#tm master cup series

[cynon777]

TM Master Cup series at Road America. Honestly one of my favorite races ever.

[late-to-the-party-81]

Cuddles are the cure

Ask: Omg omg omg Jen please please can I have some Bruce/Hulk and Reader. I'm in desperate need of some super fluff, like imagine Hulk just picking you up and snuggling you all warm when you're I'm you're sad 🥺🥺🥺

AN: Super fluff, you say, Elsie? In fact it’s so fluffy I had to throw in reader comforting Hulk too - mutual comforting. Set in the world of You, Me and the Other Guy and slots in as part two of the series.

Beta’d by @lunarbuck

Moodboard by me and dividers by @firefly-graphics

Master list | Series Master list

Relationship: Bruce/Hulk x Reader

WC: 1.5k

CW: Fluff. Lots of cuddles. Soft kisses. Implied Tony being a dickhead. Working in customer retail sucks.

In every way that mattered, your life had improved immeasurably since you and Bruce had started dating. You already had a friendship, a connection, and you couldn’t believe how easy the two of you just fit. 

It was still early days though - you had your shifts, and when Bruce, or rather the Hulk, wasn’t off saving the world with the other Avengers, he had his research and other interests.You didn’t want to live in each others pockets, but still made the effort to see each other at least three times a week, and spoke on the phone all the other days.

You’d introduced him to your small circle of friends, and none of them realised who he actually was, aside from being a sweet nerd who’d swept you off your feet. It was the one advantage of having two personas, you supposed - it meant that he could maintain privacy when out and about.

In return, Bruce had invited you to come and meet the other Avengers. He’d done that charming thing of coming over all shy, asking you while cleaning his glasses with his shirt, so that he wouldn’t have to look at you and risk rejection.

“I mean, you only have to come if you want to. I don’t want you to be disappointed or overwhelmed, because they can be a handful. Tony will tease me… and flirt with you, Steve’s actually got a filthy potty mouth, Nat can be pretty intimidating, Thor, when he’s here, is loud and Clint… well… he’s got a specific sense of humour.”

You’d reached out and placed your hand on his arm, and he’d put his glasses back on and looked at you, expression unreadable.

“I’d love to meet them, and not because they’re the Avengers, but because they’re your friends and colleagues.”

“As long as you’re sure.”

You’d shifted closer, cupping his face with your hand and brushing your nose against his.

“Certain.”

They’d been everything Bruce had described and more, but you’d won them over, and now had your own Avengers Tower access clearance. Sometimes you and Bruce met up there, especially if he was working late, or had been on a mission. It was also the best space for you to hang out with Hulk. The green giant was actually a massive cuddle bug, and enjoyed lounging in his/Bruce’s room, watching Disney movies with you while eating insane amounts of popcorn and candy. 

At first, Bruce had been reticent about letting you spend time with his other persona, but you’d convinced him that you would be fine. You knew almost from the first moment that you’d met him that you and Hulk would be friends, because he and Bruce were two sides of the same coin - he would never hurt you.

Now, so far in your relationship, it had all been sunshine and roses - well, apart from that night, but considering what it had led to, you couldn’t be too upset - you and Bruce having cute dates, sweet kisses and lots of laughter.  As you got off the subway you hoped that he’d be able to manage something different, and you didn’t mean intimacy. Well, that would be nice, but also, you were content to wait until it felt right for both of you. What you did need today was comfort, because it had been A Day TM (a really shitty day) because even the best relationship could improve what it was like to work in a retail job.

It wasn’t as though you weren’t used to asshole customers - you had to usually deal with one or two every day, but today! It was like they’d all held a meeting and decided to show up at the same time and be meaner and more horrible than normal - asking for complex drinks that made no sense, then telling you that you’d done it wrong, when you’d actually triple checked with them before starting.

Walking up to the front entrance of the tower you fanned your face, trying to disperse the tears that threatened to fall from just thinking about it. You wouldn’t let them bring you down!

Striding into the building, you flashed your access card to the security guard before swiping it at the executive elevator. You were glad that you’d be able to travel straight to Bruce’s floor. He wasn’t expecting you at this time, but one of your colleagues had owed you, so you’d ended your shift a couple of hours early and made your way straight here. Hopefully you’d be able to hang out in his room while he finished up his work for the day. Or maybe you could keep him company in the lab if you signed some kind of NDA.  

You could feel yourself spiralling and you swallowed back a small cry, turning it into a hiccup as the elevator came to a halt and you virtually stumbled out into Bruce’s living room…

… to be met with the sight of Hulk, sitting on the floor, worry beads around his neck, watching Lilo and Stitch.

His face broke into a broad smile when he saw you, and he clambered to his feet as quickly as he could.

“Pretty Girl!” He turned and looked at the clock and then back at you. “Pretty Girl early!”

You bit your lip and nodded. Despite your mood, a small smile played at the edges of your mouth.

“Uh-huh. I just needed to see you… or Bruce.”

Hulk looked at you for a moment, and blinked. “Pretty Girl okay that Hulk here, not Bruce?”

You nodded, his earnestness and innocence threatening to destroy the last of your control. You took a step towards him, followed by a second and then you were throwing yourself into his arms, pressing your face against his chest and letting the tears of frustration flow.

Slowly, Hulk wrapped his arms around you, and you noticed he was a little unsure.

“Pretty Girl sad. Did bad man come back and try hurt you?”

You lifted your head, and sniffed with a little smile. “No. Nothing like that. Just a bad day at work.”

You eased out of his hold so you could drop your purse and take your coat off.

“How Hulk help? Want Hulk smash?”

He was too sweet. It was tempting.

“No. No smashing. Just be you, buddy. Sit back down and I’ll join you - we can finish watching together. I just need some cuddles.”

He let out a light snort and lumbered back over to his pile of cushions, dropping down heavily. You knew that Tony had had this floor reinforced, but you were still astounded when the floor didn’t shake. Once he appeared comfortable you joined him, climbing up into his lap and pressing into his side. He was so warm!

You watched in silence together for 10 minutes or so, both of you letting out the odd bark of laughter at the antics of Lilo and her extraterrestrial friend. You could feel yourself calming down just through this - being here and being cared for, with no expectation, something that previous boyfriends had never given you.

You were glad you had Bruce, and Hulk. Which brought you back to why the latter was here.

“Hey, Big Guy. Any reason you’re out today? Was there a mission, because I know Bruce had a load of scientific stuff to do today.”

You felt his body stiffen under you.

“No mission. No smash. Stark happen.”

You sighed - it stood to reason.

“Did he frighten Bruce again?”

He let out a resigned huff.

“Wanted to know what makes Hulk appear. Now Hulk not want to go back. Hulk come here, home. Watch movies, try to be calm.”

You rose up on your knees and pressed your palm to his cheek, feeling him lean into it gently.

“So you’ve had a bad day too? I’m sorry. What about if I get some more snacks and you pick another movie. How does that sound?”

“Hulk like snacks. Hulk like movies. Hulk love Pretty Girl.”

You dropped a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

“Love you too, Big Guy.”

You got up, and went to the kitchen, rummaging through the cupboards for enough snacks to keep Hulk sated. You smiled to yourself as you heard him talking to FRIDAY, picking the next thing you were going to watch. Snacks and drinks obtained you took your place, back on his lap.

The opening credits played and you smiled - the Little Mermaid.

“You know, if you ever have this problem again, ask FRIDAY to call me. I’m more than happy to help cheer you up. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“Yes. Hulk and Pretty Girl best friends.”

You both settled down then to watch Ariel fight for her true love. Hulk kept an arm around you, holding you close, but without squashing you, and every so often you ran your hand up and down his arm or scratched your fingers into his black hair, quietly soothing him.

About 10 minutes from the end, Hulk started to fidget and shift under you. You got up and watched as he slowly shrank, and his skin returned to pink. Bruce looked up at you, slightly chagrined, from the pillow nest on the floor. “Hey.”

You smiled and sat back down next to him, wrapping your arms around one of his and leaning your head on his shoulder. “Hey, yourself. Feeling better?”

“Absolutely.” Bruce leant over and pressed a kiss to the top of your head. “And you? Sorry I wasn’t here to help.”

“Not your fault. And I’m sure there will be another day with a-hole customers. I’m also certain that Tony won’t frighten Hulk out of you again.”

Bruce chuckled. “You give him more credit than he’s due. Although he might not try it again for a while - the Other Guy smashed up his new Porsche…”

You couldn’t help it - you laughed out loud, cuddling into your boyfriend, and realising that life wasn’t so bad after all.

