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[mostlysignssomeportents]

The moral injury of having your work enshittified

This Monday (November 27), I'm appearing at the Toronto Metro Reference Library with Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

On November 29, I'm at NYC's Strand Books with my novel The Lost Cause, a solarpunk tale of hope and danger that Rebecca Solnit called "completely delightful."

This week, I wrote about how the Great Enshittening – in which all the digital services we rely on become unusable, extractive piles of shit – did not result from the decay of the morals of tech company leadership, but rather, from the collapse of the forces that discipline corporate wrongdoing:

https://locusmag.com/2023/11/commentary-by-cory-doctorow-dont-be-evil/

The failure to enforce competition law allowed a few companies to buy out their rivals, or sell goods below cost until their rivals collapsed, or bribe key parts of their supply chain not to allow rivals to participate:

https://www.engadget.com/google-reportedly-pays-apple-36-percent-of-ad-search-revenues-from-safari-191730783.html

The resulting concentration of the tech sector meant that the surviving firms were stupendously wealthy, and cozy enough that they could agree on a common legislative agenda. That regulatory capture has allowed tech companies to violate labor, privacy and consumer protection laws by arguing that the law doesn't apply when you use an app to violate it:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/12/algorithmic-wage-discrimination/#fishers-of-men

But the regulatory capture isn't just about preventing regulation: it's also about creating regulation – laws that make it illegal to reverse-engineer, scrape, and otherwise mod, hack or reconfigure existing services to claw back value that has been taken away from users and business customers. This gives rise to Jay Freeman's perfectly named doctrine of "felony contempt of business-model," in which it is illegal to use your own property in ways that anger the shareholders of the company that sold it to you:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/09/lead-me-not-into-temptation/#chamberlain

Undisciplined by the threat of competition, regulation, or unilateral modification by users, companies are free to enshittify their products. But what does that actually look like? I say that enshittification is always precipitated by a lost argument.

It starts when someone around a board-room table proposes doing something that's bad for users but good for the company. If the company faces the discipline of competition, regulation or self-help measures, then the workers who are disgusted by this course of action can say, "I think doing this would be gross, and what's more, it's going to make the company poorer," and so they win the argument.

But when you take away that discipline, the argument gets reduced to, "Don't do this because it would make me ashamed to work here, even though it will make the company richer." Money talks, bullshit walks. Let the enshittification begin!

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/22/who-wins-the-argument/#corporations-are-people-my-friend

But why do workers care at all? That's where phrases like "don't be evil" come into the picture. Until very recently, tech workers participated in one of history's tightest labor markets, in which multiple companies with gigantic war-chests bid on their labor. Even low-level employees routinely fielded calls from recruiters who dangled offers of higher salaries and larger stock grants if they would jump ship for a company's rival.

Employers built "campuses" filled with lavish perks: massages, sports facilities, daycare, gourmet cafeterias. They offered workers generous benefit packages, including exotic health benefits like having your eggs frozen so you could delay fertility while offsetting the risks normally associated with conceiving at a later age.

But all of this was a transparent ruse: the business-case for free meals, gyms, dry-cleaning, catering and massages was to keep workers at their laptops for 10, 12, or even 16 hours per day. That egg-freezing perk wasn't about helping workers plan their families: it was about thumbing the scales in favor of working through your entire twenties and thirties without taking any parental leave.

In other words, tech employers valued their employees as a means to an end: they wanted to get the best geeks on the payroll and then work them like government mules. The perks and pay weren't the result of comradeship between management and labor: they were the result of the discipline of competition for labor.

This wasn't really a secret, of course. Big Tech workers are split into two camps: blue badges (salaried employees) and green badges (contractors). Whenever there is a slack labor market for a specific job or skill, it is converted from a blue badge job to a green badge job. Green badges don't get the food or the massages or the kombucha. They don't get stock or daycare. They don't get to freeze their eggs. They also work long hours, but they are incentivized by the fear of poverty.

Tech giants went to great lengths to shield blue badges from green badges – at some Google campuses, these workforces actually used different entrances and worked in different facilities or on different floors. Sometimes, green badge working hours would be staggered so that the armies of ragged clickworkers would not be lined up to badge in when their social betters swanned off the luxury bus and into their airy adult kindergartens.

But Big Tech worked hard to convince those blue badges that they were truly valued. Companies hosted regular town halls where employees could ask impertinent questions of their CEOs. They maintained freewheeling internal social media sites where techies could rail against corporate foolishness and make Dilbert references.

And they came up with mottoes.

Apple told its employees it was a sound environmental steward that cared about privacy. Apple also deliberately turned old devices into e-waste by shredding them to ensure that they wouldn't be repaired and compete with new devices:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/22/vin-locking/#thought-differently

And even as they were blocking Facebook's surveillance tools, they quietly built their own nonconsensual mass surveillance program and lied to customers about it:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar

Facebook told employees they were on a "mission to connect every person in the world," but instead deliberately sowed discontent among its users and trapped them in silos that meant that anyone who left Facebook lost all their friends:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/08/facebooks-secret-war-switching-costs

And Google promised its employees that they would not "be evil" if they worked at Google. For many googlers, that mattered. They wanted to do something good with their lives, and they had a choice about who they would work for. What's more, they did make things that were good. At their high points, Google Maps, Google Mail, and of course, Google Search were incredible.

My own life was totally transformed by Maps: I have very poor spatial sense, need to actually stop and think to tell my right from my left, and I spent more of my life at least a little lost and often very lost. Google Maps is the cognitive prosthesis I needed to become someone who can go anywhere. I'm profoundly grateful to the people who built that service.

There's a name for phenomenon in which you care so much about your job that you endure poor conditions and abuse: it's called "vocational awe," as coined by Fobazi Ettarh:

https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/

Ettarh uses the term to apply to traditionally low-waged workers like librarians, teachers and nurses. In our book Chokepoint Capitalism, Rebecca Giblin and I talked about how it applies to artists and other creative workers, too:

https://chokepointcapitalism.com/

But vocational awe is also omnipresent in tech. The grandiose claims to be on a mission to make the world a better place are not just puffery – they're a vital means of motivating workers who can easily quit their jobs and find a new one to put in 16-hour days. The massages and kombucha and egg-freezing are not framed as perks, but as logistical supports, provided so that techies on an important mission can pursue a shared social goal without being distracted by their balky, inconvenient meatsuits.

Steve Jobs was a master of instilling vocational awe. He was full of aphorisms like "we're here to make a dent in the universe, otherwise why even be here?" Or his infamous line to John Sculley, whom he lured away from Pepsi: "Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life or come with me and change the world?"

Vocational awe cuts both ways. If your workforce actually believes in all that high-minded stuff, if they actually sacrifice their health, family lives and self-care to further the mission, they will defend it. That brings me back to enshittification, and the argument: "If we do this bad thing to the product I work on, it will make me hate myself."

The decline in market discipline for large tech companies has been accompanied by a decline in labor discipline, as the market for technical work grew less and less competitive. Since the dotcom collapse, the ability of tech giants to starve new entrants of market oxygen has shrunk techies' dreams.

Tech workers once dreamed of working for a big, unwieldy firm for a few years before setting out on their own to topple it with a startup. Then, the dream shrank: work for that big, clumsy firm for a few years, then do a fake startup that makes a fake product that is acquihired by your old employer, as an incredibly inefficient and roundabout way to get a raise and a bonus.

Then the dream shrank again: work for a big, ugly firm for life, but get those perks, the massages and the kombucha and the stock options and the gourmet cafeteria and the egg-freezing. Then it shrank again: work for Google for a while, but then get laid off along with 12,000 co-workers, just months after the company does a stock buyback that would cover all those salaries for the next 27 years:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/10/the-proletarianization-of-tech-workers/

Tech workers' power was fundamentally individual. In a tight labor market, tech workers could personally stand up to their bosses. They got "workplace democracy" by mouthing off at town hall meetings. They didn't have a union, and they thought they didn't need one. Of course, they did need one, because there were limits to individual power, even for the most in-demand workers, especially when it came to ghastly, long-running sexual abuse from high-ranking executives:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/technology/google-sexual-harassment-andy-rubin.html

Today, atomized tech workers who are ordered to enshittify the products they take pride in are losing the argument. Workers who put in long hours, missed funerals and school plays and little league games and anniversaries and family vacations are being ordered to flush that sacrifice down the toilet to grind out a few basis points towards a KPI.

It's a form of moral injury, and it's palpable in the first-person accounts of former workers who've exited these large firms or the entire field. The viral "Reflecting on 18 years at Google," written by Ian Hixie, vibrates with it:

https://ln.hixie.ch/?start=1700627373

Hixie describes the sense of mission he brought to his job, the workplace democracy he experienced as employees' views were both solicited and heeded. He describes the positive contributions he was able to make to a commons of technical standards that rippled out beyond Google – and then, he says, "Google's culture eroded":

Decisions went from being made for the benefit of users, to the benefit of Google, to the benefit of whoever was making the decision.

In other words, techies started losing the argument. Layoffs weakened worker power – not just to defend their own interest, but to defend the users interests. Worker power is always about more than workers – think of how the 2019 LA teachers' strike won greenspace for every school, a ban on immigration sweeps of students' parents at the school gates and other community benefits:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/23/a-collective-bargain/

Hixie attributes the changes to a change in leadership, but I respectfully disagree. Hixie points to the original shareholder letter from the Google founders, in which they informed investors contemplating their IPO that they were retaining a controlling interest in the company's governance so that they could ignore their shareholders' priorities in favor of a vision of Google as a positive force in the world:

https://abc.xyz/investor/founders-letters/ipo-letter/

Hixie says that the leadership that succeeded the founders lost sight of this vision – but the whole point of that letter is that the founders never fully ceded control to subsequent executive teams. Yes, those executive teams were accountable to the shareholders, but the largest block of voting shares were retained by the founders.

I don't think the enshittification of Google was due to a change in leadership – I think it was due to a change in discipline, the discipline imposed by competition, regulation and the threat of self-help measures. Take ads: when Google had to contend with one-click adblocker installation, it had to constantly balance the risk of making users so fed up that they googled "how do I block ads?" and then never saw another ad ever again.

But once Google seized the majority of the mobile market, it was able to funnel users into apps, and reverse-engineering an app is a felony (felony contempt of business-model) under Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. An app is just a web-page wrapped in enough IP to make it a crime to install an ad-blocker.

