#Local Trailer Owner Union

[townpostin]

Local Trailer Union Threatens Strike Over Quick Tender Release

Trailer owners Oppose Issue of New Transport Tender Amid Election Period Tensions Key Points: * Trailer owners demand 10% annual rate hike in new tender terms * Union protests tender release without prior consultation during elections * Previous strike suspended under police pressure, parking issues unresolved JAMSHEDPUR – Local trailer owners threaten massive protest alleging that the company…

[katienelson7175]

6-13-24 Attempted Murder

They probed first I reported to CCSO hearing 2 specific words from down the road "money" and "help". I now question that it might have been 'For that much MONEY you fixing to scream HELP' and a mumble oh no you aint! With a taser lightly popping. I am questioning that I did actually hear one but didn't realize it was what I heard.

Looking closer and frame by frame

That's a barber shop razor / taser combo a gang style weapon referred to as an 'electric knife'. It has one purpose MURDER.

11-9-24 Threat by Oliver Goodwin

There was a questionable CB, walkie talkie or speaker phone conference inside the truck. The tenant pulled in behind the trailer first within an hour before in a black truck. John was questionable in the local area.

Driving in a 4 and a 1/2 lane may have been a hint to county road 511.

This is a DANGER to the public.

This has been ongoing since 2021. That includes, harassment, terroristic threats, trespassing, criminal trespassing, an attempt to sell me crystal meth, an incident where a female asked me to drive her down the road and believed lied to me using me to help her deliver meth.

IF I'm going to consider his service then I'm also going to consider his dis-service to his country.

"and domestic"

Even if I moved unless the next property owners used illegal drugs....

The first time I heard of this weapon being an 'electric knife'

It came from Bruce Eads in El Dorado, Arkansas.

"Go get my 'electric knife' " - Bruce Eads "I can't find a box cutter!" - Juvenile 🧐 "How many times have I told you that you can't use a box cutter! It won't cut deep enough! You have to use a barber shop razor blade." - Bruce Eads

"Where's the taser at?" - Juvenile 🧐

He made an anti trust comment to them and took an I WILL KILL YAW stance with them.

I did not go near him afterwords.

Some of his juvenile terrorized runners and other told me that he killed a person. I was told he cut their stomach open and stuffed a 50 lb weight in their rib cage and 'tossed them up' into a pond. They said he came back after cutting the ends off a water hose and he used it to snorkel under the pond and cut the bones up with a hacksaw. They said he went into Louisiana and got a gator and brought it back and put into the pond.

He claimed he was just a gator and that John was a shark. He claimed he was his supplier. He said John would kill ya and throw you in the ocean. This is the kind of 'weight' I saw.

(Not exaggerated! I swear it. I saw up to this much on one occasion.)

Is this red? In a ski mask with his hand wrapped around this male's mid section laying his head on his shoulder? 'the luv drug' I had first questioned the frame of the male who ran across the road with an AK47 being Oliver because the body frame looked a little off but he could have been wearing a coat or jacket. The way he carried the weapon (folding stock?) as he went across the road slipping it behind him and across his hips crouched down. It appeared almost military style. (suspected attempt to conceal the ak47 from the adjacent dusk to dawn pole light and potentially a technique learned in Iraq)

John was present on 6-13-24.

You'd be trying to convince me that a truck believed HIS truck pulled in and out of his driveway around 10 times and a trained Iraqi war veteran had no knowledge of it. (I could not even focus on my video game the lights from the truck kept catching the corner of my eye on my security cam monitor. They would have been going through house windows too.)

Nor can I dismiss her and the way she almost military style turns the gun clip.

I am at suspected GROUND ZERO of the center of the crystal meth supply for Union and Columbia County.

*Unless I am notified of arrest, this has tied my hands and forced me to go public. That does not include hearing unknown sources at the neighbor's home back porch telling someone to put their hands on top of their head. I will not be lulled into a false sense of security.

[sharpbharat]

jamshedpur local trailer owners union- लंबित मांगों को लेकर लोकल ट्रेलर ऑनर यूनियन एक बार फिर आंदोलन की तैयारी में, जानें क्या है मामला, देखिए video

जमशेदपुर: जमशेदपुर लोकल ट्रेलर ऑनर यूनियन अपनी लंबित मांगो को लेकर ने एक बार फिर आंदोलन करने की तैयारी में है. इनकी मांगों में पार्किंग की मरम्मत, पार्किंग की उचित वयवस्था, रेट में बढ़ोतरी समेत अन्य मांगें शामिल है. मंगलवार को यूनियन ने बैठक कर इसके लिए रणनीति बनाई. बैठक में पुनः आंदोलन करने का निर्णय लिया गया. यूनियन के अध्यक्ष जयकिशोर सिंह ने बताया कि टाटा कंपनी प्रत्येक दिन नये-नये नियम लगाकर…

[college-girl199328]

Why B.C. man drives a Tesla but lives in a van

At the end of his day, Lucas Philips drives to his home overlooking Spanish Banks Beach in Vancouver, near some of the most expensive real estates in Canada. He climbs out of his black Tesla and soaks in what he calls his "million-dollar view."

Philips is no wealthy property owner. His home is a Vanguard campervan berthed in a beachside parking lot. He spends most of his life on wheels, working as an Uber driver in his leased Tesla. He’s trying to get ahead and lives in his "sweet motor home" while taking online courses in the hope of getting a job in computer science.

Philips, who immigrated from Turkey five years ago, thinks himself lucky to share the view with mansion owners without draining his savings. He’s a member of a community of Vancouverites living in vans, trailers, and other recreational vehicles parked across the city.

Some, like Philips, use it as an economic strategy to cut costs as they plot a course to prosperity. Others have opted for a nomadic lifestyle and plan to move on. But more people are sleeping in vehicles as a last resort as they try to stave off full-blown homelessness in the notoriously expensive city.

Philips said in an interview in November that he used to pay a monthly rent of $1,600 for a one-bedroom suite in North Vancouver. When his rent went up to $2,300, he decided it didn’t make sense.

"The rent prices are just skyrocketing, and it’s really not that great when you pay for rent with half of your income," he said. So, in October, he bought a van and began living at Spanish Banks. Side benefits to the savings were that it made him feel closer to nature, and he enjoyed the van community’s friendly vibe.

He said he hoped to move back into an apartment this year to better focus on his studies. However, others have embraced life on wheels. Retired California mechanical engineer Alex Mosson, 58, was parked last week at Spanish Banks in a beige recreational vehicle he called his "tiny house."

He offered wine from a rack as he prepared a pot of clam chowder, with bacon and sourdough bread fresh out of the oven. Newly arrived in Canada, he was joined by his girlfriend, Massie McCloud, 52, a retired airline pilot who lives in Kitsilano. They were planning to spend a few more nights in Vancouver, then Whistler, before heading for Mexico, where Mosson used to live. They intend to return to Canada in March, according to McCloud.

"Don’t make other people jealous," interjected Mosson. McCloud likened the RV to "a giant backpack." "You have all your things with you," she said. "Part of the reason we are both excited about doing this trip is that we both had really confined lives for the last several years," said McCloud, who added that she is recovering from long-term COVID.

But not everyone on wheels has a choice. Over several visits to Spanish Banks, many residents appeared to be living out of cars and pickups, ill-equipped for the purpose. Their windows were screened with makeshift curtains for privacy, and their back seats and truck beds were packed with possessions.

The residents who approached these situations were more cautious. November rain dripped off the face of one man as he made repairs to his white box truck, strewn with black graffiti. He declined to give his name for an interview, saying he found his circumstances humiliating.

Dean Kurpjuweit, president of Vancouver’s Union Gospel Mission, said vans and trailers have become a way for some working people to stay in the city amid high conventional housing costs.

But the mission "will never advocate for living in vans as an alternative housing solution," he said. "We buy trailers to go on vacations... but no one wants to live there permanently," he said.

He said there is a difference between the "wilderness experience" of an RV and the cramped, inconvenient long-term life in the city. Living for an extended period in a trailer in Vancouver is mostly due to the "reality of the housing market here," Kurpjuweit said.

Local residents said in the summer and early fall that hundreds of people were living in vehicles at Spanish Banks. Dozens were still there in the fall, even after the City of Vancouver started warning people to move on, although their numbers dwindled with the onset of winter.

There are other campers in less scenic locations, clustered near big-box stores or scattered on quiet side streets. Keith Light, 76, used to own a home on Pender Island, a 40-minute ferry ride from Swarts Bay on Vancouver Island. But he's been living in a recreational vehicle for more than a year, which is now parked outside an east Vancouver Canadian Tire store.

In 2021, Light sold his island home to pay off debts. He said this week that it wasn’t until he’d relocated to Metro Vancouver that he realized housing costs were “ten times higher” than on Pender.

He lived with a friend, who got "a little tired" of his presence after about a year, and he moved out in May. "So, I got online and found this RV." "I got a pretty good deal on it, and it cost me $19,000," said Light, who lives on a monthly pension of $1,900.

He said it was comfortable but not a permanent solution. For one thing, the van has no electricity. Light said two external generators had been stolen, and the vehicle’s built-in generator didn’t work.

There’s also a sense of insecurity faced by most vehicle dwellers. It’s illegal to park a large vehicle on the street or in a park in Vancouver between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., including at Spanish Banks, although exceptions apply.

Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Eva Cook said that illegally parked RVs remain a “challenging issue” in many communities.

Since October, 47 notices reminding owners of parking rules have been issued, and most vehicles parked overnight at Spanish Banks have moved, she said. Cook said it was still working to educate users that overnight parking isn’t allowed in parks.

Paul Kershaw, a policy professor at the University of British Columbia’s school of population, said many people living in vans are “just as smart and as hard-working” as homeowners.

But some have been born too late and are now locked out of Vancouver’s real estate market or are facing prohibitive rent on even a one-bedroom apartment. Vancouver remains the most expensive place to rent in Canada, with the average price of a one-bedroom apartment now going for $2,633 per month, according to the National Rental Report issued last month.

Saving up for a home is also out of reach for many. In the mid-1970s, it took the typical young person five years of full-time work to save a 20 percent down payment on an average-priced home. Now it takes 17 years," said Kershaw.

Jenny Tan, a city councilor in Maple Ridge, east of Vancouver, is all too familiar with the high housing costs. She used to live in the West End in a trailer, an experience that compelled her to get into politics to try to make things "a little more affordable."

"I will be super honest; if I had a choice, I would do it for fun, she said. She lived in her trailer for three years as "cheerfully and optimistically" as she could, equipping it with a projector and hosting board games with friends.

But look, if there was a one-bedroom apartment to rent somewhere, I would have chosen that, said Tan. She said she ended up in a trailer in 2017 after doing all the right things in life" by graduating from university and landing a decent job.

With money tight, living in her trailer was better than paying rent. But the downsides outweighed any sense of fun. "When you live in a trailer, you are constantly afraid, stressed about losing your spot, about bylaw officers," she explained. "For the years I lived in my trailer, I had no hot running water."

Tan eventually moved into her house and considered her trailer life a learning experience. "But it was not the thing I would have chosen," said Tan. In east Vancouver, Light agrees.

Living in an RV is better than sleeping on the street, but it's not a permanent home. He said a renter should have to pay no more than 30 percent of their income to put a roof over their head.

