Here’s the scoop. The Yankees ($25m), the Sox ($3m), and the Angels ($0.9m) have to pay the “tax”. The Yankees’ tax is bigger than Tampa’s payroll.

Blogging has been light the past few weeks; I’ve been busy at work and busy at home. So, a post is in order, and hopefully in updating the blog, I will help collect myself.

We’re in State College, at the Wise family homestead. Terri is currently sitting at a little light-table-type slide sorter thing, going through slides that her parents (mostly her father) took throughout the 70’s and 80’s. Her mom just called her upstairs to see the snow. Apparently it’s snowing. It’s apparently snowing more seriously back in Boston, and we’re missing it.

First thing yesterday morning, I called April in France, knowing that once the Christmas festivities started full-steam, I would not get a chance to call her at a decent hour, European time. So I talked to her for a bit, and it was nice, even though it sounded like she was talking into a tin can from a cave. Very glad to hear she actually got the package I sent. By the time I was off the phone, everyone else here at the Wise household was waiting for me to begin the traditional present-opening. Between us, Terri’s parents, and sister and brother-in-law, it took about 4 hours, but all was festive. I called my parents afterwards and sent Christmas greetings to all at the farm. In the afternoon, we went over to Terri’s aunt and uncle’s house in Lewistown, PA.

I wasn’t too tired when we got back, so I tinkered with one of my presents (an Oregon Scientific clock/weather station) and read a bit of another present (Mohawk by Richard Russo).

Today was pretty low-key. Went downtown and did some very very light shopping (some Christmas cards for next year at the Nittany Quill) and had a coffee at Irving’s Bagels (which has free wi-fi, though I did not bring the laptop). Kim and Glenn sadly had to head back to Virginia already, so we saw them off at about 6pm. And that more or less brings things up to the present.

From the NYTimes (which is a little like the pot calling the kettle black, here): “The seduction of America’s elites by the vices of humanism and skepticism can only be blamed on the New Yorker cartoon, an agent of corruption more insidious than LSD or the electric guitar.”

Admit it, even when you catch yourself chuckling at one, you feel a little dirty.

If you haven’t read it, read it now.

Beatles holiday wackiness from special fan club recordings, ‘63 - ‘69.

Wow, this is obnoxious. Despite the fact that millions of people believe that Bush has actually made tax cuts, which in reality is not the whole truth, the administration is working on a more targetted bit of tax policy: keeping the Alternative Minimum Tax. Due to some technicalities, the AMT will begin to apply to many more people than originally intended. Now, guess where those people live?

Greg Jenner, the Treasury Department’s acting assistant secretary for tax policy, said yesterday. ”It is probably a correct assumption that Massachusetts, New York, and California will bear more of a burden under the AMT

Surely this is just coincidence, right? Here’s what the man who’s been called the architect of Bush’s tax policy has to say:

Some Republicans have suggested leaving the minimum tax in place because those hardest hit tend to be in states that did not support Bush, including Massachusetts, California, and New York. ”It is a tax of people living in ‘blue’ states,” said Grover Norquist, the conservative activist who heads Americans for Tax Reform.

He said the tax was originally conceived by liberal Democrats as a way of imposing higher taxes mostly on wealthier Republicans, and he suggested that it be used as a bargaining chip by the White House when Bush tries to enact his tax agenda. The minimum tax should be repealed only when Democrats ‘’say they are sorry and offer to give us something in return,” Norquist said.

This is yet another thing about this administration that should give a real conservative pause. Either taxes should be cut or not. I can see how someone who believes in principle that taxes should be low might allow for exceptions. But not exceptions based on election results.

I also wonder if Grover Norquist remembers that people around here haven’t always reacted so well when they feel a tax is unjust.

Flickr finally lets you sort by date taken, not just date posted (which means nothing unless you’re religious about uploading your photos the second they’re taken).

Just out of curiosity, I searched Google again for “deep fried tofurkey“, and for the briefest of seconds I thought there actually was finally something about it. But then I realized it was just my previous deep fried tofurkey entry!

From the Somerville Times. I guess I can be happy that I didn’t really miss Chuck D. Their web site (which is actually pretty suck-o) sure made it sound like I did.

One time when Terri’s dad was visiting us, he discovered that we have digital music stations on our TV. As nothing worth watching is now on any of the dozens of channels we do get, we are listening to channel 415.

Leftover fondue and Toasted Head Chardonnay, my current fave, have left me in a pleasant haze. A dearth of holiday specials has left us to flip channels, and happily, a favorite, The Shop Around the Corner is on Turner Classic Movies.

Regis for Dick. David for Petey.

Not only did I not know Boston had gotten an Air America affiliate, I also didn’t know that when I walked in to the Someday for a cappuccino this morning that I’d walk into a live broadcast! It was packed, so I just got my caffiene fix and didn’t try to fight my way over to see Chuck D et. al.

Here’s the scoop from their website, since I don’t know how long they’ll keep it there:

Morning Sedition BROADCASTS LIVE from the Someday Café in Somerville, Massachusetts. Comedian Jimmy Tingle of “Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theater” and political satirist Barry Crimmins, two members of Boston’s comedy elite, discuss the history of the Boston comedy scene with hosts Marc Maron and Mark Riley. You can see Jimmy, Barry and Marc at “Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theater” tonight as part of the Ding Ho Reunion. Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone talks about his fair city and how it’s become one of the most progressive places in the country. Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Barney Frank stops by to chat about the issues. Outgoing DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe gives us a glimpse at the future of the democratic leadership. Musician Ted Leo stops by to play some songs for our special live audience. Ted usually plays with his band the Pharmacists, but today he’s flying solo. Their latest album is called “Shake the Sheets” on Lookout Records. Come by, have a cup of coffee, and see a LIVE Air America Radio broadcast.

Not only did I not know Boston had gotten an Air America affiliate, when I walked in to the Someday for a cappuccino this morning that I’d walk into a live broadcast! Unfortunately, it was packed, so I missed seeing Chuck D et. al. Here’s the scoop from their website, since I don’t know how long they’ll keep it there:

Morning Sedition BROADCASTS LIVE from the Someday Café in Somerville, Massachusetts. Comedian Jimmy Tingle of “Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theater” and political satirist Barry Crimmins, two members of Boston’s comedy elite, discuss the history of the Boston comedy scene with hosts Marc Maron and Mark Riley. You can see Jimmy, Barry and Marc at “Jimmy Tingle’s Off Broadway Theater” tonight as part of the Ding Ho Reunion. Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone talks about his fair city and how it’s become one of the most progressive places in the country. Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Barney Frank stops by to chat about the issues. Outgoing DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe gives us a glimpse at the future of the democratic leadership. Musician Ted Leo stops by to play some songs for our special live audience. Ted usually plays with his band the Pharmacists, but today he’s flying solo. Their latest album is called “Shake the Sheets” on Lookout Records. Come by, have a cup of coffee, and see a LIVE Air America Radio broadcast.