#Nike spokesperson

[jihyoruri]

❨ .˳⁺⁎˚ ﹏ ꒰ఎ ★ ໒꒱ ﹋ ˚⁎⁺˳ . ❩˖ . the playgirl.

#✿! . . . group!- ive ( starship).

#✿! . . . birthday!- n/a.n/a.2002

#✿! . . .height!- 5’7

#✿! . . . mtbi!- INTP

#✿! . . . relationship status!- single | exs!- yuna, haewon, isa, winter

#✿! . . . family!- mom, step dad, little sister(nwjns!yn)

#✿! . . . traits!- insensitive, a tease, chill, quiet, confident, emotionally unstable

#✿! . . . close friends!- aeri (giselle-aespa), somi (soloist), keehoe(p1harmoney) , yunjin (lesserafim), soyeon (gidle)

#✿! . . . brand endorsements!- vivienne westwood, calvin klein, nike, chromehearts, soju commercial spokesperson, tiffany&co

#✿! . . . fav artists!- chase atlantic, frank ocean, DPR LIVE, arctic monkeys, eyedress, mac demarco

#✿! . . . songs that describe her!- heartless (the weekend), heartbeat (childish gambino), mind games (sickick), daddy issues (the neighborhood), high enough (k.flay), slow down (chase atlantic), house of balloons (the weekend), nervous (the neighborhood)

#✿! . . . fav movies!- scott pilgrim vs the world, superbad, kickass, 21 jump street

#✿! . . . biggest dream!- have someone tattoo her name on their forehead

#✿! . . . most cherished possessions!- her star ring, her dirty vans that people all through her life have drawn on, her old walkman that used to be her step dads

#wow!yn #ONE DOWN TWO MORE TO GO‼️

[sunsetkerr]

THE WORLD CHAMPS | s.kerr

summary: you are about to play the game of your life and sam is right there on the sidelines cheering for you. [1.6k words]

pairing: netball!reader x sam kerr

notes: netball!reader is my new favourite thing

YOU KNEW THAT AUGUST would be a busy month for you and sam. she and the matildas had just progressed out of the group stages in the world up, but so had you. 

at 18 you received the call-up to play for the australian diamonds netball team. you played in the constellation cup against the silver ferns and came out on top, a new name in national netball; people loved you.

you played through the year with the diamonds, often playing with your state team too. but in the january after your first cup, you tore your acl. only 19, people thought you were done for with the way you went down. it had the nation talking about netball, about how its rising star had fallen from the sky.

an estimated 6-9 months in recovery became 12 and you hadn't picked up a ball since; resenting the sport that you loved. once cleared to return to netball, you were eager to return, to show everyone they had no reason to doubt you; that you would play for australia again.

the diamonds kept you in the reserves your first season back in 2015, too nervous about your leg. you got to watch the diamonds take home the world cup on home soil. whilst you couldn't play for the nation, you played at suncorp level once again- this time, smashing your scoring record. you shot 653 goals in the regular season for the thunderbirds, beating your personal best of 597.

you were back and netball fans around the nation knew it.

the next season you were back working with the diamonds, making your way towards one goal- playing in the world cup.

when it came around, you were picked in the starting seven- shooting goals for your country. you broke your personal best again, 653 becoming 672. you were approaching most goals scored ever by a singular player.

but second place smacked you and your girls harshly back into reality, you left with no cup. you left runners up. clips of you crying on the court went viral, your fans knew what that game meant to you. you were broken to lose.

the next year, you were signed to nike. you became a spokesperson for their newest line of netball shoes that they had manufactured and your face was plastered all over the country. billboards, posters, and any advertisement had you on the front.

soon, nike called you to a shoot with all of their major athletes, wanting to showcase the faces of their campaigns; and that’s when you met sam.

your entire world shifted. she was funny, confident, beautiful and smart; and you fell for her straight away. netball and sam were the only two things on your mind.

two months into being friends, she asked you to be her girlfriend.

news outlets were noticing how much time you both started spending together, how you were always in the stands at each others games if they didn’t conflict with the other persons. the instagram stories, being in the background of each others posts. people began to catch on.

but when you scored the winning goal at the 2022 commonwealth games against jamaica, sam and the rest of your teams family rushed the court; and she kissed you right there, on live television.

the secret was out, and you and sam quickly became one of australia’s favourite couples.

you both constantly showed off your unwavering amount of support for each others careers. matilda’s fans adored seeing you in the documentary and revelled in getting a peak into how crazy your life with sam really is. constantly travelling, constantly trying to make time for each other.

you both knew that your careers meant the world to you. you were determined to go back to the world cup in 2023 and win. she wanted to do the same.

but you both always knew what you went home to; each other, and that was enough for you both.

you worked hard to get picked back into the starting seven for the world cup, your coaches noticed your commitment and dedication- you were put in the line up, no questions asked.

you worked through the group stages and through the second stage, then the play-offs. the grand final was now staring you in the eyes, and england would be tough to beat, but you weren't planning on taking it easy on them.

you woke up early to get to the training centre with the girls, letting sam sleep in. you talked tactics, did some drills and watched through some past matches from the cup to talk about focuses for the final. you always got nervous before a big game, but this one had skyrocketed your anxiety.

sam had been called by your teammate ruby, when she found you throwing up in the bathroom for the second time that day.

