break. Then we jump right into the action, because Lu is pissed that two of his henchmen refused to kill somebody on his order, so he tells them they have his permission to leave the organization… as long as they are dead. He then takes them on blindfolded and weaponless while they have swords and he kills one of the henchdudes with a conscience by stepping on the guy's stomach super hard. This is called the Leg of Doom. Before he dies, the henchman croaks, "My son, my son…" (This is important so stick that somewhere safe.) Something tells me we're gonna see how the Leg of Doom matches up against the Ten Fingers of Death before all this is over.
In case you don't know, this is what's called backstory. It's history that explains why the shit that's happening now is happening. Like for instance, the fact that my ex-wife Lacey never got a pony for Christmas is why she became a screaming bully with toilet issues and no sense of humor. So then we're in the present and some guy is training a bunch of kids in martial arts. He says we'll start with the basic steps and then does a routine that lasts twenty minutes and has about four hundred moves to remember. A young poor boy named Jackie is watching from a distance and is obsessed with trying to learn the fighting skills on his own despite the fact that his father says no way. Here I've got to take issue with the old man for any number of reasons, not least because his son is sucking on a pacifier even though he's like eight years old. If this kid doesn't learn how to fight, he's going to be feeding on whirlies and beatdowns for the rest of his natural born life.
You might also like: 7,000 RPMs: Medical Horror pic 'Beyond Remedy' prescribes scares, gore and Rick Yune of Fast and Furious
Rescue comes in the form of an old beggar who happens to know a shitload of Kung Fu. This same character is in every single one of these movies and I love it. Just the idea that anytime your parents tell you not to do something there's another guy around the corner who has all the time in the world to show you how to do it like a master is too awesome. Actually, my insane stepdad is the one who showed me the flamethrower trick, but you know what I'm saying. Mom won't get you a guitar? No problem. Kerry King's on vacation and he wants to show you a thing or two, kid. So then the old beggar says, "We'll start your lessons tonight in the woods. It shall be a secret between us." And I start feeling uncomfortable because it's starting to sound like an after-school special I saw once about stranger danger. Then it's nighttime, they're in the woods and the old beggar starts off the lesson by telling the kid he has to take off all his clothes and get into a burlap sack that has "magic" in it.
Jesus.
Listen to me. I had a girlfriend named Chelsey not long ago and one night we're laying around looking for a movie to watch. I'm trying to be strategic by letting her pick and she puts on something called Happiness because she likes movies that make her feel good. OK so far, except the movie is actually about a pedophile and a bunch of other degenerates destroying everyone they meet. When we turned it off two thirds done it was already too late. Chelsey and I broke up ten days later because we could barely look each other in the eyes anymore. Total shame. I liked her too. Even her elbows were soft. And I still haven't eaten a tuna sandwich since. My point being that right now, my Ten Fingers of Health are hovering over the Escape key.
You might also like: 7,000 RPMs: Our new "Aktion" film columnist kicks off weekly series with Elysium
Turns out it's only snakes in the sack and the beggar says they're to help the kid control his fears. Next, he makes Jackie hold an egg between his knees that he can't break, he lights a fire under him and makes him try to catch a chicken leg in his mouth without using his hands. "What you must learn is to endure. That is our goal." Well, I can't argue with that. I give that speech to my colon every time I sit down at Taco Bell. Then the movie fades out and the kid's now grown-up Jackie Chan. People who only know him from the Rush Hour movies have no idea how talented JC is. He is capable of insane stunts and he's super funny at the same time. Even more so than Wee Man. And note the initials, yeah?
Basically, the next hour of the movie is various henchmen and thugs stirring up trouble and Jackie reluctantly turning them into chow mein. All the while, he has his dad punishing him for scrapping and the old beggar popping up all the time to scream "Fight!" At one point, Jackie's pops forces him to shove his hands into broken glass and he starts letting himself get pulverized by the henchmen without fighting back. The beggar is disgusted and starts beating Jackie around and telling him to ignore his dad. "You are a fighter! And you will fight! You must. It's in your blood now, Jackie." And at this point I'm starting to confuse Ten Fingers of Death with home movies of my stepdad shouting at me during Little League tryouts. The beggar finally just heals Jackie's hands by turning them into the Ten Fingers of Death.
The Syndicate keeps harassing everybody in town and Jackie can't go anywhere without somebody wanting to hurt him. The bad guys start breaking out more fight styles, which I'll call the Epileptic Swan, the Drunk Popeye and the Asian Hulk. It's feeling more like Three Stooges movies for a while than serious Kung Fu. Then no joke, the beggar cuts in on one fight and farts on a bad guy's face. I haven't seen that move since my older brother Dan used it as my alarm clock every morning of tenth grade.
You might also like: An MMA holiday feast: What three UFC fighters ate for Christmas
But then the truth is revealed: Jackie's dad isn't his real dad and all these douchebags looking to throw down with Jackie work for Lu Chi, the guy who killed Jackie's real dad at the beginning. His stepdad didn't want him to fight all this time so he could protect him from Lu Chi. There's some similarities here with my own life only my real dad wasn't killed by the Leg of Doom, he was seduced by the Slutty Blonde of the '88 Classic Car Show. So Lu Chi, who is now an old man, finally steps out of the shadows and challenges Jackie to a fight. But only once Jackie's rested up. On the one hand, this is such a stupid move I can barely comprehend it. On the other, I kind of admire the guy for not pouncing on Jackie when he's already exhausted. Still, what the fuck is Lu Chi thinking? In any case, the whole resting thing is bullshit anyway because the old beggar uses that time to push Jackie through more insane training, including with no kidding, a trident, and I'm exhausted just watching the whole spectacle. The final showdown does finally take place, but I'm not going to tell you how it plays out. Suffice it to say some crazy Legs, Fingers, Arms, Balls, Heads and Feet of Doom/Death all get in on the action.
Ten Fingers of Death was everything I needed it to be. It didn't show me anything new but what I got was definitely enough. You should know that it's dubbed into English and a few sections of film have been nearly worn through. But it's a perfect example of what makes kung fu movies so great. They make it seem like even as a kid you can learn amazing cool feats just by doing bizarre exercises that make sense only to the person laying them out. That kind of thinking almost makes all the pointless crap from high school seem worth something. And these films show how useless movies like The Matrix are when you're a bunch of kids looking for something to do on a dead Saturday afternoon. How could I relate to Neo and Morpheus? It may as well be a foreign film. When I was 12, I couldn't exactly play fight club with my friends inside a computer or on a rooftop in the city or whatever, but these guys in the kung fu films always looked like they were smacking each other around in somebody's overgrown backyard. That we had. So the only other thing we needed was the ten fingers.
7,000 RPMs is the weekly movie column of Randall P. Manville ("RPM"), an entrepreneur, bike enthusiast and freelance writer in New Castle, Delaware.
Watch all the Kung Fu you can stand on Kung Fu Classics on FilmOn:
Follow TV Mix on Twitter: @tvmixusa
Contact TV Mix: editors@tvmix.com
Bill Murray's Reddit AMA reveals he's even cooler than we already thought
Americans and Sherlock: The Pre-Watch Guilt
Alki David Calls On Congressman Steve Scalise To Hold Emergency Whistle Blower Hearings on the FBI and The Girardi State Bar Syndicate.
Nov 29, 2022 Max Schiffon

