#episode: 4.25 all good things must end

[wingheadshellhead]

Avengers Assemble + Steve and Tony flirting and innuendos

[tastelevelfailtacular]

Models Off Duty

Project Runway Season 16, Episode 6

The Challenge: The designers must design a street-style look for their clients who are their off-duty models.

{ Prelude }

Tondy: We have had similar challenges where the designers have to create a look according to what the clients want, but I think this is a first where the clients are their actual usual models. The models get to pick their designers. Bolo: I love this idea! It was fun to see who the models trust and identify with. It’s always awkward to see the people left on the sidelines, though.

{ The Workroom }

Tondy: Just like past designers with challenges like this, the designers are having difficulty doing what their clients want, instead focusing on what they want. I’m beginning to feel sorry for Claire, who’s spending most of her time helping Shawn, who apparently can’t actually sew for herself. Kentaro and Meisha are adorable together! A lot of the designers seem to be designing the same thing they always design…

Bolo: The interaction between the designers and the models in this episode is a lot of fun. You can tell which models feel comfortable with their designers and which don’t.

{ The Runway }

Kentaro

Tondy: I adore this one. It fits her perfectly, you can tell that the model loves it, and it is really different! The back of the top, where they thought it was too loose, he just sort of tucked in and it is amazing! Score: 5.0

Bolo: I love this look SO MUCH! I really love the blend of Japanese and American style, and it’s new and fresh without being overly weird. Score: 5.0

Claire

Tondy: Oh my… This is sort of a shapeless, hot mess. The black material is just drab, and the shorts are way too short. Perhaps if she hadn’t had to sew Shawn’s outfit, she might have made this into something better. Score: 2.75

Bolo: Ugh. I don’t get this at all. Long sleeves and shorts is a pairing that rarely works. The shorts are way too short... I can see her butt cheeks! Score: 2.0

Ayana

Tondy: I love her designs, usually, but this one, with the lovely robe that would be great for a wedding night, just looked so out-of-place for street wear! I did think the dress looked cute, but we only got a glimpse of it. Score: 3.0

Bolo: I don’t get the robe at all, but I LOVE the dress! I think it’s super cute and well made. I wish it had been the focal point. Score: 3.75

Michael

Tondy: He seemed to be having so much trouble with this design, but it really turned out great. You can tell that Liris really liked it as well.  And, it is nice to see something really totally new!!! Score: 4.5

Bolo: This is a cool, unusual look that looks fantastic on the model. My favorite part is how the slashing accentuates her upper thighs. Amazing!  Score: 4.75

Brandon

Tondy: Well, Brandon is really turning out to be a total one-trick-pony. All of his designs are shapeless, with extraneous pieces hanging off of them, and with odd ribbons hanging off of odd places. I am not a fan! Score: 2.5

Bolo: At first glance I kind of get/like this look, but when I start looking more closely is when it falls apart. I like the colors, but the pants look dirty. I like the layered look of the top in an unusual, futuristic way, but I don’t like it in the back. And yeah--the extraneous straps hanging off is getting old. Samantha beat me to the Star Wars/Rey comparison. Score: 3.25

Shawn

Tondy: This is just OK. I don’t care for the way the pants fit, but the top is actually kind of cute. However, I think that Claire pretty much made the top, so I can not score Shawn for the top. Score: 2.5

Bolo: I honestly can’t score this seriously. She came up with a nice design, but she couldn’t have sewed it without her sister's instructions. I could probably design a nice look if someone else would tell me how to sew it. Doesn’t make me a fashion designer. Score: 1.0

Margarita

Tondy: I love the bomber jacket, and I think the print bra top is actually a nice pop of color. The pants have a nice flow, but they are a little tight in the crotch and butt area. Score: 3.0

Bolo: I really love this look except for--again--the extraneous long straps. It’s starting to be a cliché for this season. Score: 3.75

Batani

Tondy: I love this design. It is so fun and colorful. It fits beautifully, but, personally, I thought the headpiece took it a little too far into costume land. Score: 4.0

Bolo: I think the headpiece is traditional, so I’m okay with it. I like the look, but I think within the cultural context, it probably isn’t anything new or interesting. But then you look at what she’s got on herself, and then I think THERE is traditional cultural fashion met with modern street fashion. Score: 3.75