And as Google acquired control over the browser market, it was likewise able to reduce the self-help measures available to browser users who found ads sufficiently obnoxious to trigger googling "how do I block ads?" The apotheosis of this is the yearslong campaign to block adblockers in Chrome, which the company has sworn it will finally do this coming June:

https://www.tumblr.com/tevruden/734352367416410112/you-have-until-june-to-dump-chrome

My contention here is not that Google's enshittification was precipitated by a change in personnel via the promotion of managers who have shitty ideas. Google's enshittification was precipitated by a change in discipline, as the negative consequences of heeding those shitty ideas were abolished thanks to monopoly.

This is bad news for people like me, who rely on services like Google Maps as cognitive prostheses. Elizabeth Laraki, one of the original Google Maps designers, has published a scorching critique of the latest GMaps design:

https://twitter.com/elizlaraki/status/1727351922254852182

Laraki calls out numerous enshittificatory design-choices that have left Maps screens covered in "crud" – multiple revenue-maximizing elements that come at the expense of usability, shifting value from users to Google.

What Laraki doesn't say is that these UI elements are auctioned off to merchants, which means that the business that gives Google the most money gets the greatest prominence in Maps, even if it's not the best merchant. That's a recurring motif in enshittified tech platforms, most notoriously Amazon, which makes $31b/year auctioning off top search placement to companies whose products aren't relevant enough to your query to command that position on their own:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/25/greedflation/#commissar-bezos

Enshittification begets enshittification. To succeed on Amazon, you must divert funds from product quality to auction placement, which means that the top results are the worst products:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/06/attention-rents/#consumer-welfare-queens

The exception is searches for Apple products: Apple and Amazon have a cozy arrangement that means that searches for Apple products are a timewarp back to the pre-enshittification Amazon, when the company worried enough about losing your business to heed the employees who objected to sacrificing search quality as part of a merchant extortion racket:

https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-gives-apple-special-treatment-while-others-suffer-junk-ads-2023-11

Not every tech worker is a tech bro, in other words. Many workers care deeply about making your life better. But the microeconomics of the boardroom in a monopolized tech sector rewards the worst people and continuously promotes them. Forget the Peter Principle: tech is ruled by the Sam Principle.

As OpenAI went through four CEOs in a single week, lots of commentators remarked on Sam Altman's rise and fall and rise, but I only found one commentator who really had Altman's number. Writing in Today in Tabs, Rusty Foster nailed Altman to the wall:

https://www.todayintabs.com/p/defective-accelerationism

Altman's history goes like this: first, he founded a useless startup that raised $30m, only to be acquired and shuttered. Then Altman got a job running Y Combinator, where he somehow failed at taking huge tranches of equity from "every Stanford dropout with an idea for software to replace something Mommy used to do." After that, he founded OpenAI, a company that he claims to believe presents an existential risk to the entire human risk – which he structured so incompetently that he was then forced out of it.

His reward for this string of farcical, mounting failures? He was put back in charge of the company he mis-structured despite his claimed belief that it will destroy the human race if not properly managed.

Altman's been around for a long time. He founded his startup in 2005. There've always been Sams – of both the Bankman-Fried varietal and the Altman genus – in tech. But they didn't get to run amok. They were disciplined by their competitors, regulators, users and workers. The collapse of competition led to an across-the-board collapse in all of those forms of discipline, revealing the executives for the mediocre sociopaths they always were, and exposing tech workers' vocational awe for the shabby trick it was from the start.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/25/moral-injury/#enshittification

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

Timeline: Part 4 -July 2017

Previously:

2015 - April 2017 | An Update

May 2017 - June 2017

This piece features events, press, and PR from the summer of 2017. You will see competing narratives - the Daily Mail leaking Meghan's dossier drip by drip by drip and Meghan's team counterattacking with engagement rumors.

There are two main stories in the royal sphere during this time that we know Meghan is paying attention to, as these most definitely shape her understanding of what it means to be royal: royals taking glamorous summer vacations and daily coverage of Diana's life, the impact of her death, and her lasting legacy to the world.

Fasten your seatbelts!

(Note - this was initially meant to also include the August 2017 events but Tumblr was having problems saving the post.)

July 1, 2017: The Cambridges, Harry, and the Spencers attend a private memorial service at the Spencers' Althorp estate for Diana. Meghan's relationship history is published and it's revealed she left Cory for Harry.

July 2, 2017: Charles plans to host a 70th birthday party for Camilla and the Express speculates whether Harry will bring Meghan with him. Additionally, the broadcast network that airs Suits in Britain drops the series from its slate and won't show its upcoming seventh season.

July 3, 2017: Kensington Palace announces that the Cambridges will visit Poland and Germany.

July 4, 2017: Kensington Palace confirms that Harry will have a role in the upcoming state visit by King Felipe and Queen Letizia. Meghan teases whether she will attend Wimbledon 2017. Harry's scandals are revisited.

July 5, 2017: Meghan's appearance at the 2016 Create & Cultivate conference resurfaces, as do her comments from The Tig about being biracial.

July 6, 2017: Meghan does another airport pap walk as returns to Toronto after spending 10 days in London with Harry.

July 8, 2017: Meghan leaks that she has tried on wedding dresses with friends and is beginning to think about a wedding at Westminster Abbey. The Daily Mail publishes all about Meghan's first marriage and the divorce. Katie Nicholl publishes several scoops: 1) Meghan keeps clothes at Nottingham Cottage, 2) Meghan is so familiar to KP security and the RPOs that she doesn't need a security pass to enter, 3) Harry wants to be engaged by his birthday, and 4) they want to debut Meghan as his fiancee at Toronto Invictus Games.

July 9, 2017: Harry attends a music festival and is photographed getting close to a blonde woman. At the same time, there is fast-spreading gossip that Camilla disapproves of the relationship. Meghan gets worried: she hints about the engagement to get Harry back in line and tries to assuage concerns about her marital history by explaining that being married to Harry will be different than when she was married to Trevor. Meghan merches a baseball cap.

July 10, 2017: Meghan doesn't like the comparisons to Pippa Middleton anymore (which she began, mind you) and says they look nothing alike. It's announced that Trevor is thinking about writing a book about his relationship with Meghan, sparking another round of rumors that the marriage broke down when Meghan cheated on Trevor with a Suits castmate.

July 11, 2017: It's revealed that Meghan was still dating Cory when she began dating Harry.

July 12, 2017: Meghan attends the Suits party to celebrate taping their 100th episode. Meghan's team puts out a story that she and Harry are so alike because Meghan's uncle is the leader of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church, just like Harry's grandmother is the leader of the Church of England. Rita Ora flirts with Harry and Meghan gets mad, saying she doesn't want to marry Harry.

July 13, 2017: The Spanish State Visit begins, with Harry accompanying King Felipe and Queen Letizia to Westminster Abbey and attending the state banquet (where he sits next to Rose Cholmondeley...iykyk). Meghan's "one tear, left eye, go" interview resurfaces and she tries to be a beauty guru again. Suits Season 7 premieres in the U.S.. Meghan practically calls Kate a Stepford Wife.

July 14, 2017: Meghan gets more private protection and increases her security team.

July 16, 2017: A friend of Harry says they're engaged and everyone is looking forward to the after-party more than the wedding. Meghan leaks that Harry will quit the royal family for her and her "don't give it five minutes if you're not going to give it five years" interview resurfaces. Harry wins his IPSO privacy case against The Mail for publishing paparazzi photographs taken in Jamaica.

July 17, 2017: Meghan sets up Chelsy to be Harry's Camilla in their marriage.

July 18, 2017: Meghan tries to be a yoga influencer again. Meghan also brings back her gender equality platform and reminds us about her soap commercial.

July 19, 2017:

Pictures from Meghan's childhood are published, including a photograph saying/showing she won Homecoming Queen in high school (US high school is ages 14 - 18). Speculation begins immediately that Meghan has had cosmetic surgery to minimize her black traits and Markle feeatures, including chemical treatments for her hair.

Meghan hints that Harry will propose on her birthday and that they will elope to marry.

Meghan leaks that she's worth $5 million.

July 20, 2017: Meghan says Harry will propose soon and they have no intentions of eloping.

July 22, 2017: Meghan's ice bucket challenge video resurfaces, causing speculation over how she knows Rory McIlroy and what the nature of their relationship is.

July 24, 2017: Meghan promotes Suits and hints that she wants IVF twins as soon as possible after the wedding. (The IVF twins story is important for two reasons. One, because in the first picture taken of Meghan after the pregnancy is announced, she is carrying two purple binders. We know she likes to virtue signal, so many people believe this is her hinting that they are expecting boy-girl twins. Second, because while she ended up having a boy, the decor and theme for her February baby shower indicated she was expecting a girl.)

July 25, 2017: Prince Albert of Monaco (son of Grace Kelly) gives advice to Meghan and Harry and British Vogue writes about Meghan and her fashion.

July 26, 2017: Meghan claps back against the rumors of plastic surgery by getting medical experts to say she hasn't had any work done.

July 27, 2017: Meghan teases an engagement in the Express, who recaps the relationship to date.

July 28, 2017: Meghan merches Rachel Zane's wardrobe. She's spotted in London, supposedly with Doria (though Doria is never seen). Meghan's insecurity over Harry's past causes problems for him.

July 29, 2017: An open letter is published to William and Kate, urging them not to have a third child. This comes after playful comments by the pair while on tour in Poland and Germany earlier in the month when they were gifted baby items by fans on walkabout.

July 31, 2017:

Christopher Geidt is forced out retires and is replaced by Charles's favorite, Edward Young.

Kate hires Catherine Quinn as her new private secretary.

Meghan is worried a Cambridge baby is going to steal her thunder and leaks that the Cambridges won't have any more children. After Kate's third pregnancy is announced and this article resurfaces, speculation begins over what Meghan knew (because Harry leaked like a sieve to her).

William and Catherine are in Belgium for the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele.

Lainey gossips that the recent shakeups in palace household staff has to do with Charles's discomfort with William and Harry operating independently of him. She also confirms for the first time that Charles was angry with the KP love shield because it overshadowed his work in the Middle East.

[spine-buster]

just friends, pt. 1

aka, when it could have happened again

from the past of portofino ft. kenny omega

gif credit @/bloodycowboyclub

Length: 3175 words Summary: There's a snowstorm in Toronto that's grounded all flights, and for Tyson and Hazel, there's only one bed in the hotel room. A/N: I can't stop writing about Kenny. But also, if you want to get blue balls this is for you! TW for mentions of body image issues.

