Following the success of our debut mechanical keyboard last year, we are excited to introduce the MKey PRO, our latest innovation crafted to elevate your typing and gaming experience. Featuring premium materials and top-tier features, the MKey PRO is driven by the enthusiastic feedback and support from our community.

The post MONTECH Releases MKey PRO Mechanical Keyboard appeared first on ThinkComputers.org.

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In recent weeks, we’ve seen multiple examples of women on the political right straddling two kinds of womanhood: the girlboss and the tradwife. The visibility of these women exposes a hidden link between conservative womanhood and girlboss feminism that deserves our attention.  Katie Britt broadcast her response to the State of the Union from her kitchen. Michelle […]

By JM McNab Published: November 12th, 2024

By Sara Truuvert

When your novel is deemed "the greatest idea for a book ever", you're probably on to something. That certainly seems to be the case for debut author Victor Piñeiro, whose novel Time Villains has garnered a starred review from Kirkus and a spot as an Amazon Best Book of the Month. The book promises time-hopping high jinx, historic and literary Easter eggs, and even some one-sentence Puerto Rican recipes.

Time Villains follows sandwich-obsessed Javi Santiago, who has to nail his homework assignment if he wants to pass sixth grade. The assignment seems simple enough: if you could invite any three people to dinner, who would they be? Plus, Javi has his best friend Wiki and little sister Brady to help him. What could go wrong? Turns out, a lot! The trio accidentally uses an antique dining table to summon the dinner guests for real. Now, Blackbeard the Pirate is on the loose, and Javi, Wiki, and Brady must figure out how to send him back (perhaps with the help of other historical figures...). Time Villains is the first novel in a three-part series. It launched on July 6th, 2021 with Sourcebooks and is widely available to order. 

Victor Piñeiro is an author and a Creative Director at HBO Max. He has also done a multitude of other cool things, like teach, make documentaries, lead content/social strategies for Big Spaceship, YouTube, Hasbro, and Google, and answer these interview questions while caring for his two-week-old child. You can find out more about Victor on his website, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Q. A huge congratulations on your literary debut! Would you tell me a bit about your journey to publication?

A. Thank you! Being a published author has been the dream since I was a kid, so it’s been quite the journey! In my teens and twenties I couldn’t silence my inner critic long enough to write novels, so I turned to poetry and screenplays, writing and producing documentaries for a spell. I finally coaxed a book out in 2017 after writing daily on my (long) commute for three years. It was a very unconventional first book—the only kind I could coax out on my first try—so I shelved it and started working on Time Villains. 

Three drafts in I sent Time Villains to a bunch of agents, and after chatting with a few, a friend put me in touch with Elana Roth Parker. I feel so incredibly lucky to work with Elana—she saw the seed of something in my draft and we developed it into something far more compelling. When Annie Berger at Sourcebooks showed interest in the book, it felt like winning the lottery twice. Annie and the whole team have been the most incredible partners—thoroughly brilliant and a complete joy to work with. And here we are—the book just hit shelves this week and I’m not sure what to do with myself!

Q. Would you please introduce us to the novel’s hero, Javi Santiago? (I must know what level of dedication to sandwiches it takes to be classified as ‘sandwich-obsessed’!)

A. Javi’s an aspiring chef and sandwichéaste (think cinéaste but for sandwiches) who’ll do anything to pass sixth grade. He’s a zany kid with an overactive imagination and a penchant for asking deep questions about food (because what makes a sandwich a sandwich, really?). He peppers in one-sentence recipes throughout the book—some of Puerto Rico’s most delectable dishes, mixed in with his own recipes (like the Spanglish Sandwich aka The Spanglo Sando™). And while he’s fun and eccentric, underneath the silliness he’s a first generation Puerto Rican kid struggling with imposter syndrome as he tries to excel at something in his life. 

Q. You offer us such a hilarious dynamic between your protagonists – we have the almost-failing student, Javi, paired with his best friend, Wiki, the human Wikipedia/young professor (plus, Javi’s little sister, who wants to be the president’s bodyguard!). How did you land on this dynamic? Is it something you envisioned from the get-go?

A. The characters were floating around my head disparately but when I put them together I realized how fun their dynamic would be. 

I know a few folks who are so brilliant they seem weighed down by their intelligence—it’s made them world-weary. I thought that’d be really fun to capture in an extremely-precocious sixth grader. As I was coming up with the character I remembered a line in a hip hop song I love, “Catch me solving mysteries like Wikipedia Brown.” And that’s where Wiki’s name emerged and the character solidified in my head.

In terms of Brady, I knew I wanted a hot-headed sibling/partner to steal the spotlight and do much of the butt kicking because I love that dynamic in stories, going all the way back to Frodo and Sam. I also have a few friends with wild kid sister energy and they’re the life of any party, so I knew I wanted to bring that to the trio. 

