#passport processing delays

[johnschneiderblog]

A slow boat to passport renewal

Our flight is booked; our hotel rooms, reserved; our car, rented ... I can almost taste The Famous Grouse (When in Scotland ....)

We’re headed to Scotland and Northern Ireland in September - theoretically. We’ve been waiting for our passport renewals for 12 weeks. No, we have no indication that we screwed up the applications. And, yes, we have a little leeway in our schedule. But we’d sure hate to get down to the wire mired in bureaucratic quicksand.

But, finally ... I learn, via the Postal Service’s “Informed Delivery” (a tool that lets you know what’s coming), that two pieces of mail from Passport Services are due to arrive in our mailbox on Saturday. I’ll go out on a limb here and assume they’re not letters of rejection.

The U.S. State Department claims an “unprecedented demand” for passports - 500,00 per week - is causing long delays. Routine processing is taking 10-13 weeks.

[townpostin]

Passport Seva Portal Undergoing Maintenance from Aug 29 to Sept 2

Passport services will be unavailable due to scheduled maintenance from August 29 evening to September 2 morning. The Ministry of External Affairs’ Passport Seva Portal will be temporarily unavailable for citizens and authorities for four days due to a scheduled maintenance activity. JAMSHEDPUR – The Passport Seva Portal will be down for technical maintenance from Thursday, August 29, 2024,…

[thepotentialof2007]

Across the communities that the American Community Project measures, there will almost certainly be different reactions to the return of international travel because the most basic part of leaving the country — owning a valid passport — looks very different across the 15 community types.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/about-us/reports-and-statistics.html

One customer may also have both a passport book and card which counts as two valid passports.

As of December 27, 2021, first-time adult applicants are charged $130 per passport book and $30 per passport card. Additionally, a $35 execution fee is charged per transaction.

[cipheramnesia]

I hope we get a Benoit Blanc movie called Massif Mont Blanc, where he travels to a secluded mountain retreat in Switzerland at the behest of the French government to investigate a suspected political assassination. They believe the assassination fled to Switzerland to escape potential extradition, but they have managed through macguffinry to delay the processing of the visiting group's passports by 48 hours. They are hoping Blanc can figure out who is the killer before the clock runs out.

Once there, Blanc continuously feels as if he's seen many of the people at the Chateau, including one particularly suspicious and snarky character played by John Cusack. At the end of the first act there is another murder and Cusack gets Blanc alone to reveal he is Martin Blank, retired assassin last seen in the movie Grosse Point Blank. He wants Blanc to find the new killer and clear his name. Which won't be easy, because at this point Blanc realizes that every guest at the Chateau is a top assassin in their own region.

Now Martin Blank and Benoit Blanc have 24 hours to solve two murders, and every potential suspect shares the one common trait of having gotten away repeatedly with murders by leaving no trace of how it was done.

[bignaz8]

Peter Sellers was originally going to ride the atom bomb in "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964). Slim Pickens (born Louis Burton Lindley Jr.) got a phone call late one evening from Stanley Kubrick: "Peter has fallen and broken his hip, I need you for a day's shoot--I need you bad and I need you now. How soon can you get on a plane and make it to London?". Slim obliged and in his haste forgot that he didn't have a passport because he had never traveled outside the US before. His entrance was delayed while he had to go through the process of getting one before he was allowed to leave the airport. When Pickens showed up on the set of "Dr. Strangelove" fully dressed as a cowboy and speaking in a thick Southern accent, the British crew thought he was "Method" acting, not knowing that this was how he always dressed and acted. He explained how he got into the rodeo business: "Well, there was this big, lanky, 15-year-old California ranch kid, and he went into the rodeo manager's office and said, 'Mister, I want to sign up for the calf-roping but my paw says I ain't allowed to. So I can't use my right name'. And the manager said, 'Son, no matter what name you use, it'll be slim pickin's out there today'. So the boy said, 'That's as good a name as any, I reckon-put me down as Slim Pickin's'. The manager spelled it 'Pickens' and the boy won $400 that afternoon."

[follow-up-news]

Americans can now renew their passports online, bypassing a cumbersome mail-in paper application process that often caused delays. The State Department announced Wednesday that its online renewal system is now fully operational, after testing in pilot programs, and available to adult passport holders whose passport has expired within the past five years or will expire in the coming year. It is not available for the renewal of children’s passports, for first-time passport applicants for renewal applicants who live outside the United States or for expedited applications. “By offering this online alternative to the traditional paper application process, the Department is embracing digital transformation to offer the most efficient and convenient passport renewal experience possible,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. The department said it estimated that about 5 million Americans would be able to use this service a year. In 2023, it processed 24 million passports, about 40% of which were renewals. After staffing shortages caused mainly by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lengthy passport processing delays, the department ramped up hiring and introduced other technological improvements that have reduced wait times by about one-third over last year. It says most applications are now completed in far less than the advertised six weeks to eight weeks and the online renewal system is expected to further reduce that.

[lothlorienlover]

Peter Sellers was originally going to ride the atom bomb in "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964). Slim Pickens (born Louis Burton Lindley Jr.) got a phone call late one evening from Stanley Kubrick: "Peter has fallen and broken his hip, I need you for a day's shoot--I need you bad and I need you now. How soon can you get on a plane and make it to London?". Slim obliged and in his haste forgot that he didn't have a passport because he had never traveled outside the US before. His entrance was delayed while he had to go through the process of getting one before he was allowed to leave the airport. When Pickens showed up on the set of "Dr. Strangelove" fully dressed as a cowboy and speaking in a thick Southern accent, the British crew thought he was "Method" acting, not knowing that this was how he always dressed and acted. He explained how he got into the rodeo business: "Well, there was this big, lanky, 15-year-old California ranch kid, and he went into the rodeo manager's office and said, 'Mister, I want to sign up for the calf-roping but my paw says I ain't allowed to. So I can't use my right name'. And the manager said, 'Son, no matter what name you use, it'll be slim pickin's out there today'. So the boy said, 'That's as good a name as any, I reckon-put me down as Slim Pickin's'. The manager spelled it 'Pickens' and the boy won $400 that afternoon."

