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jassackles · 2 years

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An Actress life - Chapter 1

A/N: please excuse this bc I wrote this story like two years ago, so it might be different to the works I write now lol sksksks maybe you still enjoy it.

PS: this was my first fan fiction ever!!!

Chapter one

word count: 1,252 words

It is the last day on set of the tv show you have played in for 7 years. You're a bit sad about that, that it has ended. But you're also happy, because the last 3 years weren't that easy. The crew sucked sometimes and the most members of the cast didn't understand any jokes, they were serious about everything all the time. You didn't enjoy going to work, you always thought being an actress would be rather cool, it is, but at this set you haven't felt like that. This tv show has showed you the negative aspects of being an actress. On the other hand you are thankful for this time, because of this show you met your best friend Gen.

You know her since the show has started that means for seven years and you are thankful that you are allowed to call her your best friend. She is so adorable and you love her. And because of you she is married to Jared Padalecki, why because of you? Because in 2009 you filmed 'Friday the 13th' with him, although you were in your show you managed doing both. So that you and Jared worked together, got along very well and hung around a lot, you introduced the two with each other. One day you took Gen to a bar, where Jared and other people from the crew and cast were. They also got along quickly and went on dates but maybe you weren't the single reason why they've married.

Gen got a small part in Supernatural where Jared has a main part as Sam Winchester. You remember like it was yesterday when they have called her, in this moment you were sitting in a tiny coffee shop, talking about everything and then she got this call. She screamed so loudly, everyone was looking at you like you two would be crazy. But yeah that's how they met first, because of you. When they married you were her maid of honour, you felt honoured, since you two didn't know each other rather long when she chose you. Their wedding was a dream, everything seemed perfect. She looked amazing, indescribable more than words can say.

Okay, enough story telling of your best friend's life. Your love life isn't that exciting right now you are single for two years, because your ex boyfriend has cheated on you when you were shooting for your tv show. That has happened 1 year after Gen and Jared's wedding. You two were 6 months in a relationship, so it was not that hard, like the relationship you had before. Enough of your past life. Right now you are in your hometown Austin to visit your parents, you haven't seen them for weeks even months. Your mum told you to visit her and your stepfather, because some of your family from Poland is there and you have missed them a lot.

You knock at the door and your mum opens it, full of happiness to see you, you breath out of relief, because you thought she would be really angry with you. You go through the door to say hello to the rest of your family. You all sit down to the table where the food is already waiting for all of you. Polish food. You love it. You eat one bite and you feel like you are in heaven, because it tastes so good. Then you suddenly get a call from your manager Edward Swensen. "Sorry guys excuse me for a minute."

Your mum looks annoyed at you, what you totally understand. You go to the kitchen and pick up. "Hey Y/N/N, sorry for interrupting your family time, but I have an amazing job offer for you." "What job, Ed?" "Eric Kripke called this morning, the producer of Supernatural." "Ed I know, who Eric Kripke is. Just keep going." "Okay, okay. They want you as a main part." Silence. You know, your ex-boyfriend Jensen has also a main part in this show.

"Wow. That's amazing, what kind of role?" "A love interest of Dean." You think Oh shit, how are you going to survive this? Just be professional. "When do I have to answer?" "Right now, Y/N/N." "Well, I'm not quite sure about that." "Y/N Y/L/N are you kidding? This is a big opportunity." "It's not that, I would take it if my ex-boyfriend wouldn't be Dean." "Oh shit, I totally forgot about that." "But I'm looking forward and I'll take it." "So sorry to tell you this, but the meeting will be tomorrow. In Vancouver." "Seriously?" "Yeah, I'm so sorry."

You are so annoyed, you just have arrived and tomorrow you gonna leave for, you don't know how long. "When will the flight be?" "10 am. I'll send you the ticket via email." "Thank you." "See you tomorrow then, Y/N." "Bye, Ed." You feel like you have to tell your bestie, so you call Gen but she doesn't pick up. You can understand, she is busy with Tom and her second pregnancy. You already have forgotten about Jensen that he plays Dean.

You have to leave in less than 16 hours. "Y/N/N what's going on?" Your cousin asks. "I have a new job, for which I have to leave at 8am because my flight will be at 10am tomorrow. " Your mum is looking angry at you. "I am happy for you but you have just arrived." Your sister says. "I know, I am so so-" Your mum interrupts you "Are you kidding me?" She asks angrily but then her anger turns to happiness. She comes to you and hugs you. "I am so proud of you, Y/N/N." She whispers into your ear.

Tears come to your eyes, because you are so thankful for your family, that they always support you. "Thank you guys, but I have to call Gen again. And if she doesn't pick up, I will visit her." "Sure, greet her from us." "Of course." You go to the living and try to call her again but she doesn't pick up again, so you decide to go to her house.

15 minutes later, you arrive at her house and ring the door bell. A few seconds later she opens the door in amazement. "Hey, what are you doing here? I thought you are with your family today." She hugs you and gestures you to come in. "I thought that too. I was calling you, but you didn't pick up. Then I decided to come over." "I don't even know where my phone is." She says laughing. "It's fine, I know you're busy. I have some amazing news." You say in excitement.

You sit down on their couch. "Start, I wanna know." "I'm gonna have a main part in Supernatural." "Wow. That's amazing, we have to tell Jared." "Jared." She yells. Jared comes to the living room, you two hug each other.

"Y/N/N, what are you doing here?" He asks with a smile. "Let me introduce you to your new colleague." Gen says proud and points at you.

"No way!" He says happily.

————

Read next part here! :)

#jensen ackles #jared paladecki #jaredpadelcki #gen padalecki #jensen ackles x you #jensen ackles x reader #jensen ackles x y/n #supernatural #love #first story #x reader

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beneath-her-soul · 2 years

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It's night shift again and since I'm on second break, I might as well do a lil life update here.

Last week was a blast! I haven't had so much fun for a very long time since all I do is work, home, chores, Ash and the cycle repeats. It started off with..

Tuesday, 27/8/22

It was my night off on that day. I went home and took a short nap before these two came! We celebrated Nisa's belated 30th birthday at my house. Tasha came quite early surprisingly and she told me she didn't even get to sleep after night shift. Oh boy. So we went to the nearest bakery nearby my house to buy a cake for Nisa. She had no clue of Tasha's arrival as I wanted it to be a surprise!

It was a small yet meaningful celebration among the three of us. Altho Nisa is no longer working together with us, our friendship still remain the same and we try to squeeze in time for each other despite our crazy schedules. Work has never been the same without her. The first two months after she left was dreading for me. I was unmotivated, sad and missed her dearly. She's always there for me when I hit rock bottom at work or in life eversince we knew each other in 2018. She's witty in her own ways and never judgemental of people. Every once a week i would drop a text telling her how much I miss her at work and just wish that she is still here. But life has to move on for her tho ... And I'm truly happy that she's doing way better than she was here in this organization.

Back to the mini celebration. It's been so long since we sit and talk for hours and just have a heard to heart conversation about life, love, family and work. That's basically what we girls normally talk about whenever we hang out. It's amazing how all three of us are different age yet we are still able to bond. The age gap isn't that far 1 or 3 years apart only so we tend to treat each other like sisters.

