#resume writers toronto

[greatresume]

CUSTOMIZING YOUR RESUME FOR DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES IN CANADA

While a one-size-fits-all approach might seem convenient, taking the time to customize your resume for each industry can demonstrate your suitability for the role and highlight your relevant skills and experiences.

[denimbex1986]

'There will be no fresh helpings of The White Lotus, The Last of Us or even Emily in Paris beaming into front rooms when summer fades. Nor will a screen version of the musical Wicked, starring Ariana Grande, be showing in your local cinema in the spring. And all shooting on Gladiator 2 in Morocco is likely to be indefinitely paused. Already, the wails are almost audible.

On this, the first weekend of the American screen actors’ strike, the level of frustration registered by film and TV drama fans around the world has dwarfed earlier reactions to the equivalent writers’ strike, running since the beginning of May.

Since negotiations collapsed in Los Angeles on Thursday, the gloves are off in a fight over the way the streaming services are seen to be pushing down pay and investing in the use of artificial intelligence in production.

And if an industrial relations struggle benefits from a dose of charisma, then the battle to secure the income of the talent behind a large proportion of the world’s streaming content suddenly has much more of the right ingredient. On Friday, George Clooney became the latest celebrity to back the campaign. “Actors and writers in large numbers have lost their ability to make a living,” the actor said, going on to speak of “an inflection point in our industry”.

The recognisability of many of the faces now taking a stand, from Clooney to Margot Robbie and Brian Cox, compared to their counterparts inside the writers’ rooms, has brought the Hollywood dispute to the top of the international news agenda. Productions involving leading American talent, stalled in many countries ever since work on scripts has been prohibited, will now probably grind to a near standstill. And the actors say they are prepared for a long fight.

Among them is Barbie star Robbie, who has stepped out of promotional events, and Oscar winner Susan Sarandon, who argued this weekend that “the issues of streaming and AI are things that have to be dealt with now”. “We’re in an old contract for a new type of business and it’s just not working for most people,” the actor told reporters in New York.

Sarandon’s words follow a protest move in London on Thursday when the stars of the new Christopher Nolan film, Oppenheimer, walked out of the premiere. Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh left with Matt Damon, whose new production company with Ben Affleck is also set to suffer, he said. The cast had the support of the British director Nolan, who has spoken of the moment being ripe for action. Monday’s red carpet event ahead of the New York premiere of Nolan’s film is also cancelled. “In support of the ongoing SAG strike, the film-makers of Oppenheimer will instead screen the movie to celebrate the crew and craftspeople who contributed to making this film,” said a statement from Universal.

Festivals and fan events are threatened too. Organisers of the Toronto International film festival still hope it will go ahead in early September and have told the BBC: “The impact of this strike on the industry and events like ours cannot be denied. We urge our partners and colleagues to resume an open dialogue.” The Venice festival schedulednext month is also in jeopardy, and San Diego’s Comic-Con could be held without its main attraction – celebrities.

On Friday, more than 160,000 members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (Sag-Aftra) stopped work, joining the 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America in the biggest strike for more than 60 years. Both writers and actors were negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers over residuals, the payments made when a show or film is repeated. Streaming services such as Netflix have large audiences because of their big libraries of films and shows and yet they pay much less in residuals than broadcast television.

Actor Fran Drescher, the serving president of Sag-Aftra known for her role in The Nanny, claims responses from studio and streaming bosses so far have been “insulting and disrespectful”.

Her sentiments have been echoed by Cox, the Scottish actor behind Succession’s ruthless Logan Roy. “If our residuals go down, it means our health insurance isn’t going to be met,” he said on Friday. “The streaming services have shot themselves in the foot because they’ve said, ‘We’re going very well on this front.’ And when we called them to task and said, ‘What about our residuals, what about our money?’ everything kind of closes down and … you know, it’s not going to happen.”

Cox also attacked plans to use AI programming to replicate talent. “There would never be an original voice,” he argued, citing the British writer behind Succession, Jesse Armstrong, and Mike White, the creator and sole writer of The White Lotus. “It would be some kind of copy monkey of the show. And that is unacceptable.”

If screen talent is now playing its part to the full, then the tough-talking industry moguls are also getting into character. On Thursday, ahead of the strike, Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger told CNBC that stoppages had come at “the worst time in the world”. “There’s a level of expectation that they have that is just not realistic, and they are adding to a set of challenges that this business is already facing, that is quite frankly, very disruptive,” he said.'

[canadahires]

Investigating Employment Prospectus in Canada: A Handbook for Potential Employers

For both local and foreign talent, Canada's strong economy and varied businesses provide a multitude of employment possibilities. Whether your goal is a career transition or a fresh start, knowing the terrain of Jobs Opportunities in Canada can help you find your ideal work.

The Canadian Current Job Market

In several fields, including technology, healthcare, and renewable energy, Canada has witnessed notable expansion recently. These sectors provide not just lots of jobs but also guarantee steady professional growth. The explosive growth in these fields welcomes a wealth of employment opportunities in Canada, therefore accommodating a spectrum of knowledge and expertise.

Sectors with High Demand for Talent

Technology and innovation: As tech hubs like Toronto and Vancouver grow, they need IT workers like software writers, system analysts, and safety experts all the time.

Healthcare: As the population ages, more people will need healthcare services. This means that nurses, doctors, and other health workers will need to fill new jobs.

Building and engineering: There are more and more infrastructure projects across the country, which means more jobs for skilled workers in engineering, project management, and skilled trades.

How to Handle Employment Prospects

Negotiating the Canadian employment market calls for initiative. Both personal and online networking is quite important. Local employment fairs and LinkedIn can offer insightful analysis of open jobs and useful contacts. Additionally, it is important to customize your resume to fit the criteria of the Canadian company, therefore stressing your pertinent knowledge and abilities most clearly.

Employing Canadian Job Portals

Using specialist job portals designed especially for Hiring Jobs in Canada market is one efficient approach to getting work prospects in Canada. Specialist job portals provide a portal to a wide range of employment in Canada, covering several sectors and serving job seekers at several professional levels. These sites not only highlight employment openings but also offer tools to assist applicants in adjusting to Canadian job standards and corporate culture.

Conclusion

Using web tools like canadahires.com will greatly improve your job hunt as you start your path to investigate employment prospects in Canada. Employers and job seekers may find all they need on our website, which guarantees that every applicant may easily negotiate the large employment market. Starting your job search on a certain platform can help you simplify the process and raise your chances of success whether you are relocating to Canada or based locally. Seize the chances and start your road toward a fulfilling job in Canada right now.

[paradigmresumes]

Unlock Your Professional Potential with ParadigmResume Services

In today's fast-paced job market, standing out from countless competitors is challenging. But nothing bridges the gap between potential employers and a powerful first impression quite like a high-quality, professionally written resume. This is where ParadigmResume, offering some of the best resume services in the industry, comes to your rescue.

Resume Services

Professional Resume Services: Your Key to Career Advancement

ParadigmResume provides professional resume services tailored to your unique career history and aspirations. Experienced resume writers conduct a comprehensive review of your experience, skills, and career goals. This personalized approach ensures your resume strikes the right note with potential employers.

High-Quality Resume Services Near You

Searching for 'resume services near me'? Look no further than ParadigmResume. They offer top-notch Canadian resume writing services online, so regardless of your location, professional assistance is just one click away.

Exceptional Resume Writing Services

A compelling resume is more than a list of past jobs; it's a strategic tool that markets your unique capabilities. As such, ParadigmResume emphasizes providing top-tier professional resume writing services. Their experienced resume writers know how to showcase your skills and accomplishments in an engaging and effective way.

Best Resume Writing Services in Canada

With a dedicated team of certified writers, ParadigmResume proudly stands among the best resume writing services in Canada. They are industry experts, adhering to best practices in resume writing and understanding the specifics of the Canadian job market.

Resume Services in Toronto and Beyond

No matter where you're located, you can benefit from ParadigmResume's services. While their professional resume services in Toronto are highly sought after, they cater to clients from coast to coast, offering 'resume writing services near me' regardless of geographical boundaries.

A Comprehensive Resume Review Service

Unsure why your resume isn't getting the response you desire? ParadigmResume offers an intrinsic resume review service. They examine your resume with a trained eye, highlighting areas for necessary improvements and suggesting alterations that can drastically enhance its effectiveness.

Your Go-To for the Best Resume Writing Service in Canada

ParadigmResume strives for excellence in helping job seekers get their foot in the door. With a proven track record in securing candidates an interview through high-impact resumes, they have solidified their place as the best resume writing service in Canada.

Concluding Note

Whether you are looking for 'resume writers near me' or need professional assistance to refine your existing resume, ParadigmResume offers the expertise and experiences you need. With a clear understanding of what Canadian employers look for in a candidate, their resume services have proven to be indispensable in the pursuit of career advancement.

Don't let a less-than-standout resume hold you back from achieving your career goals. Let ParadigmResume be your partner in achieving professional success. Conquer the Canadian job market with confidence, armed with a resume that truly showcases your worth.

[paradigmresume]

ParadigmResume: Your Partner for Professional Resume Writing Services in Toronto

Are you struggling to create a winning resume that lands you your dream job? Look no further than ParadigmResume - the premier resume writing company in Toronto. Our team of experienced writers is dedicated to providing high-quality, personalized resume writing services that help job seekers stand out in a crowded job market.

Here are just a few reasons why ParadigmResume is the top choice for resume writing services in Toronto:

Expertise

Our team of writers has extensive experience crafting winning resumes for job seekers in a variety of industries. We stay up-to-date with the latest resume writing trends and best practices, ensuring that your resume is both polished and current. Our expertise allows us to help you showcase your unique skills and experiences, making you stand out to potential employers.

Customized Solutions

At ParadigmResume, we understand that each job seeker is unique, with different skills, experiences, and career goals. That's why we offer customized resume writing services tailored to meet your individual needs. We take the time to understand your career goals, strengths, and accomplishments, and work with you to develop a resume that highlights your unique skills and experiences.