Tag list: @jobean12-blog @tuiccim @krissy25 @bodeckersdiamonddoll @goldylions @luxeavenger @wheezy-stucky @doasyoudesireandlive @chemtrails-club @peaches1958 @pono-pura-vida @writing-for-marvel @esposadomd

[greek-fangirl-of-everything]

The sweetest tm person 💞 @mne-bolno tagged me to list my top 5 shows and I've been waiting for this moment my whole life, I'm so so sorry for the long post, feel free to ignore

1. Avatar the last airbender (or s3-4 of legend of korra) -> my coping mechanism when life slowly starts to lose all meaning, it happens so little by little that you feel unsettled but you can't yet understand why, nothing is supposed to be as it is, that or you really have lost touch with yourself and reality, these times you need sth to remind you of who you were and are or that it is okay if you don't know where you're going in life, it is okay, everything will be okay, you will understand again why the world is the way it is, hope for a clear mind and soul will come again, a good life can be a peaceful life (autumn vibes, it is the season when you can feel change coming, you feel it in the wind and all around you, sth new is starting, you will finally have a routine again, also huge nostalgia)

2. Parks and Recreation -> comfort show, feelgood show, it is great for a quick escape from the world when you feel too anxious or at the edge of your seat, after a few eps you feel like it starts repeating itself and you're able to snap out of it before hours of binge watching pointlessly, you smile, remember to not take life too seriously (early summer vibes, exactly when the season is changing and you, for the love of god, need the end of the school year to come and sleep for a month straight, but it gets hot a little too soon and you feel like the days are starting to blend into each other but you're safe and content, a simple life can be a good life)

3. The Haunting of the Hill House -> it is 1 am and it is very cold, you're cuddled up with your favourite blanket and stuffed animal, you have nowhere else to be but your bed and nothing else to do, no responsibilities whatsoever, it is 2 am and you don't want to sleep, you could stay up all night if you wanted to and you do, no-one can tell you you can't, everything is perfectly still, silent, it is 3 am and the world is sleeping, the ghosts are keeping you company, the more episodes you watch the more sleepy you become and the more ghosts are at your bedside, they like your stuffed animal, they are protecting you, it is 4 am and you slowly drift off, the ghosts stay, they are chatting amongst themselves, they feel like home, it is 5 am and they feel dread, they have to leave, they don't know if they ever will be back together again, you don't get a chance to say goodbye, you are alone (winter vibes)

4. She ra and the princesses of power -> comfort show, everyone has a million things to do and it has been so long from the last time you rested that you can't remember a day that you weren't productive, you need a break but no-one is there cause everyone is caught up in their own lives and responsibilities and you can't blame them, you are not alone, actually you are surrounded by people, but you feel really lonely, you need love and you need to be seen, you need a day in Etheria, in Brightmoon, or the Crimson Waste, or in Plumeria, or in Mystacor, you need to find your people and just be present with them, love is around you, love is strength (spring vibes, you're finally getting vitamin D after winter, you cry cause you've been in need of it for a long time but denial creeped into your brain)

5. Harley Quinn the animated series s1 -> fuck this shit, you're tired and angry and sick of people not taking you seriously, you want to smash a window or to drive a car into a lake or just yell and pop a lung open, i get it, you want to clench and unclench your fists, you feel tingles starting from your feet, up your legs, behind your knees, all the way up your spine till your nape, you want to start running but like you can't bring yourself to because you have spent years mastering how to limit yourself and you feel like you're going crazy, honestly you need a break from being nice, take a day off, be angry and salty, who fucking cares anyways (november/february vibes, just decide man, you wanna be autumn or winter? winter or spring? make a fucking decision)

Here are a few honourable mentions:

Στο παρα 5 (5 minutes before), Rwby, Phineas and Ferb, Atypical, The hockey girls, Sense8

I'm tagging ppl I see in my notes🤗🤗 I JUST WANNA SAY I DEEPLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YALL 💖

@ellouko-22 @ihaveahiccup @flux-of-daydreams97 @thinkingaboutmyotps @mavrogata @auroromunroe @palpietine-1 @astr0manced @carry-on-my-wayward-son98 @y0ur-cup-0f-c0ffee @zzzomegazzz @unicorn-of-the-world @iicaoimheii @ladlightfoot @geekg1rl3 @prol-x @maximum-effort28

(obvi u don't have to do it if you don't feel like it and you don't need to analyse the shows you can just list them, i just had a lot of feels)

[darrowsrising]

Red Rising Rage Review:

Ok, so @apex-aureate asked me to share my opinion on Pip's Read's 'Red Rising Rage Review'. Particulary what she thinks about Darrow.

Before all of that, I have to say that Darrow is my favourite character. My absolute favourite character! So take this with a grain of salt.

I'm not trying to change opinions or something, this is just my opinion of the review. I respect the reviewer's opinion in general.

I'll problably get hate anyway, but you asked for this and I'll deliver without sugarcoating (you know, like some people don't do with Roque...sorry, couldn't help it)

Now to the tea spilling:

First of all I have to adress the blasphemy: the Women of Red Rising aren't bland. And they don't exist for Darrow's sexual frustration. There was a single minor incident in GS when Victra tried to seduce Darrow. And that was all. He refused her and that was the end of story. He didn't use her in any way sexually (or otherwise) Victra went on and became one of the fiercest warriors in the Rising. Also, his love for Virginia was in no way only sexually orientated. And Holiday, Orion, Evey, Harmony, Pebble, Harpy, Aja etc. are in no way, shape or form there for Darrow's sexual frustration...he never, ever, ever sees them like that. I mean...did we read the same books?

Secondly, the reviewer is mad at Darrow because he is the only one who narrates. And she's mad that he's not a political person. Yes, he's more of a social-justice fighter, sorry he doesn't like to play political games with the lives of his people when he isn't even good at it. He himself admits Mustang is way better at politics than him, he's more of a man of action. Now, I think the charm of the trilogy is Darrow's pov. But I do understand that it's not everyone's cup of tea.

The reviewer is also mad that there are too many deus-ex-machinas in the series. And Darrow is a dick, because he holds back from the reader. Well, I think that this is a very subjective matter. In my opinion, Darrow holding back stuff from the reader is understandable because there are time gaps between the books, so of course he isn't going to make a recap of everything jist because you want to know everything. And all the mocking she did was really...inaccurate? I think that's the word. For example (if I'm not mistaken), in Golden Son, Darrow says that Cassius deserves his Morning Knight title because he is indeed amazing with his razor and Darrow feels like he would die if he fought like Cassius did - using kravat. But he uses the Willow Way, taught by Lorn himself in that time gap between RR and GS. So, I think this one is a matter of perspective. I loved it. She didn't.

Also, I think it's not fair that she reduced those instances to 'Darow makes deus ex machina plans and it's annoying'. The deus ex machinas work because it's not Darrow who just gets out of tough spots like a breeze. He's saved, he's helped all the time. Mustang, Fitchner, the Howlers, the PitVipers, they always save him from dying. Sometimes it's his own abilities to balance out stuff. But it is as realistic as possible, imo at least.

Also, I think it's not fair to say that enhancing a human being made us think that limb loss or other stuff are nothing. On the contrary, through out the trilogy there are explainatiin as to why people keep dying if we have such technology: Carving a Red to a Gold is very hard and not many survive (Darrow and Titus survived, but then not many survive the Intitute or the Academy - the risk of dying is always high and I doubt there are hundreds of Carved Reds), Carvings are really, really expensive (ask Fitchner), losing limbs isn't always going to end with Carving back the limb - mostly it is going to end to bionic prostheics - see Sevro is Golden Son and Thraxa in Iron Gold and thousands of soldiers in MS, there are Golds who believe in eugenics so they'd rather die or let their loved ones die than use advanced medicine.

Basically, the reviewer really, really doesn't like the 1st person narration at all that she channels that into Darrow. Or she doesn't like Darrow at all and she channels that into the narration. Can't really tell, so it's probably both. Anyway, after laying out how much she disliked the narration and the narrator, she said that Darrow is annoying, she wants to punch him in the face, he is boring, he is so damn self-absorbed and selfish.

My opinion on that is that...idk, did we read the same books? Yes, Darrow is a drama queen. Yes, Darrow is proud of his abilities. He also constantly reminds us that his image is exacerbated. There is a distinction between Reaper and Darrow. Reaper is an image that Darrow and his allies created to be god-like with the purpose of sending a message of hope and fear into the worlds. Darrow - the man - is just that. A man. He is a good friend (not all the time, but who is a good friend all the time), he is a good fighter, he loves to dance and eat strawberries. He genuinely loves his family, his friends, his love. He is from time to time way too focused on his goal that he forgets everyone else. He becomes self-absorbed once in a while. He forgets some important things - like when he was left alone for like 2-3 years and had to be reminded why he fights by Harmony. But that's not entirely making up his character.

Edit: there was also this thing that she disliked - Darrow seeming like he can read people's minds...I guess that is a matter of perspective, but I never even thought of that as a problem. And now that I think about it...I don't feel like it's such a big deal. Many 1st pov are like that. Plus, Darrow is sometimes so damn sure of what other people think and it ends up with him being wrong all along...so, I don't think it's a proble at all. But that's a matter of perspective too...although I think that's nitpicking to hell, but that's just me.

Another thing I noticed the reviewer didn't like was the fact that Darrow has beautiful monologues before battles and that's unrealistic, because he makes stupid decisions immediatelly afterwards ...err, have you ever read a war journal wrote by a soldier? I did. His name was Camil Petrescu, he had very beautiful monologues before he went to battle...where he fucked up and survived through a miracle. After that his carreer as a writer skyrocketed.

Anyway, my point is that...I don't understand why it's unrealistic. Believe it or not it seems to me easier to be contemplative and to philosophe like a true master when you sit in a duroSteel box which will send you into the stratosphere while enemies will shoot at you. I bet it makes you think a lot about life and death and warfare and love and why you are fighting and stuff like that. You know...exactly what Darrow talks about...idk, this again I think it is a matter of perspective.

Can I reitterate that the women of Red Rising aren't looked at from a sexual pov ? I'll hang myself with this one if I have to.

No but really, that's the only thing that propelled me into rage in that review. Darrow of Lykos? Seeing every female as a vent for his sexual frustration? Where? When? How? What the fuck? I can never agree with this. Ever! They are not there for him to get his dick hard! What the actual fuck! The guy refuses Pinks on a daily, why are we even debating this?

I get it that she didn't like the books that much. I respect that. I get it that people who say it's the best sci-fi are stretching it more than a little.

I also understand why she wants a 3rd person narration.

But her points about Darrow being selfish and self-absorbed (and generally a stupid jock tm), her opinion on the women of Red Rising (especially this one), her downplay of Victra's character (she's so much more than her hitting on Darrow that one time and I hate that I have to remind everyone of that, wtf) ar things that I can never agree with. This is so far from factual I can't even.

I'm not trying to be disrespectful or anything. And I'm sorry if it came that way.

Edit: the Women of Red Rising are amazing and the stuff said about them in this review are blasphemous. You can argue with me all you want, you can't change my mind, sorry.

Anyway, hope I don't get hanged for this one! Per aspera ad astra!

Oh, and if you want to, you can still send me asks with 'your opinion on...'. It is a tumblr game thingy I rebloged a while ago and this was @apex-aureate 's ask basically.