[bisexualmcqueen]

ok so i hc the cars' "model year" to be when they reach maturity around ages 20-25. and i was curious what ages the characters could realistically be in 2024. so here are some of my hcs + thought processes:

(on cars being 'born' or being kids at some point: see Coriander Widetrack, Maddy McGear, and Cruz's backstory.)

(baseline: cars 1 takes place in late 2005, the year it was scheduled to release before the delay (also confirmed in cars VG epilogue). by this logic, cars 3 takes place partly in late 2017/mainly early 2018, the year it was scheduled to release before it swapped releases with TS4).

cruz + jackson: ~31

2017 CRS sports coupe. 2017 one of a kind stock car. likely born early 90's. racers irl dont reach cup levels til theyve proven themselves for many years in lower divisions. cruz already had a successful career as a top-level PT in 2018. my guess is they were around age 25 in cars 3. (jackson is probably younger than cruz if anything, but they do have the same model year still. its not an exact science.)

lightning: ~43

2006 one of a kind stock car. we know lightning raced in the regionals (book excerpt) before the cup series- he spent his younger years trying to prove himself. he is based on a G4 nascar stock car (specifically the 2002 monte carlo ss [image source: cars 1 art book]) (bonus post), which ran until 2007.

cal: ~42 (lol)

cal is implied to have been a rookie in the 2006 or 2007 season, taking up the dinoco team spot after strip retired in 2005. his body style resembles the G5 and the G4 nascar body types.

bobby and brick: ~40

bobby and brick have more modern bodystyles, and thus are implied to have been rookies after 2007 when the G4 retired. they are either based on the COT (G5), but they more closely resemble G6's, which was the type being raced while cars 3 was in production.

sally: ~47

2002 porsche carerra 911 (+ additional bc half the early 00's sources died of link rot). at the very least she is 4 years older than lightning. she went to 7 years of law school and was practicing law in CA. after that, she had time to restart her life and refurbish an entire motel. shes probably closer to 50.

mater: ~66

(i will edit this post with his passport when i find the op who posted the image bc i dont wanna repost the image but its from the cars 2 credits crawl iirc?)

mack: ~59

aprox a 1985 mack superliner mk.2. my source on this is that i looked at superliners from the eighties in like 2019 and this was the closest one visually to mack iirc. but with many of the cars it may not be exact!

westley (OC): ~30ish

roger (OC): ~39ish

might add more characters another time but this is a good start!

[sgiandubh]

Mordor says He returned only for Visa reasons. They did some math and understood that Sam had been there for almost 90 days, só It was time for a quick walk home.

Dear Visa Anon,

Which Mordor luminary came with this idea? The MENSA-level CRT Clique or Miss Marple, who thinks I know nothing (the Dimwit from Madrid is still learning how to spell, so I can't believe it's her)?

Regardless. These people should immediately stop watching Ninety-Day Fiancé on their cable network, following a severe overdose on Uzbek midgets and Egyptian gigolos 'looking for true love' stories.

Maybe they could also have checked their facts before solemnly stating bullshit, since they clearly think all the visitors to the wonderful U S of A are tourists and as such, entitled to a maximum 90-day stay at a time (and then a short hike to Tijuana or Canada and back on tracks: not EDI/GLA, FFS!).

Incidentally, may I remind these geniuses that S has been spotted only near EDI, which of course would mean for them he'd be getting his visa there. Unless...

Unless you know the US General Consulate in EDI does not issue any type of visas - LOL, idiots. And unless he'd need to be in LHR for the pre-appointed interview and then another 7 working days delay for processing and 1-3 working days for passport delivery by mail only (never in person, chickadees). Doesn't really click with timelines, Madam Expert.

Because they are all very intelligent, they also forgot everything about/never bothered to look for the new-ish ESTA system (https://www.handyvisas.com/esta-us-visa/british/), especially designed for Visa Waiver countries' citizens. So I insist: if traveling as a tourist, S does not need a visa to enter the US for up to 90 days - that is correct, but by no means applicable to S's reality. And if he knew he'd need to stay more than 90 days, he would have applied for a visa - mandatory - in London before the Summer of Sassenach tour.

But he is not traveling as a tourist and very probably not under another type of non-immigrant visa, simply because he has businesses there and he is also involved in the OL project with *** (d'oh!).

Let's unpack:

As per US current regulations, S cannot apply for a B-1 (business non immigrant visa). To understand why, kindly refer to the US Customs and Border Protection FAQ (https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/B-1%20permissible%20activities.pdf). I already munched it up for you:

He could only apply for a O-1 B immigration visa, for which his agent or employer should mandatorily petition the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. These are special visas designed for the individual who (...) has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements. This is very subjective and a contract with * should be enough - I was in a taxi when I received your ask and immediately checked with a friend from the US Consulate, to indulge you. And all this hassle just because a Tumblr Nobody has flatulent opinions, huh?

According to the USCIS's own regulations, not Dutch fantasy or Belfast sagas, the authorized period of stay and possibility of extension are as follows (https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/o-1-visa-individuals-with-extraordinary-ability-or-achievement):

The good thing about getting this visa (and I think * sorted it out a long time ago for both of them) is that it helps tremendously with the Green Card procedures, something I bet the farm both S & C already have, by now.

So doing the maths was perfectly inane and useless.

Does that answer your question, clever Anon? Can I go back to the Quaich post I must finish (it will be VERY long, beware) today?

Thanks for asking and I am sorry for the length: this fandom being paranoid, I had to include all the tedious details. I hope we can put this idiocy to rest, now. Parochial twits.

