A bill proposal could introduce a new, revolutionary tax unseen by people across the nation. This new single consumption tax is both widely supported and criticized all for different reasons.

The introduction of Amendment LR300CA would do away with all forms of consumption tax for a single, more sustained tax. The Single Consumption Tax would be a fixed rate depending on the income that would benefit the entire state. Citizens and the unicameral body should approve of this new proposal and its revolutionary ideas.

To start, a consumption tax is any tax placed on a purchased good or service. As an example, an Excise Tax is a tax placed on goods related to alcohol and tobacco products. Consumption taxes are usually determined by federal and state governing bodies on the type of good. The rate of tax applied to the good can vary on whether it is considered to be a necessity (like any food product) or a luxury. Using this perception, the government chooses the set rate for the type of good.

The first and most unique aspect of the proposal would be to do away entirely with all other forms of consumption tax. Income tax, sales tax, and property taxes would all be eliminated for Nebraskans. This would eliminate any type of “hidden taxes” as described by the proposer, Senator Steve Erdman. Erdman believes the Single Consumption Tax will really help the more impoverished people of Nebraska.

The income tax rate in Nebraska ranges from 1.8% to 2%. Because of this, Nebraska is ranked as one of the top 10 most burdensome states in the country for income taxation. Once the income tax is removed, Erdman hopes for people to flock to Nebraska for both retirement and occupational living.

As Erdman claims, one of the main appeals of the new proposal would be a mass rebate. Citizens with families or those who are at risk of being impoverished would receive a tax return every month based on their living status and income (the same way citizens are taxed is decided).

Those on the opposite side claim that the proposed single consumption tax would take more from the middle class in order to pay for those under the poverty line. Another potential issue seen by those on the opposition believe that the new tax proposal would also tax food for the first time. Erdman also has a way to fix this potential issue.

Another way to cut costs and maximize spending potential is presented within the proposal. Several government establishments build around taxes would be deconstructed and decommissioned. This would potentially help the Nebraskan government to put money into other, potentially more important government foundations.

We as Nebraskans should consider this proposal, as it would cut down severely on taxes we would have to pay on a daily basis. The “hidden” taxes would vanish, leaving more money in your pocket. Come general election season we will see if the rest of Nebraska is ready to embrace these new ideas.

I am quite heavy into movies and movie culture, but one of my longest-running passions is music. Music has helped me get through a lot of hard times during my life when I had nowhere else to turn to. Music being my go-to for any sort of time filler, I’ve learned to expand my horizons and branch out into several different genres.

My top 5 favorite genres (in no particular order) are: Synthwave, Black/Thrash Metal, Grunge, Rock, and Indie.

Today I’ll be talking about the Indie album Everybody Works by artist Jay Som.

On my wall at home I have several hung vinyl records (of which I may review in the future). One of my most-desired to hang is Everybody Works. Only do I buy a record of an album if I find myself enjoying every song on its tracklist. That being said, Everybody Works may be one of the only albums I can listen to for hours without getting tired of the sound. While this was a hard choice between her other album, Turn Into, I think that Everybody Works is only slightly better.

I was trying to expand the aforementioned horizons of my music taste when I got a recommendation from Spotify: Jay Som. I listened to a few tracks when “For Light,” a song off of Everybody Works came on. At that moment, I was hooked. Jay Som really kicked off my interest in Indie-Rock as a whole. The lighthearted sound of the guitar combined with the drums and Melina Mae Duterte’s beautiful voice tie the album together in a way that can only be described as soothing.

The range of the album ensures the listener will not get tired of listening halfway through the album (like a certain favorite artist of mine’s new album…). Songs can range from the dreamy, sleepy-sounding “Bedhead” to the more upbeat, poppy “1 Billion Dogs.” The vocal range displayed by Duterte can also vary from a low, whispering hum to a higher-pitched, melodic tone.