Did I mention that it was Tasha's first time meeting Ash boy? Yep! Tasha also owns 4 cats so pretty much she's a cat expert. She was extremely happy when she heard I got myself a kitten and she's been dying to meet Ash since i first got him. This Ash boy is so well likeable among my peers and they even had to make a date to meet him! Ash boy was pretty well behaved on that day and I was surprised! Literally. I have never seen how well behaved he was eversince I got him. I guess the child only shows it's true colours to their own mommy but not to the visitors. 😂

I managed to capture this adorable moment of Ash asking Tasha for mango cake as we were busy eating ours. He did get to taste it and he likes it! He asked for round two tho. You're gonna get fat Ash! 😂

Wednesday, 28/09/2022

USS with the colleagues! This outing was planned two months ago and I'm so glad it happened! It was definitely an enjoyable and fun outing with the people whom i work with. It's rare for me to go out with a group of colleagues as I prefer to just go home after work. But it doesn't kill to socialize once in a while right? It started off meeting the peeps at 1030am for breakfast at McDonald's Harbourfront. I was a bit late due to Ash as I had to clean up and feed him before I leave the house. It breaks my heart whenever i had to leave him at home all alone, tbh. At 11:30am, we made our way to Sentosa to meet the rest of the peeps there and we started off with watching Camera, Lights, Action scene first before we ride the rides. I haven't had this fun in a long ass time and it's something I needed. We even got free express lane tickets for all of the rides all thanks to Jody! She was a former employee there and had good contacts so we were very grateful for her help. God knows how cranky and impatient I can be when there's a long queue for every rides.

We left USS at 6pm and head to Vivo for dinner at Earl Swensens. We even had a surprise celebration for Kak Fida too! Everyone was exhausted but we sure did enjoy ourselves. Our legs were wobbly by the time we took the train back home. The next day, it's back to work for us 😂 lol!

Watch how annoying Khair was in this video.

#personal #finding happiness #happy pills #self care #friends

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princess-of-lions · 5 years

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For International Women’s Day, several feminist book recommendations! By feminist, I mean both books about feminism, and books about strong, complex, nuanced female characters created by female authors. (This is a pretty long list. Took a while to put together.)

Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie can find her way right to the heart of the issues that confront women every day. This advice can apply to women in all cultural contexts, and in my opinion is a must-read for all feminists. There Are Girls Like Lions: Poems About Being a Woman by Cole Swensen A short poetry anthology about the moments of growing up as a girl and a woman. Circe by Madeline Miller Madeline Miller’s Circe is a triumph of storytelling and a triumph for feminism. In the Odyssey, Circe is treated as the selfish witch that Odysseus subdues. Here, she is given agency, life. She feels real and her desires and her courage and her fears will become your own. Madeline Miller has a true talent for epic prose. The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish An aging historian in London growing close to retiring as her body begins to betray her is given a chance to discover significant truths when papers come to light that tell an unusual tale. That of a young Jewish woman far in the past who longs to study and learn, to question philosophy and faith, and does so in secret while dreading the prospect of marriage. This book takes an unerring view of courage, personal truth, faith, philosophy, and what it means to be a woman. Flight of Dreams by Ariel Lawhon Emilie is not what she seems. And on the Hindenburg, it seems that everyone has something to hide. Suspenseful and enthralling, Ariel Lawhon’s imagining of the tale of the doomed airship flight is nothing less than a masterpiece.

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi Tomi Adeyemi has created a high fantasy book that draws its inspiration from African cultures and legends. Her characters and setting are refreshing and compelling, and the words will settle in your heart and blood. The people love fiercely and deeply, and the losses are wounding. The parallels drawn to racial violence in America are at once heart-breaking and enraging. A necessary read.

The Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian Her home was invaded. Her family murdered, and her paraded about as a trophy. Princess Theodosia struggles to reclaim who she is and what she stands for in a world that has beaten her and her people to the ground. If she is to free herself and her people, she must remember what she truly is. A queen. The Chosen Maiden by Eva Stachniak In the early 20th century, the world of ballet experiences a revolution. Vaslav Njinsky, hailed as a prodigy, provokes confusion and outrage with choreography that is strange, halting, jarring – to many, ugly. This is the tale of his sister, Bronia, also an extraordinary ballet dancer. As revolution sparks in Russia and war begins in Europe, she learns to chart her own path and defy expectations. Lands of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road by Kate Harris Kate Harris loved to read. She wanted to explore. To see the frontiers of everything. So, she decided to become an astronaut. But exploration can come in many forms, and she chooses to bike the Silk Road on her own journey of exploration. Told with candor, wit, and sweeping prose, this is my favorite travel book. Sold by Patricia McCormick A young girl in Nepal believes she has the chance to have a job, to help provide for her family. But when she arrives, she finds that the ‘work’ is not what she expected. Trapped in a brothel, she is forced into sex slavery. This is a difficult and emotional read, but an important one. The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley A retelling of the Arthurian legends from the point of view of Morgan Le Fey, Ygraine of Cornwall, Guinevere, Viviane, Morgause, and others. It’s a very good read with very human characters and a heart of tragedy. The women in this book are wholly women and wholly human, with flaws and love and fear and difficult choices. Though I have one important note: I discovered this after I read the book, but later in life the author was revealed to have sexually abused her daughter and other children. Because of this, I wasn’t sure whether to include this one. I decided to because of the book’s merits and its influence on feminism in the nineties. I leave it to your judgement. Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard Mary Beard is a historian with penetrating understanding of the place women occupy in society. Her manifesto addresses the power imbalances women have faced throughout history and in the present. My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg A collection of the writings of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman ever to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Accessible, logical, and wryly amusing, she provides insight into the workings of the Supreme Court, law, women’s rights, and many other topics. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah During World War II, two sisters are separated in occupied France. They find their own ways to survive and rebel against the German presence in their land. A well-written tale of sisterly and familial love, loss, courage, and endurance. The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson A fantasy story about a princess chosen by a prophecy. Her journey to find, understand, and accept the power within herself is as poetic as the book’s title. The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro Two women, separated by a generation, bonded by memory. This book is captivating – and makes you wish you had some perfume of your own! Memory and scent, love and resentment, mystery, and fearless choices twine together in this story. A Bound Woman Is a Dangerous Thing: The Incarceration of African American Women from Harriet Tubman to Sandra Bland Poems honoring black women who have been held back and trapped and chained throughout America’s history. This is not a comfortable read. But it is a worthwhile one. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai This one doesn’t really need any explanation. It’s definitely a must-read though. Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II The meticulously researched story of the girls who broke codes in World War II. While their husbands and brothers and sons went off to fight, they went to Washington and learned to do work that greatly impacted the course of the war. Since they were all sworn to secrecy, their stories were almost lost. But not anymore. The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict Mileva Maric was a brilliant physicist and mathematician from Serbia. She attended the University of Zurich and was the only woman in her classes. After university, she married her former classmate: Albert Einstein. Her husband’s shadow is very long, but this woman deserves to step into the light. This is a rich portrait of a woman who was far more than merely Albert Einstein’s wife. Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky This one’s pretty self-explanatory too. It’s an awesome book with gorgeous illustrations and many awesome and brilliantly smart women. Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo Well, Wonder Woman, obviously. In this novel, Diana is finding her place as an Amazon, a warrior, and a teenage girl. Her confidence, courage, and loyalty is extraordinarily compelling. The book tackles the difficult issues she must face, involving war, peace, and the true meaning of strength. A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan I always pay attention when I see the word “witch” on the cover of a book. In history, witches have been the women who were feared for their differences – for their knowledge, their beauty, their independence, etc. It’s a powerful word with a powerful meaning. In this book, witchcraft is real, and the women are too. It follows five generations of the same family of witches, examining and celebrating the bonds between mothers and daughters while telling a tale fraught with tension and courage. Face Value: The Hidden Ways Beauty Shapes Women’s Lives by Autumn Whitefield-Madrano An examination of the perception of beauty and its effects in women’s lives today, touching upon insecurity, image, idealization, and numerous other things. The Map of Salt and Stars by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar Another tale about two girls in different time periods (I love these). Here’s the blurb: “- a modern day Syrian refugee seeking safety and a medieval adventurer apprenticed to a legendary mapmaker – places today’s headlines in the sweep of history, where the pain of exile and the triumph of courage echo again and again.” The prose is lyrically beautiful and the story is richly crafted. An incredible read. Double Bind: Women on Ambition edited by Robin Romm Ambition can be a complicated thing for women. What we want to do can be altered by how we want to see ourselves – or more accurately, how we are socialized to see ourselves. An ambitious woman may seem aggressive and overconfident to others – while an ambitious man may seem dominant and just the right amount of confident. This book is worth a look. Book of Ages: The Life and Opinions of Jane Franklin by Jill Lepore A collection of her own writings tied together by the biographical work of Jill Lepore. In this portrait of Benjamin Franklin’s younger sister, Jane Franklin emerges as a shrewd, resilient, and confident woman. Pirate Women: The Princesses, Prostitutes, and Privateers Who Ruled the Seven Seas by Laura Sook Duncombe This book is so awesome. It just is. Badass women from all over the world who wanted their freedom and took it. Need I say more? Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki ‘"Many say I was the best geisha of my generation," writes Mineko Iwasaki. "And yet, it was a life that I found too constricting to continue. And one that I ultimately had to leave." Trained to become a geisha from the age of five, Iwasaki would live among the other "women of art" in Kyoto's Gion Kobu district and practice the ancient customs of Japanese entertainment. She was loved by kings, princes, military heroes, and wealthy statesmen alike. But even though she became one of the most prized geishas in Japan's history, Iwasaki wanted more: her own life. And by the time she retired at age twenty-nine, Iwasaki was finally on her way toward a new beginning.” A tale of courage. the princess saves herself in this one by Amanda Lovelace A story told in four collections of poetry. The story of the princess in the tower, and the story of you. The Diplomat’s Daughter by Karin Tanabe After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Emi Kato is imprisoned in an American internment camp. Later, she and her family are sent home to Japan, where war threatens everything. This is a tale of love, sacrifice, resilience and hope in the middle of a war told in elegant and touching prose. The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker A retelling of the Iliad (The Trojan War) from the point of view of the women – primarily Briseis. The wars of ancient times are often thought of as glorious. The picture this book paints of the siege on Troy shows the other side of war. It’s illuminating, intricately detailed and bluntly told. Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee A difficult story of family, mental illness, sisterhood, immigration, and fulfillment in life. Every word rings true, sometimes painfully. Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo This one was a really difficult read for me. It’s heart-rending. The love, jealousy, commitment to family, completely different cultural context… A difficult read, but worth it in the end, for the exact reasons that made it hard. The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff Another World War II spy story! But this one is less about code-breaking and more about the feet on the ground in Paris. A fictionalized version of a true story. Daughters of the Winter Queen: Four Remarkable Sisters, the Crown of Bohemia, and the Enduring Legacy of Mary, Queen of Scots by Nancy Bazelon Goldstone “Brilliantly researched and captivatingly written, filled with danger, treachery, and adventure but also love, courage, and humor, Daughters of the Winter Queen follows the lives of five remarkable women who, by refusing to surrender to adversity, changed the course of history.” Pretty self-explanatory. An awesome and engaging book. Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird Based loosely on a true story. Cathy Williams is a slave. But she is also the daughter of a daughter of a queen, and her mother never lets her forget it. In this daring tale, Cathy rebels against her constraints as a black person and a woman and joins the army disguised as a man during the Civil War. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly I’m sure a lot of you have seen the movie based on this book. The untold story of three of NASA’s brilliant black female scientists during the Space Race. The book came before the movie and is just as satisfying in print as on the big screen. There’s also more exposition and nuance to the story. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King Sherlock Holmes has retired to keep bees in Sussex. Then, he meets Mary Russell, a young woman with a mind to rival his own. What adventures shall they encounter? It stays true to the tone and spirit of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, but Mary provides a fresh perspective. Wonderfully done. She Explores by Gale Straub These stories are so inspiring. I want to go out there and travel the world and explore the wild and live on the road every time I read them. All Hail the Queen: Twenty Women Who Ruled by Jennifer Orkin Lewis Ruling throughout history has not been only the domain of men. There have been multiple women that have ruled with strength, cleverness, and sheer daring. These are the stories of twenty of them from all over the world.

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puzzycatdoll · 3 years

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HBD to Sunshine Ricki..🎁 Hip..Hip..Hooray...🙆‍♂️ Today is my birthday. I'm 7 years old now. Mom Nikki gives me many wonderful blessings. She wants to see me growing up as a healthy child and being obedient to parents and being a good boy and good at studying. 🧚‍♂️ She also asks for the holy thing and the guardian deity to keep me safe all the time. This morning, I and mom Nikki went to the temple to give the offering dedicated to the monks and to give alms to the monks. Then We were paying respect to the Buddha. After that we were making a libation so that my dog Thongdum could receive all merits we did for him. So today I made merit for myself and for dearest Thongdum who had passed away 2 days ago. Every year Thongdum will be there to celebrate my birthday. But this year there was no Thongdum to join the birthday party with me. I and my mom feel very lonely, empty and silent. Thus we keep everything simply there was no big birthday party. 🍰 Just an ice cream Swensen's cake and wonderful blessing as well as love and care from my mom gave to me. That's enough to make me smile and happy. I want to tell her that "I love Mom Nikki more than anything in this world and I love my big brother Thongdum too 🐶" ❤❤❤ If there is anyone's birthday today, I may your birthday be the beginning of the best years of your life. Wishing you and your family and your loved ones all the best ever. With endless love from🐒 A little KingKong Ricki and Mom Nikki...🇹🇭Thailand...The Moment of Mourning 🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤😢 》》》》》》 #instagram #instapic #instaphoto #instalike #instacute #instadaily #instakids #ig_kids #kids #children #cute #happykid #happy #happyday #happyme #pretty #childrenphoto #pic #picture #photo #photography #cool #amazing #awesome #moment #capture #like4like #followme #photooftheday #happytime (ที่ Bangkok Thailand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMHWXFoh636/?igshid=c735if9gq121

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thehungrykat1 · 10 years

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Swensen's Now Open at SM North Edsa

A girl can never have enough Ice Cream. I had just visited the newly opened Magnum Cafe at SM Aura Premiere last month when I received an invitation for the branch opening of another renowned international ice cream franchise. Who doesn’t like ice cream? Even young and old folks alike agree there’s a special comfort and sensation you can only get eating this cold creamy dessert. So when I arrived at the new Swensen's branch at The Block in SM North Edsa, I knew I was in for a special treat.

