text:
The CyberWire Daily Podcast 6.13.17
Ep 369 | 6.13.17
CrashOverride update. Influence ops harder to disrupt than infrastructure. Samba exploited for cryptocurrency mining. NSO Group for sale. Botnets and fake news. Airliner laptop bans.

Dave Bittner: [00:00:00:20] A big thanks to all of our listeners who've also become Patreon supporters. It's

Dave Bittner: [00:00:10:16] CrashOverride looks like a power grid threat, and industry and government are taking it seriously. Cyber operations against ISIS are proving better at collection than disruption. Criminals are exploiting vulnerable Samba instances to spread cryptocurrency mining software. NSO Group has put itself up for sale, valued at more than a billion dollars. Well-informed observers of a civil libertarian bent think botnets don't have First Amendment rights. And if you wondered about that airport laptop ban, here's the rest of the story.

Dave Bittner: [00:00:46:14] Now, I'd like to tell you about some research from our sponsor Cylance. Cylance is a leader among those who believe that artificial intelligence, when realistically conceived, will be a game-changer for security. In particular, it can give you what Cylance calls a temporal predictive advantage: a TPA, where their solution automatically predicts malware and stops it from executing. Now, that's shifting the advantage to the defender. Go to, and check out their explanation of AI's distinctive ability to stop tomorrow's threats today. If you want to execute at machine speed, doesn't it make sense to see what the algorithms a good machine runs on can do for you? See and let them show you what your TPA can be. We thank Cylance for sponsoring our show.

Dave Bittner: [00:01:45:03] Major funding for the CyberWire podcast is provided by Cylance. I'm Dave Bittner in Baltimore with your CyberWire summary for Tuesday, June 13th, 2017.

Dave Bittner: [00:01:54:24] Yesterday's revelations concerning the CrashOverride, or Industroyer, malware used against Ukraine's power grid last December have prompted a response across the sector.

Dave Bittner: [00:02:04:22] US-CERT in particular has begun work to help utilities stay ahead of the malware ESET and Dragos found in the Ukrainian power grid's takedown. The US Department of Homeland Security's National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, NCCIC, has distributed a set of indicators of compromise to the power industry, and they're freely available to any interested parties. The security firms who produced the research attribute the malware to a threat group, Electrum, with ties to Sandworm. They stop short of calling out a nation-state, but Ukrainian authorities have left no doubt that the attacks they sustained were the work of Russian security services. Most observers agree.

Dave Bittner: [00:02:45:06] Dragos and others believe the attacks in Ukraine may well have been proofs-of-concept or dry runs for other strikes against critical infrastructure. Such concerns may, of course, be overheated and prove unfounded. The Mirai botnet, for example, was also believed for a time last year to have been the work of Russian security services as opposed to the brainchild of a skid entrepreneur hawking Minecraft in-game purchases. But it's not unreasonable to see a larger threat in CrashOverride. It was carefully crafted to its purpose, and done so as close to scratch as such things are, bearing few of the usual fingerprints in the form of reused code that usually accompany malware. The power industry continues to consider the implications of this discovery; we'll be following the story as it develops.

Dave Bittner: [00:03:32:12] Crooks are exploiting the Samba vulnerability in Linux and Unix machines to spread cryptocurrency mining software. Researchers say the criminals have only made about $6,000 so far, but the mining process is resource-intensive, and that means that CVE 2017-7494 remains unpatched on a great many Samba instances.

Dave Bittner: [00:03:55:19] It's fair to say the WannaCry ransomware attack was a big deal, and it had the potential to be a lot worse. Many security teams look to it as a cautionary tale, or even a wake-up call. Kirsten Bay is president and CEO of Cyber adAPT, and she thinks there are some valuable lessons to be learned from high-profile attacks like WannaCry.

Kirsten Bay: [00:04:15:14] Well, my first thought was, oh my gosh, it's finally happening, and hopefully this will get people to pay attention such that they think they actually need to do something about it, as opposed to going, wow, that's a really big problem; hopefully someone does something about that. Fortunately, it was a relatively old compromise and it was weaponized, of course, by the NSA, but it certainly does give us the opportunity to look at something that isn't new, but certainly has changed. And that's really the nature of all of these types of attacks, right? It's not that anything is particularly new; it's how people are manipulating it to be more effective in today's environment. But if this were a zero-day, this could have been a real issue.

Dave Bittner: [00:04:52:15] And you all are advocating what you describe as a detection-led approach. Can you tell us what do you mean by that?

Kirsten Bay: [00:04:59:06] Well, it has a number of components to it, but the detection-led approach, from our standpoint, really being a threat-centric approach, is to understand both the outside world, that being a threat intelligence world, the bad guy world, where everything's happening live on the wire in the sense that these are live attacks happening in the environment. But then there's also what's happening on the network, whether it's just basic network traffic or something anomalous happening in the network traffic.

Kirsten Bay: [00:05:27:12] Our view is that we really need to understand the motivation and intent of an adversary to then identify the indicators of compromise, so that we can be much more effective and efficient in helping incident responders remediate those attacks, but also be a little bit ahead and be able to prevent some of them by alerting as they're hitting the firewall, and preventing them from getting in in the first place.

Dave Bittner: [00:05:49:16] What kind of advice do you offer for people going forward, now that this attack is in our rearview mirror?

Kirsten Bay: [00:05:57:02] The key thing for me always is about prioritization. I come from a risk background, so I try to take the risk management approach to these solutions, which is: first try to understand what it is that you need to be prioritizing to protect it. Very often I have executives and security professionals alike asking me, "Can you please just tell me what to do?" Which is something that we've tried to do with our solution, but also what we're really trying to do is help people identify what is the event that could have substantial ramifications and impact to your business? And then let's figure out how we prioritize around those events, because I think for years before now, we had this peanut butter spread approach to security, which was - we'll just deploy everything the same way. It's expensive and it's not particularly effective.

Kirsten Bay: [00:06:46:13] So what I really have been trying to get people to think about is: what are your critical assets? What are your critical business functions? And how do you secure that a different way, where you really put the Fort Knox around that, but then do other elements of securitization around your perimeter and inside your network, that then give you the layered approach? The defense and depth strategy, really. But the prioritization is key to me.

Dave Bittner: [00:07:09:11] That's Kirsten Bay from Cyber adAPT.

Dave Bittner: [00:07:13:13] In industry news, NSO Group, the controversial vendor of the Pegasus lawful intercept tools, is up for sale. The valuation of the Israel-based company is in unicorn territory, being pegged as somewhat more than a billion dollars. NSO Group's products have attracted adverse comment from Citizen Lab and others who object to their use by various authoritarian regimes: there are dissidents in prison who were caught by Pegasus software.

Dave Bittner: [00:07:41:15] The New York Times credits US cyber operators with successes against both Iran and North Korea, but says efforts against ISIS have been less successful. In this they perhaps overrate US success against North Korea's missile program, which are by no means as clear, or even as clearly attempted, as third-party sources in the UK have said.