Everybody Works is a great album to put on to lighten the mood or relax it. Jay Som has consistently put out solid EPs and albums since the release of the earlier album, Turn Into in 2016. Overall, the album is a must-listen for any lover of indie, rock, or both.
4.5/5

Links to Everybody Works:
Spotify
YouTube
iTunes

One of the first things I noticed in Art Cullen’s editorial work (especially in “Unveiling the Hidden Truth”) is his use of “we.” Most of the editorials we have read were written in more of a perspective from a group as a whole without the direct use of “we.” Cullen’s word choice is intentional, of course. The use of words like “we” show the impact of an event, belief, or movement on more than just a smaller group of people. Cullen is associating himself with those affected by what the main topic is, thus grounding the topic in a more personal sense.

Being from the Deep South, I find it hard to understand much of the struggles of farming and agriculture of which Cullen frequently writes about. With that being said, I think it’s most important to look at Cullen’s writing style.

As far as journalistic writing goes, Cullen seems to be an anomaly. He uses questions directly addressing the reader—a method not commonly seen in a report or story. With this technique, Cullen can involve the reader in an issue they may or may not know about. In his article “Unveiling the Hidden Truth,” Cullen writes:

“That’s fine, so far as it goes. That is all we are truly asking: How much is the bill and who is paying it?”

Not only is he writing in a semi-first person perspective, he is directly asking a question—rhetorical or not. Again, later in the article, Cullen talks directly to the reader as a person, not as a group. Cullen uses the word “you” when instructing the reader and when referring to an impact that will be had on the person Cullen is writing for. A seldom-seen use of near second person writing to keep the reader in the middle of the story at all times.

Cullen is also a very passionate writer, targeting those who are worthy of criticism in his eye. In the article “They Don’t Know,” Cullen launches an all-out assault on the supervisors of the Buena Vista county for their negligence and possible illegal dealings. Cullen contrasts the headline of the story with a sentence taking up its own paragraph.

Cullen once again chooses his words carefully. They should know, but in the end, they don’t know. Cullen’s editorial focuses on the incompetence of the supervisors while not explicitly stating they have committed any crimes. In the last sentence of the article, however, Cullen states that the supervisors, being unaware of who pays the bills they pass, could be committing malfeasance, yet never blatantly accuses them of doing so.

Overall, Art Cullen writes in a very personal, informal style of writing not commonly seen in editorials we’ve looked at. His focus on troublesome events and causes are passionately-written with a lot of personal sentiment injected into his editorials. Because of his unapologetic style of writing, Cullen has seen several Pulitzer Prizes in his career, and it’s easy to see why—being personal works.

A new bill proposal could introduce a new, revolutionary tax unseen by people across the nation. This new single consumption tax is both widely supported and criticized all for different reasons.

A consumption tax is a tax placed on any good or service purchased with money. This can be income, excise, or a sales tax. The introduction of Amendment LR300CA would do away with all of those taxes for a single, more sustained tax. The Single Consumption Tax would be a fixed rate depending on income that would benefit the entire state. Citizens and the unicameral body should approve of this new proposal and its revolutionary ideas.

The first and most unique aspect of the proposal would be to do away entirely with all other forms of consumption tax. This would eliminate any type of “hidden taxes” as described by the proposer, Senator Steve Erdman. Erdman believes the Single Consumption Tax will really help the more impoverished people of Nebraska. Erdman hopes to lead the nation with a new form of taxation.

The income tax rate in Nebraska ranges from 1.8 to 2%. Because of this, Nebraska is ranked as one of the top 10 most burdensome states in the country for income taxation. With the introduction of the new proposal, this tax would be entirely eliminated for all working citizens in the state.

Another one of the major appeals of the Single Income Tax would be the support of the lower class/impoverished citizens of Nebraska. If it gets signed into law, Amendment LR300CA would return all tax money taken from those beneath the Nebraska poverty line. The state would cover these mass tax returns with the taxes taken by those above the poverty line. This, of course, has drawn criticism from those on the opposing side of the proposal. Those on the opposite side claim that the proposed single consumption tax would take more from the middle class in order to pay for those under the poverty line. Another potential issue seen by those on the opposition believe that the new tax proposal would also tax food for the first time. Erdman also has a way to fix this potential issue.