Swensen’s is a global ice cream franchise started by Earle Swensen in San Francisco, California. From its opening in 1948, it now has over 300 ice cream shops worldwide offering more than 180 ice cream flavors. It prides itself as being America’s favorite old-fashioned ice cream parlor. I already tried Swensen’s once before at its Eastwood City branch, so I was definitely excited for the opening of their branch at SM North Edsa last May 14. They even had an opening day promo by giving out free ice cream scoops for the first 50 lucky guests. What a great treat!

Aside from being a sit-down ice cream parlor, Swensen's offers a scooping station (P95 per scoop, P20 per topping) for those who want a quick ice cream fix on the go. They have another branch in SM Mall of Asia. However, the Eastwood City branch has been closed and is being replaced with an organic food concept restaurant.

I was excited to see my friend from The Soshal Network who I first met at the Grilla Bar & Grill's bloggers event last March. We had some catching up to do.

There were several activities to entertain the kids that came along with their parents including face painting and a balloon-twisting clown.

Even my friend had her face painted. I think I should have gone for this myself.

The festivities started with the ribbon cutting led by the humble family who owns the Swensen’s franchise here in the Philippines, husband and wife tandem Chito & Lizzie Guerrero. They are the same couple who owns The Old Spaghetti House and Grilla restaurants in Metro Manila so they have a rich experience in the food business.

We were then given a chance to sample Swensen’s signature sundaes and creations. I really had a hard time deciding! I wanted to see their monster Chocolate Earthquake Sundae but there was no way I could finish that off.

The Coit Tower (P245) looked the most appealing to my appetite. This was a tower of Vanilla and Chocolate ice cream with chocolate fudge, strawberry jam, banana, and almonds. This is one of their signature American ice cream creations.

I really loved it! Banana, Chocolate, and Strawberry all in one glass! The mix of ice cream and fruits and especially the chocolate fudge all went wonderfully together. The cute little American flag also served as a great reminder that Swensen's has been an American tradition for the last 60 years. The staff of Swensen’s were more than happy to serve their eager customers. I was so delighted with all the cute looking ice creams dishes they made so I just had to take pictures of the other.

The Frosted Choc Malt Fantasy (P285) is also a unique ice cream dish that comes with chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, hot fudge, marsmallows, and Maltesers, which are malt honeycomb milk chocolate balls famous in the States.** **

Chocolate Ring-A-Ding (P245)

Ebony & Ivory (P265)

Oreo Brownie (P265)

Strawberry Banana & Cream (P220)

Crispy Cocktail (P265)

Banana Split (P270)

Waffle Sundae (P175)

Swensen's also designs ice cream sundaes made specifically for the kids. The** Sweet Princess (P135)** is decorated with waffles and cherries.

The Little Prince (P135) on the other hand is decorated with Oreo cookies.

But nothing can beat this monster concoction. The Chocolate Earthquake (P675) is the Godzilla of all ice cream. It comes with eight big scoops of ice cream covered with hot fudge, Oreo cookies, brownies, and almonds. Someone must have ordered this for a group of four because it will take that many to finish this. Next time, I'll bring a few friends along so we can order this for ourselves.

We all had a great time during the opening of Swensen's SM North Edsa. We wish the Guerrero family all the best in their restaurant expansion and there will definitely be more branches to come in the future. Come and try their signature ice cream creations for yourself and you will see what American ice cream is proud of.

SWENSEN'S

2/F The Block (near Forever 21), SM City North Edsa

www.swensensicecream.com

www.facebook.com/SwensensPH

#Swensen's #SM North Edsa #Ice Cream #Mall of Asia #Coit Tower

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edmturnmeon · 5 years

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It’s good to be back in Thailand. We planned our trip to Hua Hin 5 months ago and finally, the day has come. My friends and I are there for holiday and getaway from the heavy work hectic, probably to laidback, chill and relax, in Cantonese we called it as 嘢 (pronounced as ‘hea‘ or ‘h-eh‘).

Whenever we go travel, like our previous trip to Phuket, we always make an early booking to avoid complication, expensive airfares & hiking room prices.

There are many other attractions and sightseeing in Hua Hin but we are only able to visit 5 places during our 5 days trip in Hua Hin. All will be revealed in the journal after the jump.

Grilled Pork Rib – Food Hunting at Tamarind Market Hua Hin

In Hua Hin, the most popular things to do here is food hunting. There are many night markets and food bazaars in the city. Cicada Market and Tamarind Market are among the most visited market if you are going for dinner or supper, both are located next to each other.

We actually preferred the foods from Tamarind Market rather than Cicada Market because of overpriced foods and the food taste so-so.

When the night gets dark, many foreigners and traveller’s who are looking for drinks head to Soi Bintabaht Hua Hin Walking Street, one of the Hua Hin most popular nightlife district. The beer is pretty cheap here.

5 Days 4 Nights @ Chalelarn Hotel Hua Hin

Chalelarn Hotel Hua Hin is a great hotel in the city with amazing interior design and architecture giving an authentic Thai feel. I’m feeling so comfortable with my large hotel room although I don’t spend much time in the room. There is a sofa to lay down and relax while enjoying the amazing sea view.

We stayed there for 5 days 4 nights and are very satisfied with the strategic location because it is so convenient and can easily access to 7-11 & Family Mart which takes just a few walks. I don’t have to worry much because I can get drinks & snacks anytime I want.

Chalelarn Hotel is also central to night markets, shopping malls, food stalls, restaurants and bars. It takes about 15 minutes to walk to Soi Bintabaht and can have unlimited access to beers & cocktails.

Let’s get started with my 5 days 4 nights journey of chillax trip at Hua Hin, Thailand.

Day 1 – Exploring Hua Hin

We reached Hua Hin airport at about 11.20am and quickly booked a van to our hotel in Hua Hin, Chalelarn Hotel. It is a bargain with just 400baht, we get to sit on a luxury van and it’s a pretty pimped up van actually especially the luxury interior and in-car entertainment system.

We checked in at Chalelarn Hotel, put all our bags & luggage in our room and then headed straight to a food stall opposite our hotel and had our first lunch in Hua Hin. After having lunch, we went back to the hotel to check out the rooftop swimming pool and chill area. The view at the rooftop at Chalelarn Hotel is breathtaking, giving an amazing view of Hua Hin town and the beach.

With muscle feeling a bit stiff, I then went for an authentic Thai massage just next to the hotel. I have to wear oversized clothes. The massaging technique is very relaxing and the Thai girl who is massaging me is pretty but lack of strength. Thai massage cost about 200 baht.

Then we all headed back to the room for rest, and watch Batman Returns on TV. At about 7.30pm, we have a break at the hotel lobby and then got on a tuk tuk for BBQ buffet dinner.

Heading to Hua Hin’s most popular nightlife district – Soi Bintabaht Walking Street

After dinner at about 10pm, we headed to Soi Bintabaht Hua Hin for a short drink. I ordered the wrong drink for myself, Long Island Tea cost about 200baht++ which is expensive compared to other cocktails. We call it a night and back to the hotel. I was so tired, have a quick bath and load up my sleep playlist and go to bed. I have a good sleep in my hotel room because of the peaceful environment, 0% noise pollution.

