Travis

My name is... wait for it.... Travis. Here is a picture of me dramatically running away from a giant bear statue.

Gendry approaches Theon in his row boat, and he be all like "what's up, buddy?"

LordBy said:

Anonymous’s statements were ugly. If you are a Catholic and you think that Pride is a specific weaponized and targeted attack on your faith, then that says more about how you view your faith than about anything to do with Pride. He thinks Catholics are <1% of the population, like that’s some kind of persecution permission slip, while they are really closer to 20% of the population. He’d, I’m sure, argue that he means “Traditional” Catholics and most Catholics don’t qualify thus allowing him to feel superior to other members of his faith as well.

This is what grabbed me also. I almost spit my coffee out when I read the comment (paraphrased) "clearly it's harder to be a 'Traditional Catholic' in 2019 than LGBT." Are you fucking kidding me? I've lived a picture of privilege and I don't have any real experience to draw on, but I can say that I can't imagine how much anxiety and sadness and loneliness I would experience if my basic rights to be equal were being litigated on a day to day basis in public. That I should have to fight and suffer criticism and "wait for the world to catch up" to just be a person living their lives. I can't even fathom what that must feel like, and this dude is all twisted up about the notion of Pride Month? Are you fucking kidding me! We have it so easy. I've never had to fight for my right to do anything. My biggest life outrages have amounted to being pulled over for going the speed limit and getting an MIP when I wasn't drinking, maybe being messed with by a bully or two for being a "weird-o." So, basically nothing. I've never been judged openly by people for just walking around, giving my wife a kiss in public. I can't remember who said it here earlier, but it's so true. If you're bending over backwards to try to sound reasonable, maybe you should take a look at how reasonable your footing is. Be religious and hold your beliefs and do you, but I'm sorry there are societal effects to being married beyond just calling yourself man and wife in some arbitrary way. It has become a governmental action with associated rights. You don't get to play the "but my religion" card and have it stand up. Marriage is an equal rights issue in our society. Plus, what does it matter to you?

This is the thing that I have always struggled with: Why there is even a problem? This should be so basic. It's just people wanting to live their lives in the same manner as everyone else. The right to live and love and take part in the world as people. Who cares who someone loves? What does it matter to you, living your life? In what way is your life changed if your LGBT neighbor gets married? None in the least. So where is the problem? Why is this even a thing? It's just people loving each other. Why do people even get to shame people for loving who they love? How would anyone who hasn't been held to any scrutiny feel if suddenly they were? I hate this whole thing so much. It should be so obvious. Is religion really meant to be a pass on simply being good to people? Even if you harbor these ridiculous hateful feelings inside, it just shouldn't be your choice. Individual rights to peace and equality should always supersede religious ones. Always. It's just so obvious. I don't get it.

EDIT: My wife made a friend recently who had a teenage daughter who was trans and killed herself. That woman has made it a social media stance saying basically "if you don't support LGBT rights, I don't know what to do with you and don't want to interact with you." How could she not? It becomes a representation of what killed her daughter. All the judgment and hate and complexity of just wanting to live as who you are. Even having no personal stakes in it, I get closer and closer to that point every day. I mean, that line represents a fundamental thing that I can't reconcile. Like I said, it should just be so obvious and the severe damage that this culture does to people so needlessly. I mean, seriously why? On both fronts: why does this bother you so much? and Why do you feel like you have the right to cast judgment on people? How do you feel righteously empowered to create policies that take rights away from people because you don't "approve" of the way they live their lives when it doesn't effect you in literally any functional way? Why? I'll never understand. Does Anonymous have any understanding of how harmful that culture is? (I mean I guess not because "it's harder to be a traditional catholic than LGBT in 2019." Give me a break with that.)

Speaking of random stuff, I was looking at my "on this day" thing on Facebook and was reminded of the most ridiculous museum display that I ever saw. This was in a car museum in Los Angeles. I get that this dude is "trying to fix the car" but I think something very different is conveyed...