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


 News & Events | Nothart Engineered Sales Ltd.
Nothart carries an extensive range of actuators, valves, and automation controls to service a variety of applications. Please download a product catalog from one of the brands below or feel free to call or email us to discuss your current needs.
A-T Controls Inc. is engaged in the manufacture and sale of Actuation Systems for Valves and Dampers including Pneumatic Actuators, Electric Actuators, and Electro-Hydraulic Actuators as well as Manual Ball Valves and Automated Ball Valve Packages to control industrial valves..
Sure Flow was manufactures a wide range of valves including Check Valves, Butterfly Valves, Ball Valves and Knife Gate Valves.
QUALITY ENGINEERED THERMOPLASTIC VALVES + CONTROLS FOR CHEMICAL, WATER/WASTEWATER, & ULTRA-PURE LIQUIDS.


This checklist has been released to assist agencies involved in implementing Machinery of Government (MOG) changes. It has been developed by the Public Sector Commission (Commission) in consultation with the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC), the Department of Treasury (Treasury) and the State Records Office (SRO), together with the input of agencies.
The tasks listed in the checklist now apply, following the Premier's announcement that the government has determined that a MOG structural change will be undertaken. It focuses on the short-term actions necessary to give effect to the changes and does not cover more operational obligations placed on a new agency, such as to establish new policies or develop a code of conduct.
The types and scale of MOG changes varies and each is likely to require different actions for proper completion. The checklist is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all tasks that may be associated with a MOG change, nor will every item listed be relevant to every change. Instead, it highlights some common issues for consideration, which can be used as a starting point when consulting with central agencies to identify the actions that need to be undertaken. Relevant agencies to contact for further information or assistance are also identified.
Establish an internal MOG steering committee, with external representation if necessary, in consultation with the Commission.
Review the Cabinet decision from which the MOG change initiates and ensure all relevant issues are identified.
Determine any requirements for confidentiality. Usually, until a media statement is made, the MOG changes remain confidential.
Identify key actions, deliverables and completion dates, and allocate responsibilities.
Prepare a comprehensive list of the agency's functions and programs, administered legislation, assets and liabilities, accommodation arrangements and contracts, as well as staff numbers, positions, pay and conditions, to form the basis for change process decision making.
Identify any material risks (internal and external) to the transition process and take appropriate steps to manage them.
Where relevant, identify the roles and relationships currently existing between the affected agency(ies) and the responsible minister(s), and how these will change.
Develop a communications plan to ensure adequate consultation and communication occurs with the minister(s), senior management, staff and other relevant stakeholders. Identify key messages to be delivered, associated responsibilities and dates.
Develop supplementary information resources, such as a website and/or frequently asked questions (FAQ) to update and assist staff with the change process, and nominate agency points of contact to provide affected employees with further information where necessary.
Advise the State Solicitor's Office (SSO) of the MOG change and seek advice on any relevant legislative issues.
Determine which legislation, or parts of legislation, are to be administered by the affected agency(ies) and identify the responsible minister. Review legislation to determine if there are any impediments to the proposed allocation of statutes.
Prepare the Executive Council submission for the legislation to be allocated to the relevant minister(s).
Consider whether instruments are needed under the Alteration of Statutory Designations Act 1974 to transition titles of relevant agencies or positions.
Where a new agency is being created, determine whether any existing authorities to carry out commercial operations need to be established under the State Trading Concerns Act 1916.
Identify existing statutory appointments and delegations and determine any impact from the change.
Determine if there are any governance documents, (such as memorandums of understanding (MOUs)), heads of agreements or ministerial directions that require review as a result of the MOG change.
Consider whether there are any matters relevant to the MOG changes required by legislation to be published in the Government Gazette, noting that the gazettal of MOG changes required by section 35(2) of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 will be arranged by the Commission.
Develop and establish a MOU on the amount of appropriation and unspent cash balances to be transferred. Take into consideration any relevant budget items from other sources and any additional funds that have been approved by the EERC.
Establish how any new agency will access corporate services. This may include the preparation of a service delivery agreement (SDA) between the agency and the provider of corporate services. Identify any associated budgetary impacts.
Prepare a register of all transferring assets and liabilities, contracts and funding arrangements and liaise with Treasury to affect their movement.
Prepare a MOU agreeing on how issues such as costs, payment of invoices and recovery of moneys will be undertaken between the agencies.
Determine the accountable authority and liaise with Treasury to identify their obligations under the Financial Management Act 2006.
Arrange to report on functions in financial statements for the relevant periods and include notes in financial statements about the restructure and partial reporting of a function. Consider recasting the financials for budget and annual reporting purposes. If an agency is to be abolished, make arrangements for appropriate final reports to be prepared.
Arrange relevant accounts to be established, closed, or renamed and signatories to be changed. Obtain, update or cancel as appropriate ABN and GST registrations. Ensure that bank accounts have sufficient funds for the new agency's first pay cycle as well as any other significant expenses.