Day 2 – Sightseeing in Hua Hin

If you think there is nothing to do in Hua Hin, you’re totally wrong. There are plenty of activities, sightseeing and things to do in Hua Hin. The one day trip to attractions here is quite familiar with the one in Phuket. Some location will take a couple of minutes, some might even take a few hours to reach, make sure to ask for a tour guide or the hotel receptionist.

We quickly planned for one day trip to 5 attractions and outdoor activities. This includes a visit to Hua Hin Railway Station, Pineapple Club, The Venezia Hua Hin, Khao Luang Cave and an unnamed flee market in Phetchaburi.

Khao Luang Cave

A cave located at Khao Luang Cave Phetchaburi with the temple in the cave. There are Buddha statues and praying avatar once you reached the base of the cave. The cave is great for photo shooting and selfie. There are other caves in Hua Hin but Khao Luang cave is just an hour journey from Hua Hin, while other caves like Phraya Nakhon Cave, Kaeo Cave takes a few hours to travel, so we skipped it.

The Venezia Hua Hin

Venezia is a Venice theme small amusement park and attraction to visit in Hua Hin and probably worth listed in your one-day trip plan. You will need tickets to enter the place. There are many activities which are suitable for children and adults such as the gondola, 3D gallery, upside down gallery and many more.

I had a lot of fun and we spend about an hour and a half exploring Venezia.

Pineapple Club Shopping Area

I’m not sure if the name Pineapple Club is correct but here you can shop from anything from souvenirs, clothes and eating out. I bought one T-shirt for just 80baht at the shop here and the price is pretty reasonable and cheap.

After visiting all the sightseeing location, we headed to the Tamarind Market for dinner. The concept here is similar to the one in Malaysia but with better quality, find a place to sit, and then order the food.

Tamarind Market

There are a lot of foods, drinks and deserts plus live music performance singing in English and Thai. A great place to have dinner and supper while relaxing.

Tamarind gets crowded on Saturday night as many tourists and the locals came here to have a fast grab of good food.

After the dinner, it’s night time and we head over again at one of the bars at Soi Bintabaht for a drink or two. The next day is the most exciting day of all during our stay here in Hua Hin.

Day 3 – Offroad Adventure @ Siam Milsim

We actually booked for ATV ride and airsoft shooting at Siam Milsim (known as Siam Military Simulation). The staffs there are very friendly and helpful. For about 2800 baht, we get to ride a Can-Am 1000cc ATV. That is the most powerful ATV I’ve ever ride since Phuket.

With 6 ATVs, we headed for an offroad adventure at the Rocky Mountain, where we have to go through hard terrain. It was a pretty bumpy ride but an amazing experience. After the offroad adventure, we headed back to Siam Milsim, took a short break and then started the Airsoft Shooting.

https://www.ivanyolo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/siam-milsim-hua-hin-atv-ivanyolo.mp4

Thanks to Siam Milsim for such a great outdoor adventure! If you are planning to visit Hua Hin soon, this is a must visit attraction for the children & adults. They are opening a new branch in Chiangmai soon. Visit Siam Milsim on Facebook to find out more details.

They even recorded all the moments with the Go-Pro camera for their customers, it’s edited and was sent over to us via email. Guess I will be doing a full review for this soon. Stay tuned.

I was too tired. I took a rest at the hotel to level my new Ragnarok M Archer/Hunter while others went for a walk at the shopping mall. The WiFi connection is pretty bad in the room as it keeps disconnecting, I have trouble doing my leveling up routine for my new Ragnarok M character.

Dinner at Cicada Market, food was so so some really unpolite and lazy foreigner but at least he said ‘excuse me’. We took a walk at Hua Hin Market but it’s nothing much to see here.

Seems like the night is getting late, we headed to Panama Club, in Soi for short drink. Panama Club in Hua Hin is actually an open-air club with a DJ spinning Tribal House, which suits the bar name and environment. We had a 5 minutes drink and then headed back to the hotel to chill out the night at the rooftop.

I was levelling my character again with 2 mobile phones this time. It was pretty fast from level 1 – 45++ with a mentor, keep consuming potions and completing all the main quests.

Bar hopping in nightlife district such in Hua Hin is recommended here if you want to explore those pubs and bars. I can see a lot of foreigners accompanied by girls either sitting at the bar or walking back to the hotel. Well, the story after that is none of my business. LOL.

Day 4 – Free & Easy

Day 1 Flashback – Taking break with an iced cold banana icecream at Swensen’s in Hua Hin

It was a free and easy day, we actually accomplished all our activities and nothing much to do and just to chill and relax. The hotel WiFi connection was bad when more people are using it.

Nothing much going on on the 4th day, we decided to rent a scooter from bike rental in Hua Hin. We explored around Hua Hin for food and later head to our last location, the jetty.

It is so convenient staying at Chalelarn Hotel Hua Hin because they provide all the services, anything you need from airport transfers, tour attractions to bike & car rental. Just head over the counter and ask the receptionist.

Day 5 Back To Real World

Probably the last day at Hua Hin and get ready at 8am at Chalelarn Hotel lobby and waited for our transfer to Hua Hin airport. Hotel to airport transfer cost about 400 baht which is cheap, the price might change without notice.

We reached Kuala Lumpur early at about 2.10pm, have our lunch at KLIA2, smoke and headed back home in a taxi, back to the real world.

Overall travel expenses for my 5 days 4 nights to Hua Hin is 7000baht.

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Hua Hin Chill & Relax, A Getaway Trip in Thailand

It’s good to be back in Thailand. We planned our trip to Hua Hin 5 months ago and finally, the day has come.

Hua Hin Chill & Relax, A Getaway Trip in Thailand It's good to be back in Thailand. We planned our trip to Hua Hin 5 months ago and finally, the day has come.

#Hua Hin Trip #Siam Milsim #Siam Milsim ATV #Siam Milsim Offroad ATV #Soi Bintabaht

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coolivanyolo · 5 years

Text

Whenever we go travel, like our previous trip to Phuket, we always make an early booking to avoid complication, expensive airfares & hiking room prices.

There are many other attractions and sightseeing in Hua Hin but we are only able to visit 5 places during our 5 days trip in Hua Hin. All will be revealed in the journal after the jump.

Grilled Pork Rib – Food Hunting at Tamarind Market Hua Hin

We actually preferred the foods from Tamarind Market rather than Cicada Market because of overpriced foods and the food taste so-so.

5 Days 4 Nights @ Chalelarn Hotel Hua Hin

Let’s get started with my 5 days 4 nights journey of chillax trip at Hua Hin, Thailand.

Day 1 – Exploring Hua Hin

Then we all headed back to the room for rest, and watch Batman Returns on TV. At about 7.30pm, we have a break at the hotel lobby and then got on a tuk tuk for BBQ buffet dinner.

Heading to Hua Hin’s most popular nightlife district – Soi Bintabaht Walking Street

Day 2 – Sightseeing in Hua Hin

Khao Luang Cave

The Venezia Hua Hin

I had a lot of fun and we spend about an hour and a half exploring Venezia.

Pineapple Club Shopping Area

Tamarind Market

There are a lot of foods, drinks and deserts plus live music performance singing in English and Thai. A great place to have dinner and supper while relaxing.

Tamarind gets crowded on Saturday night as many tourists and the locals came here to have a fast grab of good food.

After the dinner, it’s night time and we head over again at one of the bars at Soi Bintabaht for a drink or two. The next day is the most exciting day of all during our stay here in Hua Hin.