[mommysmilk]

saw the question ”if you could permanently change the price of something to $1, what would it be?” on tiktok and went on a 10 minute rant to eddie about not knowing if it would change to $1 for me or for everyone. and if it was the latter, how whatever i chose the end result would result in a global crisis or people who don’t really need the thing buying it just because it’s only $1. this would lead to overconsumption of said thing causing the resources to run out or otherwise causing huge negative impact somewhere on the products life cycle. almost nothing seemed to be sustainable in the long run but i came to the conclusion that it has to be something that people don’t need more than one of, but a lot of people can’t afford. my final answer ended up being ”getting a (legal) passport.” by this i mean the whole process of getting it so if it includes appointments/documents you normally need to pay for it’s all covered with the $1.” most people that need it and can afford it already have it, but there are a lot of people who can’t afford it and desperately need it because it acts as an valid id both domestically and internationally. while the sudden influx of people applying for passports would cause a delay in the application process, it wouldn’t cause the whole population of the planet to rush to buy it immediately and those who can afford it would still be able to pay more for faster processing if they wanted to. there are still other flaws to this choice but it’s the one that i could think of that is important enough.

and then eddie just says ”i would raise the price of moomin lollipops to $1.”

[compassionatereminders]

Like when I applied for welfare the first time they delayed the process for months because they wanted to examine my passport to make sure I "wasn't an immigrant trying to cheat the system" (immigrants receive less welfare if any, across the board). All of this happened simply because I have a foreign sounding first name...

[believesthings]

Not Just A Girl - Chapter 8 // Jason Sudeikis x Reader

Damn technology. You almost, almost managed to sneak to London to surprise him. Though you would have very much enjoyed seeing his reaction upon finding you waiting for him after finishing his day, this turn of events works just as well. He really should be on set so you make a mental note to remind him of that – after wrapping yourself up in his arms. You try to contain your fidgeting while waiting for the plane to taxi to the gate, and then again in the slow progression to disembark.

And again there’s Customs. You repeat the mantra you had taken up as soon as you’d read the text from Jason telling you he was going to meet you at the airport. You will not run through Customs. You will not run through Customs. God. What a photo op that would be. American actress body slammed trying to bypass security. Imagine Todd’s face when he read that headline… oh he would be furious. He’d never let you travel alone again, that’s for sure. 

You know you have a silly smile on your face when you finally get to the Customs counter, but you don’t care. Somewhere in this airport Jason is waiting for you.

The agent gives you a stern look after studying your passport. Your smile falters as you panic internally. Surely nothing is wrong with your paperwork. She speaks and finally an ever so slight smile cracks her stony expression, “You pair have caused a commotion out there.” She motions to the approaching security guard, “He’ll take you on from here.” Oh goodness. Your thank you comes out accompanied by a sigh of relief.

You hear the hum of the crowd long before you round the corner and emerge from through the closed doors to see the mass of people waiting beyond. Your eyes quickly find their target, locking onto the gorgeous man now dazzling you once again with a look of pure joy.

You’re having a flashback to the night of the awards show – tuning out everyone and everything around you – security, fellow travelers rushing onward, and bystanders alike. Unlike that night, this time you’re still in control of your limbs. You manage to shuck your bag between the moments in which you see him and when you’ve propelled yourself across the space between the two of you and into Jason's waiting arms.

You mumble out one word before kissing him: “Surprise!” Your surroundings slowly come back into focus. When you settle back onto your feet you bite your lip, now sheepish at your display of affection in such a public space.

Jason keeps his arms held around you in a loose embrace. “It was quite the surprise. I think Theo caught my reaction on his phone if you’d like to see it later.”

You nod, then remember that your phone is in your bag that you abandoned in the floor behind you. You take a step away from Jason to turn and find the security guard holding your bag with an amused expression. “Um, thank you. I do have another bag that we need to go claim, Jase.” You add the afterthought while you shoulder your bag again.

The two men exchange nods before the security team leads the way to baggage claim. Jason waits to take your hand in his before the pair of you follow close behind. You form quite the procession walking through the airport. “I can’t believe you just flew eleven hours to see me…” He says.

You stop as though to turn around, “Well I can always go right back, d’you think the plane is still there?” Jason looks back at you, "Ha Ha. very funny." Your feet are firmly planted and you show no signs of continuing to move forward. Jason pulls you close to him, still having your hand intertwined in his own. Placing a kiss on top of your head, you hear him murmur, "Don't you dare. I've been counting down the hours until I could see you again. I'll have to chase you down to your gate and beg you to stay." You wrap your arms around his middle and tell him, "Well, I have the time since the read through got delayed for a week… I would just be sitting there trying to find things to fill my schedule in the meantime. I know you’re working though so we can do dinners or something. Speaking of which, you should get back to set. I’ll find a place to stay that’s close by and…”

Jason cuts you off, “You don’t have a hotel yet?”

“Last minute trip. Just got off the plane. Someone was supposed to be at work so I could get settled and changed before surprising him.”

He pulls your hand to his lips to kiss your knuckles. “But I found you out.”

“Yes, you did. I should have enlisted Theo too – to help distract you until I arrived at least.” You give your head a quick, exasperated shake.

Jason cuts his eyes at you, raising an eyebrow with interest. “Too? How many people did you include in this little plan?”

“I asked Brett to keep tabs on you. Which is why I know that since it isn’t raining out there, you, sir, should be at work.” You sidestep to bump your shoulder into him.

“I will go back to finish the day. But, come on, did you really expect me to not come see my girl?”

You try to calm your insides at the sound of Jason calling you his girl. “Oh I’m thrilled that you did. Since my plan fell apart I may pout a bit later… when you’re not standing there. I think, perhaps, the airport might have appreciated a little notice though.” You take a moment to smile at the onlookers and security surrounding you now that you’ve made it to baggage claim.

Jason releases your hand to loop his arm around you and pull you close to him so your back ends up resting against his chest. He wraps his arm across your body and clasps his hand onto your shoulder. Rather than awkwardly try to loop your hands over his you hook your hands in the crook of his elbow. After a moment of both of you staring at the many other travelers also waiting for their bags you feel him rest his chin atop your head. When he mutters you can feel the motion of his words, bringing a smile to your lips. “Which bag are we looking for? The dark blue one?”