Dave Bittner: [00:08:02:21] But Iranian and DPRK nuclear programs present a very different set of challenges than do the operations of ISIS in cyberspace. The Caliphate isn't running a readily identified and attacked industrial infrastructure. Instead, it uses cyberspace for recruiting and inspiration. The networks and resources it devotes to these are reconstituted almost as soon as they're taken down, and they continue to reach terrorists and impel them to jihad. This suggests that influence operations are tougher to block than traditional IT or OT hacks.

Dave Bittner: [00:08:36:21] At the CyberTech Fairfax today we heard a keynote by former US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who offered an interesting perspective on information operations. Asked specifically about fake news, and what could be done to control or restrict it, Chertoff identified himself as, essentially, a First Amendment absolutist. "I'm old-fashioned about the First Amendment," is how he put it. He offered familiar observations about the difficulty of distinguishing fake news from real news, and about the proper response to bad speech being other, better speech. He also noted that "botnets don't have First Amendment rights." He suggested that rather than devoting attention to censorship, interesting lines of work might be pursued in authentication and identity management, in being able to determine that people are in fact whom they represent themselves to be. And he thought advances that enabled one to readily distinguish robots from natural persons would be welcome. We'll have more on CyberTech Fairfax in tomorrow's CyberWire.

Dave Bittner: [00:09:39:21] Finally, to return to ISIS and what can be learned about it online, governments fighting the Caliphate have done better at collection than they have at cyber disruption. One such intelligence product that's had consequences for air travel is the ban on carrying laptops aboard flights from specified airports. The origins of that ban are now known, at least according the New York Times, and the Times is telling a plausible story. Israeli intrusion into networks used by ISIS bomb-makers found that the bomb-makers were working on fabricating explosives that could pass undetected through airport x-ray machines. The explosives were being crafted to look like laptop batteries.

Dave Bittner: [00:10:24:10] Time to take a moment to tell you about our sponsor, Recorded Future. If you haven't already done so, take a look at Recorded Future's cyber daily. The CyberWire staff subscribes and consults it daily. The web is rich with indicators and warnings, but it's nearly impossible to collect them by eyeballing the Internet yourself, no matter how many analysts you might have on staff. And we're betting that however many you have, you haven't got enough. Recorded Future does the hard work for you by automatically collecting and organizing the entire web to identify new vulnerabilities and emerging threat indicators. Sign up for the cyber daily email to get the top trending technical indicators crossing the web: cyber news, targeted industries, threat actors, exploited vulnerabilities, malware, and suspicious IP addresses. Subscribe today and stay ahead of the cyber attacks. Go to to subscribe for free threat intelligence updates from Recorded Future. We thank Recorded Future for sponsoring our show.

Dave Bittner: [00:11:27:04] I'm pleased to be joined once again by Johannes Ullrich. He's the Dean of Research at the SANS Technology Institute, and he also hosts the ISC StormCast podcast. Johannes, welcome back. We want to touch base today about IPv6 security. So, to start off, just by way of definition, tell us what exactly is IPv6?

Johannes Ullrich: [00:11:48:00] IPv6 is really the next generation of the IP protocol. We currently use predominantly IPv4, or version four of the protocol. IPv6, version six, is the next version. The big substantial change here is that we will end up with a lot more addresses. Currently, IP version four has up to four billion addresses. And if you think about it, that's less than we have people on the world, so it's not enough to give everybody on the world an IP address, in particular considering that we have all these devices now connected to the Internet. With IPv6, for practical purposes, we get an almost infinite amount of IP addresses, so it's really built to grow and scale the Internet.

Johannes Ullrich: [00:12:34:05] The real problem that I run into when talking about IPv6 security is that a lot of people who use IPv6 are really not aware of the fact that they're using IPv6. A lot of our security infrastructure these days is very centered around IPv4, so a lot of the IPv6 traffic is going unnoticed, in particular on mobile networks. On mobile network carriers have a huge incentive to actually implement IPv6, because they can't get any more IPv4 address space and the carrier rate now that they're implemented cost them around $40 a year per customer. So, that's quite a financial incentive to do this.

Johannes Ullrich: [00:13:17:21] Now, if you use IPv6 without actually realizing that you're using IPv6, then you make contact sites like Google, Facebook and the like via IPv6 and essentially bypass all the security infrastructure that you build up to monitor this traffic.

Dave Bittner: [00:13:35:19] How can someone figure out if their mobile devices are actually using IPv6?

Johannes Ullrich: [00:13:40:09] It's really not a straightforward question in the sense that a lot of the times, the network configuration screen in these devices doesn't display the IPv6 configuration - only the IPv4 configuration. The easiest way to do it is go to a website like, or go to Google and look up your IP address via Google, and see if an IPv6 address is coming back.

Dave Bittner: [00:14:06:17] Good information as always. Johannes Ullrich, thanks for joining us.

Dave Bittner: [00:14:11:24] And that's the CyberWire. For links to all of today's stories, along with interviews, our glossary, and more, visit The Thanks to all of our sponsors, who make the CyberWire possible, especially to our sustaining sponsor, Cylance. To find out how Cylance can help protect you using artificial intelligence, visit Thanks once again to all of our supporters on Patreon. To find out how you can contribute to the CyberWire, go to

Dave Bittner: [00:14:38:06] The CyberWire podcast is produced by Pratt Street Media. Our editor is John Petrik, social media editor is Jen Eiben, and our technical editor is Chris Russell. Our executive editor is Peter Kilpe, and I'm Dave Bittner. Thanks for listening.


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Capital Gains From a Home Sale—Is it Taxable?

Capital Gains From a Home Sale—Is it Taxable?

Congrats! Your house is selling for substantially more than you paid for it! That’s a good thing… or is it? The IRS may want a chunk of the profits in the form of capital gains tax. There are some scenarios when selling a home will generate a tax liability. But there are ways that homeowners can avoid taxes of home sales.

What are Capital Gains?

Belongings of significant value are considered “capital assets.” They include things like stocks and bonds and also tangible property like cars, boats, and houses. Selling a capital asset results in a capital gain if it is sold for more than its purchase price. If it is sold for an amount less than what it was bought for, it is a “capital loss.”

The IRS requires taxpayers to report capital gains on their federal income tax returns. Some states do, too. In most cases, capital gains are taxable. Most home sales, however, are excluded from capital gains tax. As long as a homeowner meets certain IRS requirements, they could be exempt from all or some tax.

Calculating Capital Gain Amounts

It’s important to understand how the IRS calculates the amount of a capital gain. The first important number in the formula is the cost basis. The cost basis is the original purchase price of the house, plus certain improvements made over the course of ownership. The IRS has a list of improvements that qualify

Let’s look at an example of a home that was purchased for $120,000. Over time, the owner made improvements that cost $30,000. The cost basis of the home is $150,000.

The owner sells the house for $250,000. Commissions and fees add up to $5,000, so only $245,000 is actually received. The amount of capital gain is $95,000 ($245,000 minus the cost basis of $150,000).

