#rmfs speaks

[ranminfan]

Oh my god I have a type....

And it's creepy men with full on lips

[apsny-news]

EU losing its appetite for more sanctions – Polish PM — Apsny News

Warsaw will nevertheless push Brussels to hit Moscow with fresh restrictions, Mateusz Morawiecki has said The EU is suffering from sanctions “fatigue” and has “less appetite” to impose further economic penalties on Moscow, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Saturday. The sanctions proposed by Morawiecki will likely be opposed by some of the bloc’s members.  Speaking to Poland’s RMF…

[rayshippouuchiha]

First off, here you are, once again, getting me into a pairing I never thought of with that recent RMF.

Secondly, to the anon who threw that idea of Ichigo becoming a Kenpachi...I am glad we have the same brain cell bc that is an idea that had floated in my brain these past few weeks tbh while thinking up a few of my UraIchi wips and the ArdynIchigo one.

Something like TYBW goes ass up and very few survivors so Kisuke creates time travel bc of course he does and him and Ichigo and Aizen go back to the past only something goes awry during it that the three get flung back into different points in the past.

Aizen is the first to "awaken" only he's just barely in his first year in the academy and he's annoyed more than anything bc the strings that bonds his soul to his two fools' own are still there, only dimmed so for now, he's on his own and plans accordingly.

Scraps his plans for takeover bc he feels the hyogoku within him, still has his immortality, and Kyouka Suigetsu at his side once more, though he brushes away the sting of her cold /hurt silence bc he deserves that, and instead makes plans to punch the two idiots once they catch up, so to speak for making him suffer SS's glacial progress.

Then Kisuke wakes up the day he becomes Captain and it's not long before he and Lt. Aizen run into each other and Kisuke knows now and it's not long before Aizen is putting in a request for a transfer to the 12th Division for the newly constructed SRDI, switching positions with Hiyori there.

(She's shocked/offended and perhaps a bit fearful that it's her being reprimand for the way she has treated the Captain. And honestly, it sort of is, Kisuke decides though he doesn't say it. Instead he and Aizen have to plans to make for the day Ywhach makes his move. But more importantly, they need to prepare for the wave of chaos that Ichigo will bring to SS because that's just how she is.)

Then of course she arrives with a bang. Literally. And being a little more feral these days, she kills Kenpachi Kiganjo on instinct and becomes Kenpachi Ichigo and 11th Division Captain in one swing of her blade.

But at least the trio have a whole squad ready to spill blood now when Ywhach comes calling later down the line.

That's what I got for now but it's something I'm excited to flesh out.

Oh Oh yesssss flesh this out please because it looks exquisite so far and I need it

[alexracheltravel]

INTERLUDE: Shinkansen Musings

Introduction:

While we travel from Tokyo to Kyoto, we wanted to offer our reflections on our trip so far.

 Favorite Foods

AJM-

#5 Sometaro (okonomiyaki in Asakusa)

#4 You (Omurice)

#3 Gonpachi (Yakitori and Kill Bill vibes)

#2 Sushi Dai (Tsukiji Market)

#1 Rokurinsha (Dipping ramen on Ramen Street in Tokyo station)

 RMF:

#5 Kiwi/lime/mint gelato- Pariya (Food Show at Tokyo Station)

#4 Sushi Dai (Tsukiji Market)

#3 Gonpachi (Yakitori and Kill Bill vibes)

#2 Shoyu Ramen (Ramen Museum)

#1 Sometaro (Okonomiyaki in Asakusa)

Favorite Neighborhoods

AJM-

#3 Shibuya

#2 Ginza

#1 Harajuku/Aoyama

 RMF-

#3 Odaiba

#2 Shibuya

#1 Asakusa

 Favorite Activities

AJM-

#5 Golden Gai

#4 Akiba Kart

#3 Shopping in Akihabara

#2 Meiji Shrine

#1 Tsukiji Market Tour

 RMF-

#5 Shopping in Harajuku

#4 Golden Gai

#3 Meiji Shrine

#2 Tsukiji Market

#1 Akiba Kart

 Concluding Tokyo Thoughts

AJM: I was skeptical at first that Tokyo would be different from other cities but after visiting, it is a complete different kingdom from New York. From the way people stand in lines everywhere to the signs of respect in everyday culture, this trip opened my eyes to how diverse a planet we live on. It is definitely a bigger city than just a haven for anime and video games.

 RMF: I kept saying the entire time we were in Tokyo that everything we hate about New York is not a problem in Tokyo. It is impeccably clean everywhere you go, people speak at reasonable volumes, there are clean bathrooms everywhere, people are nice to each other (in general of course), and the first instinct is to respect the person next to you, not ignore them. I loved how distinct each neighborhood was. I mean, that is also true in New York, but I think in a very different way.

[szopenhauer]

have you got any brothers or sisters who annoy you? my sister annoys me indeed

as a younger teenager, did you have any older guys/girls hit on you? as a teenager nobody hit on me

would you ever want to be changed into a vampire? doubt it, the only thing that would truly interest me about it is immortality which isn’t actually living forever as even sun can kill you and knowing my luck that would happen fast 

does the thought of dying give you cold chills? kinda how many times has someone called you boring, if ever? several times because I don’t travel, I don’t party, I don’t like sports and out of some other reasons has anyone ever told you that you had “so many” months to live? not exactly as a teen, were you trusted to be alone with a boyfriend/girlfriend? as a teen I had no real bf/gf do your parents both have a job? my mom’s retired already are you currently unemployed? if not, what’s your job? I am where do you belong? nowhere?... were you anyone’s first kiss? I was what is the color of your cellular telephone? black what color are your gloves/mittens? I have few pairs when was the last time you listened to the radio; and do you remember which song was the last you heard on there? not counting online radio that I still rarely listen to (usually just during Christmas time, that special playlist on rmf) - years and I don’t remember the last song because I didn’t think it will be the last one and that just made me sad do you think English the hardest language to learn? noooo do you clean under your nails with safety pins? I use toothpicks how long after your shower do you walk around naked, or in your towel, until you decide to get dressed? I get dressed right away  does it bother you that so many people start going out like a week or two before valentine’s day, as if it’s just because they don’t want to be alone? that’s really lame, I’m sorry for them what do(es) you(r mom) grow in your garden? lots of stuff what do you think of facial piercings? meh, some are ugly, some are ok did your shoe laces come with your shoes? yeah but they still have zippers as I wouldn’t bother to own shoes with just laces do you have any cds you bought at the concert?. never bought a CD at the concert what does your second oldest sibling do for a living? I have only one sibling and what she does is not your business (pun intended) are there any beanie babies with your birthday? Beanie Boos   Carrots - rabbit - style 36031   Julep - monkey - style 36056   Pashun - dog - style 36206 Beanie Babies   Bunga Raya - bear - style 4615 - (birth year 2002)   Dewi Y Ddraig - dragon - style 46157 - (birth year 2010)   D'Vine - monkey - style 40767 - (birth year 2008)   Flower - meerkat - style 46155 - (birth year 2010)   Niles - camel - style 4284 -(birth year 2000)   Peace - bear - style 4053 - (birth year 1996)   Peepers - bushbaby - style 40795 - (birth year 2009)   TOUR Teddy - bear - style 40347 - (birth year 2006) Teenie Beanie Boppers   Terrific Tessa - style 0334 Boppers   Lovely Lily - style 0223

what color is your cat? it was all black with yellow eyes

do you own any buddha? nooo, why would I  do you know what color hazel really is? .. my eyes? XD what color is your toaster? don’t own one what color is your webcam? white but I don’t use it as I have no mic, I tried to buy one but they never work so I prefer to use my cellphone as a cam instead do you have anything real gold? I think I still own that one tiny item (necklace with the letter Z) and if I do I will probably sell it

Do you own any adult colouring books?  those gimme anxiety  When was the last time you got some new headphones? mine are about 5 years old

Do you know anyone whose name starts with the letter X? I don’t :o

Name a food that you dislike the texture of. pears 

Describe the cover illustration of the book closest to you. it has the Stranger things villain on it behind the room with no. 11

Do you wear a mask when you go to the store? of course, if you don’t - I hate you!