Right. Watching for your bag. “Yep. Hmm good memory. The black one is still back in L.A.” You don’t dare nod your head for fear of changing the stance the pair of you have taken up. The security guards have created a sort of bubble around you. The ebb and flow of sound as people carry on with their lives starts to lull you into a trance. How long have you been up now? The nap you had on the plane didn’t help all that much.  

Standing there watching for your luggage Jason speaks quietly, almost to himself. “You know… You could stay with me. If you wanted.”

You don’t immediately reply. Your brain and heart take up opposing stances – caution! says one, fuck caution! says the other - and are screaming at each other full force. Your body’s vote, while duly noted by both parties, is cast aside for the time being. It’s been awhile – hence your body’s insistent YES. Not to mention that it’s Jason.

The whole point of flying here was to see him. Following that line, staying with him makes sense. Of course you had packed assuming you would be staying in a hotel nearby - cute clothes for adventures around town and the like, but your suggestive sleepwear sat tucked away in the bag back in L.A. You’re trying to remember what exactly you did pack.

Really though, staying with him doesn’t necessarily mean that anything more would happen. When you were in the states, the evenings always ended with Jason either dropping you back at your hotel or sending you home by car. Attraction wasn’t the issue… respecting boundaries? Confidence?

But how long have you been arguing point and counterpoint with yourself? Oh God – oh – say something. Say something! Say anything!

“Did you hear me? You ah - don’t have to stay with me – if you prefer to stay at a hotel…” Jason gives your shoulder a light squeeze when you don’t immediately reply. You return the squeeze to him via your grip on his arm.

Well, your hands respond to commands at least.

“Y-es.” Ok so your voice does work. And your brain and mouth did communicate a stuttered affirmative reply, but did he hear you? He’s squirming.

Jason releases your shoulder and shifts so he is no longer resting his chin on your head. He is talking faster now, apparently as flustered as you are by his muttered invitation. “I mean, I have a guest room.”

The pair of you have now taken a step apart. You turn to look up at him. Of course you’re going to stay with Jason. You adore this man, and well – he offered. “Shush. I said yes.”

His faltering quickly changes to delight. He plants a kiss at your hairline before looping his arm back over your shoulder. “Excellent. Now, let’s find that bag of yours.”

You nod, once again turning your attention back to the baggage area. You are first to spot your bag but he refuses to let you carry the thing. He makes a show of picking up your bag. “Did you pack books?”

It doesn’t really weigh all that much. You were able to carry it just fine even with the added burden of your shoulder bag. You’re really starting to notice how very tired you are but still manage to smile during your reply, “Nope, bricks.” While Jason is finishing out his day you plan on resting.

“Yes, of course, the essential items when traveling.” He snags your hand in his again. “I’ll drop you by my place. The rest of the day shouldn’t take too long. Everyone was talking about wanting to see you, too, at some point during your visit. I told them I’d consider sharing.” He is sizing you up as the pair of you walk with security out towards his car.

You nod slowly, “Sharing is good. I plan on planting myself somewhere comfortable for a few hours first.” After sitting for so long on the plane it is amazing that you’re craving being seated again.

He may have said he was going to just drop you off, but Jason takes his time showing you around his place. The fourth time he apologizes for ‘the mess’ you pinch his arm. Recalling the papers that had previously been strewn across your desk and the usual state of your hotel room Jason's place is tidy – it just appears lived in.

“I’m the one that should be apologizing. I’m the one that is crashing.” You reach up to pull him gently to you and kiss him, letting your lips linger near his. “Now please, quit stalling. I promise I won’t disappear while you’re gone.”

He makes sure you have a cup of tea in your hands before he leaves. “If you get bored and can’t rest you’re welcome to look through my books or movies to keep yourself busy."

 You merely nod in response. Tempting as it is, you weren’t kidding about planting yourself somewhere while you waited. Once he leaves you don’t even bother opening either of your bags that were placed in the guest room, opting instead to curl up on the sofa.

You don’t remember closing your eyes but you must have. You awaken to the sound of Jason's arrival and soft greeting, “Hey."

It takes you a second to remember where you are. You stretch as he pauses to flip a switch to illuminate the darkening room. He is watching you with interest while you are stretching. Oh boy – how long are these sleeping arrangements going to last? You distract yourself from your body’s reaction by scooping up the now empty mug to carry it into the kitchen. Jason watches you from the main room. “I guess you didn’t get the text telling you that I was done for the day.”

“Ha – no. My phone is still in my bag. All the energy I had was used up drinking the tea. After that I was dead to the world until you walked back in the door.”

“Are you up for seeing everyone tonight? They said they’d understand if we wanted to do something on our own but I promised I’d mention it.”

A short shake of your head accompanies your reply. “I’m not here to alter any plans you’ve already made, Jase. And I’m good, now. I would like to change though. If we’re going out I’d like to not smell like I’ve been on a plane all day.”

He follows you as far as the study before turning off. “I’ll be in here when you’re ready.”

The sleep certainly helped but the shower makes you feel normal again. You examine your reflection in the mirror. . Everett was right to push for this hairstyle for Mia's character, it looks good on you.

You find Jason still in the study, hip deep in letters but something else has him occupied. Jason's gaze is fixed on the computer monitor. and he does not look happy. “You’re frowning. Forget whatever you’re looking at and find something happy.”

He nods before pulling his eyes away from the screen. The frown creases immediately disappear when he looks at you, “What I’m looking at makes me happy, it’s the stolen private moment and comments attached that make me frown.” He holds out his arm to wrap around your waist once you cross the room. You lean into him while you peer around at the screen to link an image to his words. A whole slew of pictures of the pair of you at the airport are pulled up on the screen. No comments are visible at the moment, just picture after picture of the exchange between the pair of you at the airport.

“Oooh I like that one, we look like we’re dancing.” You bend to point to one of the images on the monitor and feel his hand slip from your waist down over the curve of your hip. If he does actually want to go out tonight his fingers need to stop edging along the rim of your jeans. 

 “I like your expression in this better.” The photo had been taken just as you had reached Jason after getting through Customs.

You stand again, moving to trace along his collar bone. You smile as you reply. “I think you just enjoyed the greeting.” His hand shifts from your hip to the center of your back and up along your spine. 

