Only time will tell if this merger will indeed be the turning point for Lincoln in China, but one thing is certain – this strategic move has the potential to reshape Lincoln's future trajectory in the world's largest automotive market.

Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emergesTitle: Small Fear of the Big Leap: Why People Are Hesitant to Purchase the Small G9

After failing for the third time in a row, the organizers took the drastic step of filing a court case against the man, seeking to recover the $20,000 he had paid for the challenges. The case is now pending in court, with both parties preparing to present their arguments and evidence.In What Ways Does AI Contribute to Startup Scalability?

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans teed up a vote this week on bipartisan legislation to gradually expand by 66 the number of federal judgeships across the country. Democrats, though, are having second thoughts now that President-elect has won a second term. The White House said Tuesday that if President were presented with the bill, he would veto it. A Congress closely divided along party lines would be unlikely to overturn a veto, likely dooming the bill’s chances this year. It’s an abrupt reversal for legislation that the Senate passed unanimously in August. But the GOP-led House waited until after the election to act on the measure, which spreads out the establishment of the new district judgeships over about a decade to give three presidential administrations the chance to appoint the new judges. Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said the bill was negotiated with the understanding that three unknown, future presidents would have the chance to expand and shape the judiciary. No party would be knowingly given an advantage. He said he begged GOP leadership to take up the measure before the presidential election. But they did not do so. “It was a fair fight and they wanted no part of it,” Nadler said. Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, explained the timing this way: “We just didn’t get to the legislation.” The change of heart about the bill from some Democrats and the new urgency from House Republicans for considering it underscores the contentious politics that surrounded federal judicial vacancies. Senate roll-call votes are required for almost every judicial nominee these days, and most votes for the Supreme Court and appellate courts are now decided largely along party lines. Lawmakers are generally hesitant to hand presidents from the opposing party new opportunities to shape the judiciary. Nadler said that the bill would give Trump 25 judicial nominations on top of the 100-plus spots that are expected to open up over the next four years. “Donald Trump has made clear that he intends to expand the power of the presidency and giving him 25 new judges to appoint gives him one more tool at his disposal to do that,” Nadler said. Nadler said he’s willing to take up comparable legislation in the years ahead and give the additional judicial appointments to “unknown presidents yet to come,” but until then, he was urging colleagues to vote against the bill. Still, few are arguing against the merits. Congress last authorized a new district judgeship more than 20 years ago, while the number of cases being filed continues to increase with litigants often waiting years for a resolution. “I used to be a federal court litigator, and I can tell you it’s desperately needed,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said of the bill. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., first introduced the bill to establish new judgeships in 2020. Last year, the policy-making body for the federal court system, the Judicial Conference of the United States, the creation of several new district and court of appeals judgeships to meet increased workload demands in certain courts. “Judges work tirelessly every day to meet growing demands and resolve cases as quickly as possible, but with the volume we have and the shortage of judges we have, it just makes it a very difficult proposition,” Judge Timothy Corrigan, of the Middle District of Florida, said in a recent on the website of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The blog post states that caseloads are creating delays that will erode public confidence in the judicial process, but the bill would meet many of the federal judiciary’s needs for more judges. Jordan said that as of June 30th, there were nearly 750,000 pending cases in federal district courts nationwide, with each judge handling an average of 554 filings. When asked if House Republicans would have brought the bill up if Vice President Kamala Harris had won the election, Jordan said the bill is “the right thing to do” and that almost half of the first batch of judges will come from states where both senators are Democrats, giving them a chance to provide input on those nominations before Trump makes them. But in its veto threat, the White House Office of Management and Budget said the bill would create new judgeships in states where senators have sought to hold open existing judicial vacancies. “These efforts to hold open vacancies suggest that concerns about judicial economy and caseload are not the true motivating force behind passage of the law,” the White House said. Shortly before the White House issued the veto threat, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he would be curious to hear Biden’s rationale for such action. “It’s almost inconceivable that a lame-duck president could consider vetoing such an obviously prudential step for any reason other than selfish spite,” McConnell said.In conclusion, the distribution of refunds as part of