#overseas service certification

[hapump]

文凭,本科文凭,留服认证 #中留服认证 #学历提升 #学历认证

Diploma, undergraduate diploma, overseas service certification, Chinese overseas service certification, education improvement, academic certification

[abcintern]

Attestation of Death Certificates: A Complete Guide

The loss of a loved one is an emotionally challenging time, and dealing with legal formalities can make it even more overwhelming. One such essential but often overlooked requirement is the attestation of death certificates, especially when the document needs to be used internationally. Whether it's for inheritance claims, property matters, or insurance settlements abroad, death certificate attestation ensures that the document is legally valid in another country.

What is Death Certificate Attestation?

Attestation is the process of authenticating official documents so they are accepted by foreign authorities. The attestation of death certificates confirms the legitimacy of the document issued by an Indian authority, allowing it to be recognized in a foreign country.

This process is necessary if a family needs to settle legal or financial matters related to the deceased in another country, such as transferring property, claiming pensions, or closing bank accounts.

Why is Death Certificate Attestation Important?

Here are a few critical reasons why attestation is essential:

International Legal Validity: The death certificate needs to be accepted by foreign governments and institutions.

Property and Asset Transfer: To transfer or claim assets like property, funds, or investments abroad.

Family Settlement Matters: For legal proceedings such as succession certificates or inheritance claims.

Insurance Claims: Many insurance companies abroad require attested certificates for processing death claims.

Visa and Immigration Formalities: Required for closing or cancelling visas, dependents' status, or related immigration processes.

Steps Involved in the Attestation of Death Certificates

The process of death certificate attestation typically follows these steps:

1. Notary Attestation

The document is first verified by a local notary, confirming the signature and seal of the issuing authority.

2. Home Department Attestation

Next, the State Home Department authenticates the document based on the notary verification.

3. MEA Attestation

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) attests the document for use in foreign countries.

4. Embassy Attestation

If required by the destination country, the respective embassy will further verify the death certificate.

Who Needs to Get a Death Certificate Attested?

Families of Indian citizens who passed away in India but had connections abroad.

Legal heirs needing to claim inheritance or property in another country.

People handling estate and legal affairs of deceased family members with international ties.

Important Points to Remember

Always use the original or government-issued death certificate for attestation.

The certificate must be in English or translated into English by a certified translator if issued in another language.

Check the specific requirements of the destination country, as some may require apostille instead of traditional attestation.

Conclusion

The attestation of death certificates is a vital process when handling cross-border legal, financial, or administrative matters after a loved one’s death. It may seem technical and time-consuming, but with the right guidance, it can be completed smoothly and efficiently.

Getting the document attested ensures that your claims and procedures in foreign countries are not delayed due to paperwork issues. Whether you’re dealing with inheritance or closing official matters overseas, proper attestation brings peace of mind during a difficult time.

[tf2occontest]

The Courier VS Armani & Marcel, The Decoys VS The Therapist

(Final round! No match-up list here)

Alright team, here's a recap: This is a contest to determine who amongst you will take the top of the leaderboard and be hired at TFI! Simply put, whoever gets the most votes wins the contest, and whoever doesn't... Well. They'll be put down swiftly and cleanly. :}

So, mann your stations, because here are your FINAL contestants! Vote for your favorite mercenary who you want to win the TF2 OC Contest! - P

OC INFO UNDER THE CUT!

We highly encourage you to take a peek to make your decision!

The Courier

@sicc-nasti

Image credit: @/sicc-nasti

Do you like receiving your mail on time and your packages in pristine condition - untouched by curious hands and peeping eyes? Do you love when your woefully embarrassing love letters filled with poetry from your soul are delivered with the utmost care and secrecy? Does it fill you with glee when your special snacks you ordered overseas finally make its way into your hands and not a SINGLE piece is missing?

If you said yes to any of these questions then WOW do I NOT have the guy for you!!!!

Instead-

TFI presents you something you didn't know was possible OR legal - weaponized postal services!

Meet your 10th Class-

The Courier!

By intercepting and opening someone else's mail, an individual can gain access to confidential information that can be used for identity theft, fraud, or other illegal activities. And we wouldn’t want that, now would we? That's why our solution to this simple problem is bringing the mail to the battlefield! Courier is equipped with MANN CO approved disposable stackable mail crates for your climbing or shielding needs. Just think of how nice it would be to build a tower to do taunts on or have cover from that enemy Heavy's hail of bullets. Sure it's clunky but nothing shreds paper faster than a bullet - that's science tested and math approved by TFI scientists! And monkeys!

Courier is THE MANN for the job.

If that ain't enough to catch your attention, let's take a peek at the men behind the uniform.

RED’s Courier is a Puerto Rican ex-felon hailing from the greatest place on earth! New York City! With an insatiable appetite for all things fraud, deli meats, and violence - what more could you ask from a guy?

BLU's Courier is a Puerto Rican-Italian ex-con plucked from the greatest place on earth! Jersey City! With an insatiable appetite for all things smuggling, deli meats, and violence - what more could you ask from a guy?

Not enough for a vote?

Well, listen, I'm not above bribery. If you vote for them, Courier promises to not read your mail for like a week and INSTEAD- will write you up a totally not fraudulent marriage certificate to any merc you want!! Just think! Finally legally married to Heavy! Or Engie! How’s that sound for incentive, boss?

THROUGH RAIN, SHINE, BULLET HAIL OR SNOW, THEY’RE YOUR COURIER.

VOTE FOR COURIER IN THIS UPCOMING TF2 OC CONTEST

Maybe there’ll be enough in the budget for a third one!

Armani & Marcel, The Decoys

@friendlyengie

Image credit: @/friendlyengie

When your job description is to be as obnoxious as possible, obviously you’re going to send in a clown! Armani is a Decoy, which means his purpose is to get on the field and draw as much attention to himself as possible. Sure, it probably means he gets killed frequently, but isn’t that half the fun?

Personally, Armani is rough and over the (big)top. He’s Italian, too. If that helps. If it doesn’t ignore that part. He’s got the flowery language exaggerated expressions of a performer and absolutely none of the social tact. He’s loud and in your face and simply does not care! Take him or leave him, baby! (Please take him.)

Marcel is just a guy. A little man. His mime-specific approach to the decoy class means he’s a lot less loud shouting and japes, and a lot more inconvenient tricks and hiding where you just can’t see him. He saves his breath unless he has the chance to be really funny. As a person, Marcel is eccentric and expressive. Cartoonishly so. A man of few words, since said words can only be spoken when he pulls the string on his back, he normally conveys his thoughts through actions instead. He’s annoying, and he wants you to know that specifically. He’s charming enough that he can make people forget how obnoxious he is just long enough for whatever stunt he pulls next to come out of nowhere. Ain’t he just so charming?

The Therapist

@hazardtoons

Image credit: @/hazardtoons

You wouldn’t expect an organisation like Team Fortress Industries to invest in something like mental health treatment for its hardened soldiers. The one giving them this generous care is a woman only known by those who work at the company as Therapist - a seemingly well-intentioned lady there to give everything from a shoulder to cry on to someone to seek advice from.

There is a catch, however. Not all the information she gathers from her clients is used for good. Underlying that comforting presence is another tool of oppression used in the company.

[coochiequeens]

If parents are so desperate for a baby that they commission one under circumstances that could leave the kid in legal limbo between 2 countries for SIX YEARS maybe they are too selfish to have a kid in the first place.

Written by Sohini Ghosh New Delhi | Updated: June 6, 2025

Born in 2019 in India, the child obtained Australian citizenship in January 2023 following a court order and after complying with the necessary processes. (File Photo)

It took six years and multiple back-and-forths between two key Union ministries, and the Delhi High Court to ensure an exit visa for a six-year-old child born through surrogacy to Indian-origin Australian citizens in 2019, before the Surrogacy Act came into force in 2022.