Calculating Taxes of Home Sales

The capital gain of $95,000 in our example is not taxable, and in fact, doesn’t even need to be reported to the IRS. That’s because the IRS excludes up to $250,000 in capital gains for single taxpayers and up to $500,000 for taxpayers who are married and filing jointly. That means there would have to be a huge profit on a home sale to be subject to capital gains tax, as long as the house and the homeowner(s) meet certain criteria.

One note about the $500,000 threshold: Until recently, if one spouse passed away, the $500,000 threshold would only apply if the house was sold right away. If the surviving spouse did not sell the home in the same year as the spouse’s death, the threshold would drop to $250,000. The new law allows the surviving spouse to take the $500,000 exemption for two full years after the death.

Who Has to Pay Capital Gains Tax on Home Sales?

A capital gain that is less than the threshold of $250,000 or $500,000 is not a guarantee that a homeowner is off the hook for taxes. The IRS has very specific requirements that must be met in order to be exempt.

The seller must own the house for at least two years before selling it, otherwise, the capital gains will be taxed. If the timeframe is less than one year, the amount is subject to short-term capital gains tax, which is typically a higher tax rate than long-term capital gains tax. We’ll discuss tax rates in a moment.

The two-year ownership rule can be costly for people wanting to fix up and “flip” houses quickly for a profit. The amount of capital gain can be reduced by the improvements they make on a fixer-upper, but that also cuts into their profits, which is the whole purpose in flipping houses.

The home must be the seller’s primary residence for at least two years. Those years don’t have to be consecutive, but they must occur within the five years leading up to the sale.

This may not sound like a big deal—unless the home is a rental property or vacation home. Consider someone who decides to move in with a boyfriend or girlfriend, and rather than selling their home, they rent it out. If they decide to sell at a later date, the amount of time that has passed becomes significant. Ideally, they should sell within the five-year window or they’ll be responsible for the tax on the capital gain.

Previous Exemption

Again, “two” is the magic number. If a homeowner has been exempt from paying capital gains tax on another home sale within the past two years, they can’t take the exemption again. This is more generous than the old rule. Up until 1997, a one-time exemption was allowed, but only to people over 55. Now, taxpayers can move every two years and be exempt from capital gains tax every time.

How Much Will You Pay?

If a homeowner fails to meet one of the IRS standards they will have to pay capital gains tax. The tax rate depends on whether they are short-term or long-term capital gains.

Short-term capital gains tax applies to properties sold within one year of being purchased. Essentially, the gain is treated like any other income and is taxed at the same rate as the taxpayer’s marginal tax bracket.

Long-term capital gains tax is charged on properties held for more than one year. The rate is calculated as either 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on the taxpayer’s filing status and taxable income.

If a homeowner meets all of the IRS criteria, but their profit exceeds the threshold ($250,000 for singles and $500,000 for married filing jointly,) they will owe long-term capital gains tax on the overage. For example, if a married couple sells their home for $600,000 more than their cost basis, they will pay tax on $100,000.

Ways to Reduce or Eliminate Capital Gains Tax

There are some things homeowners can do to mitigate the impact of capital gains tax.

Be Aware of the Timeline

If a homeowner is just a few months shy of the two-year ownership mark, knowing the rules could make a big difference. It might be a significant savings to wait it out before putting the house on the market.

Keep Good Records

Capital improvements made to a house can make a big difference in calculating the cost basis, and therefore the amount of capital gain. The IRS will need proof of upgrades and additions. Keeping track of expenses for any major improvements can help reduce the chances of having to pay capital gains tax.

Ask About Exceptions

There are some exceptions to the IRS rules for capital gains tax. In some cases, a home sale that is necessary due to losing a job or because of an illness might qualify for a special exemption.

Knowing the rules is one of the most important things a taxpayer can do to avoid a surprise at tax time. Each new tax year certain tax laws, rates, and taxable amounts change. It is best to visit the IRS website or talk to an accountant about how current tax laws will affect your tax liability.

Of course, this is an issue only if you manage to sell your home for more than you paid for it. Getting to that point takes a knowledgeable real estate expert. The agent at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties can get you there.

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The Football Manc Cave

Focusing on the football news in Greater Manchester

Bury fans must try and envisage a future, no matter how difficult that may feel

It would be too easy to join the queue of people offering their condolences to Bury fans following their expulsion from the EFL this week. Instead, what is needed is a plan for the future, not just for Bury FC but for all the clubs who might find themselves in the same situation.

There was almost an inevitability to Bury’s expulsion from the league and Bolton’s extension of their extension. I don’t wish to suggest that Bolton were in a less perilous state than Bury, but if both clubs had been treated the same by the EFL and Bury had been allowed to play their fixtures. The situation might have panned out differently.

The people at the EFL meeting that took place after the 5pm deadline, must surely have been aware of the enormity of expelling Bolton Wanderers from the league given their rich history and long membership of English football.

That does not mean that losing Bury might soon be forgotten. However, there is a danger that the impact on the game may be less, given that the club will always be looked upon as a minor side who spent most of their time in the lower divisions.

Bury’s due diligence

It is possible that the EFL may want to see the back of this episode quickly and sweep the whole debacle under the carpet. Therefore, if there is one thing Bury fans can do, it is to keep the club in the limelight and demand an inquiry into how Steve Dale was allowed to pass a test of due diligence.

Consequently, it is imperative that Bury fans dust themselves off and plan for the future as soon as possible, no matter how difficult that might seem at present. There is a great deal of vitriol aimed at Dale on social media but that needs to be abandoned. The Poundland tycoon with his scant regard for the local community and the livelihoods of his employees, cannot harm the people of Bury any more. Forget him and hope that his long-overdue date in the dock is just around the corner.

Other clubs have started from scratch again and prospered – there is no reason why Bury can’t. Football has long been called The People’s Game. It’s time we took it back.

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100 Days In Office: Lagos Group Carpets Sanwo-Olu, Scores Him Low

100 Days In Office: Lagos Group Carpets Sanwo-Olu, Scores Him Low

A Lagos group, the Save Lagos Group (SLG) has carpeted the State
governor,Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu over the celebration of 100 days in office,scoring the administration low in term of laying a solid and good
foundation for infrastructural development of the State.

The group disclosed that the present administration in the State were
more of cosmetics than real governance, tagging the celebration as
just a mere political jamboree which was unnecessary,laughable, unacceptable and tantamount to wasting of meager resources
of the State.

This was contained in a signed statement by the SLG’s Convener,Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman and copies were made available to newsmen on Thursday, insisted that Governor Sanwo-Olu has nothing to celebrate than political propaganda.

Speaking further, Comrade Sulaiman stated that the State has been
backwardness since assumption of office by Mr. Sanwo-Olu on May

He maintained that Sanwo-Olu government had abandoned all the ongoing major infrastructural projects put in place by Mr. Akinwumi Ambode government in the length and breadth of the State and this action had made life become unbearable for the good
people of the State and as well wallowing in abject poverty.