He nods, not even trying to refute the statement. “Very much. Enough of the photos though. Time for me to enjoy the real thing in front of me. Ready to go?” 

You nod. In more ways than one, you think.

A half dozen or so of the cast and crew are gathered at the table in the corner of the restaurant when you and Jason walk in. It is pretty much the same small group that you had gotten to know back in LA. After allowing greetings to occur Theo pounces to show you the clip he had captured of Jason reacting to the news of your arrival. The start of the video is jumpy and you can hear Theo singing Fly Me to the Moon. “…Fill my heart with song. Let me sing forever more. You are all I long for. All I worship and adore…”

He’s actually doing a pretty good impression of Sinatra. You give him a thumbs up and gratefully accept the drink that Jason has already magically snagged for you. In the video Jason is waving him off while laughing, “Alright. Yes. I told her about the singing.”

Theo is talking still while you are watching the video. “You know if you had let us in on the surprise we would have helped keep it from him. Sometimes it takes a village…” Everyone nods in agreement while arranging themselves again at the table. 

“Yes that did occur to me, afterwards.” You drop into the empty seat Theo guides you to so you can keep your eyes on the video. Jason pulls his chair closer to watch as well.

On screen Jason has tilted his head and is looking at his phone oddly. “She’s saying it’s too loud there but Brett said it was going to be a quiet day on set.” You know what’s coming as Jason had already explained how his curiosity interfered with your plans. Jason studies the screen to his phone before typing quickly all the while maintaining a muttered one sided conversation.

“Brett isn’t replying now. Maybe I can… hmm. Ok, that’s confusing…  That can’t be right. Maybe the timestamp is wrong. But then there are others… Oh.” You smile when Jason just about drops his phone and shouts. Theo jumps, thereby making the video bob and weave. “She’s on her way here! She’s on a plane! She’s…” He messes with the phone a bit more before he checks his watch. “I can make it there to greet her if I leave soon… Surely they’ll let me go get her if I promise to come back…” The video is unsteady while Theo tries to pursue him through various hallways.

Jason is laughing at himself. “I’m afraid I startled our crew when I found her. I was fully prepared to beg and barter but all I had to do was ask to leave for a bit.”

Theo responds. “Pretty sure everyone on set heard your excitement – and honestly man, no one wants to say no to the man barreling at them with such an intense look on his face.” Theo waves his hand at the still playing video.

Just before the clip ends the room spins so that Theo is the one that is on screen. “… And there he goes – off to the airport… NO SPEEDING!”

You hand Theo back his phone and glance at Jason. “You were there waiting for me. Apparently there was plenty of time.”

“For the record, I didn’t speed.”

“Of course not.” Theo responds pressing his hand to his chest briefly before then waving it down the table towards Jason.

"Maybe now with your visit they’ll quit pushing the Battle of the Costars.” One of the makeup artists speaks up in the lull in the conversation.

You remove your hand from Jason’s knee, slightly startled. “What?” No wonder he was always asking if you’d seen Brett. How heavily was this circulating over here? You honestly thought it had died down at this point. Jason hadn’t mentioned it… You try to recover and hide the sudden jolt so you reach to claim your drink and snag something crunchy to eat from the center of the table.

Theo is shaking his head and trying to talk over her but you shush him so she can speak. “I uh – well since casting was confirmed before we left. You opposite Brett And with Jason now being here. Well…”

“Look we all know better than to believe things like that.” Theo sounds a bit strained.

She’s now trying to backpedal. “It just came out wrong. I was trying to be supportive. It sounded better in my head.”

Jason still has a pleasant expression on his face though you can see that the smile doesn’t fully reach his eyes. He shifts in his seat and rests his arm on the back of your chair but doesn’t move to touch your shoulder.

Hmm this subject touches home a bit for him. You bite your lip and frown. “Brett is a lovely man and I can’t wait to work with him. But I adore Jason. I guess they’re entitled to print what they want even if it doesn’t make much sense.”

You risk a glance to find Jason relaxed again. You raise an eyebrow at him. Surely he knew that Brett wasn’t a threat to your relationship.

Theo starts to laugh, “Ok. Now that the awkward conversation has taken place…” After that the conversation veers back to their production and what is to come in the next few days of work.

The group disbands fairly early in the evening since everyone will be on set the next day, including Jason. He apologizes repeatedly on the way home for the early end to the night. He stops in the hallway in front of the guest bedroom which makes you pause halfway between him and your bag. “Hey. Did you forget something at the restaurant?”

While he replies you make your way back to him. He gives you a short shake of his head, “No. You’re here.” He studies your reaction while you approach him. “I hope you had fun tonight. Sorry again that the Battle of the Co-stars article was brought up. I know how tiresome that type of thing is."

You smile at him and lean against the doorway. “Stop apologizing. I had fun. I’m delighted that Theo caught you on his phone so I could see your reaction. And thank you again for letting me use your guest room.”

You want to continue and say something along the lines of: Screw the use of the guest bedroom. You hold your tongue. After the discussion of the Battle of the Co-stars article, you don’t want him thinking you’re trying to prove something to him, or to yourself.

Your heart beats a bit quicker when Jason steps to you and bends to kiss you. When he pulls away your lips are still tingling. Damn that man can get a reaction from you. He gives you a lopsided grin before continuing down the hallway towards the master bedroom. “Goodnight."

"Goodnight Jason." You reply breathlessly.

tag list: @my-soupy-brain @tegan8314 @tortilla-maria1 @nerdgirljen @cavillsim @superloveeverything

[rockofeye]

Ogou, a project finally finished, and upcoming possibilities!

The calendar has gotten ahead of me, and here we are again on a jou fet/feast day for Ogou. It's been quiet around these parts for a minute (more on that below..), and it feels like that kind of timing that puts you in exactly the right place at the right moment. Funny how divine providence works.

If you've hung around for a minute, you know the story I'm going to tell. Maybe I sound like an old person who walked barefoot up a hill in three feet of snow to go to school, but it's something that stuck with me and it's something that really did change my life.