Clarify responsibilities for reporting issues such as annual report, taxation and GST reporting. Arrange for revisions to accounting and financial reporting systems as appropriate.
Implement an Outcome Based Management (OBM) structure or revise the existing OBM structure as appropriate. Ensure financial management and recording systems can cater for the new OBM structure.
Liaise with Treasury for cash flow draw-downs, funding for staff transfers, new funding, and separate budget authorised appropriation as stipulated under the Financial Management Act. Also liaise with Treasury in regards to adjustment to out-year estimates, resource agreements, OBM structure, key performance indicators, Separate Division within the Budget estimates.
Create as appropriate divisional and branch cost centres, including chart of account for payment of invoices. Authorise officers to incur expenses and certifying officers for each cost centre. Arrange new purchasing credit cards for relevant staff of the new agency.
Contact RiskCover to discuss whether a review of the risk profile and adjustment of premiums needs to be considered.
Prepare a human resource plan to include information on employer and employee responsibilities, the process for filling positions, redeployment/retraining and available support. Ensure all affected staff are notified of relevant changes in accordance with applicable industrial and agency requirements.
Determine how many and which public service offices and officers currently within an agency are to be moved to the new agency. Liaise with the Commission and Labour Relations to determine the appropriate mode of transfer, which may include transfer under section 65 of the PSM Act or disposition under section 22B of the PSM Act. Ensure officers on extended leave or secondment are included. Identify if there are any other officers not part of the current agency that should be moved to the new agency.
Consider and develop the desired executive structure for the new agency and identify which Senior Executive Service officers are to be transitioned into the new structure.
Note that the Commission will manage the process for the appointment or transfer of a CEO or chief employee for the relevant agency(ies).
If there are any officers not employed under the Public Sector Management Act 1994, consult with the Commission and Labour Relations to determine relevant processes to achieve movement of these staff.
If there are any redeployees in the existing agency, consultation should be undertaken with the Commission to determine appropriate management processes.
Identify any staff subject to workers compensation claims, disciplinary or substandard performance processes, grievances or occupational health and safety issues. Address if and how those matters will move from one agency to another.
Identify any incomplete recruitment actions relating to positions that will be moved and take appropriate action.
Determine if there are any superannuation issues to be addressed, and liaise with Treasury and GESB.
Identify if there are any changes to industrial entitlements for employees moved as a result of the MOG change. These matters should be discussed with Labour Relations and the Commission early in the process, before any verbal or written undertakings are given.
Provide advice regarding the restructure to applicable unions or professional bodies.
Determine impacts on key applications, such as payroll, recruitment, accounting, records and document management.
Identify current contracts for hardware, software and services, and determine the effects of the MOG changes. Advise vendors as appropriate. Review hardware and software licences and determine any implications.
Prepare a new website. Contact the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer for approval for a new domain name. Update the existing website with relevant redirection links and revise the intranet.
Ensure successful migration and site back-up procedures are implemented for relevant websites and databases prior to the MOG changes.
Establish new logons and email addresses.
Liaise with the Finance/Accounts section to identify all the ICT assets to be transferred. Identify equipment to be relocated, make appropriate arrangements, including transportation and cabling at the new site.
Upload personnel data from the current to new HR and payroll systems, including personnel/payroll and recruitment.
Transfer systems, applications, databases, emails and personal files. Migrate existing agency systems to those in use by the new organisation as appropriate.
Address requirements for disaster recovery and business continuity.
Identify the telephone and related services required in the new agency.
Evaluate location options for the new agency and determine the cost of each option.
Determine if there any funds provided for accommodation, including records storage costs.
Determine if existing furniture and equipment will be retained and the associated costs. Make relevant arrangements such as packing and removal services, IT involvement etc.
Make arrangements for any transferring employees to return agency items in their possession (e.g. laptops, mobile phones, security passes, credit cards) consistent with normal exit procedures.
Prepare new letterheads, with compliment slips, envelopes and business cards, in accordance with State Government Badge Style Guide.
Advise the Director of State Records of the MOG change and seek advice specific to the custody, ownership and migration of records.
Identify and list records, both paper and electronic, and determine any allocation of these records between the existing and new agency. Identify custody and ownership issues relating to both sets of records.
Ensure appropriate disposal exercises are undertaken with reference to approved recordkeeping plans. Develop or revise recordkeeping plans as appropriate.
Address security and access to electronic and paper based records in the new agency. Determine access arrangements to records needed by both agencies.
Provide copies of computer systems and/or storage media used to create and manage current and inactive electronic records of the agency being transferred.
Check that all the relevant records have been received. Update record systems to reflect the movement of records.
Advise the organisation/s storing the inactive and archived records of the new arrangements.
Identify arrangements for splitting accounts for records storage and maintenance charges.
Make arrangements for archiving web sites.