He said a renter should have to pay no more than 30 percent of their income to put a roof over their head. Hoping that I can get a bachelor suite or one-bedroom in one of these subsidized housing units in Vancouver, said Light.

He said he spent a year on the waiting list with BC Housing. But unfortunately, the only way the places come up is when somebody dies, and that’s pretty bad. That’s also a sad thing.

[96thdayofrage]

Five times since last May, sheriff's deputies in Kansas and California have stopped armored cars operated by Empyreal Logistics, a Pennsylvania-based company that serves marijuana businesses and financial institutions that work with them. The cops made off with cash after three of those stops, seizing a total of $1.2 million, but did not issue any citations or file any criminal charges, which are not necessary to confiscate property through civil forfeiture. That process allows police to pad their budgets by seizing assets they allege are connected to criminal activity, even when the owner is never charged, let alone convicted.

Empyreal, which is represented by the Institute for Justice, argues that the seizure of its clients' money violated state law, federal law, and the U.S. Constitution. In a complaint it filed last Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Empyreal says it is "entitled to protection from highway robberies, regardless of whether they are conducted by criminals or by the Sheriff and federal law-enforcement agencies acting under color of law."

On May 17, Dickinson County Sheriff's Deputy Kalen Robinson pulled over one of Empyreal's vans on Interstate 70, ostensibly because the Colorado tag number was partially obstructed by the license plate frame. Robinson grilled the driver, who explained that she planned to pick up cash from licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in Kansas City, Missouri, the next day, then take it to a credit union in Colorado, which would entail traveling through Kansas again on the same highway. Robinson let the driver proceed on her way without issuing a citation, but the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) kept an eye on the van the following morning as it visited the Missouri dispensaries.

Later that day, Robinson stopped the van again as it traveled west on Interstate 70, seizing more than $165,000 in cash from its vault. In September, the Justice Department filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking to keep the money. If the government prevails, the Dickinson County Sheriff's Department will get up to 80 percent of the loot under the Justice Department's "equitable sharing" program.

In the affidavit supporting the federal forfeiture complaint, DEA Special Agent Bryson Wheeler noted that "marijuana is a controlled substance and illegal under both federal and Kansas state law." But Empyreal argues that the DEA's participation in this scheme ran afoul of the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment, a spending rider that bars the Justice Department (which includes the DEA and the FBI) from using any of its funds to interfere with the implementation of state laws authorizing the medical use of marijuana. Because the DEA violated that restriction, the company says, it also violated the Fourth Amendment's ban on unreasonable searches and seizures. And because the seizure was motivated by the prospect of financial gain, the lawsuit says, it violated the Fifth Amendment's guarantee of due process.

The stops and seizures in California raise additional legal issues, because that state, unlike Kansas, allows the sale of marijuana for medical or recreational use. It also explicitly protects companies like Empyreal from harassment by local or state law enforcement agencies. A 2020 law says a business that "transports cash or financial instruments, or provides other financial services does not commit a crime under any California law…solely by virtue of the fact that the person receiving the benefit of any of those services engages in commercial cannabis activity as a licensee pursuant to this division." Despite that law, San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies stopped Empyreal vans three times in November, December, and January, seizing more than $1 million.

On November 16, Sheriff's Deputy Jonathan Franco pulled over one of the company's vehicles, supposedly because it was following a tractor-trailer truck too closely. Like Robinson, Franco did not issue any citations. But after the driver told him the van was carrying cash, the lawsuit says, Franco "asked many questions about the nature of Empyreal's business." Even though it should have been clear that Empyreal was not violating any state laws, the cops seized about $700,000. The sheriff's office later told the company's lawyer the money "was transferred to the FBI for civil forfeiture."

On December 9, Empyreal says, the same deputies pulled over the same vehicle, driven by the same employee, ostensibly because he "slightly exceeded the speed limit and prematurely activated his turn signal." But once again, no citation was issued. According to the lawsuit, "the driver's operation of the Empyreal vehicle was completely lawful." The company says "the deputies had planned the stop in advance and would have pulled over the driver and the Empyreal vehicle regardless of how carefully or lawfully it was driven."

The deputies claimed a drug-sniffing dog alerted to the van, which Empyreal says also is not true: "Video footage from the vehicle does not show the dog alert on the vehicle. Instead, it shows the dog is barely interested in the vehicle."

This time the cops seized about $350,000. The deputies, who were audibly excited about the $700,000 haul, were somewhat disappointed by the relatively small size of the second seizure. Based on an audio recording by the van's security system, the lawsuit describes this exchange: "One of the deputies said, 'That's it?' and chuckled. He then said: 'You set the bar too high.' When another deputy remarked that he thought they'd get 'a million or two,' the [first] deputy responded, 'At least we got over a million'"—apparently referring to the combined take from the two seizures. The FBI later told Empyreal's lawyer it had also taken possession of the money seized on December 9, pending federal forfeiture proceedings.

From San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus' perspective, involving the feds has clear advantages. Money earned by state-legal marijuana businesses is not subject to forfeiture under California law. Even if it were, law enforcement agencies would be entitled to just 65 percent of the proceeds, compared to as much as 80 percent under federal law. And for cash forfeitures involving $40,000 or more, California requires "clear and convincing evidence," while federal law says "a preponderance of the evidence" is good enough.

Recognizing the allure of those terms, California legislators have prohibited federal "adoption" of seizures initiated by state or local law enforcement agencies. But that restriction does not cover seizures by anti-drug task forces that include federal as well as local agencies. Empyreal suspects the California stops involved such a task force: the Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team.

Federal participation still implicates the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment. Empyreal says three of the four businesses whose money it was transporting on November 16 had medical marijuana licenses, while all of the money seized on December 9 came from businesses with such licenses. The company also argues that Dicus, one of the defendants named in the lawsuit, exceeded his own authority by allowing or instructing his deputies to stop, search, and rob the company's vans without any evidence of state crimes.

The third California stop sheds some light on that strategy. On January 6, the lawsuit says, San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies stopped an Empyreal driver who was "picking up an order of rolled coin boxes from Empyreal's vendor, which happens to be located in San Bernardino County, in order to replenish its rolled coin supply." After the deputies realized that the coins had nothing to do with cannabis, they decided not to seize them. "When the Empyreal driver asked a deputy why Empyreal vehicles were being stopped so frequently," the company says, "the deputy told him it was 'political' but declined to elaborate."

Whether that response alluded to Dicus' own motivation or a federal agenda, it certainly does not sound like a reason that would pass muster under the Fourth Amendment. Empyreal argues that "pretextual traffic stops" aimed at supplementing police budgets rather than enforcing state law cannot qualify as "reasonable."

In addition to the cannabis industry, Empyreal, which operates in 28 states and has more than 200 employees, serves traditional businesses such as restaurants and convenience stores. Empyreal says it and its clients "operate in full compliance with

applicable state cannabis laws and all applicable federal and state money laundering compliance requirements," including the relevant provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act and marijuana-specific guidance from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.

[joelsrifle]

SHAMELESS: JOEL MILLER

CHAPTER I

Welcome to despair

parings: Joel Miller x Carly Jones(my OC)

warnings: drug addiction, pre-outbreak flash backs, character death, alcohol, sensitive topics, cursing, mention of panic attack, triggering themes drug names are used!!

chapter summary: when the world was good—my life was still hell, so why not just burn with it now?

an: Carlys pov is noted with a red []

Word count-3,004

23 YEARS AGO:

Carly laughed, a huge smile on her face, she’d been released from Cross County Sheriff's Office in Wynne Arkansas, on September twenty-six at 11pm. Her lover Maya came to pick her up in her old beat up—red colebalt, music blaring from the speakers, waving her girlfriend to get into the car. “Come on! We don’t have all night!” The twenty-three year old called over the music as Carly hurried to throw her (small) amount of belongings into the backseat of the car, hopping into the front Maya looked over, her black curly hair was now styled into neat dread locks that framed her face. Carly still smiled, cupping the woman’s cheek to pull her into a soft kiss, “I missed you.”

Maya hummed with a cocky smile on her face, “someone’s going soft on me.” Carly rolled her eyes with a scoff muttering a joking; ‘yeah right.’ The dark eyed female pushed the gear shift into drive, looking to her ocean-eyed girlfriend. “Hope not. Now let’s get you out of this sucky place!” She exclaimed. Carly nodded agreeingly, moving to hang out of the window as they got ready to drive off, giving the concrete walls that held her for months the bird.

“Fuck you!” She screamed as Maya took off, her foot pressing on the gas, tires squeaking as she made a sharp turn left, Carly bobbing back in her seat with a chuckle as she rolled up the poorly tinted window. Maya shook her head with a smile as they drove down the road. “Where to first?” She asked raising an eyebrow as she turned down the booming music to give their ears a break.

Carly shrugged, eyes studied out the window at the street name, East Union Ave leading to Falls BLVD, that leads to Highway 64 Liquor. “Liquor store on Highway 64,” Carly suggested glancing over at Maya. “I wanna get some Jack.” She stated simply, Maya nodded her head, turning the wheel twice to hit Falls BLVD.

Maya didn’t object to the idea, she’d spent months in their degrading trailer, waiting for the day she’d drive up to the Sheriffs office to pick up her stubborn—beautiful lover. Shes waited so long to be able to spend time with her besides being separated by glass. Maya had already bought everything for the occasion. The weed, the pills, the meth…and her own surprise for Carly. A nice red and black set of lingerie—well she stole the set and was wearing it under her black shorts and baggy high school hoodie.

The two girls were speeding down the almost empty road, not a cop in sight, going straight for highway 69 to the local liquor store in Wynne Arkansas. The only one that Carly even liked. Mostly because the owner would give her free shit in return for what Carly would get for him. Meth. Maya didn’t see a problem. Free stuff was free stuff. It only took six—no less then six minutes to get to the store from the rate Maya drove. The two twenty-three year olds entered the store giggling and making stupid comments to each other. “Carly! My favorite puta,” Javi exclaimed as he came from the back.

“And it’s my favorite coño,” Carly retorted moving to lean on the glass counter, her blue eyes scanning over the lean man as he chuckled horsely at her comment. “How was jail chica?” Javi proceeded to ask, his deep brown eyes scanning over the pale skinned girl while Maya ventured around the store looking for a bottle of Jack Daniels. “Shitty…as always.” Javi’s stupid smirk made his mustache raise, the corners of his eyes crinkle, he knew the girl was used to the concrete walls and metal beds. He’s visited her many times in the past with Maya. “You’re used to it, no?” He proclaimed. Maya chuckled as she walked up beside the dark haired girl.

Maya overheard the conversation in the empty store, it was eleven something at night, not many people ventured out this late in the small town. “You think she would be figuring how many times they picked her up. It’s like she’s their favorite person,”Maya muttered, her voice holding a sarcastic tone as she placed the liquor on the counter, putting to show what she grabbed. Looking to Carly—her tongue darted out past her pink lips as she studied the different packs of cigarettes on the shelf just behind Javi. “Give me a pack of marlboro red shorts.” Javier nodded turning around to grab a pack off the shelf, pushing them in front of the girls, he didn’t ring it up per-agreement they had set. “I’ll pay you back as soon as I can. M’kay?”Carly lightly smacked her hand on the counter as she stood up straight, getting ready to head out of the shop.

