#excel asia rim

[bike-accessories-tips]

avon motorcycle tyres The brand's commitment to advanced technology and tire engineering ensures superior grip, stability, and longevity. With a diverse range catering to various riding styles, Avon motorcycle tyres embody a perfect blend of safety and performance, making them a trusted choice among riders who seek both adventure and reliability on their journeys.

[melodraca]

It's Tu BiShvat!

Since today is all about trees (although I'm... kind of late to post this), allow me to ramble for a few minutes about some of my favourites!

🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳

Arbutus menziesii

(Other names include qaanlhp (Hul’q’umi’num), dis-tā'-tsi or kou-wät′-chu (Konkow), ḰEḰEIȽĆ (SENĆOŦEN), arbutus, madrone, madrona, and bearberry.)

Arbutus menziesii is a broadleaf evergreen tree native to the Pacific northwest. It's distinctive for it's flaky reddish bark, which peels away in thin strips as the tree matures to reveal a smooth greenish layer beneath. Arbutus menziesii is also an invaluable nesting site for many birds, and its berries provide food for a variety of bird and mammal species!

Thuja plicata

(Other names include xhpey'ulhp (Hul’q’umi’num), western red-cedar, giant arborvitae, western arborvitae, giant cedar, shinglewood, and the 'tree of life' in Kwakwaka'wakw culture.)

Thuja plicata is a coniferous evergreen tree native to the Pacific northwest. These trees are long-lived, with lifespans of about 1000 years - and in that time, they can grow upwards of 70 metres (230 ft) tall, and 7 metres (23 ft) in diameter. The Cheewhat Giant specifically, located in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, is one of the largest known trees in the world!

Tsuga heterophylla

(Other names include western hemlock, and western hemlock-spruce. Note: I couldn't find literally any Indigenous language names for these trees, but if anyone knows any (for any of these trees, for that matter) I'd be more than happy to hear them!)

Tsuga heterophylla is a confierous evergreen tree native across the Pacific northwest between California and Alaska (they're not all going to be from the PNW I promise, I just live here). It's one of the most common species in the region, distinguished by it's scaly bark and it's droopy lead shoot. Tsuga heterophylla can notably live for over 1200 years! I love these guys so much.

Ginkgo biloba

(Other names include ginkgo or gingko, yínguǒ or bái guǒ (Mandarin), Ngan-gwo or yínxìng (Cantonese), ichou or ginnan (Japanese), eunhaeng (Korean), and maidenhair.)

Easily one of the most unique trees on this list, Ginkgo biloba is a gymnosperm tree native to East Asia. Fossils of very similar plants belonging to the same genus have been found dating all the way back to the Mid-Jurassic Ginkgo biloba itself is the last living member of its order. On the topic of longevity, these trees can potentially live for more than 2500 years!

Pinus halepensis

(Other names include Aleppo pine, Jerusalem pine, oran yerushlim (Hebrew), Sanawbar el halab (Arabic), and halepensis pine.)

Pinus halepensis is a pine native to the Mediterranean region, distinguished by its thin, wispy needles, reddish bark, and narrow cones, which may open and disperse seeds in the event of a forest fire. The species excels at preventing soil erosion, and thrives in dry, hot climates. The tree's resin and pine nuts also have culinary applications, which I'd love to try someday!

Populus tremuloides

(Other names include A’kíítoyi (Nitsitapiisinni), quaking aspen, trembling aspen, American aspen, mountain aspen, golden aspen, trembling poplar, white poplar, and popple.)

Last, but certainly not least, Populus tremuloides is a deciduous tree with a native range that extends across most of North America, especially throughout Canada, Alaska, and the Great Lakes region. Clonal colonies of these trees are common, each colony essentially being its own clone, and thus all a part of the same organism. A colony known as Pando is the oldest and heaviest organism in the world, at a potential maximum age of 12,000 years, and with a mass of 6 million kilograms!

Chag sameach! Feel free to add your own favourite trees onto this post!

(Images sourced from Wikimedia commons)

[rupsha]

Rupsha Asia CNG Tyre: Master the Road with Power and Efficiency!

High-Mileage, Durable, and Eco-Friendly for Your CNG Auto Rickshaw

Rev up your CNG auto rickshaw with the Rupsha Asia CNG Tyre (4.00-8, Tube-Type, Rear/Front)—a premium tyre engineered for exceptional performance, durability, and fuel efficiency. Designed by the trusted Rupsha Brand, this tyre is perfect for navigating Bangladesh’s diverse road conditions, from urban streets to rural paths, while handling heavy loads with ease. Here’s why the Asia CNG Tyre is a top pick for eco-conscious rickshaw drivers!

✨ Why Choose the Rupsha Asia CNG Tyre?

Symmetrical Tread with Five Solid Ribs: Features a sawtooth design for balanced grip, ensuring excellent traction on any surface—wet, dry, or uneven.

High Mileage: Specially formulated rubber blend maximizes tyre life, reducing replacement costs.

Puncture-Resistant Build: Tough natural and synthetic rubber compound resists cuts, abrasions, and punctures for lasting durability.

Fuel-Efficient Design: Low rolling resistance cuts fuel consumption and emissions, saving money and supporting a greener environment.

Dual-Layered Sidewalls: Reinforced for extra protection against impacts and enhanced load-carrying capacity.

High-Tensile Bead Wire: Copper-coated steel ensures a secure rim fit, preventing rust and handling heavy loads at high speeds.

Rigorous Quality Control: Every tyre undergoes strict testing to meet international standards, ensuring top-tier performance and safety.

🚗 Why It’s Perfect for Your CNG Auto Rickshaw The Rupsha Asia CNG Tyre is tailored for CNG-powered auto rickshaws, offering unmatched resilience on hot, humid roads and challenging terrains. Its durable construction and flat tread design ensure long-lasting performance, while the eco-friendly low rolling resistance aligns with the environmental benefits of CNG vehicles, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 70% compared to diesel rickshaws. With a sleek, robust look, this tyre is ready to make your rickshaw stand out!

💡 Pro Tip: Regular tyre checks and proper maintenance will keep your Asia CNG Tyre performing at its peak for years.

Ready to upgrade your CNG auto rickshaw? The Rupsha Asia CNG Tyre delivers a durable, fuel-efficient, and high-performance ride. Have a rickshaw story or question? Drop it in the comments—let’s roll! 🛞

Note: Ensure proper installation and maintenance for optimal performance. Check with your local supplier for availability.

[fracturedpandemoniumenclave]

Buffalo Horn Glasses: The Ultimate Blend of Style and Sustainability

In the world of eyewear, buffalo horn glasses stand out as a unique and eco-friendly alternative to conventional frames. Made from natural buffalo horn, these glasses offer a perfect combination of durability, comfort, and timeless style. Unlike plastic or metal frames, buffalo horn glasses are handcrafted, biodegradable, and hypoallergenic, making them an excellent choice for those who value sustainability and craftsmanship.

This article explores the fascinating world of buffalo horn glasses, covering their history, benefits, manufacturing process, and care tips. Whether you're looking for a stylish new pair or simply curious about sustainable eyewear, read on to discover why buffalo horn glasses are gaining popularity among fashion-conscious and eco-friendly consumers.