Are you expecting a package right now? am not

What is one thing you hate about summer? mosquitos for an example

Did you go outside today? just our garden

Have you ever received a misdiagnosis from a doctor? yup

Do you have a book that you’ve read multiple times? I never reread books

Do you enjoy babysitting? ugh...

What was your favorite book you had to read for school? I used to like Cierpienia młodego Wertera - that was stupid of me

Have you ever wanted to be a teacher? in pre-school 

What’s one childhood dream that has stuck with you? my own apartment

Would you want to re-live your childhood over again if you could? I believe

Which do you like more: being an adult or being a kid? being a kid 

Did your parents smoke or drink when you were growing up? nope

Do you enjoy bonfires? they were fine

Have you ever ridden in an ambulence? couple of times

Do you know anyone who used to be loving, but then turned cold?  that would be me...

What color are your bedroom walls? green and yellow

Is there an old friend that you miss and would like to reconnect with? I tried...

Have you been bullied? all of my school years basically

Which talent show, if any, would you most like to audition for?  I have no talent

Do you feel like time goes by fast, or slow? both slow and fast

Who do you know who has died of cancer? my aunt that I didn’t really know

Have you ever stayed overnight in a hospital, and if so, what for? couple of times, once even almost entire month, long story (stories actually)

Have you ever been so angry you wanted to sue someone? hahaha

Have you ever been a victim of racism? I’m white so not really

Did you go to prom? nah

Are you an aunt or uncle? yep

Do you feel like you are currently in a state of suffering? and that not all of your basic needs are being met? If so, how long have you been in a state of suffering? I’ve always been and it only got worse

Life isn’t fair. True or false? it seems

Name a few people who seem to have everything handed to them. born rich

Do you pray less or more than you did 5 years ago? more

Do you pray a lot? not enough

Have you ever used an epi pen? hope I won’t have to

What was the name of the biggest bully in your high school? HS didn’t have big bullies but for me that was A.L.

How many kids do you want to have? 0

Do you want to get married? hmm...

Best date you’ve been on? dunno

Dream date? *shrug*

Ever kissed someone on New Year’s? never

Have you ever been in so much pain you prayed that you would die? other kind of suffering

Who always tries to stop you whenever you try to go after your dreams? life/world so God I guess 

are you in love with llamas? they’re cool

do you like hats? beanies and those winter ones in animal shapes 

have you ever had surgery? not yet

do you have an enemy? some I call this way

do you want to save the trees? yes

what size shoe do you wear? 38-39

do you cook? I do not

do you like taking pictures? at times

pink flamingos? cute for the garden :3

do you like spiders? I don’t mind them

do you own an mp3 player? but I don’t use it anymore, not even sure if it still works

why are you hitting yourself? self harm

what’s your mom’s name? personal

what about your dad? same

have you ever won anything? yep

is revenge sweet? in movies might be and sometimes I laugh when ppl get what they deserve, sorry not sorry?

have you ever had someone lie for you so you wouldn’t get in trouble? sort of

who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Spongebob

do you like night or day better? night

do you like finding nemo? nooo

plaid or polka dots? why not stripes?

have you ever done yoga? a bit

what posters do you have on your wall? no posters

do you wear dresses a lot? noooo

how many school dances have you been to? all of them besides prom

can you swim? can’t

don’t you just want to mass murder all barbie dolls? why? :o

who was the last person you were under a blanket with? my gf

name something great that happened today? for example - Choices chapters were great

who was the last person’s voice you heard? mom’s

did you speak to your mother today? of course

what color is your hair? naturally dark brown

when was the last time you talked to one of your siblings? online or irl?

how did you wake up this morning? by myself

how many letters are in your last name? 11

do you still talk to the last person you kissed? in general because at this very moment she’s asleep

do you believe that everything happens for a reason? not everything

do you ever pretend to text/talk on the phone when you’re in public? yeah  have you ever had spinach? if not, would you ever want to? I ate it before don’t you hate when the wires pop out of your bra and poke you all day? my bra has no wires am i the only one who likes to go grocery shopping? you’re not alone

is anything wrong with your eyes? possibly do you ever write notes on your hand? used to last time you cried? why? I was moved by the game on my cellphone

when is the last time you were in a swimming pool? in middle school have you ever fallen backwards on a chair? I don’t recall what do you feel like watching? nothing atm do you ever try to write with your non-dominant hand? with feet too who makes you laugh the most? my gf and my dad who starred in your last dream? besides me - no one that I know  do you regret doing something today? maybe do you think you’re old? I’m not but I often feel like I am  are you afraid of the dark? at home only - especially mirrors and windows in the dark are scary

sometimes, do you wish you were someone else? not a particular person have you ever told anyone you were ok when you really weren’t? it’s bad but I did that before do you talk a lot? do I?

which member of your family are you closest to? dad

would you ever apply to be on reality tv?  doubt it do you have a hard time letting things go? I guess have you ever struggled with your weight? slightly when you are out with your friends are you loud and outgoing or shy and reserved? depends  do you like to stay in your pajamas all day long? whatever in high school did you have a lot of friends? do you still keep in touch? group and not really at what age did you get your period? 13? fuzzy socks: yay or nay? yay

When was the last time you held a puppy? years ago

Was the person that last slept over at your house a boy or girl? girl Who’s name first comes to mind that starts with the letter “P”? Paulina and Patrycja

Do you have any kind of jewelry on at the moment? not at the moment Would you say you use “lol” too often? get used to this!

When was the last time you vacuumed a room? I mop the floor 

You can only shop at one store for the rest of your life, what store is it? but food? :o

Have you ever donated to a cause? yup

[bestdjkit]

KISS FM to Host International #RadioRave Event with David Guetta, Martin Garrix, and more

7 countries, 5 hours, 1 massive party.

UK radio stationKISS FM is gearing up to host an epic international version of #RadioRave, bringing together some of the biggest names in electronic music for five hours of back-to-back sets simultaneously broadcasted through their seven partner stations. Europe will be the place to be on May 30th, as its countries will come together, united under the love of dance music. 

The lineup will feature several of the world's most renowned DJs, including David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Robin Schulz, Alan Walker, R3HAB, and Matoma, among others. The mission is to create "one of Europe's largest house parties." UK fans can access the event through KISS FM, while those across Europe can tune in through their local stations in their area, including Poland (RMF Maxxx), Denmark (The Voice), Sweden (NRJ), Norway (Kiss), Finland (Kiss) and Slovakia (Rádio Expres).

Speaking about the #RadioRave event, resident KISS MC DJ Majestic said, "This is the perfect time to link up with our fellow dance radio shows from around the world for 1 big party all together! Expect the ultimate relay across Europe - non-stop, just the way we like it."

This event will follow KISS FM's Ibiza Sounds Virtual Music Festival, which will feature deadmau5, Craig David, Tiësto, and more on Friday, May 22nd to Sunday, May 24th. The beauty behind this virtual festival is they will attempt to create an immersive experience by overlaying the sound effects of waves and planes flying overhead to make it feel like you are outside at an actual festival.