I tried to edit the mistakes I made, because I answered this on my phone. I also added some stuff I remembered from the review, but I didn't address in hopes to be as thorough as possible. Hope it is satisfying grammatically speaking. I'm not a native speaker, so if I made mistakes, please point them out and I'll rectify them.

[girmiti]

Girmiti Software, Custom POS Application and Software Development Company

Girmiti Software has expertise in consulting, designing, and developing SDK platforms for terminal manufacturers and has expertise in developing EMV PoS applications for terminal manufacturing partners. We also help them in getting certified with acquirer and leverage expertise in porting the SDK to new versions and new platforms like Linux OS. Our experience extends to working on drivers, embedded devices through working closely with Hardware manufactures.

 Our expertise in areas of testing, scripting on devices, platforms to test, helps customer products to be certified and successfully complete UAT with 3rd party vendors.

 Our Team designed, developed and provided support for PoS applications on different terminal SDK platforms based on business requirements from different regional customers (APAC, EMEA, Canada, America).

 Our team carries the expertise on Terminals and SDK expertise including:

 ·         VeriFone (VOS, VOS2, Verix, Verix-V, eVo, Nurit-Lipman, Mx, Gemalto - Magic SDK)

·         Ingenico (Inge-platform, Telium and Tetra series)

·         Hypercom (Optimum series ODT, Thales)

·         Castles (COTS)

·         PAX (Proteus platform)

·         Geodesic (Geo-Amida SDK)

·         ExadiGm

·         Geodesik

·         ATOS

 Types of PoS Application development undertaken (includes providing solution on open loop/closed loop environments):

 ·         Credit/Debit

·         EMV Contact, Contactless, Mobile

·         DCC (Multi Currency support)

·         Prepaid, Loyalty, Gift, Top-Up, Ticketing, transit, Sport events, Restaurants, sports, Health Care, Insurance etc.

·         Financial Inclusion (Micro Finance)

·         Cloud POS

·         Device Signing, Remote Key Injection

 Apart from the above listed business features, we have worked on interfacing POS device with Cash Drawer, Wireless/Bluetooth Printer, Contactless Reader, Biometric, Bar Code and Check scanner.

 Our team carries the deep expertise in domain protocols, technology and supporting tools such as:

 ·         ISO-8583/APACS protocol

·         EPAS/Nexo

·         TMS Support (VeriCentre, Inge-state, Term-master)

·         Remote Key Injection

·         Multi-Application (VMAC, App-Manager) compatibility

·         Card Layout preparation & security

·         Various communication support to the Host (PSTN/Dial-up - NAC, RAS, CDMA, IP/Ethernet, GPRS,) etc.

 Support for card devices

Cards and Certification

·         Mag-Stripe cards

·         Contact Smartcards (EMV - ADVT, TIP, RuPay, AMEX, Discover, SCOSTA, MIFARE, M-chip)

·         Contactless Smartcards (EMV - qVSDC, PayPass, qSparc, DPAS, ExpressPay, CUP DesFire, DesFire-EV1 tags).

·         EMV L2 certification for Contactless and Contact cards-based Reader and devices.

 New Technology PoS Services

·         Tap on Phone (mPOS)

·         EMV QR

·         Wallet Transactions

·         Square (Mag-stripe audio-jack dongle) type reader driver interface with smartphones iPhone, Android

·         Pass-through App for Contactless Reader

·         Attendance and Access Control Apps on PoS to accept smart poster tags (NDEF, Des-Fire tags).

 Our team works to optimize, analyze, design and build POS applications to provide business users, processors, acquirers, prepaid and 3rd party companies a robust system for their daily business or for access information.

 POS applications that we build are using the following platforms and technologies

 ·         C & C++

·         Android Java

·         QT

·         VC++

 Our team has developed POS custom application features & solutions for EMV/Non EMV & NFC such as –

·         mPOS, Mobile Top up

 ·         Credit / Debit, Gift & Loyalty

·         Bill payments & interfaces with utilities

·         Transit issuance/acquiring

·         E Top Up Solutions, coupons

·         Multi-currency, eCash

·         Check, Biometric

·         Kernel, Reader & driver

·         Interfaces with mobile devices

 Our team carries domain expertise in designing, developing, implementing POS Applications, interfaces for Processors & Terminals.

 To know more-

Visit- https://www.girmiti.com/pos.html

Mail Us- info@girmiti.com

[girmiti-software]

Girmiti Software-Custom POS Application & Software Development Company

Girmiti Software has expertise in consulting, designing, and developing SDK platforms for terminal manufacturers and has expertise in developing EMV PoS applications for terminal manufacturing partners. We also help them in getting certified with acquirer and leverage expertise in porting the SDK to new versions and new platforms like Linux OS. Our experience extends to working on drivers, embedded devices through working closely with Hardware manufactures.

 Our expertise in areas of testing, scripting on devices, platforms to test, helps customer products to be certified and successfully complete UAT with 3rd party vendors.

 Our Team designed, developed and provided support for PoS applications on different terminal SDK platforms based on business requirements from different regional customers (APAC, EMEA, Canada, America).

 Our team carries the expertise on Terminals and SDK expertise including:

 ·         VeriFone (VOS, VOS2, Verix, Verix-V, eVo, Nurit-Lipman, Mx, Gemalto - Magic SDK)

 ·         Ingenico (Inge-platform, Telium and Tetra series)

 ·         Hypercom (Optimum series ODT, Thales)

 ·         Castles (COTS)

 ·         PAX (Proteus platform)

 ·         Geodesic (Geo-Amida SDK)

 ·         ExadiGm

 ·         Geodesik

 ·         ATOS

 Types of PoS Application development undertaken (includes providing solution on open loop/closed loop environments):

 ·         Credit/Debit

 ·         EMV Contact, Contactless, Mobile

 ·         DCC (Multi Currency support)

 ·         Prepaid, Loyalty, Gift, Top-Up, Ticketing, transit, Sport events, Restaurants, sports, Health Care, Insurance etc.

 ·         Financial Inclusion (Micro Finance)

 ·         Cloud POS

 ·         Device Signing, Remote Key Injection

 Apart from the above listed business features, we have worked on interfacing POS device with Cash Drawer, Wireless/Bluetooth Printer, Contactless Reader, Biometric, Bar Code and Check scanner.

 Our team carries the deep expertise in domain protocols, technology and supporting tools such as:

 ·         ISO-8583/APACS protocol

 ·         EPAS/Nexo

 ·         TMS Support (VeriCentre, Inge-state, Term-master)

 ·         Remote Key Injection

 ·         Multi-Application (VMAC, App-Manager) compatibility

 ·         Card Layout preparation & security

 ·         Various communication support to the Host (PSTN/Dial-up - NAC, RAS, CDMA, IP/Ethernet, GPRS,) etc.

 Support for card devices

Cards and Certification

·         Mag-Stripe cards

 ·         Contact Smartcards (EMV - ADVT, TIP, RuPay, AMEX, Discover, SCOSTA, MIFARE, M-chip)

 ·         Contactless Smartcards (EMV - qVSDC, PayPass, qSparc, DPAS, ExpressPay, CUP DesFire, DesFire-EV1 tags).

 ·         EMV L2 certification for Contactless and Contact cards-based Reader and devices.

 New Technology PoS Services

·         Tap on Phone (mPOS)

 ·         EMV QR

 ·         Wallet Transactions

 ·         Square (Mag-stripe audio-jack dongle) type reader driver interface with smartphones iPhone, Android

 ·         Pass-through App for Contactless Reader

 ·         Attendance and Access Control Apps on PoS to accept smart poster tags (NDEF, Des-Fire tags).

 Our team works to optimize, analyze, design and build POS applications to provide business users, processors, acquirers, prepaid and 3rd party companies a robust system for their daily business or for access information.

 POS applications that we build are using the following platforms and technologies

 ·         C & C++

 ·         Android Java

 ·         QT

 ·         VC++

 Our team has developed POS custom application features & solutions for EMV/Non EMV & NFC such as –

 ·         mPOS, Mobile Top up

 ·         Credit / Debit, Gift & Loyalty

 ·         Bill payments & interfaces with utilities

 ·         Transit issuance/acquiring

 ·         E Top Up Solutions, coupons

 ·         Multi-currency, eCash

 ·         Check, Biometric

 ·         Kernel, Reader & driver

 ·         Interfaces with mobile devices

 Our team carries domain expertise in designing, developing, implementing POS Applications, interfaces for Processors & Terminals.

 To know more-

Visit- https://www.girmiti.com/pos.html

Mail Us- info@girmiti.com

[mouthshutreviews]

Custom POS Application & Software Development Company - Girmiti Software

Girmiti Software has expertise in consulting, designing, and developing SDK platforms for terminal manufacturers and has expertise in developing EMV PoS applications for terminal manufacturing partners. We also help them in getting certified with acquirer and leverage expertise in porting the SDK to new versions and new platforms like Linux OS. Our experience extends to working on drivers, embedded devices through working closely with Hardware manufacturers.

Our expertise in areas of testing, scripting on devices, platforms to test, helps customer products to be certified and successfully complete UAT with 3rd party vendors.

Our Team designed, developed and provided support for PoS applications on different terminal SDK platforms based on business requirements from different regional customers (APAC, EMEA, Canada, America).

Our team carries the expertise on Terminals and SDK expertise including:

• VeriFone (VOS, VOS2, Verix, Verix-V, eVo, Nurit-Lipman, Mx, Gemalto - Magic SDK)

• Ingenico (Inge-platform, Telium and Tetra series)

• Hypercom (Optimum series ODT, Thales)

• Castles (COTS)

• PAX (Proteus platform)

• Geodesic (Geo-Amida SDK)

• ExadiGm

• Geodesik

• ATOS

Types of PoS Application development undertaken (includes providing solution on open loop/closed loop environments):

• Credit/Debit

• EMV Contact, Contactless, Mobile

• DCC (Multi Currency support)

• Prepaid, Loyalty, Gift, Top-Up, Ticketing, transit, Sport events, Restaurants, sports, Health Care, Insurance etc.