Sulaiman who is also Executive Chairman, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), listed road projects in Ikorudu axis and other axis of the State,maintained that the groups had written many letters to the Lagos State government to draw its attention to these projects.

SLG Chief who pegged 100 days of Sanwo-Olu’s performance in office at 15 percent, urged the governor to stop all the political jamborees and propaganda that characterizing his government by hitting the ground running for over all development of the State.

According to the statement,”It is now cleared that the immediate past
Governor of the State and a clear headed administrator per
excellence,Mr. Akinwumi Ambode is far better than Mr. Mr. Babajide
Sanwo-Olu in term of providing good governance to the people of the
State.By 100 days of Ambode in office in 2015,he had made landmark
achievements in the nooks and crannies of the State.Since Sanwo-Olu
assumption of office, more people have been wallowing in abject
poverty due to loss of job in agencies of the State”

Sulaiman who doubles as National Coordinator of Coalition for Civil
and Human Rights Organizations COCHRO).reiterated their position to put present administration in the State on its toes for the benefit
and interest of the good people of the State.

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Fancy sweets and museum eats

I crave sweets all. The. TIME. Always. Not kidding. You could wake me up in the middle of the night and stick a doughnut in my face, and I wouldn’t turn it down.

“Huh? What is this?” I woud say groggily, at least one of my eyes still closed. “Oh. A doughnut? Yea ok, gimme.” And then I would roll over.

But my boyfriend? He doesn’t have that same passion for sweets. He’s one of those people that is content with eating one Oreo. One of those that can actually stop after just a few M&Ms. One of those whose face puckers when he’s had too much ice cream or pie or frosting or sugar in general.

But if there’s one sweet treat I can count on to make his eyes sparkle, it’s sachertorte. (I know, right? Sachertorte. Way to be difficult… and European.) Sachertorte, FYI, is a Viennese chocolate cake layered with apricot jelly, and annoyingly enough, not found as easily as say, red velvet cake or fudge brownies.

But it being New York, some place was bound to have it and that place was  Café Sabarsky, the fancy, somewhat cold eatery at the Neue Galerie on the Upper East Side. I was there with coworkers recently and so picked up a slice of the Viennese cake to take home to my sachertorte-loving beau. Well, and I had one too.  (You didn’t think I could wait till I got home to taste his, did you? C’mon. )

While it’s not my absolute favorite dessert, it wasn’t bad. It could have used a little more apricot jam between the layers of chocolate cake, and the cake itself could have been a touch more moist. Like Cafe Sabarsky, this sachertorte was nice but felt a little too serious, a bit too uptight for my taste.

But it made Flaneur happy and that was sweet enough for me.

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The Guest Room

A Hong Kong blog that does a lot more than blog

Griffin It!: Sometimes I wish I was a laptop tech house ‘DJ’

I had a strange and somewhat disconcerting dream the other night.

For those that haven’t read my bio. on this here blog, one of my hobbies is to DJ. For more than a decade, it has allowed me to get paid (sort of) and drink for free just for playing the music that I want to hear. Indeed, I’ve cleared dance floors from north London to Gangnam. My peculiar dream, however, was not the recurring one of lifting the wrong record off the platter causing the club to go deathly silent (this actually happened, by the way), or the one where I get sent to jail for physically assaulting the tit who asks for some hip-hop when I’m spinning the Dead Prez tune called, um, ‘Hip-Hop’, but rather this nightmare was all about my preparation for an upcoming gig this weekend.

Let me explain.

It’s no lie that I very smugly consider myself superior to these young cats that take to the DJ booth these days. You know the ones…they usually have a hairstyle like Kim Jong-eun and play mp3 files of downloaded dubstep (the rubbish American brand, too, not the original UK style that pays due respect to its dub reggae roots) on their laptops and have the audacity to call themselves ‘DJs’. (What kind of ‘discs’ they are ‘jockeying’ is still unclear…maybe it’s irony, since they do love a bit of that, too.) I, on the other hand, am a ‘real’ DJ, and play more than one genre of music and on the only format that one should; vinyl.

How cool am I! Cooler than Skrillex, that’s how cool.

Any important E-mails, mate?

So, in my dream, I’m preparing for this Saturday’s set (shameless plug to follow), and am at a loss as to which records to select. I intend taking just one bag, but – since I’m so cool and play many genres on vinyl (did I mention that?) – I am getting increasingly frustrated trying to pick out a selection of tunes that will both represent my oh-so-cool eclectic taste, and…fit in my one record bag.

What is a DJ (vinyl only, eclectic taste) to do?

This sorry state of affairs continues until the floor is an ocean of records and, exasperated, I’m pulling my hair out (something I can ill-afford to do). And that’s when I wake up in a cold sweat.

“F@$k it!”, I say. “I’ll just play a House set on CDs.”

And so I shall.

If you happen to find yourself in Busan, South Korea this weekend:

2 comments on “Griffin It!: Sometimes I wish I was a laptop tech house ‘DJ’

  1. Yuki
    January 25, 2014

    Will u be crazy if u teach in the morning n act as DJ at night? Haha.

  2. Adam Griffin
    February 8, 2014

    No crazier than usual.:)

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text: Our 60 day fundraiser comes to an end in just sixty hours! We are only $640 short of our goal of $12,000. If you have not yet donated please click on our Indiegogo campaign here and make your pledge. There are still incredible perks (a night of stories, music, and homemade Italian food by Mark Yaconelli to name one). Let’s make that goal and get this new model of community-building launched.


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Difference Between Leadership and Management

The article “Difference Between Leadership and Management” includes a chart that highlights some of the differences between leadership and management.

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About Us

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As connoisseurs of fine travel, we at the Italian Concierge leverage our vast and intimate travel experiences and finely honed network of hoteliers, guides and other travel-related purveyors to create truly distinctive holidays. We listen carefully to your hopes and dreams for your upcoming trip and create itineraries to make them come true.

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"What a dream it was to get on the plane with Megan's 'folder' & know everything we needed was inside of it -- we didn't have to do a thing but enjoy our trip to Italy! There is no way we could have experienced the cities & learned as much as we did without the wonderful guides. Our pleasant memories of Italy linger with us still & we can't wait to return!" - T. Lefrak, April 2004


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The New Kia Ceed GT

by Sep 13, 2018All News, Kia0 comments

The new Kia Ceed GT will be more accomplished and fun-to-drive than ever, and make its public debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show in October, alongside the new ProCeed GT.

The original cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT were launched in 2013, representing the first ever performance hatchbacks from a Korean brand. The new Ceed GT picks up where its predecessors left off, with an assured, engaging drive and a powerful 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, as well as a comprehensive range of comfort, safety and convenience technologies.

For the first time in a performance hatchback from Kia, the new Ceed GT will be available with an optional seven-speed double-clutch transmission, in addition to the standard six-speed manual gearbox.