The History of Buffalo Horn Glasses

The use of buffalo horn in eyewear dates back centuries, particularly in regions where water buffalo are prevalent, such as Southeast Asia and Africa. Historically, artisans crafted buffalo horn glasses by hand, shaping the material into lightweight yet sturdy frames.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, horn-rimmed glasses became a symbol of sophistication, often worn by intellectuals and high-profile figures. Today, buffalo horn glasses have made a resurgence as consumers seek sustainable and ethically sourced alternatives to mass-produced plastic frames.

Why Choose Buffalo Horn Glasses?

1. Eco-Friendly and Sustainable

Unlike synthetic materials, buffalo horn is a natural byproduct of the meat industry, meaning no additional harm is done to animals solely for eyewear production. Since buffalo horn is biodegradable, buffalo horn glasses leave a minimal environmental footprint compared to plastic frames, which can take hundreds of years to decompose.

2. Hypoallergenic and Comfortable

Many people experience skin irritation from metal or plastic frames, especially those containing nickel or other allergens. Buffalo horn glasses, however, are naturally hypoallergenic, making them ideal for sensitive skin. Additionally, the material adjusts to body temperature, providing a comfortable fit in both hot and cold weather.

3. Lightweight Yet Durable

Buffalo horn is surprisingly lightweight, reducing pressure on the nose and ears during prolonged wear. Despite its lightness, it is highly durable and resistant to breakage, ensuring that buffalo horn glasses last for years with proper care.

4. Unique and Handcrafted Designs

No two buffalo horns are exactly alike, meaning each pair of buffalo horn glasses has a distinct grain pattern and color variation. Artisans carefully polish and shape the horn to highlight its natural beauty, resulting in one-of-a-kind eyewear that stands out from mass-produced alternatives.

How Buffalo Horn Glasses Are Made

The process of crafting buffalo horn glasses is labor-intensive and requires skilled craftsmanship. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how these unique frames are created:

1. Sourcing the Horn

Ethical suppliers collect buffalo horns as a byproduct of the food industry, ensuring no animals are harmed solely for eyewear production. The horns are cleaned and sorted based on quality and size.

2. Cutting and Shaping

Artisans cut the horn into smaller pieces and use steam to soften the material, making it pliable for shaping. The softened horn is then molded into the desired frame design using traditional tools.

3. Polishing and Finishing

Once the frame is shaped, it undergoes a meticulous polishing process to achieve a smooth, glossy finish. Some buffalo horn glasses are left with a natural matte texture, while others receive a high-gloss shine.

4. Assembling the Glasses

Finally, the frames are fitted with high-quality hinges and lenses, completing the transformation from raw horn to a stylish, functional accessory.

Caring for Your Buffalo Horn Glasses

To ensure your buffalo horn glasses remain in excellent condition, follow these care tips:

Avoid Extreme Temperatures – Horn can warp if exposed to excessive heat or moisture. Store your glasses in a cool, dry place.

Clean Gently – Use a microfiber cloth and mild soap to clean the frames. Avoid harsh chemicals that could damage the natural material.

Regular Maintenance – Apply a small amount of natural oil (like beeswax or coconut oil) occasionally to maintain the horn’s luster and prevent drying.

Styling Buffalo Horn Glasses

Buffalo horn glasses complement a variety of fashion styles, from classic to contemporary. Here are some styling ideas:

Professional Look – Pair dark brown or black buffalo horn glasses with a tailored suit for a sophisticated, polished appearance.

Casual Elegance – Light-toned horn frames add a natural, earthy touch to everyday outfits like jeans and a linen shirt.

Bold Statement – Opt for frames with visible grain patterns to make a unique fashion statement.

Where to Buy Buffalo Horn Glasses

Due to their artisanal nature, buffalo horn glasses are often sold by specialty eyewear brands and ethical fashion retailers. Look for companies that emphasize sustainability and fair trade practices. Some well-known brands offering high-quality buffalo horn glasses include:

Projekt Eyewear

Kilsgaard

Morgenthal Frederics

When purchasing, ensure the product comes with a certification of ethical sourcing to support responsible craftsmanship.

Conclusion

Buffalo horn glasses represent the perfect fusion of style, sustainability, and craftsmanship. Their natural beauty, durability, and hypoallergenic properties make them a superior choice for eco-conscious consumers. By choosing buffalo horn glasses, you not only invest in a unique accessory but also contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry.

Whether you're drawn to their history, environmental benefits, or distinctive look, buffalo horn glasses are a timeless addition to any eyewear collection. Explore the world of handcrafted frames and experience the elegance of nature on your face.

[dertaglichedan]

Hawaiian to take over Seattle-based routes, add airplanes and crews

Alaska Air Group today plans to tell investors in New York that Hawaiian Airlines will take over West Coast routes from Alaska Airlines to Hawaii and fly new nonstop routes from Seattle to Japan and South Korea, and announce more Hawaiian Air planes, and flight and ground crews.

The additional planes and routes add up to more union jobs and work for Hawaiian Airlines, CEO Joe Sprague told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser ahead of today’s Alaska Air Group Investor Day in New York.

Hawaiian Air crews will fly new, nonstop routes from Seattle to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport and to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport starting in early 2025 in yet another indication of faith that Japanese tourism to Hawaii will increase despite the weakness of the yen.

This month U.S. Customs and Border Protection added Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to its Global Entry Program, cutting hours of time for Japanese tourists to get into Honolulu.

It all increases the hope that Japanese tourism to Hawaii will continue to recover in 2025 after the COVID-19 pandemic and fall of the yen.

“Our support for the Japan market is significant,” Sprague said. “Our commitment to the Japan market for Hawaii remains strong.”

The West Coast routes for Hawaiian Airlines take advantage of Hawaiian’s experience with trans-Pacific flights, Sprague said, and frees up Alaska Air crews to focus on North American routes.

In a statement, Ben Minicucci, chief executive officer at Alaska Air Group — which includes Hawaiian as a wholly owned subsidiary — said, “We believe our guests will be as excited as we are about these new nonstop flights to Tokyo and Seoul — two of the world’s most dynamic cities. From our global gateway in Seattle, we can conveniently connect travelers from across our network as they head to Asia and beyond. Hawaiian’s spacious widebody aircraft, along with its excellent onboard service and amenities, will make for a terrific trip from one side of the Pacific Rim to the other.”

Changes in scheduling between the two airlines and its partners mean passengers from Hawaii can more effortlessly fly to any U.S. destination and as far away as Florida, Hawaiian Airlines spokesperson Alex Da Silva said.

Sprague said, “The benefit for Hawaii means you’ll have better options to get to the West Coast and connection options to the rest of the country.”

...

Daily nonstop flights between Seattle and Tokyo are scheduled to begin May 12 aboard Hawaiian’s Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

[rundransh-k]

Mastering Excellence Down Under: Unveiling the Allure of Pursuing an MBA in Australia

Australia, with its thriving economy, world-class education system, and picturesque landscapes, has emerged as an increasingly popular destination for international students seeking a Master of Business Administration (MBA). In this blog post, we will delve into the reasons behind the growing trend of pursuing an MBA in Australia, exploring the unique advantages, top-notch institutions, and the enriching experiences awaiting ambitious professionals.