Amy

Tondy: What a surprise.  Her model is wearing black!  Oh, wait, her models are always wearing black.  I think there was a grey something at some point, but it was probably my eyes being tired or something.  And it’s way to short.  No bending over for her!!! Score: 3.0

Bolo: So boring. Jacket’s okay but I didn’t see a transformation when she turned it inside out. Looked the same to me. Score: 3.0

Samantha

Tondy: Well, this is very much what Samantha designs for herself. It’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but I think it is what the model wanted, so I am marking her up a little for that. Score: 3.25

Bolo: I think this is an awesome, well-made, lovely look. I’m so confused as to how Brandon can churn out the same weird look over and over again and be exalted, but Samantha makes a gorgeous Lolita dress with some cool street elements, and she is told to GTFO. I don’t get it at all. Score: 5.0

Kenya

Tondy: I was a little worried about the black-and-white cow print but I think it actually looked pretty good with the dark green pants and tiny vest! I loved the ruffled collar on the blouse as well. I don’t think this should have worked, but it really, really did!  Score: 4.25

Bolo: That’s the thing I find fascinating about this look--it shouldn’t look good, but it really does! It works and looks great on the model, too! Score: 4.25

{ The Results }

Judges’ Top Three: Kentaro, Kenya, Shawn Our Top Three: Kentaro, Michael, Kenya

Judges’ Bottom Three: Claire, Margarita, Samantha Our Bottom Three: Brandon, Claire, Shawn

Judges’ Winning Pick: Kentaro Our Winning Pick: Kentaro

Judges’ Losing Pick: Samantha  Our Losing Pick: Shawn

Our only agreement with the judges was Kentaro as the winner, Kenya belonging in the top three, and Claire belonging in the bottom three.

{ Afterthoughts }

Tondy: Another interesting challenge! Bolo, I’m amazed that Brandon and Amy were safe. Amy keeps slipping past, never in the top and never in the bottom. They should have a special category for “run-of-the-mill, put you to sleep, drop-dead boring”!!!  Ah well….  I am sorry to lose Samantha, because I liked her, but I did think her design was not that great. The best thing about the end, where the judges get up close and personal with the best and worst designs, was that Tim outed Shawn and Claire, and the fact that Claire couldn’t finish her own design because she was making Shawn’s pants!  Zac, “ You know, I’m starting to smell something. I don’t like what’s going on, I don’t like it at all!” Well said, Zac, well said!

Bolo: I’m honestly in shock that Samantha went home while Claire escaped the bottom two. Yes, it was a Lolita dress and maybe not stunningly different from any other Lolita dress, but that was not a look to go home on when ANOTHER MODEL WALKED DOWN THE RUNWAY WITH HER ASS CHEEKS HANGING OUT. It honestly couldn’t be more obvious that Claire got a pass this week because the producers like the drama brewing with her presence on the show. 

Let’s break this down...

Claire - Judges’ Negative Comments 1. Nina - missing a “pop of color” 2. Nina - “blob of black,” doesn’t photograph well 3. Zac - doesn’t make a fashion statement 4. Heidi - unflattering on the model 5. Heidi - but cheeks hanging out because shorts are too short 6. Georgina - no waist/bad silhouette  7. Chelsea - would like top better as separates 8. Nina - we’ve seen this sweatshirt before 9. Heidi - didn’t give the client the pants she wanted 10. Chelsea - Claire’s poor time management is her own problem Claire - Judges’ Positive Comments  1. Nina - liked the idea of doing sportswear 2. Zac - crisply made 3. Chelsea - loved the sweatshirt

Samantha - Judges’ Negative Comments  1. Georgina - too costumey 2. Georgina - not exciting, fresh, or modern  3. Zac - I’ve seen it/no evolution from standard Lolita look 4. Chelsea - liked it better without the vest 5. Heidi - liked it better without the vest 6. Nina - Samantha’s own dress is much better 7. Nina - plaid and other details don’t help 8. Nina - didn’t shine