Emilio Herrera, Chief Operating Officer for Kia Motors Europe, comments: “Our first GT models were important for Kia. They laid a blueprint for future performance cars from the brand, and proved there was a genuine appetite for faster and more engaging “drivers’ cars” from Kia. The cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT provided the impetus for cars such as the Stinger and Optima GT, and introduced a sporty design appeal that has inspired a range of popular GT Line models across our product line-up.”

The new Ceed GT occupies a unique position in the mid-size family car segment, and doesn’t simply chase the highest top speed or fastest straight-line acceleration. It offers greater agility and grip on winding roads, maximum confidence and comfort at a cruise, and fast-revving turbocharged power perfectly matched to European tastes.

The new Ceed GT and ProCeed GT will enter production in November at Kia’s Žilina production facility in Slovakia, alongside the Ceed, ProCeed and Ceed Sportswagon, introduced earlier in 2018.

Available exclusively to European drivers, sales will commence in the first quarter of 2019. The Ceed GT will be covered by Kia’s industry-leading 7-Year, 150,000-kilometre warranty as standard.

Exterior design

Unique performance-inspired design with standard 18-inch wheels
The Ceed GT features a sporty exterior design to differentiate it visually from other models in the Ceed range. Where the design of the new Ceed range is characterised by its blend of taut creases and curvaceous sheet metal, the GT variant presents a more athletic proposition than conventional versions of the car.

At the front, the Ceed GT has a new front bumper design, incorporating larger air intakes and gloss black trim along the base. Like the standard Ceed, the new GT features a modern interpretation of Kia’s four-lamp ‘ice-cube’ LED daytime running lights, integrated into the main headlamp unit. Kia’s tiger-nose grille is also adapted for the new model, with a dark chrome surround and a subtle ‘GT’ logo. The honeycomb grille pattern is also embedded with subtle red highlights.

In profile, it is finished with a glossy chrome window surround and features more substantial side sills, finished in gloss black and red. The standard 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels feature a new castellated centre cap finished in red, and house red brake calipers. At 135 mm, the ride height is reduced by 5 mm over other Ceed and Ceed Sportswagon variants, making it appear more planted on the road and reducing the overall centre of gravity.

Unique GT bumpers at the rear complement those found at the front, housing a subtle gloss black rear diffuser, as well as ‘GT’ badging. A small roof spoiler helps channel air cleanly off the top of the car.

The Ceed GT will be available in a choice of eight paint finishes, with its own unique 18-inch alloy wheel design.

Interior design and packaging

Sports-focused interior with everyday versatility
The Ceed GT features a series of changes to its cabin to separate it from non-GT models in the Ceed family line-up, with a sportier interior ambience.

The GT variant is built around the same ergonomic cabin architecture as other models in the Ceed line-up. Surfaces are finished in high-quality soft-touch materials and metallic trim, while the dashboard is angled towards the driver, making it easier to use on the move. At the centre of the dashboard is Kia’s ‘floating’ touchscreen infotainment system – 7.0- or 8.0-inches wide – with audio and heating and ventilation controls situated below.

A black roofliner, enveloping and cocooning occupants, replaces the grey cloth found in standard Ceed models. Every GT model features a D-shaped steering wheel bearing the ‘GT’ logo, as well as aluminium driver pedals. Models equipped with Kia’s double-clutch transmission feature new metal alloy shift paddles behind the steering wheel.

Front passengers in the Ceed GT are held in place by Kia’s new sports seats. Created exclusively for the new model, these seats provide larger, firmer side and thigh bolsters compared to the original cee’d GT. Seats are trimmed in black leather and suede, and finished with red stitching and a red-stitched ‘GT’ logo in the seat back.

For many drivers, a performance hatchback has to be able to fit seamlessly into their daily lives – for many owners, it may be the only car they have access to. Practicality is therefore essential – and the new Ceed GT model is more practical than most, featuring the same large 395-litre boot as non-GT variants of the Ceed. Its low boot lip is 87 mm lower compared to the previous-generation model, making it easier to load and unload heavy or bulky items. A split-level boot floor allows owners to lower or raise the height of the boot floor, to accommodate larger cargo or create a hidden compartment beneath.

60:40 split-fold rear seats are fitted as standard, which fold down with a single touch from a lever just inside the tailgate.

Ride and handling

Accomplished, engaging and agile – European-developed ride and handling
Home of the performance hatch, Europe is characterised by its diverse driving conditions: high speed motorways, zigzagging alpine routes, congested city centres and winding, unpredictable country lanes. The new Kia Ceed GT has been developed to master all these environments.

The Ceed GT has been engineered and developed exclusively for European roads and European drivers. At the direction of Albert Biermann, Head of Kia Vehicle Test and High Performance Development, the car has undergone six months of additional testing, above and beyond the standard Ceed model line-up. The brief was to enhance cornering agility and yaw behaviour, increase traction and responsiveness, and retain the ‘gran turismo’ spirit of everyday usability that defines all Kia performance cars.

The GT model is fitted with the same fully-independent suspension hardware as the Ceed. However, the half-year of additional fine-tuning to the suspension geometry has rendered it more agile and more engaging to drive.

The new performance hatchback sits 5 mm lower than the standard Ceed and Ceed Sportswagon, reducing the centre of gravity. Stiffer front and rear springs reduce body roll, improve responses to steering inputs, and give the car a firmer, more assured ride in all conditions – crucially, without rendering the car uncomfortable on longer drives or over broken surfaces. Furthermore, softer front and rear anti-roll bars ensure the inside tyre remains in contact with the road under heavy cornering, enhancing traction and grip. These changes to the suspension enable GT drivers to enjoy faster cornering speeds than they might in a number of more powerful front-wheel drive ‘hot hatches’.

In addition, the standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system has been carefully retuned to offer keener drivers more freedom to exploit the increased agility and enhance the yaw rate of the rear axle. Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system is also standard, as well as Torque Vectoring by Braking. This additional electronic driver support feature intelligently brakes the inside wheels to reduce understeer around corners – making the Ceed GT more enjoyable and confidence-inspiring to drive on the type of winding lanes and mountain passes on which it has been developed.

Consistent stopping power is provided by larger brakes, with the standard Ceed’s 288 mm ventilated front disc brakes replaced with 320 mm discs. The GT’s brakes are also 3 mm thicker, at 28 mm, aiding kinetic heat absorption and braking performance with repeated use.

The new model offers greater potential for comfortable motorway cruising than many other more extreme hot hatches. Kia’s engineers have been careful to retain much of the comfort and unwavering high-speed stability that characterises the standard Ceed and other Kia vehicles, such as the Stinger, when travelling at high speeds.

The Ceed GT is fitted as standard with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, enabling higher cornering velocity and traction. The car features electric motor-driven power steering, offering incisive responses to steering inputs with a fast 12.7:1 ratio and requiring only 2.44 turns lock-to-lock – 17% faster than the steering rack found in the original 2013 cee’d GT.

