Mlle. Zabzie

Looks like JPM won the auction.

I gotta say this is not super troubling to me on its face (and has been reported on since at least January).I would want A LOT more details than are reported here before concluding that there is any kind of issue. (I read the guy’s redacted affidavit - seems like a bit of a case of sour grapes). I mean on some of the logic, Ruth Ginsberg should have recused herself from any case with the law firm that her and her husband’s dear friend Jack Levin worked at because Marty and Jack wrote and published a highly successful (and lucrative) treatise on tax law together. Maybe you conclude that is different, maybe you don’t? I dunno, again, unless there is an express payola somewhere alleged in the redacted text, I just don’t see it. Basically seems like there is some latent sexism - like how could she possibly be wildly successful on her own merits without leaning on her husband’s connections? I call some BS on this one.

Only good news on the debt ceiling brinksmanship is that tax collections have been solid so we have into July. But, that means the uncertainty will also last until July because you know they will use every minute they have.

Actually her field is HOT right now (almost as hot as Mme. deVenoge). I checked, we currently have 107 staff positions open of varying levels (including one in the accounting/audit area).

I know - I had big plans to work compost into my raised beds this weekend. Alas.

I don't usually put in peppers or tomatoes or similar until mid-may at the earliest. I had meant to put in peas and carrots last weekend but Saturday was my daughters' birthday and Sunday it POURED until 4 so I didn't really have enough time to do more than my planters.

Managed to fill the planters by my door this weekend with pansies and stock and alyssum. I’ll pull out the pansies in a month or so and put in superbells or wave petunias (or both). The nursery I went to didn’t have ranunculus, which I adore. Oh well. Also ordered some hollyhocks and a few other things from white flower farm. We’ll see…

Well, that lovely Pixar film Turning Red has probably already been banned outside of Reedy Creek. But menstruation probably wasn’t the reason…

Today’s Episode: TFW you have been advancing a proposition FOR WEEKS to solve a tricky tax issue, and then an older man sends you an email titled “New Idea” that is in fact said idea. I’m counting to 100 in French before I reply. @Jaxom 1974 I am so sorry. That really really sucks. Hugs.

Just finished Trust by Hernan Diaz. Wow. What a book. Definitely deserves all the praise it has gotten.

I cast a spell to summon @Lily Valley. I have become pretty passionate about the power of community college as a result of talking to Lily, and then my cousin's wife ran admissions for a state community college for a bit. Is community college a panacea? No. But if you want to see your money actually change someone's life, you are better off giving an equivalent amount of money to a community college versus a big fancy four year institution. I think Tennessee and a couple of other states have some pretty good programs to get high school students at least to community college? But I may be misremembering.

So we now have the ultimate crossover, I believe. I have been following the Disney/Florida/DeSantis/Reedy Creek saga with all of my nerdy Disney-loving lawyer heart. Disney appears, for now, to have out-lawyered DeSantis' ability to mess with WDW. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-disney-new-reedy-creek-board-powerless-20230329-qalagcs4wjfe3iwkpzjsz2v4qm-story.html Here's where it is fun. There is an ancient doctrine called the "rule against perpetuities" (which was basically enshrined in the common law to prevent dead hand control perpetually over land). The basic rule is you can tie things up for a life in being plus 21 years. Historically, the person picked was the king or queen of England or their descendants, because that is a life that is well documented and known. Well, that's what Disney did. They picked the last surviving member of King Charles plus 21 years. Lilibet is like 2....making her the ultimate...Disney Princess.

I think there is something going on that is systemic but it may be industry specific. I'm not sure. Not enough of a clear picture yet, to your point about hindsight.

Well I am definitely not getting the promotion. I know who is. I also have been told that part of the narrative around me is "they don't know what the value add would be." So, you know, I'm pretty pissed. Not at not getting the promotion - it was being set up for this other guy and I really like him and think he'll be great. But rather that they put me on the short list as window dressing and then dismissed me as non-value add. Eff that noise. Oh well, I have a large client I'm trying to keep out of bankruptcy this evening. So I'll go back to that. and Isk - you definitely did the right thing.

Bonus cut is worse. I’m just whinging.

Ugh. That is AWFUL. I keep hearing about the global shortage of accountants. Something about supply and demand? I am told that I'm on a short list for a pretty massive promotion. I am also relatively certain (based on some really good intel) that there is literally a snowball's chance in the furnace of Mt. Doom that I actually get it, so am more or less on the short list for window dressing. I wish I weren't on the short list. Now I'm going to be disappointed and there was no reason to list me if there is no intention to actually promote me.

Is the better analogy TMZ or some of the other more online/TV-based sources? We have influential tabloid journalism for sure, I just feel like it isn't as much in print.

1. @Kalnestk Oblast pulling for you. Hope you get over the heavy ground lightly on this one. 2. Yes, yes they are. I even blanched at our latest round of rate increases (inflation yo). But man an hour of my time will COST you. I do think the billable hour is dying; slowly, but still dying. Chats, you should try to negotiate some fixed fee stuff for the ongoing stuff you need.

RUN AWAY!!!! I find it interesting, that I believe that, if for instance my lovely and very smart (and masculine ) husband and I discussed an issue and at the end of it I ended up adopting his point of view, my femininity would not be called into question. However, the above discussions suggest that if instead, he came around to my way of thinking there would be a perception that he would be less masculine. Maybe I’m reading too much into it? But maybe not?

Well, I get to move a floor away from the sort of passive aggressive quasi head of my group. But, T,W,Th,* by order of our glorious politburo, I will have my butt in my chair 42 floors above the street, questioning my life choices but enjoying the view. And bonus, the cafeteria is on that floor, so easy access to snacks? *Absent client demands, illness, or other good reasons, in that order.

Yeah, and actually what the data show is that merit does matter to a certain extent. Superstars of both genders get promoted in equal numbers. But there are very few of those. It’s when you get below the people who are absolutely undeniably the best that things diverge. But law firms bring in 50/50 first year classes. This has been true basically my whole career (20 years). Partner ranks aren’t close to 50/50.

So, I think I have reached peak corporate. A corner office has been bestowed unto me.

I have hard data on big law firms. The data, at least in the big law corner of the legal industry, tell the story I proffered above. I believe based on less hard data that I have on banks, accounting firms, and consulting firms, that those places are not that different.

At least there are now some women participating in the discussion.... One thing to consider in the educational outcome discussion: women have to be better on every single level to be successful in the most lucrative careers. That is, there is a much high cost to women for mediocrity than there is to men. Thus, women (if they wish to be successful in such careers) need to try harder and be better and tick every. single. box. (and they still statistically are less likely to be at the very top than a similarly diligent and talented man).

Hey Ormond, nice shout-out in the Wall Street Journal!