“Sounds good princesa,” Javier waved the girls off, Carly grabbing the cigarettes and her girlfriend grabbed the bottle, saying ‘goodbye’ to the slightly older man before they hurried off to their vehicle parked in front.

______________________________________________

Carly grunted, her hands gliding over Mayas bare back as she sat on her lap. Their lips attached, melting in sync, both tasted of Jack mixing with taste of cigarettes as Mayas hips slowly grinded down on Carlys thigh. A gruff moan was shoved into the air as the girls parted, the thin underwear rubbed Maya the right way when going down on her girlfriend. “Fuck,” she whimpered repeating the same movement over and over again. Months of sexual tension she couldn’t relieve flooded to her core, damping her in arousal. 

But this moment didn’t last long, the partly drunken girls froze when a bang came from the back car window. Mayas eyes went wide as she looked at her dark haired partner, there was nothing around for miles, they were out stopped on a back road, making out about to have sex. “What the fuck was that?” She whispered looking out the window in fear.

Carly shook her head kneading the flesh of the girls ass and thighs, grumbling under her breath, “it’s fine. Just relax baby.” She whispered against the skin of Mayas neck, she didn’t want this intimate moment to end. But the sound happened again, this time louder, a crack followed and the rear window was forcefully being smashed in. Mayas deep browns caught sight of a horrific face. In the dark, the face was lit by the red park lights of the car, the person was sick looking. Eyes had no soul or color, they were completely white, the persons mouth was bloody and what seemed to be skin was stuck between their teeth. “Carly! Carly!” She panicked smacking her partners shoulder repeatedly until she grumbled and turned around with widened eyes.

It had to be the liquor, there’s no way in hell this is real. Upon their raising thoughts, the window gave in and the monstrous person proceeded to come through back, arms flailing around to try and get to the two girls. “Shit!” Carly screamed as the person got closer to making its way into the car fully, “What the fuck are you doing asshole?” She was demanding for an answer, words still slurred even though this should have sobered her up to when the guy didn’t answer and collapsed in the backseat of the car. Maya gulped, the man was face down, Carly was carefully reaching over to the door handle to pop it open so they could make their escape.

But everything happened in a flash, the man pounced at the clicking noise of the door handle being pulled. He tried going for what—well who made the sound but Maya acted on instinct and used her elbow to shove him back into the backseat, his cold hands grabbed her arm and brought it to his mouth, taking a chunk of flesh making the girl cry out. Her lover seized a moment to grab her and tug her from the man with all her strength, Mayas wound was a deep teeth imprint but being tugged back from the man ripped some of her already torn flesh.

Carly set her girlfriend who was sobbing in pain and shock aside as the man tried to hurl his way out the door, at this point all she saw was red as the man head hung out the now opened door. She didn’t take a second to think of her actions, slamming the car door open and closed repeatedly until the man was lifeless;

No that wasn’t a man, that was a monster, what human being takes a chunk of flesh out of another.

Maya was leaning on the cars hood, her left hand was fixed tightly over the bleeding wound, she was hissing as blood dripped down on the vehicle, the plasma almost blended in with the red paint of the car. Carly’s breath hitched as the girl was going pale at the sight of her own blood—they wouldn’t make it to the hospital in time with it being located in the next city, a good two hours away. Their best chance they had was the towns local doctor office.

Carly and Maya were both in a state of shock. Maya couldn’t focus on anything except for the endless pain of feeling the mans teeth sinking into her arm. Carly was mid-panic attack, her lover was attacked by a raging man and she just committed murder just an hour after her release from the towns jail. Her world—their world was crumbling from under their feet.

_______________________________________________

Carly and Maya did make it to the local doctors office, minutes to spare, but town was crazy. People were running and screaming, others getting tackled and ripped apart by those monstrous people. The only problem was the office was forced to be shut down, even with staff seeing the ghostly girl out the window. They seen Maya-covered in only her girlfriends sweater, a ripped off piece of her under shirt wrapped tightly on the wound, though the plasma was seeping through piece of cloth. She was extremely pale, her head pounding with crazed questions as Carly banged on the doors.

Maya realized they only had one place to go to;

That place they could think to go was the liquor store. Maybe—just maybe Javi would know what’s happening.

So that’s where they went, Carly begging Javier to open the doors but all he said was go to Marion that there was military personnel from Memphis Tennessee taking people back to the base. But Carly pleaded and pleaded harder then shes ever had, telling him that Maya wouldn’t make it that far. Javier didn’t form an answer and hurried to the back of the store, Carly had a look of disbelief wash over her. He was just gonna ignore them and let Maya suffer? But to surprise he came back, keys to his truck in hand, swiftly passing the girls at the front door before turning back ordering them both to hurry up and get in the truck.

Carly, Maya, and Javier all sat in the three seater pickup. Speeding down the highway past screaming people who were getting mauled by others. Homes and local stores were put to flames, cars heading every direction while the traffic lights were darkened, not one color from each of the small circles showed. It was like the world was coming to an end. Everyone was going mad within just a few minutes. Carly tried asking Javier to explain what was happening in town, but all he said was that they weren’t the only state or only country…it was the whole world. Javier went on about how they were trying to explain that this was some outbreak and the military would get it under control—

But then the news station went blank and static, so he tried the radio and there was nothing, he tried calling his little sister and there was still nothing—it didn’t even go to voicemail.

Carly couldn’t wrap her head around anything, so rabid people were on the loose all over the world? You’d think that would be the worst thing she’s heard besides her partners pained cry’s. But it wasn’t. What she heard after getting to the military personnel was the one thing she couldn’t get out of her head.

[]

We did it. We got here just in time, I thought. We’d get Maya the help she needed. Me and Javier got out of the truck, helping Maya stumble out as well, she was so pale. Her eyes didn’t have a single glow in them. But the military guards would take us back to the base and get her all the help she needed. I held her hand as we ventured the grassy land just outside of Marion, there were now abandoned cars on the side of the road, people walking slowly down the side to these armed guard. Getting checked one at a time to be put on a back of a truck and get hauled off the Memphis.

“We’re almost there baby, just hang in there.” I whispered to Maya, gripping her hand tightly, assuring her she’d be just fine even though the line of people moved slowly. Maya weakly nodded, I could almost read her mind just by the dulled expression on her face. It looked like she was questioning everything, asking herself why over and over again. A rabid man broke into our car, sunk his teeth into her arm when she shoved him back, taking bits of flesh with his teeth when I pulled her away. Then she seen me murder him in cold blood, on a rage of anger.

“This is a nightmare,” Javier muttered looking down the line. There was crying parents and children who were being separated, some people were getting forceful and screamed in the guards face, they were quickly taken care of. Getting pushed and tugged towards the back of the line. I heard Javier say what sounded like prayers under his breath as he moved his hand up and down, side to side, to make a cross. I’ve never seen Javier so worried like I did now as we inched our way to the front.

The military had tents set up, searching people, checking anything imaginable. From their neck to their legs. I gulped. Hoping it was all just a dream—then we reached the front of the line.

I went up with Maya, her sweaty hand still in mine, I’d have to explain to them what happened. “Step back ma’am,” the man ordered gruffly as he motioned for me to go back to my original place. “Listen she needs—”

“Step back. Now,” he repeated. His voice holding more authority as pointed at the spot again. “Or you’ll be moved to the back of the line.”

I looked wearily to Maya, who nodded her head to assure she was fine and that’s when I stepped back next to Javier again, he squeezed my shoulder gently. “She’ll be fine princesa,” he said as we watch the guard pat her down, push her sleeves up and glared at her, it wasn’t a questioning look or a look that would make you think he was concerned about what happened. It was a hardened, cold glare that would send shivers down your spine.

The guard unwrapped the cloth from around her arm, not making out the injury with the drying blood that coated the wound. He moved aside; folding up the dirty cloth to use a somewhat clean side. With just a small amount of bottle water being dumped over the wound, he wiped it clean, making Maya hiss as he did.

When it was clean and the mark was put on show, his green eyes widened and he moved away from Maya, his weapon ready and aimed at her. My own eyes widened going to jump in but Javier held me back from the danger zone when the man called out to the other guards, “She’s one of them!” That’s when panic set into everyone, not just the guards, but everyone. Anyone around her hurried away. Fear was written on my girlfriends face as she looked around, “No. No I’m not.” She said horsely.

“I’m not one of those things!” She repeated shaking her head as she looked at the guard. “There was a guy. He—he bit me but I’m fine see! I’m fine!” Maya stammered in a cry.

“Take care of her Pakowski! And that’s an order!” A voice boomed and the green eyes guard looked over, “but sir—”

“No! That’s an order Lieutenant, no infected will be brought back to the base. Now get rid of her or I will.”

My heart dropped, a stared at Maya, tears streaming down her cheeks as she pleaded with him not to do it. I tried—I tried so hard not to jump in but I shoved Javier off of me to get to Maya, but I froze only a second later as the guard pulled back the trigger of the gun. With a bang the bullet went straight between Mayas eyes killing her instantly. She dropped to the floor, dark brown eyes lifeless, her lips parted as red fluid decorated the ground from the circular wound imbedded in her head. A gut wrenching sob left my throat as I tried to throw myself at the man but Javier grabbed me and pulled me back again his chest as I cried. I thrashed until my knees gave in and Javi followed me to the ground, shushing me as he ran his hand over my hair.

“No. No…NO!” I repeated over and over again, getting louder as I shook my head, my eyes training on Maya. The love of my life who was now lifeless and cold. The only person I ever cared about and the only one who seen me for me. My world getting taken with her;

That was twenty-three years ago, the world burnt down and turned to hell. I lost everything. So why not burn with it?