Samantha - Judges’ Positive Comments 1. Chelsea - loved the details of the dress 2. Heidi - great workmanship 3. Heidi - loves the bodice 4. Nina - a lot of workmanship went into it Not only did Samantha have slightly more positives and slightly fewer negatives than Claire, but she gave the model what she wanted, managed her time well, and put a lot of work into the outfit, and that workmanship shows. The worst complaint is that it didn’t shine because it’s a standard Lolita dress. Claire had slightly more negatives and fewer positives, didn’t give the model what she wanted, didn’t manage her time well (the decision to help her sister was on her), and made a look that is not just boring, but has also been seen before, doesn’t photograph well, and is unflattering on the model. How is THIS the look that is safe when Samantha goes home?

You can’t even make the argument that Claire has done historically better than Samantha because they literally have identical histories on the show. They were both safe in episodes 1, 3, and 4. They were both in the bottom in episodes 2, 5, and 6. And neither one has ever been in the top. So... Tondy and I are ready for the twins to GO!!! Until next week!

[sonzyb]

The May bank holiday weekend has brought some cold winds from the north, but thankfully some blue sky too, and having developed a bit of cabin fever lately, we decided to get out for a good walk. There are loads of great walks around Bangor, particularly around the coast, but as we are now into bluebell season, we decided to have a wander in the historic woods of the Clandeboye Estate.

Native British Bluebell with bells along one side and a hooked tip

The invasive Spanish Bluebell, more robust and upright than it’s British cousin

Clandeboye is the home of Lady Dufferin, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava, and the area has been settled since 1647; so for context, that would be getting towards the end of the English Civil War. Bangor itself goes back much further, the Annals of Ulster show that there was a monastery founded by St Comgall here in 558AD.  Although this started out as quite an austere rule, with several of the monks dying of malnutrition; over time things changed, and the order became fairly wealthy attracting the attention of the Viking’s in the 8th and 9th centuries.

Much later, in 1857, the First Marquess of Dufferin constructed a tower on his grounds, in memory of his mother, Helen. Helen’s Tower still stands as a landmark and was the inspiration for a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson. It would have been a familiar sight to the men of the 36th Ulster Division who had their training camp in Clandeboye prior to deployment in the First World War.

  Clandeboye is important for its broadleaved woodland, and many of the beech trees still bear the initials and marks of the men who were stationed there. As you walk in the stillness of the woods, it’s very difficult not to be moved by these inscriptions, knowing that so many of the men would never return home.

One of the huge beech trees bearing inscriptio, on the Clandeyboye Estate

The 36th Ulster Division were renowned for their bravery; when they were deployed to boost the ranks of those already stationed at Thiepval they were said to have been a supreme boost of morale for the other Allied forces. Anyone familiar with the history of WWI will know that the battle of the Somme was a massacre and the 36th were all but wiped out.

At the time, it was said that a man from every street in Ulster died at the Somme. Though that wasn’t actually the case, the devastation was so profound, that it certainly must have felt like it. When recounting the battle, one of the English officers recounted the following.

“I am not an Ulsterman but yesterday, the 1st. July, as I followed their amazing attack, I felt that I would rather be an Ulsterman than anything else in the world. My pen cannot describe adequately the hundreds of heroic acts that I witnessed… The Ulster Volunteer Force, from which the division was made, has won a name which equals any in history. Their devotion deserves the gratitude of the British Empire”

— Wilfred Spende

  In memory of the last view of home; the Ulster Tower war memorial at Thiepval is a copy of Helen’s Tower.

  More recently, Clandeboye was mentioned in an Episode of Downton Abbey, by the ineffable Dowager Duchess and apparently  before the Troubles, it was a favorite destination of the Queen Mother.

  Clandeyboye’s most recent claim to fame, however, has been much more bloodthirsty, as it was used as one of the filming locations for Game of Thrones. The Estate was used for a number of scenes, most notably where  after escaping Harrenhal, Arya & Gendry meet the Brotherhood and the Red Woman;  again when Sandor Clegane took some revenge on the Brotherhood and most recently when Arya heard Ed Sheeran singing at a campfire. Some evidence still remains from filming, though most of it is now long gone.