Quality Results

Our goal is to help you secure your dream job, and we're dedicated to delivering high-quality, customized resumes that get results. We use a collaborative approach to ensure that your resume meets your individual needs and preferences, and we're committed to providing personalized service and attention to detail throughout the entire process.

Additional Services

In addition to resume writing services, we offer a range of additional services designed to help you succeed in your job search. These services include cover letter writing, LinkedIn profile optimization, interview coaching, and more. Our team of experts can provide personalized support and guidance throughout the job search process, helping you stand out to potential employers.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

At ParadigmResume, we're committed to providing our clients with exceptional service and results. That's why we offer a satisfaction guarantee on all of our services. If for any reason you're not completely satisfied with our services, we'll work with you to make it right.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a resume writing company in Toronto, look no further than ParadigmResume. Our expertise, customized solutions, quality results, additional services, and satisfaction guarantee make us the top choice for job seekers in the Toronto area. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your career goals.

[serve-update]

Robert Herjavec Net Worth: He Is From Shark Tank Season 14 And Is Also A Writer!

Croatian-born Canadian Robert Herjavec is a successful entrepreneur, investor, and TV host. He has been around for 60 years, having been born on 14 September 1962 in Varadin, Croatia. Herjavec started the Canadian Internet security software integrator BRAK Systems, which he later sold to AT&T Canada for $30.2 million.

Robert Herjavec Net Worth

Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and TV host Robert Herjavec are worth an estimated $300 million. Robert Herjavec has become famous as a result of his participation in Shark Tank, a business reality show. https://twitter.com/vnaij/status/1169908297916223488 Business plans and ideas presented to Robert and the other "Sharks" on the show are evaluated. To add to his resume, he also made an appearance on Dragon's Den, the Canadian edition of the show. We hope you like reading this content Rey Mysterio Net Worth. Herjavec is not only a well-known face on television but also an accomplished businessman. This venture investor is one of Canada's most celebrated success stories, having built a formidable business empire on the back of innovations in online safety.

He Is From Shark Tank Season 14 And Is Also A Writer.

Robert Herjavec, a Canadian entrepreneur, investor, and TV personality, built a formidable commercial empire in the field of online safety. The majority of the entrepreneur's wealth comes from his various business interests and enterprises. Although Robert's tale is an inspiring example of an immigrant making it big, it's important to note that when he graduated from the University of Toronto, he worked for the bare minimum. Robert, who has degrees in both English literature and political science, is working for minimum wage because he needs to provide for his family. It's possible that you'd be intrigued by the following, too George Clooney Net Worth. After that, he became a third assistant director (AD) before switching careers and starting to market computer equipment for Logiquest. In time, Robert rose through the ranks to become the company's top executive.

Robert Herjavec Net Worth The businessman quit Logiquest in 1990 to establish BRAK Systems. The internet security software firm he founded in his basement. AT&T Canada purchased the business for almost $30 million in 2000, ten years after its founding. As a result of his achievement, Herjavec stopped running his own business to become the vice president of sales at Ramp Network. But in 2003, he got back to work on his dream of starting his own company, The Herjavec Group. Check this Last Of Us Episode 6 Release Date. The organization is the largest provider of IT security services in Canada and a leader in the field of internet security. In its initial year of operation, the company barely made $400,000 in sales, but those figures have since skyrocketed. The Herjavec Group reportedly had yearly revenues of $200 million in 2017. The Shark Tank judge has also written several books offering business and personal finance guidance. In 2010, he published his debut book, Driven: How to Succeed in Business and Life. Soon after, in 2013, came The Will to Win: Leading, Competing, and Succeeding. Herjavec's second book serves as the basis for a series of talks he's given. You Don't Have to be a Shark: Creating Your Success, his third book, was published in 2016. Must read this article Toy Story 5 Release Date. Robert Herjavec has backed several of the pitches made by competitors on Shark Tank and Dragon's Den. To get a 10% stake in Tipsy Elves, he put up $100,000. In 2018, it was reported that the company had made $70 million in sales since its inception, so it appears that he made a good investment here. On September 23 at 8 pm ET, ABC will air the first episode of Shark Tank USA. https://youtu.be/iDKlmFluROM Description Any fan of "Shark Tank" might benefit from watching the documentary "Robert Herjavec Net Worth." You'll find yourself saying "Geeeeez" (even if you don't like this term) as you watch the show because it's about a celebrity and the facts of his net worth. It was painstakingly designed and developed to achieve its amazing graphics and animation effects. If you haven't seen it yet, please do so, and then rate it and leave your opinions below if it entertained you. If you like this article, follow our website serveupdate.com & don’t forget to follow our social media handles.   Read the full article

[kaispo-com]

“Toronto’s Home Run Boomer!” / Gerrero Jr.(Blue Jays) / Major Leaguer resume Vol.78 / 2023 WBC Dominican Republic

Major Leaguer resume Vol.78

WBC Player’s resume Vol.64

About KAISPO BASEBALL innovation

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[superbresume]

All Our Resume are 100% ATS Compliant and International Acceptable, as we scan your resume after rewrite to make sure it passes through the complex ATS screening algorithms which most employers use.

[horsesandhockeyplayers]

A Not So Southern Christmas, Part 1

This is obviously a rewrite of my old fic. I have been feeling romantic and Christmasy, so I figured it was time to bring back my favorite holiday couple. I found the header from @whatishockey!!

Synopsis: When Adelaide Thibodeaux finds her husband to be diddling the wedding planner in the Church before their nuptials, she walks out and is determined to take her dream honeymoon by herself. Until she gets a seat upgrade to first class and ends up next to Hurricanes Defenceman, Joel Edmundson. Holiday shenanigans ensue.

Author's Notes: This was written in early 2019 before Eddy went to Montreal as a free agent. I will be tagging both teams.

Part 1

Looking back on my relationship, there were a lot of red flags I ignored. Or maybe I was just naïve. Either way, it was five days before Christmas and I was starting my solo honeymoon in the tiniest airport known to man in Birmingham, Alabama. My cousin, the “travel agent”, had “given” me a deal on my honeymoon as her wedding gift, but I was beginning to suspect she didn’t own a damn globe because I was flying to North Carolina then to Winnipeg, and then onto the winter wonderland of Toronto, Canada.

The plane looked like it would lose a fight with a sparrow, but 30 people were going to board the thing. As someone that had never been on a plane, I was beginning to regret my gumption of marching out of the church and taking the limousine directly to the airport.

If you asked me, impulsivity was not a common trait among my people. I was Southern by blood, Southern by raisin’, Southern by livin’ and I wasn’t prone to rush anything and I enjoyed tradition as Southerners do. I picked at a hangnail with my teeth and resisted the urge to ruin the most expensive manicure I had ever had in my life.

A tinny version of Jingle Bells played in the terminal and I was tempted to turn tail and run home. My momma went hog wild for the holidays and our house usually looked like something right out of a Thomas Kinkaid painting. White fluff and tiny villages covered every surface, anything that could be wrapped in lights and garland was adorned and Daddy made sure you could see our house from space. It didn’t matter if it was 30 degrees or 80 on Christmas day (being Alabama, both were possible) we were having a baked ham with all the fixin’s.

There seemed to be two types of women in the South: Southern Belles with white gloves, pearls, and eyelashes that could bat for anyone, or TomBoys dressed in camo and boots. Any woman that fell into the inbetween was pigeonholed into one or the other. Despite the fact that I was 5’10” and closer to 200lbs than 150lbs, my momma always tried to turn me into a belle. Gymnastics, ballet, cloggin’, modern dance, pageants, cotillion of all things, were on my resume for a proper Southern Belle.

If I had let my mother dress me I would have been in a Chanel suit, tottering close to six foot in matching pumps, and a string of pearls around my neck. Dixiecrats were nothing if not predictable in their fashion sense. My own personal style was more “post menopausal writer” in leggin’s, drapey sweaters, and sensible flats (if I had to wear shoes at all).

Considering all I had as I sped away from the church was the suitcase I had packed for the honeymoon, I was looking festive in darkwash jeans, a sensible red blazer I had found in a consignment store over a green teeshirt from the Wal-Mart, and pair of comfortable silver flats that I had found at Payless Shoes for $12. My Christmas light earrings actually lit up with the push of a small button and I looked like Santa Claus’ long lost granddaughter. You know… if she had run away from her wedding and slept in an airport.

I had my hair up in a messy bun after leaving a small mountain of bobby pins in the back of the limousine, but the bangs that were last year’s bad decision didn’t quite make it and they fell around my face in unkempt waves.

My knees were currently jammed into the seat in front of me and I was pressed against the window trying to make myself as small as possible. My fear of the window falling out and being sucked out of the plane was now secondary to making sure I did not touch the sweaty, leering, overweight man who had jammed himself in the seat next to me and might have actually drooled when he blatantly stared at my breasts.

I was saved by the captain’s voice coming over the loudspeaker, “Good morning y’all, there’s a big ol’ storm comin’ down that’s gonna be coverin’ the better part of the Eastern half of the country, but we should be getting you into Charlotte on time to catch your connecting flights before she hits.”

My family was poor, but we weren’t rich either. My daddy owned the family hardware store in a small town outside of Tuscaloosa and my Momma was a professional homemaker that would have made Paula Deen and Martha Stewart weep with envy. We had enough to go on day trips, to pay for my sister and I to do all of our extracurriculars, but I had never been on a plane in my entire life and I was about to spend the next 57 minutes with my knees jammed to my chest while being squashed by the fattest, reddest, sweatiest man on the planet and I would bet my life savings he was some sort of shoe salesman, or a judge, or a small town sheriff or something.

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

When we landed in Charlotte, I sent a little prayer to the Universe for allowing me to live and for the one millionth time since climbing into that big car I thought about just going home. But that was what sensible me would have done and I was always sensible.

As we taxied to the terminal, I turned on my phone and the family group text started blowing up my phone.

Little Sister: Addie are you there yet? Did you live? Did the plane crash? I didn’t see anythin on Twitter.