(I forgot the tags)

[tabloidtoc]

OK, December 21

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Queen Elizabeth cancels Christmas

Page 1: Big Pic -- David Beckham in an ad for Haig Club 

Page 2: Contents 

Page 4: Bella and Olivia Jade Giannulli -- life on their own -- find out what Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli’s daughters have been up to while their famous parents sweat it out in prison -- Bella has been so stressed out and felt she deserved a trip with her buds so she went to a luxury resort in Santa Barbara over Thanksgiving weekend 

Page 6: It’s been a little over a year since Felicity Huffman was released from prison after serving her time for role in the college admissions scandal but she is finally starting to get her life and career back on track -- initially she was nervous about working again given the controversy and everything that went down and she seriously wondered if there would be anything out there for her material-wise but she shouldn’t have worried as she landed a part in an upcoming pilot in which she’ll play a recently widowed owner of a Triple-A baseball team and she’s really excited about the show 

Page 7: Kristin Cavallari is fed up with Carrie Underwood’s meddling in her divorce from Jay Cutler -- after Kristin called time on her seven-year marriage Carrie and her husband Mike Fisher who used to be Nashville couple-friends to both Kristin and Jay have taken Jay’s side and since then there’s been some snide stuff said that’s made it clear how Carrie really fills about Kristin -- while Jay spent Thanksgiving with Carrie and Mike, Kristin filmed a wine-fueled Instagram Live and Carrie finds this type of thirsty behavior on social media incredibly lame and she’s saying it’s obvious Kristin cares more about upping her profile than making any type of family peace 

* After nearly 60 years in showbiz Cher has a different aspirations -- since traveling to Pakistan to help a mistreated elephant from a local zoo be relocated to an animal sanctuary she’s saying this is her new mission to help endangered species in third world countries and campaign for other good eco causes -- Cher spends much of her time cooped up and bored in her Malibu mansion and her trip made her realize there’s a world out there that needs her help 

* Mark Harmon of NCIS is all work and no play these days and nearly two decades in the same TV gig as Leroy Gibbs has only made things worse as the responsibilities of the show seem to wear heavier on Mark by the year and even on a break you can’t get him to crack a smile or tell a joke; he’d rather go lie down in his trailer -- off set Mark and his wife of 33 years Pam Dawber get along because they’re such homebodies and Mark can usually be found working on his cars in the garage or relaxing in the yard and he cherishes his quiet time but people have stopped inviting him out because he’s known as Mr. Boring 

Page 8: Dolly Parton is spreading Christmas cheer far and wide with a new TV special and album and Netflix movie but at her home in Tennessee the holiday spirit is decidedly lacking because Dolly is forgoing her favorite 40-year-running traditions which are filling her house with trees and driving her nieces and nephews and their kids around her farm in golf carts dressed as Santa and handing out presents because of her concern for her husband Carl Dean who has Alzheimer’s disease and he’s in a high-risk group for coronavirus so she’s restricted the property to just them and two staff members -- it breaks Dolly’s heart to have to cancel her big annual celebration and she’s still decorated her home to the nines but it’s a lonely feeling knowing the family won’t be there to see it 

* Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton are proving themselves to be perfectly postmodern parents by raising their kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with firm rules for TV and electronic use -- Kate who recently revealed she’s fielded her share of temper tantrums actively attempts to stave off meltdowns with a strict rewards chart and the kids have to earn screen time -- Kate prefers to keep them busy with activities like board games and hikes and baking which the children enjoy anyway

* After spending the last several years living a relatively low-key life in his native England Russell Brand is desperate to have a bigger presence in Hollywood but his wife Laura insists he stay put -- Russell’s craving SoCal living and the copious acting jobs and event invites that came with it but Laura prefers their British life outside the spotlight with their young daughters -- while some work has come to him in England like the upcoming Death on the Nile if he had his way he’d make a more aggressive career push in L.A. 

Page 10: Red Hot on the Red Carpet -- stars stand out in festive green dresses -- Carly Pearce, Angela Bassett, Zendaya 

Page 11: Jodie Comer, Adriana Lima 

Page 12: Who Wore It Better? Melissa Gorga vs. Jennifer Lahmers, Abigail Spencer vs. Hailey Bieber in Max Mara, Olivia Culpo vs. Aurora Culpo 

Page 14: News in Photos -- Brooke Burke with Christmas ornaments that will be auctioned by non-profit Operation Smile 

Page 16: Audrina Patridge brought along her daughter Kirra’s favorite toys for a picnic in Beverly Hills, Padma Lakshmi visits The Vitamin Shoppe in NYC, Brandy at the BET Soul Train Awards 

Page 17: Kelly Rutherford felt the love from her dogs in L.A., Shawn Mendes out for a walk in Miami 

Page 21: Robin Wright and husband Clement Giraudet held hands while riding their bikes in L.A., long-time friends Gabrielle Union and Snoop Dogg unpacked ingredients delivered by Shipt 

Page 22: Josh Duhamel on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Karlie Kloss on her new Adidas collection 

Page 24: Vanessa Hudgens snuggled up to her beloved pup Darla while at the park in L.A., Jay-Z taking a walk around the island in Hawaii 

Page 25: Kimora Lee Simmons and her children handed out food to residents of a housing complex, Prince Jackson safely helped a community church distribute food to those in need 

Page 26: Inside My Home -- Ariel Winter’s stylish setup 

Page 28: Like most Garth Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood have had a challenging 2020 but their 15-year marriage was put to the test this past summer when the country superstars’ daughter Allie tested positive for Covid-19 -- they were worried sick and had to go into quarantine themselves and not being able to hold Allie’s hand was terrible for both of them but fortunately Allie’s case was mild and Garth and Trisha’s tests came back negative 

Page 30: Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott who have amicably coparented their daughter Stormi since their split last year and recently spent Thanksgiving together as a family are drawing up plans to have another baby together in 2021 because both of them want to give Stormi a sibling ASAP and neither can imagine going through this process with anyone else -- the exes are figuring out a contract to specify their family plans that will protect Kylie’s money and outline coparenting terms more formally and give them each an agreeable share of custody if things don’t stay as rosy down the line

* They’ve costarred in five films and have proclaimed they’re each other’s work wives and are finally single at the same time so pals of Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis are urging the longtime friends to give it a go romantically especially now that Jason has split from Olivia Wilde -- Jennifer always says Jason makes her laugh the way no one else can -- while Jason’s primarily focusing on coparenting his kids he’s long harbored warm and fuzzy feelings toward Jen and he would love to ask her out but the only thing holding him back is the potential to ruin their solid friendship

* Love Bites -- Johnny Galecki and Alaina Meyer split, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky dating, Jonathan Bennett and Jaymes Vaughan engaged 

Page 31: Matthew Perry’s loved ones are worried the Friends star has made a rash call by suddenly getting engaged to literary manager Molly Hurwitz -- the on-off two-year romance between Matthew and Molly has been dysfunctional from the get-go and Matthew’s way more into this than Molly who seems to love him more like a brother

* A rough year for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle including inter-family strife and a move across the pond and a devastating miscarriage has only strengthened their bond -- after Meghan revealed she and Harry had miscarried in July the two were quite overwhelmed by the outpouring of compassion and the response not only validated their decision to go public a thousand times over but it also helped them grow even closer -- they’re determined to put this behind them and try for another baby at the earliest opportunity but more than anything else it’s really underlined how they belong together as soulmates 

Page 32: Cover Story -- Queen Elizabeth’s holiday shake-up -- inside the monarch’s heartbreaking decision to call off the family’s annual Christmas celebration -- the queen will celebrate the holidays at Windsor Castle in Berkshire for the first time in more than three decades -- while the queen is upset not to have the company of the younger royals this year she has to think about her and Prince Philip’s health 

Page 36: Katie Holmes’ season of joy -- how Katie is spending the holidays with her new love Emilio Vitolo Jr. 

Page 38: Mistaken Identity -- with these celeb look-alikes it’s deja vu all over again -- Carrie Underwood and Reese Witherspoon, Daniel Radcliffe and Elijah Wood 

Page 39: Mark Wahlberg and Matt Damon, Amy Adams and Isla Fisher, Lucy Hale and Selena Gomez 

Page 40: Interview -- Tommy Lee’s new beat -- the veteran rock star opens up about his latest solo album and his new fan base 

Page 42: Gal Power -- how Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot gets into superhero shape 

Page 43: Fight Club -- these buttkicking superheroines pushed themselves to new limits -- Brie Larson, Scarlett Johansson, Danai Gurira 

Page 46: Style -- Zendaya for Lancome’s new mascara 

Page 48: Sleek activewear from celeb-loved label Gigi C Bikinis makes it easy to look like a star when you work out 

Page 49: 5 minutes with Adrienne Bailon 

Page 54: Entertainment 

Page 58: Buzz -- Disney Holiday Singalong featuring Ryan Seacrest, Katy Perry, Pink and daughter Willow, Ciara and her kids Future and Sienna 

Page 60: Sound Bites -- Nelly on feeling disappointed with placing third on Dancing With the Stars, Kaley Cuoco on husband Karl Cook’s social media presence, Megan Fox on first meeting boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly 

Page 61: Paul McCartney on why he doesn’t like taking pictures with fans, Cardi B joking about how her 2-year-old crashed her selfie video 

Page 62: Horoscope -- Sagittarius Vanessa Hudgens turned 32 on December 14 

Page 64: By the Numbers -- Dan Levy 

[shenandoahandback2021]

