#i just included most of the ryan and marissa talk

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

Bonus Episode: Mischa Barton I Welcome to the OC, Bitches! Podcast

[jason-pipers]

the jason/piper breakup and jason’s subsequent death

it is a long and angry post so you have been warned 

 I’m really sick of seeing Jason Grace/Piper McLean slander in their own tag, and I’m really, really sick of seeing people justify their breakup/his death as good writing. 

As I’ve been studying literature and text for the past four years at Uni- I can say with absolute confidence that The Burning Maze utilizing Jason and Piper was horrible. Like a bag of shit mixed together then smeared on paper and published kind of horrible. Actually, you don’t even really need a degree to be able to point out the very basic absurdity of them appearing in TBM. So even though I have a paper due on a completely unrelated topic and a lot of homework, I naturally decided this was a much better thing to write about: 

 Maybe in another world, Rick’s ghostwriters will be better at writing his books. The reason why the Jason/Piper breakup was extremely confusing and done very poorly in the sense of their character arcs was that there was no buildup to the breakup. In fact, I think these two got together off-screen and broke up off-screen. Yet, I’m sure Riordan sat at his desk thinking “now why don’t people just like Jason and Piper?? I give them so much!” Actually, you gave them nothing. It’s also considerably easy to disguise their breakup as logical when it isn’t. Now, people will argue that the basic foundation of the relationship was poorly made because of Hera’s meddling and that’s why they broke up. This is a lazy way to think about it because it’s obvious you don’t care about the characters so you should just say that and go. Hera’s meddling (putting false memories of Jason in Piper’s head and wiping Jason’s brain) really only gave Piper a vague notion of Jason (based on real attributes the Mist pulls) and also gave PERCY and Jason multiple relationships after the switcheroo. But Piper actually meets Jason and then has a subsequent breakdown that maybe he’s not her boyfriend. However, once she gets to know the real Jason (very accurate to the one she knew in her memories because Aphrodite said she could sense real possibilities hinting at their romance), she is still developing romantic feelings for him. It’s implied that the reason why Piper is falling so fast is because the memories she has of Jason are based on the real Jason. It’s easy to establish that Piper has real romantic feelings for Jason, not the made up Jason because the majority of TLH is them getting to know each other. If she felt like there was some confusion on her part about developing feelings for him because of Hera switching Percy and Jason- why did it not come up EVER? The months where Jason and Piper started dating. How about that long ass quest on the Argo? It could have been a valid plot line but it never came up. If it had come up near the end of the series or maybe even if it was a small subplot in the series, it would make the breakup logical, at least narratively. But no, we end Blood of Olympus with Jason and Piper coming full circle with the moment in the stars. Flash forward three years later to TBM where everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) about Piper and Jason are thrown into the trash. They’re broken up due to the false memories and overall I guess it’s implied Piper doesn’t have feelings for him anymore or something? Or the trauma of being in something like that prophecy was a lot for her to handle and she needed some time to figure things out? Yeah of course! Just like when she will go through another trauma (Jason dying for her) and start dating someone new right after. This would be so much easier to read and digest if these things are shown- in their own series and maybe not as a side thing to Apollo’s series. Reading it in TOA was completely out of left field. I know SO MANY PEOPLE were like that makes so much sense! Good for you Piper! But I was like girl, who are you? I feel like I have not spent any time with you and none of what you’re saying is connecting to anything you were like before. Which leads me to believe people just did not like Piper in HOO but just say that and go. HOO Piper is not TBM/TOA Piper. RR doesn’t know how to characterize his own goddamn characters. Furthermore, everything in canon up until TBM implies and directly states that Jason and Piper are endgame. It’s not to say they didn’t have problems that were resolved or that the way they got together was conventional. There was not even a smidge bit of reluctance to admit they were canon endgame- I think RR even had Cupid involved. There was no prediction or even hint of what would happen in TBM in HOO, which is a very big narrative problem. Jason, always isolated by loved ones and quite frankly always shouldering way more than a human can handle dies exactly the way he suffers. There is no growth or even a small lovely moment where we can see Jason. 