24th January 2017

Tyson was pretending not to listen to the conversation Hazel was having on the phone with her mom.

“Hey mom…how are you?...I’m alright…Well, Tyson and I are stuck in Toronto…Yeah, our flight wouldn’t fly out.  Apparently there’s too much snow and the conditions are too icy, and it’s getting even colder tonight so they cancelled a whole bunch of flights…Yeah, yeah, there’s a ton of cancelled flights…It’s another one of those ice storms…No no, I’m okay, we—…yeah, we have a place to stay.  We just went back to the hotel.  They still had our rooms available so we just paid for an extra night…Mom, even if I wanted to go stay with Zia Annunziata and Zio Tony I wouldn’t be able to get there, there’s like two inches of ice on the road.  They’re telling everybody to stay put…Yeah, Tyson is in the room just beside mine, we’re gonna grab some room service and just go to bed…yes of course it would be better to have Zia Annunziata’s cooking right now but if I took a picture of the roads and sent it to you, you would be happy I’m not putting myself in danger to drive to North York just to eat a plate of pasta…Okay…Okay…Okay…Okay I will…Yes…Yes…Okay, I love you too.  Bye.”

Tyson couldn’t help the smile that crept onto his face near the end of the conversation.  “Moms, huh?”

Hazel rolled her eyes.  “I swear to God, she became a stereotypical Italian mother the day she married my dad.”

“You’re her only child, it fits,” he shrugged his shoulders.  “How good is that pasta, though?  I might be willing to risk it.”

Hazel smiled.  “It’s great.  Not as great as my dad’s was, but great nonetheless.”

“Also…” Tyson continued, pausing, wondering if he should even bring it up.  “Separate rooms?  Really?”

“What my mom doesn’t know won’t hurt her,” Hazel explained.  “You don’t want to know how many times I’ve told her there have been other women travelling with me when there wasn’t.  I just don’t want to keep her up at night.  I already ran away and joined the circus.”

“But it’s me.”

“And she loves you, but…I’m her only child.  It fits,” she used Tyson’s words.

“Touché.  Touché.”

Hazel readjusted herself slightly so her neck was more comfortable as she used his stomach as a pillow.  Tyson was always so comfortable.  It didn’t matter what part of him she would inevitably end up using as a pillow – shoulder, forearm, stomach, chest…hell, she was pretty sure she even used his thighs once.  Despite his muscle, he was cosy all over.  Every part of him.  “Can you pass me my book?”

Tyson nodded, reaching over to the nightstand to grab it.  She had to readjust again, and he apologized, but she waved him off.  Once they got comfortable, Tyson draped his arm over Hazel, much to her surprise.  But she welcomed it.  They were always sort of…touching each other.  Not sexually, of course.  But they were closer than most and comfortable enough with each other that it wasn’t weird, it wasn’t creepy, it wasn’t off-putting.  Being holed up in a hotel room while three feet of snow fell outside wasn’t exactly the best of circumstances, but Hazel cherished the fact that at least she was with Tyson when she could have been alone.

Tyson had agreed to be her first guest on her brand new endeavour, Kick Out in the Kitchen, a YouTube show she was starting where she would be teaching wrestlers how to cook her dad’s recipes.  Having him be the inaugural guest was huge – it basically guaranteed her success.  When she had initially asked him, Tyson didn’t even hesitate before he said yes.  It was a given to him – there was no way he would have said no.  He could have had no hands and he still would have said yes for Hazel.  They had filmed all afternoon in a studio, first cooking a spaghetti carbonara before preparing a tiramisu, and she’d been sent the entire file of film right before their flight was cancelled.  When she began watching the video in the airport, she couldn’t help but laugh at everything that was happening.  Tyson had always made her laugh – it was one of the things she loved most about him and loved most about their relationship – but he had really turned it on during filming.  The close up of him attempting to split the egg white and the yolk had her howling.  Everything turned out great. 

But what she couldn’t get over was how she looked.

She’d gotten her hair and makeup professionally done, so that wasn’t the issue.  What bothered her was…entirely different.  She noticed it in the very beginning, when she was introducing herself and the concept of the show, going through her family’s history and paying focus on her dad.  It was how her arms looked in the top she was wearing.  It was how, when she looked down at certain points, a double-chin became present.  It was how she chose to wear a tight-fitting shirt even though she didn’t have abs anymore, which was very apparent.  It was how her high-rise jeans gave her a nice ass but also a muffin top.

After having to quit wrestling, her body had changed.  Thirty pounds heavier now, and noticeably chubbier, Hazel couldn’t get the image out of her mind.  Would viewers notice?  Would they comment on it?  What about other wrestlers?  Would they say anything?  What about Tyson?  The thoughts and questions couldn’t leave her mind.  She was sure she read the same page over thirty times because she wasn’t truly concentrating on her novel.

After driving herself crazy thinking about it all, she closed her book and pulled herself up, grabbing at her old t-shirt and shorts that had been placed on her pillows earlier.  Instead of going to the bathroom to change, she didn’t bother.  She just sat on the edge of the bed, pulling her shirt off and unclasping her bra.  It wasn’t anything Tyson hadn’t seen before, truthfully, but she still knew it was a bit of a bold move.  She took her time, deciding to take off her leggings and put on her shorts before taking her time unfolding her old t-shirt to put it on. 

She wasn’t sure if it was just her mind playing tricks on her or if it actually happened, but when she faced the bed again, she thought she saw Tyson’s eyes looking at her for a nano second before pretending he wasn’t and focusing back on his phone.  As if she changed in front of him all the time.  As if stripping down at the edge of a bed they were sharing in a hotel room was a common occurrence.  She wondered if he was staring because now, instead of muscles in her shoulders and back, there was nothing.  She wondered if he was staring to see how big her thighs had gotten or how many extra rolls there were on her stomach when she bent forward.

She shut off the lamp on her side of the bed.  “Tired?” Tyson asked.

She nodded, not bothering to say anything.  Tyson immediately noticed something was wrong.  Instead of shutting off his light too, he watched her move around to pull back the covers beside him.  “What’s the matter?”

Damn him.  He always fucking knew.  Hazel eyed him before sighing.  She sat with her legs crossed, facing him.  He was still sitting up in the bed.  “If I asked you a question, would you be honest with me?” she asked.

“Always.”

She held her breath.  She could already feel her cheeks getting hot.  God, she was so stupid.  “Um, you know today…when we were filming?”

“Yeah…”

There was a pause.  This wasn’t how Hazel wanted things to begin.  She shook her head vehemently, as if the conversation was an Etch-A-Sketch and she was erasing it.  Tyson knew she was fighting something he couldn’t see.  “I don’t—scratch that.  Let me—um, today…did you ever see—no…”

“—Hazel—” Tyson began reaching out to her.

“Do you think people will think I’m fat when they see the video?”

Tyson stopped dead in his tracks.  He wasn’t expecting that.  “I—what?” he blurted out.  “Haze, what would make you think that?”

She shrugged her shoulders as if she hadn’t spent the last half hour pretending to read a book when all she could think of was this very question.  “Did you know I’ve gained over thirty pounds since I broke my neck?”

“That’s to be expected,” he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.  “You’re not training anymore.  You don’t have to be in ring shape.  You know, you’re still more fit than half the wrestlers I know.”

That didn’t make her feel any better.  “It’s noticeable,” she diverted her eyes.  She didn’t want to see his reaction.  “I…there’s been other people who have broken their necks and they’ve been able to maintain their physique.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it.”

She sighed, trying to wiggle close to him.  When Tyson noticed, he pawed at her leg, and she ended up in his lap, straddling him so they could get to the bottom of this face-to-face.  “We’re part of an industry where there’s an obsessive focus on our bodies,” she said.  “And like, I get it, because it’s wrestling.  But I feel so shitty about it.  I…it’s…” she paused, the first of her tears rolling down her face.  She tried to wipe them away but it was futile.  “It’s noticeable, Ty.  It is.  And I just know there’s going to be people out there who focus on it.  They’re going to bring up Angle or Austin or Edge and talk about their broken necks and how they were able to stay in shape.  And I’m…I’m afraid that that’s all anyone’s gonna see.  Like, oh, look at what’s become of Lavender Haze, you know?”

“Hazel, you need to stop downplaying what happened.  You didn’t just break your neck.  You almost fucking died in the ring.  We almost – I almost lost you.  That’s a bigger deal than you gaining thirty pounds or any other bullshit.”

I almost lost you.  Hearing those words made her heart tighten.  She couldn’t even repeat them in her mind for too long or else she knew she’d think back to her stay in the hospital.  But the sentiment remained.  “I just…I’m more than just my body, you know?  I want that to get across.”

“C’mere,” Tyson urged her to nestle into his chest.  She did exactly that and he wrapped his strong arms around her for comfort.  She almost immediately felt more at ease, taking a huge breath in and out as she relaxed into him.  “You have nothing to worry about, Hazel.  Everybody’s gonna love it, because everybody loves you,” he said.

Tyson was never complicated with things.  He could say the simplest words, but it would bring her so much relief, so much security, so much reassurance.  There was a moment of silence between them.  “Did you really think you almost lost me?” she asked, her voice quiet. 

She could feel Tyson nod.  “When you explained to me what the doctor told you…I was a mess,” he admitted in a voice equally as quiet.  “I freaked out after Dustin’s call, and I thought it couldn’t get worse.  But then when you called me after surgery, and you explained everything in detail—”

“—I remember you tearing up on the call.”

“That wasn’t even the half of it,” Tyson admitted.  “We hung up and I lost it, Haze.  I absolutely lost it.  It was probably the closest thing I’ve ever had to an anxiety attack.  Okada had to help me calm down.”

If Hazel could physically nestle herself more into Tyson, she did.  She wanted and needed to get as close to him as possible.  Her hand was on his chest and then it was on his neck.  She pictured him in Japan getting the phone call and got sick to her stomach.  She knew that if the roles were reversed, she’d have to get an injection of fucking morphine to calm down.  “For what it’s worth, you’d never lose me,” she whispered.  Then a pause.  “If I’m going, I’m taking you with me.”