text:
PANTONE news and archive
Kate Spade celebrates 30th anniversary with Pantone collaboration
Kate Spade New York has unveiled its own colour 'Kate Spade Green' in collaboration with Pantone, the global authority on colour. The newly minted green hue, developed by Pantone, pays homage to Kate Spade's heritage as the brand celebrates its 30th anniversary and will be integrated across consumer touchpoints starting in spring 2023, including...
Spotted on the catwalk: Viva Magenta, color of the year 2023
The eye-catching red-pink colour Viva Magenta has been named by colour authority Pantone as the colour of the year 2023 "It is a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an exciting and boundless hue that manifests itself as a striking statement. Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta...
Pantone reveals Colour of the Year: Viva Magenta
Global colour authority Pantone has revealed its colour of the year for 2023 to be Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta, a new shade of animated red that is inclusive in nature: "Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a color that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all,...
Spotted on the catwalk: Pantone's spring/summer 2023 fashion colours
For each fashion season, global authority on colour Pantone selects a range of colours that it predicts will be seen within runway collections and it believes defines the current climate of the industry. While the colours in its central palette for the SS23 season aimed to encourage experimentation and individualistic expression, Pantone's New...
Valentino launches capsule "everyday objects" collection with Pantone
Italian fashion house Valentino has launched an "everyday objects" capsule collection with the Pantone Colour Institute, the definitive authority on all-things colour, highlighting its exclusive Pink PP hue. The pink colour, conceived for Valentino's Pink PP autumn/winter 2022 collection, has become the label's signature hue and has been...
Pantone unveils "vibrant" colour palette for LFW SS23
Pantone, the global authority on colour, has stated that designers for London Fashion Week spring/summer 2023 will use a colour palette that blends "our need for high-spirited energy and dynamic vibrancy with colours that comfort and provide a calm space". The colour trend report reveals that LFW SS23 colours "chart a new path forward," with...
Pantone reveals SS23 colour trend report for New York Fashion Week
Global authority on colour Pantone has revealed its Fashion Colour Trend Report for the spring/summer 2023 edition of New York Fashion Week. The report has been published by trend forecaster Pantone Color Institute and features the organisation's top ten colours for the season, as well as five new classics that can be expected from designers'...
Pantone partners with Spatial Labs on wearable metaverse technology
Colour authority company Pantone has revealed a new partnership with Spatial Labs (sLABS) with the launch of a wearable hardware product that looks to standardise colours in the metaverse. Coined by sLABS as 'the wearable internet' and entitled LNQ, the device hopes to enhance user experience in Web3. Founded by Iddris Sandu, the technology has...
Business |Interview Featured
The future of colour analysis in the metaverse, in conversation with a Pantone colour specialist
There is no denying that the rise of the metaverse has had an important impact on the fashion industry throughout the start of this year, whether it be big name designers releasing digital collections or the launch of the long-awaited Metaverse Fashion Week (MVFW), which took place in March. Despite the continued move into the virtual sphere,...
Pantone's FW22 fashion color trends as seen on the runway
Every season, The Pantone Color Institute, Pantone's trend forecasting and color consultancy, releases its 'Fashion Color Trend Report'. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute stated that AW22 colors "contrast our competing desires for calm and comfort with energy boosting vitality, through a range of restful and...
Pantone drops first NFTs inspired by colour of the year 2022
Colour authority Pantone has teamed up with digital artist Polygon1993 for the launch of its first non-fungible token (NFT) collection inspired by its Colour of the Year 2022, Very Peri. Nine NFT artworks by the Parisian artist will be up for grabs in a giveaway held by the colour-led organisation, through the eco-friendly blockchain Tezos. Five...
Valentino showcases new Pantone pink shade at PFW
Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli turned Le Carreau du Temple into a pinkscape during Paris Fashion Week to present an autumn/winter 2022 collection almost entirely in pink. This wasn't just any shade of pink, this was Valentino 'Pink PP' a bright magenta hue created by Piccioli in collaboration with Pantone. The pink-out was...


Courtney Benson is originally from Ponca City, Oklahoma. Courtney attended Northern Oklahoma College in Tonkawa where she received her Associate in Business Administration. After graduation from NOC she went to the University of Oklahoma where she received her bachelor's degree in multidisciplinary studies.
Courtney feels blessed to be able to work alongside such wonderful people at Polston that help make a difference in people's lives! She's eager to learn more and to be part of a team that cares so much about other people.
In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, watching OU football, and spending time with family and friends.