Momma: Adelaide, I don’t understand dear, why are you leaving for Christmas? It was different When you and Daniel were going on your honeymoon and starting your own traditions. This is insane. Text us when you land. Adele said she didn’t see anythin’ on the Twitter App. I know this weddin’ didn’t go quite the way you were hopin’ but just come home.

Daddy: Girl, call us when you land and Canes won!

My phone was to my ear as the plane came to a stop and all 40 something passengers tried to stand at the same time with the exception of Chubby McPervert who didn’t move a muscle and fell asleep with his massive jowl to his chest.

“Hi Daddy, I landed. Yes, I’m going to catch my next flight. No, this one wasn’t bad.” It had in fact been horrible, but I wasn’t about to tell him about Chubby McPervert and his leering eyes. “I love y’all too. I’ll call y’all when I make it to Toronto, it will be really late. No it won’t cost a fortune, remember Adele and I taught you how to facetime using the WiFi. Yes, Daddy, we have to use that newfangled thingamabobber. I love you too.”

I hung up as people were starting to file off the place and Chubby McPervert still hadn’t gotten out of his seat and I needed to grab my carry on from the overhead bin. I swung my purse onto my other shoulder making sure it whipped right across his sleeping face and I put a look of abject horror on mine, “Oh mah gosh! I am SO sorry, This purse was a present from my Daddy so I can carry all my stuff and I just have not gotten used to this big ol’ thing!”

He grunted and finally got up. He apparently didn’t have a carry on and I stuck out my tongue at his retreating back to the amusement of the little boy seated behind me. Stepping into the narrow aisle and grabbing my little roller bag that contained all my toiletries and a few changes of clothes in case the airline lost my suitcase, I rolled after everyone else exiting the plane and entered the indoor city that was (to me) a large international airport.

The hustle and bustle of an airport right before Christmas was overwhelming and I looked for a place where I could get out of the way and get my bearings.

I found a pillar in front of a bank of screens framed in cheap tinsel garland that had a list of all the flights coming and going. To my dismay, it looked like a lot were already being cancelled due to the weather. When I finally found my flight, I was dismayed to see it was already delayed. I looked around the terminal for signs of where the gate might be and figured waiting there was as good as any place.

It took what felt like an hour to traverse the bustling airport and I was pretty sure I had walked to the next county.

The poor gal behind the counter looked harried as people checked into the flight and a lot of grumpy faces seemed to be aware of the delay. I waited patiently in line for my turn as she tried to find accommodations for people who needed to make connecting flights. Much to my chagrin, Chubby McPervert huffed up behind me and spent the next 20 minutes grumbling under his breath. When I finally got to the counter I set my giant purse on it, “Y’all look like y’all’ve had a DAY.”

She took a breath before answering, “I’m new, this is my first holiday.”

“Well take a breath, a drink of water, I gotta find my ticket on my phone anyway.”

She shot me a grateful look as Chubby McPervert made impatient huffy noises behind me. She clicked around on her computer and after a good minute I held out my phone feigning stupidity, “This is for this flight right?”

She smiled, “Yes it is.”

Chubby McPervert made another impatient huff. I wanted to tell him he sounded like the draft horses in the log pull at the county fair, but I didn’t, I just turned on the Southern Charm, “Oh my goodness, I am so sorry, am I going too slow? I bet you’re in a big ol’ hurry to board a flight that’s been delayed.”

Turning back around, I made a note of the name etched on the little brass name tag as I reached over the counter with my hand and hoped the gal would follow my lead, “Bethany dear, how IS your momma doin’? I sent her a Christmas card last year and it was returned! Did she move?”

Bethany tried to hide her smirk as she caught onto my game, “You know we had to move her in with my brother last year, I’ll text you her new address.”

I made a sympathetic face, “Aw I am so sorry to hear that.”

She shook her head, “No, it’s good, after Daddy died she just couldn’t keep the farm all by herself. She fell and broke her hip, but she is doing great now. The grandkids can barely keep up with her!

She let go of my hand and passed my phone back to me, I gave her a wink and turned around with my cheeriest smile, “Bless your big ol’ heart for waiting while I caught up with my friend. I’m sure she will be happy to help you now!”

As I grabbed my purse, Bethany mouthed, “Thank you,” and I ventured into the waiting area to take a seat and wait for my delayed plane.

I was deep into a meditation podcast when I felt a tap on my shoulder, Bethany was bent over me, “Ms. Thibodeaux? Can I have you come up to the counter please?”

“Absolutely,” I answered, pulling my earphones out of my ears as I stood.

Setting my purse on top of my rolling carry on, I followed her to the counter. When she was back behind the computer she made a few taps, “Unfortunately, the gentleman behind you in line had to find an alternate flight, so we now have a first class seat available, would you like a free upgrade?”

A free upgrade into first class? I didn’t even know there was such a thing.

Bethany seemed to sense my hesitation, “There’s more legroom? You get to drink?”

She knew exactly what I needed. Bethany was like my secret Santa, “Well in that case, how can I say no?”

She gave me an updated paper ticket, “Your flight is about an hour out, enjoy!”

It was her turn to give me a wink and I was suddenly very grateful for my parents who taught me to treat everyone with respect and patience.

Returning to my seat to wait, I watched people exit a freshly landed plane, watched the cleaning crew get on, the switching of the pilots and attendants, the waiting area emptied as they started to board the plane like a herd of grumpy cattle and eventually it taxied away from the gate.

There was a duty free store across from where I was sitting and I idly wondered how many of those little gin bottles it would take to fill my water bottle and more importantly, how much it would cost. I finally decided, “Way too damn much,” and I was saved from a potentially bad decision by the loudspeaker announcing my flight. I blinked and noticed the waiting area had filled up again with weary holiday travelers and the flight was going to be very full as cancellations meant everyone was trying to get somewhere before the storm covered most of the US.

I got up, shrugging my purse onto my shoulder and grabbing the handle of my bag. I turned to walk around the bank of seats I was sitting in to avoid the gaggle of teenagers that had settled on the floors to take turns with the one available charging outlet, but was stopped as I smacked into a solid wall that I did not remember sitting next to.

Rebounding off the slab of granite, I tried to step back but the back of my knees hit my carry-on and they buckled. I felt myself losing my balance, before two large hands wrapped around my arms to steady me.

I would be the first to admit it was tough to date men when a woman happened to be nearly six feet tall and could be generously described as “curvy.” Dan had been almost two inches shorter than I was, and was one of the very few men who didn’t seem bothered by the fact I was bigger in every sense of the word. That is what I had believed, anyway, until I found him balls deep in our wedding planner who was all of five foot and 100lbs soaking wet.

The man I ran into, however, was much taller than Dan -- much taller than I was-- and it was a weird experience looking up into a man’s eyes instead of down. Not that I was complaining.

I felt my mouth open before I told it to and I knew stupid was going to come out, “Oh mah goodness you are handsome.” My drawl became more pronounced when I was nervous and I had a feeling I just went full ‘back in the holler down by the crick’ Southern.

He blushed, murmuring what had to be a thanks and let go of my arms, gesturing for me to walk in front of him. When I turned around the aisle between the banks of metal framed seats had cleared like a combine gone through a wheatfield.

Making my way to the gate, I could feel the man’s huge presence behind me and I realized for the first time, I was unsettled because he made me feel almost small. Adelaide Thibodeaux don’t you dare trip or make a fool of yourself more than you already have.

I scanned my ticket with my new seat assignment and headed down the gangway to a thankfully, much larger airplane than the first one. First class looked like having a king sized bed to myself after flying on what was essentially a deflating balloon next to the world’s sweatiest man. The seats were in pairs on either side of the aisle and even economy, which had three seats on either side, looked roomy comparatively.

My seat was smack in the middle of first class and I was by a window. I stopped and pushed the extendable handle down on my carry-on and before I could pick it up the man I had crashed into basically palmed the thing like it weighed no more than a feather and lifted it into the overhead bin, before putting in his own bag and laying his very nice coat on top of both of them.

I felt a flush the exact color of my blazer creep up my neck and into my cheeks. “Um thanks! Polite and handsome, my momma would love you.”

Adelaide Thibodeaux, what the actual flying fuck are the words coming out of your mouth?

I took my seat near the window and looked out at the workers throwing the luggage onto the plane, hoping the very tall, very handsome man would keep going and I would never see him again. Which would be disappointing, but quite alright since I apparently couldn’t control the verbal diarrhea around him and I wanted to sink directly through the plane to the ground below.

I was not that lucky; God didn’t seem to want to grant me any favors to avoid paralyzing embarrassment this day and I glanced up at the man who was about to sit next to me. From a different angle and finally focusing on his face, I immediately recognized him and I turned my face toward the window again to have a minor meltdown. I was about to spend the entire flight next to a Carolina Hurricane and I did not want to find out what incredibly stupid things could come out of my mouth in six whole hours.

When I looked back over and swallowed he gave me a funny look, suddenly the plane seemed even smaller than the one I arrived on. There may have been at least four inches between our arms, but it felt like nothing and I swear I could feel the heat of his body coming through his stylish sweater. The awkward silence stretched tight like a bungee cord and I knew when it finally snapped I was going to feel the lash.

He held out his hand, “Joel, and I’m sorry about putting my hands all over you, but I don’t make a habit of letting beautiful women fall to the floor.” His smile indicated he was anything but sorry.

In that moment, I wished his hands had been all over me. I cleared my throat and willed myself to say something normal, “Adelaide, and it’s no problem, hot hockey players catch me in airports all the time.”

I winced internally at the flood that escaped my lips, but he just chuckled, “First time flying?”

“What? No! Excuse you sir, I fly all the time.” I had an intelligent, stubborn, impulsive little sister, I could razz with the best of them.

He grinned, and looking at him was like looking directly into the sun, he was so hot, “Are we making up stories? I’m going to win the Norris this season.”

The teasing was enough to release that awkward tension and I smacked his bicep playfully, “Shut UP I am not that obvious!” I don’t know what bayou I was suddenly born in but the Southern just jumped right out and I sounded like I should be noodling catfish and not flying to another country.