Unlocking Opportunities in the Land of Oz:

Australia's robust and dynamic economy offers a plethora of opportunities for MBA graduates. The business landscape here is characterized by innovation, entrepreneurship, and a global outlook, making it an ideal environment for aspiring business leaders. The country's strong ties with Asia and the Pacific Rim also provide a strategic advantage, creating a melting pot of diverse business perspectives.

World-Class Institutions and Accreditation:

Australia boasts a stellar lineup of universities consistently ranked among the top in the world. Institutions such as the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM), Melbourne Business School, and UQ Business School are renowned for their cutting-edge curriculum, distinguished faculty, and emphasis on practical skills. Furthermore, Australian universities adhere to stringent quality standards, ensuring that an MBA from Down Under is globally recognized and respected.

Innovative Curriculum for the Global Business Landscape:

One of the standout features of pursuing an MBA in Australia is the innovative curriculum that prepares students for the rapidly evolving global business landscape. The programs emphasize real-world applications, case studies, and industry exposure, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, the multicultural classroom environment provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with diverse peers, gaining insights into different business cultures.

Work-Integrated Learning and Industry Connections:

Many MBA programs in Australia integrate work experience and internships, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world situations. Industry connections are facilitated through networking events, guest lectures by industry experts, and partnerships with leading corporations. These experiences not only enhance employability but also provide a valuable understanding of the Australian business environment.

Quality of Life and Cultural Richness:

Apart from the academic aspects, Australia's high quality of life and cultural richness contribute to its appeal as a study destination. The country's cities consistently rank high in global livability indices, offering a safe, welcoming, and multicultural environment. Students can experience a vibrant lifestyle, stunning landscapes, and a diverse range of recreational activities outside of their academic pursuits.

Navigating the Admission Process:

To embark on this transformative journey, prospective MBA students need to navigate the admission process effectively. Understanding the entry requirements, application procedures, and deadlines is crucial. It's advisable to engage with university admission counselors and leverage online resources to streamline the application process and increase the chances of securing a spot in a reputable MBA program.

Conclusion: 

In conclusion, pursuing an MBA in Australia is a strategic move for those seeking a globally recognized qualification while immersing themselves in a rich cultural experience. The dynamic business environment, top-tier institutions, and emphasis on practical skills make Australia an attractive destination for ambitious professionals aspiring to elevate their careers on the global stage. As you embark on this educational adventure, remember that an MBA in Australia is not just a degree; it's a transformative experience that equips you for success in the ever-evolving world of business.

[coralstarfishfan]

Top 5 reasons to choose Singapore dedicated server hosting

Singapore's central location in Asia makes it an excellent alternative for companies looking to expand into the region. Many firms select Singapore-dedicated servers to ensure low-latency connections and quick data transfer to nations in the area, including China, India, Japan, and Australia. For companies targeting customers in Asia, this proximity improves the quality of service and shortens reaction times.

Singapore dedicated server hosting is well respected because of the country's advantageous location, solid network infrastructure, business-friendly atmosphere, cutting-edge data centers, and strict attention to security. However, tastes may differ based on the needs of a company and its target market. These features help explain why it has become so well-liked among Asian and Pacific Rim organizations needing hosting services they can rely on.

The benefits of Singapore's dedicated servers are numerous:

Strategic Geographical Location:

Excellent connections to other major Asian markets make Singapore an ideal regional strategic gateway. It's a perfect option for companies looking to expand into the lucrative Asian market because of its low-latency connections to those nations and others in the region, including China, India, Japan, and Australia. Customers in the area will benefit from quicker data transfers and a higher quality user experience because of the closeness to these marketplaces.

Robust IT Infrastructure:

Singapore's information technology infrastructure is among the world's best. It has cutting-edge data centers with multiple power sources, advanced cooling systems, rigorous safety protocols, and other cutting-edge features. The infrastructure was built with dedicated servers in mind, so you can count on them being available, scalable, and stable.

High Network Connectivity:

Singapore's connectedness to the rest of the world is among the best. The extensive network infrastructure ensures fast and reliable data transfer, including several international undersea cables and internet exchange points. Global consumers may expect lower latency, higher performance, and uninterrupted connectivity thanks to the network's extensiveness.

Business-Friendly Environment:

To stimulate entrepreneurship and foster technical innovation, Singapore provides a business-friendly environment. It provides a secure political environment, robust legal protections, and IP security. The government's support for companies makes it a desirable location for both new ventures and established conglomerates. Dedicated server hosting services that are both dependable and cutting-edge can flourish in the hospitable commercial climate.

Conclusion:

Singapore's strategic location, advanced information technology (IT) infrastructure, strong network connection, business-friendly atmosphere, and stringent security measures all contribute to the attractiveness of Singapore dedicated server hosting. Because of these advantages, it is a popular option among Asian and Pacific-based companies needing dependable and powerful hosting services.

[bike-accessories-tips]

Ride a cruiser, sportbike, or an adventure tourer, Hiflofiltro has a filter designed to fit your specific make and model. Their extensive compatibility ensures that riders across different brands and styles can experience the benefits of superior oil filtration.

[growninhaiti]

🌳 This season, our Bilimbi tree (Averrhoa bilimbi) is flourishing like never before, and I can't wait for this first major harvest! If you haven't heard of Bilimbi, it's a close cousin to the star fruit and has its origins in Southeast Asia. Somehow, this tropical gem made its way to Haiti, and I'm grateful it did! 🌏🇭🇹 The Bilimbi fruit is not just pleasing to the eye with its vibrant green color; it's also incredibly versatile in the kitchen. The tangy flavor makes it perfect for adding zing to salads, pickles, and chutneys, while its high acidity levels make it an excellent natural alternative to vinegar! 🥗🥒 But wait, there's more! Bilimbi fruit has been used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments, from relieving coughs and colds to reducing inflammation and even controlling blood sugar levels. 🌡️💊 I'm excited to share this amazing fruit with you all, and I'll be posting a fruit tasting soon enough. Stay tuned! 💚🌳 . . 🌳 Sezon sa a, pye bwa blenblen nou an (Averrhoa bilimbi) ap donnen tèt anba, e mwen pa ka tann pou premye gwo rekòlt sa a! Si ou pa janm tande pale de blenblen, li se yon kouzen pwòch karambòl la epi li gen orijin li nan Azi Sidès. Yon jan kanmenm, bijou twopikal sa a te fè wout li ann Ayiti, e mwen kontan ke li la! 🌏🇭🇹 Fwi blenblen a se pa sèlman pou plezi je ak bèl koulè vèt vibran li yo; li la tou ekstrèmman adaptab nan kwizin nan. Ti gou si li an fè li pafè pou ajoute zing nan salad, pikliz, ak sauce pimant, pandan nivo asidite segondè l yo fè l yon bon altènativ natirèl pou vinèg! 🥗🥒 Men, tann, gen plis! Blenblen yo te itilize nan medikaman tradisyonèl pou trete divès maladi, soti nan soulaje tous ak rim jiska diminye anflamasyon e menm kontwole nivo sik nan san. 🌡️💊 Mwen kontan pataje fwi etonan sa a avèk nou tout, epi mwen pral afiche yon video degustasyon fwi sa a byento. Rete branche! 💚🌳 . . #GrownInHaiti #BilimbiTree #AverrhoaBilimbi #Blenblen #TropicalTangyTreats #DiscoverBilimbi #TropicalFruits #TreeCucumber https://www.instagram.com/p/CqL2nm0u_CR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[msternberg]

Vlad and Xi's Excellent Ukrainian Adventure

I, like many, have a bucket load of questions about Vlad’s (and Xi’s) Excellent Ukrainian Adventure.