text:
You are here: Home1 / Walking Path
Memorial Gardens Park – Walking Path
January 5, 2017 /in Walking Path /by wpmaster
1625 Fort Henry Drive
Memorial Gardens Park is a 5.5 acre community park located in front of Dobyns Bennett High School and J.Fred Johnson Stadium.
A perimeter paved walking path that connects to sidewalks. Picnic tables, a lighted flag pole, a memorial monument dedicated to public safety services, water filtration educational signage, and outdoor restrooms are also available at the park.
Memorial Gardens Park is open dawn to dark, except when scheduled for events.
For more information and reservations contact 423-229-9457.
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2017-01-05 13:05:282017-01-05 13:05:28Memorial Gardens Park – Walking Path
Lynn View Community Center – Walking Path
257 Walker Street
Adjacent to Lynn View Community Center is a neighborhood park with many recreation elements.
A 1,180 ft. paved 12' wide running track with three lanes. The track has lighting for after-hours walking. 2 baseball/softball fields, a children's play structure, a multi-purpose community center, a regulation size football field, multi-purpose open green space and water fountains are also available at the park.
Lynn View Park is open dawn to dark, except when scheduled for events.
For more information contact 423-224-2428.
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2017-01-05 13:04:112017-01-05 13:04:11Lynn View Community Center – Walking Path
Kingsport City Schools – Walking Trails
Kingsport City Schools have asphalt tracks at Robinson Middle School and Sevier Middle School.
Dobyns Bennett High School has a rubber coated track.
Several of the elementary schools have walking paths.
For more information contact Jim Nash 423-378-2169 or jnash@k12k.com.
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2017-01-05 13:03:002017-01-05 13:03:00Kingsport City Schools – Walking Trails
Heritage Trail – Walking Path
The Downtown Kingsport area represents a rich history, marking the beginning of Kingsport as it is known today. John Nolen, renowned town planner, designed Downtown Kingsport and its surroundings in the early 20th century. Downtown was the hub of activity for industries with residential areas strategically placed around it. Nolen called it his greatest accomplishment. The Downtown Heritage Trail is located in the Historic Train Station and Downtown Broad Street Districts and highlights much of the John Nolen plan. The trail has 25 points of interest, marked with signage and covers approximately 2 miles in distance. The beginning of the trail is where the former Gem Theater stood on Broad Street and the last stop is the former Keener building on Shelby Street.
For more information visit: http://downtownkingsport.org/heritage-trail/
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2017-01-05 13:01:502017-01-05 13:01:50Heritage Trail – Walking Path
Domtar Park – Walking Path
1414 Riverport Road
Domtar Park is a multi-purpose community park located on Long Island of the Holston River. Long Island has historic significance as a site where peaceful Indian gatherings were held. The Cherokee Nation owns property on Long Island, which is commemorated by a stone marker.
A 3,315" paved loop, 9' wide walking path, as well as, dirt walking trails on the West end of the Island. 2 – 13′ x 17′ climate controlled meeting rooms, 8 baseball/softball fields, an 11′ x 18′ boat access ramp, full service concessions (operated by Kingsport Parks and Recreation), a large children's playground, 2 lighted flagpoles, lighted parking lots, picnic tables with umbrellas, ornamental landscaping, restrooms and a sand volleyball court are also available at the park.
Domtar Park is open dawn to dark, except when scheduled for events and is a tobacco-free facility.
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2017-01-05 13:01:002017-01-05 13:01:00Domtar Park – Walking Path
Boatyard Riverfront Park – Walking Path
2201 Netherland Inn Road
Boatyard Riverfront Park is a 19 acre community park located adjacent to the South fork of the Holston River.
Access to 1.5 miles of the Kingsport Greenbelt. Barbecue grills, bicycle racks, 2 boat ramps, a children's playground, fishing piers, a flatboat replica, historic markers, park benches, two 42′ x 26′ picnic shelters with picnic tables, picnic tables, public restrooms and/or port-o-lets (off season), a swinging bridge connecting to Long Island, and water fountains are also available at the park.
Boatyard Riverfront Park is open dawn to dark, except when scheduled for events.
Fishing is allowed until 10:30 p.m. Fishing license is required.
For more information contact 423-229-9457. For shelter reservations contact 423-224-2489.
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2017-01-05 12:59:482017-01-05 12:59:48Boatyard Riverfront Park – Walking Path
Rotary Park – Walking Path
April 18, 2016 /in Walking Path /by wpmaster
205 East Sevier Street
Rotary Park is a 1.3 acre neighborhood park located adjacent to a senior housing facility with many recreation components.
An 8 ft wide, 809 sq. ft. linear foot loop asphalt trail. A barbecue grill, open green space, park benches, a 24′ x 24′ picnic shelter and picnic tables are also available at the park.
Rotary Park is open dawn to dark, except when scheduled for events.
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2016-04-18 15:14:102016-04-18 15:14:10Rotary Park – Walking Path
Ridgefields Park – Walking Path
601 Chippendale Road
Ridgefields Park is a 6 acre neighborhood park with many recreation components.
A 10 ft. wide 1,238 linear foot asphalt trail circling the park. The trail is available for walking and/or moderate cycling. Park patrons should be courteous of each other to allow multiple use of the trail. A sidewalk network connects the park trail to the Kingsport Greenbelt. An asphalt basketball court, a children's playground, a lighted flagpole, open green space with soccer goals, park benches, picnic tables and a water fountain are also available at the park.
Ridgefields Park is open dawn to dark, except when scheduled for events.
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2016-04-18 15:13:462016-04-18 15:13:46Ridgefields Park – Walking Path
Kingsport Greenbelt – Walking Path
The features include:
A 10 mile paved and/or concrete walking trail with access points to neighborhoods, shopping centers, schools and other parks. The trail has distance markers every .2 miles and one emergency call station. Water fountains/refill stations, restrooms and/or port-o-lets, park benches, picnic shelters, fishing piers, boat ramps, a children's playground, lighting in designated areas, bluebird boxes, information signage, one piece of outdoor fitness equipment, bicycle racks, a bicycle repair station and bicycle air pump are also available along the trail.
The Kingsport Greenbelt is open dawn to dark.
For more information contact 423-229-9457. For maps and details, visit www.kingsportgreenbelt.com
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2016-04-18 15:00:572016-04-18 15:00:57Kingsport Greenbelt – Walking Path
Edinburgh Park – Walking Path
2780 Edinburgh Channel Road
Edinburgh Park is a 4.5 acres neighborhood park.
An unpaved 4,713′ walking path connecting to sidewalks. Two ponds (stocked with fish), ornamental landscaping, decorative lighting and park benches are also available at the park. Fishing license is required.
Edinburgh Park is open dawn to dark, except when scheduled for events.
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2016-04-18 15:00:392016-04-18 15:00:39Edinburgh Park – Walking Path
Eastman Park at Horse Creek – Walking Path
2969 Sullivan Garden Parkway
Eastman Park at Horse Creek is a 35 acre community park with many recreation components.
A 6,334′ linear, 9′ foot paved walking trail. 6 soccer fields with bermuda grass and goals, bleacher seating, a covered breezeway, concessions, a main building with bathrooms, meeting space, ornamental landscaping, an outdoor restroom facility, a lighted parking lot, picnic tables and a water fountain/refill station are also available at the park.
***NO PETS ARE ALLOWED INSIDE THE PARK!***
Eastman Park at Horse Creek is open when scheduled for events. For more information about field reservations contact 423-229-9458.
Tri-Cities United operates soccer programs at the park. For more information about leagues, please contact 423-408-8144 or recdir@kingsportsoccer.org. You may also visit their website at: https://www.kingsportsoccer.org
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2016-04-18 15:00:212016-04-18 15:00:21Eastman Park at Horse Creek – Walking Path
Borden Park – Walking Path
901 Lamont Street
Borden Park is a 17 acre neighborhood park with many recreation components.
A 4′ wide asphalt walking trail that crosses through the park. An arboretum, asphalt basketball court, barbecue grills, two children's playground areas, a community building, an 18-hole disc golf course, 6 lighted tennis courts, outdoor restrooms and/or port-o-lets, park benches and 6 picnic shelters are also available at the park.
Borden Park is open daily dawn to dark, except when scheduled for events.
/wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png 0 0 wpmaster /wp-content/uploads/parklogo.png wpmaster2016-04-18 14:59:392016-04-18 14:59:39Borden Park – Walking Path


By caring for the sick and injured, Neanderthals were able to expand into more dangerous environments and pursue more deadly prey. Christopher Intagliata reports.
Healthcare isn't just a benefit of the modern human age. It goes way back. All the way, even, to the Neanderthals.
And they most likely needed them. Because remains of Neanderthals show that most individuals seem to have suffered a serious injury at least once. The key detail being that those injuries didn't always kill them.
Spikins and her team catalogued more than 30 cases of Neanderthals who'd been injured but didn't die of their wounds, to investigate the pattern of healthcare in pre-modern humans. And they concluded that healthcare may have been key to their colonizing extreme environments, and pursuing dangerous prey, like mammoths and woolly rhinos.
And the results are one more reminder that Neanderthals shared many of the qualities we think of as human. Except, of course, that they never made it out of the Pleistocene.