Tyson smiled, resting his cheek on her head.  They stayed like that for a while, close, just feeling each other and listening to each other breathe.  Hazel’s fingers traced along the skin of his neck and jawline.  Tyson’s hand had pushed her pyjama shirt up and hade made skin to skin contact.  They were silent.

“Can I kiss you, Ty?”

Tyson closed his eyes.  He wanted to – he knew that much – but he knew he shouldn’t.  Scratch that – he couldn’t.  He couldn’t do that to himself, to Hazel.  He couldn’t put them in that position.  Even if it would rip him apart.  “That’s not the best idea, Haze,” he said.  “You just want to because you’re feeling very vulnerable right now.  I don’t—I’m not going to take advantage of you like that.”

He could feel her nod slightly, a shaky breath leaving her.  “You’re right.  I—I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize.  I just don’t want you doing something that you regret later.”

‘But I won’t regret it’ she thought to herself.  ‘I would never regret anything with you.  I never have and I never will.’  “Thanks for always looking out for me, Ty.”

They cuddled for a while longer before Tyson reached over to turn off his lamp.  He pulled the covers over their bodies and made sure they nestled together again, spooning so her back was against his chest, their bodies touching at every point.  His arms were still wrapped around her. 

“For what it’s worth Hazel, I still think you’re beautiful.  I always will,” he whispered into her ear.

“Will you?”

“You can always count on that.  I’m always gonna think you’re beautiful.  That won’t change.”  He paused for a moment, his lack of judgement winning out against his better judgement as he placed three kisses along her shoulder.  He dragged his lips along her skin between them, making sure his lips lingered on her skin when he was done.  “That okay?”

“That feels so nice,” she sighed out, her tone clearly appreciative and savouring the feeling.  “I’m sorry I’m so needy,” she said.

‘I want you to be needy’ Tyson thought to himself.  Selfishly.  ‘I want you to have to need me.’  “You’re not being needy,” he settled on saying instead.  “And besides, even if you are, we always need each other in our lives, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

***

Tyson could hear clearly the smacking of their bodies together as he looked down at Hazel.  With her body spread out under him, she looked just as beautiful as he remembered the last time she was in this position in Portofino.  “Deeper, baby,” Hazel’s voice mewled out like a song.

“You need me deeper?” Tyson asked, though his voice was much louder than hers.

He watched as Hazel nodded below him, her breasts bouncing with each of his thrusts.  He hummed in reply, and it sent vibrations that shook him and everything around him like there was a hyperactive earthquake.  “I want you so deep and I want you to come inside me,” she breathed, reaching out for him to bring her closer to her body.  “You remember the last times you came inside me?  Didn’t it feel amazing?”

His groan at her words started another earthquake, everything vibrating around him.  “Yes,” he managed to huff out.  Suddenly, the room that they were in changed to their hotel room in Portofino.  After only a couple of seconds, it changed into the hotel room in Tokyo.  Every detail was there.  “You’re so beautiful, Haze.  I love you so much.”

She tried to say ‘I love you’ back – he knew she was trying – but the sound was muffled. 

“Tell me, baby.  Tell me you love me too.”

He watched as she tried again, this time the noises coming out of her sounding like the parents in Charlie Brown. 

“Haze…”

Her mouth was moving again, but he couldn’t hear a thing. 

He felt his heart beating rapidly.  “Hazel, say it.  Say it,” he begged.

She was drifting away from him now, escaping from his grasp like the wind.  He couldn’t hold on to her.  He couldn’t keep her from going.  “Hazel,” he called out to her, desperate.  Suddenly, he was reaching out for her.  “Don’t go Hazel.  Tell me you love me.  You need to tell me you love me.”

“I need you, Ty,” she said, her body disappearing into clouds.  “You need me too, don’t you?”

“Of course I do!  Where are you going?”

“Back to bed.  Come back to bed with me!”

Tyson’s entire body jolted awake.  He was back in the hotel room in Toronto, acutely aware of his surroundings.  His chest was almost heaving as he got his bearings, realizing that Hazel was still wrapped in his arms, soundly asleep.  She wasn’t moving further and further away from him.  She wasn’t floating off into clouds.

But what she was doing made Tyson immediately realize why he was having such a dream in the first place. 

“Hazel…” he whispered cautiously, but could only hear her little snores.  “Hazel you gotta stop.”

She was grinding her ass against him, and judging by the fact that she was clearly still asleep, she was doing it subconsciously, even.  Tyson groaned slightly.  The fact she was doing this without knowing – that her body was quite literally physically reacting to being so close to his – made his head spin.  He could tell, and he could feel it – he was already hard.  He had no idea how long it had been going on for, but he knew that he would have to be the one to stop it. 

He gently placed a hand on her hips, pushing her ever so slightly.  Eventually, the grinding stopped, which allowed him to slip away from her slowly and gently, ensuring she didn’t wake up as he rolled away from her and out of the bed.  He looked down at his shorts and knew the only way he could go back to sleep was if he took care of…well…

He stepped into the washroom and finished the dream he’d just had, the way he wanted it to go.

When he slipped back into bed, he lay on his back looking up at the ceiling, going over what had just happened in his mind.  He couldn’t believe he just had to masturbate to one of his dreams.  What was he, fifteen?  It wasn’t until he started drifting off to sleep again did Hazel move.  And when she did, she flipped around, found his body in the bed, and nestled into him completely, laying her head on his chest and hooking one of her legs over his. 

A vicious cycle.

[crinkle-eyed-boo]

I'm looking at this logically and if the anon who had info about Asian leg being canceled also says there's SOME US shows being canceled because of low sales, wouldn't that make it true? I mean Louis really needs to give a reason to the fans who lost money on flights and hotels for this. And some of his US shows that aren't near major cities aren't half sold so logically it makes sense to cancel those. I looked at the first 3 US shows and they're not even close to being sold out with lots of empty seats.

Why are we taking the word of someone hiding behind the anonymous circle with the sunglasses on tumblr dot com who probably just took the discussion on Twitter, where apparently rumors had been swirling for several days, and brought it here? Were they right that the Asia leg got pulled? Sure. Are they the authority on the WHY? Not in the slightest. Everyone is fucking guessing.

As someone who is GOING to the first US show, all the tickets available there are RESALE tickets, with a couple of random standard tickets thrown in. Given now that it's the first show of the entire tour, I would imagine the resale sales will pick up there. (Also with resale tickets...they ALREADY HAVE THE MONEY. The seat may be empty if the reseller can't sell it, but uh, the venue counts it as sold, y'all.)

The New Hampshire venue tackles a good portion of the Northeast where there aren't major cosmopolitan cities. Everyone up there would be used to driving a distance for a show. Dave Matthews Band, Matchbox 20, Charlie Puth, and Third Eye Blind are all playing there over the summer. None of those shows are sold out. Is anyone saying they should cancel those? No. The venue in Quebec? 85% full I'd say, looking at the map, and the only tickets left are the highest and furthest back seats. Toronto? Mainly resale seats. Blossom Music Center? Services Cleveland and Akron, it's two months away, and the seats available there are all the back section. Is it a lot of empty seats? Yes. Did I go see The Chicks at Jones Beach last summer and the venue was MAYBE 55% full and the show still went on? YES.

Shows are undersold all the time. I went to Stars on Ice right after the Olympics last year, and the arena was like 40% sold. Did the show go on? Yes. Now, is it coming to New York this year? No. Underselling could affect his ability to book bigger venues on the next go around (something I am going to be interested to see with Niall, because his 2020 pre-pandemic sales weren't great) but as far as the current tour? As many seasoned concert fans keep SAYING an undersold show is still far more valuable than a canceled one.

Jesus Christ, it's like some of y'all are wanting him to flop and it's INFURIATING and EXHAUSTING.

[bluestonebliss]

HELLO my tumblr twin, it’s your turn to share something spooky from where you’re from!

Tales From the Perth Regions

Okay I dragged my Dad into helping me answer this ask because that man knows everything there is to know about The Happenings of this area.

These are my favourites.

The Satanists of Kings Park

To those unaware, Kings Park is one of the largest gardens within a city in the world. That place is fucking massive, and contains a lot of thick bush. One of the landmark buildings in the park is the DNA tower, named after its shape.

Also, unrelated but the vantage point from the top of the tower is pretty neat.

Popular local legend goes that from the mid to late 70s a group of Satanists and Devil-worshippers would gather on full moons at midnight to have meetings and dances on the tower, terrorising any outsiders that dared to get close. Over the years a few homeless people who slept in the park have gone missing or found dead leading many to believe they were sacrificed in a ritual.

My Dad never personally got chased out my a mob of Satanists, but many of his mates claim to have seen their dances.

Personally, I find this one rather rude. Im a bit miffed I didnt get an invite to these meetings. Mayhaps the kings park satanists are a tradition in need of revival.

The Wreck of the SS Alkimos

Boy oh boy this is a long one. Buckle up.

No idea about how much of this is factual, but as requested this is as much of the story as I can recount as it is told through the broken game of telephone.

Upon its construction, the Alkimos experienced its first tragedy. The story goes that during construction, eleven workers were trapped between layers of metal. They all suffocated to death. Some say their bodies werent found for days, while others say their corpses were never removed.

The ship saw active service in WW2 when its second tragedy occured. Some radio operator was killed in a muder-suicide on board which was covered up as an enemy attack. Apparently the radio opperator was the first Toronto woman to die in active duty during WW2. Her name was... Maud? I think? Her ghost is said to haunt the Alkimos. Now, this is a detail thats neither here nor there, but Dad says many radio broadcasts were made back in the 50s on the Alkimos wreck trying to document it for the public, but almost all of them failed or experienced a malfunction during transmission. Bit of an odd coincidence, no?

Now on to the weird shit.

On a trip to W.A., the Alkimos wrecked on Beagle Island. It was salvaged and towwed to the Freo ports for repair. It was then towwed out by an ocean-going tug boat to Kong Kong when the tow cable broke, and sent Alkimos right back to wreck on the coast of Freo. They flooded the hull to keep her stationary, and posted an onboard watchman. Dad says this watchman was driven off the job, claiming the ship was haunted. The Alkimos was repaired one again, and was leaving for the Philippines but the tug assisting got recalled due to a storm and Alkimos took anchor. The anchor broke, and sent the Alkimos back to run aground at Yanchep, only an hour-ish from Freo port. They gave up trying to restore her after that, and there she still remains to this day.

And now the bat-shit stuff.