Every month, every Nebraskan will receive a rebate of money taxed during the month’s duration. Erdman believes that this will offset the extra costs that may arise with the passing of the new proposal. Another way to cut the costs and maximize spending potential is presented within the proposal. Several government establishments build around taxes would be deconstructed and decommissioned. This would potentially help the Nebraskan government to put money into other, potentially more important government foundations.

If passed, the new proposal will take effect in 2022 on all new goods. All used goods (like those obtained from a thrift store) would not be taxed as to help those who frequently purchase pre-owned goods. Come this year’s general election, if approved, the amendment will be able to be voted on, and, if successful, will be signed into law. Only time will tell if this revolutionary new idea will be approved by the Nebraskan unicameral and the Nebraskan citizens, but if it does, the future for the state could look a lot more positive for those who need a helping hand.

This review is going to be a little shorter than usual, but rest assured, I’ll try to talk about the main points of the film

Nazis can be a very controversial topic to discuss. Moreover, making a comedic/dramatic story about Nazis can be even more controversial. I remember reading the comments section on Instagram when I saw a preview for Jojo Rabbit for the first time. Quite a lot of people figured the movie would be portraying Adolf Hitler in a humorous way and making the Nazis look less-than-vile. While that isn’t the case for Jojo Rabbit, the film does make satirical commentary on the Nazis and their methods, including mocking Hitler. If the viewer looks past the initial shock of the Nazi factor, they will find that Jojo Rabbit is a thoughtful, comedic, and emotional story about a young boy in a world he doesn’t understand.

Cinematography

Jojo Rabbit‘s shots are both meaningful and colorful. Many of the scenes in the film I audibly said “wow” to. Waititi’s shooting of the film does a fantastic job of making the drab and bleak world of Nazi Germany look colorful and exuberant through the eyes of a child. Reds and greens pop more than any other color in any given scene and when Jojo is with his mother, the scenes have a fuzzy, warm feeling. Very subtle details in Jojo Rabbit make the viewing experience of such a difficult topic easier on the eyes.

Characters

Without good characters, this film would be dead in the water. The casting was wonderfully done so that certain characters (such as the possibly closeted Captain Klenzendorf) can move you and show that not everything in Germany was black and white. Jojo’s mother, of course, being the most prominent example. Avoiding spoilers, the “good” characters do an excellent job of selling their values and the film would not nearly be the same without them. As for Jojo, child actors can be very hit-or-miss. That being said, Roman Davis absolutely knocks his performance out of the park as an eager and loyal 10-year-old boy. Davis can perform very serious and emotional moments in the film without coming off as stale or unconvincing (as many child actors have been known to be in the past). Of course most controversially, Taika Waititi’s portrayal of Adolf Hitler. While keeping a lot of seriousness in the role at times, Waititi plays the part exactly as he is imagined—the imaginary conjuration of a young boy who admires his leader and country. Because of that, Waititi’s take on Hitler is obviously one of mockery (let that not be ignored) while making him seem believable as the perfect image of a 10-year-old’s hero.

Sound

Much like a Tarantino film, Waititi uses a variety of songs etched into pop culture history to score Jojo Rabbit. The film soundtrack itself is pretty solid, while not including too many orchestral scores, using them only when necessary. Another creative aspect Jojo Rabbit uses is, as I’m sure you’ve heard if you’ve seen the trailer, is remaking songs in German instead of English. Although they aren’t period-friendly, the songs are catchy and fit the tone of the film.

The Weakest Aspect of the Film…

Keeping these reviews spoiler-free really is more effort than you may think…

Jojo Rabbit suffers from one glaring flaw that most films of its type do. The movie is both comedic and incredibly serious. At times during the film, the movie will jump between these two very quickly, almost jarringly and without warning. One moment there’s a lighthearted joke, the next you the viewer are thrown into a completely different world and are expected to accept the sudden change. This, I believe, is Jojo Rabbit‘s biggest flaw. The movie can balance between a comedy and a tragedy, but being both at the same time is what can lose the viewer.