In the absence of clarity among the two ministries – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) – and after several “procedural hurdles”, the MHA on May 21 directed its Bureau of Immigration to issue an exit visa to the child, subject to payment of late fees for overstay beyond 90 days. The MHA then informed the high court of its decision, recorded in an order by Justice Sachin Datta on May 26.

An exit visa is permission granted to a foreigner to leave India in the absence of a valid visa or entry into a country. In the case of the child, born in India and staying here since, his passport as an Australian citizen had no entry stamp to India, as the child’s passport was obtained while the child and his guardian were in India, thus requiring an exit visa to leave the country.

The MHA’s decision came after the child’s father, an Australian citizen, moved the Delhi High Court earlier this year seeking directions to issue an exit visa for his child, which he had applied for nearly two years ago on April 28, 2023.

The child’s parents are Australian citizens with Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration. Born in 2019 in India, the child obtained Australian citizenship while residing in India, in January 2023 following a DNA test establishing parentage of an Australian parent (the child’s father), a Mumbai civil court order, and after complying with the necessary processes.

The child’s mother, who suffered from Crohn’s disease, and the father, had moved to India in 2018 and decided to go for a gestational surrogacy in 2019 in compliance with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Guidelines, 2005, which required the execution of a surrogacy agreement with the surrogate mother and intended parent. This was prior to the Surrogacy Regulation Act, 2021, which only came into effect in January 2022. The baby was born in Indore in June 2019, and while his mother died in 2021 due to COVID-19, by January 2023, the boy’s father obtained the child’s Australian citizenship along with a Mumbai civil court order granting him permission to take the minor from India to Australia.

Days after issuing an Australian passport to the child in April 2023, his father applied for an exit visa on behalf of his son through the e-portal of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). In June 2024, the application was shown as ‘completed’ on the portal but with directions to “wait for further instructions.”

However, on August 14, 2024, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued an office memorandum (OM), informing the MHA that as per provisions of the Surrogacy Act 2021 and its Rules 2022, foreign nationals are not eligible to avail surrogacy services in India and, for a couple of Indian origin (OCI cardholders), they have to obtain a certificate of recommendation from the National Board formed under the Act before availing such surrogacy treatment. The office memorandum also sought documents from the father with respect to the surrogacy, by way of clarification.

In further bureaucratic back and forth, in November 2024, the MHA sought that the father submit a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the MoHFW, and days later, the MoHFW telephonically informed the father that they are not responsible for issuing any such NOC.

The petitioners – father and son – argued that the Surrogacy Act and its Rules cannot apply retrospectively as it was not in place when the child was born, and had termed the MoHFW’s office memorandum of August 2024, directing them to submit proofs of requisite permissions as per the Act, as “illegal”.

When the case was first taken up by Justice Datta in April, it was argued that with the child obtaining admission in a school in Sydney for academic year 2025, the delay in the grant of visa is disrupting the child’s education and prolonged absence from regular classes at school has led to issuance of absentee notice by the school, making him likely to suffer cancellation of his admission.

The child’s admission to the school in Sydney, Australia, was facilitated remotely from India.

At the time of the court hearing, the Union government was granted time to obtain instructions.

On May 26, informing the court, the Union government submitted that “during the year 2015, since there was no regulation on surrogacy in India, MHA had imposed restriction on grant of visa/exit permit to children born out of surrogacy to foreign nationals (including OCI cardholders).”

“Further, during the year 2021, the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 was introduced by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Surrogacy Rules were notified in 2022. The Surrogacy Rules permitted surrogacy only for Indian nationals and OCI cardholder parents. However, in the instant case, surrogacy was commissioned…before commencement of Surrogacy Regulation/law in India in violation of MHA guidelines,” the government told the high court.

It added, “Considering the peculiar circumstances of the case and in the interest of the child, the matter was examined in this Ministry. It has been decided to grant exit permit to the Petitioner No.1 after regularising his overstay period by charging appropriate financial penalty.”

[pommedepersephone]

Managing Post Election: Basic Personal Preparedness

As a family who moves frequently, with a US government job that has us living overseas, I am used to being prepared for all contingencies. Given that many of us will be very vulnerable under the incoming administration, I am sharing my advice for getting prepared.

Make sure all your IDs are up to date.

This includes a copy of your social security card, birth certificate, and any licenses related to marriage. Don't have a driver’s license? Get your Real ID from the DMV. And if you don't have one, go get your passport, now.

For those who do not have US citizenship, the National Immigration Law Center has resources related to obtaining IDs, and much more.

Visit your medical provider.

Get a copy of your medical records, your prescriptions, etc. Make sure your vaccinations are up to date. If you use birth control consider stocking up - or switch to an IUD that does not require refills. If you have an IUD that should be replaced in the next four years, see if you can do so now.

Sadly, access to affordable sexual healthcare is nowhere near universal in the US as it is, and it is about to get worse. I will be looking for good resource lists on this very topic next.

Look at your finances.

If you don't have good record keeping in place, consider spending a bit of time to set that up. FEMA's Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) is a great place to start.

There is every chance that we are going to see increased market volatility, major changes in interest rates and tariffs, etc. If you are in any position to, pay down your debt as you can. If you have unavoidable major purchases pending, consider making them now.

What next?

Please note, this is in no way exhaustive, and I plan to do a few more of these posts for folks who might find them useful. I am not an expert, but I do have experience working in human services and I am a mean researcher. Leveraging our respective skills to support each other is how we survive and thrive.

[icemavs]

long distance

Bradley gets off the ship and misses Jake. (2.1k, explicit, ao3)

The first thing Bradley did when he heard they would be pulling into port in Japan in a few hours was step out on the flight deck to take a huge breath of the fresh air. The sun was warm on his face and Bradley could feel the life coming back to his body. He hadn’t flown since the day before they made a pit stop in Guam and he was feeling antsy. The weather was nasty nearly the whole trip and the seas were rough but it wasn’t anything he wasn’t used to. This wasn’t his first trip across the Pacific. The Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group would only be in the western Pacific for a couple months, but it felt like a lifetime whenever he was away from home. 

Now that they were close to civilization again, Bradley turned his cell service back on. Most of his family knew not to text him to blow up his phone once it was back on, but he had a couple messages from both Ice and Mav, just updates on how the new TOPGUN class was going mostly. In addition to those, there were a few from Phoenix and Javy, as well as a whole long string of messages from Jake. He scrolled through those from Ice, Mav, Phoenix, and Javy, but he decided to save Jake’s for his hotel room. Instead he opted to send Jake a selfie with the Tokyo skyline in the background. Immediately, Bradley’s phone buzzed with a message from Jake that simply read FUCK and Bradley smiled to himself. Exactly the reaction he was expecting. 

“Yo! Rooster, let’s go!” Fanboy yelled from the door to the living quarters area. Bradley turned on his heel and bid the Tokyo skyline farewell for the moment. They would have to go gather their flight gear and collection of uniforms to be able to stay in their hotel for a few days. Getting to leave the ship and staying in an off base hotel for a few days was one of his favorite perks of being a fighter pilot. He had put his time in as an enlisted kid, staying in barracks on land and in the junior enlisted quarters while on the ship, so he was going to take advantage of all the comfy beds he could. 

It was always a thrash to get off the ship, but going from the aircrew quarters to the rental cars was definitely his least favorite part of a deployment. Carrying his bags and his helmet bag along the narrow staircases was a pain in the ass. It would make him think about his first deployment with Jake and how they would arm wrestle the night before they stopped in port for who had to carry personal bags and who had to carry helmet bags. The last time they did it, it ended in a little more than just arm wrestling. Bradley sighed at the memory and couldn’t get to his rental car fast enough. 

Bradley, Fanboy, and the other pilots reached their set of cars and tossed keys around until someone finally had enough and got in the driver's seat. Bradley took his place in the backseat of a van among some bags and backpacks while Fanboy, Omaha, and Harvard chatted mindlessly in the front of the vehicle. He pulled out his phone to reply to Jake’s latest text and felt a heat creeping up his cheeks. The time zone difference was going to be a bitch, but if Jake was going to send Bradley messages like that, he could make it work. 