We got to Missouri and ended up new near Laura Ingall's Wilder house and decided to stop and see it.   It was very interesting and she had a very interesting life before she starting writing the books about that life. As luck would have it, there was a campground right across the road from the house. We spent a nice relaxing evening there is there and then headed East on route state 160 which was like a rollercoaster but nice driving and good pavement.   Sep 2    We found a campground that was only available for one night  on Thursday. It's a campground specifically designed for 4 wheelers to come and ride around in the wilderness. It's near the river and quiet hours don't start until midnight! The owners of the campground ask us to come over after we ate and visit with her friends and family.  It was an interesting visit. Her husband and a couple of the other guys are Civil War  Re-enactors. They have some interesting stories about incidences happen during some of their maneuvers.  In the morning we went over and spent a couple of hours chatting with some other people and had a great time but finally had to leave   Sep 3    We were close to Loretta Lynn's home place in Butcher Holler so we decided to go there. Getting there was a hoot and the road turn into a single lane road and there was no place to park for an RV. We drove past the house and turned around on a on a very narrow turnaround place. Wed were able to park parallel to the road. The house was very interesting and had most of the original furniture. Her 2 nieces gave the tours and they knew much more about a her than any person who had been schooled in it.  Since it was Friday night of the Labor Day weekend, we could not find a campground so we had to sleep in the Hardee’s parking lot.   Sep 4    We drove to the New River gorge National Park. There were no rooms at the end at the 1st two RV parks but we found a nice park across from a National Guard armory and decided to spend 2 nights. In the morning, we went to the New River Gorge National Park.  You can walk under the bridge, but there were no openings at the private company that ran the bridge walk.  The bridge is the longest single-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere and the 3rd longest in the world.  It was the longest in the world for 26 years when first completed. We drove down to the bottom of the gorge and stopped on the way to look at the bridge construction. We drove over the river to the other side of the bridge and parked to come back and look at it from a different perspective.  The signs said the road was not recommended for RVs or trailers, but when we parked on the other side of the river there were school busses and trailers carrying raft equipment for people who raft down the river down the river. We met a group from Raleigh and New Jersey who commented that they were looking at a Leisure Travel Van to purchase so we showed them ours.  At 1st we didn't know they were from Raleigh but when we found out I told them I had graduated from NC State. One gentleman, Clive, had graduated from state and the other man was from New Jersey. They had a Chinese grandmother with them along with the Chinese wives from New York City and we had a great conversation. I showed them my lifetime membership to the NC STATE student union.  The grandmother said when you come to Raleigh again you must come visit and I said be careful what you ask for. You only have to give me your address. I gave them my card but we haven't heard from them.   Next day.    We had two things on our minds for the next day and decided to drive down to an old abandoned coal mine. Again it said the road was not suitable for RVs, but I stopped at the last leg of the trip and asked the man living there if our RV could make the trip. He looked it over said, ”Yup” because he drives his oversized pickup truck down there often to the river. It was an interesting drive and we had to blow our horn around a couple of the curves to make sure no one ran into us. Sure enough one curve had someone coming around and she heard our horn and stopped before we smacked into each other. Her little Chevy would have been a hood ornament on the Mercedes. It was a pretty interesting drive all the way and when we were 100' from the parking lot there was a pothole on the left side. I decided to go a little bit right to miss that instead of slowing down too much and there was a rock hidden in the grass and it tore out our steps from the side door. We were able to tie the mangled steps up to the frame to drive back out of the area. I stopped and told the man who said that RV would go there that we lost the steps. He was apologetic but I told him it was not his fault.  I asked if he knew someone who had a torch that I could get to cut the mangled steps off so we could continue our trip. He said to pull over front of my white truck there. As I drove over to it, I noticed that he had cutting torches on the back of his truck and he was a welder. How lucky can you be when you are so unlucky to start with. He cut the mangled steps off and we discovered that he had trained to be a tanker at Ft Knox after I had been there. We had a nice talk and he wouldn’t take any pay for the work. We went back to the campground and worked on the minor metal damage under the door. The motor was still working but it had nothing to move. I think I'll leave the body damage alone to remind me of my situation. There was plenty of room to make the drive I just had a 50-50 decision and went right instead of left. At least I can buy a new set of steps on Amazon and put them on when I get home. There are only 4 bolts holding the step mechanism is up to the frame.   Next day    We drove down to the end of the gorge and turned back up to the Sandstone Falls that are part of the National Park. There is a boardwalk that you can walk out to see them and it's a very interesting area. We met a nice couple from Virginia Beach, Ted and Julinne on the way out there. They have been thinking about buying an RV like ours to start traveling with in a couple of years. They were very interesting couple and had traveled a bit already. We invited them to have a cup of coffee with us because it was coffee time and we ended up spending 2 and a 1/2 hours discussing the RV, traveling what’s to see in Virginia et cetera. We hope we hear from them again and they said they would to ask us more information about the RV. On the way in we had seen an RV park on the river so we went back to that and stopped because it was getting late. We got a spot there for the night and it was very peaceful on the river.   Next day    We had morning fog below the ridge line call my but it was very nice and we had a relaxing start to the morning. We headed toward the north end of the Shenandoah Valley National Park. We got within 2 hours of my cousins house and her 3 daughters before we stopped for the night. I contacted them by phone and I thought by text but the text didn't work. We spent the night in a Walmart parking lot because there were no openings at the nearby RV parks.   Next day    We had given up seeing my cousins because I had not heard back from them, but in the morning, they called me and said please come by. We went to Ashburn, Virginia to see them and were able to park in the driveway. We had a good 3 hour or so visit is and they decided to go for a late lunch at one of their favorite restaurants. It was an old barn converted to a restaurant and it added on to it with different venue spaces and had several bars. In one bar they had carriages hanging from the ceiling from different eras. When we got back to the house about 5, I said guess we'll be going now try to get somewhere before it got too late. They said the traffic will be pretty bad and said why don't you spend the night. We said, well if you don't mind we'd love to. They have a 5-bedroom, 5,500 ft² house on 3 levels to the head plenty of room. We stayed up watching the news and then the US Open tennis matches and talking until midnight when I suspect they usually go to bed pretty early. I had not visited with my cousin or her family except for a funeral for her brother and we didn't get to visit very much then.  The three sisters have been living together for several years, at least 20, I think.  When their dad died a few years ago, my cousin, their mother came to live with them. Everyone has their own bedroom and bath and private space.  There is a suite downstairs with a gigantic screen TV with a Projector. We had that suite last night. After a late breakfast and lots more stories, we headed down to the Skyline Drive for the Shenandoah National Park. It was a beautiful drive part way down the Park until we decided to stop at KOA for the night.   Next day  We arrived at the Luray Caverns and spent most of the day there. We had a very nice visit at Luray caverns, very relaxing. It is an interesting cave, unlike any we have seen. The formations are striking and many stalagmites have come together with the stalactites. It is a very easy walk through the caverns on a paved walkway that is non slippery. They have an antique vehicle museum with all types of vehicles calls from buggies to Rolls Royce’s. They also have a Pioneer replica village set up that has many buildings from the surrounding area that were taken down and completely restored in this village. When we got back to the RV, there was a nice young couple next to us that we struck up a conversation with and ended up talking to them for about an hour. The husband is a pastor at the local Hispanic church and he is also a computer Tech for the IRS for his regular job. His daughter plays the flute and his wife sings and leads the church choir. They are from Puerto Rico and most of the family have come here to be with them. They came here 21 years to go to live 5 years or so and go to school. He was a police officer in Puerto Rico. When we got back to the KOA for the night, a couple we had met our first day stopped to speak to us and we had a drink and talked for an hour or so. They said they were sorry they didn't get to say goodbye to us this morning not knowing we would be back tonight. We didn't know we were going to be back tonight until we got to the caverns and decided we should stay another night to relax. It's lucky that we called as soon as we decided, because the campground is full tonight. We just enjoyed some homemade fudge from a small shop in the Luray Caverns Village.    

[lokiondisneyplus]

After more than 40 years as an actor, Sheri Mann Stewart had finally taken the plunge to launch her own production company. A week after she wrapped shooting her first film for Mann Woman Productions, Atlanta went on pandemic lockdown.

Mann Stewart was suddenly left with a film on hold, an audition on hold, and the careers of her husband and two sons — all performers — on hold. Instead of ushering her first film — prophetically inspired by John Paul Sartre’s “No Exit” — through editing and post-production, she spends several hours each day on the phone trying to iron out issues with unemployment benefits that she has yet to receive.

“Nothing like this has ever happened,” said Mann Stewart an Atlanta native who most recently appeared in Tyler Perry’s Netflix feature film “A Fall from Grace.” “I think, one way or another, our industry will be changed.”

COVID-19 left actress Sheri Mann Stewart with the first film from her production company on hold, an audition on hold, and the careers of her husband and two sons – all performers – also in flux. She has spent time working on other projects including a new YouTube series to support LGBTQIA youth who may not be in supportive environments.

Like many other industries, the film and TV business has been shut down since mid-March, with only a few exceptions such as late-night talk shows and virtual versions of “American Idol” and “The Voice.” With plenty of content currently in the pipeline, streaming services and television networks have managed so far, but if production doesn’t restart soon, viewers will face a major drought of new shows to watch this fall.

Pressure is building to get production started as soon as possible, but the natural intimacy of a typical set with makeup artists, camera operators, producers, actors and production assistants constantly crossing paths, makes creating proper protocols a serious challenge.

“People are anxious to get back to work,” said Mark Wofford, general manager at Atlanta-based Production Consultants & Equipment, which provides motion-picture rental equipment. “But this has to be weighed against the need to make sure everyone is safe. It’s going to be a real balancing act.”

Georgia has become a major player in Hollywood production, courtesy of generous tax credits to film and TV production companies passed in 2008. It’s now the third-largest state for such content after California and New York. As the only state with no cap on its credits, Georgia has drawn big-budget films such as “Black Panther” and “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”

Despite Hollywood’s liberal leanings — some in the industry called for boycotts after Georgia’s 2016 religious liberty bill and 2019 heartbeat abortion bill — the Republican-led state legislature and three Republican governors have consistently embraced the tax credit system. At the recent Georgia Film Day on March 11, Gov. Brian Kemp spoke before 200 industry supporters in the state Capitol atrium, extolling the $2.9 billion in direct investment and 50,000-plus jobs the business brought into the state last fiscal year. Weeks later, Kemp would issue a statewide shelter-in-place order.

In May, the Georgia Film Office released a set of nonbinding best practices for film and television productions to consider during the pandemic. The guidelines included holding remote auditions and virtual location scouting as well as reducing the number of extras used on set and placing clear barriers between actors to be removed just before the director yells “Action!”

Local studios are preparing to reopen this summer as they await multiple unions to accept unified protocols. Earlier this month, a task force composed of the various unions and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, sent approved health and safety guidelines to governors in California and New York with plans for final protocols to follow soon. “This document is an initial set of principles and guidelines that we all agree form a relevant and realistic first step to protecting cast and crew in the reopening of the entertainment and media industry in its two largest markets,” said a joint statement from unions, including the Teamsters, the Directors Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA. Face masks for live audiences, staggered mealtimes with no buffet-style setups, and daily screenings for COVID-19 along with a designated COVID-19 compliance officer, were among the recommended guidelines.

Studios have already begun to make big investments in COVID-19 friendly infrastructure. Since March, two of the largest studios in the metro area — Pinewood Studios in Fayetteville and Blackhall Studios in Atlanta — have each invested more than $1 million to retrofit their studios. One of the biggest costs: improving the HVAC systems on their sound stages and offices so they are comparable to that of hospitals in order to reduce the chances of airborne transmission of viruses. Major film and television productions can easily have hundreds of staff members working in tight indoor quarters, creating the kind of environment that public health officials have noted can increase the spread of COVID-19.

“I’ve had to become an expert in viral containment,” said Ryan Millsap, owner of Blackhall Studios. “Until March, I hadn’t given it a second thought. This is a big moment in our generation where disease has come to the forefront.”

Atlanta-based makeup artist Tracy Ewell has seen a virus or cold spread like fire on almost every production on which she has worked. She started toting a personal air filter to set up in the trailers and tents where she and her team spend hours getting actors camera ready. ”I am paid to be hygienic,” Ewell said. “I take full responsibility for my actor’s condition, but masks don’t work in my world.”

Ewell, who has worked as a department head on productions for Marvel and the Netflix drama “Ozark,” is not afraid of returning to set, but she knows that is a decision everyone will have to make for themselves. The initial industry guidelines for makeup artists included providing more time to allow for safety measures to be followed, but additional protocols need to be established before that kind of work can continue. “I would be comfortable having fewer people on set in my department if I knew they were going to have the time,” Ewell said. But more time means more money, and studios now have to make big investments at a time when they’ve posted big losses.

Just before the pandemic shut down productions nationwide, HBO finished its upcoming J.J. Abrams drama, “Lovecraft Country,” and Paramount wrapped Chris Pratt military science fiction movie “The Tomorrow War” at Blackhall. Millsap was about to sign with two other major studios for new productions when COVID-19 put the kibosh on that.

Since then, Millsap has generated zero revenue, shedding more than $1 million a month while keeping his 12 full-time employees on payroll. He said he has had enough money in the bank to keep his studio afloat but would be challenged if shows didn’t begin shooting by the fourth quarter. If all goes well, two major studios will begin pre-production at Blackhall in July with potential full-blown production by August or September, he said.

Frank Patterson, the head of Pinewood Atlanta Studios, said they have had to study every aspect of their business, from more limited security access to more sequestered work pods, dividing the studio into zones. They also hired a medical testing company, BioIQ, to handle the anticipated flood of COVID-19 tests they plan to use on a daily basis. “Some days, we’ll have 6,000 people on the lot,” he said.

The past couple of months have been “overwhelmingly stressful because I’m working with people I’ve known for decades,” Patterson added. “These are people I grew up within the industry. We have to make certain nobody gets sick. At the same time, these are friends who haven’t worked for months and have families to feed. We need to get this done now.”

Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios was the first in the country to announce detailed plans to shoot two of his BET television series in July. Perry has some advantages most other studios do not. He owns 330 acres of a former Army base and has at least 80 residences on the property which will enable him to more easily isolate crew and actors. He writes and directs his own TV series in a way that will enable him to finish shooting an entire season in less than three weeks. He has developed protocols to test everybody multiple times with contingencies in case anybody gets COVID-19. He has scaled back on-site crew and extras and is using his largest sound stage as a cafeteria with proper social distancing.