Powerful 1.6-litre T-GDi engine available with manual or double-clutch transmissions
When the first cee’d GT and pro_cee’d GT were revealed in 2013, they were powered by a newly-developed 1.6-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine. Downsized, turbocharged and quick to respond to driver inputs across the rev range, the new engine came to define the car’s effortless approach to power delivery in all conditions. The new Ceed GT retains this approach, with a 1.6-litre T-GDi engine that has been updated for the new model.

Producing 204 ps at a 6,000 rpm peak, the 1.6-litre T-GDi engine continues to provide effortless acceleration and easily-accessible torque. The engine’s maximum torque of 265 Nm is available across a wide 1,500-to-4,500 rpm rev range. The result is an engine which delivers as much of its performance as possible across all driving conditions.

The Ceed GT is paired with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. In response to customer demand across Europe, Kia’s seven-speed double-clutch transmission is also available for the first time in the brand’s performance hatch. Developed in-house, the double-clutch transmission further broadens the appeal of the Ceed GT, enabling quick-fire automatic gear shifts, or letting drivers take over with metal alloy steering wheel paddles.

Acceleration and emissions data will be released closer to the 2019 on-sale date, pending homologation later this year.

The Drive Mode Select system – available with the new seven-speed double-clutch transmission – enables owners to tailor their driving experience. Switching between Normal and Sport mode, Drive Mode Select alters the level of effort required to steer the car, and subtly changes the character of the powertrain. Normal mode maximises the potential for greater fuel efficiency and offers more relaxed steering inputs. Sport mode enhances throttle and transmission responses, enables maximum acceleration – from a standstill and at speed – and adapts the steering to offer additional weight and more decisive responses to inputs. It also lets owners make the most of the GT’s 6,000 rpm peak power by holding on to gears longer under acceleration.

The engine is paired with an electronic sound generator which delivers a characterful GT engine note into the cabin. A sportier exhaust note has also been realised with the adoption of new exhaust flaps, which enhance the sense of acceleration when the driver pushes the accelerator pedal, and ensure the car remains hushed and refined at steady speeds.

Technology and safety

Innovations to make life easier, more comfortable and safer
The new Ceed GT provides owners and occupants with a wide range of technologies designed to make road travel as easy, comfortable and safe as possible.

The standard ‘floating’ infotainment system is available as either a 7.0-inch touchscreen audio system or 8.0-inch touchscreen navigation system, with navigation and Kia Connected Services powered by TomTom®. The system enables full smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay™ (for iPhone 5 and onwards) and Android Auto™ (for Android phones running 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher).

Buyers can specify a powerful JBL Premium sound system with Clari-Fi music restoration technology. Standard technologies include full Bluetooth smartphone integration, automatic lights, and keyless entry. An optional heated windshield uses nearly-imperceptible wires to gently heat the glass, making the car easier to live with in colder months by melting away frost, ice and windscreen mist at the push of a button. A wireless smartphone charger and heated front and rear seats are also available.

In addition to the car’s six standard airbags, advanced driver assistance technologies enhance occupant protection, using active safety systems to mitigate the risk of collisions. Standard safety technologies will include High Beam Assist, Driver Attention Warning, Lane Keeping Assist with Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist.

Lane Following Assist is also available, a ‘Level Two’ autonomous driving technology which tracks vehicles in front in traffic, and detects road markings to keep the car in its lane on the motorway. The system controls acceleration, braking and steering, using radar sensors to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front. Lane Following Assist operates between 0 and 180 kph.

Additional available technologies include Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Blind Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning, Smart Parking Assist, and pedestrian recognition for the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system.

Every Ceed is equipped as standard with Kia’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM). VSM ensures stability when braking and cornering by controlling the car’s Electronic Stability Control (ESC) if it detects a loss of traction.

Written by Erick Uceda

Blogger, Photographer, Car Enthusiast, HanFest - KDM Car Show, Streetkiaz Texas Chapter Leader, Husband and Father. Some of the activities I enjoy doing everyday.

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Custom Orders

Do you love our unique daily bunches but want something a little bit more customized. The Local Bunch does custom flower vase arrangements and other flower displays for events, birthday parties, formal and sympathy flowers for funerals. We can also make Formal wrist corsages and custom flower crowns. Custom event and bouquet orders start from $180.

The Local Bunch is now taking Wedding flower inquiries, you can fill out our Wedding flower contact form here

If you have an inquiry for any customized flower arrangements then feel free to contact us and we can discuss your options.


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Monthly Archives

March 2017
  • The Lofftown: the student accommodation in Barcelona that lets you live your dream

    When we finish our preparatory studies and we go to university, we feel an enormous social pressure on our shoulders and we worry about if we are going to work in what we are actually studying, and how our future will be. The Lofttown is not only student accommodation in Barcelona, it is a very special place that accompanies you through the most important and decisive years of your life, and given that, we have an enormous responsibility, and we want to be a place that helps you to study as an adult. Under this premise the idea of The Lofttown was born, we are a way of living that will awaken an honest, strong and fighting attitude so that you reach your dreams in the wonderful life that you have ahead of you.

    The Lofttown is the perfect student accommodation in Barcelona for you if you are looking for a calm place to live with all the comfort of living at home, whilst with the freedom of living alone, with endless friends and with many opportunities to build a future in terms of personal relationships and unique experiences.

    student accommodation in barcelona

    It is a student accommodation in Barcelona where you learn the habit of being positive in the face of things in order to be successful professionally and in everything that you want to do, because, with the right attitude, we can achieve all our dreams. And, of course, it is a place thought-out so that above all things you have a good time.

    Discover more about us and write to us if you want us to get to know each other before you come. We will be happy to assist you in all that you need. The Lofttown is a new concept in student accommodation in Barcelona. Find out more! Take a look at our web and discover everything that we offer you. We also invite you to follow us in our social networks so that you don´t miss out on anything at The Lofttown.

    Live your dream!

  • Student housing Barcelona: the ideal place to live during your stay at university

    As can be seen in the Google results when you type “student housing Barcelona” in its search bar, student residences offer you all the possible advantages so that your time at university be idyllic. From 24-hour security, to facilities adapted to the best conditions, to services that will make life easier, to…

    However, another result that you will get if you do a search for “student housing Barcelona” in Google, is our blog. And, why should you follow our blog? Because you will get an inside look at what life is like in The Lofttown, you will discover the wonderful things that we have in Barcelona that you shouldn´t miss out on, you will receive useful tips for you and a thousand other things that could help you during your time in Barcelona.

    Besides this, today, in our blog, we have announced the newTravel section. Here you will find destinations that we recommend going toas weekend breaks, for example.

    Today, we kick off talking about… Seville! A destination that you can´t miss out on. The people, its gastronomy, its sun… actually, avoid going in summer because the temperature gauges reach 45°, and sometimes even 50°!

    Seville is Flamenco dancing, bulls, Rebujito and much more.

    A quick guide to visiting Seville. The best things to do

    Places to visit

    The Plaza de España, Seville cathedral and the Santa Cruz neighbourhood, the most beautiful in Seville.