All this being said, Jojo Rabbit is absolutely worth its Oscar-winning status. I would absolutely recommend watching this film if given the chance (despite any preconceived apprehensions). The film is both a good comedy and a well-executed drama, while sometimes muddling the two together. Overall Jojo Rabbit to me is a solid 8.5/10 and I would absolutely recommend this film.

Ah, where to begin? Needless to say, as a film enthusiast I find the Oscars entertaining. Although I know that there isn’t any real meaning behind the awards, I think it’s fun to root for a film you enjoyed. This post is going to be dedicated on the most of the nominations for this year’s Academy Awards and while adding my personal take.

#1 – Lead Actor

Nominees: ANTONIO BANDERAS, LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ADAM DRIVER, JOAQUIN PHOENIX, and JONATHAN PRYCE

This one (along with many) will likely be the most controversial. After watching Joker (2019) I can’t say I would think of a more fitting winner than Joaquin. I’ve seen Marriage Story and Once Upon a Time…, while I think performances by both DiCaprio and Driver are above and beyond the average film, Phoenix’s performance in Joker is perhaps one of the best displays I’ve seen.

The Joker Non-troversy

Might as well address this before getting further into the nominees—as many of them feature Joker. There has been a lot of negative press surrounding the film. The media made it out to look like there would be a mass-shooting during the showings. Constant reporting about the “dangers” the film would cause to the point National Guard were almost stationed at theaters around the country. Nothing happened to anybody who watched the film. Nobody committed any crimes in the name of the movie, and nobody was murdered for it. Yet the media tried to sink the movie. The film is great—clearly because of its nomination status—but it doesn’t deserve the constant slander news outlets have been attributing to it.

#2 – Supporting Actor

Nominees: TOM HANKS, ANTHONY HOPKINS, AL PACINO, JOE PESCI, and BRAD PITT

While I do love Scorsese and The Irishman, I have been a long-time fan of Brad Pitt. His role in Hollywood as the reliable-yet-tough good guy sold me. Ever since I saw Fight Club I think Pitt has been an amazing actor. The chemistry he and DiCaprio have in the film is just enjoyable to watch. Even the scenes when Pitt is on his own he does a good job selling the character. I’ve seen a lot of scathing criticism about Hollywood, though many of the people arguing against it claim to have not seen the movie (a very common theme with Joker as well, unsurprisingly). Pitt is a great supporting and I personally think he deserves this award.

#3 – Lead Actress

Nominees: CYNTHIA ERIVO, SCARLETT JOHANSSON, SAOIRSE RONAN, CHARLIZE THERON, and RENÉE ZELLWEGER

Scarlett Johansson is a hit-or-miss actress for me. As I’m sure you have gathered by now, I am not a fan of many Marvel movies. I can appreciate why people like them, but I don’t think they’re anything more than what they claim to be—superhero movies. Johansson in Marriage Story to me helped elevate the film. I don’t think she would have the same chemistry with Driver as another actress in her place. While I have seen Little Women and I do agree it is worthy of nominations, I feel like the powerful performance of Johansson here should not go unnoticed.

Jumping ahead a few nominations…

#4 – Best Cinematography

Nominees: The Irishman, The Lighthouse, JOKER, 1917, and Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood

The Lighthouse is hands-down the most uniquely-shot and visually inspired film of the nominees. While I do think every single nominee on the list is worthy of the Oscar (and having seen all of them), I wholeheartedly believe Jarin Blaschke poured his heart into the film. If you want to see me gush more about The Lighthouse, feel free to read my review here. All this being said, I predict that 1917 will take home the award, unfortunately.

#5 – International Film

Parasite. Without a doubt. Can’t recommend it enough. No debating here. The film speaks for itself.

#6 – Best Director

Nominees: Martin Scorsese, Todd Philips, Sam Mendes, Quentin Tarantino, and Bong Joon Ho

As much as I would love to see a director like Ho take home the award, it will most likely go to Scorsese. Personally I am quite alright with any of these individuals taking home the academy award, as they all have amazing directing talents and their films this Oscar season are all worthy of the award.