“Just when I think I’ve gotten used to the southern accent, you sound a little different than people in North Carolina,” his smile was infectious and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“Well Mr. Edmundson, you are acquirin’ quite the ear. I have a ‘bama accent not a Carolinan one.”

He squinted his eyes in thought for a moment, “Alabama?”

“The Sweet Home one, yes.”

The gorgeous pea coat he had been wearing was in the overhead bin, leaving him in just a burgundy cashmere sweater and soft jeans that hugged the muscles in his thighs. “How did an Alabama girl start watching hockey?”

This was a story that had been told more than once in our house during the holidays because Alabama was definitely football country. “Back in 2017 Bama lost a game to Auburn and at one point Daddy screamed at the TV, ‘If you let that dumbass team beat you I am never watchin’ football again!’ Auburn beat us 27 to 14 and my daddy is a stubborn southern man and hasn’t watched a single pass since. We all thought it would last a week tops but here we are 2 years later and now we’re all Canes fans.”

“When you say… us?” He had an eyebrow raised.

I realized I probably sounded like one of those fans that thinks they are on the team, “Oh! Alabama football, Roll-Tide! If you’re from Alabama you’re a Bama fan or an Auburn fan. We are a ‘Bama family and I am a ‘Bama alumni.”

He grinned and shook his head, “I know you’re speaking English, but I’ll be damned if I understood a single word, but you sure look cute saying it.”

The heat flooding my cheeks could have probably cooked a holiday turkey and I was certain my face was the same color as my blazer. It almost felt like I was being hit on. Clearing my throat, I fiddled with my phone, opening and closing apps hoping my brain was going to restart soon because it needed to tell my heart to stop beating a million times a minute.

The silence stretched like some eldritch being between us until he broke it again, “So you’re obviously from around here…ish. What is taking you to Winnipeg?”

He was almost too handsome to look at directly, “I am actually going to Toronto for the holidays.”

A perplexed look crossed his face, “are you on the right plane?”

I sighed, “Yes, my ‘travel agent,’” I made air quotes, “is a cousin on my momma’s side, honestly, the whole side of the family is a lost cause.”

He replied with a knowing nod, “Gotcha, so do you have family up there? Meeting family? Friends?”

I nervously fiddled with the end of the seatbelt, “Uh no, I’m going by myself.”

He didn’t say anything and the silence began to stretch and grow like an organic being and I felt myself rushing to fill it, “It was actually supposed to be my honeymoon, until I caught my fiance having a one on one meetin’ with my wedding planner, naked, in the bridal suite of the church.

A big breath of air whooshed out of him, “Wow that kept getting worse.”

I offered a shrug, “It was not my finest moment. But the trip was non-refundable and I needed to leave, you know?”

His long strong fingers traced the edge of the armrest and he cleared his throat, “You know that Toronto is like a two hour flight from here and you’re about to fly six hours in the wrong direction.”

A humorless laugh escaped my throat, “Ha, well yes, my cousin is not really gifted in any way. The good lord didn’t see fit to give her smarts or looks, so here I am flying in the wrong direction because she dropped out of school at 14.”

He gave my hand a cursory pat and it was probably wishful thinking that he let his fingertips linger ever so slightly, “Well Adelaide, I’m very happy my mom convinced me to fly out last minute and that your cousin is terrible at geography.”

As the last few passengers filed onto the plane, the crew pulled the door shut, and the pilot came over the loudspeaker, “Sorry folks, but there is a mechanical problem with the fueling truck, it will be a few minutes longer.” There was a collective groan from everyone.

The thought of the plane going down in a snowstorm made me shiver. If the crash and subsequent explosion didn’t kill me then hypothermia would and at least I’d die next to Joel Edmundson.

He glanced at the fancy black watch on his right wrist, “I wonder if it's too late to disappoint my mother and be back to my apartment before the evening news.”

I scoffed, “You couldn’t let me fall on the ground, but you’ll let me die in a fiery plane crash by myself? AND disappoint you mother? Some gentleman you are, Mr. Edmundson.”

His grin was wide and white, “Fair enough, I can’t be disappointing my mom.”

The flight attendants were starting to make their way down the plane with the drinks cart while we waited. His fingertips were still on the back of my hands and he gave it a pat, “First drink is on me, what is your order?”

I resisted the urge to move my hand away, not because I didn’t want him touching me--I did, I wanted him to touch me all over so when I died on this death trap, I didn’t have a single regret--but the sensation was also overwheming because the Sex on a Stick that was Joel Edmundson had been caressing my hand like a lover and it was all too much.

“Lady?”

That snapped me out of my own head, “Lady?”

I don’t know what face I made but he was quick to backpedal, “No not like ‘Hey Lady!’ But L-A-I-D-I-E Like Adelaidie. Sorry, it’s a hockey thing. Nicknames.”

“Uh, my sister just calls me Addie.”

He shook his head, “Can’t have Eddy and Addie, that’s too cute.”

This was a completely surreal conversation and I wondered if the gangway to planes was like a portal to another dimension, “So Lady and Eddy is better?”

He nodded like this was a completely normal thing to talk about 5 minutes after meeting someone, “Yeah like Eddy and his lady.”

I just blinked and answered his original question in case I hallucinated this entirely ridiculous exchange. “Gin and Tonic please.”

He snickered, “Such a Lady thing to order.”

How many concussions had this man suffered?

He took our drinks and surreptitiously slipped a couple of dollars into the flight attendant's hand, then passed over my G&T, heavy on the T. I suspected I’d have to drink 20 to even feel anything close to tipsy.

As she helped the row behind us, I leaned over and Joel leaned in and now our faces were close together and it was difficult for me to focus, “Was that enough money?”

He looked confused a moment before his face softened, “Lady, drinks are free. This is first class, that was just a tip.”

I had a feeling I just showed my Alabama roots. “Oh.”

He patted my hand again and left his fingers on top of mine. Was it hot in here? It felt hot. I desperately wanted to move my hand because touching him was summer in Phoenix, completely fine in small doses and completely overwhelming after 30 seconds.

Finally, I was saved by the buzzer as my phone notified me of a text message. I regretted losing the contact of his touch immediately as I slid my hand out from under his and pulled the phone out of my purse.

Little Sister: Are you THERE YET?

No. My flight was delayed but I did get upgraded to First Class and you will NEVER GUESS WHO I AM SITTING NEXT TO.

Little Sister: TAYLOR SWIFT.

Why would Taylor Swift be flyin to Winnipeg also I’m pretty sure she owns her own plane.

Little Sister: Well then I don’t know.

Joel Edmundson

Little Sister: … Fake… Take a picture.

I AM NOT TAKING A PICTURE

Little Sister: Then you are obviously lying. It’s probably some stinky old rich guy.

I sighed as only an older sister could sigh and Joel looked over at me, “What’s up Lady?”

“My little sister is a pain in the ass,” I said as I set my phone face down on my thigh.

His smile was large and genuine. “As the little brother, I take offense.”

I offered an eye roll, “Yeah, but I bet you don’t drive your older brother crazy.”

He laughed, “I’m pretty sure he still wants to strangle me on a regular basis.”

“Well then, maybe I should introduce you to my little sister, and you can introduce me to your brother,” I said, shaking my head.

He lowered his voice, “only if she’s as gorgeous as you,”

This time I know my face matched the color of my blazer. “She got the same build as my mom. Small and petite ”

Joel sucked air through his teeth, “Sorry not interested. Petite has never been my thing.”

I almost barked and covered my mouth with my hand, “Liar. Petite is every man’s thing.”

He took a sip of his vodka soda and shook his head. “Nah”

Turning in my seat to face him I rolled my eyes, “Ok mister mysterious. What is your type?”

He stayed silent but his eyes traveled slowly down my body before he looked forward again and took another sip of his drink with a smirk.

The temperature in the cabin seemed to jump 500 degrees. I pulled the safety card out of the pocket of the seat in front of me and pretended to read it for a moment before I just started using it as a fan. “Is it hot? I feel like it’s hot.”

He just grinned to himself and took another sip of his drink.

Eventually I started babbling to fill the silence that once again stretched and started to come to life, “So Daddy said y’all won today. I couldn’t watch the game because I was flying from Birmingham to Charlotte on a plane the size of a tic tac. But, congrats.”

He just smirked. “Thanks. I was feeling good, probably why my mom was able to convince me to get on a plane last minute.”

Then something hit me out of the blue. “Shouldn’t you be flying outta Raleigh?”

His answer was punctuated by a nod, “This was the last flight to Winnipeg I could find this afternoon before the storm hit.”

“Oh that’s right we’re flying directly into a storm.” I downed the rest of my drink and resisted the urge to crush the little plastic cup in my hands.

He just arched his brow, “You’ll be fine.”

My answer was bitchier than it should have been and I grimaced as I said it, “Oh really, are you a pilot?”

“I spend hundreds of hours on a plane every year.” The look on his face was kind.

I shrunk down in my seat, thinking I was toilet scum, “Oh. I suppose that’s true.”

I glanced at my phone, my sister was still relentlessly texting and finally she called. Even though my voice was low there was no mistaking the tone when I hissed, “What Adele?”

Joel gave me another sideways glance and he seemed to have the smirk permanently etched on his face.

“No! I’m not puttin’ him on the phone. Why? Because he’s flyin’ home for Christmas, not partaking in a meet and greet with my crazy little sister. You are SO crazy. Oh my goodness gracious, put Daddy on the phone I can’t with you right now,” I growled, “Why are you like this? I swear.”

Before I knew what was happening, my phone had been snatched from my ear and his giant hands dwarfed the device. “This is Joel Edmundson and you are?”

I couldn’t hear her side of the conversation any more but I did hear her shriek and I covered my face with my hands. This poor man...and I was going to have to sit next to him for six hours and stew in my embarrassment or he’d have me moved back to economy or something.

I did my best not to listen to the conversation because I knew I was going to melt into a gooey puddle of embarrassment if I did; fortunately it was fairly easy because, true to form, my sister wasn’t letting the hockey player get a word in edgewise.

