#taiwan tammy

[dudja]

Me trying to create characters for MadTV like: #comedy #memes #itsalwayssunnyinphiladelphia #madtv

[conscbgb]

Yuan smirk 😏

[headstro]

Episode 12: "Us / The 12th kind of family stays together for life."

Thank you for making a wonderful series.

[freedom-barricades-bighero16]

Happy Taiwan National Day!! 雙十國慶快樂！！

Also yes this is the Monsters and Comets edition, so there's more characters. Gogo has officially got her character development, while Vincent is my second Taiwanese oc for this series (Hiro is here because he is Vincent's friend, and Baymax also had to join the fun). The more the merrier!

[a-nice-egg-offering]

It’s actually sinful that both Dennis and charlie have been in drag before and the actual (well out) gay one hasnt

[thisonelikesaliens]

i can't reconcile the timeline anymore

2/9/2013: first time we actually see Lili played by Tammy Lin (who plays between ages 13 through 23, confirmed in an interview/promo)

sometime in 2018: this has to be when the first fishing trip happens, because Lili graduates high school this year at 18 and Yuan leaves on the day of her graduation trip. also because otherwise Qian's question of "don't you want to get married?" wouldn't make sense because:

5/24/2019: same-sex marriage became legal in Taiwan

1/25/2020: lunar new year (date on Qian's phone the morning after he blacked out after new year's eve dinner)

9/27/2023: Yuan comes home

by this count Yuan was gone 5, not 4 years

i think i'm missing something but i have no idea what

[indiesellersguild]

We promised a detailed analysis of the COOL Online Act, and we have delivered!

A couple of excerpts from the introduction:

In the US and most other countries, when a consumer buys something new, they have the legal right to know where that product was made. This is the reason behind those stickers that say “Made in China”, “Made in Taiwan”, “Hecho en México” etc. However, these days more and more consumers are making purchases online rather than in person, and the laws that protect consumers’ rights are still catching up with the rise of online shopping.

The COOL (Country Of Origin Labeling) Online Act, a bill currently being considered by the US Senate, aims to make sure consumers who make purchases online rather than in person still have access to this important information.

[...]

The ISG worked hard with the office of Senator Tammy Baldwin, the sponsor of the bill, to make sure the new requirement will not hurt any of our members and will only target resellers misleading customers and driving down prices for authentic handmade sellers.

An FAQ has been included below the cut, but we recommend clicking through to the blog post for the full analysis.

Also, please note that this article is based on our research and understanding of the bill, but in no way should be taken as legal advice. The Indie Sellers Guild is not liable for any issues, legal or otherwise, sellers may encounter as the result of following the advice in this article.

Q: What is this bill all about?

A: In the US, when you buy an item in person you can see a “Made in _____” country of origin label on it somewhere. This is required by US customs law for items made outside the US. But there is currently no such requirement for items sold online. This bill aims to close that loophole and provide online shoppers with the same information they would have when shopping in person.

Q: How will I find the country of origin information for products?

A: It should be listed on the product or product packaging as a “Made in _____” label put on by the manufacturer. As long as you provide this information clearly in a listing, you are good to go. The limitations of liability in the bill means that you are only responsible for providing the information given to you by the manufacturer, and not liable if the manufacturer’s listing was wrong or false.

For a seller that creates their products (a handmade seller), the country the seller made it in would be the country of origin.

Q: How will I know if my handmade product counts as a new product that I made?

A: You have created a new product, with the country of origin now where you are, if you substantially transformed the item. “Substantial transformation means that the good underwent a fundamental change (normally as a result of processing or manufacturing in the country claiming origin) in form, appearance, nature, or character, which adds to its value an amount or percentage that is significant in comparison to the value which the good (or its components or materials) had when exported from the country in which it was first made or grown.”

So if you take fabric, thread, a zipper and buttons and make an item of clothing, you have substantially transformed those supplies into a new product.