Day 3 – Offroad Adventure @ Siam Milsim

https://www.ivanyolo.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/siam-milsim-hua-hin-atv-ivanyolo.mp4

They even recorded all the moments with the Go-Pro camera for their customers, it’s edited and was sent over to us via email. Guess I will be doing a full review for this soon. Stay tuned.

Dinner at Cicada Market, food was so so some really unpolite and lazy foreigner but at least he said ‘excuse me’. We took a walk at Hua Hin Market but it’s nothing much to see here.

I was levelling my character again with 2 mobile phones this time. It was pretty fast from level 1 – 45++ with a mentor, keep consuming potions and completing all the main quests.

Day 4 – Free & Easy

Day 1 Flashback – Taking break with an iced cold banana icecream at Swensen’s in Hua Hin

It was a free and easy day, we actually accomplished all our activities and nothing much to do and just to chill and relax. The hotel WiFi connection was bad when more people are using it.

Nothing much going on on the 4th day, we decided to rent a scooter from bike rental in Hua Hin. We explored around Hua Hin for food and later head to our last location, the jetty.

Day 5 Back To Real World

We reached Kuala Lumpur early at about 2.10pm, have our lunch at KLIA2, smoke and headed back home in a taxi, back to the real world.

Overall travel expenses for my 5 days 4 nights to Hua Hin is 7000baht.

hdr

fbt

hdr

dav

bsh

hdr

Hua Hin Chill & Relax, A Getaway Trip in Thailand It's good to be back in Thailand. We planned our trip to Hua Hin 5 months ago and finally, the day has come.

#Hua Hin Trip #Siam Milsim #Siam Milsim ATV #Siam Milsim Offroad ATV #Soi Bintabaht

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theconservativebrief · 6 years

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DETROIT, Michigan — After Hillary Clinton lost the Rust Belt to Donald Trump, some Democrats argued that it would take machismo to win back white, blue-collar men. But this year’s midterm election looks set to prove them wrong. In 2018, it’s women who are poised to deliver the region for Democrats.

Women candidates like Gretchen Whitmer, the Democrat expected to make it to the governor’s mansion; Mari Manoogian, a Democrat running for state representative; and Mallory McMorrow, also a Democrat, running for the state Senate are all on the ballot in Michigan, the heart of the Rust Belt. And all have a strong shot at winning.

Whitmer is up by 12 points in the polls against Republican Bill Schuette. She’s running on competence and follow-through in a state where Republicans have neglected key infrastructure — one of her campaign messages is “Fix the Damn Roads.”

“What people in Michigan want is someone who does what they say they’re going to do, who is real and stays focused on the issues that matter to families,” Whitmer told me at a Dearborn campaign event earlier this month. “It’s not about macho, it’s about getting things done.”

Whitmer and other women running are showing that bringing their experiences as women to the campaign trail doesn’t have to be “identity politics,” at least not the way critics use the term. They’re pitching themselves as different from what’s gone before, in ways that include, but aren’t limited to, their gender.

“For me, it’s about more than just being a woman,” the 26-year-old Manoogian told me about her run for the statehouse. “It’s about being a young woman and a product of the community.”

Voters — especially women clamoring for a change from Trump — are listening.

“I’m tired of the masculine leadership,” said Kim Boudreau Smith, a Birmingham, Michigan business coach who didn’t vote for Clinton in 2016, when Manoogian and McMorrow visited her home on an October canvassing outing. “We really need a lot, a lot of changes.”

In the wake of the 2016 election, many pundits coalesced around one explanation for Trump’s win: He’d been unexpectedly successful at pulling white working-class voters away from the Democratic Party, especially in areas of Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania that had gone for Obama in 2008 and 2012.

“In the end, the bastions of industrial-era Democratic strength among white working-class voters fell to Mr. Trump,” wrote Nate Cohn in the New York Times, under the headline, “Why Trump Won: Working-Class Whites.”

As those surprised by Trump’s victory continued to dissect the election, many focused on a particular slice of white, working-class voters: men in the Rust Belt who worked in (or who had recently lost) manufacturing jobs.

President Trump introduces Ken Wilson, an employee of H&K Equipment, to supporters at a rally in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, on January 18, 2018. Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

“If there’s such a thing as a Trump Democrat,” Edward McClelland wrote in an op-ed at the Washington Post, “he’s exemplified by Bill Peek, a UAW member who worked 41 years for General Motors at the Saginaw Central Foundry.” He quoted Peek praising Trump’s toughness — “All of our businesses should be penalized if they move their plants overseas. He’s gonna put his foot down.”

“He’s ahead of Clinton in my book,” Peek told McClelland. “He’s a businessman. If anybody’s gonna get us out of here and get us back on our feet like it should be, he’s the one.”

McClelland wasn’t the only one to focus on post-industrial Michigan to explain Trump’s win. For a 2017 Atlantic story calling on the Democratic Party to recommit to the white working class, Franklin Foer spent time in Macomb County, outside Detroit.

“Once upon a time, Macomb was a testament to the force of the New Deal, a vision of middle-class life made possible by the fruits of American industry,” Foer wrote. “But over the years, Macomb grew distant from the party, and then furious with it.”

Trump beat Clinton by 12 percentage points in Macomb, and Foer uses the county as a springboard for the argument that Clinton lost the election in part because she paid too much attention to the ideals of the “cultural left” — which seeks “the validation of minorities and women in the eyes of the national culture” — at the expense of the “economic left” whose populism was more appealing to working-class white voters.

Foer doesn’t believe Democrats necessarily need male candidates to appeal to the disaffected of Macomb — his example of the party’s potential populist future is Elizabeth Warren. But he does argue that Democrats may have been focusing too much (or at least in the wrong way) on gender and racial justice, thus alienating voters who don’t like hearing about such things.

And he quotes Bernie Sanders’s now-famous post-election criticism of identity politics (and, by extension, of the Clinton campaign): “It is not good enough for someone to say, ‘I’m a woman! Vote for me!’”

The message of much analysis of the 2016 election, then, is as follows: Hillary Clinton, the first woman presidential nominee from a major party, focused too much on her own gender and on “cultural” issues generally, at the expense of the issues that really matter to white working-class voters in places like Michigan, and especially white, working-class men.

Donald Trump, meanwhile, was the macho man the Rust Belt craved. To beat him and his ilk, Democrats should feed that craving — either with white, male candidates (Joe Biden comes up a lot) or, at the very least, by not talking so much about gender and race.

But a look at Michigan reveals the shortcomings of this narrative. It’s possible to talk both about so-called cultural issues and about economics — and it’s possible to talk about the importance of women in politics without saying it’s the only thing that matters. (Something that, it’s worth noting, Clinton never did.)

The women running in Michigan aren’t saying, “I’m a woman! Vote for me!” But they are campaigning on their unique experience, which includes their gender. And rather than recoil in horror from “identity politics,” voters are seeing something appealingly different.

In 2013, when Whitmer was the minority leader of the Michigan State Senate, Republicans backed a bill that required women to purchase an additional insurance rider if they wanted coverage for abortion. The bill contained no exception for pregnancy resulting from rape.

In explaining her “no” vote, Whitmer told a personal story she had never shared publicly before.