Multiple scrapping companies attempted to scrap parts of the Alkimos over the years after everyone gave up trying to fix her. One company reported that every time they tried, a fire would break out on board. Every time they came back the fire would somehow restart and drive them away. A few of these companies went bankrupt soon after. Thus, the legend that removing any part of the Alkimos was an omen of terrible luck.

It is said that many ghosts haunt the wreck. The most famous being Henry, the ghost of an elder man in gumboots and an oil skin. Apparently he's nice enough. My Dad's mate, Jack Sue, wrote a book about the ship ( The Ghost of the Alkimos) and during his stay on board the ship for research he bunked there over night. He said that he woke one night to pained moans from the nearby bunk, and upon turning on his torch, the sheets of the bed went sailing across the room. He said that you could hear voices aboard and the smell of cooking despite it being abandoned. He took a spice rack off the ship, and immediately was hospitalised with some sort of lung infection. However, his lungs were already fucked by the war, so its not like it was very out of the blue. He died fully convinced the ship was haunted, and he was not the sort to shake easy.

Around the late 1960s, champion swimmer Herbert 'Shark Bait' Voigt attempted an unassisted swim from Cottesloe Beach to Rotto, an island off the coast of W.A. (from which the main access point is via the Freo port) Anyway, he was never seen again. A few weeks later, about an hour north of his departure point, his skull was found floating above the wreck of the Alkimos my an escaped prisoner. Some versions of the story say is was found over the wreck, some say about 200m off the wreck, and others say it was found in the flooded engine room. Nobody knows for sure. Regardless, the cause of death was never determined.

The Alkimos has been blamed for so many misfortunes, deaths, mishaps and the like in the area that its impossible to tell you all of them. My Dad even blames a missing half a tank of petrol on the Alkimos from when he rode there.

If you want to learn more, i bet that book would be a great place to start.

Either way, seems like a great scuba place to me! I will for sure be diving what remains of the ship the second I get the chance. And I will be taking what ever I can get my mits on from the wreck.

Sadly, almost all the ship is underwater these days, but nothing a snorkle cant fix! If I go missing after announcing a trip there, you will know why.

[news24news]

A Trump Tower Goes Bust in Canada

The failure this week of Trump Toronto showcased a familiar scenario: big promises, glitzy image, a Russian-born financier, aggrieved smaller investors – but few losses for the mogul himself.

The 65-story Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto has all the glitz and ambition of the luxury-brand businessman with his name in giant letters near its spire. It’s the tallest residential skyscraper in Canada, and probably the fanciest. The hotel’s sleek cream-and-black interiors were inspired by Champagne and caviar. Every room features Italian Bellino linens and Nespresso coffeemakers. Guests can book a Trump Experience outing through the Trump Attache concierge service. Their furry friends are eligible for the Trump Pets program, which “will fill your best Fido’s tummy with gourmet treats, and see them off to sleep on a plush dog bed.”

This Trump-branded and Trump-managed jewel is also, as a business venture, a bust.

On Tuesday, a Canadian bankruptcy judge placed the glass-and-granite building into receivership, just four years after Trump and his children cut the ribbon at its grand opening. Once it’s auctioned off, whether or not Trump is the leader of the free world by then, his name may well vanish from its marquee. Trump is not the project’s developer or even an investor; one of his partners, a Russian-born billionaire who got rich in Ukraine’s steel industry, controls the firm that’s in default. The Trump Toronto is still a posh hotel, and even though nearly two thirds of the tower’s condo units remain unsold, they’re still upscale residences. Still, the saga of the property’s glittering rise and rapid fall is classic Trump, featuring a tsunami of litigation and bitterness, money with a Russian accent, and a financial wreck that probably won’t hit its namesake particularly hard.

Trump has vowed to run the country the way he runs his businesses, and Trump Toronto is yet another reminder that his businesses do not always run smoothly. Even before the bankruptcy, the Trump Organization was already mired in litigation over management issues with the project’s owner, Talon International—led by Alex Shnaider, the steel magnate who is perhaps better known for buying a Formula One racing team and hiring Justin Bieber to sing at his daughter’s Sweet Sixteen. The project also faced lawsuits filed by middle-class investors who claim they were suckered into buying time-share-style units in the hotel with wildly overstated projections of Trump Toronto’s performance. Now it’s in receivership, which will produce new ownership and, quite possibly, a new brand.

Trump Organization spokeswoman Amanda Miller noted that the company still has a long-term deal to manage the Toronto property, no matter who controls it after the auction. “This has been a record year for the hotel, and we look forward to its continued success,” Miller said. “Guests can expect to receive the same superior level of service and quality that is synonymous with our brand around the world.”

But it’s not clear that Trump Toronto will keep its name, much less its management team. Toronto is one of the world’s most multicultural cities, and Trump’s run for the presidency, especially his provocations against immigrants and Muslims, have made his hotel a target for protests. And one insider familiar with the bankruptcy proceedings said that local rivals in the luxury condo and hotel market, notably the Four Seasons and the Ritz Carlton, have dramatically outcompeted the Trump property. Court documents show that even though investors in the hotel units were told the “worst case scenario” for occupancy rates would be 55%, they’ve ranged between 15% and 45%. The average room rate, despite the snazzy crystal sconces and in-mirror bathroom TVs and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Ontario, has been nearly $100 below the initial projections.

“The whole business model has been overpromise and underdeliver, and it’s Trump’s name on the thing,” the insider said. “You can’t put all the blame on him and his people. But if they did a terrific job, do you think it would be in bankruptcy?”

Trump first got involved in the project 15 years ago, when he held a press conference with Toronto’s mayor to announce his plan to build a new Ritz Carlton downtown. That plan fell apart when it came out that his development partner was a fugitive who had been convicted of bankruptcy fraud and embezzlement in the U.S. Trump then forged a licensing and management deal with Shnaider and another Russian-Canadian named Val Levitan, whose name comes up a lot in the documents because he had no development experience. Talon pre-sold 85 percent of the units at near-Manhattan prices before the groundbreaking in 2007, but most of the buyers backed out after the global financial crisis ravaged the real estate market, and Levitan was eventually forced out.

It is clear from affidavits in the fraud cases and the bankruptcy case that the buyers have taken a financial beating. A warehouse supervisor named Sarbjit Singh, who was earning about $55,000 a year, testified that he borrowed money from his father, a retired welder, for the deposit on his hotel unit; he never closed on the deal, but he says he still lost $248,000. Se Na Lee, a homemaker who was married to a mortgage underwriter, borrowed money for her deposit from her parents; she did close, and ended up losing $990,000 through December 2014, she says.

A judge later described Talon’s prospectus and other “deceptive documents” as “a trap to these unsurprisingly unwary purchasers,” and ruled that they could sue Trump as well as Talon. The surnames in the court filings reflect the global diversity of the people who put their trust in the Trump brand and the Talon sales representatives: Ayeni, Surani, Yuen, Rhee, Okwuosa, Gupta, Radhakrishman, Varadarasa, Akinkuotu. Some said they were assured that Trump’s involvement would make it easy for them to get mortgages, but banks have shied away, even as the local real estate market has become one of the hottest on the planet.

These problems were already simmering when Trump—along with his children Eric, Donald Jr. and Ivanka, who oversees his worldwide hotel operations—stepped out of a Cadillac Escalade for the hotel’s ribbon-cutting in April 2012. There are snippets of the event on YouTube, where you can see Trump smiling dutifully as he congratulates hotel staffers, accepting a Maple Leafs jersey with his name on the back, and watching a speech by Toronto’s late mayor, Rob Ford, who would later become a household name after a crack-smoking scandal.

By 2015, Trump and Talon were suing each other, with the Trump team alleging a Talon scheme to take over the management, Talon alleging a Trump scheme to devalue the property in order to buy it at a discount, and both sides accusing each other of shoddy financial record-keeping. Talon also disparaged Trump’s performance running the hotel, but the dispute is now in mediation. It probably won’t matter, because Talon is about to lose the property, most likely to JCF Capital, a U.S. investment firm that purchased its $225 million construction loan.

Talon’s attorney, Steven Rukavina, would only say that the company is cooperating with the restructuring, and views the court’s appointment of a receiver as “a positive step forward toward achieving that objective.” JCF declined comment, though it has said in its filings that it intends to honor Trump’s contract if it assumes control of the property.

But Trump’s campaign, with its hostility towards foreigners, progressives, and others, has not played well in Toronto. A city councilor has called for the property to change its name. Hollywood types reportedly blackballed the hotel—along with its 31st-floor restaurant, which is actually called America—during this summer’s Toronto Film Festival. There have been protests outside the building by union workers, women’s groups, and Muslim groups. The Trump brand is under siege, which has delayed the opening of a similar Trump-licensed hotel and condo project in Vancouver until after the election. The colorful mosaic celebrating multiculturalism at the entrance to Trump Toronto, titled A Small Part of Something Larger, now seems to clash with the nominee’s white-backlash message.

Trump has presided over four corporate bankruptcies, and the flurry of lawsuits and countersuits over Trump Toronto’s broken promises is rather typical for a Trump property. But this is Talon’s bankruptcy, not his. The project was built with other people's money; he just got paid for the use of his name and his hotel management team. It’s not clear how much he ever knew about Talon’s high-pressure sales tactics. It’s also not clear how much he ever knew about his Russian-Canadian partner's business activities in Eastern Europe.

“We heard fantastic things about [Shnaider],” Trump told a Forbes reporter by phone from his 2005 honeymoon. “But sometimes people say wonderful things whether they mean them or not.”

Then again, Trump did license his name and his brand to Talon. This isn’t his main concern this week, but he can’t deny all responsibility for the failure of a Trump project, especially when the Trump Organization is running the Trump hotel. The project's partners, investors, and lenders all got a Trump Experience, one that isn't available from the concierge.

[wakingworldtourist]

(Carmen Solomons, 26, She/Her) Have you seen [Henrietta Morrison] around Faerune? They’re a [Human] who [IS NEUTRAL ABOUT] restoring the Seelie Court. People have heard they’re [Hardworking, Kind and Resourceful] but can also be [Stubborn, Forgetful and Impulsive]. We’ll see where they fall when the revolution arrives, but until then they can be found working as a [Florist]. (TK, 28, She/Her, PST)

Name: Henrietta Morrison Nicknames: Hen, Galinha, Gizzards Pronouns: She/Her Sexuality: Pansexual Occupation: Florist

[ The journal is well loved, and marked as [Henrietta Morrison - [current year]. The writing with in is somewhere between print and Henrietta's chicken scratch. ]

"Hi Henrietta, or whomever Henrietta decided to hand this book to. Unless you stole it. Then give it back you fucking hoser. Either way, your psychologist recommended you (any 'yous' and 'yours' being Henrietta) keep journals with your information just in case.