Q: But what about taking an existing item and changing it? Like screen printing on a t-shirt?

A: That does change the t-shirts appearance and add value. Our contact at Senator Baldwin’s office said that would be a new product. But our advice is to be transparent about any country of origin labeling leftover in your handmade product. The goal of this bill is to provide the information you would see if you shopped in a physical store to online shopping. So if the handmade product you send out has a “Made in ____” labeling from one of the components you used (like a t-shirt), you’ll just share that information in the online listing.

Q: I am a seller in the US, does that mean I will put “made in the US” as my country of origin?

A: Actually, that is different. The “Made in USA” labeling is regulated by different marketing laws, not customs law. This bill is specifically for products made outside of the US, so US sellers do not need to provide country of origin labeling under the COOL Online Act. If you want to learn more about the “Made in USA” marketing laws, you can do so [via a link provided in the original FAQ].

Q: I am a seller in a country other than the US, will this bill apply to me?

A: Yes, it will apply to any products you sell to consumers in the US.

Q: So if I’m a seller outside the US, how will I label products I sell to the US?

A: If you are a handmade seller, then you are producing the new products and the country of origin would be where you live. Some countries have specific laws about labeling products as “Made in your country”, so please check the applicable laws for the best way to phrase your country of origin labeling. If you can’t find anything else more applicable, we recommend “Country of origin for US import law _______” as something to cover you for the COOL Online Act if it passes without going against any labeling laws in your country.

If you are a craft supply seller, this would be the country the item was manufactured in, so check the “Made in _____” labeling on the product and list that. If you are a vintage seller this bill does not apply to you.

Q: My shop is really small, do I really need to do all this?

A: The COOL Online Act has an exception for small sellers. If you make less than $20,000 revenue and sell less than 200 items in a year for each marketplace you sell on, this bill would not apply to you if it becomes law.

The each marketplace part of that means each place you sell would count towards its own total. So if you sell 150 items/$15,000 on Etsy and 75 items/$4000 on Facebook marketplace and 10 items/$2000 on Ebay, you would still be exempt as a small seller because your total at one marketplace never crossed the threshold.

Q: I am a vintage seller, will the bill apply to me?

A: Nope! It only applies to new products, anything sold that is used or pre-owned is exempt. So our vintage sellers don’t need to make any changes.

Q: I am a craft supply seller, how will this bill work for me?

A: For any products sold to the US you will need to list the country of origin provided by the manufacturer. This should be found on the product in the “Made in _____” labeling.

Q: I live in and design my products in one country, but use a print on demand company to make them. How will this bill work for me?

A: You could say “Designed in” whatever country you live in, and then would need to list whatever country the print on demand company manufactures the products in as the country of origin. The print on demand company will need to provide this information if they want to sell to the US themselves, so you should be able to get it from them. This is pretty much the same as Etsy’s already-existing requirement to list production partners. We think this will overall help our sellers, who tend to already be transparent about their process, by penalizing sellers that try to hide where their products are made. It will hopefully also make it easier for sellers to indicate when they use local print shops.

Q: What if I buy my materials from several different countries? Do I have to list all of them?

A: If you are creating a new product from those materials then no. You have created a new product and the country of origin is where you are. You do not need to provide country of origin information for all of the components used. If part of your handmade product has a clear “Made in ______” label of its own, for example a t-shirt you dyed, you could provide that information to customers if you want for full transparency, but it is not required by this bill. It would just be so that customers wouldn’t get confused upon seeing that tag.

Q: What are the marketplaces’ responsibility in all this?

A: Marketplaces are required to notify sellers of the new country of origin labeling requirements. They are also required to provide a way to list that information in the product’s description.

Q: How will this be enforced?