the Epic Deceptive Practices Settlement is a significant milestone in the fight against deceptive consumer practices in the gaming industry. By holding companies accountable and providing financial recourse to affected players, the FTC is working to create a more transparent and consumer-friendly gaming environment. As consumers, it is important to stay informed, advocate for our rights, and demand accountability from companies that engage in deceptive practices. Together, we can create a gaming industry that prioritizes integrity, transparency, and the well-being of all players.SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Even when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gets some praise, it's usually a backhanded compliment. They say he's a good game manager and stays within himself, or that he doesn't try to do too much. They mention he might not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And here's the thing about Penn State since Allar stepped under center: The Nittany Lions have won games. A lot of them. Sometimes that's hard to remember considering the lukewarm reception he often gets from fans. "I get it — we have a really passionate fan base and they're a huge part of our success," Allar said Sunday at College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day. "For us, we always want to go out there every drive and end with a touchdown, so when we don't do that, there's nobody more frustrated than us." The polarizing Allar is having a solid season by just about any standard, completing more than 68% of his passes for 3,021 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions to a 12-2 record and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl for Tuesday's game against No. 3 seed Boise State. But in a college football world filled with high-scoring, explosive offenses, Allar's no-frills performances often are the object of ire. The Penn State offense is a run-first bunch, led by the talented combo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. "If we had a nickel for every time there was a Monday morning quarterback saying some BS stuff, we'd all be pretty rich," offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said. "I think part of being a quarterback, especially at Penn State but really anywhere, is how you respond to and manage criticism." The 20-year-old Allar has made strides in that department after a trying 2023 season that finished with a 10-3 record. He says that's largely because once fall camp started back in August, he logged off the social media platform X. Allar said negative online experiences wore on him last year, and his phone number was leaked a few times, which added to the stress. He finally realized that controlling outside narratives was impossible, so the best course of action was to eliminate a needless distraction. "I've been more mentally free, as much as that sounds crazy," Allar said. "I think that's been a huge difference for me this year." The biggest criticism of Allar — and really Penn State as a whole during the 11-year James Franklin era — is that he isn't capable of winning the big games. He's 0-2 against rival Ohio State and threw a late interception against Oregon in the Big Ten title game earlier this month, which sealed the Ducks' 45-37 victory. He wasn't great in the CFP's first round, either, completing just 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards as Penn State muscled past SMU 38-10 on a cold, blustery day to advance to the Fiesta Bowl. But the quarterback is confident a better performance — aided by a game that will be played in comfortable temperatures in a domed stadium — is coming. "For me, I just have to execute those (easy) throws early in the game and get our guys into rhythm," Allar said. "Get them involved early as much as I can and that allows us to stay on the field longer, call more plays and open up our offense more. That will help us a ton, building the momentum throughout the game." Allar might be a favorite punching bag for a section of the Penn State fan base, but that's not the case in his own locker room. Star tight end Tyler Warren praised his quarterback's ability to avoid sacks, saying that the 6-foot-5, 238-pounder brings a toughness that resonates with teammates. "He's a football player," Warren said. "He plays quarterback, but when you watch him play and the energy he brings and the way he runs the ball, he's just a football player and that fires up our offense." Now Allar and Penn State have a chance to silence critics who say that the Nittany Lions don't show up in big games. Not that he's worried about what other people think. "I think it's a skill at the end of the day — blocking out the outside noise," Allar said. "Focusing on you and the process and being honest with yourself, both good and bad."

In conclusion, the injury update provided by Manchester Evening News offers a comprehensive overview of the current situation at Manchester United. While there are still uncertainties surrounding the return dates of some key players, the potential comeback of Lindelof and others will be eagerly anticipated by fans as the season unfolds.

Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ:CENT) Stock Holdings Reduced by Geode Capital Management LLCWe Need To Keep Big Business From Owning Everything | Opinion

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 6:07 p.m. EST

As the defending champions face a tough opponent in Manchester City, the stage is set for a thrilling and intense encounter that is bound to captivate football fans worldwide. With so much at stake, both teams will be giving their all to come out on top in this high-stakes battle for supremacy in European football.