Your name is Henrietta Basil(like the plant) Morrison. Don't ask about the middle name okay? You were born on October 27th [year]. Your mom passed away when you were ten so it's always been you and your dad. You were a fairly healthy and normal kid until the incident. Something really, really bad happened. Bad enough that your brain completely blotted it out. This would normally be fairly standard PTSD talking, except you started having episodes where you'd go into dissociative trances and not remember anything that happened during them. It's weird. The doctors are still trying to figure out why it keeps happening, what causes it and what to call them, but for now there's a dissociative disorder tacked onto your diagnosis of PTSD. 

The sole perk of this is that you have a psychiatric service dog named Daisy. She's a boxer. Her tasks are keep you grounded when you're starting to dissociate and alert when an episode is about to begin so you can find a safe place to be in.

[ The rest of the journal catalogs Henrietta's daily life. She's a college student in her fourth year of her mastery degree in botany who lives in Toronto, Canada with her father. There's nothing really out of the ordinary until a point where pages are ripped out. ]

Hi. Okay, it's been like...I dunno how long since I woke up from my episode. Still fucking mad about whoever decided to rip pages from here. Who the fuck takes a journal from someone who VERY CLEARLY has memory issues and NEEDS the journal to keep her brain together and decides ripping pages out is a good idea. Gonna fucking rip your spine out and use it as fertilizer how bout that?

Anyway. Hi, I'm updating my journal. While on a walk with Daisy something happened to trigger an episode and I somehow ended up in like a parallel dimension. Fifteen year old me would've loved this, because now I'm in a town full of vampires, werewolves and fae and shit. I literally don't remember how I got here and I'm guessing some good Samaritan brought me to the town hospital because that's where I woke up from the episode.

I've talked to a lot of people over the past few days, mostly doctors and cops. I've managed to secure both a place to stay and a job. Right now I'm staying in a one bedroom apartment which is fine and I work at Bramble & Wild as a florist. My current goals are get as settled as I can, figure out the who, what, wheres and whys of how I got here and get home. I'm pretty sure my dad's hairs are finally white, at least one paper is well overdue, I'd like my other journals and Daisy misses her blankie.

Also poutine. I haven't had a good poutine in god knows how long, this is sacrilege.

[pastortomsteers]

The First Sunday after Trinity

June 2, 2024

Pastor Tom Steers

Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto

Lutheran Service Book

Divine Service III – Pages 184-202

OPENING HYMN:  655 ”Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8ViZi7M5p4    

 

The Introit

Psalm 13:1-4; antiphon, verses 5-6

 

I have trusted in your steadfast love;     my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord,     because he has dealt bountifully with me.

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?     How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul     and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;     light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”     lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

And to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

I have trusted in your steadfast love;     my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord,     because he has dealt bountifully with me.

The Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy)                                                                                                                                Congregation:                                                                                                    Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ have mercy upon us.                                                                                                                                  Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Salutation –                                                                                                                               Pastor: The Lord be with you.  

                                                                                                               Congregation: And also with you. 

                                                             

Our Collect Payer:

O God, the strength of all who trust in You, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing, grant us Your grace to keep Your commandments, that we may please You in both will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Our Bible Readings:

First Reading Genesis 15:1-6

Psalm 33:12-22

Epistle Reading   1st John 4:16-21

The Verse (Psalm 7:1) 

Alleluia. O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me. Alleluia.

Gospel Reading  Luke 16:19-31

The Apostles’ Creed  Page 192

HYMN OF THE DAY:  545  “Word of God, Come Down on Earth”   

 

THE SERMON –

The last words Martin Luther wrote before he died may well have been inspired by our Gospel account of the rich man and Lazarus.

Luther wrote, "We are all beggars. This is true."

At times, every one of us feels like Lazarus.

Vulnerable, in need, perhaps alone, we can watch a world that parties and feasts, and often ignores those going through hardships.

And though each of us before God is, like Lazarus, poor and helpless, we haven’t had to settle for mere crumbs fallen from God’s table.

Instead, we’ve been invited and seated at the Lord’s feast now in the Church.

One day Christians will finally be carried to Heaven to be with God, the source of all true riches and eternal life.

This is a message from today’s Gospel lesson.

It’s the Good News of Christ.

Yet there’s also a warning from Jesus here.

It’s not the caution a casual reading of Scripture might leave us with, but an important warning none-the-less.

Let’s go back to this account of Lazarus.

And I call it that because Jesus doesn’t use the word parable to describe it, but He does include a name, Lazarus, and that’s unique.

This is only parable where Christ uses a name, so it may have been an actual individual.

The name Lazarus in Hebrew means, “the one whom God helps.”

And that was certainly true for this poor man.

God ultimately helped him, saved him, when no one on earth would.

The rich man in passage is heartless, wicked, and most importantly, faithless.

His money has become an idol, his ‘god.’

He knowingly withholds food and shelter from the poor man outside his door. 

We could take away the lesson that being a child of God is no guarantee of an easy life. 

And that would be true, but it’s not the point of the account. 

Neither is the greed of the rich man the real message. 

It’s only a tool in the story.

How do we know the rich man knowingly ignored Lazarus? 

Because he recognizes him lying comforted at the side of Abraham. 

He’s been aware of Lazarus, and consciously withheld what he needed. 

So, the scene is set:  the good but poverty-stricken, versus the rich and uncaring. 

Where could we find this contrast? 

Sadly, today, in many countries, even in our own.

Should we care about those less fortunate than us? 

Of course. 

Should we respond to them, and take a warning from these words?                                                                               

Yes. 

Is that the key point Jesus is making.  

No. 

We can draw those lessons from the account, but so can the un-believer.

The heart of the message lies deeper.

Lazarus dies, and we’re told he’s carried away by angels to be comforted by Abraham.

Then the Rich Man also dies, and his fate is coldly reported simply as "being buried.”

Immediately, the rich man finds himself in Hell. 

A place of fire that never goes out, and where pain doesn’t cease, as Jesus describes it elsewhere. 

It’s real.

The rich man sees Lazarus at a great distance.                         

He is at peace.

The rich man, however, doesn’t repent, say he’s sorry, or turn to faith. 

He asks Abraham to have Lazarus fetch some water for him.

He’s reminded by Abaham of how, when the situation was reversed during life, Lazarus received no such mercy from Him.

And things are so arranged now that Lazarus can’t provide the requested relief.

Are we supposed to be frightened by the threat of condemnation here? 

Yes, but still, it’s not the account’s purpose.

Everyone hearing these words from Jesus understood the justice of the situation.

They knew evil will suffer in judgment.

They knew God called them to be compassionate.

Then the rich man asks for Lazarus to be sent to his brothers, to warn, and spare them the misery of his condition. 

Abraham says they have Moses and the Prophets.

They have Holy Scripture, the Word of God to warn and instruct them! 

Then the rich man makes his point, that the Scriptures didn't work with him! 

He had ignored the Word of God.

He reasoned that Scripture and the Church might not work, but if someone came calling from the grave, that kind of sign would wake his brothers up! 

Those listening to Jesus might have been in agreement with the rich man on this point.

We might be tempted to agree too. 

The Word of God just doesn’t seem to get through to some people.

They either won’t go to Church to hear it preached, or if they do, they just won’t take it seriously.

The feeling for some appears to be that God’s Word is always there, and it will wait until they’re ready to believe.

This is where the account of Lazarus by Jesus is really going.

Jesus drops the whole message on His listeners then, and now, when He says:

 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'

Christ is saying that if the powerful Word of Almighty God won’t reach some people, neither will a corpse rising out of the ground persuade them.

Our Saviour is blunt in saying if His Word doesn’t move someone, nothing can, or will. 

Now, I imagine there were a lot of people listening that day who disagreed.

And I’d guess that some of them thought a person rising from the dead would move people to sit up, and believe. 

But that’s a little like the people who say, if Noah's Ark were found, it would prove the Bible is true and bring the world around to the Christian faith. 

Unfortunately seeing Noah's Ark didn’t work that way for people back when it was built.

So why would it work for skeptics today? 

Jesus gave the world the ultimate proof of what He said by dying and then rising from the tomb.

And some of the very people who were listening that day, like the Pharisees Luke tells us were there, may have witnessed His death.

The Pharisees knew from many credible witnesses, even one of their own, Nicodemus, that Christ did rise from the grave, and yet they would not believe in Him. 

In First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Paul gives a list of people who saw the risen Jesus.

These witnesses included the twelve disciples, James the brother of Jesus, and a group of more than 500 people at the same time.

Some of the Pharisees and Scribes even tried to silence witnesses to the resurrection. 

They paid the Roman guards at the empty tomb to lie about it.

Jesus has risen from the grave, but not all people believe. 

Christ has risen, but many sin boldly, or call sin something to be proud of.

They’ve heard about hell and damnation, yet they just shrug it off.

But if the Word of God, and the work of the Holy Spirit, can’t move them to faith at some point in their life, nothing can or will.

Your sins have been forgiven because Jesus died in your place on the cross. 

He rose from the grave to prove sin, death and hell have been conquered, and taken out of your future. 

It was His resurrection that mattered for the whole world.

And as believers you will rise from death one day by the power of Jesus, and live with Him forever. 

Should we live a life of compassion?

Yes. 

We should try, that is the will of God. 

But will that save us?  

No. 

As sinful human beings, we can’t live a perfect life.

Jesus, our Saviour, did that for us, and paid for our sins at Calvary.

Believe it.

Listen to the Word of God about the One who rescued you.

Christians have the comfort that one day, despite the pain and hardships of this life, we will be held by God, and have peace, and all we need from Him.

This account of Jesus is meant to tell us where saving faith comes from.

The Bible makes clear in Romans 10:17 that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

You are born again by a Word that is living, powerful, and imperishable.

It is the Holy Spirit that uses God’s means of grace, His Word and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to work and sustain faith within us.

And so, as believers, whatever your status in the eyes of the world – no matter your outward appearance or success as measured by earthly standards –you will be carried by angels to paradise.

