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shadowkat1. So far, I've managed to put two things together, a canister to hold large utensiles on my counter top, and a see-through plastic medicine box. The Medicine box is unfortunately slightly defective - on of the sides doesn't quite fit the box. But I've made it work - sending it back is just costly and a bit of work.
Yes, I know, I know...
2. Cancelled two subscriptions: New York Magazine, and Paramount Plus. (I realized I seldom watch Paramount Plus, and I'm protesting their decision to cater to the Doofus to obtain permission from the Federal Government to merge with Skydance Media.)
Okay let's talk about THAT for a hot minute or two?
For financial reasons, Paramount is pursuing a lucrative merger with Skydance Media.
The nitty gritty on the Merger
To obtain approval - it requires various Federal Government Agencies to sign off on it, or just not care? SEC, FCC, and FTC. Note the President of the US has no say in this or shouldn't for various reasons, among them conflict of interest, individual gain, impropriety. They can request review, but not much else.
Paramount is doing various things to ensure that merger goes through and Trump doesn't block it - even though it would be illegal for Trump to do so or to influence it in any way. So not block it through FTC, FCC, and SEC.
What has it done? It settled a "baseless" lawsuit brought by Trump over an interview with Kamala Harris in Trump's favor (basically it obviously paid Trump a sizable bribe to grant or not block its merger). (Why? Because Center for American Rights asked the FCC to look into the fact CBS News showed "bias" in violation of FCC rules and look into its license. (This is a firm that is supposed to fight for individual rights against the Federal Government and fight for free speech.) That request stalled the merger. It kicked 60 Minutes resulting in the Editor and Chief of the program resigning. It cancelled Late Show with Stephen Colbert (which is actually filmed at 3pm in the Ed Sullivan Building in Times Square - I know because I saw the Late Show with David Letterman back in the day, live.)
Why? It's a lucrative merger - and Paramount is struggling and in debt and this merger is worth $8 billion.
Result of Late Show Cancellation? The Writer's Guild got upset and is now suing Trump and Paramount and requesting a investigation into the legalities of the decision. They are calling on the New State Attorney General to investigate. Note? The Federal Government is not the only one who can block a merger, a State can do it too.
What you are currently seeing take place across the board is a fight between the States and Federal Government on what the Federal Government's role is, the amount of power it can exert, and whether it has power over the States or the self-governing States have power over it, or they share it. Considering up until recently - the Republican Party was heavily States Rights and small government, and 75-80% of Republicans don't like a big centralized government, this has been kind of interesting to watch.
I don't see this ending well for anyone except possibly Stephen Colbert and the Late Show. Mainly because there are lots of competing media outlets. And he's popular. It's not the 1990s or 80s, when you just had a few places to go. We have over a thousand now. I won't miss Paramount, and I rarely watch CBS or Comedy Central any longer. He can jump to NBC, HBO, ABC, Hulu, Netflix, etc.
Paramount/Skydance and Trump's deal, also CAR's involvement have tainted all three - they won't come out well in the wash.
3. Thinking of relaxing, reading, and getting groceries. But first must fix lunch.
4. Friday Five on Saturday...
* Name five favorite movies.
Star Wars - Empire Strikes Back, Gross Point Blank, LadyHawk, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Endgame
* Name four areas of interest you became interested in after you were done with your formal education.
Human Rights Advocacy/Social Justice (although I'm kind of burned out on it at the moment), Watercolor, Cooking and nutrition (I have dietary restrictions), Trains
* Name three things you would change about this world.
1) Selfish Entitled Asshole Syndrome - switch that default to being kind and helping others with a communal sense of cooperation, 2) Climate Change - everyone work together to reduce it, and aid in scaling it back, Dependency on Cars - switch from roads to high speed trains, 3) install universal health care across the globe - so everyone has free access to health care (provide health care specialists with housing stipend, a month vacation, free education, trip allowance, transportation stipend, and free tickets to entertainment events).
* Name two of your favorite childhood toys.
Barbie Doll - I used it to tell stories, I was very rough on it.
Star Wars Action Figures - also used to tell stories.
* Name one person you could be handcuffed to for a full day.
