PenelopeWitherspoon

Agreed. That was a shit call.

Damn it.

You guys are trying to use logic with a moron. Stop it.

I have flown domestic 3 times in the last 5 years (I mainly fly international, and I almost always fly business. I can count 1 flight where I flew premium economy in the last 5 years and it was a day flight to London). Of those 6 individual flights, half were in First Class/Lay Flats (NYC to LAX and back). The others, I had the aisle in economy plus/extra leg room seats. But when I used to fly a lot for work, and I could not sit in first class, my status assured me I never had a middle seat. I always book my seat, and I always pick aisle. If you have to pay, do it. Being comfortable on a 3 hour flight is worth $100.

Rainy Thanksgiving AM here in Manhattan. I had to head to the LES to pick up a pie, but I detoured to 5th Ave first.

Update. They made it to the airport A-OK and the flight was boarding. They sailed through everything (they let their Global Entry go during the pandemic, so do not get TSA Pre-check, but flying first still comes with a few perks). My dad, miracle upon miracle, remembered to call Caramel Cars, so they are picking them up at the terminal (my mom needs a knee replacement, and refuses to get one!). So, I should see them in about 4-5 hours. A lot of folks here have met my folks in one way or another. It is hard to believe that I am getting ever closer to 50 (2028) and that they are 74 and 79.

My parents arrive today. They should be in a good mood since they are flying first. Given the shitshow at JFK terminal 4, I tried to convince them to just grab a yellow cab (avoid the rideshare shuttle), but they booked a Carmel car. I reminded my dad that he should call Carmel and make sure they do not have to lug luggage, and can get a terminal pick up, but I am not sure if he actually did that (chances are high he forgot to do it). Thankfully, we all agreed that we are going to a late lunch across the street from me (French bistro does a really good Thanksgiving spread), and just have a very low key night. We have all tacitly agreed that politics and religion are forbidden conversations while they are here. Though, I am taking them to see Oh, Mary! (they agreed, knowing what it is about), so that is either going to be fucking hilarious or a complete disaster. In any case, I need to pre-game before that.

I need to go back to Portugal. Also, Duoro Valley is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Just stunning.

Edition. I think it is light years beyond the other properties in Mayfair.

Mamapen is a pop up in the 13 Cantons boozer in Soho. The pub is really well located, and the food is really, really solid. I enjoyed it. We ordered too much. My only complaint is that since it is in a pub, the wine selection was Meh. Mambow is Malaysian out in Hackney. It was outstanding. Yeah, understand on the hotel thing. Unfortunately, I am usually in London for work, and St. Ermin's is a 10 minute walk to my office. Win win.

San Matteo. There is one at 81st and 2nd. The other is at 89th and 2nd. Both are Neopolitan style. Both really good. I think I prefer the one on 89th slightly, but both are absolutely solid. I also like Patsy's. One at 69th and 1st and one near Bloomingdale's on E 60th (just east of the store actually between 3rd and 2nd). I do not think I have ever had a bad pie from there (those are where I usually order from as they are both close to my house). I used to (colleague knew the guy who keeps the book). Best thing I can tell you is to try and go after a show. They stay open late, and I have definitely called them and walked right in.

I just got back from London last Friday. I generally stay at the St. Ermin's hotel. From a location perspective, it is really central. There are also really good tube links (St. James station right on the back of the hotel, and Victoria just down the road), and the staff is fantastic. Granted, I stay there 6-8 weeks a year give or take. It is also a Marriott hotel (I have Titanium status, so that helps too). I have also recently stayed at the Dixon (Bermondsey, also Marriott) and the W in Soho in the last year or so. W is a nice hotel, but the location, right off Picadilly Circus, is a fucking beating. I like the Dixon a lot. It is quieter, and you are a quick walk to Borough Market. However, if I were in London just for fun, I would stay at the London Edition. Location cannot be beat, and I am a real fan of Editions in general (stays at Madrid and Singapore in the last two years were most excellent). On this last trip, I had the fortune of being able to go out to Bibi, Mambow, Mamapen (the only Cambodian place in London), and KOL. All were fantastic, but my favorite was Mambow. Holy shit was that good.

I meant that 1M is that line that makes you the 1%. There is a recent study on Adjusted AGIs, and for a lot of locations, that is the number that is now required to be part of the 1%. I am saying that you set that at the point in time, then you adjust each year for inflation. I think a lot of folks that make 400k to 999k are doing well, but they are not building wealth. It is hard to build wealth in locations where the cost of living is incredibly high, even if you make really good money.

We would need to clearly define the 1%. The average appears to be aroudn 685k in Adjusted AGI. But in some states, you have to make 1M or more to be the 1%. That is one of the things I thought the Democrats did poorly. That 400k line they kept using was pretty arbitrary. I think 1M sounds about right for a single person. You make more than 1M a year, consistently, you are the 1%. That amount of scratch allows you to build wealth.

I would do the following: Bring corporate tax rates back up to 35%. Corporations don't fucking pay their share. If they are going to be people, they should fucking pay taxes like the rest of us. I would cap the federal tax rate for individuals making under 1M at 35%. You make more than 1M a year, back up to 39%. I'd bring back the full salt deduction so there is more equality. I'd tax LT capital gains at 20% unless you have over 100M of wealth. 100M or more in net assets, your capital gains rate is 39%. And this is only charged on sale. No unrealized tax. I'd want to fix the estate tax, but I'd need to think on that more. For social security, I'd get rid of the income cap on contributions, but I'd make it deductible, especially since for many folks, they pay tax on SS proceeds (this eliminates double taxation). I'd prohibit private equity from buying single family homes. I'd need to look at SF and NYC on their unique issues of affordability. And that's just a start. I have tons of ideas about energy transition. The US being the global leader is a tide that raises all boats. However, there is the right way to message and the wrong way to message.

If you do this, I would say you should give people the ability to borrow from this for certain things, like the down payment on a first home or higher education. You can put stipulations as to what kind of higher education (no for profit college, but trade school should be allowed) or stipulations on the home purchase. That would give a lot of folks a leg up that would be needed.

It's on brand that a moron like you is an Elmo stan. Please crawl back under your rock.

Holy shit, you are so fucking stupid it's unreal.

Mine is.

This I think is just a chorus (not a church). The one I posted is a church. And there about 10 different ones out there. Jimmy Fallon asked Madonna about it. lol.

Crazy Eyes Karen version is the best.

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Evangelical Churches have started to sing Like a Prayer in services. Having these folks who think a song about fellatio is appropriate for a Sunday service being in charge of education curriculum is absolutely on point for how fucking idiotic this country has become.

Well, that is because the SEC is shit at calling PI in general.