Until that time, Christians will be nurtured by the true Church, where God’s Word is taught correctly, and the Sacraments administered properly.

Where we are given a foretaste of Heaven.

May the peace that passes all understanding comfort you, and keep Your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ.

Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT    Page 194                                                                                                          (Our Communion Hymn is 641 “You Satisfy the Hungry Heart”)                                                                                                                                Communion Collect  (Left-hand column)    Page 201

CLOSING HYMN:   504 “Father Most Holy”

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The FTC has Big Pharma’s number

On November 27, I'm appearing at the Toronto Metro Reference Library with Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

On November 29, I'm at NYC's Strand Books with my novel The Lost Cause, a solarpunk tale of hope and danger that Rebecca Solnit called "completely delightful."

The most consistent bright spot in the dark swirl of US politics is the competence of the Biden Administration's progressive enforcers: people like Rohit Chopra, Jonathan Kanter and Lina Khan, who keep demonstrating just how far a good administrator can go. Anyone can have a vision, but knowing how to execute is the difference between hot air and real change:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/23/getting-stuff-done/#praxis

Take a minute to contrast Biden's administrators with Trump's: Trump's administrators had an ideological vision just as surely as Biden's do, and Trump himself had a much more pronounced and explicit ideology than Biden, whose governance style is much more about balancing the Democratic Party's blocs than bringing about a specific set of policies:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/06/personnel-are-policy/#janice-eberly

But whatever clarity of vision the Trump administration brought to DC was completely undermined by its incompetence (thankfully!). Apart from one gigantic tax break, Trump couldn't get stuff done. He couldn't deliver, because he'd lose his temper or speak out of turn:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/14/when-youve-lost-the-fedsoc/#anti-buster-buster

And his administrators followed his lead. Scott Pruitt was appointed to run the EPA after a career spent suing the agency. It could have been the realization of his life's dream to dismantle environmental law in America and open the floodgates for unlimited, wildly profitable corporate pollution and pillaging. But the dream died because he kept getting embroiled in absurd scandals – like the time he sent his staffers out to drive around all night looking for a good deal on a used mattress:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/epa-s-pruitt-told-aide-obtain-old-mattress-trump-hotel-n879836

Or his insistence on installing a CIA-style "Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility" (SCIF) so he could play super-spy while reading memos:

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/26/politics/epa-administrator-scott-pruitt-sound-proof-booth-scif/index.html

Or the time he sent his security detail to the Ritz-Carlton to demand that they supply him lots of little bottles of his favorite hand-cream:

https://www.vox.com/2018/6/7/17439044/scott-pruitt-ritz-carlton-moisturizing-lotion

There were other examples in the Trump administration, but Priutt is such a good case-study. He's like a guy who spent his whole life training to compete in the Olympics, and finally got a shot, only to be disqualified for ordering too much room-service in the Olympic Village. Priutt was wildly ambitious, but he was profoundly undisciplined – and wildly incompetent.

Compare that with Biden's progressive enforcers and agency heads, who showed up on the first day of work with an encyclopedic knowledge of their administrative powers, and detailed plans for using them to transform the lives of the American people for the better:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/18/administrative-competence/#i-know-stuff

The Biden administration's competence translates into action, getting stuff done. Maybe that shouldn't surprise us, given the difference between the stories that reactionaries and progressives tell about where change comes from.

In reactionary science fiction, we enter the realm of the "Competent Man" story. Think of a Heinlein hero, who is "able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly."

In Competent Man stories, a unitary hero steps into the breach and solves the problem – if not single-handedly, then as the leader of others, whose lesser competence is a base metal that the Competent Man hammers into a tempered blade:

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Creator/RobertAHeinlein

Contrast this with a progressive tale, like, say, Kim Stanley Robinson's Ministry For the Future, where the Competent Man is replaced by the Competent Administration, in which people of goodwill and technical competence figure out how to join forces to create population-scale architectures of participation that allow every person to contribute their skills and perspective:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/12/03/ministry-for-the-future/#ksr

The right's whole ideology insists that the world can only be saved by Competent Men. As Corey Robin writes in The Reactionary Mind, the unifying factor that binds together conservative factions from monarchists to racists to Christian Dominionists is the belief that a few of us are born to rule, and the rest to be ruled over:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/05/25/mafia-logic/#mafia-logic

The Reaganite insistence that governments are, by their very nature, incompetent and malign ("The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I’m from the government, and I’m here to help'"), means that conservatives deny the possibility of a Competent Administration.

When conservatives take office and proceed to bungle the most basic elements of administration, they're fulfilling their own campaign narrative, which starts with "We must dismantle the government because it is bad at everything." Conservatives who govern badly prove their own point, which explains a lot about the UK Tory Party's long run of governmental failure and electoral success:

https://apnews.com/article/uk-suella-braverman-fired-cabinet-shuffle-7ea6c89306a427cc70fba75bc386be79

There's a small mercy in the fact that so many of the most ideologically odious and extreme conservative governments are so technically incompetent in governing, and thus accomplish so little of their agendas.

But the inverse – the incredible competence of the best progressive administrators – is nothing short of a delight to witness. Here's the latest example to cross my path: the FTC has intervened in a lawsuit over generic insulin pricing, on an issue that is incredibly technically specific and also fantastically important:

https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/ftc-blasts-pharmas-abuse-fda-patent-system-sanofi-mylans-insulin-monopoly-lawsuit

The underlying case is before the FDA, and it concerns the dirty tricks that pharma giant Sanofi used to keep Mylan from making a generic version of Mylan's Lantus insulin after its patent expired.

There's an explicit bargain in patents: inventors can enlist the government to punish their rivals for copying their ideas, but in exchange, the government demands that the inventor has to describe how the invention works in a detailed patent filing, and when the patent expires, 20 years later, rivals can use the patent application as instructions for freely copying and selling the invention. In other words: you get 20 years of exclusive rights in return for facilitating your competitors' copying and selling your invention when the 20 years are up.

Pharma doesn't like this, naturally: not content with 20 years of exclusivity, they want the government to step in and punish their competitors forever. In service to that end, pharma companies have perfected a process called evergreening, where they dribble out ancillary patents after their initial filing, covering minor reformulations, delivery systems, or new uses.

Evergreening got a moment in the public eye earlier this year, with John Green's viral campaign to shame Johnson & Johnson out of using evergreening to restrict poor countries' access to TB medication:

https://armandalegshow.com/episode/john-green-part-1/

The story of pharma is that it commands gigantic profits, but it invests those profits into medicines that save our lives. The reality is that most of the key underlying pharma research is publicly funded (by Competent Administrators who apportion funding to promising scientific inquiry). Pharma companies' most inventive genius is devoted to inventing new evergreening tactics:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/19/solid-tumors/#t-cell-receptors

That's where the FTC comes in, in this Sanofi-Mylan case. To facilitate the production of generic, off-patent drugs, the FDA maintains a database called the "Orange Book," where pharma companies are asked to enumerate all the ancillary patents associated with a product whose patent is expiring. That way, generics manufacturers who make their own version of these public domain drugs and therapeutics don't accidentally stumble over one of those later patents – say, by replicating a delivery system or special coating that is still in patent.

This is where the endless, satanic inventiveness of the pharma sector comes in. You see, US law provides for triple damages for "willful patent infringement." If you are a generics manufacturer eyeing up a drug whose patent is about to expire and you are notified that some other patents might be implicated in your plans, you must ensure that you don't accidentally infringe one of those patents, or face business-destroying statutory damages.

So pharma companies stuff the Orange Book full of irrelevant patent claims they say may be implicated in a generic manufacture program. Each of these claims has to be carefully evaluated, both by a scientific team and a legal team, because patents are deliberately obfuscated in the hopes of tricking an inattentive patent examiner into granting patents for unpatentable "inventions":

https://blueironip.com/patents-that-hide-the-ball/

What's more, when a pharma giant notifies the FDA that it has ancillary patents that are relevant to the Orange Book, this triggers a 30-month delay before a generic can be marketed – adding 2.5 years to the 20 year patent term. That delay is sometimes enough to cause a manufacturer to abandon plans to market a generic drug – so the delay isn't 2.5 years, it's infinite.

This is a highly technical, highly consequential form of evergreening. It's obscure as hell, and requires a deep understanding of patent obfuscation, ancillary patent filings, generic pharma industry practice, and the FDA's administrative procedures.

Sanofi's Orange Book entry for Lantus insulin listed 50 related patent claims. Of these, 48 were invalidated through "inter partes" review (basically the Patent Office decided they shouldn't have allowed these claims to be included on a patent). Neither of the remaining two claims were found to be relevant to the manufacture of generic Lantus.

This is where the FTC's filing comes in: their amicus brief doesn't take a position whether Sanofi's Orange Book entries were fraudulent, but they do ask the FDA to intervene to prevent Orange Book stuffing because "improper listings can cause significant harm to competition and consumers."

This is the kind of boring, technical, important stuff that excellent administrators can do. The FTC's brief is notice to the FDA that it should amend its procedures to ban (and punish) Orange Book abuse. That will make it possible for you, a person who needs medicine, to get that medicine more cheaply and quickly. In America's pay-for-use privatized healthcare hellscape, this could be a life-or-death matter.

There's plenty of things the Biden administration is getting very, very badly wrong, but we shouldn't lose sight of how its progressive wing is making real, lasting change for the better. Competent Administrations are the true peoples' champions. They beat Competent Men every time.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/23/everorangeing/#taste-the-rainbow

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Best Courier Charges from India to Canada | Starting from 854 Per Kg

Sending packages and documents internationally is an essential part of life. For businesses, international shipping is crucial for reaching global markets. For individuals, it's a means of keeping in touch with friends and family across the world. 

If you are considering sending an International Courier to Canada (Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Edmonton, Vancouver, Surrey, Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Brampton and more) it is important to understand the costs and the process involved. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore courier charges from India to Canada, as well as provide tips and insights on how to navigate international shipping with ease.

Understanding Courier Charges from India to Canada

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Shipping internationally can be expensive, but there are ways to reduce costs:

1. Choose the Right Packaging: Use appropriate packaging to avoid unnecessary weight and size charges. Proper packaging also ensures the safety of your items.

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How to Send an International Courier from India to Canada with Rapidex Worldwide Express

Here’s a step-by-step guide to sending an International Courier to Canada with Rapidex Worldwide Express:

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Our team is happy to assist you in finding the most efficient and cost-effective shipping options to suit your needs. Feel free to reach out to us for any specific queries or to request a quote.