    Historic places

    Visit the Town Hall, and the Maestranza bullring.

    Gastronomy, wine and nightlife

    Take a walk at night and a cruise on the river Guadalquivir, go on a gourmet tapas tour with local wine, sherry or beer and end up at a Flamenco show. Discover the passion of Flamenco in its original birthplace. The Sevillian Patio is one of the main Flamenco stages in the city.

    student housing Barcelona

    Monuments that shouldn´t be missed

    The Giralda Tower, the Plaza Nueva, the Glorieta de Becquer and the beautiful Tower of Gold.

    Triana Market, the Roja gallery and the Lonja de Barranco market.

    See you at The Lofttown! Reserve your place if you haven´t done so already. Happy Spring!

  • What is better for my son or daughter, a university hall of residence in Barcelona, a residential college or a shared flat?

    If the moment has arrived for your child to leave home to go to university (because it is far away from home), it is possible that you will have to make important decisions that are going to cause a few headaches.

    Between everything that you will have to decide, one of the things that most worries you, without a doubt, is the choice of accommodation for your child during this time at university. Facing this universal dilemma, you will wonder which the best option is: a university hall of residence in Barcelona, a residential college or a shared flat. Making the wrong choice of accommodation could result in torture for both parents and children.

    The comfort and features that a university hall of residence in Barcelona offers is one of the determining factors that makes the university hall of residence in Barcelona one of the most demanded options. What the residence offers is that your child, who has recently arrived in the city, won’t be alone. They will share the same experience together with other students, they will make new friends with those living in the same residence as well as in their leisure time, and what is more, they will always have the residence professionals at hand for all their needs. This option is like them living independently in their own flat but with all the comfort of living in a “hotel”, with the assurance of being in a secure place with the protection of people that are especially dedicated to them, and whose job consists of making life easy and comfortable for the students.

    university hall of residence

    We still have more to help you decide. From all of the university halls of residence, why The Lofttown?

    1. It is a new concept in university accommodation designed so that the students live happily and with maximum comfort, and so that the parents can have peace of mind regarding the security and services that we offer.
    2. Because it is newly-constructed, your child will use the facilities for the first time. Everything has been carefully designed and thought-out in order to be the best accommodation choice in terms of comfort.
    3. Because we offer a close and personal service, and because we will take care of them as if they were at home, just as you would.

    Call us and we will explain all the details: 686932017. Welcome to The Lofttown!

  • What is life like in a university residence? All the things that will make you decide to live here

    Where am I going to live? This is one of the main concerns for all those of you that are going to study at university because it is far away from home, or, because you are going to go to another country. Today, in our post, we explain what life is like in a university residence, and this way you will see the advantages that this type of accommodation offers.

    You will study better!

    In a university residence there are only students, therefore, your way of working and studying will only get better given that you will be able to study with fellow students.

    Who said be afraid?

    In a university residence you will never be alone. There will always be someone to help you with everything you need, as much as with the things associated with the residence itself, as well as with personal issues. At The Lofttown, we have The Lofttowner, who is your personal assistant that will always be at hand to help you.

    You will fill your Smartphone agenda and your activity programme!

    You will get to know people from all around the world who you will never ever forget, you will have a thousand events to go to given that the residence itself creates a wide programme of activities. A great plan for this exciting stage of your life that is awaiting.

    The domestic chores will not occupy your study time, nor your fun time!

    In the student residence, everything is facilitated so that you can dedicate your time exclusively to your studies (and to having a good time in your deserved free time). You will not need to worry about making the bed, about washing the pile of towels… We take care of this as well!

    High speed Wi-Fi!

    We are sure that you will think this is cool. We have free Wi-Fi!

    university residence

    You will do sports and not alone!

    A residence for students cannot go without a gym. At The Lofttown, we have an outside CrossFit gym. If you already find running or a good fitness session restorative, imagine doing it with friends.

    Are you still not convinced? Living at a student residence is the best idea for those wonderful university years. We promise you. Don´t miss your place at The Lofttown! On top, this year, you will use the facilities for the first time. Everything is newly built, and everything is new.

  • Our student accommodation is going strong and at full sail! Come and join us!

    The Lofttown, the new concept in student accommodation in Barcelona is about to set sail! We are now in the final stage! Only 4 months away from the official opening(1st July), all engines are running at full speed finalizing the fine details. If this coming academic year is your turn to make the most important jump in your life, going to university, and if you are looking for student accommodation, The Lofttown is the ideal accommodation for you. What is more, you will be using the facilities for the first time!

    Today, we want to dedicate this post to explaining to you some more details of The Lofttown Barcelona and about this final phase of construction, as well as sharing with you the pleasure it gives us to open the doors to this new concept of student accommodation in Barcelona. If you decide to live at The Lofttown (we promise that we are a totally different concept in student accommodation) you will notice the difference. Take a look at our website and discover a different world where you will live a unique and fun university experience in total comfort and safety. You will have an adventure packed with emotions, experiences, new friends and a lot more!

    Here we explain some of the finer details

    The interior design of our building is in a loft style, you will feel good in our spacious and modern facilities with all the necessary details for your comfort. You will love the decoration, and there will be no exception to detail! Chillout areas, terraces, a solarium, an outside CrossFit gym…

    The rooms are also in a minimalist style and the studios are equipped with kitchens in case you like to do what you want and cook when you please. Luxury living! The residency is also open 24 hours a day, 365 days  a year. It has closed-circuit television and you will also have The Lofttowners Assistants at hand for all your needs, and you will be able to ask for their help whenever necessary.

    The food… mmm… the food! Our buffet is ecological and made from local produce so that you can eat healthily. Come and taste it!

    student accommodation

    Go ahead, no need to think about it any more, reserve your place. Don’t miss out because everyone is going to talk about The Lofttown. Do you want to miss the opportunity?


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What are the many uses of Shea Butter?

Q:What are the many uses of Shea Butter?
More Answers to “What are the many uses of Shea Butter?
Shea butter is known especially for its cosmetic properties as a moisturizer and emollient of skin. Because of these properties, it is used in numerous cosmetics today. It further adds and maintains moisture in dry, brittle hair, in addition to revitalizing, repairing and preventing breakage, and promoting hair growth.Shea butter has anti-inflammatory properties and has been used for skin-related uses: healing wounds, fading scars, healing eczema, burns, rashes, severely dry skin, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis. Shea butter contains natural UV sun protection.Shea butter is also used in some indigenous ceremonies. Followers of the Holy Spirit Movement rebel group of Uganda smeared their bodies with shea butter in the belief that it would stop bullets. Check out the site I’ve listed below.
I know several women who use it regularly to condition the ends of their long hair. See: http://www.network54.com/Forum/235232/.
Moisturizing, cell-regeneration, repairing discoloration (like scars), moisturizing stretch marks, and soothing sunburn among many others.
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2016: Of Travels, Friendships, Family, and Spreading Happiness

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“Life is meant for Good Friends and Great Adventures”

As we bid goodbye to 2016, I look back at how the past year has brought me to awesome places and taught me life lessons along the way as I travel with friends and family. Lessons that honed me as a person, a friend, a sister, a cousin, a daughter, a mother, and so much more. Lessons that not only helped me but helped those dear to me as well.