“It’s an enormous undertaking and an enormous cost to the budget,” Perry told Variety last month.

Mann Stewart had just been called for an audition for a Perry television production before the studio closed. She is unsure if that opportunity still stands but has continued with other auditions, including a recent commercial audition that came through in late May. Still, it is never far from her mind how so many aspects of the industry must change.

While writing a script for a play, she found herself debating if she really needed the characters to have a physical interaction.

“I try not to let it impact me and say I can fix it later but…,” said Mann Stewart, her thought left trailing.

Some studios are already pondering creative solutions to those kinds of concerns. As soon as the pandemic hit, executives at Atlanta-based Crazy Legs Productions created an advisory council of five medical experts to help them draw up 25 pages of safety guidelines. Last month, they began compiling a database of local actors who are in relationships with other actors. “We can cast a husband and wife as a husband and wife,” said Scott Thigpen, chief operating officer. “It’s a way to mitigate risk.” They are also considering using family members as extras.

The company, which launched in 2006 and now has 34 salaried employees, produces docuseries for TLC such as “Family by the Ton” and crime shows for ID, like “Dead Silent. ” They also began shooting films for the first time this year.

Industry insiders are confident productions in Georgia will bounce back quickly and fill sound stages as a backlog of content gets filled.

After months spent keeping their skills sharp and in some cases, auditioning via Zoom, actors across metro Atlanta are ready to get back to work, said Clayton Landey, president of SAG-AFTRA Atlanta local. He hopes summer marks that return but said the proper precautions are needed. Landey, a 48-year industry veteran, recalled a scene years ago when his character was being hit with a bullet. Everyone else on the set was standing behind safety glass. “I feel a little like that now,” Landey said. “I am interested to see what is going to be the new normal in terms of safety on set.”

The pandemic ended a theater run for Landey and stalled a film, which no longer has a date to begin production, but he has spent the past three months staying connected to other actors through virtual chats and meetups. Landey worries about the actors who may be suffering mentally while isolated from the career that allows them to channel their emotions into their work. Though acting is a field that prepares you for career ups and downs, this is unlike anything they have seen before, he said.

“Nothing in our industry touches what we are going through now. Typically when there are times of stress or hard times in the general population, we are working like crazy because entertainment is what gets you through the day,” Landey said. “This time, it is slapping us all.”

[polishvoiceover309-blog]

How We Improved Our POLISH VOICE OVER In One Week(Month, Day)

Do individuals tell you that you have an excellent voice? If so, you may wish to take into consideration starting your own commentary service, right from your own residence. If you speak Polish Voice Over with functioning voice musicians, the majority of them will certainly inform you that they first understood to start their services since people had actually given them positive feedback about their voices.

Chances are respectable that if they locate your voice pleasing, then others will to.

Yet, voice job is so much more than simply reading a manuscript. It requires some strategy and a great artist will certainly have a range of voices that they can do. In addition, there are numerous kinds of tasks that you might obtain employed to do. These include radio places, animes, motion picture trailers, manuscripts, computer game, corporate training video clips, and a lot more. Not just that, yet coming to be a specialist voice talent can be fun as well as quite lucrative. When you obtain the appropriate training, you can launch your business easy as can be from the convenience of your own residence.

So, exactly what do you require to do to start? Primarily, you must get your voice into shape. By the time you create your demonstration you desire your voice to already sound refined as well as specialist. Given, you will expand as a musician as your profession proceeds - but you don't wish to sound like a beginner when you try to land your very first projects.

TECHNIQUE MAKES PERFECT

So what can you do? Technique, practice, practice. Search for manuscripts on the internet as well as practice claiming them out loud. You can additionally do the same thing with kids's books, guidebooks, and also nearly anything that has actually been created. Tape-record on your own claiming them as well as play it back. Get utilized to the means your voice seems when it is videotaped. You'll also want to take acting courses - both for voice acting as well as standard performing.

FIND A VOICE COACH

Discovering a voice trainer that has experience with voice over job is one of the best points you can do for your job. The instructor can aid you find out exactly how to take a breath correctly, offer you useful suggestions, as well as aid you discover your distinct variety. She or he will certainly likewise provide you exercises to do. All this will assist you establish your voice so you can land tasks.

REPRESENTATIVES As Well As UNIONS

Discovering a representative and also joining a union aren't a demand for discovering success. Nonetheless, they do help. If you do choose to go in this instructions, search around for representatives and also unions with great credibilities. Speak with other voice artists as well as weight the advantages and disadvantages of each. Please keep in mind, however, that the voice over company is altering, and representatives and also unions are a lot less effective after that they used to be. Numerous clients prefer to make use of the Net to employ their voice over skill straight.

Once you improve your voice as well as have a good suggestion of our one-of-a-kind variety, you can think about equipping your house workshop. You'll utilize this workshop to practice and record your voice overs. These days, a lot of voice over work are done in the house and after that sent out to the client using e-mail. This is because voice over job isn't simply for big movie studios as well as television commercials - even local companies and net company owner may need work done but they might not have the methods to send you into a workshop to do the job. In this situation, it depends on you.

ACQUIRING A GREAT MIC

One of the most necessary tools you will require for your house studio is a good vocal microphone. The mic you wind up with will certainly depend largely on your rate variety. Your best option is to see a store that specializes in music devices as well as has a good range of microphones. You'll want to speak with somebody knowledgeable to assess your alternatives.

PICKING A SPACE

Do you have an area in your home that can be converted into a workshop? Having an area to devote to your recording studio is the suitable situation. You want the space to be big sufficient for your tools yet it does not have to be a large area. As a whole, you will intend to equip the space to help with the acoustics. This entails wetting the ambient sound. The smaller sized the space is, the much easier it will certainly be to make it soundproof. The last point you require is to listen to the next-door neighbor's pet car park or the laundry spin cycle while you're attempting to videotape an audio publication.

[townpostin]

Jamshedpur Trailer Owners Union Refutes Company Stand on Rate Hike, Says - Company is Guardian

Union challenges Tata Company’s statement, emphasizes company’s responsibility towards all stakeholders. Tata Company states rate hike decision is between vendor and union; union president demands broader company accountability. JAMSHEDPUR – The Jamshedpur Local Trailer Owners Union has refuted Tata Company’s recent statement regarding the rate hike being an affair between the local vendors and…

[swldx]

RNZ Pacific 1240 22 Jun 2022

7245Khz 1157 22 JUN 2022 - RNZ PACIFIC (NEW ZEALAND) in ENGLISH from RANGITAIKI. SINPO = 44444. English, music until pips and news @1200z anchored by Peter McIlwaine. QRM=NARC net. A powerful earthquake has killed at least 1000 people and left hundreds more injured in Afghanistan, Taliban officials say. Pictures show landslides and ruined mud-built homes in eastern Paktika province, where rescuers are scrambling to treat the injured. In remote areas, helicopters have been ferrying victims to hospitals. Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada said hundreds of houses were destroyed and the death toll was likely to rise. The legislation to amend the Support Workers (Pay Equity) Settlements Act 2017, which will update pay rates has passed in Parliament. However, unions and green party members are severely disappointed at the pay increase the Government has decided on. The United Nations committee against torture has urged the government to compensate a former patient of the Lake Alice psychiatric hospital. Malcolm Richards was 15 years old when he was sent by his mother to Lake Alice, near Marton, for two months in 1975. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and administered drugs and given electric shock treatment, often without anaesthetic, the results of which still affect him. The police admit, they're facing an enormous task identifying people suspected of criminal offending on parliament grounds last February and March after central Wellington streets were gridlocked by anti-mandate protestors. They ask the public for help. Auckland vegetable growers considering culling some of thier crop due to rising production costs. Storms have ruined many plants and rising fuel prices are making harvesting machines more expensive to run. This year, a new multi-day festival is being launched in the Mackenzie region, aiming to draw visitors to the hard hit district and celebrate Māori New Year. It's one of two Matariki festivals to receive government backing with hopes they will become internationally significant in time. Fast food company Wendy's is on the New Zealand market for the first time in 34 years as the owners have aged. Sports. @1204z trailer for an RNZ Music program. @1205z Weather Forecast: Mostly fine with isolated showers and morning frost. @1206z "All Night Programme" anchored by Peter McIlwaine. Backyard fence antenna, Etón e1XM. 100kW, beamAz 325°, bearing 240°.. Received at Plymouth, United States, 12912KM from transmitter at Rangitaiki. Local time: 0657.

[sharpbharat]

Jamshedpur-Local-Trailer-Owner-Union : लोकल ट्रेलर ऑनर यूनियन का बर्मामाइंस में टाटा स्टील पार्किंग गेट पर अनशन सह धरना शुरू

Jamshedpur-Local-Trailer-Owner-Union : लोकल ट्रेलर ऑनर यूनियन का बर्मामाइंस में टाटा स्टील पार्किंग गेट पर अनशन सह धरना शुरू

जमशेदपुर : जमशेदपुर लोकल ट्रेलर ऑनर यूनियन द्वारा पूर्व से लंबित मांगो को लेकर बर्मामाइंस टाटा कंपनी पार्किंग गेट के समक्ष शनिवार से अनशन सह धरना शुरू किया गया. कंपनी और वेंडरों के मनमानी के खिलाफ इनके द्वारा अनशन किया जा रहा है. वैसे समय- समय पर कंपनी द्वारा नये-नये नियमो को लोकल ट्रेलर मालिकों पर थोपे जाने का विरोध यूनियन पूर्व से करते आ रही है. कंपन�� द्वारा पिछले दिनों यह नियम लगाया गया है, कि…

[yankbarry]

ews Help Syria’s Innocent Victims in Bulgaria

Living as squatters in the makeshift trailer park that serves as a camp for new arrivals, Yantar’s family were forced to brave low winter temperatures with only outdoor fires to keep them warm.

Unable to handle the growing number of refugees, the Bulgarian authorities are helpless to offer anything more than overcrowded camps in poor condition with little medical care or food.

“We count on external assistance,” admitted Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski during a meeting with Jewish Canadian philanthropist, pop musician/jingle writer Yank Barry on November 13. Driven by personal ties to Bulgaria and his humanitarian mission, Barry is among the most recent contributors to join the relief effort to aid the Syrian refugees in Bulgaria, the European Union’s least wealthy member.

Recently, Yantar, his wife and three children, moved to a private hotel. Their rent for the next six months is paid for by the Global Village Champions Foundation, co-founded by Barry and famous boxer Muhammad Ali, which is spending $1 million to help fund the housing of 50 refugees. Superstar boxer Evander Holyfield accompanied Barry on this recent trip.

“I don’t know why I’m the one leaving the camp, but I have three children and my wife is pregnant. This is a chance for us,” Yantar told a local TV station after exiting Harmanli.

Bulgaria is now home to almost 10,000 refugees, 70 percent of whom are Syrian, according to latest data from the Interior Ministry. This may be a relatively small number within the overall Syrian humanitarian crisis, but it is triple the annual average the country used to receive.

“When we set out for here we knew that the people and the police were good. But when we arrived we didn’t feel it. They don’t think we are people. Why are they accepting us?” a woman said to a local TV crew, complaining about the inhumane conditions.