After 84 years she seemed to stop talking. “Well, Adele, It’s lovely to make your acquaintance and I’ll get your address from your sister and send you some swag. Yes, I’m sure she’ll give me your address. I can be very charming ma’am.” There was a long pause, “Well, yes she does seem immune to my charm though…”

My head whipped around at his words, but he ignored me and continued. “Well, I’ve tried to be very obvious, but she’s not picking up the cues, oh she’s dumb that way?”

His eyes met mine and he winked, he was joking. Everything was fine. He was just kidding. Of course Joel Edmundson wasn’t interested in me, imagining that could be true would be a special kind of brain trauma. I probably was dumb like my braniac sister always said.

“She IS gorgeous, I’m glad you agree, legs for days and that hair! So tell me about this loser she dumped on her wedding day… uh huh… uh huh… What a bastard. Your daddy never liked him huh? I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but would your daddy like me? Uh huh… I can definitely work on not turning over the puck on the blueline. Is that his only complaint? Of course I’d treat her like a queen. Have you seen her?”

My mouth was hanging open so wide that my chin was somewhere around the vicinity of my boobs. Who in tarnation was this man?

“Look, Adele, I’m going to have to let you go, I think your sister might be going into shock, but add me on Instagram, okay? Great! I look forward to it, have a wonderful holiday.”

His hand had barely lifted from his ear before I heard my Daddy’s baritone, “Son?”

Joel put the phone back to his ear. “Yes, sir?”

This conversation was easier to follow because my father was a simple and forthright man, “I also think it’s crazy she’s going all the way to Toronto by herself. Uh huh…. Yessir. Well, I’d love to accompany her to Toronto, but I’m afraid I promised my mom I’d be home this Christmas. Uh huh…. Uh huh. We always love the holidays. My mom’s been baking for weeks.” He gave me a sideways glance as my father’s voice rumbled, “I can’t imagine she will like this idea.”

He covered the phone with his hand and I wondered if I had somehow been transported to a different timeline; maybe parallel universes did exist. “Your dad says I either have to go with you to Toronto or you have to come to Brandon with me.”

“He did NOT say that,” I said, furrowing my brow. I leaned forward and he held the phone out, “Daddy did Eddy take a hit to the head today?” I could barely hear him, “Because I think he might have a concussion.” Our faces were inches apart and this close I could definitely smell his soap or a hint of cologne mixing with his natural scent and it was panty dropping for sure.

He brought the phone back to his ear, “OK sir, I’ll do my best to change her mind. I have her as my captive audience for six hours. Yes sir, thank you sir. Have a great evening.”

The call was over when he handed the phone back to me and I gladly put that fucker in Airplane Mode and slid it into my purse before studying the safety placard with great interest. Eventually, the air felt extremely heavy to my left and when I glanced over Joel had turned in his seat to watch me with great interest. I gave him a dry look, “What?”

“You don’t seem interested by that phone call.”

“What phone call, that was clearly a hallucination and you are a figment of my imagination. My fear of flying is clearly manifesting into,” I gestured at his big body, “you.”

He rolled his eyes. “Anyway, your dad said if I don’t go with you to Toronto or convince you to come home with me he knows a witch and he’s gonna curse me.”

I chuckled through my nose, “My daddy wouldn’t know what a witch looked like and he sure as heck doesn’t know one. But I’m pretty sure my Auntie practices Hoodoo. But that’s just speculation. Anyway, I’m staying out of these cockamamie shenanigans.”

He looked perplexed, “You mean VooDoo?”

I rolled my eyes, “I said what I said Mr. Edmundson, Google is free.”

His eye brows hit his hairline and he made a serious face, “Okay Ms. Witchcraft Know-it-All.” Facing forward he made a sad noise, “Man, my mom is going to be so disappointed that I’m going to Toronto.”

“I think we both know that you aren’t following me to Toronto and I’m not actually invited to Christmas at your house, so don’t even try and make me feel guilty. Also, it’s weird, we met like 5 minutes ago.”

He just looked at me, deadpan, while he picked up his phone to hold it to his ear. While it rang, he spoke, “It’s been like half an hour and it IS weird, because I never let my brother meet girls I’m interested in, “Hi mom, yes, I’m on the plane. No, it’s delayed again. Yes, I will be home in time for Christmas. Listen, I’ve met this lovely woman, Adelaide, she is flying to Toronto. Yes, she knows she’s on a plane to Winnipeg. There were scheduling problems. Anyway, she’s going to Toronto, on her honeymoon, BY HERSELF. Yeah, I know that’s terrible. The asshole cheated on her, ON HER WEDDING DAY, can you believe?”

I shushed him and waved my hand indicating he should lower his voice, leaving me slightly mortified that not only did his mother know what a loser I was, but so did everyone on this plane.

“Yeah she’s sitting right here. No you can’t talk to her. No, Mom. No.” He held his phone out, “My mom wants to talk to you.”

This was the most surreal experience I had ever had and I was 100% sure this was some kind of dream. I was probably the lone survivor of the plane crashing and I was pinned by piles of twisted metal and I was hallucinating as I died from blood loss. Tentatively I took his phone and held it lightly to my ear, “Umm, hello Mrs. Edmundson. Umm no ma’am I can’t call you by your first name. Southern raisin’ and all. Well, I’ve never been out of the country before and the trip was already paid for so I figured ‘why not.’ No ma’am we celebrate Christmas. My house lights up the whole block. Yeah my Daddy does displays at our house every year. My mama bakes a ham every Christmas. Yes ma’am, it’s a big deal at our house. You and my mama would get along real well Mrs. Edmundson, she asked me the same thing before I left. Mmmhmm. Yes ma’am.” I handed the phone back to Joel and sighed, “She says I’m invited for Christmas.”

He gave me a smug look, “Yeah, mom. I don’t know if Dad should bring the SUV to pick me up, I don’t know if it will be an us. Yes, I will ask her. Yes, I know. Ok. Love you, bye.”

It was his turn to down his drink and he turned to face me again. “My mom says if you won’t come to Christmas, then I have to go to Toronto with you and while that will make her sad, your safety is important.”

Was everyone in this dream crazy except me? Or maybe I was the crazy one and this was normal behavior. “I am not crashing your family’s Christmas because your mother feels a moral obligation to some sad sack you met on an airplane and because my family is trying some weird matchmaking thing.”

He sighed. “Man, my mom is going to be so disappointed. Do you have a bunch of couples stuff planned in Toronto? Are we going to get a sensual couples massage? Couples yoga? A romantic carriage ride?”

I hit the call button above my seat. “We are not getting anything. You are going home to your mother and I am going to Toronto to enjoy my solo vacation.”

The flight attendant interrupted Joel’s retort, “Can I assist you?”

I held up my empty glass. “I have a newly developed fear of flying and this man might be insane. May I have another gin and tonic, heavy on the gin, light on the tonic.”

She was ever the professional but her mask slipped as she eyed the 6’4” defenceman and her look said “Girl, look at this tall drink of water you get to sit next to for six hours, what is wrong with you?”

She didn’t actually say any of that though instead she said, “Of course, just one moment.”

Ignoring the man next to me, I impatiently tried to push my failed bangs back, They immediately fell forward again and I stared dejectedly out the window. I almost missed Joel lifting his phone, the telltale shutter sound, and him swiping his finger across the screen and the swoop of a text being sent.

I narrowed my eyes at him, “What did you just do?”

He lifted his butt off the seat and slid the phone back into his front pocket. “Sent a picture of you to my mom.”

The audacity of this man. There was a replying bing that was followed by a second bing. “Aren’t you going to check that? It’s your mom telling you not to bring Shrek to Christmas.”

He shook his head, “Don’t need to. The first one is my mom saying you look nice and it’s about time I date a nice girl and the second one is my brother asking how serious we are and if he has a shot.”

I rolled my eyes. “You are such a fibber.”

He snorted, “A ‘fibber’?”

“Yes, you know, someone who is a liar.” My drawl drug that 'i' out to pasture and the 'r' was soft and barely pronounced.

“Oh I know what it means, Lady, I just haven’t heard that word used in this decade.”

I swatted his bicep again, “Are you always this annoying or is this just for me?”

He rubbed his arm and faked a wince. “Am I going to have to tell Rod the Bod I can’t play because I was abused by a girl on an airplane?”

I countered his question with one of his own, “You call your coach ‘Rod the Bod?’”

Joel dropped his arm to the rest again. “Not to his face, because I value living, but have you seen the man?”

He had a valid point. Rod Brind’Amour was jacked in all the right ways. “Of course I’ve seen him, I have eyes for goodness sake.”

The flight attendant returned with my happy juice in a much larger glass and waved away the few dollars I tried to give her and her eyes darted to the man next to me before she gave me a pointed glance.

I took a sip and I didn’t think there was a drop of tonic water in it. I just had a straight up highball glass full of gin. “I do believe that woman is trying to get you into the mile high club Mr. Edmundson.”

He snorted, “Baby I’m already in the club, but I’d be more than happy to provide your initiation.”

I didn’t know what to say to that so I just sipped my gin and my face was once again just as red as my blazer.

He snuck a glance at me, “You blush so easily, it’s fantastic.”

[seriouslycromulent]

I've been holding on to this article all week, and I'm glad I finally made the time to read it. It's very enlightening, and speaks to the importance of how "Representation Matters" can be a phrase so easily co-opted by the majority (as per usual), then twisted to serve the status quo.

It's really sad because the cast clearly deserved better. I adored the show, and was happy to name it as one of my favorite binge-watch marathons of the quarantine. I hope to see everyone (especially the Dad and Kimchee) in future projects. But all in all, the final season along with this news feels even more bittersweet.

Here is the article behind the link. The bolded sections are my own emphasis.

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‘Kim’s Convenience’ stars decry ‘overtly racist’ storylines, lack of representation

JUNE 7, 2021 2:29 PM PT By CHRISTI CARRASSTAFF WRITER

“Kim’s Convenience” has officially closed up shop, and its stars are opening up about their frustrations with the show’s approach to Korean Canadian representation behind and in front of the camera.