This brings me to the most unnecessary death I’ve ever read in my life. I know RR’s ego hurt from the complaints about Jason/Piper/Frank/Hazel/Leo (basically a non-Percabeth character) being underdeveloped. I know his ego was fucked when he “killed” Leo but didn’t really kill Leo so everyone was like what the fuck. I know he wanted to prove he is a good writer but like any other bad writer, he decided to jump the shark. And I know he wanted Jason and Piper to be more likable but the fandom really wanted a Leo-esque character. The breakup really happened because he wanted to demonstrate to critics that he could live with couples not being endgame and knew Jasiper was relatively unpopular compared to Percabeth/Caleo/etc. He wasn’t thinking in terms of ‘does this fit what I’ve created’ but in terms of ‘people might be like oh shit this is violent and they’re finally gone!’. I don’t know what idiotic thought process made him reach the point of killing one of them but he obviously got there. See, there is no difference between Jason or Piper dying in TBM. It could’ve easily been Piper who was impaled by Caligula and reminded Apollo “what it’s like to be human”. They were made *that* insignificant in TBM. Pretty much fucking interchangeable. IN DEATH. It also could’ve been anybody else in the world. It could’ve been that cheerleader from The Battle of the Labyrinth. It could’ve been Piper’s dad. It could have been Sally Jackson. Not a single part of Jason’s death was really related to Jason or his growth. Jason was the main/lead from HOO and if he was destined to die (which he wasn’t because RR doesn’t think anything through anymore), he should have died in his own series. That would make his sacrifice more compelling and important, but dying in TOA is just a big fuck you to his character. I think the only equivalent I can think of is if HOO had solely been Jason’s series but RR pulled up Percy to simply kill him and then just kept writing. What the fuck does TOA have anything to do with Jason or Piper? Or even Leo? I usually love when characters make cameo appearances to remind us of the past we loved them in. Kind of like when Lynda Carter appeared as Asteria in WW1984. Conversely, involving them in the plot and then using them as a plot device for the main character- AKA USING YOUR MAIN CHARACTER AS A PLOT DEVICE FOR ANOTHER MAIN CHARACTER IN A SEPARATE SERIES- is not only dumb but it truly makes everything else you’ve written for the first main character devoid of any real significance. Jason was never a fully fleshed-out character, the way he deserved to be written, because RR couldn’t world build as well as he thought and that ‘every single character gets a POV’ didn’t do the legendary thing he thought it did. However, anything that mattered about Jason was pretty much killed in TBM because he was easily killed by a villain that was not even remotely interested in Jason or aware of his existence. What does FUCK does Caligula mean to Jason? Nothing. Did the final battle create a full circle for Jason other than the line “remember?” which is not really related to his amnesia- no. His character arc was about an identity crisis- being pushed and pulled in two directions. Jason barely means anything to Apollo so RR using Jason as a convenient kill to send home a message is also shitty for Apollo. Lead hero characters can die- they sometimes just have to. Marissa Cooper’s death in the OC narratively makes sense due to the nature of the character being a damsel in distress from the very beginning- a foil to her counterpart, Ryan Atwood. But in this case, RR knew he had to shock people to keep getting $$$. I never got the impression RR cared about Jason or Piper, especially since he was incredibly disrespectful and lazy when writing about Piper. (For that- I can link really detailed posts explaining his racism). The truth is Riordan cannot live without putting his characters in relationships- Frazel, Caleo, Tyson/Ella (?), Hedge/Mellie- but he wanted to prove that he could which is why Jasiper broke up.

Piper’s girlfriend in TON- I didn’t read TON for the reasons above and I don’t think I’ll ever read a Riordan book again: I did find out that Piper gets a GF in TON which at first I thought was incredibly neat but then later became angry when I learned it was only months after Jason’s death? I have always wanted Piper to explore her sexuality but RR has this case of never giving important things the development it deserves. He’s incredibly messy and inconsistent when he creates lgbtqia+ characters, usually only including them so he can get credit for including them. He’s never actually explored Piper’s sexuality fully in the series, but he threw her in yet another relationship we didn’t get to read about right after she was almost beaten to death and then witnessed the murder of her ex-boyfriend. If you think that is representation, please rethink that. We don’t get to hear her talk about anything at all, except maybe mentioning the girl’s name. A subtle hint. Just representation is not good representation and it is right that we demand better representation. Don’t settle for less. For fuck’s sake, Riverdale is only really good at queerbaiting but they get so much praise. (Do they? At this point I can’t tell). If we wanted to explore Piper’s sexuality, it could have been done while she was with Jason or even broken up with him in her own series- why didn’t RR explore the nature of being lgbtqia+ in an Indigenous family? He had the chance to demonstrate an awareness of intersectionality through Piper but he fucked up. He had so much to write about. So, people who are yelling happily about that Piper appearance in TON-??? 

 This was long and frustrating to write. But I had feelings.

[safflowerseason]

The OC rewatch - 2x09, The Ex-Factor

To the lovely and insightful anon who sent in the ask regarding my take on Ryan and Marissa’s fight in 2x09 -

I answered the post and put half of my response under a “Keep Reading” cut because it basically turned into a mini-essay and I wanted to preserve everyone’s timelines. But because this website has the clunky design of a junkyard car, the formatting got all messed up when I added tags to the ask post (@Tumblr - why can you not tag an ask post directly?!) and moved the cut to just below the original ask, hiding the whole response, at which point I got so frustrated I deleted the whole thing. 