text:
Author: STEPHEN E. AMBROSE
Title: D-Day. June 6, 1944. The Battle For the Normandy Beaches, The Climatic Battle of World War II
Description: London England, Pocket Books, 2013. First Edition, Binding: Cloth, Fine/Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" Tall Octavo 9781471130472 Hardback Hardback. D-Day. On the basis of 1,400 oral histories from the men who were there, bestselling author and World War II historian Stephen E. Ambrose reveals for the first time anywhere that the intricate plan for the invasion of France in June 1944 had to be abandoned before the first shot was fired. The true story of D-Day, as Ambrose relates it, is about the citizen soldiers - junior officers and enlisted men - taking the initiative to act on their own to break through Hitler's Atlantic Wall when they realised that nothing was as they had been told it would be. This book is the brilliant, no holds barred, telling of the battles of Omaha and Utah beaches. Ambrose relieves the epic victory of democracy on the most important day of the twentieth century. Illustrated. 655 pp.
Keywords: Non Fiction Military History D-Day June 6 1944 Climactic Battle Normandy Beaches World War II 9781471130472
See more books from our catalog: Military History and War


Imagic (Enquiry Management System), Managing your service business with Miracle Service can help you dramatically increase productivity and efficiency. It is designed to give small and medium sized companies the same high-powered features that bigger ones enjoy, but at a fraction of the price.
The service management and the maintenance of history thus possible will improve the sales process of course. Additionally, it can help in incentives calculations. Customer relationships can improve too. Follow ups are always possible at correct and agreed times. You can attach relevant documents such as quotations, tender, excel sheets, documents for follow up etc. This way when you go looking at history, you do not need to go hunting to other documents all over your hard disk. Exporting data for mail merge is possible. That reduces a lot of burden for direct mailings. Data is backed up and restored regularly.
Know where you are making money, by analyzing your service personnel performance, chargeable vs. non-chargeable jobs, work in progress, accounts receivable, etc.
Reduce the risk of key people by using automated knowledge management. Keep the valuable tacit knowledge in your organization, and not just in the heads of your service personnel.
Complete trailing of follow ups and deals with enquiries.
Capture new sales leads uncovered by your service personnel and feed them quickly to your sales force.
Any time review of the enquiry.
This software manage Customer Inquiry / Quotation / factory work order.
Follow up client as scheduled.
Reminder Popup automatically next schedule to contact.
After Register Complain send auto SMS to client same as after finished complain send SMS.


In at this time's complicated and competitive world of knowledge and expertise, the challenges facing us on a world level (healthcare, cybersecurity, setting, pure and man-made disasters) have created a new want for companies and organizations to combine technical and enterprise abilities for understanding and creating sustainable options for these issues. Many candidates research Engineering administration Masters On-line to develop their profession growth. Our specialty areas present in-depth abilities in areas reminiscent of leadership, mission management, commercialization, high quality sciences and analysis methods. The Masters Diploma in Electronic Engineering gives tuition and practice in state-of-the-art expertise areas reminiscent of wireless communications, nanotechnology, mixed-signal IC design.
However these applications are sometimes tailored to handle the particular challenges of technology focused organizations. This course teaches students to use lean thinking, lean ideas, and lean methods in manufacturing and service programs.Students be taught primary methods of the lean production, such as value-stream mapping, 5(6)-S, continuous circulation, Kanban, SMED, A3, and continuous enchancment.Group discussions and projects enable students to use lean strategies of their working environments.
Over the years it has grown to be the state's flagship college, providing over 80 undergraduate and over 30 graduate degrees to greater than 11,500 students yearly. Admission to graduate standing in The Samueli Faculty of Engineering is generally accorded to those possessing at the very least a B.S. diploma in engineering or an allied subject obtained with a suitable level of scholarship from an institution of acknowledged standing.
An undergraduate diploma in engineering is most well-liked.
Put together yourself for right this moment's aggressive, global, and technical surroundings with engineering management rules. Having procured sturdy business skills and enhanced expertise and engineering methods, CU Boulder graduates are pillars of success. Universities and faculties both conventional and online offer masters in engineering management packages for graduate and undergraduate diploma college students. This master diploma closely aligns learning to skilled observe. For the Master of Business & Science (MBS) diploma, students take eight programs (24 credit) in the sciences and 19 credit in enterprise.
The Duke Master of Engineering Administration is a tech-savvy alternative to the MBA. By means of five completely different tutorial schools, RMU gives over 60 undergraduate and 20 graduate levels to over 5,300 students every year. But for those engineers that want to increase their technical skills with the type of administration instruments that open up new career horizons, it may be a wrestle to resolve whether to pursue an MBA or a Grasp's in Engineering Administration (MEM).
College students are also given the option of finishing their program with a specialization in Cost Engineering. The degree Masters in Engineering Administration (EM704) is a coursework program and it was launched in 2006. In addition, the course presents college students the chance to acquire information in complimentary topic areas within Civil Engineering. 3. Engineering Integration Manager: This is one other place that can be found in most protection contracting facilities, but it's also an vital function for large development tasks or for advanced engineering situations associated with methods redesign.
Drexel created the first graduate Engineering Management program in the US, and we've a proud historical past and fame. Offered by the Faculty of Engineering in partnership with the Odette College of Enterprise, the MEM program prepares engineers for management roles. These applications embody specialized engineering focus, with complementary modules in enterprise and management research. We could use extra analytics courses in industrial and systems engineering but we are engaged on that one.
Semester one modules are taken by all students to develop a agency base of basic knowledge and techniques for further specialised management examine.