Jake was already asleep by the time Bradly finally collapsed in his bed. Now that he was finally laying down, he could feel just how tired his body was from the time spent on the carrier. The first night back on land always made him restless, especially when he never really had to change his sleep schedule. Being on the ship meant he could just go with the flow and be awake or asleep to meet crew rest so they could do take off and landing certifications. Since becoming TOPGUN instructors after their near-death mission, Bradley and Jake didn’t have to go underway as often as when they were with active squadrons, but every once in a while they would have to travel overseas to help out some of the other squadrons not stationed state-side. He enjoyed the work, getting to pass on all his knowledge to so many pilots. He also got to meet a lot of cool people in the Navy, Marines, and even the Air Force, despite them not flying any of the same fighter jets. 

Bradley pulled out his laptop to check some emails before deciding to finally scroll through all of Jake’s messages. They were mostly about how much Jake missed him, a few about how annoying some of the current TOPGUN class pilots were being, but a select few were some suggestive messages that let Bradley know he made the right decision in waiting to get to his hotel room to open them. 

“I can’t believe I have to get myself off for a whole month while you’re underway.”

“God, I miss your mouth so much. And other things.” 

“Fucking myself open on my fingers and pretending it’s you.” 

“But it’s nowhere near close to the real thing.” 

Bradley kept scrolling through all the messages, telling himself to go to the messages from other people and reply to let them know he was in Tokyo, but he couldn’t get himself to look away from Jake’s texts. 

Ever since the two had become serious, more than just quick hookups in the showers after a sortie or drunk makeout sessions in the bar bathroom, they were inseparable. Jake’s lease was up on his apartment, so he had moved in with Bradley and they were going on six months with no issues. They worked together, often teaching the same lessons together, throwing in ample “so-to-speaks” that made the class laugh but made Bradley hot under the collar. Sometimes even just the sound of Jake’s voice over the radios while in the cockpit was enough to get Bradley half hard. Not only was their relationship incredibly physical, Bradley also was at the point where he found himself unable to stop thinking about Jake in the most domestic of ways. Smiling to himself when he saw Jake making eggs in the morning, his heart tightening when he thought about how this was his life now. How much he loved it and how much he loved Jake. They hadn’t said it to each other yet, unspoken understanding being enough for now, but Bradley knew when he got home from this deployment he wouldn’t be able to keep himself from blurting it out. 

As he kept scrolling back and forth between all of Jake’s messages, Bradley palmed his half hard erection through his boxers. He glanced at the time on his phone and sighed. If he didn’t shower now it would get to be late and he had to be up early, and he could finish what he’d started while he was in there. 

He threw his phone down and rolled himself off the bed, still getting his legs underneath him. Bradley turned the water on and stripped quickly, standing naked in front of the mirror while the water warmed up. He had never thought much about how he looked until Jake. Jake would constantly tell him he was perfect, that he was the hottest person he’d ever seen, and how he couldn’t believe Bradley was his. Bradley would just tell Jake the same, and it was true. Jake was incredibly beautiful and Bradley could never understand how he pulled Jake. As he stared at himself in the mirror, Bradley ran his hands over his chest and stomach, wishing they were Jake’s strong, capable hands. He gave his dick a small tug before finally stepping into the shower. 

The water was warm and relaxed his muscles. He let it run over his head and wet his hair but his hands still roamed over his own body. He started something back out on the bed and he wasn’t about to let a pesky thing like washing his hair get in the way of that quite yet. Bradley turned around to let the spray hit his back for a moment while he finally got his hand on his nearly fully hard cock. He let out a soft groan and worked his hand slowly up and down. Because he was facing away from the shower head, his hand was a little dry but he enjoyed the roughness for the moment. It was how Jake would do it, anyway.

Finally, Bradley turned back toward the spray and sped his hand up. He imagined Jake under him on his knees, eyes looking up at him full of hope and the need to please Bradley. Bradley’s other hand wandered back to his chest and started to play with one of his nipples. He let out a long, quiet moan, still with it enough to remember he was in a hotel and probably had neighbors. With the water mixed with precome that was now coating his hand, the slide got easier and he increased his speed. 

“Fuck,” he gasped out between quick breaths. Even though it was only in his head, it was like he could feel the heat of Jake’s mouth around him, the slick glide of his tongue along the underside of his cock, right along the vein that ran there. “Oh, God, Jake, please,” Bradey breathed out.

His hand that was not on his cock was grabbing handfuls of his chest, massaging the muscle and digging his nails in. It was easy to imagine Jake reaching up from his spot on the floor while he kept one hand working Bradley’s cock. He had done it more than once before, it was one of Bradley’s favorite things. 

Bradley thought about reaching his free hand back around to open himself up, but as his hand worked, his breaths continued to get quicker and the rest of his body caught up with the fatigue of the trip overseas. He felt himself tipping closer to the edge and started to feel fuzzy around the edges. 

Quiet, quick breaths turned to soft, gasping moans of pleasure and Bradley worked his hand quickly over his cock, stripping it like it was his last lifeline. Bradley’s thoughts were of Jake as he painted the floor of the shower. His orgasm hit him hard, two weeks on the ship when all he could think about was his incredibly hot boyfriend but not being able to do anything about it was torture. 

Once his bearings returned to him, Bradley finished up his shower by washing his body and splashing water on his face. His breathing had slowed back to a normal tempo and his hands stopped their wandering around his body, finally letting his cock come to rest heavily between his legs, still softening. It didn’t take him long to finish his shower but he didn’t want to leave the warmth of the shower. 

After reluctantly shutting off the water, Bradley stepped out into the steamy bathroom and wrapped a towel around himself. He gave a quick thought to the fact that Jake would be waking up soon and the messages he could send when they were awake at the same time. His dick twitched slightly but he elected to ignore it for the time being. The scratch of the towel on his skin made for a welcome distraction from how horny he still was and he finished getting ready for bed. 

Bradley was settled in bed, the TV glowing and giving him some soft background noise. It was turned to some late night Japanese sports analysis show, but he wasn’t paying attention. He finally decided to scroll through the rest of his messages from Ice and Mav. There wasn’t anything super important for him to respond to right away, but he shot off a text to the both of them to let him know they made it to Tokyo. It was nearing six in the morning at home, so the replies of “Thanks for letting us know” came through quickly. After texting Nat to let her know the same, Bradley finally opened up his messages with Jake again. He concocted a message to let him know just how his shower had gone, and he waited eagerly for Jake to wake up while he scrolled mindlessly through social media. 

About 45 minutes later, Bradley’s phone buzzed where it sat on the bed next to him and he smiled when he saw the message was from Jake. Instead of texting him back, he hit the call button and put the phone to his ear. 

“Good morning, baby,” Bradley said when Jake answered the phone in a sleepy voice. “How did you sleep?”

“Mmm, it was fine,” Jake replied. “But by the sounds of your voice, and the texts you sent me, my morning is about to get a lot better.”

[ancientstone]

On the 4th July 2024 the UK will hold a General Election

What does this mean?

On the 4th July 2024, the UK will go to the polls. Each constituency (an electoral area) will get to chose between a number of local candidates (MPs), each representing one of the political parties, such as the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, etc.

When all the ballots have been counted, the person with the most will be elected, meaning that person's party will hold that constituency. Once every constituency winner is announced (or if there's a landslide for a party which the others cannot hope to beat) that political party wins the general election, and the person in charge of that party becomes Prime Minster.

In the last General Election, the turnout was 67.3% across the UK.

Who gets to vote?

To vote in the General Election, you must be one of the following (information taken directly from here):

be registered to vote

be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’)

be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen

be resident at an address in the UK or living abroad and registered as an overseas voter

not be legally excluded from voting

Registering to Vote

You can register to vote here.

You can check if you're registered by going here.

According to the website, while registering, "You’ll be asked for your National Insurance number (but you can still register if you do not have one). After you’ve registered, your name and address will appear on the electoral register."