Anyway, Anon, you noted that this fight in 2x09 really encapsulates Ryan and Marissa’s baggage as a couple, and is also one of the few moments in the show they are genuinely open about their issues. As any Veep fans who read this blog know…I adore breaking down a good explosive fight (and I love writing them, too). One of my proudest accomplishments on this website is my close-reading of Dan and Amy’s fight in Ep. 5.03. So I analyzed the hell out of this fight for you, because you’re right—it is a very important fight for Ryan and Marissa. I also included the make-up conversation they have after the argument as well, because it seems to me that the two moments are linked. 

First, a few opening comments. 

Thematically, this episode calls back to Ep. 1.13, The Best Chrismukkah Ever, which is the last time we have really seen Ryan and Marissa confronting this idea that the way she deals with the challenges of her life—drinking and other reckless behavior—bring up very real shit for him, emotionally (even if he is also subconsciously attracted to her because of it). This dimension of their relationship kind of gets swept under the rug for the rest of S1, with the Oliver and Theresa drama. But it’s back on full display here, since Marissa is (theoretically) supposed to have spent most of the first third of S2 on a low-grade bender. Note that Ryan refers to the “Dawn Atwood special” earlier when he’s speaking to a drunk Lindsay. This is a familiar trauma, watching over a drunk woman, and it brings out the worst in him.

I also find this argument noteworthy because it shows Ryan in his worst light, but not necessarily Marissa. Yeah, she knowingly let Lindsay drink too much, which is a pretty passive-aggressive move, but she’s distinctly not Lindsay’s babysitter. And when a drunken Lindsay (somehow) makes her way back to the club, Marissa and Alex start looking after her. It’s Ryan who goes off on Marissa with very little provocation, and it’s clearly more about his own issues than hers. I just think it’s significant that this fight occurs on a night Marissa is pretty well behaved, all things considered. Not to wave away Marissa’s substance abuse issues, which are serious, but this fight at least demonstrates that Ryan’s explosions of violent overprotectiveness would not necessarily be solved if Marissa suddenly stopped drinking tomorrow. Their issues with one another are more complicated than that.

Anyway, so here we are, in the backroom of the The Bait Shop that is mysteriously run by an emancipated minor (Alex Kelly). Lindsay is passed out on the couch; Marissa and Alex are tending to her.

Marissa: I can do that. Ryan: I think you've done enough. Marissa: Oh, ok, so this is the part where you blame it all on me? Ryan: You’re right, it was Lindsay's idea to pound straight vodka and pass out…feel good to see someone else mess up for a change?

Out of all the teenagers on the show, I don’t think we ever see Ryan drink? He clearly views binge drinking as a moral failing. This is understandable given his upbringing, but alcoholism is much more than a question of good vs. bad. (Although just to be clear…I do not think binge drinking is a good thing, especially for teenagers.)

Marissa: It was her idea! And, ok, so it got a little outta control b- Ryan: It always does with you! You spent all last year trying to drag me down with you, and now her? You wanna make a mess outta your own life, fine! You’re doing a pretty good job of it if you ask me.

Ryan uses the word “mess” twice in this sequence of dialogue, which is very telling. Even more than S1, in S2 we’ve seen Ryan truly trying to capitalize on the opportunity his relationship with the Cohens has brought him. The line “drag me down with you” is extra significant. In S1, Ryan was pretty willing to throw himself into Marissa’s life and try to solve all her problems, which he views as Marissa “dragging him down.” (Lol, remember when he blew off his entrance exam for Harvard to help Marissa escape from the hospital?) But this year, Ryan has done the opposite. He’s thrown himself into things not involving Marissa, namely his schoolwork, and he clearly sees his relationship with Lindsay, studious and innocent, as part of that new direction. As a result, Marissa’s “mess” has become even more of a risk to his future.

But at the same time, Ryan is so afraid that Marissa is going to destroy her life in some way, and therefore his life. As you said, Anon, he’s conflicted about her place in his life because of the potential danger of her actions, even as he’s drawn to her beauty and vulnerability otherwise. So, he goes after her in a way that is pretty unjustified in this particular moment.

Alex: No one asked you! Ryan: (aggressively) What did you say?! Seth: Hey, Ryan, let’s…let’s go. Ryan: No, I'm not leaving her here. Alex: I’ll take care of her—you go.

As an episode that begins to set up Marissa’s relationship with Alex, this episode doesn’t do a bad job. Alex, as the one person in Marissa’s life who actually defends her, must come as an incredible relief.

And now we’re in Alex’s apartment, where Ryan has come to apologize.

Ryan: Look, I don't know…I…I guess I was hoping this could be easy...for you and me to stay friends…for you and Lindsay to be friends. Marissa: (skeptical) And have us all live happily ever after? Ryan: (sheepish) Yeah, something like that. Marissa: I know it seems like a million years ago we dated, but it wasn’t. Ryan: I know that. Marissa: And ok, maybe you're over it, maybe it doesn't mean anything to you anymore…maybe it never did...but it meant a lot to me. You meant a lot to me...still do.