Gretchen Whitmer speaks with community members and organizers in Detroit, Michigan on December 19, 2017. Ali Lapetina for The Washington Post via Getty Images

“Over 20 years ago I was a victim of rape,” she said in a speech to the state Senate. “If this were law then, and I had become pregnant, I would not be able to have coverage because of this.”

“I am not the only woman in our state that has faced that horrible circumstance,” Whitmer went on. “I am not enjoying talking about it. It’s something I’ve hidden for a long time, but I think you need to see the face of the women that you are impacting by this vote today.”

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Despite Whitmer’s emotional speech, the measure passed. “I bared my soul to the world and it didn’t make a single difference in the vote,” Whitmer told me on the way to a rally with Bernie Sanders in Ann Arbor this month. “I went to bed incredibly depressed that night.”

But soon, she said, women and men around the state began calling and emailing her office, and posting on Facebook, to tell their own stories.

“We were just overwhelmed by the enormous supportive reaction,” she said. “I didn’t change that vote that day, but I added my voice to a conversation that was long overdue.”

The moment in some ways anticipated the spread of the #MeToo movement, to which Whitmer contributed last year with a video she posted on Facebook.

“I shared my story of sexual assault during a tough debate at the Capitol,” she says in the video. “But I did it because women’s voices weren’t being heard.”

Whitmer has also been outspoken about the sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. On the day Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that Kavanaugh had assaulted her when both were in high school, Whitmer tweeted simply, “I believe Dr. Ford.”

“Anyone who’s a survivor knows it’s a lifelong scar you carry,” Whitmer told me. “It’s painful to see another woman discounted,” she added, “but it’s also something that added more energy to the work that I’m doing as a candidate.”

There was a time when talking about something like sexual assault was considered dangerous for female candidates.

“For women historically, the challenge has been that the expectations of candidates and officeholders have aligned more often with masculine traits and masculine areas of expertise,” said Kelly Dittmar, an assistant professor of political science at Rutgers University and co-author of the book A Seat at the Table: Congresswomen’s Perspectives on Why Their Representation Matters.

“I think that’s changing this year,” she said. “Women are really pushing the boundaries.”

Women candidates in this election cycle are pioneering a new way of running for office, Maeve Coyle, deputy director of campaign communications for Emily’s List, which supports pro-choice Democratic women and has endorsed Whitmer, told me.

“They’re not shying away from their personal stories, and they’re not following any specific formula to what a candidate should or shouldn’t look like,” Coyle said. “We have candidates all across the country who are kind of just throwing the playbook out of the window.”

That doesn’t mean they’re saying voters should cast their ballots based on gender alone. Rather, Dittmar explained, women candidates like Whitmer are saying, “gender is among the value-added pieces of me that I bring. It’s not just being a woman, it’s living my life as a woman and all of the experiences that brings.”

Whitmer isn’t the only Michigan candidate taking this approach. For Mari Manoogian, a former State Department employee and Birmingham native running for the state House of Representatives there, gender is just one factor she believes gives her a unique perspective on her state’s problems.

Michigan State House of Representatives candidate Mari Manoogian in Birmingham, Michigan, on October 19, 2018. Anna North/Vox

The issues facing Michigan, from education to health care to the environment, would benefit from fresh ideas, and one way to introduce those, Manoogian says, “would be having a different kind of representation, whether that’s young people, or women, or homegrown people.”

“That’s, to me, why I think it’s really important to me to have diverse leadership,” she said.

For McMorrow, a 32-year-old industrial designer who’s worked for Mazda and Mattel, 2016 was a wake-up call that more women needed to get involved in politics. “It wasn’t just that Trump got elected, it’s that we had somebody who was openly bragging about sexual assault get elected.”

“That was really a push that got a lot of people in,” she said, speaking of the unprecedented numbers of women running for office in the wake of the 2016 election. “But now I think the reasons we’ve all stayed in and found success have been very different.”

She believes she brings something new to the table in Michigan, but it’s as much about her background as her gender. “My skill set as an industrial designer and the way that I think about solving problems is gravely missing from our political process,” she said.

Manoogian, McMorrow, and Whitmer are spending plenty of time talking with voters about issues that cut across gender. All have promised to work to fix the state’s pothole-ridden roads. All have pledged to help clean up the water — the state, still reeling from the Flint water crisis, now faces another potential threat to citizens’ health as toxic chemicals called PFAS have been found in water consumed by more than 1.5 million residents.

“Who the governor is impacts our lives every single day, from when we turn on the tap water and brush our teeth, to when we drive our roads to take our kids to school, to the schools that they attend,” Whitmer said in a speech at the Arab American Chamber of Commerce in Dearborn on October 19.

Polls suggest that, at least in Michigan, women candidates’ pitches are working on voters. Though her margin has shrunk in some polls, Whitmer is favored to beat her Republican opponent, Bill Schuette, who has the endorsement of President Trump.

Michigan, where Republican Gov. Rick Snyder is departing due to term limits, was one of the top states targeted for pickup this year by the Democratic Governors’ Association. Snyder is unpopular because of his handling of the crisis in Flint, and voters may be soured on Republicans as a result. But the Democrats also like their chances due to Whitmer’s strengths as a candidate.

“You’ve got to run the campaign that is authentic to you,” said David Turner, deputy communications director for the Democratic Governors Association. “She is clearly comfortable in her own skin, she knows exactly why she’s running, who she’s running for, and what she’s going to do to help them.”

Meanwhile, Democrats hope to gain control of the Michigan House of Representatives, and believe they may have a shot at the state Senate as well — and women candidates are a big reason why. Democrats are running a woman candidate in 10 of the top 13 target races in the House, according to the Detroit News, and in seven of the nine top races in the Senate. Among these key races are Manoogian’s, against Republican David Wolkinson for an open Republican seat, and McMorrow’s, against Republican incumbent Marty Knollenberg.

Michigan State House of Representatives candidate Mari Manoogian, left, and Michigan State Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow, right, canvassing in Birmingham, Michigan, on October 19, 2018. Anna North/Vox

In some cases, Democratic women have been able to appeal to groups and voters across the aisle. Republican Women for Progress, a PAC started by Republican women who supported Clinton in the 2016 election, has endorsed two Democratic women from Michigan, Haley Stevens and Elissa Slotkin, for Congress. The endorsement “was inspired by us talking to Republican women in these districts where they said there was just no way that they could vote for the Republican,” Meghan Milloy, co-founder of Republican Women for Progress, told the Detroit Metro Times.

“We think the best thing that we can do for the party and for the country right now is to make sure there are good women — Democrat or Republican — that are elected to office and who can serve as a check on this administration and on the president,” she added.

It’s not just Michigan; around the Rust Belt and the Midwest, Democrats are betting on women to win. In Minnesota, Ilhan Omar is favored to become one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress. In Pennsylvania, a record eight women, seven of them Democrats, are running for congressional seats. In Ohio, women make up 44 of 99 Democratic candidates for the state House of Representatives, and seven of 17 candidates for state Senate. Six of them recently got together to form Ohio Women Lead, a group that has produced a video ad and is working on get out the vote efforts.

“In prior elections, women may have been less likely to talk on the campaign trail about what it’s like to be a mom and balance family and work,” Rep. Kristin Boggs, who is leading the group, told the Columbus Dispatch. “With these candidates, our families have been such a motivating factor about why they’ve gotten into the election. They are actively talking about it, using it to connect with other women who are just as frustrated with the state of affairs.”