There is also an option to register to vote anonymously "if you're concerned about your name and address appearing on the electoral register for safety reasons." The link to that page is here.

You can register to vote by post by going here and printing out the forms.

If you would like a step-by-step guide to registering to vote, here is a page that has a pdf doing just that. It is also available in Welsh.

Photo ID

We now need to show a photo ID when turning up to the polls.

Here is a list of valid forms of photo ID.

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get a valid ID, otherwise you will be turned away from the polling station.

If you vote by proxy, you need to "take your own ID when you go to vote on someone else’s behalf. You do not need to take theirs."

According to the website, "The name on your ID must match your name on the electoral register. If it does not, you’ll need to:

register to vote again with your new details

take a document with you to vote that proves you’ve changed your name (for example, a marriage certificate)

Small differences do not matter. For example, if your ID says ‘Jim Smith’ instead of ‘James Smith’.

If you do not have a type of photo ID that allows you to vote, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate."

You need to apply to vote by post

You can apply here.

You need to be registered before applying.

To apply you need:

"The address where you are registered to vote

Your National Insurance number or other identity documents, e.g. a passport

the specific date of the election or referendum you want to make a postal vote, if you only want a one-off postal vote

You’ll also need to upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.

If you cannot provide a signature or one that always looks the same, you may be able to apply for a postal vote signature waiver within the service.

You might be asked for extra documents to identify you."

The linked page has an option for downloading an application form to send in by post.

Resources

BBC breakdown of General Elections

BBC boundary changes to constituencies

An overview of the political parties

BBC News page for current politics

How many MPs are in which parties

General info around voting, elections, boundary changes, etc.

TL;DR

On the 4th July 2024 the UK votes for the next political party in charge.

You need to register to vote.

You need to take a photo ID with you.

You need to apply to vote by post.

The rest of the world is welcome to share this! Also feel free to add extra resources and information!

[dreamschanuzerpuppieshome]

Trusted Pet Shipping Service & International Pet Shipping by Dream Schnauzer Puppies Home

When bringing home a new furry friend from another state—or even another country—safe and reliable transport becomes a top priority. At Dream Schnauzer Puppies Home, we don’t just breed healthy, happy Schnauzer puppies—we also make sure they arrive safely at their new home. Through our expert pet shipping service, including international pet shipping, we ensure your new companion travels securely and comfortably.

Whether you’re located in the U.S. or abroad, our team is experienced in arranging stress-free pet travel, giving you peace of mind from the moment your puppy leaves our care to the moment they arrive in your arms.

Why Choose Dream Schnauzer Puppies Home?

AtDream Schnauzer Puppies Home, we believe every puppy deserves a safe and gentle transition to their forever home. That's why we partner with some of the industry's most reputable pet shipping service providers to manage domestic and international puppy transportation.

Our team offers:

USDA-certified travel partners

Personalized coordination and support

Health documentation and travel prep

Door-to-door delivery options

From the first inquiry to final delivery, we handle every detail so you can focus on welcoming your new best friend.

What Is International Pet Shipping?

International pet shipping refers to the specialized service of transporting pets safely across borders. Whether you’re adopting from us and living overseas, or relocating internationally, we can help.

Our experienced team arranges every aspect of the process, including:

Airline booking with pet-friendly carriers

Import/export permits and country-specific documentation

Health checks and vaccinations required for travel

Temperature-controlled crates and pet comfort measures

We work only with pet couriers and airlines that adhere to strict animal welfare and safety protocols.

Pet Shipping Service – How It Works

Dream Schnauzer Puppies Home makes pet delivery easy. Here’s a step-by-step overview of how our pet shipping service works:

1. Puppy Selection

Choose your Schnauzer puppy from our available litters. We’ll provide health records, personality insights, and photos.

2. Shipping Consultation

Once you’ve selected your puppy, our shipping specialist will contact you to discuss logistics, destination, and preferred timing.

3. Vet Clearance and Documentation

Your puppy will receive a full veterinary exam, including all required vaccines and health certification for travel.

4. Travel Coordination

We book your puppy’s travel with trusted domestic or international shipping providers. You’ll receive full tracking and updates throughout.

5. Arrival and Welcome

Your puppy will arrive at the designated location—whether that’s your local airport or front door—safe, sound, and ready to start their new life.

Global Reach, Personal Service

Whether you live in Europe, Asia, Canada, or anywhere in between, our international pet shipping services make it possible to bring home a Dream Schnauzer puppy from anywhere in the world. We offer language support, customs guidance, and regional compliance to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Our service is especially popular with expat families, international breeders, and Schnauzer lovers who trust our process and commitment to animal welfare.

Why Families Trust Us

At Dream Schnauzer Puppies Home, we go beyond breeding. Our mission is to make the entire experience—from choosing your puppy to meeting them in person—as joyful and stress-free as possible. With our pet shipping service, distance is never a barrier to bringing love into your home.

Families choose us because we offer:

Compassionate care

Transparent communication

Proven safety standards

Lifetime puppy support

Ready to Ship Your Dream Schnauzer?

Whether you're in New York, Dubai, London, or Sydney, Dream Schnauzer Puppies Home makes it easy to receive your puppy with full confidence. From local deliveries to international pet shipping, we bring love across every border.

[taxperts]

Tax Consultants Services: Trusted Experts for Every Tax Need

Taxes are one of the most critical and complex aspects of personal and business finance. Whether you’re an individual taxpayer, a business owner, or an expat living abroad, navigating tax laws can be overwhelming. That’s where Tax Consultants Services play a vital role.

By hiring Expert Tax Advisors, you gain access to strategic guidance, compliance support, and personalized tax planning — saving you money, time, and unnecessary stress.

In this guide, we’ll explore the different types of tax consultant services available, how they can help you, and what to look for when choosing the right tax advisor.

What Are Tax Consultants Services?

Tax Consultants Services refer to professional tax solutions offered by certified individuals or firms. These services are designed to help taxpayers — both individuals and businesses — manage their tax obligations effectively and legally minimize liabilities.

Unlike seasonal tax preparers, Expert Tax Advisors offer year-round services including:

· Tax preparation and filing

· Tax planning and strategy

· Audit representation

· IRS dispute resolution

· International and expat tax support

· Small business tax optimization

Whether you’re dealing with domestic filings or navigating global tax obligations, tax consultants provide clarity and expertise where it’s most needed.

Why Hire Expert Tax Advisors?

Hiring Expert Tax Advisors gives you an edge in understanding and applying complex tax rules. Here’s how they help:

✅ Maximize Deductions and Credits

Most people miss out on valuable deductions and credits simply because they don’t know they exist. An experienced tax advisor can uncover savings that software often overlooks.

✅ Stay Compliant with Changing Tax Laws

Tax laws change frequently. Advisors stay updated and help you stay compliant, preventing IRS penalties and audits.

✅ Save Time and Reduce Stress

Filing taxes can be time-consuming and confusing. Hiring a professional ensures accuracy and saves you hours of frustration.

✅ IRS Representation and Support

Facing an audit or letter from the IRS? A tax consultant can represent you, resolve disputes, and provide legal guidance.

Business Tax Preparation Services

Running a business comes with added tax complexity — payroll, expenses, deductions, estimated taxes, and more. That’s why Business Tax Preparation Services are essential for companies of all sizes.

Benefits of Business Tax Services:

· Accurate tax return preparation and filing for LLCs, S-corporations, and corporations

· Advice on tax-efficient business structures

· Assistance with payroll, sales tax, and quarterly estimated payments

· Industry-specific deductions and tax-saving opportunities

· Year-round bookkeeping and financial forecasting

Business owners who use tax consultants often find they not only avoid costly errors, but also improve profitability by optimizing their tax approach.

Expat Tax Services: Stay Compliant Abroad

Living or working abroad? Your tax situation gets even more complicated. Fortunately, Expat Tax Services are designed specifically for U.S. citizens and residents living overseas.