"you're crazy if you think you're playing, you're obviously not well," her voice crackled through ruby's phone. you knew that you were fine, it was just the nerves- they were knocking you onto your ass.

"you're crazy if you think i'm not," you bit back, sam surprised by the bite in your tone. "i ate heaps at breakfast, and then ran sucicides for 25 minutes, sam" you explained. ruby shot you a look, knowing you were lying to your girlfriend. "i'm fine," you emphasised.

"you need to call it if you're not y/n" she said, sat with her elbows against her knees and her hand over her mouth. sat back in the hotel, she began to bite her nails. knowing that you could be bleeding out, and you would still play in this final. nothing would stop you. they would have to drag you out kicking and screaming.

"would you?" you ask her, eyebrows raised. sam didn't respond, only sitting in guilty silence. sam has played games ill on multiple occasions. through gastro, the flu and covid. you sat by her side every time and knew that, inevitably, she would be walking onto that pitch; too strong willed for her own good. you weren't much better.

"sam?" you called her name.

"no.." she sighed, knowing you were right. "no, i wouldn't" she said. "but even when i was sick i still told you if i was or not, so tell me; are you okay?"

you sighed, resting your head against the tiled walls of the bathroom. "i think it's just nerves," you admitted, "i-" you sighed again- "i'm shitting myself, i'm so nervous."

"baby" she tutted, "you're gonna be great. you've got this in the bag, yeah?"

"don't say that," you shook your head, "we lost to them last time."

it was true. in the group stages, you did- you lost to england.

"yeah, by a fucking point y/n"

"a point that i missed," you felt that loss heavy on your shoulders.

"she contacted you and the ref didn't call it," sam argued.

"i still missed"

"and you're not going to today," she told you, "you're gonna beat that pb, you're 33 off beating it". it was true, you were once again nearing your personal best for most goals in a season. "and i know that you're gonna shoot more than 33 tonight," she smiled.

"you think?" you whispered.

"i know"

and she was right. just as the half time whistle sounded, you had a penalty shot. the crowd cheered as you set up for your shot. sam was starting to stand up in her seat just a row behind the bench. she was cheering louder than anyone else there. you heard her 'come on, y/n' over everyone else in the crowd. macca and alanna sat on either side of sam, mary, hayley and steph there too to cheer you on.

you took a breath, straightened your elbow and shot with one hand, other arm by your side- your signature.

nothing but net.

the crowd went crazy. steph, your goal attack, engulfed you in her embrace. the england defenders congratulated you. you turned to where sam was sat and smile. she was now standing up straight celebrating with her teammates. she held up her first and met your gaze.

you smiled again, pretending to shoot another goal. she whistled out at you and pointed to you. the cameras caught it all. the crowd cheering at your interaction.

australia led at halftime 27-23.

in the last quarter, you were on fire. you shot every goal you went for, and the wheels fell off for england.

when the final whistle sounded, you were a world champ. 

your team defeated england 61-45. your subs rushed the court, so did your coaching staff. you screamed, running to meet your teammates. 

sam watched on as tears streamed down your face. liz, your captain, passed you the trophy as it was brought out for your team. you raised it up, the crowd knowing how special this was for you. after a long journey, you finally got to hold that cup. you looked up into the stands, to find sam. she was crying too, wiping tears from her eyes as macca hugged her. you sent her a smile, tears still streaming down your face as you cried. you blew her a kiss with your other hand, and she caught it, holding up her hand. 

“holy shit!” you shouted over to her. 

“i knew you could do it!” she called back. you laughed at her before being brought back into the moment with your team, only now- you were world champs. 

and even though the title rested on your shoulders, you couldn't wait to go home with sam tonight- you were always a champion to her, title or not.

#one shots . * • . #sam kerr x reader #sam kerr one shot #sam kerr imagine #woso x reader #woso imagine #woso one shot

[republicansaredomesticterrorists]

“Their intentions aren’t exactly a secret. Government programs that attempt to redress decades of racist policies would be eliminated should Trump be elected to a second term. “As President Trump has said, all staff, offices, and initiatives connected to Biden’s un-American policy will be immediately terminated,” Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, told the news outlet.

A top Biden campaign official said Black voters needed to pay close attention to Trump’s plans.

Trump is “making it clear that if he wins in November, he’ll turn his racist record into official government policy, gutting programs that give communities of color economic opportunities and making the lives of Black and brown folks harder,” said former Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.), one of the co-chairs of the Biden campaign. “It’s up to us to stop him.”

The warning comes as polling shows Biden’s level of support from Black voters has slipped. Democratic strategists have some fear about GOP plans to target Black men in the coming election. And they have major fears Black voters could stay home or vote for third-party candidates. Highlighting Trump and Miller’s plans could raise the stakes of the election for Black voters.

Miller, who pushed white nationalism and xenophobia in leaked emails, is at the heart of the effort. America First Legal, the right-wing nonprofit group Miller founded, has filed over a hundred lawsuits against “woke” corporations — like Disney, Mattel and Nike — that it alleges discriminate against white men. These complaints — many of which cite the 1964 Civil Rights Act — are laying the legal framework for Trump’s Justice Department to eliminate programs designed to counter racism, Axios notes.

Jasmine Harris, director of Black media for the Biden-Harris campaign, said the report should worry Black Americans.