After the hit CBC sitcom debuted its fifth and final season last week on Netflix, actors Simu Liu and Jean Yoon voiced their concerns regarding the series’ “overwhelmingly white” production team, “horsepoop” pay and “overtly racist” storylines, among other alleged grievances.

Based on actor and playwright Ins Choi’s stage production of the same name, “Kim’s Convenience” premiered in 2016 and centered on a Korean Canadian family operating a convenience store in Toronto. In the show, Liu — star of Marvel’s highly anticipated “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” — portrayed Yoon’s on-screen son, Jung.

“I’ve heard a lot of speculation surrounding myself — specifically, about how getting a Marvel role meant I was suddenly too ‘Hollywood’ for Canadian TV,” Liu remarked Thursday in a lengthy Facebook post reflecting on the end of the program.

“This could not be further from the truth. I love this show and everything it stood for. I saw firsthand how profoundly it impacted families and brought people together. It’s truly SO RARE for a show today to have such an impact on people, and I wanted very badly to make the schedules work.

After setting the record straight about his career trajectory, Liu expressed disappointment with the way that he and his character were treated as the series progressed.

“I WAS, however, growing increasingly frustrated with the way my character was being portrayed and, somewhat related, was also increasingly frustrated with the way I was being treated,” he said. “It was always my understanding that the lead actors were the stewards of character, and would grow to have more creative insight as the show went on.

“This was not the case on our show, which was doubly confusing because our producers were overwhelmingly white and we were a cast of Asian Canadians who had a plethora of lived experiences to draw from and offer to writers. ... there was deliberately not a lot of leeway given to us.”

Liu also sounded off on “Strays,” the forthcoming spinoff series spotlighting Jung’s work supervisor, Shannon, played by Nicole Power. The offshoot is set to premiere in September on the CBC.

“I love and am proud of Nicole, and I want the show to succeed for her... but I remain resentful of all of the circumstances that led to the one non-Asian character getting her own show,” Liu wrote. “And not that they would ever ask, but I will adamantly refuse to reprise my role in any capacity.”

In addition to creative differences, Liu accused the CBC of purposefully underpaying him and his castmates in comparison to other popular shows such as “Schitt’s Creek,” which boasted “brand-name talent” but received lower ratings than “Kim’s Convenience,” according to Liu.

“For how successful the show actually became, we were paid an absolute horsepoop rate,” he wrote. “The whole process has really opened my eyes to the relationship between those with power and those without. In the beginning, we were no-name actors who had ZERO leverage. So of course we were going to take anything we could. ...

“Basically we were locked in for the foreseeable future at a super-low rate ... But we also never banded together and demanded more — probably because we were told to be grateful to even be there, and because we were so scared to rock the boat. Maybe also because we were too busy infighting to understand that we were deliberately being pitted against each other. Meanwhile, we had to become the de facto mouthpieces for the show (our showrunners were EPICALLY reclusive), working tirelessly to promote it while never truly feeling like we had a seat at its table.”

Shortly after Liu shared his thoughts on social media, a television critic for Canada’s Globe and Mail dismissed his comments as “unfair” and “mean-spirited,” prompting Yoon to defend her costar on Twitter.

While both Liu and Yoon credited Korean Canadian artist Choi with introducing the Kim family to mainstream audiences, they also alleged that his influence over the series was eclipsed by a dearth of Korean representation behind the scenes.

“Your attack on my cast mate @SimuLiu, in the defense of my fellow Korean artist Ins Choi is neither helpful nor merited,” Yoon replied to the Globe and Mail’s rebuke of Liu’s statements. “Mr. Choi wrote the play, I was in [it]. He created the TV show, but his co-creator Mr. Kevin White was the showrunner, and clearly set the parameters.

“This is a FACT that was concealed from us as a cast. It was evident from Mr. Choi’s diminished presence on set, or in response to script questions. Between S4 and S5, this FACT became a crisis, and in S5 we were told Mr. Choi was resuming control of the show.”

The scene partners also addressed the alleged absence of diversity on the “Kim’s Convenience” writing team, which “lacked both East Asian and female representation,” as well as “a pipeline to introduce diverse talents,” according to Liu.

“Aside from Ins, there were no other Korean voices in the room,” Liu wrote. “And personally I do not think he did enough to be a champion for those voices (including ours). When he left (without so much as a goodbye note to the cast), he left no protege, no padawan learner, no Korean talent that could have replaced him.”

“As an Asian Canadian woman, a Korean-Canadian woman w more experience and knowledge of the world of my characters, the lack of Asian female, especially Korean writers in the writers room of Kims made my life VERY DIFFICULT & the experience of working on the show painful,” Yoon tweeted.

Despite trying “so hard” to make himself available as a creative resource, Liu said efforts made by him and others to improve the show from the inside were dismissed. Without adequate input from talent of Korean descent, Yoon added that the show’s authenticity suffered.

“The cast received drafts of all S5 scripts in advance of shooting BECAUSE of Covid, at which time we discovered storylines that were OVERTLY RACIST, and so extremely culturally inaccurate that the cast came together and expressed concerns collectively,” Yoon tweeted.

“My prior experience had taught me that if I just put myself out there enough, people would be naturally inclined to help,” Liu wrote. “And boy was I wrong here. I wasn’t the only one who tried. Many of us in the cast were trained screenwriters with thoughts and ideas that only grew more seasoned with time. But those doors were never opened to us in any meaningful way.”

Representatives for Choi and the CBC did not immediately respond Monday to The Times’ requests for comment.

[hinaypod]

Meet the Cast of Hi Nay!

Hi Nay revolves around the adventures of Filipino immigrant Mari Datuin but she isn’t the only star of the show. The upcoming podcast also features a rainbow (and I don’t say ‘rainbow’ carelessly ;>) of loveable characters who help Mari along the way. Here’s everything you need to know about the main cast of Hi Nay!

Leon

Leon plays the gruff [redacted] Donner, a Jamaican-Canadian cop who seems to know more about the supernatural than he lets on. Leon is building a career in animation and voice acting, and the podcast is his first professional project. Growing up in Southern Ontario, Leon has always been interested in exploring different cultures and works of those cultures, which has led to his involvement with Hi Nay. 

[Image description: A black and white photograph of a Black Canadian man from the chest up. Behind him is a white wall with what looks like a glittery or shiny curtain held up by tape. He has black, close-cropped hair and a big smile and is looking almost shyly at the camera. His left hand is on the back of his head while his right hand is off-camera. He is wearing a black high-collar sweater and a chain necklace.]

Abigayle Rhodes

Abigayle plays the sweet and energetic Laura Nichols, Mari’s neighbor turned best friend. Abigayle is a Hamilton-based artist, designer and creative. You can usually find them spending their days yelling at their sewing machine and watching reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with their beloved cat Ninja, or going on adventures with their partner Shayne. The best way to get into Abigayle’s good graces is with a nice bottle of Canadian Rye and anything buffalo checked. You can find them on the inter webs at abigaylerhodes.com (please don’t give me hate for using a .com and not a .ca! - Abigail) or on Instagram as @abigayle_rhodes .

[Image description: A color portrait headshot of a White Canadian AFAB person with a close-lipped smile and bright eyes. They are wearing a trendy pair of glasses with thick black frames around the lens and gold coloring on the bridge and ear stems. They are sporting a septum nose ring, winged eyeliner, and a diagonal eyebrow slit on their left eyebrow. Their pastel green hair is swept to their right to show off their undercut hairstyle where their naturally dark hair color has grown out a bit. They are wearing a black top.]

Edward Boxler

Edward plays Richard Murphy, Donner’s charismatic partner whose loyalty knows no bounds. Edward is a filmmaker, writer, and content creator. Born and raised in Toronto, he loves coffee (any time of day), reading, writing, travelling, cars, the gym, and most of all, movie marathons. Two of his biggest “one day” goals are to drive across Canada while visiting every province, as well as to carve a pumpkin for Halloween. You can see what Edward is up to by following his Instagram at @edwardboxler.

[Image description: A black-and-white photograph of a man from the mid-torso up. He is standing against a wall with damask seamless floral wallpaper pattern. He is wearing a suit with a pocket square and a boutonnière. He is looking off-camera to his right. His right hand is resting along lower part of his suit jacket’s lapel. His left arm is off-camera.]

Adil R.

Adil plays Ashvin Beeharee, a conman who gets swept up in the supernatural and becomes one of Mari’s closest allies   —  albeit unwittingly. Adil moved to Toronto 10 years ago, from the island of Mauritius. A classically trained actor, he has multiple stage credits to his resume. He is also a writer and filmmaker, and is currently developing a documentary called As One People, about the multiculturalism of Mauritian people. You can see what he’s up to at his Instagram at @adil_filmmaker.

[Image Description: A color portrait headshot of an Indian-Mauritian man from the chest up. His body is angled away from the camera but he is looking at the camera with a confident smirk. He has close-cropped black hair and some light facial hair. He is wearing a maroon t-shirt.]