The Singapore Sports Hub, with its state-of-the-art facilities and world-class infrastructure, provides the perfect backdrop for this prestigious event. Fans can expect a thrilling atmosphere as they watch the world's best table tennis players battle it out on the court, displaying their skill, speed, and agility in intense matches that are sure to keep spectators on the edge of their seats.WASHINGTON (AP) — When Elon Musk first suggested a new effort to cut the size of government, Donald Trump didn’t seem to take it seriously. His eventual name for the idea sounded like a joke too. It would be called the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a reference to an online meme featuring a surprised-looking dog from Japan. But now that Trump has won the election, Musk’s fantasy is becoming reality, with the potential to spark a constitutional clash over the balance of power in Washington. Trump put Musk, the world’s richest man, and Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, in charge of the new department, which is really an outside advisory committee that will work with people inside the government to reduce spending and regulations. This week, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would encourage Trump to make cuts by refusing to spend money allocated by Congress, a process known as impounding. The proposal goes against a 1974 law intended to prevent future presidents from following in the footsteps of Richard Nixon, who held back funding that he didn’t like. “We are prepared for the onslaught from entrenched interests in Washington,” Musk and Ramaswamy wrote in an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal. ”We expect to prevail. Now is the moment for decisive action.” Trump has already suggested taking such a big step, saying last year that he would “use the president’s long-recognized impoundment power to squeeze the bloated federal bureaucracy for massive savings.” It would be a dramatic attempt to expand his powers, when he already will have the benefit of a sympathetic Republican-controlled Congress and a conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court, and it could swiftly become one of the most closely watched legal fights of his second administration. “He might get away with it,” said William Galston, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. “Congress’ power of the purse will turn into an advisory opinion.” Musk and Ramaswamy have started laying out their plans Right now, plans for the Department of Government Efficiency are still coming into focus. The nascent organization has put out a call for “super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.” Applicants are encouraged to submit their resumes through X, the social media company that Musk owns. In the Wall Street Journal, Musk and Ramaswamy provided the most detailed look yet at how they would operate and where they could cut. Some are longtime Republican targets, such as $535 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Other plans are more ambitious and could reshape the federal government. The two wrote that they would “identify the minimum number of employees required at an agency for it to perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions,” leading to “mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy.” Civil service protections wouldn’t apply, they argue, because they wouldn’t be targeting specific people for political purposes. Some employees could choose “voluntary severance payments to facilitate a graceful exit.” But others would be encouraged to quit by mandating that they show up at the office five days a week, ending pandemic-era flexibility about remote work. The requirement “would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome.” Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said such cutbacks would harm services for Americans who rely on the federal government, and he suggested that Musk and Ramaswamy were in over their heads. “I don’t think they’re even remotely qualified to perform those duties,” he said. “That’s my main concern.” Kelley said his union, which represents 750,000 employees for the federal government and the city of Washington, D.C., was ready to fight attempts to slash the workforce. “We’ve been here, we’ve heard this kind of rhetoric before,” he said. “And we are prepared.” Federal regulations would be targeted for elimination There was no mention in the Wall Street Journal of Musk’s previously stated goal of cutting $2 trillion from the budget, which is nearly a third of total annual spending. Nor did they write about “Schedule F,” a potential plan to reclassify federal employees to make them easier to fire. Ramaswamy once described the idea as the “mass deportation of federal bureaucrats out of Washington, D.C.” However, Musk and Ramaswamy said they would reduce regulations that they describe as excessive. They wrote that their department “will work with legal experts embedded in government agencies, aided by advanced technology,” to review regulations that run counter to two recent Supreme Court decisions that were intended to limit federal