Today is St. George's feast day, which is a day given to at least one Ogou for most if not all vodouizan; it's probably one of few overarching pieces of sameness that you can find country-wide in Haiti. Ogou is central to Vodou; it was Ogou Feray and Ogou Je Wouj who sprang up during Bwa Kayiman and who stoked the revolutionary spark that made the first free Black republic a reality. He is probably more central than he is given credit for; he is certainly overlooked at times in favor of others.

I've had the grace to not be able to overlook Ogou. He made sure of that when he (among others) brought me to my spiritual mother and the lineage named after nasyon Nago, the family of Ogou.

He also made sure of that when I was careening down a very bumpy road towards kanzo. It was 8 years ago now (!!) that I was sitting in an apartment that I would end up abandoning not knowing how in the hell I was going to get everything in order for kanzo just a few months later. I didn't have the money, I didn't have the stuff I needed, I don't even think I had my passport at that point. I was in serious trouble, and I knew it.

So, I did what I could and sat and made a small service for Ogou. I bought what little I could put together, made it pretty, and presented it to him. In retrospect, it's kind of cute what I thought I knew and must have been like a small child presenting you with the product of their toils: the spiritual equivalent of a mud pie with dandelions stuck in it and a macaroni necklace.

But, I did it and I told Ogou that I knew I had made a promise, I knew that I was in trouble, and that I would do whatever he told me if it got me into the djevo. I lit the match and gave it to him, he set the fire and burned my life down.

Within two weeks, I abandoned the apartment I had and packed my car to make a couple of trips into Boston to live in a teeny tiny rented room that was close to my job that Ogou would direct me to quit. I sold my car, any possessions I had that were worth money, and took my stacked vacation time money from the job I quit, all while working up until a few days before I needed to fly to Haiti and hustling at night with whatever side gigs I could find. I bought my flights to/from Haiti before I prepared anything else or even had the money I needed in my hands because I figured that it would be pretty awkward if I had to fly to Haiti and just...hang out when I had been planning to kanzo all along.

It looked like things were going to work out. I was barely sleeping, but the money was coming in and I had the things I needed to go to Haiti with....but what would things be without a last minute twist?

Two days before I left for Haiti, I found out that the way my rent was going to be paid while I was in Haiti fell through. So, I spent two days moving what I could into a friend's basement and abandoned the rest of my belongings, again. I had some boxes, a couple bags of clothes, my suitcase to go to Haiti with...and that's it. Everything else was gone, and I found myself in an airport unsure of where I was going when I got back.

I made it to Haiti after delayed and canceled flights and some crying in a corner, and the rest is history. Ogou (and all my lwa) held me up during the process, and held me up afterwards while he helped me rebuild the life I gave him to burn down. Literally everything I have now descends from the hands of Ogou and my lwa. Career and professional success, home, relationship, spiritual opportunities...all of it down to the last little piece. Nothing is without his/their influence, and my life has become worth living because of it. He saved me, and it all really started on this day 8 years ago. It's been a wild ride the last 12 years with the lwa, and I genuinely couldn't ask for anything better.

'Gratitude' is not a sufficient word because it cannot encompass how I hold all these things inside of me. It is beyond language and verbalization, and when I find myself in front of Ogou and wanting to thank him yet again for all that he has done for me, words are insufficient. I look at him kind of despairing to explain, and he just nods. He knows.

And here I am. Like I said, a wild ride. I looked at a calendar the other day and it really has been 12 years since I got dropkicked into Vodou. So much has happened and so much is to happen and to become. I am not yet the reflection of what I believe the lwa want for me, but I do believe I am climbing closer each day.

I've been pretty occupied in the last year with big stuff; I wrote previously about the completion of my husband's immigration process FINALLY which has him in the US with me permanently (and back and forth to Haiti as life allows). After that, a rather large project occupied most of my time/energy.

Details about that and upcoming stuff behind the cut.

I keep a lot of things close to my heart and am careful about what I write about here, both for practical and esoteric reasons. I strive to be transparent and vulnerable in healthy ways, and yet maintain some semblance of privacy, especially for those closest to me, like my husband.

But we did a thing and it's such a big thing that it deserves a mention in the place where I have detailed some of the most important bits of my life. Presenting our first collaborative effort:

Bondye, all the lwa, and the power of our collective ancestors gave us the opportunity to bring this soul and newest ancestor into being. We are happy to have our little potato with us. This is what has kept me so quiet here; pregnancy is not for the weak and it was a ride I, your friendly neighborhood gender non-conforming houngan, never thought I would take....and yet life with the lwa brings new twists and turns and beautiful gifts. I was deadset on never having children of my own, and here I am with a little potato.

This has opened a wide new world for me and boy have the lwa had a lot to say before and after the potato arrived. They are a tiny pitit Ginen and the lwa have been clear that we can never forget that.

So...there's that. It's funny, but being the caretaker of a potato that the lwa are deeply invested in brings me back to why this blog was started in the first place: I was having experiences that I did not see reflected anywhere, so I decided to write it all down.

I am not the first parent in the world, of course, and absolutely not the first vodouizan to bring forth a child...but again I don't find anyone else with my particular constellation of experiences having a similar experience. This time, at least, I have plenty of people to call and chat with when I have questions about the intersection of Vodou and the potato.

I expect some of it will make it here and some won't. My rule about writing about people that are close to me is that they get to consent about what details I share. When I write about my (human) husband, I share it with him before it posts. As the potato has not yet developed the capacity for consent, what is presented about them will be limited. Their face won't make it onto Tumblr or any other platform or social media I write on, and personal details will remain as neutral as I can make them. If you are one of the folks who knows me in an offline kind of way, I'd ask you to respect that as well.

Other things:

Tomorrow, I will have a post about an upcoming opportunity to celebrate Kouzen. I had hoped to have something put together for his actual fet day on the 1st, but like November is given over to Gede, all of May is Kouzen's month. Look for details tomorrow.