      Should you want to visit NI and do some exploring for yourself, the Tower has been recently renovated and can be booked for accommodation through Irish Landmarks http://www.Irishlandmarks,com 

  G\oT any criminals?

Reminants of a camp fire

Winter is over!

A spring walk through historic Clandeboye woods The May bank holiday weekend has brought some cold winds from the north, but thankfully some blue sky too, and having developed a bit of cabin fever lately, we decided to get out for a good walk.

[escapewithmewzic]

China in the 21st century

I have always known that social media works differently in China because I’ve heard a little about it from here and there and that Weibo and Wechat are mainly used there. However, when my dad went to China earlier this year, we had a hard time communicating with him because apparently everything (by everything I meant especially WhatsApp and Facebook because my dad only uses this) does not work or if it does, it was really really really slow. My dad was in Zhuhai near its border in Macau and only then, he had access to Facebook and WhatsApp.

To put it simply, international social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, you name it...are all banned in China. Instead, China has their own version of social media platforms such as Wechat, Weibo and Youku. By providing these alternatives, the Chinese government can better monitor and control the citizens to protect itself.

China highly censors its Internet through the “Great Firewall” web filter, a surveillance and Internet censorship program aiming to neutralize critical online opinion and prevent the people in China from being ‘corrupted’ by views from people who the government thinks can harm the country (*coughs foreign culture). Its tactics doesn’t stop at censoring the Internet and shutting down websites, but China also jail dissident journalists, bloggers and activists.

Facebook has gained an approval to launch a subsidiary in the eastern province of Zhejiang but it was quickly withdrawn.

Despite the obvious reason of blocking the citizens from accessing foreign social media platforms to prevent them from politically sensitive information to safeguard political affairs , I believe that the banning of social media platforms is also due to economic reasons. Basically a monopoly on social media platforms.

Even though the people in China has little freedom compared to what we Malaysians have, I believe that one day, the citizens of China can eventually enact effective changes in their country. People are becoming more aware and using the Internet to voice out disapproval and forming online communities. With the people of China relying heavily on social media, who knows? One day.

A question that was asked during the presentation on this case study that intrigues me till now is “Do you think China is a strong country for technological development?”

With no doubt, YES. 

China is a leader in the field of Artificial Intelligence(AI). I’m sure most of us know about China’s social credit system which allows the government to closely monitor and scrutinize each and every one of its citizens (1.3 billion) based on their behaviours and activities. *I know the next thing that pops up in your mind is Black Mirror* Wow straight out of a dystopian episode of Black Mirror

It was announced back in 2014 and China plans to make it fully operational by 2021 starting with Beijing at the end of 2020 where the 22 million residents  in Beijing will be judged on data based on their social standing at the time. According to a government document, the system aims to reinforce the idea that “keeping trust is glorious and breaking trust is disgraceful”

It has that reward-punishment mechanism where reward credit will be given for pro-social behaviours like charity work, etc while citizens who do bad things like drinking under influence, smoking in non-smoking zones, posting fake news online will be punished. The system basically marks those who are found to have violated social codes or laws and the punishments are extensive. An example is restricted access to travel services.

The system is already being rolled out in some areas and the National Development and Reform Commission have already blocked about 11.14 million flights and 4.25 million high-speed train trips according to Global Times. Luxury options has also been clumped down where 3 million people are barred from getting business class train tickets.

Imagine being constantly scrutinized and surveillance

Things like how you behave in public transports, your driving skills, whether you have paid your bills on time,wasting money on frivolous purchases, playing video games too long are all taken into account! *mental breakdown*

The punishments are not detailed but other than restricting travel, internet speeds are slowed down, access to good schools for individuals or their kids are reduced, people are banned from certain jobs, bookings at certain hotels are prevented and people can even lose their right to their own pets!

According to Beijing News, 17 people who refused to enlist in military service the previous year were barred from applying for high school, enrolling into higher education and the worst of all, barred from continuing their studies. A university denied a student his spot because of his father’s poor social credit score. For those who the country deems untrustworthy, everything and everywhere is limited.

On the contrary, I saw this video on Facebook where a woman said she was able to book a hotel without paying a cash deposit because her social credit score was good. People with good credit score can also get discounts on bills, rent without deposits and get better interest rates at banks.