text:
Devan Shah
Hannah Bauman
Pioneering specialty tea distributor Devan Shah, CEO of International Tea Importers (ITI), passed away unexpectedly on April 3, 2016. Shah greatly influenced and strengthened the fledgling specialty tea (Camellia sinensis, Theaceae) industry in the United States, and it is now a multi-billion-dollar industry. The US is currently the third largest tea importer in the world behind Russia and Pakistan. Shah's visionary thinking and tireless efforts grew from his early interest in the Indian tea industry, and, through ITI, he sought to support the world's tea market with education and empowerment.
Shah was born in Mumbai, India, and grew up in the southern city of Coimbatore. The youngest of six children, he spent his early summers on his brother-in-law's tea plantation in Coonoor, in the Nilgiri mountains in India's southern state of Tamil Nadu. This exposure to the tea business would influence the trajectory of his career: After earning a degree in business, he became an assistant to a tea broker before immigrating to the United States in 1989.
"None of us in the world of tea would be where we are were it not for Devan," said James Norwood Pratt, Shah's longtime "tea brother" and author of The Ultimate Tea Lover's Treasury, which was published by Shah in 2011. "When he arrived in this country [the US], the tea trade was not just sleepy. It was comatose. … Nobody in America, me included, knew anything whatsoever about south Indian tea."
Recognizing an opportunity, Shah quit his job at an electronics company and founded India Tea Importers in 1990. The small enterprise began with six chests of tea, stored in his father-in-law's garage, and grew slowly under his leadership. Along with his wife Reena, he acquired a tea room in California in 1994, determined to sell his high-quality product to the trendsetters and tastemakers in Beverly Hills.
"Meanwhile, I was far from the only person Devan was educating about tea," said Pratt. "Right from the outset, … Devan Shah played a decisive role in developing [the US's] tastes in tea." According to Pratt, Shah was responsible for the popularity of chai tea in the US, which was relatively unknown before then. Using black tea from India, Shah worked with tea blenders in Oregon to create a ready-to-drink version of chai.
Since its introduction state-side, chai tea has truly been embraced by Americans, turning it from a little-known regional Indian blend of tea and spices into a cultural juggernaut and household staple. According to the HerbalGram tea market report for 2014, sales of bagged chai tea in the US rose 15% from 2013, while sales of loose chai tea blends increased by almost 20%.1 Shah's vision for the US tea market had taken off with a success that exceeded all expectations.
In 2002, India Tea Importers was renamed International Tea Importers to better reflect the global nature of the market and the addition of teas from China and other regions. In contrast to the six starting crates, ITI currently imports more than 600 different types of tea, and creates its own blends and flavors as well.
In an ITI catalog from 2011, Shah wrote: "Tea, the most romantic of beverages, has certainly come a long way in the United States. … Today, the United States is buying more tea than ever, there are more businesses than ever retailing tea, and the world at large is more attentive than ever before to the tea trends we nurture and originate."
Shah's educational efforts and constant drive ensured that this growing market would continue to find new footholds and flourish. In recognition of his contributions to the tea industry, he received the 2013 Cha Jing Lifetime Achievement Award from World Tea News.
ITI will continue under the leadership of Shah's daughter, Bianca. She had worked closely with her father before his passing, and her brother, Brendan, will serve as the company's chief technology officer. Shah is also survived by his wife, Reena, the president of ITI. Through his family, Shah's lifelong passion for tea continues on for future generations to enjoy.
"He did his utmost to educate us in excellence, not only in our tea life but in our whole life," said Pratt in his eulogy to Shah. "Such was his unmistakable integrity and generosity, his enthusiasm and powerful positive energy, his endless helpfulness and constant effort to bring us into a higher awareness of what he saw and knew was possible."
Keating B, Lindstrom A, Lynch ME, Blumenthal M. Sales of tea & herbal tea increase 3.6% in United States in 2014. HerbalGram. 2015;105:59-67. Available at: http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issue105/hg105-teamktrpt.html. Accessed May 2, 2016.


I was sitting on a bench. When I noticed a young mother with two children who were small. The youngest one was whining, "Pick me up," I heard him beg, but the mother's face grew angry as the child clung to her leg. "Don't hang on to me," she shouted, as she pushed his hands away.
I wish I'd had the courage to go up to her and say: The time will come too quickly when those little arms that tug, Won't ask for you to hold them or won't freely give a hug.
The day will sneak up subtly just as it did with me, When you can't recall the last time that your child sat on your knee.
Like those sacred, pre-dawn feedings when we cherished time alone. Our babies grow and leave behind those special times we've known.
Remember what all parents learn so many times too late, That years go by too quickly and that childhood doesn't wait.
Take every opportunity if one should slip away Reach hard to get it back again, don't wait another day.


CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hi - YEONCHEON, South Korea (May 10, 2016) - South Korean Soldiers from the 231st Field Artillery Battalion, 26th Mechanized Infantry Division Artillery, coordinate fires during a joint artillery exercise with U.S. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. The exercise, less than six miles from the Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea, involved 30 self-propelled artillery from the U.S. and South Korea.