Tune in to #RadioRave on KISS FM from 7 PM BST here, and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #RadioRave.

from Best DJ Kit https://edm.com/events/kiss-fm-radiorave

[resting-meme-face]

veradune replied to your post: Happy New Year!

still 2017 in Alberta I am speaking to you from the past

BEEP BOOP THIS IS FUTURE RMF. I HAVE TOASTERS FOR HANDS. BOOP.

[yourboyhez-blog]

If i said it then i meant it no time for corrections 🤷🏾‍♂️ . . . . Speak your mind OTW 👌🏾🔥 . . . . . #video #photography #kinghezz #spotify #streaming #soundcloud #deezer #napster #indie #underground #artist #art #trending #explorepage #linkinbio #diplomacyclothing #rmf #whiteplains #westchester #914 (at White Plains, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByN7Sm_BuyZ/?igshid=1w4vbozicjtcl

[ranminfan]

What is it with men and.....

receding hairline??

Like no....

I do not accept that I am into this

I shouldn't be attracted to this 🤪

[dontknockjustenter]

She speaks in a language I do not know and syllables fall off her tongue like a graceful dive into the ocean of the calm ambience before us. And although I cannot figure out if her words are bitter or sweet I smile at the melody she forms, because the sound of her voice has always been a fucking symphony and I am in love with the tempo of her words, in time with the beating of her heart and the cascade of sentences follow the build of the crescendo until we are left in awe of all her beauty and all her sounds. And here in this place, understanding does not matter because beauty has always transcended meaning. That’s why we stand in museums of art no one can make sense of. And if my thoughts have any merit, she belongs alongside all the obscure masterpieces in this world.

rmf

[sizzlingenthusiaststranger-blog]

#FMF

The following text will be exploring and discussing the #FessMustFall movement as a part of the theme political life. This will be discussed in relation to how the digital media has played an important part in allowing for the movement to be successful. This will be explored through referring to examples, and can also be seen through the texts posted under this theme (pictures, memes). The text will also discuss person opinions, experiences and responses to this. 

The idea of #FeesMustFall was developed and coordinated by The Rhodes Must Fall campaign, which took place at the University of Cape Town, where students demanded for the removal of the John Cecil Rhodes statue that was a  symbolism of white power and superiority during the apartheid regime (Ngcaweni, 2015: 176, in Daniels, 2016). The Fees Must Fall hashtag argues and protests beyond the problem of the 10% increase, rather focusing on problems such as “#Whiteprivellege, calls for the decolonisation of the curriculum, transformation of the university’s race and gender composition and rage against the devaluing and exclusion of black voice and culture” (Daniels, 2016). These movements are portrayed as successful and thus as a result of the power of the new media such as Twitter as an example. 

Tanja Bosch’s (2016) article argues that “social media discussions on Twitter specifically and the resultant emerging networked public of #RMF successfully set the agenda for public debate in other virtual spaces” (Bosch, 2016). This reinforces the idea that new digital media platforms such as Twitter contribute to the success of political movements. It has been said that Twitter has become the focus of student attention, with many pieces of information that prove that it is used to allow for communication amongst people (Bosch, 2016: 4). It can also “inform and mobilise during social unrest, to inform political discourse and to precede revolutionary events on the ground (Gleason, 2013).

The role of Twitter and social media during the time of the Arab spring has been well recorded. Researchers argue that social media has allowed for the emergence of new types and techniques of protesting (Bosch, 2016). 

The purpose of this text is more then just explaining what the #FessMustFall movement was about. This text explores how Twitter as a form of digital media has allowed for this to happen. At the end of 2015 media analysts attempted to engage with the trends in the political hashtags. According to the annual Twitter reviews, the “top trending hashtags for the year were #FeesMustFall and #NationalShutDown” (Daniels, 2016). This explains for the way in which the movements received such widespread global coverage impacted through the use of the hashtag on Twitter. This can be reiterated through the way that Daniels (2016) says that social media is “more then just about sharing your views and opinions” (Daniels, 2016). This was said in response to the way in which Mohammed Abdulla said he uses social media to write his own life story (Dirk and Peterson, 2015). Through the use of these examples explained above, one can understand how digital activism via the digital media can blend in with radical democracy. 

Personal responses, thoughts ad opinions can be seen through the idea of many theorists’ work. Moyo (2009), Stassen (2010), Van Noort and Verweij (2013) say that the rise of the new media like social media, has created a platform for the participation of the countries citizens in a democracy (Daniels, 2016: 181) to express and feel as they do. Daniels speaks about the effectiveness of Twitter as a platform of protests for #FeesMustFall. An apparent “total of 1,490,377 tweets were captured between 14 and 29 October, with 86,837 belonging to members of the public”. These high numbers show the high citizen participation through the digital media to allow for change. 

Personal experiences and opinions towards Twitter are positive and radical. The platform allows for any people of any place to engage with an uprising problem or issue. These issues are dealt with in a manner where people can say what they like without any form of publication from mainstream media. This is because the mainstream media news can be fake and fixed a lot of the time, often resulting in misleading conclusions. Twitter, and more importantly the rise of this through the digital media can be seen to be portrayed as radical in its success in political activism. Personally, the platform is great for reliable news sources, allowing people of the public community and twitter community to say as they feel at any time of the day. 

Another idea towards the development of social media activism is seen in the work of Mano and Mukhongo (2016). They say they that social media have enhanced and reshaped alternative media in Africa. The power in the new media has become so effective, and this statement can be supported through the way in which “the courts attempted to ban students from using the #FeesMustFall, making it evident that the use of Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp and other social media as forms of alternative has been met with increased attempts by authorities to censor and control access to social media” (Mano & Mukhongo, 2016) and this shows the way in which the people in power do not want the community members to have access to these forms of media as a result of what they are capable of doing. Downing’s (2001) idea relates to the idea of Mano and Mukhongo. This is due to the way in which Downing (2001) notifies new media as “radical media expressing an alternative vision to hegemonic policies, priorities and perspectives” (Mano & Mukhongo ,2016: 27).

In conclusion, one can see that, through the examples and references used in above text, Twitter, social media and more so the digital media, has allowed for a space of political activism for students and members of the public in the case of #FessMustFall. This can be seen through the way in which the digital media allows for free participation at anytime by anyone allowing for a success in certain movements for the right reasons. More so, personal responses, thoughts and experiences are also included in the text. 

[lavotha]

The GP F1 track transformed into jumping arena 

Like a veritable theater stage the Port Hercules in the Principality transforms itself periodically. Even when the last remnants of the F1 Grand Prix were still in place waiting to be disassembled, over 1100 tons of sand transported on 60 trucks were carefully spread over the quay on the southern dock, at the foot of the Prince’s Palace, to create a 2025m2 ephemeral arena designed by Luc Musette, plus 1100m2 paddock for 195 horses, an spectator’s tribune, stunning VIP corporate hospitality loges, chic boutiques and the double deck riders’ club, for the traditional and highly anticipated 13thedition of the International Jumping of Monte-Carlo, from June 28-30, 2018, one of the most prestigious stops of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT).

A view of the arena in Monaco@Mario Grassia/LGCT 2018

Flawlessly organized and presided by Diane Fissore, and Jan Tops, professional Gold medal rider and leader in the horse-trading world, the competition is one of the highlights of the LGCT, and it is the third most important sporting event  in the Principality together with the F1 Grand Prix and the Tennis Masters.

Each lap of the LGCT is a Grand Prix of Euro 300,000, with approximately Euro 100,000 for the winner, allotting the emerging points to the general classification: at the end of the circuit, the eighteen best riders will share a purse of Euro 1,000,000. In Monaco the total purse amounts to Euro 393,500 with €285,000 allocated to the Grand Prix prize. A wonderful three-day program including amateur competitions during the day followed by top-level fixtures after sunset.