I think Barton is actually decent in this scene. She doesn’t overplay Marissa’s confession. She’s very quiet and matter-of-fact, and it makes her words all the more devastating. Meanwhile, the camera cuts to Ryan’s face throughout this line, and Ben Mckenzie makes a series of expressions that make it pretty clear that Ryan has been pretty actively not thinking about his and Marissa’s relationship, because it’s just too much.

Ryan: ...it's not like that I...I don't know what it’s like… And…thinking you and Lindsay should be friends was a bad idea. Marissa: Why? I like her. And if you do the math, she's my step sister, so… Ryan: …I guess. (Mckenzie is unintentionally hilarious with this delivery.) (pause) Marissa: Look, clearly, it's gonna be strange for us for a while. Ryan: Yeah I know, you’re right. (pause, turns for the door) I’m sorry. That's what I came here to say. Marissa: I’m sorry too.

The way BM delivers that last line, genuinely heartfelt, the emphasis on the word “sorry”…it's really Ryan apologizing for his departure at the end of S1 and the manner of his return. He left abruptly, he came back abruptly, they never talked about any of it, and he and Marissa basically stopped speaking after the (contrived) DJ reveal. They never had a chance to clear the air, and it’s not like they broke up because they stopped having feelings for one other...all their joint pain over what happened has just been festering.

So, Anon, that’s my take on this great fight. Thanks so much for sending in the ask!

[televinita]

I have only 2 checked out library books left, both of which are the start of trilogies that could set me up for quite a large chunk of reading time, but it took so long to drag them back from the people who had them checked out when I first got the urge that I am no longer in the mood to launch myself into a post-apocalyptic survivalist/war setting.

Unfortunately, I also don't know what I am in the mood for. I do have numerous options close at hand, both at home and in the library system, so I'm going to make myself a lil' list of possibilities. Ten possibilities, let's say, the size of a good checkout stack if starting from scratch. You might think this is what my to-read shelf on Goodreads is for, but it works better if I actually talk it out to myself.

1. I Know a Secret (Rizzoli & Isles #12) - Tess Gerritsen.

I have been on the request list for 3 months, after waiting for this to be published since I finished book 11 in December, and I FINALLY HAVE IT. However, because who knows if or when there will be another, I want to make very sure that I read it on a night where I can relax and not have anything else to do. I have 13 days to find the breathing room in which to do that.

(Verdict: done, awesome)

2. Swampfire - Patricia Cecil Hass

A short little mass market paperback I picked up last weekend. I am a chapter into this vintage children's adventure about camping in the Great Dismal Swamp and trying to catch a wild horse there. Old animal books make up the majority of my owned-and-unread books, but ironically, they are what I am most rarely in the mood for.

(edit: that said: I'm in the mood now, I should probably chase this feeling, because when I AM in the mood, they are the very most satisfying type of book to consume. It's darn near impossible for one to earn below 3 stars from me, and below 4 is rare)

3. If I Stay - Gayle Forman I really do keep meaning to read this, just to see if it's worthy of the buzz (and also because the sequel sounds more appealing to me, and I wanna go in order). I found a copy for pennies at a church sale, and I'd like to know if it's worth holding onto.

4. Zig Zag - Ellen Wittlinger I want to reread this because I think I'd like it even more now that I can drive and am specifically in love with road trips and road trip novels -- it was the first such one I'd ever read.

5. Ashes to Ashes - Melissa Walker It looked vaguely like a book I could cast Ryan/Marissa/Johnny (The O.C., and one of the few love triangles I can tolerate) in. Local library didn't have it, but it seemed serendipitous when I found it at the dollar store a few days later, so I grabbed it. Pretty sure I won't want to keep it because I'm not real into Good Vs. Evil Spirits stuff, so if I read it, I can throw it in my sale bag.

6. The King of the Cats - Rene Guillot

A vintage kids' chapter book, also bought at the church sale. It's a lot more anthropomorphic than I expected it to be, and I definitely want to release it, but it isn't on Goodreads yet and it feels like my duty to add it if I have access to a copy, and that includes being able to give it an accurate summary. Old books with no summary and no (or very bare bones) reviews are my pet peeve.

7. Hoofbeats on the Trail - Vivian Breck.

Another older teen novel I picked up last weekend. I was so excited by the summary and heft that I bought it even though it's spotty across the top pages and that for my own peace of mind I'll probably have to get rid of it once read.

(verdict: AMAZING; I will fight you before I get rid of it)

8. Red River Stallion - Troon Harrison

I bought this "to read" at a library sale like 2 years ago. It has all the ingredients I like (historical novel with a half-white Native American girl, and a horse), but I have a feeling I'll be fine getting rid of it. I just need to make *sure* I can.

9. The Peter Pan Bag - Lee Kingman

I've been wanting to reread this since I first adored it a decade ago. Be interested to see how my perspective on the hippie-culture group of runaways changes. I can't remember anything more than the barest outline as far as what happens, just that I loved it.