text:
Introducing Non-Geostationary Satellite Constellations Test Deployments to Improve Internet Service (INCENTIVISE)
About INCENTIVISE
The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) launched the Introducing Non-Geostationary Satellite Constellations Test Deployments to Improve Internet Service, or INCENTIVISE, project in 2020. The project aims to determine the effectiveness of the emerging satellite internet technologies in the country. NGSO satellite constellations are an emerging space science and technology applications (SSTA) that boast lower latency and better support for delay-sensitive applications such as teleconferencing due to the closer proximity to the Earth.
The project team launched an open call to Satellite Internet Operators in October of 2021, inviting them to temporarily operate in the country and demonstrate the performance of their product in the Philippines under various use cases such as disaster response, education, telecommuting, telehealth, and e-commerce among others. PhilSA also invited other government agencies, the private sector, and the general public to observe the deployments for their own purposes. The project also hopes to promote local industry development and regulatory reforms pertaining to the satellite industry.
Recent events around the world have shown the importance of internet connectivity not only in disaster situations but also in the daily lives of every Filipino. Through INCENTIVISE, PhilSA will be able to see through the laws and regulations that enable, or hinder the growth of infrastructures and other space-related and telecommunications facilities that help in bridging the digital divide.
Maria Victoria Z. Gazmin
sbdd@philsa.gov.ph
PSC members meet, seek expansion of local space industry
by Philippine Space Agency on 2 May 2022
The Philippine Space Council (PSC) convened for the 5th PSC Meeting on 25 April 2022. The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), as the secretariat, hosted the first face-to-face meeting of the incumbent council. The meeting was chaired and called to order by Chair-designate Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña of the Department of Science and Technology […]
PhilSA, USAID, and ADB Present Innovations for Greater Internet Access in Rural and Remote Communities in the Philippines
by PhilSA, USAID, and ADB on 29 March 2022
The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) hosted a virtual forum with international satellite internet providers to discuss the potential of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in connecting more households in remote areas in the country, a crucial step for driving economic empowerment, innovation, […]
Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and OneWeb to test low Earth orbit satellite internet service
by Philippine Space Agency on 7 February 2022
The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has accepted the proposal of OneWeb to test their satellite Internet services in select remote and rural areas across the country under the INCENTIVISE project. Through INCENTIVISE, which stands for "Introducing Non-Geostationary Satellite Constellations Test Deployments to Improve Internet Service," OneWeb is provided an opportunity to test and demonstrate, on […]
4th Space Council meet, bolster inter-agency cooperation for SSTA in Ph
by Philippine Space Agency on 13 December 2021
Members of the Philippine Space Council (PSC) convened for the 4th Philippine Space Council Meeting on 07 December 2021. The meeting was hosted by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) as council secretariat, and was conducted in a hybrid set-up. The meeting was chaired and called to order by Chair-designate Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña Jr., of […]
INCENTIVISE Open Call
by Philippine Space Agency on 5 October 2021
The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) invites operators of Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Constellations to participate in INCenTIvISe: Introducing Non-Geostationary Satellite Constellations Test Deployments to Improve Internet Services.
DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute USAID-BEACON
Program Milestones
October 2021 - Philsa launched the INCENTIVISE Open Call and invited Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Internet Operators (SIOs)
09 November 2021 - Partnership between PhilSA and DOST-ASTI was established for the implementation of the INCENTIVISE project. Both agencies will work together to meet the site requirements for hosting the SIO's gateway and its connection to the internet through DOST-ASTI facilities; and implement the Weather and Performance Monitoring System (WPMS) component of INCENTIVISE
28 December 2021 - The PhilSA Executive Committee approved the participation of Network Access Associates Ltd. (Oneweb) and another Satellite Internet Operator in the INCENTIVISE Project
03 March 2022 - Alignment of INCENTIVISE and USAID's Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON) project in bringing new and emerging space-based satellite technologies and policies to bear on the challenges of bridging the digital divide in the Philippines


Add shapes to your diagrams to communicate information, and include color and special effects for a professional look.
Select the stencil that contains the shape you want to add.
Select a shape, and drag it onto the drawing page.
Note: If you don't see the AutoConnect arrows, select View and make sure AutoConnect is selected.
Select Home > Pointer Tool, point to a shape until you see a four-headed arrow, and select the shape.
Select Home > Select > Area Select and drag a rectangle around the shapes.
Select Home > Select > Lasso Select and drag a freeform lasso around the shapes.
Press Ctrl+Shift while selecting shapes.
Select Home > Select > Select by Type, select the type of object, and select OK.
Press Shift, and select the shape.
Select a blank area on the diagram, or press Esc.
Select the shape you want to change.
Browse the shapes and stencils until you find a shape you want.
All text and formatting applied to the original shape are applied to the new shape.
Select a shape, and drag the rotation handle.
Select a shape, select Home > Position > Rotate Shapes, and select either Rotate Left 90° or Rotate Right 90°.
Select a shape, and select Home > Position > Rotate Shapes > Flip Vertical.
Select a shape, and select Home > Position > Rotate Shapes > Flip Horizontal.
Select a shape, select View > Task Panes > Size & Position, and type in new values for Angle.
Select a shape, and drag a selection handle or endpoint until the shape is the size you want.
Select a shape, and drag a corner handle.
Select a shape, select View > Task Panes > Size & Position, and type in new values for Width, Height, or Length.
Select a shape and drag it to a new position.
Select a shape, and select an arrow key.
Select a shape and press Shift while pressing an arrow key.
Select a shape, select View > Task Panes > Size & Position, and type in new values for X, Y, Begin X, Begin Y, End X, or End Y.
Quick Styles - Select a line and fill combination.
Fill - Select a color, gradient, or pattern to fill the shape.
Line - Select the line color, line thickness, or type of line.
Effects - Select a shadow, reflection, glow, or 3-D effect.
Shapes, arranged in diagrams, communicate information. Color and special effects can highlight important information, enhance your message, and give your diagram a professional look.
To add a shape to a diagram, select it from the stencil and drag it onto the page. When you see a vertical guideline, the shape is centered horizontally.
As I add another shape, guidelines show me when it's aligned with the shape that's already there.
I'm going to add one more shape.
Now let's arrange and format the shapes. First, I'll select them.
A few tips will come in handy.
Select a single shape or press Ctrl as you select multiple shapes in different parts of the diagram.
To clear your selection, select a blank area of the page.
When shapes are next to each other, select Home, then Select, and then Area Select to select them all at once. This works great for grouping shapes, or moving a section of the diagram to make room for more shapes.
Or, if you want to select all of the shapes in a diagram, select Home, then Select, and then Select All.
I'm going to select this rectangle, because I think a circle will work better here.
Then I'll select the circle. There!
To rotate a shape, select and drag its rotation handle or rotate a shape in 90-degree increments. To do this, I select Position, select Rotate Shapes, and choose a rotation direction. You can flip shapes this way, too, by choosing a flip direction.
If a shape isn't the right size, resize it by dragging the selection handles.
Or enter an exact size. Select the shape. Then go to View, select Task Panes, and select Size & Position.
Type new values for Width, Height, or Length.
Then select a blank area.
My positioning isn't quite right, so I'm going to drag this rectangle where I want it.
To get it just right, I'll press arrow keys to nudge it to the next snap position on the ruler and on the grid. If I press Shift as I press the arrow keys, shapes move in finer increments.
Now, I'll make this arrow stand out. To display all the color and effects options at once, I go to Home and select the More arrow in the Shape Styles group.
After I select the arrow shape, I select Fill, select Color, and choose a different color and then select Effects, select Shadow, and choose a shadow effect.
With my toolbox of shapes, colors, and effects, I can create simple or elaborate diagrams. Experiment with positioning and formatting shapes to achieve the look you want.