Key Areas Covered:

· Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE)

· Foreign Tax Credit (FTC)

· Reporting foreign bank accounts (FBAR)

· FATCA compliance

· Dual taxation issues

· Renouncing U.S. citizenship tax planning

Filing taxes as an expat requires in-depth knowledge of both U.S. and international tax law. A specialized tax consultant can ensure you stay compliant while minimizing double taxation.

How to Choose the Right Tax Consultant

When hiring someone for tax consultant services, it’s essential to vet their credentials and expertise. Here’s what to consider:

Certification & Credentials

Look for licensed professionals — Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), Enrolled Agents (EAs), or tax attorneys.

Industry Experience

Ask if they’ve handled cases similar to yours — whether it’s small business taxes, expat returns, or high-net-worth planning.

Client Reviews & Testimonials

Check online reviews or ask for references to understand their reputation and reliability.

Services Offered

Choose a consultant who provides the full spectrum of services you need — from planning to filing and beyond.

Technology & Communication

Modern tax consultants use secure, cloud-based platforms for file sharing, video calls, and e-signatures, making it easy to work together remotely.

Related FAQs About Tax Consultants Services

What’s the difference between a tax preparer and a tax consultant?

A tax preparer mainly focuses on filing your returns, while a tax consultant offers ongoing strategic advice, planning, and representation. Tax consultants typically have more experience and credentials.

Can tax consultants help me save money?

Yes! Expert Tax Advisors can uncover deductions and strategies that significantly reduce your tax bill, often more than covering their own fees.

Are tax consultant services worth it for small businesses?

Absolutely. Business Tax Preparation Services help small businesses stay compliant, reduce errors, and maximize tax advantages like write-offs and credits.

What are Expat Tax Services, and do I need them?

Expat Tax Services help U.S. citizens living abroad file their required returns and disclosures. If you earn income overseas or have foreign assets, you likely need these services.

How much do tax consultants typically charge?

Fees vary based on complexity. Personal returns may range from $200–$500, while business or international filings can go up to $1,000+.

Can a tax consultant represent me before the IRS?

Yes — CPAs, Enrolled Agents, and tax attorneys can legally represent you in front of the IRS for audits, appeals, or collections.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re managing your personal finances, running a business, or living abroad, Tax Consultants Services are essential for simplifying the tax process and protecting your financial future.

From Expert Tax Advisors who can guide you through IRS complexities, to specialized Expat Tax Services and robust Business Tax Preparation Services, there’s a solution for every need.

✅ Ready to make smarter tax decisions?

Visit Taxperts.com today to schedule a consultation with certified tax professionals who care about your success.

[lauravanarendonkbaugh]

Hey, I know we're all cry-laughing about the proposed purchase of RedWhiteAndBlueland, but that's both a disgrace and a distraction.

HR8281 the "SAVE Act" would immediately disenfranchise 85% of married women and create substantial voting blocks for a lot of other people.

This act would require people to present proof of citizenship to be eligible to vote, as in they must present a passport, certified birth certificate, or naturalization certificate to register or update registration. Birth certificate must match *current name exactly* to be accepted. An adoption decree is also acceptable IF it shows the applicant was born in the US; international adoptions are not addressed.

Problems with this include:

- Only 4 states have populations in which even 2/3 have passports. Most states have half or less of population with a passport, and it drops as low as 20%. Passport possession is strongly correlated with income level.

- (The act suggests other IDs with "proof of birthplace" could be accepted, but your driver's license and other government IDs don't include that.)

- Citizenship documents have to be presented *in person*, so no more online registration, online address changes, etc. Senior or disabled voters, or voters voting from military service or overseas? Well, figure that out.

- Most married women have changed their name to some degree, either taking the spouse's name or hyphenating. This means their current name does not exactly match their birth certificate — and the bill does not allow for a change of name form or a marriage certificate to be admitted with the birth certificate.

- The bill does require states to establish an additional process for people with name changes. That's going to cost money for the states, and thus both time and money for the would-be voter.

- Certified birth certificates can be hard to access, often requiring travel to county of birth and fees.

So in the end, the demographic least affected and most eligible to continue voting unimpeded would be rich men. Weird coincidental effect, but at least we'll finally outlaw non-citizens voting! Oh, wait, that's already illegal. (And a statistical non-issue, given a survey of high immigrant population voting districts and the resulting 0.0001% of suspected, not confirmed, non-citizen votes. Partisan allegations otherwise make headlines but fail in court for lack of evidence.)

This bill has already passed in the House, and it's listed as a top priority for the Senate. Call your legislators.

[hapump]

留服学历认证,教留服认证,提升学历 #留学生学历认证 #大学文凭 #学历文凭

Academic certification for overseas service, certification for teaching overseas service, promotion of academic qualifications, academic certification for foreign students, university diploma, academic diploma

[masllp]

Business Registration in India by Mercurius & Associates LLP

Starting a business in India can be a rewarding yet challenging journey. With a rapidly growing economy, a supportive government, and a vibrant startup ecosystem, India presents immense opportunities for entrepreneurs. However, navigating the legal and regulatory landscape requires expert guidance. That’s where Mercurius & Associates LLP comes in — your trusted partner for business registration in India.

Why Register Your Business in India?

Business registration is the first and most crucial step in setting up a legal entity. Here’s why it’s essential:

Legal Recognition: A registered business is a legal entity and can engage in contracts, own property, and open bank accounts.

Brand Credibility: Customers and investors are more likely to trust a registered company.

Compliance and Tax Benefits: Registration enables access to tax advantages and government schemes.

Funding Opportunities: Investors typically prefer to work with registered entities.

Types of Business Entities in India

Mercurius & Associates LLP helps entrepreneurs choose the most suitable business structure based on their goals:

Private Limited Company Ideal for startups and growing businesses looking to raise investment.

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) Best for professionals and service-based businesses needing limited liability and flexibility.

One Person Company (OPC) Designed for solo entrepreneurs who want the benefits of a private company.

Sole Proprietorship Suitable for small, unregulated businesses.

Partnership Firm An option for businesses operated jointly by multiple individuals.

Step-by-Step Business Registration Process

Mercurius & Associates LLP offers end-to-end assistance for business registration in India. Here's how we simplify the process:

1. Consultation and Entity Selection

We understand your business objectives and recommend the most appropriate business structure.

2. Name Reservation

We help you choose a unique name and get it approved through the MCA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs) portal.

3. Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

We assist in obtaining DSCs required for digital filing of documents.

4. Director Identification Number (DIN)

Our team handles the filing to get DINs for directors.

5. Document Preparation and Filing

We draft and file all incorporation documents including MoA (Memorandum of Association) and AoA (Articles of Association).

6. Certificate of Incorporation

Once approved, you receive the official registration certificate, PAN, and TAN.

7. Post-Incorporation Services

We assist with GST registration, opening a bank account, and other compliance requirements.

Why Choose Mercurius & Associates LLP?

At Mercurius & Associates LLP, we bring deep expertise and a client-first approach to every engagement:

✅ Expert Legal & Financial Advisory Our seasoned professionals ensure accurate and efficient registration.

✅ Transparent Pricing No hidden charges. You get full visibility into the process and costs.

✅ Pan-India Service Whether you're in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, or anywhere else, we can assist you remotely.

✅ Post-Registration Support From compliance to tax advisory, we support your business at every stage.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or an overseas investor looking to enter the Indian market, Mercurius & Associates LLP offers reliable, hassle-free solutions for business registration in India. Let us help you lay the foundation for long-term success with expert guidance and personalized service.

Ready to start your business in India? Contact Mercurius & Associates LLP today for a free consultation and make your entrepreneurial journey smooth and compliant.

[tf2occontest]

The Courier VS Ágatha, the Nurse VS The Intern

(Full matchup list here)

Alright team, here's a recap: This is a contest to determine who amongst you will take the top of the leaderboards and be hired at TFI! Simply put, whoever gets the most votes gets to move on, and whoever doesn't... Well. They'll be put down swiftly and cleanly. :}

So, mann your stations, because here are your next contestants! Vote for your favorite mercenary who you want to win the TF2 OC Contest! - P

OC INFO UNDER THE CUT!