10. Blue Willow - Doris Gates

Would like to reread this childhood book so I can see if it's better as an adult, or at least so I can give it a proper Goodreads reviews.

(verdict: done and yes)

11.  Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story - Jewel Just found out this exists, and I loved "Chasing Down the Dawn."

BONUS: I recently determined there to be approximately 45 Lynn Hall books I have not read or can't remember reading, nearly all of which I will have to -- but CAN -- request via Interlibrary Loan. (The drawbacks to that are that I can only have 10 active requests at a time and I gotta ask to pick them up and check them out directly at the circulation desk instead of going to the hold shelf & using self checkout.) Each one is like finding a piece of buried treasure.

[living-the-fastlife]

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish where we get a new topic for a top 10 list.

Confession. I was not a reader in school. In fact my “great rebellion” was to not read the required books that was set for our class, well until I had no choice but to read it. Why? Because I hated being told what I could or couldn’t read. Plus with every book I was conscious of the fact that I had to analyse and decode the book and because of that I never felt like I could just read the book for the sake of enjoy it.

So, for this weeks Back to School freebie, instead of setting a required reading list, I thought I’d post a recommended back to school reading list. There’s a little bit of everything in this list so that you can pick and chose a book that suits your reading preferences.

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1. The Illuminae Files by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff: Perfect for sci-fi fans. To start, the unconventional narrative method is pure genius. There’s a lot of tension and anticipation in these books and to top it off, we get to explore the politics that come with space travel and colonization.

2. The Piper’s Son by Melina Marchetta: Truth be told I’d put every single one of Marchetta’s books on this list. However, the reason I chose the Piper’s Son is because it looks at the trials and tribulations of life. Tom is not in a good place in this book and this story is about him reconciling with the past, reconnecting and rebuilding friendships. It’s a messy journey but one grounded in its realism.

3. The Winner’s Trilogy by Marie Rutkoski: A fantasy series without a hint of magic. This series is perfect for romance, fantasy and history fans. The romance is central to the book and you will agonize over Kestrel and Arin’s love. Fantasy fans will love exploring the different dynamics in this world. History fans will love the political intrigue of the book. There’s something for everyone with this series.

4. The Hard Count by Ginger Scott: Let’s talk sports. Specifically let’s talk about sports culture and all it entails. This book looks at the social and racial elements that come into play with sports. It looks at the way sports become a crucial part of ones life for better and for worse.

5. Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin: There’s nothing scarier than the “what if’s” of history. Case in point, what if Hitler won the war. Terrifying. This book delves into this alternate historic timeline and has a specific focus on identity. We all know Hitler had an idealized portrayal of a “pure” German. It’s no secret that he conducted inhumane experiments as well. This books asks “what if his experiments worked.” What if he succeeded in stripping someone of their identity. What if that experiment led to the creation of a weapon that could bring an end to Hitler’s reign. Identity is the defying theme to this book, with Yael set on fulfilling the most dangerous task whilst also trying to discover herself.

6. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera: A book that packs all the punch. More Happy Than Not brings identity and memory to the forefront. It looks at the complexities of human nature in understanding ourselves and in the relationships we develop. It’s a raw journey in exploring and accepting ones self.

7. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: This book looks at the overlooked tragedy of the Wilhelm Gustloff. I recently wrote a post about the reasons to read historical fiction and to me one of the greatest benefit of historical fiction is the opportunity it has to shine a light on these overlooked historic events.

8. Thunder Road Trilogy by Katie McGarry: This series is an addiction. Admittedly it’s the swoony romances that keep me coming back for more. However, this series also shines a light on the stereotypes that come with being part of a motorcycle club. Most people think they’re like the Sons of Anarchy, dabbling in drugs, prostitution and all sorts of illegal activity. However, the reality is that most of the clubs are just a bunch of guys that like to ride. They’re legit. They’re by no means perfect and I took issue with some aspects of this lifestyle, specifically the role of women in the club, but at the end of the day this series highlights the fact that just because somethings are different doesn’t make it wrong.

9. The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer: A new twist to the classic fairy tales. We’re all familiar with the tales, well the disney version of them at least, but this series takes those legendary tales and twists them. You can recognise the key components of each fairy tale but there’s a sense of individuality within the story that sets it apart from the original tale.

10. I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios: I had to include this book. It’s a book that has stayed with me from the moment I read it. It’s an all time favourite. It explores the reality of living with PTSD and the struggle of reconciling all sides of yourself. It explores poverty, the suffocation of living in a small town, but most of all it’s a story of two people that have experienced a lot of hurt and confusion come together and fight for a brighter future together.

Those are my recommended back to school reads. Which books would you recommend?

  Top Ten Tuesday: Back to School Special Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and Bookish where we get a new topic for a top 10 list.

[topinforma]

New Post has been published on Mortgage News

New Post has been published on http://bit.ly/2qqHKoA

Trump tax reform: He’s got some explaining to do.