“This report, in addition to all of the recent examples of shameless racism by Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans, serves as a warning to Black America: Donald Trump is a selfish and vindictive man who doesn’t give a damn about Black people,” Harris told HuffPost. “He will make our lives worse by using the very laws that the pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement fought for, against us.”

Miller’s group is not alone in the effort to roll back DEI initiatives.

The right-wing think tank Heritage Foundation crafted Project 2025, a sweeping playbook that lists policies and initiatives for the next conservative administration. The initiative is open about its goal to reshape the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. One of the mandates within the playbook is to “reorganize and refocus the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division to serve as the vanguard for this return to lawfulness.”

Trump has affirmed to supporters that he aims make good on his promise to eliminate DEI. “We will terminate every diversity, equity and inclusion program across the entire federal government,” he told a crowd in Rochester, New Hampshire, in January.”

#republican assholes #traitor trump #crooked donald #DEI #Republicans are racist #maga morons #never trump #resist #republican family values #republican values #republican hypocrisy #traitor #Steven miller is a fascist and racist #project 2025

[accio-victuuri]

This will be a short discussion of what I originally planned regarding yibo endorsing national / homegrown brands recently and what it all means when talking about the bigger picture. and by that I mean, the connection between celebrities in CHN & nationalism as well as the increasing tension between CHN and other countries. As much as we all wanna live in a bubble of fandom where it’s all pretty boys & happiness, real life isn’t going that way.

I think Yibo knows that too and it’s influencing his choices. He had a personal experience with this — the whole NIKE fiasco in 2020 definitely was a lesson to him and his team. The risk of endorsing big international brands as a Chinese celebrity is real. It happened before and it may ( or will ) happen again. You never know what issue is going to pop up and suddenly, it’s all gone. We have seen time and again how the CCP can quickly direct these celebrities to sing and dance in whatever tune they like.

Let’s start with the biggest one he signed on to right after the whole nike fiasco. ANTA. It’s on record that as soon as WYB dropped Nike, there was a bidding of sorts on who is the domestic brand that will get him. ANTA wasn’t the highest offer, but he chose them because they are a national brand.

Then the list just goes on. A couple of these are due for renewal this year but just to illustrate which brands he is working with since 2021:

(In no particular order)

Redmi, Lenovo, Youku, Pechoin, Chunzhen, Super X, Bananain, Master Kong Iced Tea, Kelly One, Linsy, Bottled Joy, IKIDE, Helen Keller Glasses, SKG, Stride, Tokit, Chando, Unicharm, Rotai

I could be missing 1 or 2 but it’s a lot. for someone who averages 25-30 brands in a year all holding his name as endorser, the number of domestic ones is a lot.

This trend became more evident when looking at his new endorsements this year (2023):

5 out of the 6 brands are domestic.

It’s the reason why I had the urge to make this post, especially with him being announced as YAYA’s chief spokesperson. Personally, the last domestic brand surge I remember was 2021 and there were a couple of articles written about that. This year, the domestic brands are at it again and tapping celebrities to get more attention. It says a lot that these brands picked Yibo to represent this growth. It’s easy to sign on to a well known brand with a string of high profile endorsers before you, so this is again, a testament to Yibo’s character. He is not afraid to lend his name and reputation to the Nameless/Unknown ( i had to reference it i’m sorry lol ). He takes into consideration not just his growth but also his people, these Chinese companies who are fighting with brand titans.

He is also the go-to choice because his good reputation and appeal to the younger generation.

I think Wang Yibo’s age is more in line with this social group. He is a very positive young man. Recently, Wang Yibo is in the process of transforming from an idol to a powerful actor. He is more in line with the youthfulness of our future brand. (quote from tailing’s president )

I have taken this screenshot from an article by jingdaily that is worth a read. another factor is the general population’s preference as well. whether this is something that yibo & his team is taking into consideration, we don’t know but with the choices they are making i guess the answer is obvious.

This year too, I have noticed a shift in c-ent with celebrities being courted by international brands who thinks it’s safe (for) now to be visible in the CHN market again. I have no beef with these celebrities, you gotta do what you gotta do. International brand deals are hella lucrative and some luxury ones are considered an honor to be a part of. I mean even Yibo is very visible in promoting Chanel.

I get the lure of big brand endorsements but that doesn’t take away the reality of what could happen and that planning ahead is important. Yibo is more capable than people give him credit for. I think a lot of people underestimate his ability to look at a situation and make decisions that will benefit his career in the long run. To put it simply, if and when things go south in the political side of things he is prepared and there won’t be much of a loss in the endorsement side of things. It’s a very smart business move and you can add patriotic points too so that makes it perfect.

Yibo is really the one who walks the talk. This saying really applies to him more than anyone cause that is his essence as a person — you will see the truth in him with what he does. His actions speaks volumes. He will take a stand on what he believes in even if everyone else is going the opposite direction. 🤍

DISCLAIMER: This post is very much about Yibo if you couldn’t already tell, and my observation as a fan. It’s not meant to compare him to other CHN celebrities cause I don’t have the time and interest in making a comparison study of who has the most domestic brand endorsements. If another stan finds this and is somehow offended in behalf of their fave, it’s not my fault. Feel free to make your own post talking about how great your fave is. Thank you!