A: Anyone who violates this rule is subject to Federal Trade Commission’s regulations about unfair and deceptive business practices. But this is a civil violation, not criminal. The process can involve a hearing or interviews, or even formal subpoenas for information from the company. The FTC then brings the complaint to a judge, who either issues a cease and desist order or dismisses the complaint. Only if the company violates a cease and desist order are they liable to penalties.The penalty is up to $10,000 per violation. FTC cases tend to result in financial penalties paid back to consumers. The FTC can also forward a case on to law enforcement agencies if they believe a crime has been committed. [Two sources provided here in the original FAQ.]

Q: In the past I bought something that was claimed to be handmade, but when I got it there was a clear “Made in _____” tag and I found the same item for sale elsewhere at a much lower price. How would the COOL Online Act help keep me from getting ripped off like this in the future?

A: First off, if the COOL Online Act becomes law, that kind of false labeling of an item as handmade would specifically be unlawful and a violation of the unfair and deceptive practices regulations. If that happened again you could file a complaint with the FTC. More generally, it should increase the overall level of transparency from sellers about where their products come from and so make it easier to spot when a seller is being shady.

Q: What happens when I file a complaint with the FTC?

A: The FTC does not open cases for individuals. Rather, they use complaints to help identify patterns of unfair or deceptive practices from businesses. The FTC can bring enforcement action against businesses and one of the things that influence that is the number and severity of consumer complaints against a business. [Source provided here in the original FAQ.]

Q: What if I have an FTC complaint filed against me as a seller?

A: As far as we can tell, a single complaint against a small business is unlikely to do anything, unless it is for an issue specifically being investigated by the FTC. The FTC does not open cases for individuals, but instead pursues companies or industries based on public interest. So a single complaint of a single violation that did not cause much harm to the consumer may not get much attention.

According to our contacts, if the FTC does follow up with a complaint, they usually reach out to the business for more information, either informally or formally with civil investigative demand or subpoena. The FTC then takes the complaint and information to a judge, who either issues a cease and desist order or dismisses the complaint. Only if you violate a cease and desist order are you liable for civil penalties.

The bill calls for an interagency agreement to be publicly published that will give more guidelines on how this new requirement will be handled, so that should help provide more specific information. [Four sources provided here in the original FAQ.]

Q: If this bill passes will it actually make a difference?

A: It’s hard to predict exactly how much the COOL Online Act would change things, especially with enforcement through the FTC. What it will do is offer a clear legal requirement to provide country of origin labeling and a clear place to report violations. We hope it does a lot to reduce the problem of dishonest resellers on handmade platforms, but at the very least it will make it easier for customers to avoid resellers and make it more obvious when a seller is not being transparent. And it will be a clear win for creative indie sellers and consumers against the interests of large e-commerce platforms and retailers who don’t want this bill, which is a huge victory on its own!

Q: What is Etsy doing about this bill?

A: They are lobbying hard against it by saying that us, the makers, don’t want it. They say that it will be overly complicated and place a burden on handmade sellers, but we went over the whole bill carefully and found nothing to back that up. We think Etsy is resisting the bill because even though resellers are making Etsy a more difficult place for honest sellers to do business, the reselling and dropshipping industry still generates a lot of money for Etsy.

The bill is targeted at resellers dishonestly passing off foreign mass produced items as handmade while not causing a problem for genuine handmade sellers, and we were able to directly give feedback on how to make sure that happened. It is more important than ever now to make sure our voices are heard loud and clear, so that Etsy and other large e-commerce platforms can’t use us as puppets to protect their special interests.

Q: What can I do to support this bill and help it become law?

A: First off, sign up to support the bill and receive updates! [Link provided here in the original FAQ.] That way if there are any developments or calls to action, you will know right away. Then join the Guild if you haven’t yet! It’s free and anyone can join as an ally member. We are speaking on behalf of creative indie sellers for their interests, and the more members we have, the louder our voice will be as we continue to work with the Senate on this bill.

Q: What happens next with the COOL Online Act?