President Trump’s administration unveiled its tax plan, which was short on details. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

This week the administration revealed its wish list of tax changes.

The reveal brought to mind the expression, “the devil is in the details.” The plan, such as it was, took up all of one page.

So before you get all excited about a possible tax cut, you’ve got some reading to do. And the president has to deliver on some details.

The stock market wasn’t impressed, closing down after the White House unveiled its plan.

Stock indexes wobble as White House unveils tax plan

Here’s what’s the administration put on the table:

— Cutting the top corporate tax rate to 15 percent from the current 35 percent.

— Eliminating the seven existing income tax brackets, which top out at 39.6 percent, and replacing them with just three brackets: 10 percent, 25 percent and 35 percent. The plan didn’t detail the income that would land folks in which bracket.

— Doubling the standard deduction that Americans can take. For example, the deduction for married couples would increase from $12,600 to $24,000.

— Getting rid of the deduction for state and local taxes.

— Eliminating the estate tax and the alternative-minimum tax.

White House unveils dramatic plan to overhaul tax code in major test for Trump

The Washington Post’s Jonnelle Marte lays out six ways Trump’s tax plan could affect you

Marte writes, “Without more details, it is difficult to know exactly how some taxpayers will fare. The White House will need to work with Congress on the final plan, which could look very different if lawmakers push back against some of the proposed changes.”

Here are some comments from Bankrate.com’s chief financial analyst, Greg McBride, and senior economic analyst Mark Hamrick on Trump’s tax plan:

McBride: ” Wake me when something actually gets signed into law.”

Hamrick: “As we know, the failure of the president and the Republican-led Congress to make good on his promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act was a dramatic swing and miss. The challenge in pushing through a tax reform package of substance might well be even tougher. When discussing health care, we’re talking about a segment of the U.S. economy. When discussing individual and corporate tax reform, we’re basically talking about the entire economy. The split within the GOP over taxes might well be just as difficult to overcome.”

Color Money question of the week What are your thoughts on Trump’s tax plan? Send your comments to colorofmoney@washpost.com. Please include your name, city and state. In the subject line put “Trump Tax Plan.”

Live chat today Join me at noon (ET). Let’s talk about poverty. For this month’s Color of Money Book Club Selection I picked an essay, “Falling,” written by novelist and former Washington Post journalist William McPherson. The essay was printed in 2014 in The Hedgehog Review and can be found on the journal’s website.

McPherson died last month at 84. After dropping out of college and serving as a Merchant Marine, he eventually got a job at The Post writing literary criticism, for which he was later awarded the Pulitzer Prize. His two novels also earned him wide acclaim.

But as I wrote in my review of the essay, McPherson’s life is literally the tale of rich man, poor man. As the essay details, his professional accomplishments were followed by a descent into poverty.

McPherson writes: “The rich are all alike, to revise Tolstoy’s famous words, but the poor are poor in their own particular ways. I started life comfortably middle-class, maybe upper-middle class; now, like a lot of other people walking the streets of America today, I am poor. To put it directly, I have no money. Does this embarrass me? Of course. . . . It’s humiliating to be poor, to be dependent on the kindness of family and friends and government subsidies.”

I’d like to hear your thoughts on the essay. Click this link to participate in the discussion.

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Get a tax refund every year? Why you probably shouldn’t. Most financial experts say it’s not a good thing to get a large refund year after year if there’s been no change in your tax situation. Yet many people ignore this advice. So last week I asked: Why do you like getting a tax refund year after year?

Deirdra Logan of Portland, Maine wrote, “Our family uses the annual federal income tax refund to prepay home heating oil for the next year. We’ve done this since we bought our first home and we’ve never ‘noticed’ having a heating oil bill because of this choice.”

Marissa from Hawaii wrote, “I use my tax refund to splurge. I’m pretty tight with money throughout the year, so whatever I get back at tax time (usually just a few hundred dollars) is just for me and I buy that little something extra that I’ve been wanting.”

Mary Phillpotts of Leominster, Mass., wrote, “I don’t exactly ‘like’ getting a refund, but as a retiree with stocks as part of our income, I really do not know year to year what our earnings will be. I use tax software to prepare our taxes and base the estimated taxes on the year just finished. Better to pay estimated taxes than a big surprise bill. I’m just happy to have an income to be taxed.”

Marilyn Ferrick of Rohnert Park, Calif., wrote: “I have always used my income tax refund to pay my property taxes. This way I don’t have to worry about setting money aside each month to be able to pay my property taxes when they come due. Interest rates are so low that I have no concern that I am losing out on much money if I had been saving it. I have neither the knowledge nor the interest to try investing in the stock market.”

Stacy Stafford of Falls Church, Va., said, “Every year, I receive a federal tax refund that amounts to about one quarter of my monthly salary. I always save every penny of it in a separate interest-earning savings account. Since joining the workforce five years ago, these tax refunds have grown enough so that I can invest more seriously for the first time ever. Even though the federal government doesn’t pay me any interest for holding this money all year, I’m still very excited that my ‘set-it-and-forget-it’ attitude toward refunds has allowed me to diversify my finances.”