Meanwhile, across the country, women likely voters are favoring Democrats at even higher rates than usual. In a September survey, women in Michigan supported Democrats by more than 20 percentage points.

Historically, women tend to vote their party, not their gender, Dittmar said. However, there is evidence that having a woman on the ballot can increase women’s enthusiasm and engagement in the election, if they share her party, she added. “I do think that we are seeing that this year.”

One woman who’s planning on voting for a Democratic woman is Smith, the Michigan business coach, who said, “Gretchen has my vote big-time.”

“I’m not going to just go vote because all women are running,” she explained. “It takes the right women.”

Other Michigan voters echoed her views.

“I think whatever gender that supports the community, that is the gender we should go with, whether woman or man,” Vann Glover told me as she shopped at Detroit’s outdoor Eastern Market on October 20.

“But it’s always good to see a woman take the job,” she added. “I think we’re a little more sensitive to people and their needs.”

A loyal Democrat, Glover said she planned to support Whitmer in November.

Jeanne Royal, meanwhile, was still doing her research for the midterm election, she told me at Eastern Market. But she was planning to vote this year for the first time ever.

“I used to have a view that my vote doesn’t matter. But I see how a couple little votes didn’t matter and we got stuck with — you know,” she said, laughing.

Royal was excited to see a potential “year of the woman” this year.

“I like that, that’s awesome,” she told me, pumping her fist in approval. “Women have been oppressed throughout civilization,” she said. “It’s good to see that my species is rising.”

In the wake of the 2016 election, some analysts assumed that beating Republicans would require copying Trump’s appeal to white working-class masculinity. But Trump didn’t just run as a macho man. He also ran as a change candidate — a business executive and TV star who pledged to “drain the swamp” in Washington. Two years later, the candidates best placed to run on change may be not men, but women.

It’s not just women who think so. McMorrow said one male voter recently told her, “I voted for Trump because he’s different, and I’m going to vote for you because you’re different.”

Hillary Clinton failed to carry Michigan for a number of reasons, some of them unknowable. There was a decades-long history of sexist news coverage that helped convince American voters she was “unlikeable.” There were her own admitted shortcomings as a politician. There was her failure to spend much time in the state in the general election campaign.

But Clinton, despite her historic status as the first woman major-party nominee, also looked to many voters like business as usual — the wife of a former president, she struggled to win over those who opposed his policies. And when Trump was caught on tape bragging about his ability to grab women “by the pussy,” he was able to bring up Bill Clinton’s allegations of sexual assault, even bringing some of Clinton’s accusers to a debate.

Whitmer has made her career in state government and is familiar to many voters. Still, she, McMorrow, and Manoogian likely represent more of a departure than Clinton ever could — especially now, when women are watching the fallout from Trump’s election.

This year, Dittmar said, “You’re seeing women say, I can’t afford to sit on the sidelines because of what is happening in politics.” That’s a different environment than the one that prevailed in 2016 — and it might produce a different result.

Whitmer, McMorrow, Manoogian and others aren’t campaigning solely on their gender, or on opposition to Trump, or on #MeToo. But they are campaigning on offering voters something different than what’s gone before.

Mari Manoogian at her campaign headquarters on October 19, 2018. Anna North/Vox

“When I think about Mallory or I think about this phenomenal ticket that’s come together,” Whitmer told me, “we all got here not because we had this master plan, but because we were tired of the status quo.”

“We all came from different directions,” she said, “but I think the similarities are, we grit our teeth and do the work.”

Original Source -> Trump won the Rust Belt with macho. These women hope to win with change.

via The Conservative Brief

#IFTTT #The Conservative Brief

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veronikahradilova · 6 years

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At Well-Paying Law Firms, a Low-Paid Corner

WHEELING, W.Va. - The nation’s biggest law firms are building a second tier of workers, stripping spend and prestige from one of the most coveted jobs within the company planet. Make no error: They are full-fledged lawyers, not paralegals, and they do the identical operate regular legal associates do. However they earn significantly less than half the pay of their counterparts - generally about $60,000 - and they know in the outset they will in no way make companion. Some of the lawyers who have taken these new jobs are putting the most effective face on their decreased status. “To me there’s not substantially of a distinction amongst what I’m performing now and what I would be undertaking inside a partner-track job,” said Mark Thompson, 29, who accepted a non-partner-track post at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe when he could not find a traditional associate job. “I still feel like I’m performing pretty high-level operate - writing briefs, visiting client sites, prepping witnesses for hearings.” Asked whether he hopes someday to switch onto the partner track, given the higher spend for this identical operate, he is diplomatic. “I’m leaving all my possibilities open,” he stated. Lawyers like Mr. Thompson are part of a fundamental shift within the 50-year-old organization model for big firms.

Continue reading the main story FEATURED COMMENT Joseph San Francisco Nobody has told the law schools that the $160,000 jobs are dying out. Tuition has skyrocketed and wages are collapsing. Take it from a 2007 graduate, get thee to plumbing school. 184 COMMENTS Besides making less, these associates operate fewer hours and travel much less than those on the grueling companion track, making these jobs more family-friendly. And this new system probably prevents jobs from going offshore. But as has been the case in other industries, a two-tier system threatens to breed resentments among workers in both tiers, given disparities in pay and workload expectations. And as these programs expand to more and more firms, they may eliminate many in the lucrative partner-track positions for which law students suffer so significantly debt. Mr. Thompson is one of 37 lawyers in Orrick’s new program, which is based in this small Rust Belt city an hour southwest of Pittsburgh. An international firm headquartered in San Francisco, Orrick is one particular of a handful of law firms, including WilmerHale and McDermott Will & Emery, experimenting with ways to control escalating billing rates. “For a long time the wind was at the back of these big law firms,” said William D. Henderson, a historian at Indiana University-Bloomington. “They could grow, expand and raise rates, and clients just went along with absorbing the high overhead and lack of innovation. But eventually clients started to resist, especially when the economy soured.” For decades, firms used essentially the exact same model: charging increasingly higher rates for relatively routine operate done by junior associates, whose entry-level salaries in major markets have now been bid up to $160,000 (plus bonus, of course), a sum reported by the big law schools. Even under pressure to reduce rates, firms are reluctant to lower starting salaries unilaterally for fear of losing the top talent - and their reputations. “Everyone acknowledges that $160,000 is too substantially, but they don’t want to back down because that signals they’re just a midmarket firm,” stated Mr. Henderson. “It’s a big game of chicken.” So now firms are copying some manufacturers - which have similarly inflexible pay because of union contracts - by making a separate class of lower-paid workers.

Photo Heather Boylan Clark and Mark Thompson took the nonpartner track at the Fort Bend County attorney, Herrington & Sutcliffe. Credit Jeff Swensen for The New York Times At law firms, these positions are generally called “career associates” or “permanent associates.” They pay about $50,000 to $65,000, according to Michael D. Bell, a managing principal at Fronterion, which advises law firms on outsourcing. These nonglamorous jobs are going to nonglamorous cities. Orrick moved its back-office operations to a former metal-stamping factory here in 2002, and in late 2009 began hiring career associates. Costs of living are significantly cheaper in Wheeling than in San Francisco, Tokyo or its 21 other locations, saving $6 million to $10 million annually, according to Will A. Turani, Wheeling’s director of operations.

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