----

I don’t know about you but I’m pretty hyped to hear these dorks in action! Now you might be wondering where the protagonist is. Don’t worry you’ll meet her soon! Watch out for a Meet the Creators post some time in the future 👀 In the meantime, follow us here on Tumblr, and at our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @hinaypod​ for more news and updates! -Reg

[stargazetheseries]

OPEN CASTING CALL FOR STARGAZE: “THE PILOT” EPISODE & TRAILER VISIT: https://stargazetheseries.com/casting-call/ FOR DETAILS OR READ BELOW: A Borken Creative Production Sept 27, 2021 STARGAZE is a queer campy sci-fi adventure short-form adventure series intended for OTT. Executive Producers: Jill Golick, Carrie Cutforth Director: Regan Latimer Writer: Carrie Cutforth Union: ACTRA TORONTO (NEW MEDIA) Shoot: The pilot will begin shooting for 5 to 6 days between October 25-Nov 17th, 2021 Location: Toronto STORYLINE: A disparate group of rookie oddballs join an elite squad commissioned to save the Queerverse (from itself) only to discover the STARGAZE program is a sham make-work initiative to keep the crew from rocking the boat by sending them out on a fool’s quest (led by two elder queer chaperones who despise each other). Think: A 2SLGBTQIA+ The Facts Of Life meets The Breakfast Club in space! *BIPOC STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY **MUST BE 18+ TO SUBMIT EVEN IF CHARACTER IS LISTED AS YOUNGER THE STARTGAZE RECRUITS: SAF RON (she/her): Character is 20, cisgender woman, lesbian, open to all ethnicities; some physical comedy required. LEAD. Mad as hell and not going to take it anymore, Saf joins STARGAZE with high expectations. If the adults won’t save the day, she will… and finally get the credit she deserves! But can this lone wolf learn to connect with others, stop being a control freak, relax her unreasonably high expectations of others (and herself), and step into the leadership role for which she is destined? First, she’ll have to stop seeing anyone getting in her way as a mustache-twirling villain, learn to see her crewmates’ value, accept help, and open herself up vulnerably. Gets apoplectic when mad; Has a knack for creating very convoluted protest chants that no one can follow. WHIT SPRINKLES (he/him): Character is 19, cisgender man, gay, open to all ethnicities. Must be able to walk elegantly in high heels. LEAD. A social media influencer famous for his snarky and bitter ’reads,’ charismatic Whit has developed a parasocial relationship with his stans. Living life performing in the spotlight from a very young age, Whit has no idea who he really is, what his real interests are, or his beliefs outside of what his analytics tell him: “My fans are gonna love this!” Only joining STARGAZE under pressure from his stans, his inability to forge true intimate connections is exacerbated by his relationship with his mother/manager Mumsy Sprinkles, a talentless hack/narcissistic stage mother living her dreams through her kid. If Whit was a meme he would be: ‘Bitch, I dun give a fuck!’ But he does, indeed, give a fuck. ESSA T. HATCH (they/them): Character is 18, non-binary or agender, asexual, demiromantic, neurodivergent, open to all ethnicities. LEAD. Adorkable Essa is an introvert who doesn’t really ‘get’ people. The explorer among the crew with an engineering mind and a love of mapping places and spaces, they know every nook and cranny of the ship and are usually the first to forge ahead (i.e. wander off) on every expedition. Essa mostly wants to be left alone to their own devices because they actually prefer their own company (neurotypicals can be so exhausting!). This normally wouldn’t be such a problem except Essa was pressured to join STARGAZE to make friends and widen their social net out of parental concern (‘We won’t be around forever, Essa!’). Loves to knit, make Venn diagrams of relationships; speaks in emojis when emotionally drained. LEW D’SHUS (he/him): Character is 21, transgender man or transmasculine, pansexual, open to all ethnicities. LEAD. When babelicious Lew looks at you with his rapt attention and dreamy eyes, you feel like the only person in the ‘verse until his short attention span snaps away and he forgets you’re there. “Good vibes, only!” Lew will gladly give you your Tarot card reading, but not before taking the negative cards out first. With his strict ‘the universe is love, we are love,’ mantra, Lew never wants anyone to feel bad even when they are deadass wrong! His philosophy of

appeasement can cause conflict amongst the crew and his inability to take sides in crucial moments will often put them in danger. No, we cannot just hug everything out, Lew! CHRYSTRAH SNU (she/her): Character is 17 (must be 18+ to apply), cis-gender woman, identifies as ‘queer’ but just figuring it all out. LEAD. Chrystrah is a fresh-off-the-belt queer who has arrived with big expectations: ‘I’m here, I’m queer! Direct me to my spot on the rainbow carpet!’ The trauma of her homophobic upbringing has left Chrystrah without any real sense of self; her identity loosely held together like a fragile cracked egg. Any criticism, no matter how gentle, feels like an attack, causing Chrystrah to act abrasive, territorial, and defensive. She is always overcompensating in big bombastic ways because she feels so inadequate for not knowing the right words, behaviours, and codes. She is jealous of Saf (some might say obsessed) who does seem to get it all right. Fiercely loyal, Chrystrah is the first to run headlong into danger to save someone. She has a steep learning curve ahead. THE ELDER QUEER CHAPERONES: BAE TORGA (she/her): Character is late 30’s-early 40’s, cisgender woman, bisexual, bipolar, open to all ethnicities. PRINCIPAL. A war hero (or war criminal depending on who you ask), Bae sees STARGAZE as an opportunity to redeem herself in the eyes of former mentor and friend Oracle Cain. She is someone who struggles with self-loathing and self-doubt even though she’s spent her adulthood righting her past wrongs and reining in her bipolar disorder, which contributed to her past rash and reckless mistakes. Possessing a tough, gruff demeanor, Bae is outwardly sardonic but really a bleeding heart who holds back out of fear that any demonstration of affection and empathy will be seen as a commitment. ORACLE CAIN (she/her): Character is middle-aged or older, transgender woman, ambulatory wheelchair user or wheelchair user, open to all ethnicities. *Note, as this is sci-fi, younger than middle age may apply. PRINCIPAL. A founding figure of the Queerverse, Oracle has done her service, done her duty, and now she’s done. She wants a peaceful existence to guard her limited energy and manage her physical pain. Instead, she’s pulled out of retirement to command a ship full of bickering youths. She also has to contend with spoiled brat and former colleague Bae reminding her of the past that Oracle is trying hard to forget. But duty is duty and it’s not like complaining ever got her anywhere. Talking to Oracle can feel like playing a chess game where the aloof commander is always five steps ahead: you never quite know where you stand with her. ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS ELP WHIPP (they/them or xe/xem): Character is middle-aged or older, gender-fluid, open to all ethnicities. Leader of the coalition of non-profit planets (each with its own conflicting Gay Agenda) that rule the Queerverse, Elp Whipp is a career bureaucrat/bean-counter who often gets caught in the trappings of their own political web — meaning much of nothing ever gets accomplished and progress is never made. Elp will appear throughout the series in that ‘Dean of the school’ role, occasionally showing up to demand overdue reports, warn the crew that their funding is at risk, and generally throw a wrench in the works. CARDIGAN JACK (she/her): Character is 30s, cis-woman, lesbian, open to all ethnicities. Cardigan Jack is a ‘pussy-hat’ wearing neo-liberalist feminist with a pirate vibe. She is the ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ of TERFs, and Saf Ron’s nemesis. TO SUBMIT: Borken Creative is committed to diverse and inclusive casting. For every role, please submit qualified performers without regard to disability, race, age, colour, sexual orientation or gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by law, unless otherwise specifically indicated, subject to legitimate casting directives. DEADLINE: Oct 8, 2021 EMAIL: casting@stargazetheseries.com. SUBJECT LINE: Character(s) Role, Performer’s First and Last Name, pronouns. BODY OF EMAIL: Please provide contact info including phone number.

Please confirm you are 18 or over in the body of email if applying for a Stargaze recruit character. Submit headshot and resume as attachments to casting@stargazetheseries.com. Resume should be in a scannable text file format (such as .doc, .pdf, .txt). First round selects will be invited to submit either a video clip audition or zoom audition invite. Only successful candidates will be contacted.

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[wbywebseriesreviews]

GAY MEAN GIRLS S2 IS LOOKING FOR WRITERS!

From the Gay Mean Girls Instagram: 

“Gay Mean Girls is hiring WRITERS! We are hosting a 6 day development room in Toronto late July. We will be brainstorming story arcs and characters that express @heyishizhang (the showrunner's) thematic vision for show. No screenwriting will take place yet, we will be sketching ideas! We are also hiring a YOUTH CONSULTANT and STORY COORDINATOR. Please see our other posts for details. We are looking for BIPOC LGBTQ2SA non-men (including non binary, trans, and masculine of center) writers to reflect the perspectives of the characters we are following in the story. Our first season's writing room consisted only of queer women of colour, and we are excited to continue this tradition and elevate new voices. Submission Guidelines for WRITERS: MUST BE NON UNION Writers should have some episodic writing experience and are prepared to pitch story beats, develop ideas, and work well with others. 1. CV/Resume 2. Writing samples: up to 3 of your favourite works, 20 pages max, Screenplays strongly preferred, but can be any format or genre (short stories, poetry, plays, stand-up, sketch comedy, etc.) We are looking for: meaningful risk taking, an incisive point of view, humour 3. You are welcome to self-identify in your application Send questions and submissions by July 13 to: gay.mean.girls[at]gmail[dot]com Date and time: 1 week late-July in Toronto at a TTC accessible space. Applicants must be available for the entire duration of the development room (8 hour days, for 6 days) The week includes: 2 afternoons of somatic experiencing workshops, lunch and snacks Dates and times are subject to change pending COVID-19 restrictions.”

[kaispo-com]

“Power + Speed + Sense = Springer!” / George Springer(Toronto Blue Jays) / Major Leaguer resume Vol.65 / 2023WBC Puerto Rico

Major Leaguer resume Vol.65

WBC Player’s resume Vol.51

About KAISPO BASEBALL innovation

Hi, baseball fans!

KAISPO Baseball #Innovation is baseball media that includes blogs, news, columns, and movies about MLB, #IchiroSuzuki, #AaronJudge, #ShoheiOhtani, #NPB, and U18 baseball. Its writers are baseball analysts, historians, researchers, and bloggers.

Main Web:

https://www.kaispobaseball.com/

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[young-giftedblack]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/harry-and-meghan-quit-social-media-w5qrlsck7

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have abandoned social media and will no longer use platforms such as Twitter or Facebook.

Harry and Meghan, who amassed more than 10 million Instagram followers as working royals, are rejecting social media as part of their new “progressive role” in America. A source close to the couple said they had “no plans” to use social media for their new Archewell Foundation and were “very unlikely” to return to platforms in a personal capacity.

The couple are understood to have become disillusioned by the “hate” they encountered on social media. Meghan has spoken about the “almost unsurvivable” experience of online trolling.

The couple have more than 10 million followers on Instagram

The couple have more than 10 million followers on Instagram

News of their decision emerged after Donald Trump was “permanently suspended” from Twitter on Friday “due to the risk of further incitement of violence”. Michelle Obama tweeted on Thursday that Silicon Valley companies should stop enabling the president’s “monstrous behaviour”.