rulemaking authority. Musk and Ramaswamy said Trump could “immediately pause the enforcement of those regulations and initiate the process for review and rescission.” Chris Edwards, an expert on budget issues at the Cato Institute, said many Republicans have promised to reduce the size and role of government over the years, often to little effect. Sometimes it feels like every budget item and tax provision, no matter how obscure, has people dedicated to its preservation, turning attempts at cuts into political battles of attrition. “Presidents always seem to have higher priorities,” he said. “A lot of it falls to the wayside.” Although DOGE is scheduled to finish its work by July 4, 2026, Edwards said Musk and Ramaswamy should move faster to capitalize on momentum from Trump’s election victory. “Will it just collect dust on a shelf, or will it be put into effect?” Edwards said. “That all depends on Trump and where he is at that point in time.” Ramaswamy said in an online video that they’re planning regular “Dogecasts” to keep the public updated on their work, which he described as “a once-in-a-generation project” to eliminate “waste, fraud and abuse.” “However bad you think it is, it’s probably worse,” he said. Musk and Ramaswamy will have allies in Congress House Republicans are expected to put Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Trump ally from Georgia, in charge of a subcommittee to work with DOGE, according to two people with knowledge of the plans who were not authorized to discuss them publicly. Greene and Rep. James Comer, the Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, have already met with Ramaswamy, the two people said. Musk brought up the idea for DOGE while broadcasting a conversation with Trump on X during the campaign. “I think we need a government efficiency commission to say like, ‘Hey, where are we spending money that’s sensible. Where is it not sensible?’” Musk said. Musk returned to the topic twice, volunteering his services by saying “I’d be happy to help out on such a commission.” “I’d love it,” Trump replied, describing Musk as “the greatest cutter.” Musk has his own incentives to push this initiative forward. His companies, including SpaceX and Tesla, have billions of dollars in government contracts and face oversight from government regulators. After spending an estimated $200 million to support Trump’s candidacy, he’s poised to have expansive influence over the next administration. Trump even went to Texas earlier this week to watch SpaceX test its largest rocket. DOGE will have an ally in Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who has railed against federal spending for years. He recently told Fox News that he sent “2,000 pages of waste that can be cut” to Musk and Ramaswamy. “I’m all in and will do anything I can to help them,” Paul said.

Allar puts critics on mute, keeps winning for Penn State

Title: The Achievement of 600 Serie A Appearances: A Rare Feat Achieved by Few

White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign

Taylor Swift’s nearly two-year Eras Tour all came to an end Sunday night on the stage at Vancouver’s BC Place stadium. Fans from around the world of all ages and demographics flew to Vancouver for the sold-out series of weekend concerts, and CHEK’s Liz Brown was among those who journeyed from Vancouver Island to BC Place. For day-trippers from Vancouver Island returning on the 1 a.m. ferry, this made for a roughly 20-hour day navigating public transit from start to finish. In the early hours of Sunday, Dec. 8, the sojourn began for Vancouver Island Swifties and even those just wanting to be part of the Taylor Swift phenomenon. En route to Swartz Bay for the 9 a.m. ferry University of Victoria biochemistry classmates Grace Poirier and Henry Yeung bussed from downtown Victoria to catch the 9 a.m. ferry from Swartz Bay. Poirier was joining Yeung last minute, thanks to someone else’s misfortune. “I’m tagging along with Henri because his brother couldn’t go, he had a final on the day of the tour,” said Poirier. “I just learned about this a couple weeks ago that I was going to go,” she said. “She’s really the only other person I know this side of town so I thought, ‘let’s invite Grace, I think she’d really enjoy that,’” said Yeung on inviting Poirier. When asked what is it about Taylor Swift that made her want to make the trek, Poirier referenced her songs, stage presence, outfits and authenticity. “I don’t know, I’ve never met her but I think she’s a really cool person,” says Poirier. Yeung said the environment Swift creates with her fans “just makes it like a special moment because everybody’s going there for the same reason,” he said. “It’s really cool to see people share similar interests and they’re all excited for the same thing. It’s a really cool environment to be in.” Story continues below It’s the final stop of Taylor Swift’s two-year, soldout Eras Tour and it all ends in Vancouver tonight, Sunday, Dec. 8. Throughout the day, we’ll be asking what brought people to the show tonight and perhaps the unanswerable question, fan or not, what is it about her