• Financial Inclusion (Micro Finance)

• Cloud POS

• Device Signing, Remote Key Injection

Apart from the above listed business features, we have worked on interfacing POS devices with Cash Drawer, Wireless/Bluetooth Printer, Contactless Reader, Biometric, Barcode and Check scanner.

Our team carries the deep expertise in domain protocols, technology and supporting tools such as:

• ISO-8583/APACS protocol

• EPAS/Nexo

• TMS Support (VeriCentre, Inge-state, Term-master)

• Remote Key Injection

• Multi-Application (VMAC, App-Manager) compatibility

• Card Layout preparation & security

• Various communication support to the Host (PSTN/Dial-up - NAC, RAS, CDMA, IP/Ethernet, GPRS,) etc.

Support for card devices

Cards and Certification

• Mag-Stripe cards

• Contact Smartcards (EMV - ADVT, TIP, RuPay, AMEX, Discover, SCOSTA, MIFARE, M-chip)

• Contactless Smart Cards (EMV - qVSDC, PayPass, qSparc, DPAS, ExpressPay, CUP DesFire, DesFire-EV1 tags).

• EMV L2 certification for Contactless and Contact cards-based Reader and devices.

New Technology PoS Services

• Tap on Phone (mPOS)

• EMV QR

• Wallet Transactions

• Square (Mag-stripe audio-jack dongle) type reader driver interface with smartphones iPhone, Android

• Pass-through App for Contactless Reader

• Attendance and Access Control Apps on PoS to accept smart poster tags (NDEF, Des-Fire tags).

Our team works to optimize, analyze, design and build POS applications to provide business users, processors, acquirers, prepaid and 3rd party companies a robust system for their daily business or for access information.

POS applications that we build are using the following platforms and technologies

• C & C++

• Android Java

• QT

• VC++

Our team has developed POS custom application features & solutions for EMV/Non EMV & NFC such as –

• mPOS, Mobile Top up

• Credit / Debit, Gift & Loyalty

• Bill payments & interfaces with utilities

• Transit issuance/acquiring

• E Top Up Solutions, coupons

• Multi-currency, eCash

• Check, Biometric

• Kernel, Reader & driver

• Interfaces with mobile devices

Our team carries domain expertise in designing, developing, implementing POS Applications, interfaces for Processors & Terminals.

[kaijuzilla]

My Pokemon(Fakemon) Story Idea? (Core Series)

MOD: So the you might be wondering what this post about? Well to tell you and I just wanna let this out. I’m just making just my own Pokemon region base off Coast of America meaning there will be lot of water types (maybe). So I’ll just tell you what it’s about and stuff under this link. (this is my idea and no I didn’t steal anything) (this is a practice and just wanna know how the story goes)

(Chances this will be separate partly) Pt.1

“Pokemon Spirit”

“(Pokemon belong to Game-Freak, Nintendo, The Pokemon Company, and Creatures. This isn’t a real Pokemon game and not a prediction to any new version later in the future. Pokemon name mentioned that are made belong to them while fakemon are just made.)”

Professor Maple: *webcam is on* WOAH! *fall over and look messy* S-sorry about that kiddo. You scare me for second there. *ahem* My name is Professor Maple and welcome to the world of Pokemon. Pokemon are magical creatures that live on Earth for many years. You can see them in jungle forest, murky swamp, beautiful grasslands, the ocean, and even up in the skies above us.  I study Pokemon natural environments by watching them through cameras making sure their habitats are nice and secured on the Census Region where I take care of wild Pokemon in my lab. Because long ago this region have trouble with the Pokemon population (rarities) back then so I decided to help restore their populations. Now..um..I’m sorry but are you a boy or a girl?.....Well then (player name) I hope to see you very soon at my lab today! And tell your mom I said hi! I’ll see you soon~. *wave goodbye then camera crash seeing slime on screen* AAAH!! GOODRA NOT NOW!!! *webcam off*

You’re starting town is Samara Town. In this town you’re next to a beach where people in your town and your neighbor town go to have fun and relax. You walk downstairs meeting your mom who knows everything upstairs. She know you’re getting your Pokemon to start off your journey by her childhood friend Maple. She is proud how you’re going to start off your journey that she tell you that she use to travel back then with Maple as her rival. She’ll be readying your bag as you walk out to the professor lab which is on top left of the town. When you’re about to enter a Goodra pops out the door with bird like Pokemon flying out the door. The professor walk out slowly looking tired as if she hasn’t slept in days. She see’s you and comes in with a slimy hug covering you in slime. She laugh and is happy to see you’re here just on time.  Both you enter seeing her lab windows open with two trees for Pokemon to climb and rest on as so many wild Pokemon are playing outside as you look out the glass wall. You heard three Pokemon cry as your turn and see nothing but something on your face which felt wet and stuck. You see the light and surprise to see the starter Pokemon.

- Kuttlish “Cuddle Pokemon” (Water) Lv.5 “It show it’s affection to it’s trainer by jumping onto their face and hug them for awhile. They’re also known to change color to camouflage from preys. Their break are strong enough to break the rocky surface of a Geodude.” (Atk/Def/Sp.Def) (Torrent/Suction Cups)

- Vinmodo “Komodo Pokemon” (Grass/Poison) Lv.5 “Their spine like thorns are very sensitive so they don’t like other people touching them. They warn them with a scary hiss. The saliva they have in their mouth are very venomous. One bite will cause the prey to lose muscle movement. This make catching their prey easy.” (Atk/Sp.Atk/Spd) (Overgrow/Poison Touch)

- Puprus “Guard Dog Pokemon” (Fire) Lv.5 “The collar around their neck are very special too them. If the trainer chosen this Pokemon, they will protect it’s master for it’s life.The collar then burns for what name you given to Puprus. It’s jaws are strong enough to rip off the water pipes and chew on it like a bone.” (Atk/Def/Spd) (Blaze/Strong Jaw)

(evolution work in progress that goes for other pokemon new to the region while there are returning ones)

Maple said these Pokemon where never seen before and she has no idea where they come from. They suddenly came to her lab all injured and beaten badly that she help recover them back to health. After that they decided to stay making her thinking that you can take really good care of them. When choosing the starter a sudden door burst open showing a out of breath person who is your rival. (the playable character) Your rival will see that you choose that starter that he/she gonna choose so instead he/she chosen the type advantage starter and ask for permission to battle outside. Your rival step outside then your mom came in seeing you and talk about the person that pass by her. She see you got your starter and gave your bag which is filled with 10 Poke Balls. (she the giving you options on how to catch you can say yes or no since we all know how to do it). Maple then give you the Pokedex (haven’t design it yet). After all that as you went outside, your rival battle begin! Beating your rival will see that the Pokemon she didn’t want to choose is not bad and he/she became liking his/her starter more. Your rival wish you luck and said next time he/she will be stronger than before. When your about to leave you heard a huge cry and a bells ringing. The trainer then felt relieved and so does the Pokemon around the lab feel calm too. You have no idea what that is till your professor came out rushing to see the ringing bell. Turns out she explain it was from a legendary Pokemon that it ring it’s bell across the region to calm the spirits, people, and Pokemon. She also said hearing the bell can bring huge luck to people as well. She then return to the lab and wish you lots of luck on your journey. 

You then make it to Route- 30, seeing two trainers ready to battle and some new Pokemon along the way. (No new Pokemon ideas yet but will be soon or later on) Along the way you made it to South Rim Town which has a Pokemon center/market and have two path leading to routes. Right path leads to Route 31 while the left leads to Dusty Whirl Canyon which is after you have two gym badges. As you go to Route 31 you bump into a very young trainer name Kitz who is being chase and follow by two mysterious people with an “R” logo on their back jacket. One of them say to hand over the kid but Kitz tell you that they lie to her saying they knew the champion but they’re trying to steal her Pokemon. The man shouted to keep her mouth shut and ask you one last time to hand over the kid. You refuse and the man was angry that he challenge you to battle. Beating them makes them even more angry. They retreat for now but they say that they’ll be back and you will regret ruining their hunt. Kitz said that they’re “Team Raptor” who hunt down Pokemon for money and fame. It is illegal in regions to hunt down Pokemon for money or sports since last time this happen a bunch of Bouffalant population were almost out of this region. She thank you for saving her and gave you an “Exp. Share”. As she saw you in battle made her more excited and inspire to become stronger one day so she can one day meet the champion and challenge her. She went back to South Rim Town and you go back to your journey.

You finally made it to Angeles City (Los Angeles)! Your rival saw you and wanna see how much stronger you gotten. After the battle your rival he/she would see how you gotten stronger then with great idea he/she said you should try take on the gym leader that is in this part of the city. You then meet the first gym leader Scrooge (“The Luckiest Man That Ever Live”) who specialize dark type Pokemon. He said he is busy so he ask you to go to his gym and he will be there soon or later. His gym is a quiz game which you must guess tot he trainer how much this item is in the market if guess wrong you battle and must answer the right answer. Once you beat 3 trainer you finally made it to Scrooge who happen to be there the whole time. He never tell you how he got here on time and he hope your lucky enough to beat his dark type team (Lv.10-13) (Sandile, Markrouw, Meowth(aloan) new dark type pokemon). He will use confuse ray and embargo to keep you from attacking and using items in battle and then use sucker punch to gain the speed advantage. (This technique will give trainers a hard time) Once you defeated him he will give you TM# Sucker Punch. He has never been defeated like this before and he is surprised and proud of you trusting your Pokemon when it’s in serious condition and tricky position which he than give you the Token Badge (Pokemon Lv.10-20). He hope he can battle you again to test your luck later on once the building next to him is finish construction. Your rival see that you got the gym leader badge and congratulate you on getting it. He/She will go challenge the gym leader now but the trainer you fought came out unexpected to tell you that Scrooge want to give you a “Battle Coin Case”. There is no explanation except that he’s now out the gym to help out and check on the construction that’s going on making the rival felt down missing the gym leader and must wait till he returns as you continue to the next gym.