#wang yibo #i just need to get it out of my brain so here it is #this is not as political as it may seem #it’s more of me gushing about yibo as usual

[catalogercas]

📖

A fic I daydream about writing (which is just a combination of tropes I've seen in other fics rolled into one):

Jamie sees Colin freaking out about kissing Michael on the pitch and comes up with the idea of protecting Colin from being the spokesperson for queer footballers by pitching a bigger story to the press: coach dates his star player.

Roy and Keeley agree to it, and Jamie invites Roy to come to Brazil with them and stay after the Nike shoot so there can be lots of PR stuff of them doing coupley things in Brazil.

This fake dating/PR arrangement obviously leads to OT3.

#Roy x Jamie x Keeley

[sebscore]

I imagine gzd to be considered more of a celebrity than all the other drivers (including lewis)

New front page articles every single day

And ppl would be 100% invested in her love life but I don’t imagine her to be the type to settle down - Hot girl summer everyday

I can imagine the tabloid headlines

Y/N L/N seen getting steamy with billionaire heir (whatshisface) on a yatch in monaco marina!

Y/N L/N spotted on a date with recent Premier League winner (whoever)

Y/N L/N getting cosy with prince of (some made up place because most royals are problematic) at tennis match

AND THE BRAND DEALS!!!!

Every single designer brand you can think of has approached her at least once

-🐻

I def think she’s considered a celebrity outside of racing, but not more than lewis tho 😭 that man has connections spanning from 2007, he’s on a different level ! 💜

she would def be popular with brand, especially the sports ones (nike, adidas, puma, etc) cause she’s a spokesperson for women in motorsport!

#tgd #🐻 :: anon

[ncstalgics]

(  danielle campbell,  cis woman,  she/her  )  —  🎬  just  announced,  carina westwood  is  casted  as  rosalie hale  in  upcoming  twilight  reboot.  the  twenty seven  year  old  is  trending  as  people  are  debating  if  the  a half empty glass of peach flavored wine, designer sneakers placed in a perfect row, an unopened tiffany box tied with a white bow, stacks of self-care books, and silk pajamas  that  they  are  known  for  is  enough  to  make  them  as  good  as  original.  a  quick  google  search  shows  that  their  fans  call  them  sleek,  but  internet  trolls  think  they’re  more  catastrophic.  i  guess  their  newest  interview  for  variety  where  they  talk  about  growing up in a family with three generations of successful actors and athletes.

BASICS:

Name: Carina Eve Westwood Age: 27 Birthday: August 4th (Leo) Sexuality: Heterosexual Marital Status: Single Positive Traits: sleek, outgoing, agreeable, fun-loving, attentive Negative Traits: catastrophic, two-faced, envious, arrogant, emotionally distant Hobbies: Stirring the pot, playing tennis, brunch, people-watching

THE STORY (tw; abandonment, death):

Carina's grandmother was the legendary Elizabeth Westwood ( whom they fondly called "Grandma Bette" ), an icon of an actress from the old days of Hollywood. In fact, there are many Westwoods sprinkled throughout tinsel town's star-studded history. The stain of the Westwood name, however, was her father. He crumbled under his mother's shadow and became a good-for-nothing deadbeat. His wife abandoned him and the kids to save herself from his washed up life. The person who really raised Carina and her brother was Grandma Bette. She loved them as hard as she could and gave the very last years of her life setting up a bright future for them ( and a massive inheritance too ). When she passed of old age, her brother stepped up and continued to raise her. When Carina started to fall for the glitz and glamor of Grandma Bette's Hollywood Life, her brother became her fiercest protector. At 15 years old, Carina landed the role of Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games and the anticipation of the first movie brought her father home, by some miracle. It didn't take long for her to realize that he wasn't here because he loved her, he was here because he wanted to use her newfound fame to pull attention on to himself. That was when she knew she could never trust anyone. The tabloids even took pity on her. Her broken, angry heart couldn't take it. She never wanted to feel so powerless again. After years of hard work and determination, The Hunger Games ended with the fourth and final movie as a global phenomenon when she was 18. She immediately began a much slower-paced project afterwards; partnering with Nike to model their sneakers and became their primary spokesperson for four years. At 21 years old, she took on The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina for two seasons on Netflix and that was when the world saw just how alluring and enticing she'd grown up to be. Whatever the opposite of a saint is, that is what Carina has become. She has made more messes than anyone would dare to count, and she's done it so gracefully under the radar. There was once a point in her life where she was sleeping with one guy, hitting on his brother, and toying with his best friend's desire for her. She has no limitations and doesn't really care whose heart she steps on. After all, she hasn't promised commitment to anyone and she's very straightforward about her endgame. It's not her fault they're just so obsessed with her.

TLDR; Carina's grandma was an old hollywood movie star. her mom left all of them because her dad sucks, which he does because he tried to mooch off of Carina's success as a teenager. It definitely wrecked her life and now she's messy af.

CHARACTER COMPARISONS: Rachel Green (Friends), Veronica Lodge (Riverdale), Kim Possible (Kim Possible), May (A League of Their Own), Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Fallon Carrington (Dynasty).