#7 – Best Picture

Nominees: Ford v. Ferrari, The Irishman, Jojo Rabbit, JOKER, Little Women, Marriage Story, 1917, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, and Parasite

This is one of the most controversial nominations yet, but it will be worth it in the end for whoever wins. The films nominated are all outstanding in their own ways and are all worthy of the title of best picture. That being said, my choice for the Best Picture in the 2020 Academy Awards is…

So I’ve been thinking this movie over several times. I’ve re-watched it quite a bit as well. I’ve finally decided to write my review of it. I’ll try to refrain from spoilers since the movie is still pretty recent.

The Lighthouse was released last year and is directed by Robert Eggers, who directed The VVitch (2015), which is another great horror film. Eggers does not have much else in his portfolio, but I think that may be for the best. While we’re in what I would call the “horror movie dark age” with Blumhouse-funded 2 hour jumpscare-fests, an effective and genuinely unsettling horror movie is a welcomed and much needed change.

The Actors

The Lighthouse follows Robert Pattinson and Willem DaFoe as two lighthouse keepers on a remote island in the late 1800s. While there are a few other characters in the film, they have little screen time or have a minor role in the film. This choice, to me, is much more effective for a character study-type film. The entire film focuses on the interactions between the harsh DaFoe and the somewhat inexperienced Pattinson.

Much like watching a Shakespeare play, The Lighthouse takes some time to adjust to the Old English style of speaking. That being said, American-born DaFoe puts on an amazingly authentic accent. Both actors do an astounding job of selling their roles. Being a film about just two characters, I would imagine the pressure to over-perform would be quite heavy. With this being said, the two actors portray the effects of cabin fever and insanity in a realistic and gritty way.

The Cinematograpy

One of the most essential aspects of film making would be the cinematography. Each director has their own style (sometimes in a negative way) and their way of shooting a scene can greatly change the way the audience perceives the moment. Eggers, as shown in The VVitch, makes effective use of natural lighting and eerie music which doesn’t overstay its welcome. Shot on 35mm B&W film, The Lighthouse uses all natural lighting from either daylight or lanterns throughout the house. Scenes can hold for much longer than usual (clearly intentional) to create an eerie and uncomfortable feeling within the viewer. The film is beautifully shot while also keeping an uneasy and dreaded feeling.

“The horror…the horror…” -Col. Walter E. Kurtz

As mentioned before, Horror as a genre has hit a sort of roadblock. Most horror blockbusters hit theaters, make a lot of money, garner less than a 6/10 on IMDb, then fade into irrelevancy. Very infrequently has a horror movie come out that is not only scary, but well made (Hereditary/Midsommar, It Follows, Get Out, etc.). As mentioned before, there were several scenes in the film that held for an unsettling time. The imagery in many scenes is also quite unnerving. The ending of the film (without spoiling it) was both genuinely unsettling and thought provoking. The entire film takes from one of the many Greek tales. The final scene of the film once again stays held for much longer than I was comfortable with, cutting to black and playing period-appropriate music as the credits rolled.

Overall The Lighthouse is an effective and genuinely frightening film. Worth watching if you’re willing to pay attention to everything, as sometimes the dialogue can lose you if you look away for a second. Shame this film isn’t up for Best Picture in the Academy Awards, but I do believe those contenders deserve their spots. To conclude, I would rate The Lighthouse a solid 8.5/10. I look forward to seeing what else Eggers will put out over the years, as he seems to know the right formula for an effective horror film.

By now the name “Coronavirus” is starting to become commonplace in households as more news breaks about it spreading and claiming an increasing number of lives. People are starting to grow more and more uneasy as the virus seems to be spreading rapidly and crossing borders.

The Chinese-originated Coronavirus has now spread widely across the globe. Some of the countries with infected people include:

• China
• Hong Kong
• Taiwan
• Australia
• Canada
• France
• Japan
• The United States of America

Within the U.S. alone, there are confirmed positive cases in Illinois, California, Washington, and Arizona (CDC.gov). In the host country, China, there are far more cases. As of today (Monday, Jan. 27), there are over 2,500 reported cases of people having the virus in China. It is important to note that these cases are only reported, as there could be many more who have not been detected and taken in by the Chinese government.