A cast of star riders & horses on the Monaco’s arena

Only the 30 world best are invited to this illustrious competition with a truly exception casting of riders in a breathtaking venue. The top three in the LGCT ranking came to compete in the Principality:  Two-time LGCT Champion Edwina Tops-Alexander (AUS) leads the field on 172 points, just a LGCT Grand Prix win away from Ben Maher (GBR) in second who has 143 points overall. Breathing down his neck is another two time LGCT Champion, Scott Brash (GBR), who sits a further 12 points away.

Former winners were back in action this weekend including 2017 winner Alberto Zorzi (ITA), 2016 winner Emanuele Guadiano (ITA) and 2014 winner Bassem Hassan Mohammed (QAT). Amongst the stars, big names, rising talent and legends of the sport battled for the coveted LGCT Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco presented by Sapinda win, one of the most prestigious accolades in show jumping.

Completing the list of competitors were: World Number 1 Harrie Smolders (NED), John Whitaker (GBR), Marcus Ehning (GER), Bertram Allen (IRL), Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE), Simon Delestre (FRA), Maikel van der Vleuten (NED), Roger-Yves Bost (FRA), Marlon Zanotelli (BRA), Michael Whitaker (GBR), Georgina Bloomberg (USA), Pieter Devos (BEL), Jennifer Gates (USA), Gerco Schroder (NED), Philipp Weishaupt (GER), and Sheikh Ali Bin Khalid Al Thani (QAT).

Equestrian Federation team of Monaco claimed victory

On Friday, June 29, 2018 in the evening, the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco once again played host to the 8th edition of the Longines Pro Am Cup on Friday evening, which sees an amateur and professional rider pair up to compete for the coveted title with a focus on speed and agility.

Launched by Patron Charlotte Casiraghi in 2010, it emphasizes the family spirit of the sport, with its pace and relay format the audience loves. Set over two rounds, 13 teams took part – including reigning champions Team Sapinda, as well as Team House of Sillage, Team Monte-Carlo Polo Team and Team Virtus, all battling to jump clear and with the fastest combined time.

As the competition went on the eight qualifying teams continued to fight for a podium finish as the crowd clapped and cheered for the riders. Victory went to Mona Ferry and Christian Rhomberg of Team Equestrian Federation of the Principality of Monaco, second to Florence Schwizer-Seydoux and Roger-Yves Bost of Team Equitheme, and third to Team Monaco Aces featuring Jeanne Sadran and Julian Epaillard.

Longines Pro-Am Cup, 1st Team Federation Equestre P. of Monaco, 2 Team Equitheme, 3 team Monaco. Trophies presented by HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover, Charlotte Casiraghi, D. Fissore, S. Guelat @Stfano Grasso/LCGT

Longines Pro-Am Cup, 1st Team Federation Equestre P. of Monaco, 2 Team Equitheme, 3 team Monaco. Trophies presented by HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover, Charlotte Casiraghi, D. Fissore, S. Guelat @Stfano Grasso/LCGT

A smiling Christian had said after his blistering round: “It’s fun! I’m lucky I have a fast mare that makes even a slow rider like me fast! My teammate did a really good job. I just tried to make her go faster in the second round, but we have a few problems with our language – I don’t speak French!”

Breen claimed victory in thrilling LGCT Grand Prix Prince of Monaco

Under the patronage of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, the 9th leg of the Championship race is a long-standing and popular stop on the calendar, with illustrious names listed on the winners’ roster over the years. The Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix Prince of Monaco took place on Saturday, June 30 in the evening, the last day of the competition.

With 35 riders qualified, Ireland’s Shane Breen, who was the last rider to go, took the biggest win of his career and dashed Alberto Zorzi’s (ITA) hopes of a back-to-back Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix Prince of Monaco Presented by Sapinda win, after a spectacular performance aboard Ipswich van de Wolfsakker on Saturday, June 30, 2018. Breen’s win means he is the latest addition to the GC Playoffs, with a ticket to the elite line-up in the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix that will take place in Prague this December.

Lap of honour for Shane Breen, winner of the LGCT Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco presented by Sapinda @Stefano Grasso/LGCT

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco presents the trophy to Shane Breen, winner of the LGCT Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco presented by Sapinda @Stefano Grasso/LGCT

The podium 1 Shane Breen (IRL), 2 Alberto Zorzi (ITA) 3 Denis Lynch (IRL). Twith Jan Tops, D. Fissore, Jung Woo-Sung, Samuel Guelat @Stefano Grasso/LGCT

Breen finished just tenths of a second ahead of Zorzi and Fair Light van T Heike with Denis Lynch (IRL) and RMF Bella Baloubet taking third.

This would be the biggest win of Breen’s career, and the Irishman punched the air in triumph ecstatic at his win, and place in the GC Playoffs. Breen was quoted saying: “This is my biggest career win and my first time winning at the LGCT Grand Prix. It is a great honor to be here and to be part of the GCL – it’s a great atmosphere. Ipswich is quite a green horse at this level and has had a few fences down this season.  We’ve been knocking on the door but today he jumped fantastically.

He was surprisingly relaxed as he can be quite sharp and has a lot of nervous energy but that was in our favor this evening in Monaco. He produced two super rounds and with Dennis leaving the door slightly open and Aberto with a fantastic quick round, the guys on the ground were saying that if I could do the same numbers my horse is naturally very quick.When I turned for number one, I didn’t have a flier at it, then I went nine strides to the second jump and I had to remind myself not to panick.I got the double jumped and moved on a bit then and fortunately when addressing the last I saw a good stride and took it! I’m now in the LGCT [Super Grand Prix] and I’m elated – it’s an elite group of riders, so I hope I can take Ipswich there again and do well.”

Shane Breen on Ipswich van de Wolfsakker

Shane Breen is the winner of the LGCT Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco presented by Sapinda @Stefano Grasso/LGCT

Competing in front of a royal audience

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, H.R.H. Princess Caroline of Hanover and Charlotte Casiraghi watched from the Royal Hospitality as the first riders navigated the exceedingly technical course in the compact sand arena.

Members of Royal Families from around the world, including H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Prince Talal of Jordan taking their seats for a feast of top show jumping. Bill and Melinda Gates with ringside seats were clearly absorbed in the highest level of show jumping in which their daughter Jennifer competes. The family cheered on Jennifer’s trainer Harrie Smolders (NED) as they watched the Grand Prix from the VIP area.

Melinda and Bill Gates with their daughter Jennifer @Stefano Grasso/LGCT

Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, Prince Talal of Jordan and his wife Ghida, Jan Tops @Mario Grassia/LCGT

Edwina Tops-Alexander, Jan Tops, Mike Kawai, Athina Onassis and Julia Tops @Stefano Grasso/LGCT

Next stop is the City of Lights

The Tour moves on to Paris, July 5-8, for the 10th leg of the 2018 Championship race as the action intensifies.

Today’s quote

“To ride a horse is to fly without wings.”Anonymous

The best riders in the world gathered at International Jumping of Monte-Carlo The GP F1 track transformed into jumping arena  Like a veritable theater stage the Port Hercules in the Principality transforms itself periodically.

[mediaxplosion]

#FeesMustFall movement

#FeesMustFall is an anti-poverty activism in South Africa and a call for the decolonization of the educational system. I am going to firstly explain #RhodesMustFall and how it came about, as it is the one which created a spark in the #FMF movement. The digital space facilitated in the dissemination of information on social networks, mostly on Twitter. This highlight the power of the digital media and how it became a ‘voice’ to those with less power. I will then look at #FMF as an anti-poverty activism and the issues that were raised by black students within their institutions. The notion of a ‘free and decolonized education’ has different meanings attached to it by students from previously white institutions and from previously black institutions. Tuition fees is still a problem which most black students struggle with, thus it is a barrier for them to fulfil their studies.