WC'S:

Rumors (feat. Cardi B) by Lizzo. These are basically all of her old co. stars. At some point or another, there was a rumor that they were dating. There are even a couple tweets out there that are something like "why do all of Carina Westwood's co. stars look at her like this *insert heart eyes photo*". It's probably because they either did date or they slept together or they were just great friends and got along really well. It's kinda up to you!! Peeta Mellark from The Hunger Games. Gale Hawthorne from The Hunger Games. Harvey Kinkle from The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Nick Scratch from The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Jack Chambers from Don't Worry Darling. Oliver Quick from Saltburn. ( Ziggy Thomas, etc ) Be Good to Me by Ashley Tisdale. I imagine there's probably one ex in there that almost went the distance with her but of course it all crashed and burned because Carina can't do commitment all that well. I Forgot That You Existed by Taylor Swift. A rival of hers that keeps popping up in her life at various turns. Carina thinks she's gotten to a point where she forgot that they existed and then something happens where the beef starts up all over again. Me Too by Meghan Trainor. Her housemates. Her entourage. Her girl gang. They entered into the industry at around the same time and they helped keep her sanity together while she was going through all of that mess with her dad. They moved in together a few years ago and got a huge house for all of them to live in. Karma by Taylor Swift. Anyone who likes spilling tea or making messes, she is more than happy to be nosy and include herself. ( Chandler MacQuoid, etc. ) Leavin by Jesse McCartney. Idk what this is but maybe a flirty friendship that doesn't really go anywhere, they just really enjoy being silly and having no consequences to it.

I can expand more than just these ideas, I'd also love to see where you guys want your characters to go and how Carina can help y'all get there. I can't wait to plot with everyone!!

#2000s.intro #muse: carina westwood

[kicksaddictny]

Kevin Durant Signs Lifetime Deal With Nike

According to CNN

Phoenix Suns star forward Kevin Durant signed a lifetime contract with Nike on Friday, according to Boardroom, the media entity he co-owns.

Durant becomes the third basketball star to sign such a contract, behind all-time greats Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Soccer phenomenon Cristiano Ronaldo signed a similar deal in 2016.

Speaking to Boardroom, Durant said, “When I first signed with Nike, I couldn’t have dreamed of how far we’d go in this partnership. We’ve done amazing work creatively and philanthropically. We’ve traveled the world together and built a business that will now last forever.

“I’m excited for the future and honored to be in rare company with this deal.”

The 34-year-old also tweeted about the news, writing, “A true honor to be in the game for life with @Nike.”

When asked to comment on the deal to CNN, a spokesperson for Nike said Boardroom’s description of the arrangement was accurate. Nike did not provide any additional details about the contract.

Durant, a 13-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, has had a relationship with the sportswear company dating back to 2007, his rookie season in the league. So far he has produced 15 editions of KD-branded signature shoes, with a 16th in production.

John Slusher, Nike’s executive vice president of global sports marketing, said to Boardroom of the contract, “As one of the best basketball players in the world, Kevin Durant has been an important part of the Nike family for the past 16 years. We look forward to continuing to serve the next generation of athletes together.”

According to Boardroom, Nike has contributed to Durant’s off-court work through support of the Durant Family Foundation and the player’s youth basketball program.

Durant next takes to the court with the Suns on Saturday in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Nuggets in Denver.

#nike #kevindurant #cnn #kicksaddict

[ukrainenews]

Daily Wrap Up June 28, 2022

Under the cut: Authorities have updated the death toll for the Russian missile strike on the shopping centre in Kremenchuk: at least 20 people were killed and 59 were injured; NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said he is "confident" Finland and Sweden will be able to successfully join NATO after Turkey signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding with Sweden and Finland on Tuesday; Diageo the world's largest spirits maker, will wind down its business operations in Russia over the next six months; Kherson’s mayor, Ihor Kolykhaiev, was arrested by Russian forces on Tuesday, according to an adviser to the mayor, Galina Lyashevskaya; Boris Johnson said G7 leaders agreed to “give Ukrainians the strategic endurance they need to try and shift the dial”.

“Authorities have updated the death toll for the Russian missile strike on the shopping centre in Kremenchuk: at least 20 people were killed and 59 were injured, according to Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.”-via The Guardian

This number will continue to change as rescue efforts go forward. “Authorities estimate that anywhere between 200 to 1,000 people were inside at the time of the strike – 21 people are still missing.”

~

“NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said he is "confident" Finland and Sweden will be able to successfully join NATO after Turkey signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding with Sweden and Finland on Tuesday.

"I'm pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum that addresses Turkey's concerns, including around arms exports, and the fight against terrorism," Stoltenberg said, speaking to journalists in Madrid following the signing of the memorandum.

On Wednesday, allied leaders will then decide whether to invite Finland and Sweden to join NATO, he said, adding after the decision, a ratification process will need to take place in all NATO capitals.

The NATO chief said following the signing of the trilateral memorandum, however, he was "confident" Sweden and Finland becoming NATO members is "something that will take place."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Tuesday welcomed Turkey's decision to support Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership bids, calling it "fantastic news."

"Fantastic news as we kick off the NATO Summit. Sweden and Finland's membership will make our brilliant alliance stronger and safer," Johnson wrote on Twitter.”-via CNN

~

“Diageo (DGE.L), the world's largest spirits maker, will wind down its business operations in Russia over the next six months, it said on Tuesday, becoming the latest Western brand to withdraw.