A: When the Senate reconvenes on September 5th, the next step will be to schedule a vote and to put it in a package with other legislation. We will be keeping a close eye on things to make sure it continues to move forward, and we’ll watch for any procedural road blocks opponents might put up. So please sign up to support and watch your email! If we need your help, we’ll need it fast, and we’ll email out a call to contact your Senator with a link to an email template.

Here is the link to the US congress official site to track the progress of the Online COOL Act:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1421

[asleepynoodle]

Do you like Minecraft and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Do you wanted to to look like one of the gang? Then this pack is perfect for you! • Includes 30 skins!

• 5 skins are free!

• Perfect for roleplay!

• Have fun!

Full list of included skins:

Charlie Skins: Charlie American, Charlie Dayman, Charlie Green Jacket, Charlie Greenman, Charlie Horse Tee and Charlie Office.

Mac Skins: Mac Fat Mac, Mac Jacked, Mac Nightman, Mac Riot, Mac Sleeveless and Mac Floral Shirt.

Dennis Skins: Dennis Babyboy, Dennis Short, Dennis Dayman, Dennis Duster, Dennis Checkers and Dennis Sweatshirt.

Dee Skins: Dee Boxing, Dee Desert Rose, Dee Pool, Dee Princess, Dee Rainbow Sweatshirt and Dee Taiwan Tammy.

Frank Skins: Frank Countach, Frank Mancheetah, Frank Pool, Frank Pure, Frank Trashman and Frank Troll.

available on my Gumroad Shop https://asleepynoodle.gumroad.com

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

I sincerely hope Adam Hamawy is able to get out of Gaza.

But I find it incredibly rich that Tammy Duckworth is suddenly so concerned.

In January, she voted against conditioning aid to Israel:

Just a few weeks ago, she voted to send Israel more money to use to commit genocide:

But the man who saved her life is trapped in Gaza, so she's suddenly concerned.

Other Americans have been murdered by Israel, but that didn't stop her from voting to send weapons.

And, look, I really hope he makes it out alive.

I just find it incredibly disgusting that Duckworth would gladly kill over 43,000 people, some of whom were babies, but now she's trying to play the hero.

[fiercynn]

y'all if you haven't seen it, these gifs are from the taiwanese lesbian short film 安可瑪莎 | ENCORE MARTHA, which is one of the best queer shorts i have ever watched (and i have watched over 400 queer short films lol).

i wrote a review of it last year, but essentially, it's the story of uncle martha (tammy lai), a butch lesbian in her 50s who sings at a bar and casually dates women she meets there, until she unexpectedly runs into her first love, mandy (wen-lin gang), whom she hasn’t seen for thirty years.

it's also based on the true story of huang hsiao-ning, also sometimes called martha huang, who was known for being taiwan’s first female elvis impersonator. hsiao-ning (who identified as a woman, a butch lesbian, and a tomboy or T, and used he/him pronouns in english) grew to fame in the 1960s and 1970s on both taiwanese and mainland chinese television, before moving to the united states to be with family in the early 1980s. he returned to taiwan in 2014 and took to the stage again several more times. director natasha kang-hsin sung was inspired to make the short film after meeting hsiao-ning in 2015, three years before his death.

you can watch the short film on gagaoolala with a subscription and with subtitles available in traditional and simplified chinese, english, indonesian, thai, korean, japanese, and spanish! it is 24 minutes of absolute delight.

“Alright. It’s not that I don’t have burdens.

 But I’ve learned to let them go.”

[conscbgb]

Yuan being a little $hit for 30 seconds straight

[blogynews]

"Unconventional Twist: Foxconn Founder Gou Teams Up with Netflix Star as Running Mate for Taiwan Presidency!"

Terry Gou, the founder and former chairman of Foxconn, a major supplier for Apple, has announced that his running mate in Taiwan’s presidential election next year will be Tammy Lai, an actress known for her role in a popular Netflix drama. Gou, who declared his candidacy as an independent last month, has consistently ranked low in opinion polls, with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s…

[blogynewz]

"Unconventional Twist: Foxconn Founder Gou Teams Up with Netflix Star as Running Mate for Taiwan Presidency!"