The ongoing student movement in South Africa #FeesMustFall was propagated by #RhodesMustFall or #RMF. The #RMF campaign was organized by the students at the University of Cape Town as a demand for the statue of Cecil John Rhodes to be removed (Bosch, 2016), The removal of the statue was to eradicate the existing privileges and white supremacy in the University of Cape Town, this was supported by most students and workers (Pillay, 2016). Rhodes is believed to have made some racist statement in the past, while others highlighted his financial support in South Africa (Bosch, 2016). ‘White privilege’ is seen to be persisting even today, hence the students are fighting against those who are in power so that they can change the system in which students find themselves in (Golding-Duffy, 2017). Naicker (2016: 54) shows how “RMF linked their campaign to the struggle for black liberation in a colonial space”, thus the fall of the statue was also a symbol of the collapse of white supremacy on their campus. The #RMF campaign fuelled the #FeesMustFall movement that has spread nationwide in various Universities against the increase of fees in Higher Institutions (Bosch, 2016).

The student-led movement started in mid-October 2015, as a sign of student’s dissatisfaction with the post-apartheid democracy that is marginalizing black students (Bosch, 2016). This movement caused the whole nation to be on standstill and academic activities could not continue (Luescher et al, 2017). It started at the University of the Witwatersrand after the students exclaimed that the high fees will be unaffordable for most poor black students who come from economically disadvantaged families (Pillay, 2016), and it had a lot of underlying factors that arose, which will be discussed later.  The fees at most universities are relatively high for some students to even afford, especially at the previously white institutions. This movement is a clear indication that the students are taking the politics of this country seriously and that they are willing to fight at all cost to make sure that there is transformation (Pillay, 2016). Thus, the digital space has also facilitated in the transmission of information.

The social media has facilitated in the success of #RMF campaign and #FMF movement, allowing for political activism to take place online with support from other people (Bosch, 2016). Social media allows for protest discussions to take place online, granting free-flow of information and allowing for students to speak with one voice. Discussions on #RMF became central on Social Network Sites, predominantly on Twitter where people shared their ideas and opinions regarding the removal of the statue (Bosch, 2016), which also spoke to the racial identity in that space. The tweets that had the hashtag #RMF had people who were not supporting the removal of the statue and the majority that agreed for its removal, this shows the power of public opinion (Luescher et al, 2017). Twitter allowed people to understand why the black students wanted the statue to be removed and thus speaking of white privilege and race which seemed to be one of the issues rising from the conversations that took place on Twitter (Bosch, 2016). Even the digital divide played a role as to how other people had more voice over the movement, and even those who are on social networks they are not all politically active. This shows how the marginalized group of students can be heard through the technological devices (Ngidi et al, 2016). In this digital age that we live in, social media platforms become a voice to the ‘voiceless’. Social media networks such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter allowed students to mobilize protests with other students from across the country, communicate amongst each other and the broader society about the information related to the movement (Mano and Mukhongo, 2016; Pillay, 2016). Social media facilitated in sharing stories of black people and using the platform as an anti-poverty activism. Enlightening the public about the encounter of inequality and poverty that is lingering amongst black students or black communities (Ngidi et al, 2016). Supporting the movement meant that one was aware of the injustice and inequality that is within our Universities and the technological devices gave a platform to have a say in the events as they were occurring (Pillay, 2016).

Cell phones became a very powerful tool to fight against the system that seems to be against them (Ngidi et al, 2016). The SNS allowed for students to portray events as they happened and communicate about the next moves they will be taking. Luescher et al (2017: 231) theorize the movement as the ‘internet age networked student movement’ because of its prominence on social networks (Luescher et al, 2017). Students did not want to succumb to postcolonial injustices that persist even today, and the way in which status quo divide people (Pillay, 2016). The movement included people who were deprived the chance to complete their studies and fighting for the future generation that might not be able to further their studies because of the financial constraints (Ngidi et al, 2016). The online movement managed to get attention from the media and authorities in higher positions. The broadcast media shown the students as being violent misinforming the public and not emphasizing the issues that the students were fighting for such as inequality, exclusion and poverty (Ngidi et al, 2016). They highlighted the 0% fees increase as the only demand for students. After weeks of protesting, the Minister of Higher Education who made a joke regarding the hashtag that student used to mobilize, and he said ‘#StudentsMustFall’. This response by someone who is in power shows how lightly he took this movement. Poor students or those coming from low-income families shared their stories online and their aspiration for a better future so that people can understand why they are fighting for a free and decolonised education (Ngidi et al, 2016)

Some of the issues that arose from the #FeesMustFall movement was the decolonization of the system used in higher institutions of learning, changes in the racial inequalities amongst academic staff and the outsourcing of workers (Langa, 2016; Naicker, 2016). This goes back to how the youth of 1976 fought against the educational system which was discriminatory, the ‘bantu education’. This highlights how the educational system has always been a problem in South Africa, it is just different years, but the struggle is the same (Ngidi et al, 2016). Some of the messages that came through was the negation of the past events in the future of South Africa.  A cry for the curriculum to be decolonized has always been one of the reasons the movement started and for it to be relatable to African people (Bosch, 2016; Naicker, 2016). Even though the student wanted a free and decolonised education, there were different views attached to it by students from various universities. In historically white institutions, they wanted change of the curriculum and that which included African history and people. Whilst in historically black institution, their understanding of a decolonised education is one where there is quality education for all (Langa, 2016).  The notion of a decolonised educational system speaks directly to black people in this country and what it means to be a black person in South Africa.

Most university students come from poor backgrounds and education is their only ticket out of poverty and with the increase of fees, it becomes very hard for some to fulfil their dreams. The fees increment happens yearly, even though there are limited funding opportunities for all students, and for some it means that the cycle of poverty in their families will continue (Ngidi et al, 2016). This means that some students will not be able to get their qualifications nor finish their studies because of financial issues that remain a problem in South Africa even today. Their worry is whether they will be able to finish with their studies or not because financial security is still a problem for most black students. Even after 23 years into democracy the promise of ‘free education and a better life for all’ by the African National Congress (ANC) has not been met fully (Naicker, 2016). The government started the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to help poor students who are unable to afford university fees, but does not fund all. Only moderately 17% gets funded and the annual income threshold of R122 000 per family to qualify (Ngidi et al, 2016). This is evident that the government does not want to implement free education for all hence their main aim is to try and help ‘some’ students from low-income backgrounds and this has fuelled more frustration on the protesting students (Golding-Duffy, 2017). The students did not want the fees to be increased, they suggest that the government have power to fund tertiary education. They feel like the government is not taking their call for ‘free education for all’ seriously, hence they still protest even today (Golding-Duffy, 2017). Some of the workers joined in and supported the students as they are also parents who understand the student’s grievances. Higher institutions exclude students who are unable to pay their fees or debt, thus creating a hindrance for their fulfilment of their studies (Ngidi et al, 2016). Those students who are in debt are not given their certificates and that means that they will not be able to find work (Langa, 2016). Majority of the students who were behind the movement are probably the first in their families to come to University (Ngidi et al, 2016). Education is a basic right for every student and should not be commodified (Langa, 2016).