"Our focus will remain on supporting our employees in the region and providing them with enhanced redundancy terms, while ensuring we comply with local regulations," a Diageo spokesperson said in a statement.

Foreign companies seeking to exit Russia over the war in Ukraine face the prospect of a law being passed in the coming weeks to allow Moscow to seize assets and impose criminal penalties. That has encouraged some businesses to accelerate their departure.

Nike (NKE.N) and Cisco (CSCO.O) announced plans to leave last Thursday. read more

Michelin (MICP.PA) plans to hand over its Russian activities to a new entity under local management by the end of the year, it said on Tuesday, becoming the first Western tyre-maker to withdraw from business in Russia.

However, Diageo, which stopped shipping to and selling goods in Russia in March, will retain a business licence there that requires a number of employees to remain, a source said familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.

Once the process of winding down is complete, Diageo will have fewer than 10 employees in Russia, the source said.

Stocks of non-Russian alcohol have started to dwindle in Russia, hampered by sales suspensions by major Western firms and supply disruptions, leaving Russian consumers with less choice and higher prices.”-via Reuters

~

“Kherson’s mayor, Ihor Kolykhaiev, was arrested by Russian forces on Tuesday, according to an adviser to the mayor, Galina Lyashevskaya.

“They took Igor Kolykhaev” she wrote on Facebook on Tuesday afternoon.

In another post, she wrote Kolykhaiev visited a utility facility when leaving a car, was immediately detained by armed national guards, “most likely the FSB”.

Lyashevskaya said hard drives were seized from computers, safes were opened, and guards searched for documents. During this time, she wrote Kolykhaiev was kept in a separate office, and handcuffed in the presence of armed guards.

After the search, Lyashevskaya said the mayor was put “on the Z bus and taken away”.

Lyashevskaya wrote, “A few days ago, Kolykhaiev received a letter from the ‘newly-appointed’ mayor, where he invited him to discuss the future ‘organisation of interaction’. For refusing to meet, he threatened with arrest. Kolykhaiev did not go.W e are all in danger. Everything is under attack. I fear for the life of Igor Kolykhaiev.”-via The Guardian

~

“Boris Johnson said G7 leaders agreed to “give Ukrainians the strategic endurance they need to try and shift the dial”.

Speaking with Sky News from Germany, as the G7 summit draws to a close, the UK prime minister said this is what the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, “wants us to do”.

Earlier, the chief of general staff, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, said Britain is facing its “1937 moment”.

When asked of Sanders’ remarks and whether Britain is preparing for war with Russia, Johnson replied: “I don’t think it will come to that.” Johnson added that leaders were “clearly” working very hard to confine the conflict.

Johnson said, “Putin and the Kremlin are going to try to widen the conflict, and say this is something between Nato and Russia. That’s not it at all. This is about an invasion of an independent, sovereign country. It’s about the west and all the friends of Ukraine giving them the support that they need to protect themselves”.”-via The Guardian

~

#Daily Update #Ukraine #Russia #War in Ukraine #kherson #Kremenchuk #G7 #NATO #Turkey #Sweden #Finland

[toshima-division]

Lillian's Thoughts on Aoyama Division

Tomi Chōten

"Tomi Chōten, also known as 'High Class'. Subject is a self-proclaimed 'socialite', making a living mingling with other members of high society. Subject was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and has experienced little to no hardships due to his family's wealth and status. His mother, Okawa Chōten, works for Chuohku as one of our spokespersons. Like Kaori-san and Mei-san mentioned, despite the passion in all of her speeches, it is quite obvious to the trained ear that she does not believe half of what she is saying, and is only speaking because she is being paid to say what she does.

"Despite his persona, subject suffers from a well-hidden inferiority complex that he hides behind an arrogant and overbearing attitude. Subject appears to have a very high opinion of himself, but cannot handle failure or rejection. Subject is also afraid of disappointing his parents or peers, which only adds to his sorrow. It's believed this stems from his younger brother, who was cast out by his parents after failing to adhere to their strict lifestyle. Subject's paranoia is easily exploitable, not making him a threat."

Karada Kessaku

"Karada Kessaku, also known as 'Nike'. Subject is a well-known bodybuilder, specializing in events that showcase his impressive physique. Subject also works as a trainer, helping the women of his city and division by performing and scheduling sessions with them, which he helps them to get active and increase their stamina. Personal opinion states that these 'sessions' are little more than promiscuous rendezvous that he uses to exploit the women of Aoyama.

"Subject did not have a healthy childhood due to his father leaving his mother before he was born, and his mother dying when he was only five years old from sickness. Subject was primarily raised by his grandfather, whom subject would eventually come to love and respect despite his early attitude towards him. Subject possesses incredible strength and stamina, but has difficulty with certain mental issues. Subject is deemed not a threat."

Luis Kōkyū

"Luis Kōkyū, also known as 'El Dorado'. Subject is a famous chef and restaurant owner, which has made him well-known throughout all of Japan for his exotic dishes. Subject was trained how to cook by his grandmother, whom he loves and cherishes dearly due to her being the only parental adult to show him any love during his childhood. Subject's parents only married each other for money, and reports show that despite still being married, both have many partners on the side, which only increases subject's hate towards them. Personal opinion states that I can understand fully how Subject feels.