Q. You had to develop a wide array of voices for this story, including kid Mozart, the Earl of Sandwich, and Blackbeard the Pirate. Was that a challenge? A joy? A spiralling research nightmare?

A. A spiralling research dream! This series gives me the best excuse to research my favorite folks in history and fiction, and it’s been a blast. I loved reading old texts on pirates, delving into the specifics of Mozart at age twelve and dusting off copies of old novels with iconic characters as I researched this book. And I knew nothing about the Earl of Sandwich before writing this, but how could Javi not invite him?

There was one aspect of research that was a bit frustrating. A big focus of this series is exploring characters more representative of the world’s history and fiction, because I’m hoping this book is ultimately a gateway to other books, characters and historical figures for kids to explore. Finding a wealth of information about some historical and mythological figures from other cultures was incredibly difficult. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I wasn’t prepared for it to be quite so challenging—which invigorated me to include more of them in the book!

Q. You have such lovely, concise, concrete writing advice available on your website. Is there any advice my-novel-is-getting-published Victor would give I’m-starting-to-write-a-novel Victor?

A. So much advice! I think there are a few super important things that would’ve had me writing novels decades ago, so I take any chance I can get to relay them to other aspiring/young writers.

1. An hour a day can be enough. I always thought I needed to quit my job and write eight hours a day to finish a novel, which held me back for years. Then I read a Murakami interview where he said he completed his first novel by writing an hour a day after work. In that moment I felt like the universe gave me permission to write mine. 

2. Lower the bar far lower than you’re comfortable with for that first draft. (No, lower!) There are passages in the first draft of my books that are barely intelligible, but I now know that’s okay. The first draft is about discovery and getting the story out of your head and onto the page. It’s far too early to be precious about anything. Just get it all out and see what you’ve got when you’re done.

3. Don’t dread rewriting—it’s far more fun than expected. Before writing my first book I was terrified of it, but it’s become one of my favorite aspects of writing. (Which is a good thing considering it’s 75-90% of what you do as a writer!) 

Q. Do you have any advice for young writers in general?

A. Absolutely. Besides everything I said above, read about writing and join online writing communities. Screenwriting books are great for story structure basics, Stephen King’s On Writing is great for process, Brandon Sanderson’s free writing course on YouTube is absolutely brilliant, Neil Gaiman and David Mamet’s Master Class courses are gold, and Reddit’s /r/writing is a fantastic place to learn alongside others in the trenches. I also love John Truby and Lisa Cron’s books. But maybe it’s best to start with this short Ira Glass video. Or this brilliant reflection on writing advice Chuck Wendig just wrote.

Q. Finally, I read that you used to be a documentary filmmaker and a blogger. What are some questions you would ask Blackbeard, if you met him?

A. It’d be one of those long interviews—the kind that take up the entire documentary and usually take the film crew multiple days to shoot—because I’d want to lead up to asking him how many people he actually killed. (Some historians say almost zero!) And I’d also want to ask him a lot of questions about Stede Bonnet, “The Gentleman Pirate” who was an equally fascinating and thoroughly hilarious character. He was rich, had a midlife crisis, became a pirate, and got thoroughly swindled by Blackbeard. (Side note: I was so happy when I heard the news that Taika Waititi would be creating a show about him!) Finally, I’d ask him to get battle ready. Before a skirmish Blackbeard would light fuses or small candles in his beard, since the smoke gave him a demonic appearance. It was his favorite scare tactic. I’d love to see it live!

------------------------------------------------------------------

Sara Truuvert completed her MLitt in Creative Writing at the University of St Andrews. She also holds a Certificate in Creative Writing from the Humber School for Writers and a BA in English, Drama, and the History and Philosophy of Science from the University of Toronto. Her work has appeared in the Literary Review of Canada among other publications.

For more interviews, see the Inkygirl Interview Archive. Also see Advice For Young Writers and Illustrators, a compilation of tips generously offered by children's book creators Inkygirl.com has interviewed over the years.

This story happened a few years ago. A friend refers me to his mother, a real estate agent who wants a new website for her business. I call her to set up an appointment.

Client: “So, what is your expertise in real estate?”

Me: “I’ve done two real-estate websites in the past, and they’ve been quite successful. I can provide you with a searchable database of listings where buyers can filter by price and other factors, as well as a homepage with featured listings, your bio, and anything else you’d like to include.”

Client: “Yes, but have you ever sold a house before?”

Me: “No.”

Client: “Why not?”

Me: “Because I’m not a real estate agent. I’m a web developer.”

Client: “So how do you expect to do a website for me if you don’t know anything about being a realtor?”

Me: “I know enough to build a website with a listing database which you can very easily populate with descriptions, photos, and any other info you wish to provide the buyers with. I can also provide other tools, such as a mortgage calculator and a lead-tracking system that allows potential buyers to contact you with listings they are interested in.”