Also a part of the same exhibit, I love how the other dude just looks really confused and not-approving.

Ha! I hadn't seen that. That's funny. 

mostlywright said:

@Demerol ;
It is 100% a dog lover thing. I think it is symbolic that Jon is leaving behind his former Stark life, and I think Ghost will be so happy North, and I am grateful beyond belief I don't have to witness Ghost's death. But all that rationality flies out the window when Jon doesn't even boop or scritch that big, floofy, good boi. Shame! Shame! Shame! 

This shit had me yelling at the TV. I mean, just "peacing out" on Ghost like that is just fucking wrong, and it was TOTALLY a moment where I saw the typewriters clacking and the budget reports. Jon wasn't ever really a great wolf owner, but to not have a "moment" of it is just beyond wrong. I mean, this is an animal that he is connected to beyond most human animal relationships which can be incredibly meaningful without warging/mind meld types of influences. This was bullshit, and I refuse to believe that they couldn't have given the moment at least an ounce of gravity in comparison to the goodbyes with Tormund and Sam. That sucked. I liked the episode quite a bit, but that was bullshit.

Oh man. I love Al and Joe so much. With all the respect in the world to Jim and A.Ron. I mean, you guys were my favorite team for many, many years, but Al and Joe are living at the top of my power rankings now. They just get it, you know. They bring the insight that I need. I was so bummed when Rah Rah Riverdale went away, and so abruptly at that, but I really hope this new spec episode turns into something. I mean, if you can't beat 'em, get 'em working for you. Maybe they will all make each other better (I mean, you can't really get better than Al and Joe already are, but maybe they can help J and A unlock something). Sorry. this really isn't trashing J&A. I mean you guys know I'm a huge fan, but Al and Joe are just the best there is. You got to get these dudes on the payroll.

I'm not reading the thread yet because we still have a few episodes to go, but I just started it last week and I'm so glad that I did. I was going to take a pass because the build up was so huge that I didn't think it was possible that I wouldn't be completely disappointed, but holy shit. I'm fucking in love with this show. Talk about heart and great characters, and wonderful, super clever writing. It seems that Lawrence has given us his Parks and Rec and it's extremely formidable.

Anyhoo. I'm so happy I got a couple of pushes to give it a shot. Thanks Dan Feinberg and my wife's physical therapist.

Oh wait, does coming home from work to find Omar Rodriguez-Lopez watching Mr. Show in my living room with two of my old roommates count? Not really a "celebrity," but very notable in certain circles.

I want to disclaim this before getting going. Gift taxes are not my desk, and while I did learn about them in getting my certification (I'm an EA, not a CPA), much like the Spanish and German I learned in high school, it's all Greek to me now (rimshot). Ultimately, this is not professional advice as I really am not qualified to give it, even if my qualifications would say otherwise. If you have any questions about 1040 type stuff or small scale corporations, I'm much better equipped there.

That said, the current annual exclusion is $15k as you mentioned. To the best of my knowledge there is nothing to do if you don't cross that threshold. The only exception I can think of that would make me wrong is if you have filed in the past and you have to do the sort of filing whose only point is to maintain the calculation, but I'm ~95% sure it is just not something that needs to be done. Also, double this for a married couple, but make the gifts separately (2 checks for $15k, or make sure that property is jointly owned, which in most cases it will be).

You are also correct about the lifetime amount (looked it up to be safe). You need to file if you're over $15k for a gift, but it will be entirely offset. The thing that I really can't guarantee, but only state my somewhat educated belief is that there is no implication to your final estate if it ends under that amount. It makes sense because the lifetime exclusion seems to line up with the total exclusion for the estate. That said, I just don't know all of the mechanics concretely. Gift taxes aren't my bailiwick.

I'll try to keep an eye on this thread, but if it all still goes without a concrete answer in a few days I can ask my boss and I'm sure he can rattle off whatever you need. I just don't want to bug him, particularly on a Friday when he only works a half day.

Hope that helps.