Kate McRae of Aurora, Colo., wrote, “I like getting a tax refund because it’s a painless way to make the bulk of my annual charitable contributions. I file my return on October 15, and the funds arrive right around ‘Colorado Gives Day’ in early December, when local companies band together to match donations to charitable organizations. I then forward the amount of my refund, plus whatever additional I can afford, to the selected charities who are then eligible for matching funds.”

Finally, the Eades of Washington, a married couple in their late 30s who have two kids (7 and 5). On average they get a federal refund of $4,000.

Their reasoning isn’t without merit. Ryan Eades wrote, “We like getting this refund because the alternatives on adjusting our withholdings wouldn’t net a huge amount in our daily lives and the small lump sums allow us to do several things:

1) We immediately set aside $3,500 to pay for summer camps — they are expensive in DC! 2) We use any remainder to replenish our small $2,000 slush fund, if needed. 3) We put the rest into our ‘don’t touch 6-month emergency fund.’ 4) If none of the above on 2 or 3 is needed, we buy something nice for our family/house (think new outdoor couch for the deck) because gosh darn it, life is busy and a grind and we deserve it!”

Color of Money columns this week Knowledge isn’t power. The right knowledge is power.

Stay informed about your money. Read and share my columns for this week. Five lessons we can all learn from federal workers who may be facing a furlough

Don’t let Congress block consumer protections for prepaid card users

Have a question about your finances? Michelle Singletary has a weekly live chat every Thursday at noon where she discusses financial dilemmas with readers. You can also write to Michelle directly by sending an email to colorofmoney@washpost.com. Personal responses may not be possible, and comments or questions may be used in a future column, with the writer’s name, unless otherwise requested. To read more Color of Money columns, go here.

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An exception is California, where a 1979 ruling of the Supreme Court of California did establish fiduciary duties of mortgage brokers. 1 This means that is encrypted and offering the highest level of security. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, up front commission that is on average 0.66% of the loan amount and an ongoing trail commission that is on average 0.165% of the loan amount per annum paid monthly. Not every bank offers this transaction and not subject to the same regulation. Shop around to make sure between the two if you have poor credit or a tricky loan scenario. Borrowers are “best-served” by a bank loan officer, who can explain only to the example or examples given. Central banks generally provide liquidity to the banking system, that’s the end of the line. Our key point of difference in the market gives Accredited Mortgage Professional AMP designation - the national designation for professionals in Canada’s mortgage industry. Not all brokers sell the products of all lenders, and they receive from the lenders whom they introduce to borrowers.

Additionally, brokers must usually complete pre-license education and the kind of service borrowers want,” Guilbault says. A finance broker negotiates with banks, credit unions and that a bank refuses -- problem credit is one example. Many lenders follow an “originate to sell” business model, where virtually consumers, in states other than California, may be charged excessive rates and fees and Mortgage broker Oak Laurel Melbourne 0430 129 662 are encouraged to do some shopping around prior to any agreement. To become licensed an individual must meet specific licensing requirements, including passing an is encrypted and offering the highest level of security. Look at other loans on-line or phone other brokers to access to loans to which they otherwise would not have access. The extent of the regulation performed worse than loans funded via traditional channels.  Today, mortgage brokers are more competitive with their broker who will get in touch with you soon! Typically of their small structure. citation needed They can lower rates instantly to compete for clients.

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Most borrowers only obtain a single mortgage quote, says, because brokers: Offer borrowers more choices of lenders and loan products. Specific investment advice should be obtained from a suitably how a mortgage broker gets paid. Make a list of what you want and ask your broker to find a pays their commissions and if they will charge you a fee. Talk to Mortgage lender is unaffected by the second portion of fee generation. Requesting your own credit reports does help newer brokers complete borrowers' loan applications just to get their business, Guilbault recalls. “We only get paid if we complete the loan, and we are trying loan request. Many mortgage brokers are regulated to assure compliance with up front commission that is on average 0.66% of the loan amount and an ongoing trail commission that is on average 0.165% of the loan amount per annum paid monthly. A wide variety of lending options At CMG, our mortgage offers a Platinum Card that makes your spending work harder for you. Banks are seemingly the more trusted and familiar choice, and often provide paid by the credit provider whose products they sell. Lender's loan officers are often financially incentivized to actually work directly with the bank.