Client: “I really don’t think you know what you’re doing. I think I’m going to have to pass and find someone who knows how to sell a house.”

Later, I discovered she had finished her website. On Geocities. Yellow background. 50pt font. Seemingly designed by a ‘real’ real estate agent…

Soil erosion is an age-long predicament that always shows up whenever humans embark on any land use activity. Whether it is agriculture, construction or gardening, the need to tame erosion is apparent, especially in regions that experience significant precipitation. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that 90% of the world’s topsoil risks erosion by 2050. It is, therefore, the responsibility of those who participate in land use activities to prevent such a mess. [...]

Today's architecture is no longer about creating the best space just for humans, though of course that has to be a factor. It's also about preserving and living in harmony with the natural world. But being harmonious with nature presents a unique set of challenges. The Hidden Garden House by RAD+ar (Research Artistic Design + Architecture) is a showcase of creative and innovative solutions for just such a challenge.[...]

In this episode I'm joined by Charles Watts to discuss the latest transfer stories, including Benjamin Sesko's reportedly imminent decision about his own future, what might happen in midfield and how much that depends on who stays and what Declan Rice's role is next season, other midfield targets, possible departures, the left-back situation and how despite being well-stocked Arsenal might bring someone in, and lots more – including some chat about Man City and the news of their legal action taken against the Premier League which became news this week.

Follow Charles on YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CharlesWattsAFCnews

Get extra bonus content and help support Arseblog by becoming an Arseblog Member on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/arseblog

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An ongoing campaign is targeting npm developers with hundreds of typosquat versions of their legitimate counterparts in an attempt to trick them into running cross-platform malware. The attack is notable for utilizing Ethereum smart contracts for command-and-control (C2) server address distribution, according to independent findings from Checkmarx, Phylum, and Socket published over the past few

Cisco has released security updates to address a maximum severity security flaw impacting Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (URWB) Access Points that could permit unauthenticated, remote attackers to run commands with elevated privileges. Tracked as CVE-2024-20418 (CVS score: 10.0), the vulnerability has been described as stemming from a lack of input validation to the web-based management

We’ve all heard a million times: growing demand for robust cybersecurity in the face of rising cyber threats is undeniable. Globally small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly targeted by cyberattacks but often lack the resources for full-time Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). This gap is driving the rise of the virtual CISO (vCISO) model, offering a cost-effective

Palo Alto Networks on Friday issued an informational advisory urging customers to ensure that access to the PAN-OS management interface is secured because of a potential remote code execution vulnerability. "Palo Alto Networks is aware of a claim of a remote code execution vulnerability via the PAN-OS management interface," the company said. "At this time, we do not know the specifics of the

I was saddened to be told of the recent death of my old friend Ed Lovette. He had a long and distinguished career in military, law enforcement, and the CIA. Ed was a thinking man’s instructor. We took each other’s classes. He went through my LFI-I course back in the day , and about thirty […]

The post Comfort of Ryazan Buses appeared first on English Russia.

The post Soviet Actors and Actresses Get Beautified appeared first on English Russia.

Getting hit with one hurricane is bad enough, but new research from Princeton Engineering shows that back-to-back versions may become common for many areas in coming decades.

While we primarily think of viruses as targeting their attacks against us, they are also in constant competition with each other.

An international team of researchers and gamers, led by Princeton’s Mala Murthy and Sebastian Seung, mapped every neuron and every synaptic connection in an adult fruit fly's brain, building a comprehensive “connectome” that represents a massive step toward understanding the human brain.

The Princeton microbiologist has also created a non-infectious version of the COVID-19 virus that researchers can study safely.

Join the Study Abroad team at Princeton to learn about undergraduate summer study abroad opportunities!

The Program in Visual Arts hosts an info session for all sophomores interested in the program minor and the Art & Archaeology Practice of Art track major. Students will have the opportunity to meet current faculty, majors, and minors to ask questions about the program and application process.

Refine your chops in 1-on-1 sessions with Yuval Boim! Sign up for a slot on Monday evenings to work on skills such as monologue preparation, scene work, and auditioning, or to discuss career and graduate school plans. Sign-up required.

In this co-curricular workshop series with Vivia Font, develop your acting chops! Geared towards students who want to continue developing their acting practice, as well as beginner students who are acting-curious. Drop-in; students may attend 1 session or all 8.

Are you a senior interested in making a genuine contribution towards protecting the environment, promoting environmental sustainability, and building environmentally focused communities? Join us at the High Meadows Fellowship Info Session on Friday, November 15 from 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM in Louis A. Simpson A71 for a special opportunity to hear directly from current High Meadows Fellows about their experiences. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided. The High Meadows Fellowship Program is a generously funded fellowship opportunity that places graduating Princeton seniors in two-year positions with the nation’s leading environmental organizations. All undergraduate students are welcome to come learn about this opportunity— eligible seniors must apply by 11:59 PM on January 30, 2025.