Escaping it will be really difficult because in China, it is required to have a government ID to access services which are largely centralized by China Telecom and Alipay which will in turn link to phone numbers that act as an ID number.

It does not end there because add facial recognition on CCTV and NFC tagging of vehicles to that. China’s developing a facial recognition system for the social credit system with a database of 1.3 billion ID photos that can be matched within seconds and is 90% accurate. Escaping seems impossible.

I feel like some people have this misconception that China isn’t as technologically developed because of the country’s ban on social media which leads to some assuming that they are in their own world and not as exposed and also because of those uncultured behaviours of SOME that we often see in videos on Facebook. These people must have forgotten that China makes more than 90% of the world’s smartphones, 65% of all personal computers and 67% of smart TVs according to Bernstein Research.

[tastelevelfailtacular]

An Unconventional Recycling

Project Runway Season 16, Episode 2

The Challenge: Team Challenge/Unconventional Challenge - the designers must create a high fashion look out of recyclable materials, as part of a cohesive mini-collection created by their team.

{ Prelude }

Tondy: I do love an unconventional challenge, but this seems pretty early for one. This should be very interesting.   Bolo: I kind of love that they’ve combined two already difficult challenges into one for this episode, and again, hitting the ground running!

{ The Workroom }

Tondy: I think the designers are slightly thrown by having new models! Shawn is having a meltdown and she seems totally lost! Tim seems to be concerned about cohesion with all of the teams. As he leaves, he says that he is worried!

Bolo: Despite the extra challenge, the workroom wasn’t nearly as hectic as I’d expected. Shawn, however, was more thrown off by having a “curvy” model than by the materials she had to work with.

{ The Runway }

Team Wabi-Sabi ~ Margarita

Tondy: This is an OK look, it’s not my favorite. The materials look like they were from recycled, and the design is lacking for me. Score: 2.5

Bolo: It’s all right, but I don’t get the roll on the back at all. Is she carrying a telescope in there? Score: 2.75 

Team Wabi-Sabi ~ Kentaro

Tondy: I thought this little dress was adorable, but I wish he hadn’t added the 6-pack rings. They didn’t do anything for this design. Still, I do love the dress. Score: 4.25

Bolo: I actually really loved the 6-pack rings, and I loved the sheen created by the clear plastic overdress. Score: 4.5

Team Wabi-Sabi ~ Deyonte

Tondy: This was just OK. Again, I don’t think the design rose above the materials. I liked the back better than the front. Score: 3.0

Bolo: I thought this was a really cool look--“paper-shredder chic” if you will. That he managed trumpet sleeves with this material is a miracle! Score: 4.25

Team Wabi-Sabi ~ Kudzanai

Tondy: I liked this, but he should have stopped before he added the clear plastic cape. I thought the top looked a little too stiff. Overall a good design. Score: 4.0

Bolo: I agree--I think this would have been better without the outerwear. Still, really well done and goes well with the last look. Score: 4.0

Team Wabi-Sabi ~ Michael

Tondy: Another design that I would have liked better without the clear plastic. I guess they were using clear plastic to show cohesiveness. It didn’t work. I did like the decorations on the front. Score: 4.0

Bolo: I have to say that, once again, I really like the use of the rings here. I just can’t decide if I like that with the confetti collar Score: 3.75

Team Tsunami ~ Sentell

Tondy: I get where he was going, but this looks like it was made out of green plastic trash bags. Oh, wait, it was. I did not like this one at all. Score: 2.5

Bolo: He definitely wasn’t able to elevate the materials to something more expensive looking, but the asymmetry is nicely done. Score: 2.75

Team Tsunami ~ Samantha

Tondy: I liked this one a lot. I think she actually transformed the trash bags into a pretty cool top. The belt, like the one that Sentell’s model wore, looks great here. Score: 4.0

Bolo: That top really turned out amazing, and the belt definitely looks better with this look. I’m ambivalent about the skirt, but overall the look is great! Score: 4.0