that has made her a global phenomenon. #cheknews #chek #communitynews #localnews #vancouverisland #victoriabc #bc #Canada #bcferries #swartzbay #taylorswifterastour #TS #TSwift #eras Jenny on the 9 a.m. ferry doesn’t need a concert ticket to enjoy the party Boarding the ferry, passengers moved into new lines for food, bathrooms and bracelet-making areas. Among the Swift fans were those in an older demographic, showing the pop singer’s multi-generational impact. “I don’t have a ticket to go to the concert but I’m coming for the party so I’m staying across the street at the hotel, “ said Jenny Paasche of Esquimalt. “I’ll just hang out there and enjoy the whole day of this adventure.” Paasche’s been listening to Swift for decades, “since she came out with her first CD when I heard her song Tim McGraw on MuchMusic Video,” she said. “And I loved her ever since.” Roy Tyson, age 70, remembers hearing her for the first time. “Seven or eight years ago, just in the background. She’s like the Beatles, Elvis, you know — everybody wants to see her,” he says. When asked if he was going to the concert, Tyson replied he wasn’t able to. “Yeah, sure, if I had that kind of money. You know she’s got that kind of ‘come see me’ sort of thing,” he said. “Who goes on tour for two years? I wish her luck.” Waiting in the lengthy ferry breakfast line, longtime friends Judy Cuff and Sandi Duncan say they’re not off to the Swift party. “No, we are not,” said Cuff. “So not,” laughed friend Sandi Duncan, both born and raised in Victoria. They’re heading to a friend’s 80th birthday party. Asked what it is about Swift’s impact, Cuff replied: “Marketing is a big part of it I think.” “But, when we were teenagers, the Beatles got us excited, the Stones and Woodstock. You know we went wild over things,” she said. “Yeah, we went crazy about it all and we have children whose children are crazy about all this,” said Duncan. “So we understand it. We think it’s great.” While they could relate to the Swift phenomenon from their Rolling Stones and Woodstock years, they don’t relate to her music. “No, I don’t get it at all,” said Cuff. “It is a generational thing, right? So it’s hard, although I did see an 83-year-old woman interviewed who was going with her granddaughter.” “I’ve been getting to know this community through my daughter and it really feels like a community,” said mom Sonia Nicholson. “I love the positive vibe and just the coming together and the supportive nature of it all,” she said. “There’s a lot of bad news out there, and if we can have some fun and some positivity with other people that share a passion, then why not?” In the driver’s seat, dad was playing chauffeur for the day. In the walk-off passenger line, Bailey and Kate showed off their homemade bedazzled jackets Two especially bedazzled passengers stood out in the crowd, thanks to their homemade jackets. “I thrifted the jacket and she had this one already, so we just bedazzled it,” said Kate Courte of Victoria. Courte was attending the show with her soon-to-be sister-in-law, Bailey Fawcett from Calgary. It’s been 13 years since Courte first saw Swift perform, which she says coincides with the star’s birth date and lucky number 13. “I think Taylor Swift throughout all her eras has showed us that it’s OK to feel anything that you feel,” she says. “You can be a pop princess, you can be in your depressed Tortured Poets era, and that’s all part of being a woman and growing up,” said Courte. “Growing up with her has been such a gift and I’m so glad that I can share this experience with other women and feel that joy collectively as well, so it’s really important to me.” Throughout the day, more Swifties talked about the collective community as they exchanged friendship bracelets with other fans. “If I’m coming back with a sore throat in the morning, I’ll be happy,” she said. At the same time, Canucks fans emptied from the ferry for the 1 p.m. game. From Tsawwassen, passengers shuffled into the Bridgeport bus line. Grace Waeohongsa, dressed in black fur, and Lucas Noichin, sporting a green cape, saw Taylor’s opening show of the tour in Tokyo. Now, the friends were excited to enjoy the bookend show in Vancouver. “The most exciting thing is that this is the last show ever for her Eras tour and she decided to end her tour in our city, in our country,” said Waeohongsa. Noichin says the singer helped him learn English. “She inspired me when I was young, like 10 years ago,” said Noichin. “She inspired me to study English because her songs are in English. And she is a fighter. Every time she had a problem, she’d fight for it. She never gave up.” Waeohongsa said whenever she feels sad, she can relate to Swift’s music. “Even though I never saw her in person, her songs feel like we are together,” she said. Noichin’s excitement is almost overwhelming. “I’m so nervous,” he said, boarding the next bus. U.S. Canucks fans in the mix of Swifties By 12 p.m., Islanders from the 9 a.m. ferry began to converge with other Swifities as the SkyTrain swelled with fans from as far as Mexico City, and even a couple of Canucks fans south of the border. “We are