You reach to Marshwood Swamp (base of Florida swamp)! This area is just like the mushy water area in Sinnoh Region (Diamond/Pearl) But there are rivers which needed a Pokemon to surf on. Since the swamp water isn’t that deep but will suck you in getting you stuck you decided to go with it. You hear a women voice yelling, “Now get out of me swamp ya filthy varmints!” as you see a group of Team Raptors running away seeing a girl with her (new fakemon) tired out as she whip her sweat off her head. She see you checking if your team is alright from the grunts. She see your fine and introduce herself as Hazel and she’s from Marshwood City. What happen is that the grunts where just hunting a bunch of other Pokemon for money when they are her best friend being tortured. After the conversation you see her swing on the vines that swing her over the river. This made going over the swamp more easily but you may bump into some trainers along the way. As you finally reach to Marshwood City your rival finally catch up to you. He/She complaint about how muddy and how many time he/she got stuck in the mud so much to get here. He/She wish that she would have the rider page but he/she doesn’t know where to get it but then explain what it is (was introduce in Sun/Moon(UltraSun/UltraMoon)). Your rival then go to the Pokemon Center just to rest for awhile from how hard it is to get to you. As you look around town you learn that the people around here live here because this area has very good fertilize dirt that it made farming very easily around here. It also been said that one of the elite four member live here as well as chief of the town and his granddaughter lives here too which she came from another region. As you got to the gym you found out the gym leader is actually Hazel (“Tomboyish Construction Girl”), who specialize Water type Pokemon which made electric type useless due to some of them being half ground type. She surprise to see that you arrive to her gym and she hope that you can handle her team (Lv.15-24) (Shellos (East Sea) and Barboach. They will have advantage too electric type pokemon so it's better to use grass type and watch out for mud-slap and mud bombs to lower the Pokemon accuracy. Beating her will earn you the Vine Badge (Lv.20-38) and will be given a TM# Mud Bomb. After the battle her grandfather name Lumber appeared in front of her gym surprising her.  He wanted to check on how the gym going and seeing you with her gym badge embarrass from her grandpa seeing that she lost. Meeting the trainer tells you if you want to be stronger with your Pokemon you could try Route 33 which lead o Everest City and to the restricted Area 51. It’s also full of rare Pokemon as well. Before you leave your rival came to fight you again. When you defeated him/her both you and your rival are given a “Rider Page” by Lumber. Since he heard some people are having trouble with the swamp lately he decided to give you the device that also hold the “Quagsire Swamp” rider page that can help . He also tell the story that Hazel have a Pokemon that she love so much before becoming gym leader. He know that a couple of Team Raptor was just hear today till Hazel kick them out of the swamp he know that might happen because she hate what Team Raptor when they took her Mudkip long time ago which is a gift for her when he went to the Hoenn Region to help do constructions in the forests. So he wants your help to help find her Mudkip for him because she just want her Mudkip back so much as they’ve created a great bond with each other. As you accept the request he thanks you and went off the road.

(this all I got but there will be Pt.2 someday)

[phgq]

Bubbling everywhere

#PHnews: Bubbling everywhere

MANILA – If there is one word that has been officially added to the list of lingos professional and campus sportswriters have been using this year, that would be "bubble".

The term got a new meaning during the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In an effort to finish the 2019-2020 season amid the pandemic, which stalled virtually all the major sporting events for a few months, the National Basketball Association (NBA) redefined "bubble" by inviting 22 teams, which either clinched a playoff berth or were virtually still in the playoff race, to converge at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando for a shortened regular season climax and the ensuing postseason.

The first-ever modern-day sports bubble turned out to be a huge success as the bubble delivered some of the NBA season's most memorable games and, most importantly, no one tested positive for Covid-19 inside it.

Following its success, four Philippine club leagues considered pushing through with their postponed seasons inside bubbles of their own in provinces already under the most lenient Covid-19 restrictions, the modified general community quarantine.

Two 5-on-5 basketball leagues, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and the National Basketball League (NBL) chose Pampanga to be the venue of their bubbles.

The PBA, through the help of the Bases Conversion Development Authority, held its bubble in Metro Angeles, also known as Clark, while the NBL had its own bubble in San Fernando through some intervention from Pampanga governor Dennis Pineda.

On the other hand, two other professional leagues took their talents south of the metropolis.

The Philippines' premier 3x3 basketball league, the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3, began what would now be its 2020-2021 season inside the President's Cup bubble in Calamba.

Meanwhile, the Philippines Football League (PFL) did not look further for a bubble battleground as the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona was available.

Near and far

Only the Chooks 3x3 bubble was nearly identical to that of the NBA as everyone mainly converged at the Inspire Sports Academy, which has a lodging area for the athletes in it, so the players, league and team officials, and even the media present at the Chooks bubble can just simply go down from their bedrooms to the basketball court and vice versa.

The PBA and the PFL have interesting setups to their bubbles as their billeting areas were actually outside Angeles and Carmona, respectively.

The PBA delegation was accommodated at the Quest Hotel's Clark branch, which is actually under the jurisdiction of Mabalacat.

Quest is 11 kilometers away from the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.

The PFL delegation, on the other hand, stayed at the Seda Hotel in Sta. Rosa City, some 18 kilometers away from the PFF National Training Centre.

On where the NBL delegation stayed during the league's bubble is unknown, but one can assume that it is also situated in San Fernando City, Pampanga, and is accessible from the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center.

Short and long

The NBL had the shortest-lived bubble as it was done just for the championship series between Pampanga and La Union to proceed.

The Delta, who surprisingly have the homecourt advantage literally, would beat the Paower to take their first NBL championship and the first professional basketball title for a Pampanga team since the Dragons took the inaugural Metropolitan Basketball Association title in 1998.

The Delta, however, needed four games to clinch the best-of-five series, that is, the Paower still got to win one game, Game 2 specifically, proof that the latter can defy the arena handicap.

Meanwhile, the PFL and Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 pushed through with the entirety of their conferences.

Zamboanga City took home the Chooks 3x3 President's Cup title after a near flawless run capped by winning the conference final where PHP1 million was at stake.

The squad would eventually rename itself to Manila Chooks TM for the FIBA 3x3 World Tour Doha Masters.

Meanwhile, United City, formerly known as Ceres Negros, captured its fourth consecutive PFL title by winning the first four of its five scheduled matches.

The PBA bubble, however, had the longest period as it lasted for two months with only one match already settled before the so-called restart.

Ginebra won its first Philippine Cup crown since 2007 after beating TNT in the best-of-seven finals.

Roadblocks

However, like some other sports bubbles that took place amid the pandemic, at least in the cases of the PBA and the PFL, not everything was perfect especially when suspected cases arose.

Late in October, the PBA bubble suddenly went in peril after a referee and a player from Blackwater were tested positive for Covid-19.

This came as a surprise for everyone since all of the delegates were tested negative upon entering the bubble.

Eventually, the two suspected cases turned out to be false negatives, and the league resumed its season after a surprise Halloween break.

Meanwhile, a total of nine people were tested positive for Covid-19 upon entering the PFL bubble.

This raised some alarm to the Sta. Rosa City government, but following an assurance from the league and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the bubble pushed through.

Both the PBA and the PFL bubbles ended up Covid-19 free.

On the other hand, while it is expected for short bubbles, the Chooks 3x3 and the NBL bubbles remained Covid-19 free all tournament long to the delight of GAB chairman Baham Mitra.

“We thank them for their diligence and close working relationship with the GAB. We look forward to working again with them soon. They have exceeded the suggested protocols and it paid off,” Mitra said.

More bubbles coming

The 2020 Philippine pro sports bubbles are now set to be considered as precedents as other tournaments are now considering holding their seasons inside those of their own.

The Philippine Super Liga (PSL), upon the initial approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), planned to hold its annual beach volleyball tournament inside a bubble at the Metro Olongapo area or the Subic Bay area.

However, due to the storms that ravaged Luzon last month, the PSL beach volleyball event was pushed to 2021.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association, on the other hand, is planning to hold its men's basketball season also next year inside two bubbles based on the proximity from each other.

The three teams situated in the Intramuros district, defending champion and Season 96 host Letran, Mapua, and Lyceum, plus the two non-Manila teams, Jose Rizal University of Mandaluyong and Perpetual Help of Las Pinas, will be secluded inside one bubble.

The other bubble will consist of the teams from the University Belt area, San Beda, San Sebastian, and Arellano, and the teams from Taft Avenue, Saint Benilde and Emilio Aguinaldo College.

Even the national teams are entering bubbles.

In fact, Gilas Pilipinas Men were the first to do so, putting up a training bubble inside the Inspire Sports Academy for the second window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, which happened inside a bubble in Manama, Bahrain.

According to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Inspire will host Gilas Men anew for another training bubble before they head to Clark for the third window from Feb. 18-22.

Recently as well, the IATF-EID cleared national athletes from other sports to push through with their own bubbles.

In fact, Bases Conversion Development Authority President Vince Dizon bared on Tuesday that athletics plan to hold a training bubble inside the New Clark City Athletics Stadium by February ahead of the national open in April.

The national open, the first of two scheduled for next year, will serve as a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics.

However, expect these bubbles to be among the last as Philippine sports is expected to go back to its regular track once the Covid-19 vaccines arrive early next year. (PNA)

  ***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "Bubbling everywhere." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125643 (accessed December 25, 2020 at 04:15PM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "Bubbling everywhere." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1125643 (archived).

[cynon777]

Been sprucing up Grand Detour a bit with some new haulers. :D

[foodgemsg]

https://ift.tt/2R0fVPp Read on our visit to Kumoya x We Bare Bears Cafe | Are You a Fan of Grizzly, Panda or Ice Bear? by FoodGem

Media Tasting at Kumoya x We Bare Bears Cafe

Fans of Cartoon Network will not be unfamiliar with We Bare Bears series. We Bare Bears is a new animated comedy about three brothers trying to fit in and make friends. It’s difficult but will they succeed? A short introduction of the three main characters, Grizzly, Panda and Ice Bear. Grizzly is the oldest bear, and leads his brothers with bounds of optimism which only turn out disastrous some of the time. Panda, the middle child, is a hopeless romantic. Ice Bear is the youngest brother with a wild card personality. Do you know that they’re a master of the selfie, fans of food trucks, and even chasers of internet fame?