Terry Gou, the founder and former chairman of Foxconn, a major supplier for Apple, has announced that his running mate in Taiwan’s presidential election next year will be Tammy Lai, an actress known for her role in a popular Netflix drama. Gou, who declared his candidacy as an independent last month, has consistently ranked low in opinion polls, with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s…

[blogynewsz]

"Unconventional Twist: Foxconn Founder Gou Teams Up with Netflix Star as Running Mate for Taiwan Presidency!"

Terry Gou, the founder and former chairman of Foxconn, a major supplier for Apple, has announced that his running mate in Taiwan’s presidential election next year will be Tammy Lai, an actress known for her role in a popular Netflix drama. Gou, who declared his candidacy as an independent last month, has consistently ranked low in opinion polls, with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s…

[libertariantaoist]

News Roundup 7/19/2023 | The Libertarian Institute

Here is your daily roundup of today's news:

News Roundup 7/19/2023

by Kyle Anzalone

Russia

The Crimean Bridge that links Crimea to the Russian mainland was again targeted by Ukrainian forces in a bombing early Monday morning that killed two civilians and injured a child. AWC

Russia announced Monday that it was suspending its participation in a deal that was signed last year to facilitate the export of grain from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. AWC

As Washington ships billions of dollars in arms to Kiev, a General is warning that American weapons stockpiles are becoming dangerously low. The Defense Department official called for the weapons industry to increase production. The Institute

A senior figure in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) was placed in pretrial detention. Cleric Metropolitan Pavlo is facing charges for voicing opinions deemed too pro-Russian. The Institute

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that US officials believe Ukraine should be launching large-scale assaults against Russia’s defensive lines despite the risk of major losses and are blaming Ukraine’s tactics for the struggling counteroffensive. AWC

The Biden administration is expected to announce a new $1.3 billion weapons package for Ukraine in the coming days, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing two unnamed US officials. AWC

The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Russian forces launched “retaliatory” strikes in southern Ukraine in response to the bombing of the Crimean Bridge by Ukrainian forces. AWC

USAID Head Samantha Power rolled out multiple aid packages totaling hundreds of millions of dollars during a multi-day trip to Ukraine. The Institute 

The North Atlantic alliance is running so low on weapons it may be unable to keep supplying Kiev, according to CNN. A high-ranking British defense official said the predicament was created because NATO had no long-term plans for the war in Ukraine. The Institute

China

The Marshall Islands is seeking more compensation from the US for the health and environmental damages caused by US nuclear testing as part of negotiations to extend a deal that gives the US military access to the Pacific Island nation. AWC

Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) agreed on Sunday that NATO expansion into Asia was “inevitable” as the Western military alliance increasingly has its eyes on China. AWC

Terry Guo, a Taiwanese billionaire and politician, has called for dialogue between Taiwan and China and criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for not engaging with Beijing. AWC

China sent a record number of warships around Taiwan in a single day last week, topping a previous high set when the Chinese military responded to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island in August 2022, The South China Morning Post reported. AWC

Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger visited Beijing and met with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu on Tuesday. The Institute

Korea

A US nuclear-armed submarine docked in South Korea on Tuesday in a major provocation aimed at North Korea as tensions on the Korean Peninsula continue to rise. AWC

Middle East

President Joe Biden invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “meet soon” in the United States during a phone call on Monday. The Institute

Israeli airstrikes targeted Syria’s capital Damascus early Wednesday morning, wounding two Syrian soldiers, Syrian media has reported. AWC

Read More

[freedom-barricades-bighero16]

Happy birthday to the place I consider a second home (and Professor Hardy's home)

I love and miss you so much, Taiwan

臺灣雙十節快樂！