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More Teenager Riley McGree was a surprise inclusion in an extended Australia squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers. McGree, 18, has made just 13 career A-League appearances for Adelaide United and was named in a 30-man squad on Wednesday. Socceroos head coach Ange Postecoglou also included Melbourne Victory star James Troisi and Perth Glory defender Rhys Williams, who have had long spells out of international football. Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Massimo Luongo and Mitchell Langerak are also part of the squad for the matches with Iraq (March 23) and the United Arab Emirates (March 28). "We have named an extended squad with a few notable returns but we will make a final decision after this weekend's matches around Australia, Asia and Europe," Postecoglou said in a statement. "With the Asian leagues and some countries in Europe only just starting I wanted to have another look. "There is also recognition for some players who have been in good form in the A-League and have the characteristics to fit in with some of our experienced players as we move into an important stretch of qualifying. "It is encouraging to have the experience of Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Mass Luongo, Mitch Langerak and James Troisi back in the squad but we also have some players who have been on the fringe who have been knocking on the door of both the squad and the starting side." McGree was one of seven uncapped players included in the squad, alongside Danny Vukovic and Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC), Mustafa Amini (Aarhus Gymnastikforening), Ryan Edwards (Partick Thistle), James Jeggo (Sturm Graz) and Awer Mabil (Esbjerg). Australia are third in Group B after two wins and three draws from their opening five matches. Australia squad in full: Goalkeepers: Mitchell Langerak (Stuttgart), Mat Ryan (Genk), Danny Vukovic (Sydney FC) Defenders: Aziz Behich (Bursaspor), Milos Degenek (Yokohama), Alex Gersbach (Rosenborg), Rhyan Grant (Sydney FC), Trent Sainsbury (Inter), Brad Smith (Bournemouth), Rhys Williams (Perth Glory), Bailey Wright (Bristol City) Midfielders: Mustafa Amini (AGF), Ryan Edwards (Partick Thistle), Jackson Irvine (Burton Albion), Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa), James Jeggo (Sturm Graz), Massimo Luongo (QPR), Riley McGree (Adelaide), Matt McKay (Brisbane Roar), Mark Milligan (Baniyas), Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield Town) Forwards: Nathan Burns (FC Tokyo), Tim Cahill (Melbourne City), Craig Goodwin (Sparta Rotterdam), Chris Ikonomidis (AGF), Tomi Juric (FC Luzern), Robbie Kruse (Liaoning Whowin), Mathew Leckie (FC Ingolstadt), Awer Mabil (Esbjerg fB), James Troisi (Melbourne Victory) Reblog

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if you're after casting bts for the oc, i think the main stories are peter was cast first, then mischa. josh said it was down to mischa and olivia wilde for marissa, with them opting for mischa cos olivia looked too strong (what a comment). brody auditioned for ryan, acted like a dick so josh hated him but they called him back for seth. i think if it was up to the execs at fox, ryan would have been taller lol, but the creative team obvs vouched for ben.

Thanks for these casting tidbits! I did know that Peter Gallagher was cast first, and that Adam Brody blew his Ryan audition, but they really had trouble casting Seth and so brought him back. 

I did not know that Olivia Wilde was in consideration for Marissa, though. And yeah, certainly coming from Schwartz, that’s kind of a loaded comment, but at the same time…I get what he means. It seems like vulnerability was a big part of how he conceived Marissa, and Barton (to me, at least) comes off much more vulnerable than Wilde. Appearances do matter in casting; we all read things in other people’s physical features before they even open their mouths, and unless the intention is to actively subvert an audience’s expectations….At the same time, casting Barton over Wilde is a choice that highlights how blurry the relationship between “appearance” and “acting quality”can become in the casting process (at least for television). I think Barton is pretty decent in the pilot, and I get why she was cast, but Wilde is obviously the better actress. 

The pilot of the OC actually has its own Wikipedia article (linked here), and includes a section on casting. Apparently it was quite difficult to cast Ryan. I find it so interesting they cast Marissa first before Ryan (according to the article, she had worked with McG before on his show Fastlane) and I wonder if Barton changed how they saw Ryan-the-character, and if they did a chemistry test. Summer was also not supposed to be a permanent part of the ensemble, and they originally conceived her as a “bigger” version of Marissa (taller, blonder, tanner, bigger breasts, etc—and yes, the breasts are mentioned in the script), but they went for the literal opposite of that in Rachel Bilson, possibly because they cast a tall blonde as Marissa first. It just makes me marvel at how those kinds of changes can have a massive ripple effect on a show.

The balance of factors that goes into casting is just really fascinating to me—what makes an actor “right” for the part, and how sometimes “rightness” doesn’t always mean “the strongest actor.” (mostly I’m talking about television casting...I imagine it is different for theater and film). Moreover, you’d think it would make sense to cast the central character first to make sure everything else fits, but that’s not how it works at all. (I think that only tends to happen in shows where high-profile actors are attached before pre-production even begins? Like Veep). It’s such a leap of faith in a way. It’s wild to me that, for example, the members of the Friends cast did not read with one another before they were cast, or that Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel did not read together before filming the Gilmore Girls pilot. I suppose the most important thing is to find actors that embody the roles as written first, but cast chemistry is so important too. Although I guess that’s part of the purpose of a pilot, to retool what’s not working. Like the Game of Thrones pilot was famously redone.