So much of it makes little sense, seems needlessly chaotic and wasteful – both in resources and human life – and seems to expose serious weaknesses in the air and ground power of the Russian Army and Air Force.

Nobody, not even bad authors of military and espionage thrillers, sends Chechen fighters and Wagner Group operatives in AFTER the war starts to take out the leadership of a country, especially after having Russian aligned assets operating in the Donbas region for a decade.

I mean, what the hell, Pootie Poot?

How about the newfound friendship between rival communist powers, Russia and China?

One just has to ask just what kind of Frankenstein’s monster of a world war is going on here.

What if Putin sees Ukraine as a side-benefit?

What if Russia and China have decided neither alone can take down the US, even as weak as it has become under feckless and myopic leadership and decades of wasted war and nation building efforts.

What if the real result is Russia taking over a Europe (except for the UK), reestablishing an expanded Russian Empire, China gets Africa, South Asia and the Pacific Rim (primarily Taiwan, a reunited Korea, and Japan). A Russian allied Iran gets hegemonic stewardship of the Middle East, something they have wanted since the fall of the Shah.

Both China and Russia benefit by putting America and the rest of the Western Hemisphere in a box, with a diminished production capacity, a weakened financial system, and a mountain of national debt – all because the dilletantes in government have decided global leadership and Pax Americana is a thing of the past.

With America on the sidelines, Putin gets his empire, China gets a captive market for their manufacturing output as well as Russian and Middle Eastern oil (which they desperately need), and control over resource rich Africa. The petrodollar becomes the petroyuan and America is further crippled as it loses the advantages of the dollar being the global reserve currency.

Canada is significantly messed up under Justin Castreau, Mexico is controlled by cartels, Central America is a corrupt and poverty ridden catastrophe and South America is in a constant state of revolution. Without strong American leadership, there isn’t much fear from the Western Hemisphere + the UK Commonwealth. The Russians and Chinese watch as fools in American government declare the sanctity of aspects of Ukraine nationhood, aspects which they deny to their own country, thereby revealing the malignant hypocrisy of American leadership.

Russia and China are very old countries with a lot of patience. Why mount a costly attack on America when we are in the process of destroying ourselves from within? Why not just grab some popcorn, settle in, and see how the movie ends?

It could very well be that the attack on Ukraine was a probing attack, just so Russia and China could see how the West would react. That might explain why it just looks clumsy. Maybe the point was never the taking of Ukraine, something Putin has always had the military and financial wherewithal to do, but the outcome was learning just how weak the West has become and to show the world that noting NATO, the UN or America says can be trusted?

What if Russia and China have decided the American Departments of State and Defense have lost the ability to think strategically, preferring to see the geopolitical map as consisting of small ongoing tactical wars of convenience rather than an evolving global strategy?

What if this was just a test whether the leaders of the “free world” would accept a return to a more barbaric time when might makes right?

And what if we have failed that test?

There is a concept called "unrestricted warfare" that comes from a book on military strategy of the same name written in 1999 by two colonels in the People's Liberation Army, Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui.

Literally translated, the Mandarin title means "war without bounds or boundaries."

It details a set of strategies, tactics, and avenues a less technologically advanced country (i.e., China) can use to defeat a more technologically advanced country (the USA). In its most basic form unrestricted warfare encompasses actions in four major areas:

1-Lawfare: tie your enemy up in courts and with legal battles, even if those battles are based on lies.

2-Economic: harm your enemy economically - fight your enemy with economic sanctions, unfair trade, tariffs and even to the point of calling in loans and bonds. Crash his economy.

3-Networks: Attack and/or infiltrate your enemy's information systems and his alliances.

4-Terrorism: encourage, fund, and carry out terror attacks against your enemy's people, show the people the target country cannot protect them.

What if this is that?

Pandemic porn has been replaced by war porn almost overnight. Fauci and his acolytes have had their fifteen minutes, and now no longer useful, have been put back in their boxes. Western media has done the Russian’s propaganda for them, driving a singular focus on just what is happening in Ukraine.

But this is a war of global dimensions, it cannot be contained within the borders of any country, much less Ukraine.

It is unrestricted warfare in the internet age, something we have never seen before.

[transcendentcacophony]

Thoughts on Worldbuilding: Storytelling with Geography: Lunar Lakes

So I've been thinking about worldbuilding for awhile, and one of the things that I like about certain worlds is that they tell a story with their geography. I think Lunar Lakes is one of these worlds.

Image: An overview of Lunar Lakes from Sims 3

All Lunar Lake images will be from here

This is going to draw from James C. Scott's The Art of Not Being Governed and the concept of Zomia

So one of the central concepts behind Zomia and The Art is the idea that not everybody wants to be a part of centralized governments or nation-states.

Traditionally, most academic fields have held that as societies centralize around agricultural centers that evolve into urban centers, they draw everybody to them through some kind of unexplained magnetism as they gradually expand. It's usually held that this is because the centralizing power of agriculture allows for population booms not supported by hunting-and-gathering. At least one philosopher <cough> Daniel Quinn <cough>1 this is a result of these populations controlling access to food. Not just surpluses of food, but access to food at all, forcing those within their borders to join the system or die.

This idea that agricultural societies are somehow fundamentally better. We see this reflected in different cultural evolution models (all of which are horribly racist but still manage to hang on in weird places, particularly developmental models). As such, the shift from hunting-and-gathering to sedentary agriculture tends to be heralded as a good thing in most history text books and is pretty much always seen as a step towards "modernization.2" But what if you don't want that? What if you have zero interest in joining the agricultural community and implied state control?3 What options do you have then?

You, then, may be interested in Zomia or one of the other extra-territorial spaces that function similarly.

Image: A village in the mountains

So what is Zomia? Zomia encompasses a large territory that ranges across Southeast Asia up into Tibet. Its primary defining feature is its rugged terrain and various populations that have no interest in different state-sponsored "civilizing" projects. While different agricultural centers expand outward to fill the lowland regions seeking to bully those they encounter along the way into joining, various people along the way say "f*ck it" and go up into the mountains. Why? Because the rugged terrain makes it harder for their valley-based neighbors to control them while providing plenty of hiding places push back against their expansion.

Image: A map of the Zomia area highlighting the Southeast Asian and Himalayan Massifs, areas encompassing the geography of Zomia itself.

Agriculture tends to lock people into place and makes them easier to control, therefore nation-states interested in keeping track of large populations have a vested interest in convincing people to farm. Buggering off into the mountains offsets this. Agriculture isn't necessarily harder in these mountainous areas4, but you do have different crops as a result of altitudinal zonation and a fair amount of people choose to engage in animal husbandry instead because the high altitudes impact calorie consumption as your body spends more energy keeping you warm.