One of the main problems for the Syrian refugees in Bulgaria is finding a place to stay. The state offers only temporary lodgings in very modest conditions until the asylum procedure is completed. After that, the newcomers, often with little resources to support themselves, are on their own.

But even if they have money, renting is a problem.

“It is almost impossible to find accommodation. Owners refuse to have their property rented by refugees,” says Lydia Staykova, a Bulgarian volunteer, who is leading the relief efforts in the town of Haskovo.

People who can no longer stay in the camps are those targeted by Barry’s charity campaign.

“We also check their police records. We don’t want to get out somebody connected with al-Qaeda or Hezbollah! That won’t be good for anybody,” Barry told the Trud newspaper in an interview.

The philanthropist says he identifies with the plight of Syrian refugees, who like Jews in the 1940s, became innocent victims.

“They are people. They are good people. I will continue to do as much as I can to help,” says Barry, who also has a personal connection with Bulgaria: Two of his cousins escaped the Nazis in Belarus and found safe heaven in the Balkan country.

It is a little known fact that despite being an ally of Hitler during World War II, Bulgaria saved tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust in a collective effort from the state, church and society.

This year Jews in Bulgaria marked the 70th anniversary of their rescue. To commemorate the occasion and to honor the victims of the Holocaust, the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria, Shalom, started a campaign in August dubbed “Make good,” which offers free medical check-ups to people in need. Shalom has also discretely organized doctor visits for the Syrian refugees, most of whom are women and children.

Teaming up with the Alexandrovska Hospital, Shalom is providing special prescription glasses for young Syrians and giving out sweet treats. The medical personnel, which includes two long time Syrian expats in Bulgaria, is touring the refugee camps on a weekly basis. The hospital is also providing two ambulances with special equipment.

During one of the visits, two children were diagnosed with diabetes and special medication will be arranged.

“In the beginning the conditions were awful. But now we see things are getting better – we have food. We really thank Bulgaria for what it does for us,” Rafa Ghanam, a Syrian refugee, told the TV station BNT.

Back in the private hotel, rented in the outskirts of the capital city Sofia, several families are preparing for their new life. In addition to free food and accommodation, Global Village Champions Foundations is offering lessons in Bulgarian.

One of the families, which has 17 members, was forced to live in a room designed to house only four. Their “rescue” was not planned, Barry says.

“It was a spur of the moment decision. We were able to accommodate the family, and I decided to do it and I am so happy I did,” said Barry. “The kids had smiles on their faces. That was incredible.”

Little did Barry know, but the family of 17 are the relatives of Ali, who gained some fame in the Bulgarian media after being stabbed in the back by an alleged skinhead on November 4.

The incident was triggered by a hit and run attack on a 20-year old Bulgarian shop clerk by an Algerian boy, which led to a wave of anti-immigrant violence across the country. Ali is still in the hospital and awaits to join his family in the hotel provided by Barry.

‘The difference between here and the camps is like heaven and hell’

“The difference between here and the camps is like heaven and hell,” a female relative of Ali told a local TV news crew.

And soon more Jews could be joining the effort to handle the refugee wave in Bulgaria: The Mossad, Israeli national intelligence agency, will be helping Bulgarian authorities in identifying potential threats among the refugees, Interior Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev said in a statement after meeting Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Israel last week.

Barry, who has relocated several dozen Syrians in Bulgaria, promises he will continue his charity campaign next time he returns to the country.

“I will rent three or four more hotels, until I run out of money, if needed,” Barry said while leaving the Harmanli camp. “For me life is mitzva – a good deed in the name of God,” the Jewish philantropist told BNT television.

For more details visit https://yankbarry.com/ews-help-syrias-innocent-victims-in-bulgaria/

[onlinebusinesslineofcredit]

Truck Loans for Business - What Are The Advantages of Truck Financing?

Owning a truck can be expensive. It’s an initial investment that requires ongoing maintenance, fueling, insurance, and the purchase of more fuel. As you can imagine, this can get expensive. That’s why it’s essential to get a good truck loan if your business depends on trucks. If you are in the market to purchase a new truck, there are many options for financing. Depending on the type of truck you are buying, you may need to get business financing. While you can go to a bank for a business loan, there are other options available.

What Are The Documents Required For Commercial Vehicle Loan

What Is a Business Auto Loan?

Business owners often have questions regarding a business car loan. One common question is whether or not they should consider using a commercial auto lender instead of going with a traditional bank. Some people believe that only large businesses qualify for commercial auto lending. However, this isn't true at all! If you own a small business, you too can benefit from having access to these types of financial services. Business auto loan options include: • Commercial auto lenders – These are typically larger institutions than regular banks. They offer different products such as lines of credit, revolving accounts, and term loans. Some even specialize in providing specific kinds of vehicles like vans, tractors, trailers, etc. • Credit unions – Many smaller community-based organizations provide various forms of financing, including checking accounts, savings accounts, home equity loans, and personal loans. You might also find them offering business loans. • Finance companies – Similar to credit unions, finance companies usually operate within local communities. Their goal is to help individuals build wealth by assisting them to pay down debt and save money. Most finance companies will lend up to $100,000 per person. The benefits of borrowing against a company's assets include lower interest rates, flexible repayment terms, and no collateral required. Be sure you understand what you're signing up for before you take out a loan. Here are three things every business owner needs to know when considering a line of credit. 1) Business Auto Loan Rates Interest rates vary depending upon how much you borrow, where you take out the loan, and which type of loan you choose. Typically, the higher the amount borrowed, the higher the rate charged. And while most banks charge between 10% and 20%, finance companies tend to charge less. 2) Repayment Terms Repaying a loan involves making monthly payments based on the total amount owed. When deciding how long you'll repay the loan, consider that more extended payment periods mean lower monthly payments. A business lending officer will likely ask you about your ability to handle comprehensive repayment schedules. 3) Collateral Requirements Collaterals are items used as security for a loan. Banks generally do not accept collaterals because they already hold the item as part of their inventory. Instead, finance companies rely heavily on your income statement, net worth reports, and profit margins to determine if you meet their minimum requirements. When it comes time to decide which option works best for your business, remember that each offers unique advantages and disadvantages. The key is finding the solution that fits your budget and lifestyle.  A business specialist may be able to answer many of your questions concerning business auto loans. To learn more about the process, contact us today. We'd love to hear from you!

Loans For Food Truck Business

Truck Loans For Business - How Do I Get A Business Auto Loan in ?

Getting started with your first car loan can be overwhelming. As you probably haven't dealt with anything like this before, there are many things to consider. Fortunately, we've got everything covered here. We'll walk you step-by-step through getting approved for a car loan. Commercial lenders offer different kinds of products depending on what type of company you run. Some lenders specialize in providing car loans, while others focus on equipment purchases. Regardless of which product you choose, most will require similar paperwork as well as collateral.  Business licenses and other business documentation: You'll have to provide proof that you own or lease the property where you plan to park your vehicles. If you rent space at a commercial garage, you should also show permission to store cars there. In addition, some lenders will request copies of your federal tax returns. These forms contain information such as gross sales figures, profits, losses, depreciation expenses, etc. They are important documents because they allow lenders to see exactly how profitable your business has been during previous years. Income Statements: Lenders like to see these reports because they give them insight into whether or not you're capable of repaying a loan. These financial records include your revenue, costs, assets, liabilities, equity, and any other relevant data. Your lender might even ask for last year's balance sheets. Net Worth Statement: This document shows lenders how much money you make every month, similar to an income statement. It includes bank accounts, stocks, bonds, real estate holdings, retirement plans, etc. Profit Margins: Profit margins measure the difference between revenues and expenses. Most businesses report their margin percentages quarterly. However, lenders usually prefer to receive annual numbers instead. Credit Score: Credit scores range anywhere from 300 - 850. Higher scores indicate better borrowing history.

How To Run Your Own Trucking Business

Small Business Vehicle Finance Loan in

Business vehicle loans are designed specifically for small businesses. Unlike personal automobile loans, these types of loans typically carry higher interest rates than consumer loans. But, they come with additional benefits, including lower monthly payments and longer repayment terms. Business auto loan providers often charge extra fees when customers apply online. So if you do go ahead and complete the application form yourself, keep track of all charges and ensure that you get reimbursed for any unnecessary fees. If you find yourself having trouble making ends meet, consider taking out a short-term business line of credit. Line of credits are unsecured loans that generally last up to 12 months. Because they aren't backed by collateral, they tend to cost less than secured lines of credit. Plus, they let you borrow against future earnings rather than current ones. You can take advantage of low APR business auto loans without putting down a security deposit. Instead, you pay back only the amount borrowed plus interest.

How To Get A Commercial Truck Loan

Should I Buy Or Lease A Truck For My Business?

Business auto leases offer many advantages compared to buying a car outright. The most significant benefit is flexibility. With a leased vehicle, you never have to worry about selling it to qualify for another one. And since most leases require just three simple payments per year, you won't be saddled with high-interest debt either. Leasing gives you access to more affordable models too. Since dealerships sell used inventory, they may try to push you toward pricier options. Your business asset will likely depreciate faster on average if you lease a luxury model. On top of that, leasing lets you avoid the hassle of owning a second vehicle. You'll save time and energy dealing with maintenance issues, insurance requirements, gas mileage calculations, parking permits, and so forth. Business activities can vary widely depending upon what kind of work you do. If you run a construction company, then you probably spend a lot of time driving around town. That means you should look at vehicles that provide good fuel economy and safety features, such as airbags. On the other hand, if you own a landscaping service, you could spend most of your day sitting behind the wheel. In that case, you'd probably appreciate a comfortable ride that offers plenty of legroom. The bottom line is that there isn't necessarily one best option for everyone. What matters most is finding something that works within your budget and meets your needs.

How Much Money Do You Need To Start A Trucking Company

Is Commercial Refinance Possible?

Business auto loan alternatives include commercial refinancing or consolidation. Both allow you to refinance existing debts into a single payment plan. However, each has its pros and cons. Commercial refinancing requires some paperwork and usually involves transferring ownership from one lender to another. It's also possible that you might not receive enough money to cover both outstanding balances. Consolidation eliminates this problem because it combines multiple loans into a single larger loan. As long as you can make the minimum required monthly payments, you shouldn't face any issues. However, consolidating your debts doesn't always mean getting better deals. Some lenders raise your rate after doing so. They charge higher rates based on how much risk they perceive you pose. So even though you've consolidated your obligations, you still end up paying more overall.

How Long Can You Finance A Commercial Truck

Alternatives To Business Auto Financing

Business auto funding options range from traditional bank lending to alternative forms of financing like factoring. Factoring is when you factor invoices instead of borrowing against them. Factoring makes sense if you expect to generate large amounts of revenue soon. But if you anticipate generating smaller sums throughout the next few years, then using a conventional loan would be preferable. Another way to fund your business is through equity financing. Equity refers to shares of stock owned by someone else. When you invest in stocks, you become part-owner of the firm. Ownership entitles you to dividends and voting rights. Equity financing comes in two varieties: venture capital and private equity. Venture capitalists typically put down between 5% and 10% of the total cost of equipment purchases. Private investors often offer less than 1%. Equity financing is excellent for startups since it provides funds without requiring collateral. The downside is that you have no control over where these investments go once they leave your hands. Finally, you can consider buying assets outright rather than taking out debt. Assets include real estate, machinery, office furniture, computers, and anything else that generates income. Buying assets frees you from having to pay interest charges while allowing you to reap tax benefits.