We highly encourage you to take a peek to make your decision!

The Courier

@sicc-nasti

Image credit: @/sicc-nasti

Do you like receiving your mail on time and your packages in pristine condition - untouched by curious hands and peeping eyes? Do you love when your woefully embarrassing love letters filled with poetry from your soul are delivered with the utmost care and secrecy? Does it fill you with glee when your special snacks you ordered overseas finally make its way into your hands and not a SINGLE piece is missing?

If you said yes to any of these questions then WOW do I NOT have the guy for you!!!!

Instead-

TFI presents you something you didn't know was possible OR legal - weaponized postal services!

Meet your 10th Class-

The Courier!

By intercepting and opening someone else's mail, an individual can gain access to confidential information that can be used for identity theft, fraud, or other illegal activities. And we wouldn’t want that, now would we? That's why our solution to this simple problem is bringing the mail to the battlefield! Courier is equipped with MANN CO approved disposable stackable mail crates for your climbing or shielding needs. Just think of how nice it would be to build a tower to do taunts on or have cover from that enemy Heavy's hail of bullets. Sure it's clunky but nothing shreds paper faster than a bullet - that's science tested and math approved by TFI scientists! And monkeys!

Courier is THE MANN for the job.

If that ain't enough to catch your attention, let's take a peek at the men behind the uniform.

RED’s Courier is a Puerto Rican ex-felon hailing from the greatest place on earth! New York City! With an insatiable appetite for all things fraud, deli meats, and violence - what more could you ask from a guy?

BLU's Courier is a Puerto Rican-Italian ex-con plucked from the greatest place on earth! Jersey City! With an insatiable appetite for all things smuggling, deli meats, and violence - what more could you ask from a guy?

Not enough for a vote?

Well, listen, I'm not above bribery. If you vote for them, Courier promises to not read your mail for like a week and INSTEAD- will write you up a totally not fraudulent marriage certificate to any merc you want!! Just think! Finally legally married to Heavy! Or Engie! How’s that sound for incentive, boss?

THROUGH RAIN, SHINE, BULLET HAIL OR SNOW, THEY’RE YOUR COURIER.

VOTE FOR COURIER IN THIS UPCOMING TF2 OC CONTEST

Maybe there’ll be enough in the budget for a third one!

Ágatha, the Nurse

@arts-of-gjb

Image credit: @/arts-of-gjb

Ágatha is a young brazilian girl from Salvador, Bahia (Brazil). She is very friendly and energetic, but also have a deep taste for medical experiments and doesn't mind seing blood for the most of the time, traces that were noticed and encouraged by her uncle, Medic. He started to bring her once she made 10 so he could teach her all he know. Inside the battlefields, Ágatha asumes The Nurse title, The nurse class in unable to capture control points, move payloads, grab inteligences or even cause directly cause damadge to others players, because her only objectives as part of the team are:

To assist, by curing her team. different of Medic, the nurse does not have a medigun to that, so she fulfills this task by being able to grab the medikits (or other healing iten disponible on the ground) and then give them to your teamates

To anoy, by shooting small injections on the rivals. as said before, they wont make any damadge, however, they will "stop" the player for a few secconds (the same way that when you're hit by a christmas glove from heavy, but it should make a pain animation than a laught one, and would work if hit in any body part).

Once her hp reaches 0, the nurse would enter in a "sleeping mode", where you get unable to do anything. If no one does anything with you when youre like this for a couple of seconds, then you wake up with half of your total hp, but if someone from the opposite team pick you up and leave you to a specifc location, then you are teleported to your respaw base, where you get unable to go out for a minute (be grounded time >:I )

A vote for Ágatha is a vote for Red team, Medic, Brasil and nepotism!!!!!!!

The Intern

@queensqueercourt

Image credit: @/queensqueercourt

YOU KNOW THEM! YOU LOVE THEM!! The ever so fashionable intern makes a stance once again! paired with a improv pen shiv, stapler gun and rifle, they're ready to hit the battlefield with something never seen before!

These teens accidentally stumbled on the battlefield during their job orientation, and as a reward for surviving the battle unscathed they got a brand new responsibility: fighting in the field alongside the mercs! Simcha is a fun good-hearted rapscallion from Denver, and Tirzah is rebellious punk from New York City! help them win and who knows! maybe they'll get a paycheck for this!

[posttexasstressdisorder]

Democracy Docket, Friday, May 2

THIS WEEK

Is an independent elections panel boosting Trump’s war on voting?

Senate Dems take GOP to task on ‘radical’ push to ‘make it harder for eligible Americans’ to vote

GOP gains control of North Carolina election board

VOTING

Is an independent elections panel boosting Trump’s war on voting?

When the U.S. Election Assistance Commission was established in 2002 as part of the Help America Vote Act, Congress designed it to operate as an independent entity with partisan balance to ensure its decisions are fair and unbiased. Lawmakers also designed the commission to give the president very little legal authority over it. 

But in recent weeks, the panel has at times seemed to put itself in the service of President Donald Trump’s bid to radically tighten voting rules.

In his sweeping anti-voting executive order, Trump called on the EAC to help facilitate a push to require eligible voters to show proof of citizenship when using a federal form to register to vote or update registration info. Several voting rights organizations, including the Brennan Center for Justice and the ACLU, urged the EAC not to comply with Trump’s order, calling it illegal. But the commission, so far, has appeared to play ball with the Trump administration — albeit cautiously.

On April 11, EAC executive director Briannna Schletz sent state election officials a letter “seeking consultation” on how they would apply Trump’s proof of citizenship demand if his order ultimately stands — and how the new requirement would affect voter registration in their states. (After a federal judge blocked it from carrying out the citizenship provisions in Trump’s order, the commission said it was pausing its call for public comments on changing the form.)

Then on Tuesday, EAC chair Donald Palmer weighed in on another provision in Trump’s voting order. Asked during a House hearing how states could reduce the time it takes them to count ballots, he said he believes states should no longer accept ballots after Election Day — a change that would lead to numerous votes being rejected in multiple states that currently allow these ballots.  

“There should be a deadline for absentee or mail ballots prior to Election Day and then they should be returned by Election Day,” Palmer told lawmakers.

Palmer made clear in his testimony that he was speaking for himself, not the commission. Still, it was an unusual expression of opinion on a contested policy question from an EAC commissioner — especially given the wider context. Not only does Trump’s order aim to ban late-arriving ballots, the issue is also the subject of a lawsuit brought by the Republican Party which the Supreme Court has been asked to weigh in on.

Also last week, the EAC published a set of funding guidelines that cited a different Trump order, this one cracking down on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. The commission threatened to withhold election security funds from state election offices unless they drop any such policies.

Several state election officials were critical of the demand. Read more about the EAC’s recent actions here.

SAVE ACT

Senate Dems take GOP to task on ‘radical’ push to ‘make it harder for eligible Americans’ to vote

For more than an hour Wednesday, a handful of Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), held a floor block to push back against the GOP-backed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.

Earlier this month, the U.S. House passed the SAVE Act, which voting rights experts and scholars, in interviews with Democracy Docket, called the “most extraordinary attack on voting rights in American history.” Among other restrictions, the measure would require all Americans to provide citizenship documentation, like a birth certificate or passport, in order to vote in federal elections. That would risk disenfranchising some 69 million women who changed their names when they married, as well as millions of overseas voters — including military service members and their families. 

Padilla led the Dem’s charge on calling out not only the SAVE Act but the broader GOP’s assault on voting rights. 

“In the Oval Office, the radical Republicans are actively working hard to make it harder for eligible Americans to exercise their constitutional right to vote,” said Padilla, a former California secretary of state. “We see it in the endless lies and conspiracy theories about massive voter fraud. We see it in the new barriers being erected that would make it harder for eligible Americans to simply register to vote. And we see it in the Trump administration’s firing of the hardworking and dedicated security officials who are tasked with protecting our elections.”