This impacts cultures in these regions as well. People may choose to define themselves in opposition to the lowland culture they are avoiding. They may hybridize with cultures already in the mountains, create new languages, or define themselves by the fact they are there for political or semi-political reasons and expressly avoiding the control of an outside party, even if that outside party is the nation-state they are legally considered a part of. There is also a tendency of these cultures to discard literacy for orality, in part because orality is easier to carry around and in part because it marks them as Other compared to their lowland counterparts. It also gives you a since of control over your culture itself, as orality can't be shared unless you want it to whereas almost anyone can learn a writing system and open a book.

So what's this got to do with Lunar Lakes? Let's look at LL more closely, shall we?

Image: The downtown region from Lunar Lakes

The most densely developed part of Lunar Lakes is easily this "downtown" district in the lowlands region. This area contains most of the community lots for the world, and, most tellingly, City Hall and the Perigee, which we're told in the original blurb brought the (human) sims to Lunar Lakes to begin with.

Image: The Rim

There is a little bleed over of rabbitholes from the city center onto the Rim, a slightly elevated area just above it, but these are no where near as "mountainous" as the craters we'll get to in a minute.

Image: The Canals

Another defining feature of the lowland central area are these canals. As these canals do not extend to a beach or other waterway, they can't be for trade, thereby lending themselves to the idea that they are intended for agricultural uses. They could, of course, predate the colony, but that doesn't change the intent.

Image: The Crystal Mine, the Outpost, and the Depot

On the backside of the craters, we have the Crystal Mine, the Outpost, and the Depot. We're told in the original backstory blurb for the world on the Store page that the residents had to harness the crystals to to make their colony sustainable, but it feels abandoned now. Given the importance of the mine in the early days of the colony, it makes sense they'd have a transport depot here for the workers and an outpost, possibly for the military, to protect it, especially if the world was inhabited and the indigenous people wanted nothing to do with them or actively apposed them.

Image: The Craters from Lunar Lakes

Which brings us finally to the craters themselves. Here's where Zomia comes in. If Lunar Lakes was inhabited and if the native population had no interest in joining the colonists or being exploited by them, where would they go? The craters, of course! This would also hold true for anyone who didn't want to fall in line with the colonial leadership among the human sims themselves. We know the Louie family, for example, had to move to the craters after they were exiled by Patricia Cross, the current colonial leader. It therefore stands to reason that, even if the people who live here are colonists, this is where they are expected to go if they are exiled or want to get away from the political milieu of the central powers in the downtown district.

Image: Suburban Subspace lot from Lunar Lakes

And, of course, architecturally, this is where we got those distinctive mushroom houses, which again, suggests an alternative development of this region compared to the lowlands even if the people here are exiled colonists, deviants, etc.

Regardless, we end up with a setting that is rife for internal worldbuilding and storytelling based on its geography. If you add an alien population seeking to escape SimEarth colonization by fleeing to the craters, it establishes a political backdrop for stories, making the world feel more lived in and providing a ready-made backstory. This is one of the things I think is drastically missing in the Sims 4 with their itty-bitty neighborhoods and lack of connecting spaces.

Anyways, these are the things I think about when worldbuilding myself. What story does my world tell geographically? Does it have a built in backstory represented by its geography? Are the different regions/neighborhoods connected in a way that makes cohesive sense? Are their other worlds you think do a good job of storytelling with their designs?

If you build worlds, do you take into account the storytelling potential of your geography? Why or why not? If you play in worlds like Lunar Lakes, does the geography inform your storytelling? Does it help build a metadiscourse around your game? Are there other worlds that inspire your gameplay with their layouts?

Edited in response to @nornities excellent feedback.

1) This is not meant as an endorsement of all of Quinn's arguments; he's got a weird overpopulation theory built into his writing that's a little too close to Malthusian for my liking, but I'm not one to throw out the baby with the bathwater, as it were.

2) Ever notice how "modernization" and "development" are always fundamentally anchored in how Europe moved from feudalism to imperialism to democracy etc.? Yeah, that's the remnants of that "cultural evolution" model I'm talking about. "You're not successful until you look like us!" "Take these developmental loans from the World Bank or the IMF! We promise the strings attached are for your benefit too!" "What do you mean you want to skip industrialization and natural resource extraction and invest in your environment, happiness, and long-term sustainability? You'll never be like us that way! You're a failed state! Ignore the coup in the background we swear we had nothing to do with!"

3) This is the section that was edited after @nornities pointed out that it could be read to imply that non-agricultural societies don't have taxes, class warfare, epidemics, subjugation, slavery, conscription, etc. That was not the intention, although it is clearly stated in Scott's original work that he considers these and other negative societal effects to be the direct result of such "civilizing projects." It was not my intent to perpetuate that idea as these things do happen in non-agricultural societies, so I have changed the original wording. Thank you, @nornities

4) I also forgot to mention the clear exception to this: the Incan Empire. Unlike most empire models, the Inca engaged in a top-down society (literally) that was based in the mountains and expanded downward and outward over time. They were predated by two earlier Andean civilizations.

[inwoagwo]

[Women in Finance 3] Women who broke the glass ceiling

Top women financiers in Korea say concerted efforts needed from families, companies and society to create level playing field.

By Kim Young-won & Jie Ye-eun (wone0102@heraldcorp.com) (yeeun@heraldcorp.com)

"The Korea Herald is publishing a series of special reports on the glass ceiling in the financial industry, focusing on South Korea’s market compared with other major economies. Funded by The Korea Press Foundation, the series will evaluate where Asia’s fourth-largest economy stands in terms of gender equality, will reflect on changes being made and will explore ways to boost inclusion in the sector." Ed.

Looking back at her 41-year career in South Korea’s finance sector, Sohn Byung-ok, former CEO of Prudential Life Insurance Korea, recalls how she struggled to strike the right balance between work and home. Sohn, the first female financier here who made it all the way to the top, said it is never wise to be a superwoman and that she believes in excelling simultaneously at home and at work. “You need to make wise choices and then prioritize things that you should focus on,” she said. “You need to seek your family’s understanding when you have projects to be done, and also (make clear) to the company that you have family matters to deal with. You need to have your voice heard from both sides.” After starting her career with Chase Manhattan Bank in 1974, it took her nearly four decades to break the glass ceiling in the finance sector -- and more than 130 years since the country’s modern banking system was introduced in 1878. Before 2011, the year Sohn was named CEO of the foreign insurance company, Korea had no female representation in the top ranks of finance in the private sector. Asia’s fourth-largest economy, which elected its first female president seven years ago, still has no women in public office supervising financial policies and regulating markets. Sohn’s rise to the top led other women to follow suit. The state-owned Industrial Bank of Korea named Kwon Seon-joo as the first female CEO in 2013, and Citibank Korea welcomed Yoo Myung-soon just last month. The list of female CEOs in finance also includes KB Securities CEO Park Jeong-rim, IBK Capital CEO Choi Hyun-sook and Cho Jee-eun, incoming CEO of Lina Life Insurance.