January: Cebu

My first roadtrip of the year is to the South of Cebu as I joined in the birthday celebration of a dear friend. It was with a group of friends from my previous team in Cebu and this journey reminded me that it doesn’t mean that friendships end when we stop spending (working) time with each other. It was also the time when some of my new team mates joined the older group and a good opportunity to build new friendships as well.

Dalaguete road trip with Sasuke; Osmeña Peak sunset

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Zingiber officinalis

Zingiber officinalis                                 Common name: Ginger

Family: Zingiberaceae

Part used:  Rhizome

 Constituents: Volatile oil (zingiberene), sesquiterpenes, oleo-resins (gingerols, shogaols), starch, proteins, lipids, nutrients, amino acids

Medical actions:  Choleretic, cholagogue, positive inotropic and chronotropic, gastrointestinal stimulant, thermogenic, antiseptic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, anti-thrombotic, anti-cholesterol, anti-emetic, rubefacient, vasodilator, peripheral circulatory stimulant, antispasmodic, carminative, emmenagogue, hepatoprotective, antioxidant

Medical uses: Zingiber increases the flow of saliva and is a stimulating tonic for the digestive system. Reduces cramping, gas and nausea. Indicated for motion sickness. Increases the peripheral circulation and detoxifies the body from toxins associated with rheumatism. Can be used topically for inflammatory conditions such as RA, OA, bursitis and muscle sprains.

  • Gingerols (mainly in fresh root) increase uptake of calcium by the myocardium and enhance the force of contractions (cardiotonic). Also hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, and promote gastric secretions.
  • Volatile oils (zingiberene, b-bisabolene) are anti-cholesterol, antioxidant, analgesic, rubefacient and anti-spasmodic.
  • Inhibit both platelet aggregation and prostaglandins & leukotrienes associated with inflammation.

Pharmacy: Dry herb: 1-10 g in divided doses (start low and gradually increase the dosage). Fresh herb: 5 g fresh QD. Infusion: 1g/cup, TID. Tincture: (1:5, 90%) 1.5 – 3ml TID. Also as compress, cough syrup or candied.

Contraindications:  People with sensitive stomachs do not always tolerate. Use caution with ulcers, GERD, gallstones, kidney disease, and tendency to hemorrhage.

Toxicity:  No adverse effects expected with recommended dosages. Best taken with food as high doses can cause heartburn. Topically may cause contact dermatitis.

Interactions: Increases absorption of all drugs. Can reduce absorption of iron and fat soluble vitamins.

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A place for all things herbal medicine

Created and maintained with love by Dr. Marisa Marciano, ND

Get my new book here!

The Botanical Medicine Manual is the best multidisciplinary, integrated guide available for students, clinicians & instructors. This book gives top quality content that you will refer to often in class, for board exams & in practice. Topics include, study tips, Botanical Actions, Constituents, Pharmacy, Monographs, Nutrition, Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Fiber and much more evidence informed medicine. Cost is $39.95


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Press Release – Breeze through checkout as PayPal launches One Touch™ and a redesigned mobile app across Asia Pacific

logoTuesday, February 2016, [Singapore]  – PayPal is announcing the launch of One Touch™ and the redesigned PayPal mobile app across 23 markets in Asia Pacific, enabling a faster, more secure and seamless payment experience for consumers and merchants. The launch demonstrates PayPal’s commitment to transforming the way people move and manage their money and highlight its mobile leadership in the region. One Touch™ is the first-ever single touch payment experience across Android and iOS, where consumers no longer need to log in with a username and password to pay with PayPal and shop at millions of merchants globally. The new tool offers consumers and merchants a faster and safer shopping experience across platforms, devices and channels with a single touch (online) or tap (on mobile web). Additionally, PayPal has redesigned the PayPal mobile app to offer a simpler and more personal way to manage funds on a consumer’s PayPal account.

The launch of One Touch™ and the redesigned mobile app comes at a time when cross-border trade is the driving force of the global economy. Asia Pacific accounted for 36.5 percent of B2C e-commerce sales, and is expected to reach 39.7 percent in 2016.[1] To date, nearly 18 million consumers globally have opted in to PayPal One Touch and is expanding to a total of 143 markets.

Mobile is also expected to be a key driver of the online cross-border opportunity in the region, with nearly half of all online consumers making a purchase on their smartphones in 2015.[2] Forrester predicts the number of smartphone users is expected to double in Asia Pacific from one billion in 2014 to two billion in 2019.[3]

“Cross-border trade is core to a growing global economy, and we believe that the mobile-first Asia Pacific region is ready to tap on the opportunities provided by a more connected and open marketplace. The announcement reflects PayPal’s mobile strategy in the region and also illustrates our vision of ‘New Money’ – to make people’s lives easier by helping them move and manage money securely and more efficiently,” said Rohan Mahadevan, PayPal’s Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific. “This is the start of a larger conversation about the future of money and the benefits consumers and merchants can reap in the global digital economy, powered by PayPal.”

‘New Money’ is PayPal’s first major brand campaign as an independent company and highlights the ways that PayPal technology reimagines money so it can serve all consumers. With the digitization of cash and mass adoption of mobile devices, PayPal is contributing to a transformation in payments through its unmatched and growing global scale, platform and technology agnostic offerings, as well as unique two-sided network. The launch in APAC signals PayPal’s commitment to making it simpler and more personal for customers to move and manage their money, no matter where they are.

One Touch™ – Breezing Through Checkouts

Consumers will find that the ubiquitous PayPal is now faster and more seamless than ever. Now, consumers can checkout securely across all One Touch™ activated merchants without needing to enter any payment information, or even their username and password after opting-in during their first log-in. One Touch™ enables consumers with quick checkout access to more than one million merchants that are activated on One Touch™ around the world.

Seamless yet secure, PayPal offers a safe way for buyers to transact online via One Touch™ with additional security measures put in place to authenticate users, on top of its industry leading risk models and technology. PayPal also goes one step further to protect its consumers with Buyer Protection, to safeguard online shoppers against any eligible unauthorized purchases made from their accounts.[4]

One Touch™ is now available to consumers and merchants across Asia Pacific including Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.

The PayPal App Reimagined

The new PayPal app provides an enhanced user experience due to its iterative platform, which allows for easier customization and localization of the app across the 145 markets it is now available in. This enables PayPal to provide country specific features within the app that users care about to give them a simpler and more personal way to move and manage their money.

The new app design is focused on features many customers use on a regular basis, such as managing their account and sending and requesting money. With the redesign, customers will now be able to manage their account and send money directly from the home screen.

The latest version of the PayPal app is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia with more markets to follow.

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