Let’s have a look at the new Kumoya x We Bare Bears Cafe menu!

Ice bear knows it best how to stay cool in Singapore. Soaking himself on a bed of seafood cream sauce, grabbing his breaded seafood like ebi, scallop and calamari under a cute umbrella. Have you spotted the kawaii handcrafted ice bear marshmallow frappes? They come in matcha, mango and strawberry.

Ice Bear Arctic Cool Seafood rice with cream sauce at S$26.90.

Cuteness overloaded with chicken katsu burger with teriyaki sauce. The garden salad with cherry tomatoes, kamaboko cloud fish cake, kawaii carrot stars is creatively served in bamboo basket. Not forgetting the crispy skin-on crispy fries. Vegetarian option available.

Ice Bear Terrific Teriyaki Chicken Katsu Burger at S$23.90.

The limited edition We Bare Bears yellow food truck box is on a mission to bring crunchy ocean salmon on a soft brioche bread with special flame seared Japanese tobiko mayo sauce. Isn’t the We Bare Bears yellow food truck box cute? You may also bring it home after the meal!

Bear-Bros Food Truck with Special Salmon Roll at S$23.90.

Handcrafted hot latte brewed with premium UCC Japanese coffee beans with fresh cream in magical pastel sprinkles and finally topped with a rainbow wafer stick in a limited edition ice bear mug. Who’s loving this exclusive ice bear mug? You can bring it home when you top up.

Too Cool Hot Latte at S$10.90.

Did you spot the stacking We Bare Bear TM butter cookie first? It is accompanied with fresh-churned Hokkaido soft serve with house-made brownie, fresh cream, chocolate pudding and dark chocolate crumbles and strawberries.

Super Stack-ing Chocolate Brownie Parfait at S$20.90.

Let’s have some stress relieving exercise with this Knock-knock Ice Bear Choco Ball of Fun. Grab the mini cute hammer and break the chocolate ball open! Uncover the sweets inside! Spot marshmallow, candies, house-made brownie, colourful cereal, fresh berries and fruits. Also served with cup of fresh-churned Hokkaido soft serve. Pssst, the chocolate ball was pretty hard to break open. Use your ultimate strength or even a spoon to break it!

Knock-knock Ice Bear Choco Ball of Fun at S$23.90.

Kumoya x We Bare Bears Pop-up Cafe opens now to 5 April 2020. Kindly note that there is a dining time of 90 minutes, with a minimum of 1 food or drink item per person.

Kumoya has created several kawaii character dining concepts under its umbrella namely Sesame Street Cafe, Precious Moments x Care Bear Cafe, Pusheen Cafe, My Little Pony Cafe, Mr Men and Little Miss Cafe, Tokidoki Cafe, Cinnamoroll Cafe and more!

*Service charge(10%) applicable.

Share this post with your friends and loved ones.

Budget Per Pax

S$20-S$40

How to go Kumoya x Tokidoki Cafe

Operating Hours

Monday: Closed Tuesday to Thursday: 12–9PM Friday to Saturday: 12–10:30PM Sunday: 12–9PM

Address and Contact

8 Jln Klapa, Singapore 199320

Reservation is not allowed.

Travel and Parking

Parallel parking available.

Travel via public transport.

From Lavender Mrt Station (East-West Line)

Exit B; Walk 469 m (about 15 minutes) to Kampong Glam Conservation Area.

The post Kumoya x We Bare Bears Cafe | Are You a Fan of Grizzly, Panda or Ice Bear? appeared first on foodgem: Food & Travel.

[recentanimenews]

I Defended Humanity from Hungry Titans (And So Should You)

  Full disclosure: I love video games, but I have all the digital skills of a wet bag of ramen noodles, so when I was asked to review Attack on Titan TACTICS, I panicked a little. My experience with real-time strategy games consists of activating “God Mode” in Blizzard's Starcraft and Warcraft series and stomping the enemies' bases with a single invulnerable peon. My mastery of tower defense consists of playing 15 minutes of Plants vs. Zombies and installing a Steam copy of Dungeon Defenders that crashes every time I try to boot the darn thing up.

  My experience with social games with a gacha component is non-existent. What if my staggering ineptitude resulted in the entire Scout Regiment being devoured? How would I live with the guilt of sending poor Marlo Freudenberg and a bevy of other fresh-faced recruits off to die in the gullets of a horde of terrifying, naked, sexless, cannibal giants? I can't handle this sort of pressure!

    Lucky for me, Attack on Titan TACTICS is designed for both the hardcore (not me) and the casual gamer (definitely me) alike. After a bewildering intro mission that tossed me into the shoes of Eren Jaeger going toe-to-toe with the Female Titan in the Stohess District, I was soon plowing through the tutorials, learning the basics of how to train and deploy Scouts, and—like Captain Ahab—having a whale of a time. Attack on Titan TACTICS is an exquisitely crafted game with many simple systems that are easy to learn but difficult to master, and it provides just the sort of card collecting elements and RPG level up mechanics that fans can sink their teeth into.

    At its core, Attack on Titan TACTICS is akin to a collectible card game in which players use gacha mechanics to unlock and craft characters from the Attack on Titan manga and TV anime, each of whom has a distinct set of skills and combat applications. In the preview build that I played, I was allowed unlimited gacha rolls in order to add a single character to my roster. My first roll netted the indomitable...Marlo Freudenberg? Who the heck is Marlo Freudenberg? Sorry, Marlo, but your 4-Star ass isn't cutting it when the fate of humanity is as stake.

  I re-rolled twice (three rolls, total) and netted Annie Leonhart, a 5-Star Scout and also my favorite character from Season One of Attack on Titan. Feeling serendipitous and aglow with the irony of putting Annie in charge of my squad, I dove into the game and was instantly neck-deep in Titans.

    The Story Mode campaign in Attack on Titan TACTICS consists of five Chapters, with each Chapter further divided into individual stages, in which the goal is to fend off a relentless Titan assault with squad of selected characters. Each character fills a particular role: Attack types, such as Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackermann, attempt to control the battlefield and deal direct damage to the Titans with their blades. Assault types, such as Armin Artlelt and Sasha Braus, are deployed for a single massive hit in order to incapacitate the enemy or to rescue comrades that are about to be eaten.

  There are also siege weapons such as cannons that deal direct damage or create area-denial effects to slow the Titans' endless march. Deploying a unit costs a fixed amount of AP (“action points”), which are represented by a meter that slowly recharges as the stage progresses. Each unit has a stamina bar which ticks down as they attack or take damage from foes, and units temporarily depart the battlefield when their stamina is depleted. Each stage is timed, and completing the objectives quickly yields better rewards.

    Choosing a well-rounded squad and picking when and how to deploy your units becomes increasingly challenging as the game progresses. In my play-through, I breezed through most of the early Chapters, relying on a brute force technique that required an overpowered and over-leveled Annie Leonhart to do most of the heavy lifting. But this lazy approach caught up with me, and I received a grim reminder that there's a reason the 'S' in 'RTS' stands for “strategy”.

  Upon reaching the end of Chapter 3, I hit a gigantic roadblock in the form of the Large Abnormal Titan boss, and my sloppy deployment tactics resulted in my base getting knocked into next Tuesday, prompting me to abandon the mission and spend several days regrouping and testing new schemes. Attack on Titan TACTICS forced me to adapt and to change my play-style. It made me a better player through a school of hard knocks approach, and the victory was all the sweeter when my new strategies paid off.

    Outside of combat, there's another layer of strategy via resource management. In order to level up your heroes and enhance their combat abilities, you must gather and allocate materials. Completing daily missions and scouting expeditions rewards you with different in-game currencies (deployment power, mercenary points, crystals, gold, etc.) which all have different functions: deployment power is used to field teams of Scouts to fight off Titans in order to progress the story or collect resources; mercenary points and crystals are used for gacha rolls to acquire new units; gold is used alongside other materials to make your Scouts more powerful, unlocking new abilities and passive bonuses as they level up.

  It's a very crunchy system, and nothing goes to waste. You can always exchange unwanted doodads for gold, and if you pull duplicate characters from gacha rolls (I'm looking at you, Hans), the duplicates are automatically converted into “souls” that can be used to make your existing characters stronger, bumping up their Star ratings and level caps through a process called “limit breaking”.

    If real-time strategy and RPG elements aren't your cup of tea, there are other aspects to enjoy in Attack on Titan TACTICS. Using a visual novel-style format with pictures, text, and voice acting, the Story mode currently recaps the events of the first season of the Attack on Titan TV anime (Episode 1 – 25), and there are future plans to encompass later plot developments in-game. Additionally, unlocking key characters also unlocks game-original Episodes (essentially cut scenes) that explore character's backgrounds, elaborate on their motivations, or simply introduce a humorous twist. The scene with Conny and Sasha plotting to rob the officers' meat rations made me legit laugh out loud.

    I'd never played a smart phone game before, let alone a gacha-style one, but Attack on Titan TACTICS made me a believer. The game features a basic free-to-play (with in app purchases) model, so it's perfectly suited for casual players or hardcore fans alike. I spent more than an hour each day over a period of two weeks playing with the provided preview build—training up my heroes, unlocking new characters, progressing the story, managing resources, and sending my troops on timed scouting missions so that I could make progress in-game even while I was doing other things in real life.

  I didn't expect to be bowled over, but Attack on Titan TACTICS knocked my socks off, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who loves the Attack on Titan franchise and longs to experience a well-designed social game full of thrilling action, intriguing characters, challenging scenarios, and advancing giants that still manage to be completely horrifying even when sporting chibi-style character designs.