Although the bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate — it would need 60 votes to overcome a Democratic filibuster — it’s part of a broader assault on voting rights that the senators called attention to. Trump’s recent anti-voting order would vastly expand the executive branch’s power over elections and potentially disenfranchise millions of voters. A judge recently blocked federal agencies from implementing key components of the order.

“What’s happening is simple,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) said. “Some people don’t want some people to vote.”

Klobuchar pointed out that the attack on voting rights isn’t just coming from the White House and congressional Republicans, but also from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which through its civil rights division has historically been the federal government’s chief enforcer of voting rights. 

Trump appointed notorious anti-voting lawyer Harmeet Dhillon as the assistant attorney general to lead the DOJ’s civil rights division. Recently, the DOJ reassigned the managers of its voting section and changed its longtime mission to protect voting rights, to instead “ensure that only American citizens vote in US federal elections and do so securely. Other section priorities include preventing illegal voting, fraud, and other forms of malfeasance and error.”

Dhillon “said that the Voting Rights Act ‘was once necessary to push back on Jim Crow laws,’” Klobuchar said during Wednesday’s floor speech. “At her hearing in front of the Judiciary Committee, I asked her if she will enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act… she didn’t answer.” Read more about the Senate Democrats’ floor block against the SAVE Act here.

NORTH CAROLINA

GOP gains control of North Carolina election board

After North Carolina’s second-highest court upheld a Republican effort to gain control of the state’s election board, state auditor Dave Boliek (R) appointed a new GOP majority to the State Board of Elections.

The court ruling and subsequent new GOP majority of the state election board could complicate the effort by state Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs (D) to hang on to her narrow victory in the state’s 2024 Supreme Court race.

The state election board has five members — with a current makeup of three Republicans to two Democrats. Until Wednesday’s ruling, the system allowed the party that holds the governor’s office to appoint all five state board members. But a law passed in 2024 by the state’s GOP supermajority changed the rules so that all members would be appointed by the state auditor. The law also transferred power to appoint the chairs of all 100 county election boards from the governor to the auditor.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D) sued Republican legislative leaders over the measure, arguing that it violated principles of separation of powers in the North Carolina constitution. Last month, a lower court blocked the GOP effort to seize control of the state election board, only for the North Carolina Court of Appeals to grant the GOP’s request to stay the lower court ruling.

A day after the appeals court ruling, Boliek appointed three new members to the election board, all Republicans: Stacy Eggers, former state Sen. Bob Rucho and Francis De Luca. 

Stein warned that the new GOP majority could help the Republican effort to overturn the results of the 2024 election, won by Riggs.

“I fear that this decision is the latest step in the partisan effort to steal a seat on the Supreme Court,” Stein said. “No emergency exists that can justify the Court of Appeals’ decision to interject itself at this point. The only plausible explanation is to permit the Republican State Auditor to appoint a new State Board of Elections that will try to overturn the results of the Supreme Court race.”

On X, the North Carolina Democratic Party called Boliek’s appointments “an unconstitutional power grab.” “We fervently believe that established precedent and our constitutional allocation of powers has given our elected Governor the right to name the members of the Board of Elections,” the party said in a statement. “Republicans’ passage of an unconstitutional bill wrenching that power from the Governor’s office and giving it to you is an abuse of power and a disservice to the people of North Carolina.” Read more about the GOP’s effort to seize control of the North Carolina election board here.

OPINION

One Hundred Days of Republican Complicity

In just 100 days, Trump has decimated the federal government and launched an all-out attack on democracy. “While it is understandable to focus attention on Trump’s attacks on democracy and the rule of law, we must not lose sight of the fact that it is the Republican Congress enabling his authoritarianism,” Marc writes in his latest. “Ignoring their complicity in Trump’s actions is a mistake—both legally and strategically.” Read it here.

NEW VIDEO

Sen. Chris Murphy: This is a "Dire" Moment for Democracy

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy joins Marc Elias to discuss Trump's first 100 days back in office, the threats facing democracy and what Senator Murphy is hearing from voters in deep-red districts across the country. Watch on YouTube here.

What We’re Doing

One of the most consequential Supreme Court rulings in the past 20 years is undoubtedly 2010’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The ruling, along with several similar ones during the same period, together reversed a century of campaign finance restrictions to allow corporations and other outside groups to drop unfettered amounts of money on elections. The result has been to open the floodgates for dark money to influence how campaigns are run. Senior Reporter Matt Cohen is enjoying famed documentarian Alex Gibney’s latest for HBO, The Dark Money Game, which looks at the catastrophic impact of the Citizens United ruling 15 years later.

This is one of our free weekly newsletters. If you were forwarded this email, you can subscribe to our newsletters here. 

Democracy Docket, LLC 

250 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 400

Washington, D.C., 20009

[spawksstuff]

De's Military Service

The National Archives and Records Administration is a great website for military records, especially old ones. Some have been digitized and some have not (and some were burned in a fire in 1973, presumably what happened to my great grandfather's records). I was searching for the two training films De was a part of besides "A Time To Kill" (I am determined to find them!) and decided to see if his record was on there, and sure enough it was. Even though it's a public website, I still blacked out De's Serial Number (his SSN was already blacked out) although I don't think anyone could do anything with it since its been so long and as he had no children, any potential VA benefits wouldn't be a factor today or in the future.

Draft Registration:

This address is right on the beach. His employer is "Cooper Arms" which is down the block from the residence address. Cooper Arms is where he got his elevator job. I don't know if this is before or after he crashed in their basement. He's 21 here, so this is sometime in 1941. Notice the signature on the bottom. The clerk most likely made him put in "Jackson" since that was his "official" name. Blue, Blonde, light complexion, and 150 lbs.

10 March 1943 Long Beach Press Telegram

The newspaper article where De got on the bus to go to Basic. (Mentioned in "From Sawdust to Stardust"). (Article was saved in my "military" folder instead of "newspapers", which is why it wasn't posted before.)

Payroll RAAF, Roswell NM 30 Apr 44

I don't know why this was included in his record, but I love finding records like this so I included it.

Going from left to right, 3 Mar 43 (date drafted). 0 is Years of Service (it's weird in the military: if you're in, but below 2 years, you're still considered having 0 years of service until you hit that 2 year mark, at least on pay records). With the comment under his name, it appears De stopped an allotment in February, and they are now reimbursing him for taking it after he wanted it stopped. If the codes are the same as today, an "F" Allotment is to a charity or emergency assistance fund. Blacked out is his Serial Number. The 6.60 is for an "N" Allotment which is life insurance. 3.75 is for "Class A pay reservations" which is a war bond as far as I can tell. 1.50 is for "Government Laundry."

In the second picture, I could not decode what the 10.35 was for (T/A). So he was due 65.65, but they collected the 1.50, leaving him with 64.15. He signed (with "Jackson" now) saying he received that money.

Separation 28 Jan 1946 -

After VE and VJ day, the First Motion Picture Unit was shut down and some of the unit was sent to Colorado to wait for their separation orders.

Separation Qualification Record

Lists his military jobs, basic information, and a summary of military occupations, which would likely have been useful for returning GIs to get a job doing something similar to what they did in the service, for example, radio technicians, communications, etc. The address on Normandie is where he and Carolyn started renting right before they got married.

Page 2 (Backpage), Military Education, Civilian Education and occupations. Again all of this would be helpful for returning GIs.

Honorable Discharge Certificate

WD AGO Form 53-55 - Official Separation Form

Basic information. Same address on Normandie as above. Blue eyes, but now Brown hair and weight is 165 (Guess 3 meals a day and all the PT helped him out 😂 Or Carolyn made him some good food 🤣). No. Depend-1, this is number of dependents, being spouse or children, or even at this time parents as the rules were more lax on supporting your parents.