Best Way To Finance A Commercial Truck

Commercial Auto Loans From Alternative Lenders

A business lending representative will help you find the perfect solution for your company. You'll get personalized attention at every step along the way. And we'll work with you until everything goes smoothly. We understand what businesses need. That's why our team focuses exclusively on small-business clients. We know exactly which products and services will benefit your operation. And we won't waste time trying to sell you things you already own. Instead, we focus solely on helping you grow. Our goal is simple: Helping you succeed. Our success depends entirely upon yours. If you'd like to learn more about us, please get in touch with us today! To learn more about these options, please give us a call at (888) 653-0124 today!

Have Any Additional Questions?

 1-Minute Application / Minimum 3 Months in Business & $5000/mo in Sales 17 Top Construction Companies Shaking Up the Industry"Source: (bigrentz.com) America desperately needs 1 million more construction workers"Source: (cnn.com) Read the full article

[orbemnews]

A New Crop in Pennsylvania: Warehouses OREFIELD, Pa. — From his office in an old barn on a turkey farm, David Jaindl watches a towering flat-screen TV with video feeds from the hatchery to the processing room, where the birds are butchered. Mr. Jaindl is a third-generation farmer in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. His turkeys are sold at Whole Foods and served at the White House on Thanksgiving. But there is more to Mr. Jaindl’s business than turkeys. For decades, he has been involved in developing land into offices, medical facilities and subdivisions, as the area in and around the Lehigh Valley has evolved from its agricultural and manufacturing roots to also become a health care and higher education hub. Now Mr. Jaindl is taking part in a new shift. Huge warehouses are sprouting up like mushrooms along local highways, on country roads and in farm fields. The boom is being driven, in large part, by the astonishing growth of Amazon and other e-commerce retailers and the area’s proximity to New York City, the nation’s largest concentration of online shoppers, roughly 80 miles away. “They are certainly good for our area,” said Mr. Jaindl, who is developing land for several new warehouses. “They add a nice tax base and good employment.” But the warehouses are being built at such a dizzying pace that many residents worry the area’s landscape, quality of life and long-term economic well-being are at risk. E-commerce is fueling job growth, but the work is physically taxing, does not pay as well as manufacturing and could eventually be phased out by automation. Yet the warehouses are leaving a permanent mark. There are proposals to widen local roads to accommodate the thousands of additional trucks ferrying goods from the hulking structures. In the township of Maxatawny, Pa., just west of the Lehigh Valley, a giant warehouse is slated to be built at the site of a 259-year-old cemetery that holds the remains of a Revolutionary War captain and what is believed to be the unmarked grave of a woman he had enslaved. Not far away, near a group of Mennonite farms, a tractor-trailer hit a horse-drawn buggy in late March, flipping it and sending one passenger to the hospital and the horse on the loose. Closer to Allentown, the area’s largest city, FedEx has built a new “ground hub,” one of its largest such facilities in the United States. A billboard down the road advertises legal representation for people injured in truck accidents. “They are coming here and putting up shiny new warehouses and erasing pieces of history,” said Juli Winkler, whose ancestors are buried in the Maxatawny cemetery. “Who knows if these big buildings will even be useful in 50 years.” Developers are very confident in the industry’s growth, however, particularly after the pandemic. Big warehouse companies like Prologis and Duke Realty are investing billions in local properties. Many of the warehouses are being built before tenants have signed up, making some wonder whether there is a bubble and if some of these giant buildings will ever be filled. “People are calling it warehouse fatigue,” said Dr. Christopher R. Amato, a member of the regional planning commission. “It feels like we are just being inundated.” There are now almost as many warehouse and transportation jobs in the region as manufacturing positions. But that’s not a milestone all celebrate — not in an area that hopes to keep alive its higher-paying manufacturing sector, even though some of its biggest employers like Bethlehem Steel closed long ago. Manufacturing jobs in the Lehigh Valley pay, on average, $71,400 a year, compared with $46,700 working in a warehouse or driving a truck. The region is still home to large manufacturing plants that produce Crayola crayons and marshmallow Peeps candies. Don Cunningham, the chief executive of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, says the warehouse jobs are lifting employment and wages, particularly for unskilled workers. “If you were to turn away this economic opportunity for a whole sector of workers, where do they go?” Mr. Cunningham said. “They could end up on some sort of government assistance or end up caught up in the criminal justice system.” Mr. Cunningham, whose father worked in the local steel industry, said he recognized that distribution jobs were not ideal. “But to be able to make $16 an hour with a high school diploma, there aren’t a lot of places in the U.S. where you can do that,” he said. “This is a really nice sector for low-skilled workers. It at least gives them a fighting chance to carve out a livable wage.” A depot on the global supply chain To Kirk R. Johnson, the Lehigh Valley is a dreamscape. There is available land, but not too much, which helps keep values high. Two major interstates pass through the area ferrying goods through the Northeast. About 30 percent of American consumers are within a day’s truck drive. Looking for an opportunity to invest, Mr. Johnson, the chief investment officer of the Watson Land Company, a giant owner of warehouses in Southern California, teamed up with Mr. Jaindl. Together, they are developing three new warehouse projects around the Lehigh Valley, totaling more than three million square feet, or about 60 football fields. They are being built speculatively, meaning no tenants are lined up. “There are tons of risk in development,” Mr. Johnson said, “And building speculatively is one of them.” Mr. Jaindl said many concerns in the area about warehouses were unwarranted. He said that the Lehigh Valley still had a large manufacturing base and that his land company was also seeing demand for houses and hotels, reflecting the economy’s strength beyond warehouses. As an active farmer whose grandfather started the business with just a handful of turkeys, Mr. Jaindl took his stewardship of the land seriously, he said. His family is regarded as one of the most generous philanthropists in the area. “Farming is our foundation,” he said. He said the warehouse critics didn’t often acknowledge how vital the industry had become during the pandemic. Many of the warehouses are being used to distribute food across the Northeast. “The truck drivers played a very important role getting necessities and food to people during Covid,” he said. Today in Business Updated  May 25, 2021, 5:16 p.m. ET With much of the land nearest to the interstates already built out, developers are pushing farther into the countryside. One of Mr. Jaindl’s warehouse projects is slated for a farm field just over the state line in White Township, N.J. Mr. Jaindl said he had decided to build on only half of the 600-acre site and to preserve the rest as farmland even though he was entitled to develop the entire parcel. The complex could add hundreds of truck trips a day to rural roads that wind through picturesque towns near the Delaware River. The nearest highway is about 12 miles from the proposed warehouse. Tom Bodolsky moved to nearby Hope Township more than 40 years ago because it was a place where “he could see the stars at night.” Back then, manufacturing plants were not far away, but no one foresaw that the area could become a depot on the global supply chain. “These towns got caught with their pants down,” he said. ‘I was completely beat up’ In a promotional video posted on the economic development agency’s website, there are images of welders, builders and aerial footage of the former Bethlehem Steel plant, which closed in the 1990s. The narrator touts the Lehigh Valley’s ethos as the home of “makers” and “dreamers.” “We know the value of an honest day’s work,” the narrator intones. “We practically wrote the book on it.” Jason Arias found an honest day’s work in the Lehigh Valley’s warehouses, but he also found the physical strain too difficult to bear. Mr. Arias moved to the area from Puerto Rico 20 years ago to take a job in a manufacturing plant. After being laid off in 2010, Mr. Arias found a job packing and scanning boxes at an Amazon warehouse. The job soon started to take a toll — the constant lifting of boxes, the bending and walking. “Manufacturing is easy,” he said. “Everything was brought to you on pallets pushed by machines. The heaviest thing you lift is a box of screws.” One day, walking down stairs in the warehouse, Mr. Arias, 44, missed a step and felt something pop in his hip as he landed awkwardly. It was torn cartilage. At the time, Mr. Arias was making $13 an hour. (Today, Amazon pays an hourly minimum of $15.) In 2012, Mr. Arias left Amazon and went to a warehouse operated by a food distributor. After a few years, he injured his shoulder on the job and needed surgery. “Every time I went home I was completely beat up,” said Mr. Arias, who now drives a truck for UPS, a unionized job which he likes. Dr. Amato, the regional planning official, is a chiropractor whose patients include distribution workers. Manufacturing work is difficult, but the repetitive nature of working in a warehouse is unsustainable, he said. “If you take a coat hanger and bend it back and forth 50 times, it will break,” he said. “If you are lifting 25-pound boxes multiple times per hour, eventually things start to break down.” Dennis Hower, the president of the local Teamsters union, which represents drivers for UPS and other companies in the Lehigh Valley, said he was happy that the e-commerce boom was resulting in new jobs. At the same time, he’s reminded by the empty storefronts everywhere that other jobs are being destroyed. “Every day you open up the newspaper and see another retail store going out of business,” he said. Not everyone can handle the physicality of warehouse work or has the temperament to drive a truck for 10 hours a day. In fact, many distribution companies are having a hard time finding enough local workers to fill their openings and have had to bus employees in from out of state, Mr. Hower said. “You can always find someone somewhere who is willing to work for whatever you are going to pay them,” he said. A slave’s final resting place Two years ago, there were no warehouses near Lara Thomas’s home in Shoemakersville, Pa., a town of 1,400 people west of the Lehigh Valley. Today, five of them are within walking distance. “It hurts my heart,” said Ms. Thomas. “This is a small community.” A local history buff, Ms. Thomas is a member of a group of volunteers who regularly clean up old, dilapidated cemeteries in the area, including one in Maxatawny that is about two miles from her church. The cemetery, under a grove of trees next to a wide-open field, is the final resting place of George L. Kemp, a farmer and a captain in the Revolutionary War. Last summer, the warehouse developer Duke Realty, which is based in Indianapolis, argued in county court that it could find no living relatives of Mr. Kemp and proposed moving the graves to another location. A “logistics park” is planned on the property. Meredith Goldey, who is a Kemp descendant, was not impressed with Duke’s due diligence. “They didn’t look very hard.” Ms. Goldey, other descendants and Ms. Thomas pored through old property and probate records and found Mr. Kemp’s will. The documents stipulated that a woman enslaved by Mr. Kemp, identified only as Hannah, would receive a proper burial. While there is no visible marker for Hannah in the cemetery, the captain’s will strongly suggests she is buried alongside the rest of the family. “This is not the Deep South,” Ms. Thomas said. “It is almost unheard-of for a family to own a slave in eastern Pennsylvania in the early 19th century and then to have her buried with them.” Several descendants of Mr. Kemp filed a lawsuit against Duke Realty seeking to protect the cemetery. A judge has ordered the two sides to come up with a solution by next month. A spokesman for Duke Realty said in an email that the company “is optimistic that the parties will reach an amicable settlement in the near future.” Ms. Thomas worries that if the bodies are exhumed and interred in another location, they will not be able to locate Hannah’s remains and they will be buried under the warehouse. “She will be lost,” she said. 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