The origin of the Coronavirus can be traced back to the Wuhan Market, where an animal was purchased to be consumed. It is inferred that the animal was carrying a disease of sorts. Although the animal itself is uncertain, several sources claim it was a bat used for a soup. For those who remember, the virus outbreak resembles the Ebola epidemic of the early 2010s.

Ebola saw the same level of coverage as it also spread rapidly across the world, claiming thousands of lives as it did. With the sudden outbreak of the Coronavirus—or Wuhan Virus, as it’s now being called by some—many are seeing a similar trend.

The symptoms of the virus are minor at first, but can worsen to life-threatening or ending diseases. The first few symptoms can be easily misjudged for flu-like symptoms. But more serious cases can shut down a patient’s kidneys and lead to death. The more severe cases are usually present with people who suffer from heart and lung disease, as well as compromised immune systems.

To avoid becoming infected, the CDC recommends:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces

The Coronavirus will definitely be something to keep an eye on as it continues to spread across the world. Though there is no known cure for it, the CDC recommends easy and simple ways to avoid coming in contact with the virus or its carriers.

One of the most important aspects of any film is the score. Music can set the mood, add drama, or create emotion from a fairly dull scene. However, sometimes, no music at all can portray a scene better than if it had a track behind it

Nowadays it seems that to be entertained, we as moviegoers have to be bombarded with constant sweeping scores and over-the-top tracks as the movie plays. Of course, the biggest offender being Marvel films. Yes, I am well aware of the controversy of Scorsese vs. The Marvel Mafia (article by The Verge’s Julia Alexander) and his comments on Marvel films. I have read his criticisms and I agree with them. I won’t parrot everything the man says, but Scorsese has a definite point. The Marvel movies both tell you how to feel while still playing it safe. Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel studios, claimed that they shattered the predictability of Marvel films by killing off almost all of the characters they had established over the years. He failed to mention bringing every one of them back in the next movie, and then defeating the bad guy and saving the day.

It would seem that this trend of movies is only going to get bigger with the expansion of “new” markets (Hollywood Reporter’s Paul Bond). With these movie studios playing it safe, it leaves a barrier in the film industry: Profit over expression or take a risk on expression and only succeed within the US?

I was watching the very first Transformers movie (from the 80s, not the Bay ones.) and noticed that almost every second of the film was taken up by background music. Of course it’s a movie geared towards children, but it really had me thinking about how different the film would be if you removed the music from a lot of scenes.

Movies without a heavy use of music use their scores both sparingly and effectively. 2001: A Space Odyssey uses a lot of its silence to convey the emptiness of space. Another film, Alien uses the same silence but for a different reason: tension. The alien creature slithers around the Nostromo and the only sound effects we get are purely diegetic, adding to both the immersion and suspense of the scene. Characters are killed off and left in silence. No added music to emphasize the drama or impact of the situation. When the first crew member is killed, the audience is left to sit in silence, letting the weight of the situation sink in.

Blade Runner 2049 (yes, I know, choosing a movie I worship is low-hanging fruit) has a very short list of tracks on its album. Many of the scenes go minutes without any sound. Even the introduction scene: K (played by Ryan Gosling) meets Sapper, a replicant (synthetic human) that the LAPD wanted to decommission. The first few minutes of the scene are spent with K and Sapper talking, all while in silence, of course. The scene then later escalated to the two fighting, throwing each other around, through walls, etc.. The entire fight is silent. No music is added to fill the tension. You as the viewer feel the tension already without any score telling you that.

Silence is a tool that is seemingly being left behind in the new era of movies. With the state of the cinema economy, it’s going to be less and less common to find films that use its sound design to its full potential. This isn’t to say movie soundtracks are bad. In fact, a good movie soundtrack can make a movie even better (Tron: Legacy). The overuse of music in film, however, is the issue with modern blockbusters. I believe that supporting the indie film industry is a great way to see the artistic expression of individuals.

Watch an indie film, then go out and compare it to a film in theaters.