DramatistDreamer

The soon to be implemented tax bill already causing confusion, anxiety and anger in blue states as people discover that prepaying property tax before the law goes into effect is no guarantee that they will get the full deduction (i.e. no $10K cap) this year. Many state governors of blue states like NY (Cuomo), VA, the mayor of Washington, DC, even outgoing NJ governor Chris Christie signed executive orders allowing property owners to prepay before the New Year, in order to circumvent the property tax deduction cap of the new law this year. Tax lawyers admit that there is no guarantee that this will work. Those pockets of Republican voters in Nassau County, Staten Island, will now reap what they have sown. Last-Minute Rush to Prepay Taxes Gives Way to Confusion and Anger

This is apt.

Just yesterday, Trump and conservatives were bragging all over social media about how Trump had supposedly wiped out ISIS. Today, there is a ISIS generated terrorist attack that killed 40 people. No words, really.

Vice's foray into more mainstream reporting is a very recent thing, they've been around since the 90s. Although I don't lump them in with the dotcoms, their internal structure is quite similar to many companies that popped up during the dotcom era (years before the bubble burst) a very 'Wild West' mentality in how their internal structure (dys)functioned. Lots of lines crossed with very little consideration for the consequences of those actions.

Because a lot of people choose to focus on the Vice of very recent times that has reshaped its image forgetting how different it was from its earlier days when it was all about adopting a transgressive stance, especially in the content of what it highlighted--the name says it all. As Vice expanded into the digital realm, it became even more embedded and wedded to digital culture and Silicon Valley-- well, nope, nothing misogynistic and racist about Silicon Valley, right? (*coughs Gamergate coughs*).

Maybe someday Days in Prison will be added to this statistic (*fingers crossed*).

Why is anyone surprised that racism and misogyny were part and parcel of how Vice ran its organization? Vice was who I thought they were all along.

For much of this thread, the focus has been on the movie industry, namely Hollywood and the complicity within it toward sexual harassment and sexual assault. Interestingly enough, this article talks about the very diminished Pakistani film industry and how one film has galvanized women to raise their voices to discuss issues like rape, social inequality and justice. The film was un-banned after an outcry, especially from Pakistani women, who saw the film as culturally vital. Pakistani Women Seize Film Dispute as Chance to Discuss Rape and Injustice

What a bizarre saga that Lebanese Prime Minister became entangled in due to the brashness of the recently elevated Saudi prince. Due to the Saudi's overly aggressive regional policy, people are referring to the crisis in Yemen as "Riyadh's Vietnam"! Why Saad Hariri Had That Strange Sojourn in Saudi Arabia

Even though I admit to having a very vague recollection of SFT, somehow I recognize quite a few of the actors. These were good episodes to watch. Funny how the writing for the women seems more progressive than what I'm seeing on today's daytime dramas.

Ever since the emergence of the Tea Party, I've firmly believed that in the not too distant future that the GOP as it has been known will cease to exist. Splintering off sounds like the most likely prospect. The courts are speaking in the past few days.

At least there is this.

Speaking of Republicans, I came across this tweet from one earlier today.

Serena's playing an exhibition against Ostapenko in the UAE.

Oh, and also, someone sent Treasury Sec. Mnuchin a box of sh*t. Merry Christmas everybody!

OMG at this thread and all the subtweets.

When Trump supporters whine that we who didn't vote for him don't respect him, that NYT article should be a go to article for them to look at (because you know most don't read). What I'd like to hear from Trumpists (and those masquerading as impartial parties asking why "we" don't afford Trump the respect that the office should afford), is what has he said or done that prompts such respect? Any semblance of respect at all? When faced with this question, all Trumpists respond with is platitudes that have no basis in evidence (we know how much fact-based or evidence-based is hated by Trump Inc. and its ilk). For me, he deserves nothing from me. Perhaps contempt.

This thread has become so long that I can no longer track whether an article or link has been posted before by anyone (including myself) but I've been keeping up with this saga at WNYC (a station I grew up listening to). Interesting to note how in the drive for money and ratings, the station became even more wedded to a hegemonic structure based on white male patriarchy and one of the drivers of this philosophy was a woman. WNYC Chief Pushed Growth at the Cost of Station’s Culture I was a co-host with John Hockenberry on WNYC. The experience was scarring Also, I had always wondered what happened to Farai Chideya. She was so prominent and then suddenly...she was not. Farai Chideya: Newsrooms Need to Purge Secrets in Order to Heal

Trump picks only the best people.

The Trump administration truly seems to be afraid of, and despises science, research, technology and learning, in general. Government scientists blocked from the biggest meeting in their field Speaking of scientists, many at the EPA are now leaving in droves E.P.A. Officials, Disheartened by Agency’s Direction, Are Leaving in Droves

The wrist was his last known injury, but with Kei, who the heck knows?

Also, Kei pulled out of Brisbane.