From left: Former CEO of Prudential Life Insurance Company of Korea Sohn Byung-ok, former CEO of Industrial Bank of Korea Kwon Seon-joo, Citibank Korea CEO Yoo Myung-soon, IBK Capital CEO Choi Hyun-sook and Korea Exchange executive director Chai Hyun-joo (Yonhap, IBK, Citibank, IBK Capital, KRX)

The Bank of Korea has women on its monetary policy board. Suh Young-kyung, former deputy governor of the central bank, was named as a board member in April. Now, for the first time in the bank’s 70-year history, it has more than one woman on the board. Lim Ji-won, managing director of investment bank JPMorgan Korea, has been a BOK monetary policy board member since 2018.  Their presence, perceived as quite significant, was still not enough to shake up the industry, which has long been considered a boys’ club. The proportion of female executives among Korea’s financial companies was 4.1 percent as of March 2020, according to a joint study by The Korea Herald and corporate data research firm CEO Score. Women’s chances of getting promoted to executive positions in financial companies was also slim. While the companies had 37 executives for every 1,000 male workers, they had only 2 female executives per 1,000 women. Untold stories Scarce female representation in the industry today owes much to the corporate culture of the past, when men were considered the main breadwinners.

(The Korea Herald, CEO Score)

Chai Hyun-joo, who became the first executive director of securities operator the Korea Exchange last year, said financial institutions have traditionally been “men-only” clubs even at the entry level. “We had just a few women when I joined (the Korea Exchange) in 1991, and we were given back-office assignment such as typing and receiving telephone calls,” she said. “It was the time when women building their careers was rare, and because of that sort of dominant perception, people from the Finance Ministry and brokerage companies were often reluctant to talk with me, and asked to switch their calls to male colleagues, implying that they don’t want to talk business with a woman.” What Sohn and Chai had in common was not only the difficulty of balancing work and home life, but also surviving in the “gentlemen’s club” -- alone. In contrast to their male colleagues, who often received helpful support and advice from their male superiors, the women fought obstacles to advance their careers, oftentimes on their own. Since most of her colleagues were men, Sohn said she had to make extra efforts to keep “one step ahead” of her peers in terms of both work quality and quantity, adding that she studied for a master of business administration at night and additionally learned English and accounting. Being nervous at work was an everyday affair. “Wherever I go, I was the only woman on the team. … But because of that I was compelled to complete the job wishing to get assigned to key posts while being careful not to make trouble with male colleagues,” said Chai. “I was obsessed to work better, thinking that me doing my job well might open new opportunities to my (female) junior colleagues.” Forget about glass ceiling The financial sector still lags behind in achieving gender equality, and this could pose serious risks for individual businesses as well as the nation’s economy, according to experts. “The issues regarding the lack of female leadership will likely get even worse if no effort is being made, and that is why the government has recently looked into the problems and revised a bill to require listed companies to have at least one woman on their director boards,” said Kim Woo-chan, a finance professor at Korea University Business School in Seoul. “The fact that there are glass ceilings and discrimination for a particular gender means human resources are not efficiently utilized, which could undermine the nation’s overall competitiveness,” he added. The newly revised bill, which went into effect in January this year, requires a listed company with 2 trillion won ($1.83 billion) in assets or more to have at least one female board member. After a grace period that runs through August 2022, some 150 listed companies meeting the criteria must have at least one female outside director in the boardroom.

(The Korea Herald, Gallup)

According to The Korea Herald survey, 44.3 percent of the 517 respondents said there needs to be a law that mandates a company have a certain number of female executives. Women respondents were more supportive than men, with 57.5 percent of female respondents saying they agreed with the idea, while 30.3 percent of males agreed.  The study also suggested that female representation in top management could lead to improved business performance. Slightly more than 40 percent of survey participants said increased female representation would have a positive impact on their companies’ performance and earnings. Despite the government’s drive for gender equality, an increase in the number of women across industries and a slow change in perceptions of gender roles, the glass ceiling still exists. But it is not unbreakable, as Sohn’s experience shows. “A glass ceiling exists almost everywhere, and it was worse than now some years ago,” said Sohn, who now serves as an outside director of Standard Chartered Bank Korea. “As the financial market now has some C-level figures, it is the time for women to stop moaning about the glass ceiling, and to start breaking the glass ceiling in their minds and do their utmost to excel at work,” she said.

Herald. 2020. “[Women in Finance 3] Women Who Broke the Glass Ceiling.” Koreaherald.com. December 13, 2020. http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20201213000183.

‌

[marcgotardi-blog]

Benefits of CBD

New Zealand, famous for its wine, lamb, exquisite seafood and fresh produce is a food and wine lovers dream and the cosmopolitan city of Auckland showcases all of the country's produce in its world class restaurants. There is a good array of high end restaurants along with cafes and cheap eats boasting quality food, with a unique Pacific Rim flair. Many hotels in Auckland pride themselves in providing excellent dining experiences for their guests so don't go past your Auckland CBD accommodation for a good place to eat.

High End Restaurants in Auckland

Cibo in Auckland's trendy Parnell is a firm favourite amongst locals and visitors alike. The quaint restaurant is decorated with a quirky wall of hand mirrors and opens up onto a sunny courtyard beside a pond. The mainly European menu has an Asian influence from its owner and chef's annual travels to Asia.

Award winning Clooney is located in Panacea Life  Freeman's Bay and has consistently impressed its patrons with a carefully crafted and dynamic menu. Although the prices are steep, the superb service, classy surroundings and downright sexy atmosphere make it worth every cent.

Kazuya is another restaurant worthy of honourable mention, featuring an a la carte or degustation menu featuring mainly European food with a Japanese influence. The high -ceilinged black and white decorated space is seriously classy and the service and food match.

The full list of excellent high end restaurants is too large to include although there are a few that must be mentioned including The Grove, The French Cafe, The Grill by Sean Connolly and Sidart Restaurant. If money is no object, you'll find it very easy to get rid of in Auckland.

Cheap Eats in Auckland

There's a new breed of cheap eats popping up, not just in Auckland, but in many major cities around the world... the food truck. Food trucks tend to offer one type of cuisine and this can vary from vegetarian and organic food to Asian and even Mexican. The one thing these trucks all have in common is fast food at cheap prices. The Lucky Taco which recently turned up on the streets of Auckland offers exactly that in the form of Mexican food and for around $10 to $12 you can have a great Mexican feed made with fresh, flavoursome ingredients.

The Ponsonby International Food Court on Ponsonby Road is renowned throughout Auckland as one of the best food courts around and the prices are cheap, cheap, cheap. The range of cuisines is extensive and includes Turkish, Thai, Malaysian, Indian, Chinese and more. You can't go wrong here if you want a quick, cheap meal.

Food Alley in Albert Street in the Auckland CBD offers exclusively Asian cuisine from over a dozen kitchens at an average of around $8 per meal. The food is authentic, well cooked and comes in generous portions.

There are new offerings on the restaurant scene popping up daily. Most hotels in Auckland will be able to tell you which local restaurants are worth visiting and where to get a good meal at a good price. There are also some great places to eat near the Auckland airport hotels if you happen to be stuck in that area for the night. Te Maroro Restaurant is an award winning restaurant within the Jet Park hotel and specialises in local beef and lamb.