The ‘1 month 1 million’ campaign was started by the Wits Student Representative Council to help support students who could not pay for their tuition fees. This campaign was started in February 2015 before the movement of #FeesMustFall started. One can see that this was a sign that there is a problem in our higher educational institutions regarding funding of students (Langa, 2016). Though they managed to raise R5 million, they exclaimed it was not enough to pay for all the outstanding student fees, but they managed to help most students. This was an alert to the whole nation that there is a problem with the fees in Universities, and this was one of their ways of protesting against high tuition fees (Langa, 2016: 133). This campaign was later followed by the #RMF and the #TransformWits, which became racialised movements. #RMF was for the removal of the statue and #TransformWits highlighted the need to have an Afrocentric curriculum meaning a transformation of the curriculum, renaming buildings, having more black academics and helping disadvantaged students (Langa, 2016; Naicker, 2016). To get a full understanding of why the students led movement originally started one must look at “the ways in which race and class privilege have been reified in the post-apartheid era” (Naicker, 2016: 55).

The #RMF campaign was a call for the removal of the statue which represented colonial history and white supremacy at the University of Cape Town. The success of the campaign can be said to have been aided by the social media, especially Twitter because that is where the campaign gained its prominence. This shows the power of the digital media in mobilizing people from different places. #FMF is the largest student movement in post-apartheid South Africa which later followed the #RMF. Students were mainly fighting for fees to not be increased for the following year but there were several underlying factors that arose from the movement which went beyond the issue of fees. The issues that arose was to have a free and decolonized education, and create a space in Universities where even Black people could feel like they belong. The access to education for all is to make sure that the poor students can study.

Bibliography

Bosch, T. 2016. ‘Twitter activism and youth of South Africa: the case of #RhodesMustFall’. Information, Communication & Society, published online 16 March, 1-12.

Golding-Duffy, I. 2017. # FeesMustFall. St Andrews Africa Summit Review, 1.

Langa, M. 2016. #Hashtag- An analysis of the #FeesMustFall Movement at South African universities. Online, retrieved 31 October 2017: https://csvr.org.za

Luescher, T., Loader, L. and Mugume, T. 2017. # FeesMustFall: an internet-age student movement in South Africa and the case of the University of the Free State. Politikon, 44(2), 231-245.

Mano, W. and Mukhongo, L. L. 2016. ‘Towards alternative media as critical media in Africa’. Journal of Alternative and Community Media.1: 27-29

Naicker, C. 2016. From Marikana to #feesmustfall: The Praxis of popular politics in South Africa. Urbanisation, 1(1), 53-61.

Ngidi, N.D., Mtshixa, C., Diga, K., Mbarathi, N. and May, J. 2016, June. 'Asijiki' and the capacity to aspire through social media: the #feesmustfall movement as an anti-poverty activism in South Africa. In Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies and Development, 15. ACM.

Pillay, S.R. 2016. Silence is violence:(critical) psychology in an era of Rhodes Must Fall and Fees Must Fall.

[caledansbee]

New Post has been published on https://goo.gl/3ijud6

The Truth Behind New Cybersecurity Rules for Contractors

No, the sky is not falling, and no, you probably won’t lose your defense contracts either.

With December 31, 2017 just around the corner, many technology firms, news agencies, and people claiming to be experts are waving the red flag, fanning the flames, and doing their best to incite some panic.

Well, here is the real truth about these new ‘cybersecurity’ rules for defense contractors. There’s no need to take my word for what they say because I’m going to paste the exact words right here:

(1)  By submission of this offer, the Offeror represents that it will implement the security requirements specified by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171 “Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Information Systems and Organizations” (see http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171) that are in effect at the time the solicitation is issued or as authorized by the contracting officer not later than December 31, 2017.

Next, let me show you where I got that information:

http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfars/html/current/252204.htm#252.204-7008

If you like, you can visit that link and get the entire supplement, but I wouldn’t bother. Here are the top truths about this supplement.

Look for the keyword in the text above that I pasted in for you. See the word ‘will’? Do you think that means you MUST comply by 12/31/2017?

There are no cybersecurity police that are going to come knock on your office door and take your contracts

A Contracting Officer (KO) doesn’t know that much about cybersecurity, NIST 800-171, or the Risk Management Framework (RMF)

The KO of your current contracts will not magically pass down some special authorization or ruling that will impact your current contracts

Don’t listen to all of the big IT vendors who are telling you it will take 6-12 months to implement the technology necessary to comply

If you have the time to read the 110 security controls listed in NIST 800-171, you will notice the high percentage of controls which are not impacted by technology, but rather by people and process

That said, does this mean you just thumb your nose at this guidance? Absolutely not!

In my recent experiences with my customers, and what I expect to see more of in the future, is preferential weighting to contractors who produce well-documented cybersecurity operational readiness statements in their proposals.

It is unlikely that there will be any type of forced compliance to this new guidance. However, there is nothing saying that companies who implement the guidance, and assure the government of their dedication and diligence regarding the protection of federal information, won’t win more contracts than companies who do nothing.

What you SHOULD be doing

For the last 2.5 years, TOPSTONE has been developing a simplified program to help businesses align with this DFARS supplement. Not because we could see the future, but because this guidance went into effect way back in 2013 and no one did anything. The guidance was literally ignored by defense contractors.

The struggle many business owners have is understanding what NIST 800-171 means, how to apply it, and more importantly, where to start.

First, you need to realize that NIST 800-171 is about so much more than just your technology. I know this because I authored the 110 questions in our client intake self-assessment form. That’s what I mean when I say ‘simplified’. We took the security controls and did the geek–>business speak interpretation for our clients, and then presented the controls in simple yes/no questions.

Not surprising, many of these questions are about people, policy, and process, which you just can’t fix with more stuff that goes blinky-blinky in a rack.

What you need is a plan that allows you to determine how to get started, what you should assess, and most importantly, after you figure that out, what you should do first, second, and third.

You’ve got questions, and we’ve got answers. Through our MORTAR program, we can help you get to the point where your proposals boast your cybersecurity operational readiness in big bold print, and you’ll have the artifacts to back it up.

Thanks for reading!

.fusion-button.button-6 .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-6 i color:#ffffff;.fusion-button.button-6 border-width:1px;border-color:#ffffff;.fusion-button.button-6 .fusion-button-icon-dividerborder-color:#ffffff;.fusion-button.button-6:hover .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-6:hover i,.fusion-button.button-6:focus .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-6:focus i,.fusion-button.button-6:active .fusion-button-text, .fusion-button.button-6:activecolor:#ffffff;.fusion-button.button-6:hover, .fusion-button.button-6:focus, .fusion-button.button-6:activeborder-width:1px;border-color:#ffffff;.fusion-button.button-6:hover .fusion-button-icon-divider, .fusion-button.button-6:hover .fusion-button-icon-divider, .fusion-button.button-6:active .fusion-button-icon-dividerborder-color:#ffffff;.fusion-button.button-6width:auto;Learn More

.modal-6 .modal-header, .modal-6 .modal-footerborder-color:#ebebeb;

×

FREE - No Obligation Consultation

Last Name*

First Name*

Phone

Email*

What services are you interested in?*

Don't worry if what you are looking for isn't listed here. This gives us an idea of how to plan for our consultation.

MORTAR

TOPSTONE Cybersecurity Readiness Status

Small Business IT Support

Office 365

Moving to the cloud

Replacing your IT vendor

Training your IT staff

Special project planning

Other

Other service*

Please describe the service you are interested in

Is your IT outsourced now?

Yes

No

Sort of

How satisfied are you with your provider?