Team Tsunami ~ Amy

Tondy: I like the skirt a lot, but I don’t care for the leather-look cape. It just, again, looks like “Hey, let’s add a little more recycling to this outfit, whether it goes or not!!!” However, the lace-up back was cool. Score: 4.0

Bolo: I actually really like the cape on its own, especially the back. I’m just not sure it goes well with the skirt, which is cool in its own right, but unfortunately still looks like recyclable materials to me. Score: 3.75

Team Tsunami ~ Shawn

Tondy: This turned out better than I thought it would. I liked the belt and the top, and the back was nice. It was flattering on the model, too. Score: 4.0

Bolo: For all her whinging, this did turn out reasonably well. Despite her inexperience designing for average-sized women, she used color blocking in a way that made the look even more flattering. Score: 4.0

Team Tsunami ~ Claire

Tondy: This was just so-so for me. I get where she was going, but I don’t think it got there. It was not very flattering on the model, and it was another one that did not transform the material at all. Score: 3.5

Bolo: I *kind of* like the asymmetry of the skirt and the way it hitches up to show the clear underskirt--although she did something similar last week. The fit of the top could have been better. Score: 3.5

Team Ballin’ on a Budget ~ Batani

Tondy: I loved this dress. It really did look high-end. It had it all: flattering, well-made, material transformed!!! Score: 4.5

Bolo: This look is amazing! It could have come down the runway in a conventional challenge and I wouldn’t have blinked. I love the design, colors, cohesiveness, the back! All of it! This is the Batani I was excited for! Score: 4.5

Team Ballin’ on a Budget ~ Aaron

Tondy: This is actually pretty cute. The model loves it, and it fits really well.  I love the back! Score: 4.0

Bolo: I completely agree. It’s super cute, looks good on the model, and it doesn’t necessarily look like recyclable materials. Nicely done! Score: 4.0

Team Ballin’ on a Budget ~ Kenya

Tondy: I think this is just adorable. It fits the model beautifully, and the skirt and puffy sleeves look so cute together! Instead of being made from recycled newspaper, it looks like the fabric was specifically designed for this dress. Score: 4.5

Bolo: This is easily one of the cutest looks I’ve ever seen on Project Runway, and maybe THE cutest unconventional challenge look. I agree--it looks like a newspaper print fabric, not actual newspapers! So lovely! Score: 4.5

Team Ballin’ on a Budget ~ Brandon

Tondy: I liked this design, and kudos to him for making the fabric. I liked the back a lot. Score: 3.75

Bolo: Brandon did a great job with this look. It’s flattering, it’s cool, the materials are transformed. I love it! Score: 4.0

Team Ballin’ on a Budget ~ Ayana

Tondy: I thought this was gorgeous.  I am usually not fond of ribbons hanging around the skirt, but in this case, I think they really made this look. Score: 4.5

Bolo: Fringe looks are hit or miss for me, but this one is a big hit! There are a lot of things going on with this look, but it all goes together well. It’s not busy at all. The back is absolutely stunning! Score: 4.5

{ The Results }

Judges’ Winning Team: Ballin’ on a Budget Our Winning Team: Ballin’ on a Budget

Judges’ Losing Team: Team Tsunami Our Losing Team: Team Tsunami

Judges’ Winning Pick: Ayana Our Winning Pick: Three-way tie: Ayana, Batani, and Kenya 

Judges’ Losing Pick: Sentell Our Losing Pick: Tie: Margarita, Sentell

Um... Tondy? Is that two wins in a row for us?! Well, there’s a first time for everything!

{ Afterthoughts }

Tondy: Well, Bolo, this episode goes down as one of my favorites. It had it all, drama, hysteria, meltdowns, and a whole lot of throwing under the bus, but most of all, it had Ballin’ on a Budget’s designs. I truly think that this was the most cohesive team challenge in the history of PR, and it was an unconventional challenge! Amazing! 

Bolo: This really was one of the best episodes yet, and certainly the best unconventional challenge I can recall. With the exception of a couple looks on Team Tsunami, I felt like these were some of the best unconventional looks I’ve ever seen. So much of what came down the runway looked like it could be just regular high fashion. It’s super impressive and speaks to the talent of this group.

Looking forward to tomorrow’s episode! Until next week,