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International shipping from India to worldwide destinations can seem complex, but with the right international courier service, it becomes a hassle-free experience. Rapidex Worldwide Express offers reliable and efficient international courier services in India to Canada and beyond. Our International Courier in Mumbai provides fast and secure deliveries within the region, offering you peace of mind for your local shipping needs. Trust Rapidex Worldwide Express for dependable, global shipping and local courier services.

With our competitive rates and excellent customer support, you can trust us to handle your packages with care. Whether you are looking for an International Courier in India, specifically in Mumbai, or anywhere else, we have the expertise and network to meet your needs.Choose Rapidex Worldwide Express for your next international courier shipment to Canada, and experience seamless and secure shipping at competitive prices. Contact us today for a quote and take the first step toward courier service to Canada.

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Everything to Know About Canadian Hours of Service Rules

The trucking industry is one of the most heavily regulated in the country. The Canadian government has developed rules and regulations to protect industry workers and keep our roads safe. Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are some of the most important ones and are designed to reduce the number and severity of trucking collisions by addressing driver fatigue. Every transportation company is required to comply with HOS regulations, which is why it is important to fully understand what is laid out in it.

Daily Requirements

To comply with Canadian Hours of Service regulations, truck drivers must:

• Have 10 hours off-duty in a day • Cannot drive for more than 13 hours in a day • Cannot drive after 14 hours on-duty in a day

Off-Duty Requirements

Depending on how long a driver has worked, they are required to take a certain amount of mandatory off-duty time:

• After a period of at least 8 hours off-duty, a driver cannot drive more than 13 hours • After a period of at least 8 hours off-duty, a driver cannot drive after having been on-duty for 14 hours • After a period of at least 8 hours off-duty, a driver cannot drive after 16 hours has elapsed

Cycle Requirements:

Truck drivers in Canada can follow a 7-day or 14-day cycle, which shall be designated by the operator for the driver to follow. Each cycle has its own requirements:

• For a 7-day cycle, a driver cannot drive after having been on-duty for 70 hours • For a 14-day cycle, a driver cannot drive after having been on-duty for 120 hours. Drivers also cannot drive after accumulating 70 hours on duty without taking 24 consecutive hours off-duty • All drivers must have a period of at least 24 consecutive hours off-duty in the preceding 14 days • Drivers may only switch their cycle if they start a new cycle • To start a new cycle, a 7-day cycle driver must take 36 consecutive hours off-duty • To start a new cycle, a 14-day cycle driver must take 72 consecutive hours off-duty

Daily Log Requirements

In addition to complying with Canadian Hours of Service rules, drivers and trucking operators are also required to accurately log this information. A number of pieces of information are required for daily logs including the driver’s name, the date, start times, plate numbers and more.

Learn More

It is important for every trucking company and truck driver to understand and comply with all of Canada’s Hours of Service rules. AVAAL’s Hours of Service and Log Book training course covers all of these regulations, as well as covers the differences in regulations for drivers that operate in the U.S. Students also learn how to accurately fill out logbooks in order to meet compliance standards.

Enroll today for our upcoming session to get started!

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Solutions for Financial Success: Discover Reliable Bookkeeping Services in Toronto

In the bustling city of Toronto, finding dependable bookkeeping services can be the cornerstone of financial success for businesses large and small. Among the myriad of options, 3K Shami Tax and Accounting Services stands out as a trusted partner for businesses seeking excellence in financial management.

3K Shami has earned a stellar reputation for its commitment to accuracy, reliability, and personalized service. With a team of seasoned professionals well-versed in the nuances of Canadian tax laws and accounting practices, they offer comprehensive solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

One of the key advantages of partnering with their Services is their unwavering dedication to ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. In an ever-changing financial landscape, staying abreast of tax laws and regulations is paramount to avoiding costly penalties and maximizing deductions. The team at 3K Shami keeps a vigilant eye on updates and changes, ensuring that their clients remain in good standing with the authorities.

Moreover, their commitment to accuracy and attention to detail set them apart in the industry. From meticulous record-keeping to precise financial reporting, clients can trust that their books are in capable hands. This level of precision not only fosters peace of mind but also provides invaluable insights into the financial health of the business, empowering clients to make informed decisions for growth and profitability.

In addition to their proficiency in bookkeeping services toronto 3K Shami Tax and Accounting Services takes a proactive approach to client satisfaction. They understand that every business is unique, and as such, they take the time to listen and understand the specific needs and goals of each client. Whether it's streamlining processes, identifying cost-saving opportunities, or offering strategic financial advice, they go above and beyond to add value to their services.

[burlingtoncabservice]

Reasons To Not Hesitate and Book Your Taxi In Burlington Today!

Are you looking for a reliable taxi service in Burlington? Is it time to book a taxi but you keep putting it off? We have great reasons why you should go ahead and book your taxi in Burlingtontoday without any more hesitation!

Convenience - Booking early means you won't have to scramble at the last minute trying to find a taxi. Save yourself the stress by securing your ride ahead of time through an easy booking process.

Reliability - The top taxi companies in Burlington have modern dispatch systems to efficiently route your taxi to arrive on schedule. No more wondering if your ride will show up!

Professional Drivers - Burlington taxi drivers undergo background checks and strict licensing, so you can trust you’ll have a skilled, safe driver.

Clean Vehicles - Reputable taxi companies keep their fleet well-maintained with regular service, so you can relax in comfort and cleanliness.

Fixed Rates - Know exactly what your fare will be ahead of time when you get a quote. No surprise charges at the end of your taxi ride in Burlington!

On-Time Arrival - Schedule your pickup for school, airport, train, events and more with taxi companies that track your ride. Get where you need to be punctually!

Convenient Payment - Pay easily with cash, credit and debit cards so you don’t have to stop at the ATM on the way to your taxi in Burlington.

Insured Drivers - You’re covered in case of accidents by riding with licensed taxi companies in Burlington, rather than uninsured independent drivers.

More Additional Reasons to Choose Taxis in Burlington

Taxis in Burlington provide services beyond basic rides from Point A to Point B. Many companies offer package delivery, disabled transportation with wheelchair-accessible vans, and convenient car seat options for families.

Corporate accounts and regular commuter discounts also make taxis an affordable choice for frequent transportation needs.

From sightseeing tours for visitors to medical facility rides for patients, taxis meet niche transportation needs safely and professionally.

During times of inclement weather or vehicle breakdowns, they are a vital backup mobility service for the Burlington region.

As the business, tourism and healthcare center of the Greater Toronto and Golden Horseshoe areas, high-quality taxis in Burlington facilitate commerce, events and daily life.

Conclusion

With so many advantages to booking your taxi in Burlington ahead of your travel date, call or go online today to schedule your next ride! The top taxi service in Burlington will get you wherever you need to go smoothly and affordably. So don’t hesitate about that taxi in Burlington - book it now!

If you are looking for the best taxi in Burlington, your search ends at Star Cab Taxi! We ensure you travel safely, and comfortably. Reach out to us today at (802)238-4135 or email us at starcabtaxivt@gmail.com. Have a memorable experience at the best price!

Resource: https://burlingtoncabservice.wordpress.com/2024/02/07/reasons-to-not-hesitate-and-book-your-taxi-in-burlington-today/

[gotodoctor-ca]

How Can I Take Online Doctor Services in Ontario?

Introducing the system of virtual healthcare services is a great step towards provision of medical facilities and expert opinions to people from the comfort of their homes especially when 10 percent people in Ontario fail to find a qualified house doctor for their medical concerns. Through virtual appointments, people in Ontario can have their medical issues solved without even having to leave their couch.

How to Get Virtual Health Services? A Step-by-Step Guide.

Before going for hiring an online doctor for your medical issues, you need to know about various platforms offering online healthcare services. The increase in demand of online doctor services has allowed a lot of companies and service providers to step into this avenue.

Step 1: Finding a Good Virtual Service Provider

There are different medical companies and healthcare providers online, all with their unique packages but one thing that they do share in common is a team of highly qualified and experienced professionals to assist the patients in the best possible way. Here are a few options where you can book an online doctor in Ontario:

Maple: Maple is a virtual service that brings Canadians closer to licensed physicians. The spectrum of this service focuses mainly on family and emergency medicine. People can access specialists in the field 24/7 to get their problems solved. This service also added screening tests for Covid-19 in its coverage program. People who have suspicions about contracting a coronavirus infection can get screened for a y possible infection (people need to have a valid OHIP card for this purpose).

Get Well Clinic: The clinic is located West in Toronto. It has a virtual care wing that provides online services to people who don’t have access to the clinic. It provides an e-membership for just $226 but significant waivers can be availed if you have a valid OHIP card. This particular service provides people with an opportunity to have consultations with Toronto-based doctors via private messaging, online chat and video chat.

Appletree: Appletree is an excellent virtual health service provider in Ontario that offers free of cost consultations to people who have a valid OHIP card. But it does not cover all healthcare issues so be sure to check the list of their services before booking an appointment. Once found suitable, an appointment can be arranged by simply checking in with your OHIP number and completing a survey.

EQ care: This particular platform is a pioneer of virtual health care in Canada. With an experience of over 30 years, it provides excellent services at the greatest level of convenience. The doctors are available 24/7 to discuss cases in both English and French languages. The service can be availed by downloading the app and describing the symptoms to EQ care team member who them connects you with a doctor. This way patients can receive expert opinions, get prescriptions and can also be suggested lab investigations and specialist referrals.

Livecare: Livecare is a telemedicine company that is currently owned and operated by physicians in Canada. It provides a wide range of health care services covering treatments for common disease conditions and allows people to connect with licensed practitioners. People can book online visits, discuss their concerns and keep a record of their progress. It also provides additional facilities such as online journals, health trackers and calendars.

Step 2: Booking an Appointment.

Once you have identified a suitable health care provider, the next step is to book an appointment with an online doctor. Most platforms have simple procedures such as signing up and providing relevant details and selecting an appropriate time slot for an online session. Some platforms provide toll free numbers where you can directly talk to a team member and book an appointment. In short, booking an online visit is not an uphill task.

Step 3: Discussing the Issue and Having Your Problem Solved.

The next step in line is to discuss your issue and getting an expert opinion.

The End Note:

Now that you know how to talk to a doctor online, avoid delays and book your online visit right now (if you have a problem of course!).