Please describe what you would like to discuss

CAPTCHA

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

if(typeof gf_global == 'undefined') var gf_global = "gf_currency_config":"name":"U.S. Dollar","symbol_left":"$","symbol_right":"","symbol_padding":"","thousand_separator":",","decimal_separator":".","decimals":2,"base_url":"https:\/\/topstone.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms","number_formats":[],"spinnerUrl":"https:\/\/topstone.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/gravityforms\/images\/spinner.gif";jQuery(document).bind('gform_post_render', function(event, formId, currentPage)if(formId == 1) gf_global["number_formats"][1] = "1":"price":false,"value":false,"2":"price":false,"value":false,"8":"price":false,"value":false,"3":"price":false,"value":false,"4":"price":false,"value":false,"9":"price":false,"value":false,"5":"price":false,"value":false,"6":"price":false,"value":false,"7":"price":false,"value":false,"12":"price":false,"value":false,"13":"price":false,"value":false;if(window['jQuery'])if(!window['gf_form_conditional_logic'])window['gf_form_conditional_logic'] = new Array();window['gf_form_conditional_logic'][1] = logic: 9: "field":"actionType":"show","logicType":"all","rules":["fieldId":"4","operator":"is","value":"Other"],"nextButton":null,"section":null,6: "field":"actionType":"show","logicType":"all","rules":["fieldId":"5","operator":"is","value":"Yes"],"nextButton":null,"section":null , dependents: 9: [9],6: [6] , animation: 1, defaults: [], fields: "1":[],"2":[],"8":[],"3":[],"4":[9],"9":[],"5":[6],"6":[],"7":[],"12":[],"13":[] ; if(!window['gf_number_format'])window['gf_number_format'] = 'decimal_dot';jQuery(document).ready(function()gf_apply_rules(1, [9,6], true);jQuery('#gform_wrapper_1').show();jQuery(document).trigger('gform_post_conditional_logic', [1, null, true]); ); if(!/(android)/i.test(navigator.userAgent))jQuery('#input_1_8').mask('(999) 999-9999').bind('keypress', function(e)if(e.which == 13)jQuery(this).blur(); ); );jQuery(document).bind('gform_post_conditional_logic', function(event, formId, fields, isInit) ); jQuery(document).ready(function()jQuery(document).trigger('gform_post_render', [1, 1]) );

Close

[pacificuoptometry]

Canadians at Pacific, eh?

Are you considering attending optometry school at PUCO? Are you Canadian or from elsewhere outside the USA? Do you have questions about adjusting to living in the USA?

This post was written with you in mind!

I’m a born-and-raised Canadian student, currently in my first year at PUCO. My acceptance to study at PUCO definitely brought me great excitement, but once the reality of “the big move” settled in, I also had uncertainties about what details my decision to study outside of my home country would involve. To help ease that uncertainty for some of you, I’d like to offer my own answers to some frequently asked questions of international prospective students looking to attend PUCO. Of course, these come with the bias of my own experiences, but I hope that at least a small amount of this information can help to prepare you for a smooth transition into attending graduate school south of the border.

Finances

Banking

The Bottom Line: You will need some sort of card or payment method that allows you to make frequent purchases in USD without charging you any point-of-sale cost.

·For me, this meant signing up for a USD credit card that I use like a debit card down here. I kept my Canadian account and CAD credit card for use whenever I return home, but got my USD credit card through the same bank (for me, BMO). My family and I can now freely deposit CAD money into this account for me to transfer into the USD account, which I use to pay off the USD credit card. Doing lump-sum transfers on a monthly basis saves on the international transfer fees, which would otherwise become significant over time on each individual purchase.

·I also opened a US bank account through Wells Fargo. I was advised that it is a good idea to have this as a source of back-up money, say if you ever lost your Canadian account cards. Because you are now international, retrieving replacement cards will be more complicated, so I strongly advise that you have a US account even if you do not use it very often. (And to build your American credit score as Dr. Bowen, our practice management professor, would encourage!) Wells Fargo is one of the few banks that will allow Canadian students without American SSNs to do this, and there is a Wells Fargo location in the heart of Forest Grove, just blocks from campus.

Paying Tuition

The Bottom Line: Canadian credit cards are not a good optionl consider cheques or bank drafts instead.

·There are service fees charged by the Canadian credit card companies that will accumulate to a significant amount over the course of paying your tuition fees. American debit or credit cards are fine, but this will require transfer of large sums of money internationally into your American account. I recommend getting cheques for your Canadian USD account, which you can simply take to the financial office on campus. You can also look into using bank drafts, if this is an option that might work for you.

·PUCO also has a quarterly payment plan, which I recommend for anyone using loans that accrue interest right away (ie. bank loans, lines of credit).

Several PUCO students made the trip to Vancouver, BC for BCDO 2017

Housing

Facebook Group

·The Bottom Line: The PUCO Facebook group is a great way to find rental properties and roommates.

·Upon acceptance to PUCO, you will be added to a Facebook group with the other incoming members of your class, as well as the Ambassadors and other members of the upper-year optometry classes. Upper year students will post housing opportunities that they would like to pass down to incoming optometry students to take over, especially as they move to be closer to their clinic or rotation sites. These fellow students are also good resources for recommendations on areas of town or websites to check out.

·There are many housing options in Forest Grove that serve as “optometry legacy houses”, where several generations of students have taken over the rental contracts from each other. We are lucky that previous PUCO students have established such a great tenant reputation amongst the landlords of Forest Grove!

·You can also check out Craigslist, as well as several other rental mapping websites such as Zillow, trulia, or homes.com.

Rent and Utilities

·The Bottom Line: American roommates are great resources when signing up for utility accounts (and also in general J ). I recommend paying rent with the same USD cheques as for tuition, but this may depend on your landlord’s preference.

·I recommend setting up (or at least planning) utilities 1-2 weeks before you move down. Your landlord should be able to tell you the specific companies that your house will use/require. If you do need to open new accounts with companies, be aware that you may run into issues because you may not yet have an American SSN. Personally, I had great roommates who offered to put their name down as the primary account holder until I was in the country and could deal with things locally.

·Again, not in my personal experience, but be aware of potential lack-of-SSN issues when dealing with house rental companies. Plan ahead rather than leaving accommodation arrangements until the last minute, just in case.

PUCO students enjoying BCDO 2017 in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia

Paperwork

F-1 Status and SSN

·The Bottom Line: PUCO is AMAZINGLY prepared for and used to hosting international students!

·The Office of International Programs and the Graduate Admissions Office at PUCO are awesome about sending you information regarding all the necessary steps and paperwork required to smoothly get your F-1 status (NOTE: Canadians DO NOT have visas). You will have minimal work to do for the paperwork side of international admission, and will be guided step-by-step throughout the process via very clear email instructions. (Insert sigh of relief here, because less paperwork is better paperwork.) by Katelyn Eisenhooth.

·During your time at Pacific, you will undergo a short process to get your SSN (which will be required for your clinical rotations). This is arranged by the College staff and you will be well-informed of the steps.

·Two great contacts for this information: Katelyn Eisenhooth (Assistant Director of International Programs) and Nicole Shappart (Assistant Director of Graduate Studies)

Travel

Documents to Carry

·The Bottom Line: Bring the proper paperwork with you (passport & I-20) across the border, and all should be well.

·Along with the previous information regarding F-1 status, Katelyn will be very helpful at teaching you all there is to know about the paperwork necessary to enter/exit the USA as an F-1 student. Better yet, they will set this all up for you and provide you with the necessary signed documents by mail before your arrival.

·Be sure to keep your signatures and information on these forms updated! You will be told about this at international student orientation.

Border Crossing Rules

·The Bottom Line: Most of the rules are common sense. Some are not. When in doubt, do your research and ask Katelyn!!

Here is a link to the official website for the USA Customs and Border Patrol guidelines for entering the United States as an International Visitor (Student): https://www.dhs.gov/how-do-i/cross-us-borders

·Just in case, here is a link to the Canadian Border Services Agency that outlines the rules regarding bringing American goods back into Canada: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/bgb-rmf-eng.html

NOTE: If you plan to use NEXUS, it is imperative that you have your I-20 (F-1 document) linked to your NEXUS card.