Foodies visiting Auckland will find they are well catered for with a high standard of dining options and a huge range of cuisines along with New Zealand's own style of Pacific Rim cuisine.

[just-some-random-blogger]

Noodle City

NCT Chef!Wong Yukhei (Lucas) & NoodleMaster!Lee Sooman Characters: NCT 2019 bro, Lee Sooman Summary:  Lucas was a scholar of the dying art of noodle making. And when I say scholar, I strictly mean in the sense that he is studying it, not in the sense that he is excelling. Master Sooman however sees great potential in him. Word Count: 2k+ Warnings: CRACK LINDA CRAAAACK, fluff, more crack, typos?, etc.

A/N: Back when I hadn’t memorized NCT’s names, I thought it was quite impossible, and since lucas was one of the first people i knew, i imagined him naming his members... but as noodles beCAUSE THEY’RE ALL SO SKINNY FEED THEM SM

Through the busy streets of Seoul you may come across a famous restaurant, known for it's greatness in noodles. On one slow day, the owner and master maker had a class in the back of his shop. The master was teaching his only student how to get used to using his hands and not the machines he was so accustomed to.

After explaining he had to make twenty strands of noodles, he had left his apprentice of two weeks to make it on his individually, by hand, by himself in the kitchen with the freedom to use whatever he wished. He had not yet shown him the way to make noodles, maybe a few moves and techniques here and there, but the task was a step higher from what his student was used to, which was more than enough for the master he to make sure of him.

When he came back, he was instantly bombarded with a man who resembled a young boy on Christmas. His big eyes did match that of a child.

"Master, look at what I did!" Lucas smiled widely, raising a metal tray of thin strings of dough.

Lee Sooman, the last remaining practitioner of this dying, ancient art of noodle making, squinted at the strips before his eyes, "Mwo ya?"

"They're my noodles," Lucas smiled proudly.

The shorter, older man peered up at the face of his only student and adjusted his glasses.

It was not that the master could not teach many at once or could not find anyone else to teach, but it was because he did not see anything in the ones who say they are willing to learn.

He however thinks this culinary chef who had traveled far for him was a winning candidate.

The broad shouldered man sniffled and blew strands of his blonde dyed hair out of his face.

No, the eager souled being didn't really have an allergy to dust nor to flour. Lucas supposes the runny nose he had was due to the fact he accidentally kept snorting the flour up like cocaine and choked on it on many occasions. It wasn't his fault he was too tall and had to all the way bend down to see how his craftsmanship was holding up.

Though I suppose it was his fault that he kept falling out of balance, sucking in some powder on along the way to find his centre of gravity.

Actually, no. It was gravity's fault, not Lucas's.

The noodle neophyte wiped his philtrum with the back of his hand, unknowingly smearing the same substance that caused him to sniffle across his left cheek.

His master was about to tell him about it, but was silenced by the intensity of the voice that spoke.

"Look, look! I even named them, look!" Lucas chirped, bringing his pride and glory to the marble counter he had birthed them.

 Sooman spared an exhale of withheld breath and narrowed his eyes at his could be successor. He placed his hands behind his back and walked over to the young man.

"Here, look." Lucas turned over his shoulder and awaited for his senior to come to his side. Once he approched, Lucas continued, "This one's the first I made. His name is Taeil. He's Korean like the rest of them, exceot for those who are not. I ended up making him kinda small, but that's okay. Anyway, he has a big heart to make up for it," he pointed, "which is why this part of him is kinda bumped. It's his heart though, not a boob."

The man tried his best not to react in a way Lucas may seem negative, so instead he asked, "you named it?"

Lucas hummed.

"All of it?"

"Well, duh. This is my first time actually making noodles by myself so I have to. I even took pictures, wanna see?"

Sooman flattened his lips together.

Lucas mimicked the action to a degree, "I see. I'll take that as a no."

He offered a smile nevertheless.

"Okay, next one is Johnny." Lucas pointed, looking to the tray, to his master, and back again. "I tried to make up for what I didn't do to Taeil but then I ended up making him too long." He pursed his lips and nodded, "he's really funny, fun to be around, really good at English, and is a total meme."

Sooman's forehad wrinkled. Meme?

"Then next is Taeyong, who ended up kinda small, but that's fine. He's the type that seems like he's going to eat tou whole, which is ironic if you ask me, since he's a noodle, but he's actually a big pile of fluff once you hear him speak. He's really good dancer, great stage presense, and has good leadership skills, which is why I have decided to make him the leader of Noodle City, or NCT for short."

Lucas smiled once again afyer explaining, and pointed, "Yuta turned out to be just right size. He's Japanese, I reckon since I used some of that favorite flour of yours, the expensive one from Osaka, to fix him when I--" the look and Sooman's face made Lucas's words slower, "got him.... wet." The blonde haired boy cleared his throat, "He's good at football, and uh... he's got a great personality-- just like you," he chuckled nudging his mentor.

There was no reaction.

"You said I could use anything though."

Silence.

He cleared his throat again.

"Next is Kun. He's Chinese, like yours truly. He's great at cooking, better than me, I hate to admit, though not really because I was the one that made him that way.  He like to makes food for his noodle children like the nurturing parent figure he is." Lucas chuckled.

It was not so much out of character that Lucas would go out of his way to do something like this, but Sooman found it amusing that he made one of his characters better than him at something,when he proudly arms himself with the fact he is the top chef, The Iron Chef, from Hong Kong, who's leaving his mark all across Asia, making it his playground-- or rather is kitchen. Yes he did boost his ego along the way, but it was funny nonetheless.

 "Doyong over here is kind of tricky." Lucas continued, "He's very concerned, very smart, very much like a parent figure too, but he has a scary part to him. He has a bright personality and does want the best for his noodles, but deep down he's listing everyone's weaknesses and will attack swiftly all those that cross him!"

The man with greying hair knit his brows and found himself pulling his head back slowly.

"Moving on. This is Ten, or Chittaphon Leechiyapornkul. I went to Thailand once and so I decided he'd be Thai, but actually Chinese because well, I'm Chinese, and there is a lack of Chinese among them and, well, diversity. He's the squiggliest out of all of them." Lucas bit his tongue as he smiled.

He pinched the bottom of the noodle and moved him back and forth, "See? Look at how fluid he is."

The man with a cartoonish smile nodded at his work in approval, "He's a really good dancer. Plus, he sings really well too. I mean, they all sing and dance really good, but that's not the point.

"This next one I decided to give him a birthday on Feburary 14-- just because, even though it's the middle of summer. I named him Jaehyun, and he for some reason reminds me of bread. He looks very soft, which he is, but his noodlity is nice and firm."

"Did you just say noodlity?" the old man asked.

"Yes.

"---"

"Yes, I did."

"---"

"Jaehyun's noodlity doesn't need to be tested for it is firm."

Lucas turned to back to his work, still as pleased as ever, and counted on his fingers to keeo himself back on track. "Ah, next is Winwin because he never loses. Ayeeee."

