Rushed Bill Goes Far Beyond Taxation

So I guess "Making America Great Again" equals huge tax breaks for corporations (especially ones that deal with real estate, hmm wonder who that'd benefit?), continuing to destroy the environment (who the hell goes to Alaska anyway?), and millions of Americans without healthcare. Oh, and those of you who live in a state with income and other state taxes, you might want to see how you get f#$#ed with this one too.

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Cinemascope: Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold

Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.



Released in 2017.

Plot line: Literary icon Joan Didion reflects on her remarkable career and personal struggles in this intimate documentary directed by her nephew, Griffin Dunne.

While I have not read all her work, Joan Didion is a author I admire, so was delighted when Netflix released this documentary. There are criticisms about this documentary, and I would agree with some of it. Having a nephew tell this story means that things are slanted a certain way. There is way too much about her husband and not nearly enough about the author and her critical mind, let alone the fashionista side to her. But then, maybe no-one other than family would have had enough access to make this documentary, so we've got to take what we're given. I'm fascinated by the public/private personas of celebrity figures, and this gave me insights into the woman.

You can see the trailer here. If you have yet to see it, this is a movie worth watching.

Emma Thompson: Harvey Weinstein 'top of harassment ladder' - BBC Newsnight

"There just aren't enough women in positions of power to balance out the system." Harvey Weinstein is just at the top of this particular iceberg, so let's not pretend that he is somehow unusual. Talk to the girls and women in your lives and take your blinders off.



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Cinemascope: The Hunting Ground

Cinemascope is a regular blog post where I will share with you movies and TV shows I think are worth watching.



Released in 2015.

Plot line: A startling exposé of rape crimes on U.S. campuses, institutional cover-ups and the brutal social toll on victims and their families. Weaving together verité footage and first-person testimonies, the film follows survivors as they pursue their education while fighting for justice - despite harsh retaliation, harassment and pushback at every level.

This one made me angry, mad, and so sad. I applaud these brave women who stood up and told their truth, and am so angry at the college/police/societal systems in place that allow these attacks, and perpetuates the silencing and shaming that surrounds victims of these abuses.

You can see the trailer here. If you have yet to see it, this is a documentary worth watching.

Madonna's Full Acceptance Speech at Billboard Women In Music 2016 (Video)

And yes, it's that Madonna, and before you fluff it off, give this a listen. It'll take about 10 minutes of your day, and if you are not in tears let me know. Don't make the mistake of watching it right before bed as I did though. Rock on Material Girl. Rock on.

Madonna delivers heartfelt acceptance speech addressing sexism, misogyny, and feminism in the music industry at Billboard Women In Music 2016.

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Michael Moore’s “Morning After To-Do List”

Could not agree more. Why is it that we complain about the Electoral College every four years, and yet do nothing to fix it?
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You can see his original Facebook post here.

Morning After To-Do List:

1. Take over the Democratic Party and return it to the people. They have failed us miserably.
2. Fire all pundits, predictors, pollsters and anyone else in the media who had a narrative they wouldn't let go of and refused to listen to or acknowledge what was really going on. Those same bloviators will now tell us we must "heal the divide" and "come together." They will pull more hooey like that out of their ass in the days to come. Turn them off.
3. Any Democratic member of Congress who didn't wake up this morning ready to fight, resist and obstruct in the way Republicans did against President Obama every day for eight full years must step out of the way and let those of us who know the score lead the way in stopping the meanness and the madness that's about to begin.
4. Everyone must stop saying they are "stunned" and "shocked". What you mean to say is that you were in a bubble and weren't paying attention to your fellow Americans and their despair. YEARS of being neglected by both parties, the anger and the need for revenge against the system only grew. Along came a TV star they liked whose plan was to destroy both parties and tell them all "You're fired!" Trump's victory is no surprise. He was never a joke. Treating him as one only strengthened him. He is both a creature and a creation of the media and the media will never own that.
5. You must say this sentence to everyone you meet today: "HILLARY CLINTON WON THE POPULAR VOTE!" The MAJORITY of our fellow Americans preferred Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. Period. Fact. If you woke up this morning thinking you live in an effed-up country, you don't. The majority of your fellow Americans wanted Hillary, not Trump. The only reason he's president is because of an arcane, insane 18th-century idea called the Electoral College. Until we change that, we'll continue to have presidents we didn't elect and didn't want. You live in a country where a majority of its citizens have said they believe there's climate change, they believe women should be paid the same as men, they want a debt-free college education, they don't want us invading countries, they want a raise in the minimum wage and they want a single-payer true universal health care system. None of that has changed. We live in a country where the majority agree with the "liberal" position. We just lack the liberal leadership to make that happen (see: #1 above).