The decision by the Sussexes, who announced a year ago that they were stepping back from official duties, signals another marked departure from royal life. The Queen, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other senior royals often use Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to promote their official and charitable work.

Before her marriage to Harry in 2018, Meghan had a prolific social media presence, with 1.9 million followers on Instagram, 350,000 Twitter followers and 800,000 likes on her Facebook page. She also had a lifestyle website and blog, The Tig. The former actress used the sites for her commercial fashion and beauty partnerships, to promote her friends’ businesses, offer food and travel tips and post holiday selfies and pictures from her Toronto home.

Shortly after reports appeared in 2016 that Meghan and Harry were dating, she appeared to tease royal watchers, posting a cryptic image on Instagram of two bananas “spooning” in an embrace, with the caption “Sleep tight xx”.

Before her marriage to Harry in 2018, Meghan had a large social media presence and a lifestyle blog

Before her marriage to Harry in 2018, Meghan had a large social media presence and a lifestyle blog

In April 2019, Harry and Meghan reinvigorated the royal family’s online presence and broke world records when their @sussexroyal Instagram account amassed more than a million followers in under six hours.

Meghan is understood to have had frequent input into the content, which often featured inspirational quotes from the likes of the Dalai Lama and the late American writer and activist Maya Angelou, alongside videos and photographs of the couple’s official engagements.

They stopped posting on the account after the Queen banned them from using “royal” in any of their branding after stepping down from official duties.

Since their move to America, the Sussexes have been increasingly outspoken about the potential pitfalls of social media. Meghan, 39, has spoken about being “the most trolled person in the world”.

Meghan posted a cryptic message shortly after reports appeared in 2016 that she and Harry were dating

Meghan posted a cryptic message shortly after reports appeared in 2016 that she and Harry were dating

On the Teenager Therapy podcast, the duchess said the online abuse she experienced while pregnant with their son, Archie, had left her feeling “isolated” and “othered”.

“I’m told that in 2019 I was the most trolled person in the entire world, male or female,” she said. “Now, eight months of that I wasn’t even visible — I was on maternity leave or with a baby … If people are saying things about you that aren’t true, what that does to your mental and emotional health is so damaging … That’s so big, you can’t even think of what that feels like.”

In early 2019, while the Sussexes still shared Kensington Palace’s social media accounts with the Cambridges, it emerged that Meghan was bombarded with more than 5,000 abusive and racist tweets in two months. The duchess was subjected to threats of violence and even accused of faking her pregnancy.

The abuse directed at Meghan and Kate prompted Buckingham Palace to issue a statement with guidelines for people engaging in their social media feeds, and a warning that inappropriate content could be reported to police.

The @sussexroyal Instagram account broke world records in April 2019 when it amassed more than a million followers in under six hours

The @sussexroyal Instagram account broke world records in April 2019 when it amassed more than a million followers in under six hours

During a virtual summit for American publication Fortune last year, Meghan said social media users were like “people addicted to drugs”. In an opinion piece for American magazine Fast Company, Harry, 36, who is known to read much of what is written about him online, said: “The digital landscape is unwell.”

Social media, he wrote, had “stoked and created … a crisis of hate, a crisis of health and a crisis of truth”. The couple have backed the Stop Hate for Profit campaign, which called last year for a boycott of Facebook advertising.

Critics have said the decision last week by Twitter and Facebook to suspend Trump’s accounts was hugely significant because it was an acknowledgement that they are media companies rather than techology companies.

Sir Martin Sorrell, founder of FTSE 100 advertising giant WPP, said: “They’re taking responsibility now for their content so it’s opening up that Pandora’s box really.”

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, called for “robust regulations” to ensure social media companies face “the same scrutiny and obligations as other parts of the media industry”.

He added: “This is not a debate about freedom of speech, it’s about accountability, fairness, and the health of our democracy.”

Lionel Barber, a former Financial Times editor, tweeted: “The Trump Twitter ban and Facebook’s belated clampdown finally settles it: platforms are publishers, with all the responsibilities that come along with that privilege.”

Meghan was bombarded with more than 5,000 abusive and racist tweets in two months

Meghan was bombarded with more than 5,000 abusive and racist tweets in two months

Instead of using social media, Harry and Meghan are poised to continue promoting their work in online video and television appearances, through selected publications and via their Archewell website, which they launched fully on New Year’s Eve. They are also expected to resume more frequent public appearances when the coronavirus pandemic eases.

The website features images of their mothers — the late Diana, Princess of Wales and Doria Ragland — with the catchphrase “Compassion in Action”, alongside details of their multimillion-pound production and podcast deals with the streaming giants Netflix and Spotify.

Their foundation has also formed a partnership with the Centre for Humane Technology, to back research into developing “safer, more compassionate online communities”. A source close to the Sussexes said this will be long-term “area of focus for their work”.

The late Diana, Princess of Wales, has featured on the account

The late Diana, Princess of Wales, has featured on the account

While the Sussexes may no longer use social media to promote themselves or their work, other high-profile figures are likely to continue doing so. The American talk show host Oprah Winfrey, a friend and neighbour of the couple in California who is making a mental health documentary with Harry, took to Instagram last month to promote Clevr Blends, an organic, vegan brand of “wellness lattes”.

The post to her 19.2 million followers, accompanied with a crown emoji, gushed about the “basket of deliciousness” she received from Meghan with the products. Soon after Oprah’s post, Meghan announced that she had invested in the company.

@RoyaNikkhah

[blackkudos]

Brenda Russell

Brenda Russell (née Gordon; born April 8, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter and keyboardist. Russell has a diverse musical style which encompasses pop, soul, dance, and jazz. She has received five Grammy nominations.

Life and career

Brenda Gordon was born to musical parents, with her mother being a singer/songwiter and her father Gus Gordon, a one-time member of the Ink Spots. She spent her early years in Canada after moving to Hamilton, Ontario at the age of 12. As a teenager she began performing in local bands and was recruited to sing in a Toronto-based girl group called The Tiaras along with Jackie Richardson. The group's one single, "Where Does All The Time Go", was released on Barry Records in 1968 but was unsuccessful.

In her late teens, she joined the Toronto production of Hair, during which time she had begun to play the piano. In the early 1970s she married musician Brian Russell. The couple went on to compose Rufus's Please Pardon Me (on their album Rufusized) and contribute backup vocals to Neil Sedaka's Laughter In The Rain. The Russells also featured as backing vocalists for Elton John's concert at Wembley Stadium on 21 June 1975. Billed as Brian & Brenda they released two albums on John's Rocket label being Word Called Love in 1976 and 1977's Supersonic Lover.

The duo also performed on two tracks from Robert Palmer's breakout soul-pop album Double Fun. Their daughter, Lindsay, was born in 1977, but the couple had divorced by the late 1970s, and Russell, now living in Los Angeles, had set out on a solo career.

During 1979 Russell's self-titled debut album was released by A&M Records. The album got to No. 20 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. An album cut entitled So Good So Right also got to Nos. 8, 15 & 30 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs, Hot Soul Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively.

Russell went on to work with Earth, Wind & Fire as a composer on their 1980 album Faces and 1981 LP Raise!.

Russell issued her sophomore album Love Life in 1981 on A&M.She also appeared and wrote songs on Patrice Rushen's 1981 LP Straight From The Heart and Donna Summer's 1982 album Donna Summer.

During 1983 she released her third album, Two Eyes on Warner Bros. Records. The album got to No. 16 on the Blues & Soul Top UK Soul Albums chart.Russell eventually relocated to Sweden where she began writing songs for her next album.

Returning to A&M Records, Russell's fourth album, Get Here, was released in 1988. It became her greatest commercial success, spawning her biggest hit "Piano in the Dark" (a US Top 10 hit which featured Joe Esposito) and garnered three Grammy Award nominations.

Russell then issued her follow up album, Kiss Me with the Wind in 1990. She then produced and guested on Phil Perry's 1991 album The Heart of a Man. The album rose to No. 17 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Russell also featured on the 1991 charity single Voices That Care which reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 6 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary Songs chart.

She later appeared on Joni Mitchell's 1991 LP Night Ride Home together with the Yellowjackets 1992 album Live Wires.

She then released the album Soul Talkin' in 1993 on EMI Records. Russell went on to produce Diana Ross on her 1995 LP Take Me Higher. The album got to No. 10 on the UK Albums chart. She also contributed to the score for the film How Stella Got Her Groove Back and appeared in the 1999 film Liberty Heights where she also performed two songs for the film's soundtrack.

Russell resumed her solo career in 2000 with the album Paris Rain, released on Hidden Beach Records. The album (which includes collaborations with Carole King, Dave Koz and Sheila E.) saw Russell move away from the pop market toward a more adult-oriented sound. In 2003, she signed to the new UK label Dome Records and released the compilation album So Good, So Right: The Best of Brenda Russell. Her eighth studio album, Between the Sun and the Moon, was released by Dome in 2004.

2005 saw a Broadway musical version of Alice Walker's The Color Purple. Produced by Oprah Winfrey, the show's score was written by Russell and lyricists-composers Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Russell and her co-writers were nominated for a Tony Award (for Best Score) and a Grammy Award (in the Best Musical Show Album category).

During 2015 Russell, after making her home in Los Angeles for thirty years, took up residence in Austin, Texas.

During 2016 Russell received a Grammy nomination for The Color Purple in the category of Best Musical Theater Album.

On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Brenda Russell among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.

Legacy

Russell has been covered by artists such as Babyface, Oleta Adams, Luther Vandross, Patti Austin, Ruben Studdard and Ramsey Lewis. She has also been sampled by artistes such as Ariana Grande, Tupac Shakur, Chance The Rapper, Thalia, Flo Rida and Big Pun.

Artists such as Hot Chip have also been influenced by Russell.

Accolades

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Russell has received a sum of five Grammy nominations altogether.

Tony Awards

Russell has also been nominated for a Tony Award.

Discography

Filmography

Russell featured as a singer in the 1978 feature film American Hot Wax and 1999 feature film Liberty Heights.