"As stated, subject received little to no love or affection from his childhood. And because of his physical appearance, subject was frequently ridiculed and bullied by his peers in high school, causing a great deal of animosity towards others. Subject was eventually approached by Subject Kessaku, who became his first friend, which continues on to this day.

"Subject is a calm and quiet individual despite his tendency to put on airs in front of certain people. Subject is not a threat, but caution should be used when dealing with him, as his persona greatly resembles that of Doppo Kannonzaka's of Shinjuku, in that he can explode once pushed over the edge, especially in regards to his grandmother, friends or physical appearance."

Jet Set Trio

"Despite the group being one of the earliest to form, Aoyama Division, Jet Set Trio, is not deemed a threat by Chuohku. The team formed after Otome-sama sent an invite to Subject Chōten, forcing him to enter. Team has only had one battle thus far, and lost badly against Ueno Division, Sakurai Clan. Despite love for and popularity for the division is still shown, despite the group's arrogant and uppity attitude, mainly shown by Subject Chōten.

"Interaction with group seems unlikely, due to their elimination from the tournament. However, if battle occurs, taking out Subject Kessaku first should be wise as he is the group's main form of defense. Afterwards, taking Subject Kōkyū out next would be the best course of action, followed lastly by Subject Chōten.

"Report and analysis on Aoyama Division, Jet Set Trio, is completed. Moving on to next available assignment."

#hypmic #hypmic oc #hypnosis mic #hypnosis mic oc #hypnosis microphone #inner circle #toshima division #lillian rees #aoyama division #jet set trio #tomi chōten #karada kessaku #luis kōkyū

[kevrocksicehouse]

I have a confession. But first I want to emphasize that none of us is perfect, y’all without sin etc. Everybody has some secret shame that if exposed should be penalized with nothing more stringent than forgiveness. Except this. This is worse. Okay here goes (deep breath):

I DON’T THINK THERE WERE ANY OSCAR SNUBS.

Nope. Not even Barbie. Despite Greta Gerwig’s masterful shepherding of what is so far Mattel’s greatest movie, if Zone of Interest (which I haven’t seen yet) is a dog, I’ll give Jonathan Glazer’s place to May/December’s Todd Haynes. Ditto for Robie who was almost perfect (But what’s up with her still using the Harley Quinn accent?). If Nyad isn’t up to snuff I’ll just slide in Past Lives’ Greta Lee.

It was that kind of year. Lots of good movies and for a change most of them got at least some kind of Oscar nod. But. There were those orphans and also-rans that came up all the way short. No nominations. Let’s honor them, okay?

In other words, it’s time for KEVROC’S ANNUAL BEST MOVIES THAT DIDN’T GET EVEN ONE LOUSY NOMINATION list!

Asteroid City. Wes Anderson had a short-lived Oscar vogue in the last decade with  Best Picture nominations for Moonrise Kingdom in 2013 and  Grand Budapest Hotel in 2014, but this year the consensus was that this deadpan dramatization of the tension between postwar optimism and post-nuclear domination which defined the latter half of The American Century was just a collection of the director’s tropes instead of a humanist masterpiece. It should have been nominated if for no other reason than to give a push to “Dear Alien (Who Art in Heaven)” for the Best Song award it deserves. (But hey, Wes got a Best Live Action Short nod for The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar).

A Good Person. Zach Braff’s directorial rep as the King of Emo, not to mention an early release date kept Oscar voters from this story of two addicts struggling not to relapse in the face of their lives’ biggest tragedy, that gave Morgan Freeman his best role in years and reaffirmed Florence Pugh’s status as the best actor of this decade.

All of Us Strangers. A simple dreamlike plot (a depressed gay man meets his soulmate, and simultaneously gets to see his long-dead parents) becomes a soul-wrenching mystical reverie brought to life by Claire Foy and Jamie Bell as the parents, Paul Mescal as the troubled soulmate and Andrew Scott, who gives a performance so exposed and vulnerable that if it went any further he’d literally shed his skin.

Monica. A trans woman (Trace Lysette) reconnects with her family and is taken for a nurse by her demented, homophobic mother (Patricia Clarkson). It sounds like Joan Crawford doing an Almodovar film but director Andrea Pallaoro goes for subtlety and nuance over camp drama in this quiet gem. Lysette should have been talked about more.

Air. This crazy-entertaining celebration of the marketing synergy of Michael Jordan and Nike got Oscar-overlooked because a whole movie devoted to a celebrity spokesperson deal is maybe just a little too on-the-nose. But it had great work by Chris Messina, Jason Bateman, a Macchiavellian Viola Davis and especially Matt Damon who might be too good an actor to ever win an Oscar for it.

Passages. Ira Sachs examination of why-good-people-love-irredeemable-pricks is a high point in the careers of Adele Exarchoupoulos and Ben Wishaw but was a breakout star vehicle for Franz Rogowski playing the kind of prick who has a one-night stand and is so smitten he can’t wait to tell his husband all about it.

Blue Beetle. You know the superhero movie is in trouble when this crackerjack film about a reluctant Latino champion of his family and community (and whose sidekicks include a Zapatista-veteran grandmother) could only find a fraction of the audience it deserved.  And the line “Now is when we cry” made me cry.

Strays. All apologies to Poor Things and American Fiction, but this profane and scatological tribute to couch-humping, trash-eating dogshit producing (and eating) canis lupus familiaris was the funniest movie of the year.