Vehicle Licensing

·The Bottom Line: You can keep your Canadian license plates and insurance.

·As a student studying internationally, you are allowed you to keep your home plates on your vehicle (if you plan on bringing one down to Forest Grove with you). This being said, you will need to go into your Canadian auto insurance broker’s office to let them know about your move, because there is a note that must be made on your file. For BC, it requires a “Z Class” status for the vehicle, which will likely bring a slight increase to your within-province insurance. For Alberta, fees and classifications may vary more by the individual insurance providers.

·NOTE: You need to bring your vehicle back across the Canadian border at least once per year! ICBC and most Albertan companies require that the vehicle cross back into Canada every 10 months in order to maintain its legal Canadian vehicle status. This may vary for certain insurance companies – if you are concerned, just ask your provider.

Health Care

Immunizations

·The Bottom Line: Becoming a healthcare provider requires immunization documentation!

·As part of your welcome email, and a few other times before the school year begins, you will be sent a form detailing the immunization documentation required to serve as a healthcare provider. There are some provincial differences (as well as American vs Canadian differences) in common immunization protocols. Start to track down your documentation of this as soon as possible, and read the details of the requirements that are sent to you very carefully. They may not match what you have already, but this is okay as long as you realize it in time to speak to your GP about getting what you need for PUCO!  Be aware that you may face some skepticism or confusion about which immunizations you truly need as an OD student, so you may be offered “reduced” immunization options instead. If you experience this, kindly let your provider know that the form provided by PUCO has been very carefully designed by our Patient Care team, and that as a healthcare provider in the USA there are strict rules regarding these specific levels of immunizations.

Insurance Plans

·The Bottom Line: PUCO provides you with health insurance, but you are welcome to substitute it with your own if it is sufficient.

·The American and Canadian healthcare systems have a few well-known differences, one of which is their method of providing health insurance. Although this could get confusing to arrange as an international student, PUCO has been nice enough to do the research and legwork for us, and offers a default coverage plan just for students! This plan offers some coverage for services like dental, doctor, emergency care, physiotherapy, etc.

·You also have the option to opt out of the PUCO coverage. This can be done if you are covered by a significant other or family member (just make sure that the coverage extends to the States!) or if you plan to purchase some other form of student insurance. Note that the Student Travel Insurance plans will NOT provide general services coverage (ie. dental, routine doctor, physiotherapy) but will kick-in should anything unexpected happen to you while you are in the USA. A popular and affordable option that I would recommend is ScotiaLife (overseen by Manulife), but there are several others! Word of warning: make sure that the student travel plan that you select allows you to come and go between USA/Canada throughout the year without voiding the policy! This is frequently overlooked by the brokers, and I don’t know about you but I like to be allowed to go home to visit!

·Also, there are varying rules regarding maintaining your basic Canadian healthcare coverage (ie. MSP for BC, AHCIP for Alberta, OHIP for Ontario…). Check with your province regarding the individual regulations, because some of them require exact knowledge of your USA destination as well as the dates you intend to be out of province. For BC, this was not the case in my experience, but it never hurts to make a quick call and let them know!

Several PUCO students made the trip to Vancouver, BC for BCDO 2017

Odds and Ends

Board Certification

·All Optometry students need to write Board Certification Exams in order to enter practice after graduation. Canadian students are eligible to write the American NBEO exams (info at: https://www.optometry.org/) if they plan to pursue a career in the USA, or can choose to write the Canadian exams (info at: http://www.ceo-eco.org/) if they plan to return to work in Canada. Or both if you are unsure! Currently, there is still eligibility for practice in British Columbia (with proper registration of course) for Canadians who have written the NBEO exams, though rumours have been circulating for a while that this option may close within the near future…

Phone Plans

·Common recommendations are AT&T and T-Mobile. Many companies down here will again require an SSN for plans, but these two companies will allow month-by-month plans for Canadian students. From experience, it is easiest to bring down your own phone that is unlocked from any carriers. There are options through both of these companies for very affordable ($30-60/month) plans with unlimited text/calling/data that can be used in the USA and Canada (and some even in Mexico) without ANY additional charges. This is a very nice feature for international students who tend to travel back and forth quite a bit, or if you plan to spend any length of time back in Canada and don’t want to flip between CAN/USA phone plans.

Costco Card

Not a ton to say here, other than that your Canadian Costco card will work in both countries – score!

Imported Essentials

·There are Canadian items that you will not find in the USA! Make sure to bring the following with you if you need them in your life:

o   Coffee crisp bars

o   Ketchup chips

o   Sour patch kids (the American kind taste different!)

o   All dressed chips (America finally has them, but they also taste different!)

o   Poutine (sad face)

o   Fuzzy peaches

o   Nanaimo bars (self-explanatory, no?)

o   PEROGIES.

o   Smarties (the American “Smarties” are Canada’s “Rockets” – you will get to politely argue about this with classmates)

o   The phrases “sorry”, “eh”, and “zed”

First-year PUCO student Kathy Nguyen stocking up on All Dressed Ruffles chips during one of her Canadian visits!

American Perks

There are also American items that will be new and exciting! Just to list a few…

o   AOSA and AOA+ memberships, as well as numerous other organizations and clubs to join

o   PayDay bars

o   Butterfinger bars

o   The Fahrenheit scale (used outside of the kitchen)

o   Trader Joe’s!

o   Dollar bills (but there’s also a pseudo-Loonie!)

o   American Netflix and Hulu (and you WILL have time to watch them!)

o   So. Much. More. But I can’t give away all of the surprises…

Important Final Notes

·The Canadian Association of Optometry Students (humorously abbreviated ‘CAOS’) has a PUCO chapter! They put on fun and informative events throughout the year that are directed towards keeping a little piece of homeland pride burning in all of us Canadians studying abroad.

Dr. Schwirtz and Dr. Birring from IRIS Canada speaking to PUCO students about optometry in Canada and how to increase efficiency in practice.

·YES, you will still be informed about Canadian events and conferences during your time at PUCO! Several of our Canadian students actually just made the quick trip up to attend the BCDO Conference and Optofair in Vancouver, BC this past weekend. We also have doctors and company representatives who frequently come down to PUCO to speak to students, and who are open and down-to-earth about answering student questions. Pacific is very good at keeping Canadians informed about opportunities back home.

·The level of education you will receive at PUCO is, in my opinion, worth every missed opportunity to consume poutine. In all seriousness, the knowledge and clinical skills that I have already gained from my numerous mentors and colleagues at PUCO is outstanding, and worth every bit of the move.

·Kinder Surprises are illegal in the USA. Seriously.

TLDR;

Are you considering attending optometry school at PUCO? I strongly recommend it!

Are you Canadian or from elsewhere outside the USA? It doesn’t matter - you’ll fit right in at PUCO. (But seriously Canadians, bring adequate ketchup chips.)

Do you have questions about adjusting to living in the USA? I hope that I’ve answered some of them and left you feeling at least a bit more prepared for the move, but if not then please feel welcome to contact me or any of PUCO’s wonderful students, staff, or faculty to gain more insight!

Thank you to Danielle Guenet and Kathy Nguyen for the picture contributions!

Written by Nadine Odermatt, First-year Student Ambassador at Pacific University College of Optometry.  oder0599@pacificu.edu

Please note that this post reflects the opinions and experiences of the author and is not endorsed by Pacific University.

[ranminfan]

My man's look has been consistent damn 😤

They were really going for it with the emo look.