By next week, I will be live on Medium. This will allow folks to get my long-form posts directly in their email or via the feeds they use elsewhere. My long-form posts will continue to be posted here, and I will continue to answer questions and interact with posts here.

Website is coming!

I am toying with launching some online educational opportunities and have some specific plans, but would also like to hear what folks are interested in having live educational opportunities on. I'll post separately about that as well.

My husband is launching his atelier, expect posts about what he has available as well!

So...how are you?

[octuscle]

Help! I tried to use my Chronivac to apply a change to myself, "Hairy Turkish Powerlifter Complete Transformation Package", but the "apply changes" button grayed out when I clicked it, and my mouse is stuck on the loading cursor with nothing happening now. It's been about two days and I'm at my wits end, waiting for the changes to apply and my new life to start.

As a subscriber of the premium version you have selected the travel package. And the loading process did not hang. A window opened in the background, which also displayed your input "Start journey". Pack your suitcase, you're off to Turkey!

Two hours before departure, you drop off your suitcase at the counter and check in for the Chronivac flight operated by Turkish Airlines. And that's when your transformation begins. The security check takes forever. Only after an hour you are through… You don't have much time left to stock up on reading material for the flight. Even though you've been living in Turkey for a year now, you prefer to stick to English-language sports magazines. But you take the Hürriyet with you, you already understand most of it.

At the gate, you are one of the few non-Turks. No one would suspect that you speak Turkish. A few heads turn when you answer the stewardess' greeting almost without an accent, "Çok teşekkür ederim ve size de iyi günler!

Lanet olsun! You should have asked for an upgrade after all. First of all, the portions at the in-flight service are something for kids. And secondly, you barely fit in the seat with your back. And it gets worse during the flight. But you are slowly getting smaller. And hairier. Your family tree begins to change. When you land in Istanbul, six of your great-great-grandparents are already Turkish. There are still a few lighter strands in your hair. But your beard is already pitch black.

Your advantage is that you have accepted citizenship after six years in Turkey. With the Turkish passport the entry goes fast. You still have five hours before your flight to Ankara. Your connecting flight is delayed. Well, at least you can eat your fill now. And you use the break for a few units of push-ups and squats.

When your flight to Ankara takes off, it's already been eleven hours since you checked in. You are almost a real Turk. Only five of your great-great-grandparents are still from England. And you've already been living in Ankara for eleven years and are part of the Olympic weightlifting squad there. In fact, a few fans recognize you at the gate. And want selfies with you.

Baggage claim takes ages again… By the time you have your sports bags all together and are sitting in your car, more than 16 hours have passed since you checked in. It was a really exhausting day. But you are now looking forward to a few days in your summer house just outside the city.

The next morning, after a bath in the creek next to the house, everything is forgotten. And next week the preparation for the next competition starts!

[leam1983]

The Election - FAQ

You're Canadian; why do you care so much?

We have a saying, up here: The USA get a cold and Canada sneezes. In more straightforward terms, what affects you is, in some other shape or form, going to affect us as well. Our antivax waves were spurred on by American campaigns, our last two elections were marked by the presence of fringe Manosphere and generally misogynist groups that claimed to speak for "family values", and our own Right-wing politicians are only just starting to realize that when filibusters and name-calling in Parliament fail, landing direct threats on an Instagram post works just as well. We have the same bigots, the same zealots and the same Christofascists as you do - they're just slightly less organized by virtue of Canada being a less polarized society than America. Our big points of division are mostly linguistic, with a second one consisting of the Prairies' redistributed wealth, thanks to their rich petroleum industries.

So... Canada is basically America Lite, then?

Yes, absolutely. We're less polarized, but we have the same problems, and we tend to think of America as being Canada's shadow - i.e. what Canada could be if it had more of an Interventionist policy and were less Progressive than it already is. We share a lot of the same problems, however, such as the long-delayed restitution efforts towards Native populations, and the myriad scandals involving the abuse forced on Native kids to "christianize" them, in generations past.

We're the same as you, just - a little less bossy. We're America's quieter, shyer cousin, and we've got a ton of skeletons in our closet. So, considering, when something goes wrong in Uncle Sam's yard, we can expect a few bones to pop up in our turf, too.

Okay, so... What? You'll get nicer versions of Trump?

Something like that. We have a developed anti-trans and anti-woke contingent, but it's mostly limited to the Prairies. Head for the Maritimes, and you enter areas of the country that are staunchly liberal in structure (e.g. Quebec). The local Conservatives' bugaboos tend to be fiscal, which is a little bit more tolerable than attacks based on a person's lifestyle, but we do have our own brewing and growing basin of anti-DEI sentiment, as well as misogynist types aplenty. If you've followed the news, then you probably know that Canada and India are at odds on a few key questions, which has fostered resentment between groups outside of the Indian diaspora, and Indians themselves. As you'd expect, even groups that aren't related but that get tossed in by ignorant locals, like the Sikh, also needlessly get a bad rep.

For the most part, our "Trump" is gearing up to be Pierre Poilievre, a Calgary native who's mostly been campaigning on his, well, not being Justin Trudeau. He mostly promises to redress the Federal budget, cut taxes - and to catch up on the lack of windfall by slashing into Liberal and NPD-backed programs that tended to veer towards more Progressive views. Doubling import taxes are seen as a win, while dental credits helping younger families cover basic oral care were seen as driving inflation up - and slashed. They've audited the ArriveCAN program, which is designed to make re-entry into the country by those born here a tad easier, by driving part of the passport-screening process digitally. A few weeks into the audit, everyone knew they were doing this to stall the program and to effectively mess with the current Liberal cabinet. Poilievre's also used an ad block paid for to promote a home-building bill in order to depict Justin and his father, Pierre-Elliott Trudeau, as Marxists.

If you know anything about Canadian history, you know Social Democracy has nothing to do with Marxism. He's also voted against an aid package destined for Ukraine, citing that Kyiv's downtrodden would be somehow forced to pay for our newfangled Carbon Tax, if Zelenskyy received the shipment.