Bottoms. Even beating out this gloriously tasteless and bracingly absurdist tale of high school lesbians who start a fight club to meet chicks that would win the Jean Hersholt humanitarian award if they renamed it for John Waters.

Taylor Swift: The Eras tour. The Academy’s prejudice against performance films is understandable. Certainly the struggle against dictators in Uganda and Invaders in the Ukraine are more important than a superstar juggernaut’s latest step on her way to world domination. But I’m not the only one who became convinced that the juggernaut was a real (and major) artist. And flashing on the closeups of random fans experiencing pure ecstasy was as moving as anything I saw this year.

#kevrock #reccomends #oscar #for your consideration

[jihyoruri]

what are wow!yn’s endorsements

global ambassador for vivienne westwood, calvin klein and tiffany&co, brand ambassador for nike and is the new spokesperson for soju commercials.

#I go further into detail about her stuff in another post

[empresa-journal]

Is Nike (NKE) making money?

Nike (NKE) is making more money. Yet the company is transforming its marketing strategy. For example, Nike ended is ending its 27-year partnership with golf legend Tiger Woods. Woods has been a Nike (NKE) spokesperson since 1996. The latest Wood-Nike deal signed in 2013 was worth $200 million. Yet the company let Tiger go in 2023.   Skeptics will note Woods is aging and no longer dominating…

View On WordPress

#Does the Modern Media landscape Threaten Nike (NKE)? #How Much Money is Nike (NKE) making? #How Social Media has Changed Celebrity Culture #Is Nike (NKE) making money? #What Value Does Nike (NKE) Offer? #Why Nike is abandoning Celebrities

[hardynwa]

Police arrest two armed robbery suspects, recover firearms in Enugu

The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested two armed robbery suspects in Enugu metropolis. Two firearms with eight live .9mm calibre ammunition were recovered from the suspects. This is contained in a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, on Thursday in Enugu. According to Ndukwe, police operatives serving in Unity Police Division and the Crack Squad Tactical Team arrested the two male suspects. “Acting on credible information, the police operatives serving in Unity Police Division, on Dec. 17 at about 5:45 p.m., arrested one Emeka Fidelis, 28, at Ogbeke Nike and recovered one cut-to-size locally made double-barreled pistol in his unlawful possession. “In the same vein, the police operatives serving in the Crack Squad, on Dec. 16 at about 3:30 a.m., arrested one Sochima Okpara,37, while on routine patrol duty at Trans-Ekulu, Enugu. “And recovered one Beretta pistol loaded with eight rounds of live ammunition of .9mm calibre from him. “Preliminary investigation has revealed that the suspect is a member and kingpin of Apache Tiger (also known as “Two-two”) confraternity, and has been involved in several criminal activities within Enugu metropolis,” he said. The Police spokesperson noted that discreet investigations into the cases are ongoing. He added that the suspects will be arraigned in court for prosecution once the investigations are concluded. Meanwhile, Ndukwe noted that Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, had reiterated the Command’s commitment to maintain watertight security during the Yuletide and beyond. “Hence, he enjoined citizens of the state to remain law-abiding, vigilant and promptly report suspected criminals and their activities to the nearest police station. Read the full article

[timomaraus]

November 1, 2023

CNN Astrophysicist explains why dinosaurs died when crocodiles survived (Editor's Note: Turns out the dinopioids were far more life-threatening than the crocoshits.)

Washington Post Democrats quickly seek to make Speaker Johnson a boogeyman (Editor's Note: That's not a big leap.)

Washington Post Trump grouses that his indictments took years. Here's why that is. (Editor's Note: Trump is unhappy it took so long to indict him? Imagine how the rest of us feel!)

NY Times How to Fall Back Without Missing a Beat (Editor's Note: Good grief. As they say at Nike, "Just Do It!")

NY Times X Says It Is Worth $19 Billion, Down From $44 Billion Last Year (Editor's Note: Really showing the ol' Midas Touch there, eh Elon?)

NY Times Joseph J. Kohn, Who Broke New Ground in Calculus, Dies at 91 (Editor's Note: When you look at the sum of his life's accomplishments, he was a guy who really made a differential.)

CNN DoorDash is testing warnings about bad service if you don't tip your driver (Editor's Note: Threatening customers in order to get tips. That sounds like a winning long-term strategy.)

CNN Brooke Shields says she had a seizure and woke up to Bradley Cooper holding her hand (Editor's Note: Is that best described as a seizure, or a fantasy?)

CNN Energy company pulls the plug on two major offshore wind projects on East Coast (Editor's Note: A spokesperson said it was "a gusty--I mean gutsy--decision.")

NY Times It Might Be Time to Consider Timisoara (Editor's Note: Sad to see such an egregious typo in the newspaper of record. Clearly that is supposed to be "Timiso'mara.")

Washington Post Trump Jr. testifies, deflects responsibility in N.Y. business fraud case (Editor's Note: What, you were thinking anyone named Trump would have a sense of personal accountability? That's a genetic impossibility.)

Washington Post What's on your pay stub? (Editor's Note: As my father used to say, "not quite enough.")

[hxkerwxlf]

Silver Wolf the new spokesperson for Nike.

#::Log: Crack Postings