Let's try to get this all done by noon today.
-- Michael Moore

Michael Moore Explains Why TRUMP Will Win (Video)

A reality check for those of us in a certain echo chamber.



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For more information on his take, read his post 5 Reasons Why Trump Will Win.

Indie Icon Amanda Palmer Gets Real About Motherhood & Relevance (Video)

Have you been watching The What's Underneath Project? I'd highly recommend it. This one with Amanda Palmer just makes me admire her more.

“Feminism isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being honest,” says Amanda Palmer in the first episode of the Summer ’16 season of The What’s Underneath Project. The indie artist who turned the music industry on its head is now doing the same with motherhood by embracing her post-mom body and her fears of being insignificant."



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Bring on the female superheroes! | Christopher Bell (Video)

I found this TED talk educational and thought provoking, and I think you will too.

"Why is it so hard to find female superhero merchandise? In this passionate, sparkling talk, media studies scholar (and father of a Star Wars-obsessed daughter) Christopher Bell addresses the alarming lack of female superheroes in the toys and products marketed to kids -- and what it means for how we teach them about the world."



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Journal pages

I'm processing the horrible news from Istanbul in my journal. It's a beautiful city with a long and important history, and I was lucky enough to spend time exploring it's marvels several years ago.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Primaries and Caucuses (Video)

I know what I'll doing on Feb 2, 2017. Do you?

Primaries and caucuses are a surprisingly undemocratic part of the democratic process. John Oliver discusses our convoluted system for choosing presidential nominees.



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Clinton vs. Sanders: POLICY IS EXCITING! (Video)

"In which Hank does his best to cover the tax plans of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in a video that should really be much longer. In many ways, these are two plans that almost shouldn't be compared. Obviously, Bernie Sanders' biggest tax increases are contingent upon a massive change to the U.S.'s healthcare system that would free up a huge amount of revenue for a lot of Americans. And, of course, neither candidate has a great chance of passing any significant legislation if the state of Congress remains the same. But I am looking at these plans externally from the current political climate, and doing my best to simply explain them with as little opinion as I could muster."

What I want to know is where is the discussion regarding the $ allocated to military budgets, and why there is little public accountability of said funds.




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Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Encryption (Video)

The erosion of privacy is a clear and present danger in my opinion. I love that John Oliver explores the topic.

"Strong encryption poses problems for law enforcement, is weakening it worth the risks it presents? It’s…complicated."



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Elizabeth Gilbert & Marie Forleo on Fear, Authenticity and Big Magic (Video)

Elizabeth Gilbert's new book is out, and I for one cannot wait to dive in. Here is a fun and inspiring interview she did recently.

Listen in as Elizabeth Gilbert and Marie Forleo talk perfectionism, why you shouldn’t strive to be fearless, and unpack the keys to living your most creative life. Don’t miss this Big Magic episode, it’s one of my all-time favorites!



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Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Migrants and Refugees (Video)

I'm John Oliver fan, and this episode made my day. Did you see it?

Millions of migrants seeking asylum in Europe face hostility, racism, and red tape. John Oliver does one admittedly tiny thing for one of them.



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Connie Britton's Hair Secret (Video)

Have y'all seen this? Made my day.



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Margaret Atwood: Smartest Woman Alive. Also Pretty Damn Funny

So, have you heard about Foreword? I pop in regularly to see what's new, and I am always entertained. My fave interview so far is the one with Margaret Atwood. You can see it here. And after you watch that, pop around the home page and check out some of the other interviews. You're welcome.

The What's Underneath Project: Jacky O'Shaughnessy (Video)

Stumbled across this incredible project with this video. Honest. Searing. Real. Love it.



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You can see more videos from this project here.

It's time for a Malala Festival

This just makes me so happy. 

Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi win 2014 Nobel peace prize.

Pakistani teenager and Indian children’s rights activist beat Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning, the Pope and Vladimir Putin to the prestigious prize 

You can read the Guardian article here.

"Why is my daughter so strong? Because I didn't clip her wings." - Malala's father.
You can watch his TED talk here.

The 29-Year-Old Who's Chosen to End Her Life Speaks Out (Video)

Brittany Maynard, who is suffering from brain cancer, explains why this is the right choice for her. I am in awe of this courageous young woman, who has decided to end her life with dignity. It still boggles my mind that there are only 5 US states that allows a person this option. 

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You can also read the interview she gave with Good Housekeeping here.