I could go on, but you get the gist of it. He's not at Trump's level of sheer rhetorical abhorrence, but he gets there, so to speak. And with Trump in the White House and Trudeau losing support and being rocked by a non-confidence motion, of late, this little shit's in the best possible position to pounce.

Trump's strategy for tariffs is likely to hurt the loonie, which will drive inflation up in Canada. I wouldn't be surprised if Poilievre brought it up as a failure of Justin Trudeau's government, and made it a leading campaign point. It's not the other guy's blithe disregard for the law, but it's arrogant sophistry, nevertheless.

It's not that far off, in my book. Trump is going to love Poilievre, as he'll have good synergy well with him, while also being just that smidge more likeable. He'll be a great way for the Trump brand to make in-roads in the Great White North, for his brand of discontent to brew in my back yard - and then spill back into yours.

It's not just one guy, though, right?

Of course not. You might've heard about the Freedom Convoy, a group of truckers that held antivax beliefs and who wanted the government to life health guidelines and restrictions earlier, in the later days of the pandemic. Poilievre is the nice, pretty, polite and regimented spokesperson for every free-wheelin' uncle who wants to keep guzzling diesel like it's water while never having received a single jab since before Woodstock - and they've got their meaner, nastier mouthpieces. The more abusive shitheads were quiet during the Biden administration, for the most part, but they ran rampant during Trump's last presidency. Think every juiced-up man-child that thinks pronouns are the world's greatest evil, for instance; the exact type that lobs death threats on a Facebook Live and then hides behind social commentary.

We'll see more of those, guaranteed. All we need is one guy with a shred of political acumen in the lot, and the fuse is lit. It's lit before - one of our more notorious Union locals was publicly known as the "back-breaking" type... Power to the people, as long as that power means keeping Trans people in their AMAB and AFAB bathrooms...

None of that is a serious, structural threat to democracy as we know it, but erosion should be as much a concern as any intent to blow base charges off of the structural pillars, as it were.

So, you'll be okay?

Sort of, excerpt how for every move Trump and his cronies will attempt, someone's going to be over my shoulder, obsessively taking notes. And I do not like where this leads.

[travel-visa-tips]

Find the latest visa and travel requirements for your trip

Planning an international trip can be exciting, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. One of the most crucial aspects to consider is understanding the visa and travel requirements for your destination. This guide will help you navigate the complexities of visa applications, processing times, and other essential travel information to ensure a smooth journey.

Understanding Visa Requirements

Visa requirements vary depending on the destination country and your nationality. It's important to research these requirements well in advance of your travel dates. Generally, a visa is an official document or stamp that allows you to enter and stay in a country for a specified period. There are several types of visas, including tourist, business, student, and work visas, each with specific conditions and purposes.

Types of Visas

Tourist Visa: For leisure travel and sightseeing.

Business Visa: For attending meetings or conferences.

Student Visa: For studying at a foreign educational institution.

Work Visa: For employment in a foreign country.

Each visa type has its own set of requirements and eligibility criteria. Ensure you apply for the right type of visa based on the purpose of your travel.

How to Apply for a Visa

Applying for a visa can be a straightforward process if you follow the correct steps. Here's a general guideline on how to apply:

Research Visa Requirements: Check the official website of the destination country's consulate or embassy for detailed information on visa requirements.

Gather Necessary Documents: Common documents required include a valid passport, passport-sized photographs, a completed visa application form, and proof of travel arrangements.

Fill Out the Application Form: Complete the visa application form accurately. Double-check all details to avoid any errors that could delay processing.

Submit Your Application: Depending on the country, you may be able to submit your application online, by mail, or in person at the consulate or embassy.

Pay the Visa Fee: Most visa applications require a processing fee. Ensure you pay the correct amount and keep the receipt as proof.

Attend an Interview: Some countries may require an interview as part of the visa application process. Be prepared to answer questions about your travel plans and intentions.

Wait for Processing: Visa processing times vary by country and type of visa. It's advisable to apply well in advance of your planned departure date.

Visa Processing Times

Understanding visa processing times is crucial for travel planning. Processing times can vary based on several factors, including the type of visa, the applicant's nationality, and the time of year. Here are some general guidelines:

Tourist Visas: Typically processed within 1 to 4 weeks.

Business Visas: Usually processed within 1 to 3 weeks.

Student and Work Visas: Can take several weeks to months, depending on the destination country and specific requirements.

To avoid last-minute stress, it's recommended to apply for a visa as early as possible. Check the consulate's website for the most current processing times and plan accordingly.

Additional Travel Requirements

In addition to a visa, there are other travel requirements and considerations you should be aware of:

Passport Validity

Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in the destination country. Some countries have strict rules regarding passport validity, and failure to comply can result in denied entry.

Health and Vaccination Requirements

Certain countries require proof of vaccinations or health certificates, such as yellow fever or COVID-19 vaccinations. Check the destination country's health requirements and consult with your healthcare provider to ensure you have the necessary vaccinations.

Travel Insurance

While not always mandatory, travel insurance is highly recommended. It can provide coverage for unexpected events such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, or lost luggage. Review your insurance policy to ensure it meets your needs and provides adequate coverage for your destination.

Currency and Financial Preparedness

Familiarize yourself with the local currency and exchange rates. Notify your bank of your travel plans to avoid any issues with your credit or debit cards while abroad. It’s also a good idea to have some local currency on hand for small expenses upon arrival.

Tips for a Smooth Visa Application Process

Start Early: Begin the visa application process as soon as you have confirmed your travel plans.

Double-Check Requirements: Ensure you have all the necessary documents and information before submitting your application.

Stay Informed: Keep an eye on any changes to visa policies or travel advisories related to your destination.

Seek Assistance if Needed: If you're unsure about any part of the application process, consider consulting a visa service or travel agent for guidance.

Conclusion

Navigating visa and travel requirements doesn't have to be overwhelming. By staying informed and prepared, you can ensure a hassle-free travel experience. Remember to check the latest information from official sources, gather all necessary documents, and apply for your visa well in advance. With careful planning, you'll be ready to embark on your international adventure with confidence.

Click on the link mentioned below, where you will find information about the visa application.