    Want to save humanity from the greatest threat it has ever faced? Check out Attack on Titan TACTICS via the App Store and Google PlayTM today, or register at the official home page at aot-tactics.com.

  REVIEW ROUNDUP

+ Fun, fast-paced gameplay that is easy to learn but difficult to master.

+ Dozens of characters to collect with extensive RPG-style systems to build up your ideal team into a powerhouse force.

+ A rich and engaging strategic gameplay layer that combines resource management and crafting mechanics.

- Low drop rate on some of the coolest heroes. Advancing your Squad becomes more difficult post-level 20.

  Are you ready to build a Squad and take the fight to the Titans in an effort to turn the tide for humanity? Who's in your ideal group load-out? How many potatoes can Sasha fit in her mouth at one time? Let us know what you think of the game in the comments!

  Copyright notice:

© Hajime Isayma, Kodansha / "ATTACK ON TITAN" Production Committee. All Rights Reserved.

© DeNA Developed by KAYAC

    ---------

Paul Chapman is the host of The Greatest Movie EVER! Podcast and GME! Anime Fun Time.

Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[girmiti]

Girmiti Software, Custom POS Application and Software Development Company

Girmiti Software has expertise in consulting, designing, and developing SDK platforms for terminal manufacturers and has expertise in developing EMV PoS applications for terminal manufacturing partners. We also help them in getting certified with acquirer and leverage expertise in porting the SDK to new versions and new platforms like Linux OS. Our experience extends to working on drivers, embedded devices through working closely with Hardware manufactures.

 Our expertise in areas of testing, scripting on devices, platforms to test, helps customer products to be certified and successfully complete UAT with 3rd party vendors.

 Our Team designed, developed and provided support for PoS applications on different terminal SDK platforms based on business requirements from different regional customers (APAC, EMEA, Canada, America).

 Our team carries the expertise on Terminals and SDK expertise including:

 ·         VeriFone (VOS, VOS2, Verix, Verix-V, eVo, Nurit-Lipman, Mx, Gemalto - Magic SDK)

·         Ingenico (Inge-platform, Telium and Tetra series)

·         Hypercom (Optimum series ODT, Thales)

·         Castles (COTS)

·         PAX (Proteus platform)

·         Geodesic (Geo-Amida SDK)

·         ExadiGm

·         Geodesik

·         ATOS

 Types of PoS Application development undertaken (includes providing solution on open loop/closed loop environments):

 ·         Credit/Debit

·         EMV Contact, Contactless, Mobile

·         DCC (Multi Currency support)

·         Prepaid, Loyalty, Gift, Top-Up, Ticketing, transit, Sport events, Restaurants, sports, Health Care, Insurance etc.

·         Financial Inclusion (Micro Finance)

·         Cloud POS

·         Device Signing, Remote Key Injection

 Apart from the above listed business features, we have worked on interfacing POS device with Cash Drawer, Wireless/Bluetooth Printer, Contactless Reader, Biometric, Bar Code and Check scanner.

 Our team carries the deep expertise in domain protocols, technology and supporting tools such as:

 ·         ISO-8583/APACS protocol

·         EPAS/Nexo

·         TMS Support (VeriCentre, Inge-state, Term-master)

·         Remote Key Injection

·         Multi-Application (VMAC, App-Manager) compatibility

·         Card Layout preparation & security

·         Various communication support to the Host (PSTN/Dial-up - NAC, RAS, CDMA, IP/Ethernet, GPRS,) etc.

 Support for card devices

Cards and Certification

·         Mag-Stripe cards

·         Contact Smartcards (EMV - ADVT, TIP, RuPay, AMEX, Discover, SCOSTA, MIFARE, M-chip)

·         Contactless Smartcards (EMV - qVSDC, PayPass, qSparc, DPAS, ExpressPay, CUP DesFire, DesFire-EV1 tags).

·         EMV L2 certification for Contactless and Contact cards-based Reader and devices.

 New Technology PoS Services

·         Tap on Phone (mPOS)

·         EMV QR

·         Wallet Transactions

·         Square (Mag-stripe audio-jack dongle) type reader driver interface with smartphones iPhone, Android

·         Pass-through App for Contactless Reader

·         Attendance and Access Control Apps on PoS to accept smart poster tags (NDEF, Des-Fire tags).

 Our team works to optimize, analyze, design and build POS applications to provide business users, processors, acquirers, prepaid and 3rd party companies a robust system for their daily business or for access information.

 POS applications that we build are using the following platforms and technologies

 ·         C & C++

·         Android Java

·         QT

·         VC++

 Our team has developed POS custom application features & solutions for EMV/Non EMV & NFC such as –

·         mPOS, Mobile Top up

 ·         Credit / Debit, Gift & Loyalty

·         Bill payments & interfaces with utilities

·         Transit issuance/acquiring

·         E Top Up Solutions, coupons

·         Multi-currency, eCash

·         Check, Biometric

·         Kernel, Reader & driver

·         Interfaces with mobile devices

 Our team carries domain expertise in designing, developing, implementing POS Applications, interfaces for Processors & Terminals.

 To know more-

Visit- https://www.girmiti.com/pos.html

Mail Us- info@girmiti.com

[hittveu]

Mehr als 80 Fahrer kämpfen um den Titel im ADAC MX Masters

Deutsche Top-Stars und internationale Spitzenpiloten am Start

Starke Aufsteiger wollen ganz vorne mitmischen

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München. Im Jahr 2019 präsentiert sich das ADAC MX Masters mit einem äußerst ausgeglichenen und sehr stark besetzten Fahrerfeld. Hochkarätiger Motorsport und spannende Rennen stehen den Fans damit in der sieben Rennen umfassenden Internationalen Deutschen Motocross Meisterschaft bevor. Los geht es mit dem ersten Kräftemessen am 14. April im brandenburgischen Fürstlich Drehna. Dort werden die Titelfavoriten und aufstrebende Talente zum ersten Mal in dieser Saison gegeneinander antreten.

Aus deutscher Sicht gelten Dennis Ullrich (Bodo Schmidt Motorsport/Husqvarna) und Max Nagl (KTM Sarholz Racing Team) als heiße Kandidaten für den Gesamtsieg. Ullrich ist nach einem Jahr auf einem 2-Takt-Motorrad wieder auf eine 4-Takt-Maschine mit 450ccm Hubraum und somit auf ein Konzept, dem fast alle Starter im Feld vertrauen, zurückgekehrt und sieht sich damit deutlich schneller unterwegs. “Das Fahren mit dem Zweitakter hat mir wahnsinnig Spaß gemacht”, versichert der viermalige Masters-Champion. “Aber alleine beim Start geht es mit dem Viertakt-Bike so viel einfacher vorwärts, dass einem das Leben wesentlich erleichtert wird. Zudem sehe ich an meinen Rundenzeiten im Training, dass ich mit der 450er wieder deutlich schneller unterwegs bin. Meine Fahrtechnik ist im letzten Jahr sicher nicht schlechter geworden und so bin ich sehr zuversichtlich für die bevorstehende Saison.”

Max Nagl vertraut nach dem Engagement auf einem Werksbike des italienischen Herstellers TM in der aktuellen Saison auf eine KTM und ging Anfang März sehr zuversichtlich in den ersten WM-Lauf in Argentinien. Dort zog sich der Bayer jedoch eine Knieverletzung zu, die ihn beim Auftaktrennen in Fürstlich Drehna noch zum Zuschauen zwingen wird. “Mein Knie wurde bei einer Operation stabilisiert und ich werde leider einige Wochen pausieren müssen”, schildert der Masters-Champion von 2006 und 2008. “Ich hoffe, dass ich zum zweiten Rennen in Möggers wieder fit bin und dort angreifen kann. Ich habe den diesjährigen Titel noch nicht abgeschrieben!”

Neben den beiden Top-Favoriten, gibt es mit Tom und Tim Koch (beide KTM Sarholz Racing Team), Mike Stender (Kosak Racing Team) sowie Stefan Ekerold (Castrol Power 1 Suzuki Motobase) vier weitere deutsche Piloten, die 2019 um den Titel mitkämpfen möchten. Dazu gesellt sich mit Brian Hsu (HTS KTM Team) ein weiterer Spitzenpilot mit einheimischen Wurzeln. Der Deutsch-Taiwanese kämpfte im letzten Jahr mit einer langwierigen Schulterverletzung, hat sich jedoch für die bevorstehende Saison viel vorgenommen und will Jagd auf den Masters-Titel machen. Der 20-Jährige konnte 2015 den ADAC MX Youngster Cup gewinnen und möchte dieses Jahr gerne wieder vor seinen einheimischen Fans glänzen.

Den deutschen Titelambitionen stehen gleich mehrere internationale Spitzenpiloten entgegen, die zum Teil von einer langen Erfahrung in der Motocross-Weltmeisterschaft profitieren und bereits viele internationale Erfolge erringen konnten. Einer davon ist Tanel Leok (A1M Husqvarna Racing), der im letzten Jahr ein Gastspiel beim ADAC MX Masters in Tensfeld gab und dort beide Rennen souverän gewinnen konnte. Der Este fand dabei Gefallen an dem Gedanken eine komplette Masters-Saison zu bestreiten und möchte dieses Jahr Jagd auf den Gesamtsieg machen. Mit Jose Butron (JD Gunnex KTM Racing Team) steht ein weiterer erfahrener Top-Pilot in den Startlöchern, der den Gesamtsieg in der Serie erringen möchte. Auch der Spanier ist kein Unbekannter im ADAC MX Masters und hat in der Vergangenheit schon einige Rennen der Serie erfolgreich bestritten.

Jens Getteman (Monster Energy Kawasaki Elf Team Pfeil) ist ebenfalls ein alter Bekannter. Der Belgier fährt schon seit einigen Jahren regelmäßig in Deutschland und war 2017 Vizechampion des ADAC MX Masters. Nach überwundener Verletzung möchte der 25-Jährige dieses Jahr wieder mit voller Kraft angreifen. Weitere Kandidaten für vordere Plätze sind zum Beispiel Matiss Karro (Husqvarna), Davy Pootjes (DIGA-Procross Husqvarna), Bence Szvoboda (HTS KTM Team), Jeremy Delince (KMP-Honda-Racing) und Richard Sikyna (JD Gunnex KTM Racing Team), der letztjährige Dritte im ADAC MX Youngster Cup.