going to the Canucks game at one o’clock, it’s my husband’s birthday,” said Paige Hammerl of Bellingham, Wash., not knowing it was Swift’s last show when she booked the tickets. “We had no idea. We found out on Friday and we decided to take the SkyTrain and we’re very happy we did,” she said, acknowledging the street traffic. When asked what is so affecting about her music, Hammerl said “I think she heals a lot of like young generational trauma, of like, women and men. Her lyrics aren’t that thought-provoking but they’re deep enough that everyone can really relate to it.” By 1 p.m., the packed SkyTrain empties into the streets of Vancouver Outside the Vancouver City Centre Skytrain, the Islanders are entering a sea of Swifties, some lined up in front of the Down Bad sign, one of 13 song title landmarks erected around the city. Marissa Parsons and Carrie Blodgett pose on a red carpet, dressed in last night’s concert attire. “We dressed up again to take our dresses out on the town,” said Blodgett, wearing a black and white dress with three kittens on her wrist. She and Parsons attended Saturday night’s show and spent Sunday recapturing the moments during daylight hours. “We’re moms so we don’t get to dress like this any other time,” said Parsons sporting red sequins referencing the Red album. “Lots of families were there with kids for their first concert. Sorry kids, we left you – we left ours at home,” said Blodgett. Nanaimo residents wait at the Swiftcouver photo line At approximately 2 p.m., a lengthy queue formed for the Swiftcouver sign. Mackenzie Hais travelled from Nanaimo Friday with her husband, sisters and mom, who wore bedazzled boots styled by Hais. “I made all of their boots for the concert,” said Hais. “Mine took 144 hours. The shortest was 15 and the other two were 48 and 85.” “It’s their Christmas present, they’re not getting anything else from me,” she said. Head to toe in pink cowgirl attire, two friends pose in front of the Anti-Hero sign Tamara Humphries says she understands the phenomenon with Taylor Swift. “She’s the biggest star power in the world and has been for a while. I guess since Michael Jackson,” said Humphries. But why does she think that’s the case? “Girlhood. She’s the definition of girlhood. There’s little girls of all ages, young girls, there’s older girls. There’s women our mom’s age here. It’s everybody. She even makes a connection to men too.” At 3 p.m., Nanaimo sisters wait in the merch line, scanning their phones for last-minute tickets Merchandise lines in the lower level of the Vancouver Convention Centre resemble airport security cues, zig-zagging across the room. Fans had a few hours left to purchase Eras Tour merchandise from the location of the last stop. Sisters Serena and Linnea Perry travelled from Nanaimo for the big event, despite not being able to get tickets. “We actually don’t have tickets yet, we’re just here for the vibes honestly,” said Serena, adding they plan to “just hang out downtown, see all the people and all that,” checking her phone for any ticket movement. “Yeah, we’re hoping [to get in], but it probably won’t happen,” she said. Seat Geek and Stub Hub were the main searches, but their price limit was “a couple hundred maybe at the most,” said Linnea. By 3:45 p.m. lineups at BC Place swell and spill into the street and around the block With massive lines at every gate, concertgoers followed the taped routes and hand signals from police and security. Doors opened at 4:30 p.m. and the non-ticket holders stayed close to their phones, hoping for a lucky last-minute seat. A small group of last-minute ticket hopefuls stood hunched over their phones in separate huddles waiting for numbers to drop below $2,000. Things weren’t looking good for most of them, but one woman was especially quiet, as she waited for confirmation of a ticket payment through Seat Geek. With few noticing, the woman quietly walked to the gates, where security reviewed her phone confirmation and minutes later, she successfully entered the concert with approval. As the streets emptied and quieted, those left outside hunted for coffee shops, while others happily set up their encampments for the next three hours. Story continues below Swifties went from one line up to another covering the 13 song title landmarks around Vancouver, and waiting hours in merch line-ups with no complaints. To fans, and even half fans, this is a historic event not to be missed. The final line up at BC Place started before 3 p.m. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and Taylor is said to hit the stage at 7:45 a.m. Many Vancouver Islanders made the trip and took time to share their with CHEK what this day means to them. More to come. #cheknews #chek #communitynews #localnews #vancouverislandnews #bc #vancouver #taylorswifterastour #erastour #tsvancouver #taylorswifteras #erasvancouver Lights, camera, Swift action The roar of the crowd could be heard across several blocks. After a day of shuffling from one lineup to the next, and after a year for those who booked tickets well in advance, everything came down to the 7:45 p.m. moment when Taylor Swift hit the stage and began her three-plus hour performance where she would sing more than 44 songs, including her surprise mash-ups. And you didn’t have to be inside to recognize the moment of her arrival. From 8 p.m. until 11 p.m., those outside made their own Swift party. Blankets, camp chairs, mugs of warm drinks and tablets showing live concert feeds were organized among the outside party crews. Friends and family continued singing and dancing along, every now and then getting a FaceTime call from someone inside. Some still tried to find seats, with some running up to $10,000, while others contented themselves with the outside atmosphere. 11 p.m. BC Place crowds fill the streets in a haze Sometime after 11 p.m., BC Place crowds poured into the streets looking tired, content and overwhelmed, all trying to make their way through traffic. Meandering between cars in heels, glitter and cowgirl boots, fans looked like anyone might after singing and dancing for more than three hours. A few fans lingered around BC Place waiting for rides, in a bit of a haze. “It was good. It was amazing,” said Kayla Pawley. “I’m like kinda sad it’s over but it was also amazing. The surprise songs tonight were my favourite.” Pawley came with her friend’s mom, Jackie Waddell. “Oh, it was awesome,” said Waddell. “I don’t know I’m just kind of blank. It was just a great time. We came Friday night too.” Evonne Shaver had flown in from Toronto that morning with a few others. “It was fantastic,” she said. “We saw it in Toronto so we flew to Vancouver just this morning. So yeah, we’re tired.” When asked if it felt strange knowing it was all over, she said, “not really, because I’m content.” For Shaver, Swift lived up to the nearly two years of hype. “Yes, absolutely, because even if you’re higher up – the big screens, it feels like you’re looking right at her anyways. So it’s amazing.” A woman from the Sunshine Coast sat hunched over her red sequins on the steps outside BC Place waiting for her Uber to arrive in 45 minutes. “I’m actually really out of it, it’s kind of overwhelming,” said Susan Wilson, describing her experience at the final show. “It was just a lot and it was emotional and really cool.” When asked what made it emotional, she replied: “I think Taylor made it emotional. It was the last night. There was a lot of talk about last nights.” “She was hugging her crew on stage and it was really, really cool.” Wilson travelled solo from the Sunshine Coast, spending just over $2,000 for her ticket and said it was worth every penny. “Went by myself. It was really expensive so my friends were like, ‘I’m not doing that,’ so I was like, ‘OK, I’m going by myself,’” she said. When asked what Taylor means to her, she replies: “She’s gotten me through a lot over the years. I don’t know what it is about her songs, they just really speak to – I guess to all of us, right?” “They’re vulnerable and kinda raw emotion type songs and they really kind of pull at your heartstrings and make you think of things that happened to you maybe years ago that you hadn’t healed from yet,” said Wilson. “I had to do it. I had to go.” By 1 a.m., Vancouver Islanders like Grace and Henri had boarded the added ferry back to Victoria As the doors were about to close and terminal lights about to shut off, one final straggler ran through the ferry doors, and was let in to board the ferry just in time. The rest of the Swifties remained in Vancouver overnight amidst the streets of glitter and fur. Final thoughts on the global phenomenon With 149 shows in the course of nearly two years, Swift fans thought they might hear about a re-release album or documentary. While no one could fully explain the Swift phenomenon, several alluded to her ability to connect with a range of demographics, and maintain a sense of relatability. Despite her billionaire status and whether every ferry passenger was a fan or not, there was an acknowledgement of her multi-generational impact. Over the course of the day’s conversations, the common thread was she made it OK for people to feel, and to genuinely show excitement about things. Overall, many said the performance was everything they’d hoped for. Despite not having any special guests, big reveals or news of re-release albums, fans walked away content with the end of the Eras Tour — something they’ll never forget, including who they shared it with, whether friends or new neighbours. READ ALSO: B.C. fans break data use record at last Taylor Swift Eras Tour showAneesah Morrow had 20 points and 18 rebounds as No. 6 LSU rallied to an 83-61 victory over Albany.In conclusion, the true measure of a platform’s success lies not just in its ability to generate profits but in its capacity to create a positive and empowering experience for its users. West Street’s unwavering focus on user rights and interests sets it apart as a beacon of integrity and accountability in an increasingly competitive marketplace. By placing the needs of its users at the forefront, West Street not only enriches the online shopping experience but also reinforces the importance of ethical business practices in the digital age.