Can't think of anyone. So thankfully, it will never happen.
Yes, I know, I know...
2. Cancelled two subscriptions: New York Magazine, and Paramount Plus. (I realized I seldom watch Paramount Plus, and I'm protesting their decision to cater to the Doofus to obtain permission from the Federal Government to merge with Skydance Media.)
Okay let's talk about THAT for a hot minute or two?
For financial reasons, Paramount is pursuing a lucrative merger with Skydance Media.
The nitty gritty on the Merger
To obtain approval - it requires various Federal Government Agencies to sign off on it, or just not care? SEC, FCC, and FTC. Note the President of the US has no say in this or shouldn't for various reasons, among them conflict of interest, individual gain, impropriety. They can request review, but not much else.
Paramount is doing various things to ensure that merger goes through and Trump doesn't block it - even though it would be illegal for Trump to do so or to influence it in any way. So not block it through FTC, FCC, and SEC.
What has it done? It settled a "baseless" lawsuit brought by Trump over an interview with Kamala Harris in Trump's favor (basically it obviously paid Trump a sizable bribe to grant or not block its merger). (Why? Because Center for American Rights asked the FCC to look into the fact CBS News showed "bias" in violation of FCC rules and look into its license. (This is a firm that is supposed to fight for individual rights against the Federal Government and fight for free speech.) That request stalled the merger. It kicked 60 Minutes resulting in the Editor and Chief of the program resigning. It cancelled Late Show with Stephen Colbert (which is actually filmed at 3pm in the Ed Sullivan Building in Times Square - I know because I saw the Late Show with David Letterman back in the day, live.)
Why? It's a lucrative merger - and Paramount is struggling and in debt and this merger is worth $8 billion.
Result of Late Show Cancellation? The Writer's Guild got upset and is now suing Trump and Paramount and requesting a investigation into the legalities of the decision. They are calling on the New State Attorney General to investigate. Note? The Federal Government is not the only one who can block a merger, a State can do it too.
What you are currently seeing take place across the board is a fight between the States and Federal Government on what the Federal Government's role is, the amount of power it can exert, and whether it has power over the States or the self-governing States have power over it, or they share it. Considering up until recently - the Republican Party was heavily States Rights and small government, and 75-80% of Republicans don't like a big centralized government, this has been kind of interesting to watch.
I don't see this ending well for anyone except possibly Stephen Colbert and the Late Show. Mainly because there are lots of competing media outlets. And he's popular. It's not the 1990s or 80s, when you just had a few places to go. We have over a thousand now. I won't miss Paramount, and I rarely watch CBS or Comedy Central any longer. He can jump to NBC, HBO, ABC, Hulu, Netflix, etc.
Paramount/Skydance and Trump's deal, also CAR's involvement have tainted all three - they won't come out well in the wash.
3. Thinking of relaxing, reading, and getting groceries. But first must fix lunch.
4. Friday Five on Saturday...
* Name five favorite movies.
Star Wars - Empire Strikes Back, Gross Point Blank, LadyHawk, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Endgame
* Name four areas of interest you became interested in after you were done with your formal education.
Human Rights Advocacy/Social Justice (although I'm kind of burned out on it at the moment), Watercolor, Cooking and nutrition (I have dietary restrictions), Trains
* Name three things you would change about this world.
1) Selfish Entitled Asshole Syndrome - switch that default to being kind and helping others with a communal sense of cooperation, 2) Climate Change - everyone work together to reduce it, and aid in scaling it back, Dependency on Cars - switch from roads to high speed trains, 3) install universal health care across the globe - so everyone has free access to health care (provide health care specialists with housing stipend, a month vacation, free education, trip allowance, transportation stipend, and free tickets to entertainment events).
* Name two of your favorite childhood toys.
Barbie Doll - I used it to tell stories, I was very rough on it.
Star Wars Action Figures - also used to tell stories.
* Name one person you could be handcuffed to for a full day.
Can't think of anyone. So thankfully, it will never happen.
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Date: 2025-07-19 04:44 pm (UTC)kerk
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Date: 2025-07-21 01:13 pm (UTC)