Zudem stehen einige Top-Fahrer aus Österreich bereit, um dem ADAC MX Masters ihren Stempel aufzudrücken. Allen voran Lukas Neurauter (KTM Sarholz Racing Team) der sowohl das Wintermotocross in Frankenbach als auch den Auftakt zur DM Open in Schnaitheim für sich entscheiden konnte. In dieser Form könnte der Tiroler 2019 durchaus bei der Titelvergabe mitreden. Auch Pascal Rauchenecker (Classic Oil/SHR Motorsports) möchte wieder im Reigen der Titelkandidaten mitmischen. Der 25-Jährige hatte sich in den letzten beiden Jahren ganz auf den Endurosport konzentriert und kehrt dieses Jahr zum Motocross und somit zu seinen Wurzeln im Motorsport zurück.

  ADAC MX Masters Kalender 2019 (Änderungen vorbehalten)

13.-14. April   Fürstlich Drehna 01. – 02. Juni   Möggers/Österreich 29. – 30. Juni   Mölln 20. – 21. Juli   Tensfeld (ohne ADAC MX Junior Cup 85) 10. – 11. August   Gaildorf 31. August – 01. September   Bielstein (ohne ADAC MX Junior Cup 125) 14. – 15. September   Holzgerlingen

Quelle: ADAC Motorsport

  ADAC MX Masters 2019 – Spannende Rennen garantiert Mehr als 80 Fahrer kämpfen um den Titel im ADAC MX Masters Deutsche Top-Stars und internationale Spitzenpiloten am Start…

[rafablogs]

Website Blog Posts (August 2004-August 2008) - Part 1

The following blog posts have been copied from https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com forum. I have no way of confirming whether they are genuine or not since Rafa’s old website is long gone and I have been unable to retrieve any captures of the website from that time on internet archives.

AUGUST 9TH 2004 - INTERNATIONAL SERIES, SOPOT (POLAND), CLAY

I won my first ATP tournament! An International Series in the Polish city of Sopot. In the final I beat the Argentine Jose Acasuso 6-3 6-4 and although that year I would achieve other successes that would leave this one as an anecdote, I will always remember it with the warmth it deserves.> DECEMBER 5TH 2004 - DAVIS CUP, SEVILLA, CLAY

I have never hidden my admiration for Moya, a brother to me and a marvel with the racquet. Masterful on clay, his service rivals that of the best specialists and he managed to reach the final in Australia. It is hardly surprising that he has been a true number one.

The G3 captains confided in me in the clash against Roddick. I came to the team as a substitute and jumbped to the Cartuja Olympic Stadium as the second on board to be matched up against the most powerful service on the circuit in a final. Charly wished me luck, which he said I would not need to beat him, though frankly outside the team nobody believed I could beat the world number two.

But I managed to do it. I notched up the 2-0 which placed the final in our favour. The fans were not only witnesses but also accomplices: they took me in the air and I could feel the public's breath surrounding me on court... and that shook me until then I had been a practically an anonymous player.

In the fourth clash, Roddick lost to Carlos 3-1. The Salad Bowl stayed at home and the Cartuja led to delirium.

Acapulco and Costa do Squipe belong to the the Latin American clay tour, and are excellent tournaments for preparing the season on clay. I won both titles, and above all my feelings on court were entirely favourable: I was not only reaching the main courses hungry, but also at a sweet moment.> FEBRUARY 21st 2005 - INTERNATIONAL SERIES, ACAPULCO (MEXICO), CLAY

Acapulco and Costa do Squipe belong to the the Latin American clay tour, and are excellent tournaments for preparing the season on clay. I won both titles, and above all my feelings on court were entirely favourable: I was not only reaching the main courses hungry, but also at a sweet moment.> APRIL 17TH 2005 - TMS MONTECARLO, CLAY

I got my first vicotry in a Master Series against Guilllermo Coria, my first significant triumph and the first of my three consecutive conquests of this tournament. It was also the first trophy I bit, and since then this has been my sign of identity. You will understand that I remember it as a first step.> APRIL 24TH 2005 - INTERNATIONAL SERIES GOLD, OPEN SEAT GODO (BARCELONA), CLAY

This was the final that the crowd demanded, a Spanish duel between two good friends. I was matched against Ferrero, one of the greatest racquet talents of the recent years, former world number one, who was hungry for titles after a complicated season and seemed to recover his best form in Barcelona.

And he confirmed this in the final.

Juanca's right hand is privileged, and his passing shots down the lines are unique on the circuit. He played at a very high level and showed his enormous class; "el mosquito" is a master on clay.

You will wonder how I managed to beat him. Well, everything went right for me that day, or maybe I should say everything went in...

After this match, the Spanish press labelled me as favourite for Paris, an awkward praise, as it was my first participation.> MAY 2ND 2005 - TMS ROME, CLAY

In 2004 I was going full sail with the wind in my favour. Hardly a fortnight had passed since Monte Carlo and I was getting my teeth into my second Master Series, after an exciting final against Coria. I felt I was in a state of grace, with complete confidence with my sight set on Roland Garros> MAY 31ST 2005 - ROLAND GARROS, CLAY - SEMI-FINAL

I am honestly making an effort to explain what I felt. Euphoria? Satisfaction? Ecstasy? No, it was something more than this. Sometimes words do not do justice, they are not enough, and this is one of those times.

In the semi-finals, I faced Federer, and it is true that I felt plethoric on clay... as true as the match seemed intimidating, I felt respect. I am not saying fear. Never.

My start was explosive. I knew that Rogerio (as I friendly call him) was not used to hitting so high and would take a few games to get used to my lifting. I had to exploit this. I won the first set comfortably, aware that Roger had now got my measure.

The next set was different. The Swiss started his showtime and made it clear that he could play a sublime tennis on a gravel court. However, I also noted a couple of things, I had to get him off the court. Roger would not waste any short ball, I had to make sure that it would impact in conditions that would not allow him to put this speed to the ball only his wrist is able of. 'Let's see what you can do hitting above your shoulders', I thought.

The third set fell to me. Roger took out the set square and the triangle, sending the ball into unreachable angles, and then I reached it. I ran as never before, trying to unsettle him, counter-attacking on each of his winning rights. I knew the premise: keep him away from the net.

Fourth set, I was exhausted, as if that was important. I was caressing my first Grand Slam final and was prepared to run to it. Literally. 'Who said weariness?', I repeated. In the last set I managed to beat him and get a ticket for the final.> JUNE 5TH 2005 - ROLAND GARROS, CLAY - FINAL

I found it hard to believe that it was actually happening, getting into a final after beating a certain Federer on my first participation in the tournament.

There, Mariano Puerta was waiting for me, a player coming back to the circuit after a two-year suspension for doping, and he gave positive once more after the test in Roland Garros, although the result would not be known until months later.

The Argentine was also a left hander, and as a specialist in opening up the court. In my favour my physique and a deep conviction of victory. These were not enought to submit him in the first set, which he won after a tight tie break. Puerta felt worn out and I imposed myself in the following games without giving him any options. First match ball, he was at service. I was ready.

His first service failed. I wasn't counting on this, I could almost touch the cup and the tension was suffocating me, the instant Puerta was preparing his second service seemed to go on and on. Dry mouth, mental block, stiffness numbness... and then the ball crossed the net.

I did not return as I should have, I gave back a tame ball, easy for a volley. I was nailed to the court, calling for a miracle, I couldn't stand playing another game: I felt the trophy, my dream, within reach of my hands and I feared it would slip away between my fingers. When Puerta hit, my head was frenetically repeating one word...

'Out'. He failed it. I was the champion of Roland Garros. Suddenly everything stopped, the world seemed to hold its breath while I fell backwards, covering myself in the red dirt.

Maybe there is a word to describe it: 'indescribable'.> JULY 4TH 2005 - INTERNATIONAL SERIES, BASTAD (SWEDEN), CLAY

After the Roland Garros hangover, it was time to get back to the grind. The clay season had not finished and I had to get the most out of the good moment I was enjoying. In Bastad, I fulfilled my role as favourite by imposing myself over Berdych in the final; maybe it is not a highly renowed tournament, although a handful of points will always be welcome.> JULY 18TH 2005 - INTERNATIONAL SERIES GOLD, STUTTGART (GERMANY), CLAY

In the final I came up against the one and only: Gaston Gaudio, a tennis player, who awakens as much praise as criticism: a potencial top 5 going downfall by a harshly censured mental fragility, and the winner of Roland Garros in 2004. 'The Cat' came to Germany way off form and I beat him comfortably in three sets. In any case, it is always gratifying to compete with a rival of his quality.> AUGUST 8TH 2005 - TMS MONTREAL, HARD COURT

I have always had self-confidence, believing myself capable of anything I proposed, and even my dreams fell short of a season like this. Nevertheless, Toni insisted that I should rid myself of the role of a clay court tennis player, and he was right. How many tennis players control clay, but never achieved important victories on fast surfaces? I did not want to be one of them, I could not afford it.

In the Master Series in Montreal I won my first title on hard courts against a legend the like of Agassi. It would not be the last.> SEPTEMBER 12TH 2005 - INTERNATIONAL SERIES, PEKING (CHINA), HARD COURT

Guillermo Coria is given the name of The Wizard. Nothing more to say. He played in the final of Roland Garros last year, he was the former world number three and has been the standard-bearer of Argentine tennis for years.

He won the first set after a tie break, and then I reacted and overwhelmed him pitilessly in the following two. One month after Montreal, I was holding my second cup on hard court, inconceivable months earlier. This made Toni as proud as Rolland Garros did.

[cynon777]

Shit I didn't do the TM Master Cup Road America penalty report.

Fuckfuckfuck