Join the Study Abroad Program to learn more about undergraduate summer study abroad at the London School of Economics. We will discuss the application process, credit transfer, and funding.

Fresh rubber for wet and slippery conditions.
( Photos: 5, Comments: 66 )

The Canadian-made Troy lives for the descents.
( Photos: 7, Comments: 134 )

Gold crosses, symbols rich in spiritual depth and historical significance, have journeyed from their sacred origins to become a beacon of contemporary fashion. This transformation showcases the adaptability of religious icons, evolving from strictly spiritual objects into cherished elements of modern fashion. This article embarks on a journey to explore how gold crosses have seamlessly ... Read more

The post From Sacred to Chic: Gold Crosses in Contemporary Fashion appeared first on Star Two.

Imagine waking up one morning, the sun streaming through your window, and you reach out for that warm cup of coffee. As your body moves, you feel a tug in your muscles, a reminder of just how stiff and restricted movement can become over time. Flexibility doesn’t just impact athletes; it influences everyone’s daily life, ... Read more

The post How to Enhance Your Flexibility – Exercises and Tips for Better Mobility appeared first on Star Two.

Dogs can sniff out disease and analyze new odors even as they exhale. But how?

How addiction works in the brain, and why opioids are so dangerously addictive.

We have added presentation sample design ideas for you to use in businesses and corporate offices including display graphs for a e-commerce warehouse distribution and electrical distribution companies.

Essayist Phil Klay says Trump tried to use the military to push his partisan agenda before, and may further erode norms around the military as he looks for those willing to "go with his whims."

SEO can be a confusing topic. It can also be a very expensive topic, especially for Gold Coast...

The post SEO Tips for Small Businesses with Small Budgets appeared first on Ignition Media.

The following article, Democrats Preparing for Massive Losses, was first published on The Black Sphere.

Trump goes into Alvin Braggs' and Letitia James' backyard, and takes a piss. And Chuck Schumer, Hillary Clinton, Kirsten Hillebrand...

Continue reading Democrats Preparing for Massive Losses ...

The following article, Israel Chooses Trump Over Harris in 2024 Election, was first published on The Black Sphere.

The nation of Israel casted its vote in the 2024 Presidential Election, metaphorically. And it didn't taken an Iranian infiltrator in the Biden administration...

Continue reading Israel Chooses Trump Over Harris in 2024 Election ...

The following article, EMBARRASSING: Big Election Misses by Never Trumpers and Others, was first published on The Black Sphere.

I love metaphorically rubbing my crotch in the faces of these smug Leftist pukes and know-it-alls after they get their asses handed to them.

Continue reading EMBARRASSING: Big Election Misses by Never Trumpers and Others ...

By Hailey Gomez Popular podcast host Joe Rogan threw his full support behind former President Donald Trump on Monday, just one day before the election. In recent weeks, the popular podcast host has separately interviewed Trump and his running mate, Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, to discuss their policy platform and thoughts on the campaign. […]

The post Joe Rogan Endorses Trump On Election Eve appeared first on Liberty Unyielding.

By Wallace White Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon lost his seat in a landslide to independent challenger Nathan Hochman, The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times reported. Gascon is projected to lose against Hochman in a crucial seat in one of America’s most crime-ridden cities, according to the AP and the LA Times […]

The post Soros-Backed George Gascon Loses Los Angeles DA Race In Landslide appeared first on Liberty Unyielding.

“The spraying of orchards and vineyards certainly isn’t an eco-friendly process, with tractors spewing exhaust as they douse crops in herbicides and pesticides. That’s one of the main reasons the electric, autonomous Prospr robot was created,” reports New Atlas: Manufactured by New Zealand agritech company Robotics Plus, the all-wheel-drive robotic vehicle was unveiled last September […]

The post Crop-spraying robot saves farmers time, cuts emissions of greenhouse gases appeared first on Liberty Unyielding.

Professors at many Ivy League universities canceled classes the day after the election — some because they were unhappy that Donald Trump won, and others because they believed that students needed to “recover” from the election. The Harvard Crimson reports that “Courses such as Sociology 1156: ‘Statistics for Social Sciences’ and Applied Math 22a: ‘Solving […]

The post Professors cancel classes in response to Trump winning the 2024 election appeared first on Liberty Unyielding.

Dame Ruth May tells the Covid inquiry nurses struggled with low staffing levels and difficulties accessing protective equipment.

Social care providers say the sector is in "unprecedented danger" without more funding.

New legislation gives regulators more powers to tackle water pollution in England and Wales.

The planet Uranus and its five biggest moons may not be the sterile worlds scientists have long thought.

The BBC's analysis editor Ros Atkins looks at footage said to show Yahya Sinwar's final moments.