There was no reaction but Lucas was still proud. He pat his chest with enough force that there was a puff of flour in the air. "Just like his dad. Aye!" Lucas dabbed, and Sooman merely looked at him. After settling down, he went on, "He's a real diamond in the rough. He's really talented, he's capable of so many things, but some people over look him for some," Lucas smacked the surface before him, "ga'damned reason."

He's getting upset over the fictionality he gave his noodles, Sooman thought. Odd.

Lucas heaved in and out heavily and went back to his senses. "Anyway, this is Jungwoo. Soft on the outside, soft on the inside, just a real big softie. You must protect him with all your life. He cries in passion. He's a real sweethert." the tall man gave a lopsided smile and clicked his tongue. "I love him so much-- I mean I love them all, but I love him."

 It was undenibale that the noodle master found the way his apprentice gave life to his lifeless work amusing to say the least. Though in the back of Sooman's head, he knew he should've stopped him the moment he introduced his first noodle. But it was far too late now, he had already spoke about half of them. It would be extremely unfair to the latter noodles if they were to be left unmentioned.

"This one's Mark. He's Canadian, not comdian, though personally, I know the cute little fellow would be really funny, or would find me really funny. But I mean, who doesn't I tell really great jokes." Lucas gave an airy ha, ha, ha, and pointed a finger gun at the man beside him.

"Next is Renjun. He's also Chinese, but is confident in Korean and Chinese. He has a bright personality and is a real goofball. Don't let that trick you into messing with him or his dongsaengs though. He'll rough you up.

"Then there's Na Jaemin, or Na-na! I personally think his nickname is the cutest thing in the world-- no bias. He's really sweet but will kill you if he gets a chance. He's not as good as speaking English as Johnny or Mark, but he's actually also really good at it too."

At this point, the older man adjusted the rims seated on his nose and spared an airy chuckle.

The younger man felt warmth in his chest at that.

He proceeded, "Jeno here, spends a lot of his time gawking at his sunbaes, thinking how great they are. He's really great too, but he believes he should still work hard, which is good. I taught him that. I'm proud of him, of both of us.

"And Haechan over on this side, rolls with the his hyungs most of the time, and so he has this air around him that makes him feel like he's all that, but he's not, really." Lucas proceeds to giggle, "he's still very much a dorky kid at heart and outside, honestlt, but in his head, he's really cool. I mean he is, but he's not, but don't tell him that.

"On to the last two. Here we have p Chenle, a big, big bowl of fruity sunshine who's confused in Chinese but just laughs it off in Korean. He is a ray of sunshine, and he's so sweet and pure and GAH," Lucas shouts, shielding the noodle, "don't touch him!"

Sooman didn't dare even flinch.

"And then baby Jisung. He's the youngest, but he wound up becoming quite long. I bet he'll get longer after he's been cooked. But he's quite thin though for my taste. I mean, honestly, they're all pretty thin to me. I dom't think it's healtht but that's how they turned out to be."

Lucas crossed his arms, "They should really eat more rice. I mean, if they were actual people, I'd call them over and feed them as much as they can eat."

"But they're not people, Yukhei. They're noodles." Sooman finally spoke after a while.

As much as he liked being called his Chinese name, he also felt tremendously nervous everytime that name of his was called instead of Lucas, especially since it was the name his teacher had decided on calling him.

"Kure," Lee Sooman huffed, "prepare me a--"

"Jangkaman," Lucas raised a hand, "those are just 17. I made three more separate ones."

The young man dashed off, leaving the older man to follow him with his eyes.

He ran back quickly holding another tray, much smaller than the first one.

Lucas smiled ear to ear, extra giddy, "I got bored after a while so I experimented on some Chinese flour, just to see what the difference would be. I mean, I don't see anything, but these ones came out really pretty. I mean they're all pretty, but- these one's are Chinese-Chinese. Not that the ones who are Chinese aren't but... ... I just realized this has nothing to do with being pretty. Sorry. I don't remember what my point was."

 Lucas showed the tray that held three pieces of noodles. He placed the smaller tray next to the larger one on the marble and took them one by one.

"Xaojun," he said, placing him on the tray with the rest of the noodles, "Yangyang," he adds, repeating the same action with a differnet noodle, "and Hendery."

Lucas looks at his work in satisfaction and looked to Sooman, "They're all Chinese; Hendery is from Maca--"

"Araso, araso," the professional noodle maker spoke, finally cutting the young one off. "You made a noodle city..."

Lucas pursed his lips, "Hmm, yeah."

"But with only males, so fundamentally just an overpopulated boy group."

"Hmmm, well, I actually made a separate batch of noodles, but I spilled some red food coloring on it. I was thinking of making a Red Velvet concept-thing, I already even had a Seulgi and Irene, but then I remembered you don't like adding unnatural additives to noodles, or anything you cook, so I scratched that."

"I digress," Noodle Master spoke. "Boil up your noodle city-" "you can just call it NCT, cause you know, N is for noodle and CT is--" "NCT and make me a dazzling bowl of noodles."

Lucas pursed his lips, noddedm and soluted. "Yes sir."

 Lee Sooman awaited the dish from outside the kitchen and sat soundfully. He could hear Lucas's professionality from outside and the smell wafting around was only  helping to support that.

When Lucas emerged, a delicious aroma followed, though the master expected no less.

The old man tasted the soup-- supurb, the beef-- well-cooked, and then the noodles.

He got his chopsticks and placed the boiled dough strings in his mouth. It all varied in texture and firmness. In his mouth, he could swear, he tasted the character of the noodls. He was torn between deciding whether or not it was a good or bad thing. The noodle master slurped up a strand and wondered which noodle it was along the way. Maybe it was that Johnny one because of it's irregular length, or was that Jaehyun? Jungkook? Jeonghan? He couldn't remember. Which one was the one that was really funny again?

Ah, how could Lucas think of 20 different characters and remember?

Lee Sooman really was getting old, huh?

Anyway, Sooman turned to his student who bore the same bright eyes he always had.

"Yukhei," he started, "did I ever tell you why you're my only student?"

The apprentice nodded slowly, brows knitting, "You said it was because you saw something in me."

"Ye. In all my days as a noodle craftsman..." he chuckled, "I have never encountered one who made twenty individual noodles that came with a biography."

The blonde stuck out his lower lip, "You didn't even hear about Yangyang, Hendery, and Xaojun."

The man chuckled, "Ye, ye, tell me about them later, but for now you must listen. The reason why I chose you, why I am teaching only you is because... well, let's put it this way-- I see you as my noodle. I have seen and placed an esteemed character in you that I have not others. Though you may be big headed and airy at times, I know you hold layers passion, it is flowing in your veins. And I know a lot of heart, and you put a lot of heart in what you do."

Lucas looked at his master, speechless. He had heard many compliments about him and his work, but he felt it, he felt this was most definitely the most genuine one out of them all.

"Of course your noodles... your noodles are horrible." Sooman chuckled, making Lucas do the same but in a much miniscule version, cheeks heating up as well.

"But they have character-- literally," the old man laughed again, "and so I've decided to tell you all the secrets, teach you all I know, and help you mold that character and carry on this sacred tradition."

Lucas licked his lips, and felt his eyes go glassy. "I WON'T LET YOU DOWN!"

The old man laughed, "I know."

[bike-accessories-tips]

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