Block 21 Civilian Occupation "Checker" - I'm unsure about this but according to "From Sawdust to Stardust" De told them he was an "entertainer." Box 35 is Immunizations, which continues in Box 55. I'm surprised by how late he got these. Perhaps the Army gave priority to those going overseas first and then the rest got them. Nowadays you get the majority at Basic Training if you don't already have them.

Served 2 years, 10 months, and 13 days, and was a Private First Class upon discharge. Reason for separation is basically "surplus." Pay Data was his final pay plus some travel money, and his insurance continued for another month.

Block 34, right thumb print. Box 55 Remarks: the continued immunizations. Inactive service is while he was waiting to board the bus to Basic, (the time between when he was notified he was drafted and the day he officially was).

The "6 Days lost" is throwing me. Usually "Days lost" means you weren't able to work because you made a bad choice (like you're hungover, or you did something incredibly stupid and hurt yourself, causing hospitalization, or you didn't show up for most of your shift) but I can't see De being too hungover to work or not showing up. However, there is the story of him, George Reeves, and another soldier getting lost in Colorado, pushed a car into the nearby town, and when they couldn't get the hotel owner to open up, they broke in and slept on the floor. They were drunk after drinking a bottle of bourbon trying to stay warm. The sheriff came by and took them to jail for the night. There's also the story of George Reeves getting recognized in Colorado at a hotel and decided not to spend the night because he got mobbed (De was with him). A sheriff pulled them over for something and decided to put them in jail for the night. I don't know if these two stories are the same or not, one was in the book and one was in a newspaper article, but if it made them late or made them miss a shift, that would count as being absent, (but not AWOL, which would have been much more serious). Also I don't know if the furlough time was considered "lost time". It's possible all of this was and it added up to the 6 days.

The 4 Discharge Emblems were pins issued to be worn on the uniform once someone was discharged. Since there was a clothing shortage, service members were authorized to wear their uniforms even after they were discharged (mostly while traveling home). The Discharge Emblem proved that they weren't away from their unit, that they were allowed to be wherever they were. ASR score was a rating given to service members to list who got discharge papers first.

De signed and he was now a Veteran and a civilian. Back to Carolyn at Normandie and Paramount.

[udonlawyers]

Thailand Permanent Residency

Thailand's permanent residency (PR) framework originates from the 1927 Alien Registration Act, with major reforms occurring in:

1950 Immigration Act (established modern categories)

1979 Immigration Act (current statutory basis)

2008 Nationality Act amendments (tightened naturalization pathways)

1.2 Jurisdictional Authorities

Primary Oversight: Ministry of Interior (Section 37 Immigration Act)

Implementation: Immigration Bureau (Division 1, Section 3)

Adjudication: Special Committee chaired by Permanent Secretary for Interior

1.3 Relevant International Obligations

While Thailand maintains strict immigration controls, certain bilateral agreements influence PR considerations:

ASEAN agreements on skilled labor mobility

US-Thai Treaty of Amity (limited PR implications)

Japan-Thai Economic Partnership (special professional categories)

2. Eligibility Matrix

2.2 Qualitative Assessments

Character Evaluation:

Police clearance from all countries of residence

Neighborhood certification (conduct verification)

Employer/associate testimonials

Integration Metrics:

Thai language proficiency (CEFR A1 minimum)

Cultural knowledge exam (80% pass mark)

Community participation evidence

3. Procedural Architecture

3.1 Document Preparation Protocol

Core Documentation:

Visa History: Certified copies of all visas + entry stamps

Financial Evidence:

Bank statements (6 months, certified)

Tax records (RD.90 forms)

Investment certificates (BOI/SEC approved)

Supporting Materials:

Property Documents: Chanote + household registration

Employment Verification:

Work permits (all versions)

Social fund records

Company financials (for business owners)

4. Financial and Tax Considerations

4.1 Cost Structure Analysis

Official Fees:

Application fee: THB 7,600

Approval fee: THB 191,400

Alien book: THB 800 (annual)

Re-entry permit: THB 3,800 (single), THB 9,800 (multiple)

Unofficial Costs:

Document procurement: THB 15,000-50,000

Legal representation: THB 100,000-500,000

Expediting services: Market rate THB 200,000+

4.2 Tax Implications

Pre-PR: Only Thai-sourced income taxable

Post-PR: Worldwide income potentially taxable (if remitted)

Wealth Tax: None currently, but property transfer taxes apply

5. Rights and Privileges

5.2 Occupational Restrictions

Registered Profession Requirement: Must work in field specified at application

Business Ownership: Permitted but requires MOI notification

Government Employment: Prohibited without special approval

6. Judicial and Administrative Review

6.1 Appeal Process

Rejection Appeals: 30 days to file with Immigration Commission

Judicial Review: Available at Administrative Court

Success Rates: <15% for appeals, <5% for judicial review

6.2 PR Revocation

Grounds include:

Criminal conviction (1+ year sentence)

Tax evasion findings

Extended overseas absence (5+ years)

National security concerns

7. Strategic Application Approaches

7.1 Category Optimization

Employment Track: Ideal for corporate executives (minimum THB 150k salary preferred)

Investment Route: Best for property developers (BOI projects favored)

Family Path: Most reliable for long-term married couples (10+ years marriage ideal)

7.2 Document Enhancement Strategies

Tax Augmentation: Voluntary additional tax payments to demonstrate commitment

Community Engagement: Documented volunteer work with registered charities

Language Certification: Official CU-TFL test scores preferred over immigration exam

8. Comparative Regional Analysis

8.2 Global Benchmarks

Processing Time: Thailand (3-5 yrs) vs Canada (1.5 yrs)

Cost: Thailand (~6K)vsUK( 6K)vsUK( 3K)

Success Rate: Thailand (8%) vs Australia (25%)

9. Emerging Trends and Reforms

9.1 Digital Transformation

E-Application Pilot: Limited testing in Bangkok

Blockchain Verification: For document authentication

Automated Background Checks: Integration with INTERPOL databases

9.2 Policy Shifts

Talent-Centric Quotas: Increasing STEM professional allocations

Retirement PR Pathway: Under consideration for high-net-worth retirees

Dual Citizenship Tolerance: Parliamentary study underway

10. Practical Challenges and Solutions

10.1 Common Obstacles

Document Procurement: Especially for older visa records

Bureaucratic Delays: Particularly at verification stage

Exam Preparation: Lack of standardized study materials

10.2 Mitigation Strategies

Early Retention: Engage immigration lawyer at least 2 years pre-application

Parallel Processing: Initiate document requests simultaneously

Mock Examinations: Utilize private language schools for test prep

11. Longitudinal Case Studies

11.1 Successful Applications

Tech Executive: Approved in 3.5 years via employment track

THB 250k monthly salary

Certified Thai language proficiency

BOI-company sponsorship

Investor: Approved in 4 years via property route

THB 25M Bangkok condo portfolio

Additional THB 5M government bonds

Documented charity contributions

11.2 Rejection Analysis

Common Factors:

Inconsistent tax payments (78% of failed cases)

Language test failures (62%)

Suspicious financial patterns (45%)

12. Future Outlook

12.1 Projected Reforms

Points-Based System: Under consideration (2026 target)

Premium Processing: THB 500k+ for expedited review

Regional PR Options: Special economic zone programs

12.2 Demographic Impacts

Current PR holder demographics:

Chinese: 32%

Japanese: 18%

Western: 22%

Other Asian: 28%

13. Conclusion: Strategic Imperatives

Thailand's PR system remains: ✔ Highly exclusive (0.03% approval rate) ✔ Process-intensive (1000+ document pages typical) ✔ Discretionary in nature (despite codified rules)

Critical success factors:

Early preparation (3-5 year horizon)

Comprehensive documentation

Professional guidance

Financial commitment

The program continues evolving toward:

Greater transparency in decision-making

Enhanced digital infrastructure

Strategic alignment with economic development goals

Prospective applicants should monitor:

Annual quota announcements (December)

Ministerial regulation changes

Judicial rulings on PR-related cases