It’s that time of year again. That occasion when we’re reminded of larger-than-life sights, sounds, and dramatic spectacle. MISCmedia MAIL denotes this today, as well as: the recent uproar over a local, modern “family slave” saga; Kshama Sawant’s “Socialist muscle”; another Seattle federal judge striking another blow against bigotry; and a bear in a tree.

Thursday’s MISCmedia MAIL ponders the viability of events like the Upstream Music Fest; examines what Ed Murray might be able to do in his remaining eight months; notes outrage over racist/sexist characterizations in a play’s audition notice (and perhaps also in the play itself); and finds sex-worker prosecutions on the rise despite an official change in city policy.

Our Thursday newsletter commences with a memory of Jonathan Demme. It continues with a loved but closing indie home-garden store; a vaguely defined new anti-homelessness crusade; what’s really behind those $425 jeans; and a fond adieu to Beast Mode.

We’ve got another candidate for mayor. She’s another ex-“Bertha” opponent, too. Elsewhere, we look at what the Legislature has (and more importantly hasn’t) done this session; more Murray-case developments; the sad case of a homeless “cat hoarder;” and no stoner “humor.”

It’s just a coincidence that there’s a computer-animated feature out now called “The Boss Baby,” and that the title role is voiced by Alec Baldwin, and that ads show the baby in a suit and tie with orange-ish hair. Really. In more deliberate occurrences, we note Daniel Ramirez’s freedom (at least for now); neighbors who want more public amenities in the expanded Convention Center; Jeff Bezos’ even greater (on paper) wealth; and the little Belltown restaurant that got big.

As we wait, sometimes more patiently than others, for the ol’ change-O-seasons thang, we take note of particularly dreadful faux-native American kitsch; a serious allegation against a local celeb; another call for less bro-dominance in tech; and the Case of the Paltry Pint Glass.

The day with a name-coincidence to everybody’s favorite “irrational number” brings to mind why rationality matters. Also on this day: saving what little film incentives WA’s got; Daniel Ramirez Medina speaks; a snag for an Af-Am community group that wants to take over a big block in the CD; and the UW and Gonzaga b-ball women both start their NCAA tourney runs right here.

Meet the new travel ban, almost as stupid as the old travel ban. Also, meet the clever promoters who booked the nascent Ramones into the stolid Olympic Hotel; the IT guy who allegedly tried to steal data from Columbia Sportswear; the commentator who doesn’t approve of Nathan Hale High’s basketball recruiting tactics; and the Colfax boy who became a classic-film legend.

It’s a post-Monday-holiday day but we’ve still got a full e-missive, with stuff about a local author’s dystopia novel rediscovered; the least-“Made in USA” plane Boeing’s ever made; employers who really didn’t like “A Day Without Immigrants”; and the Seattle rock roots of a late jazz legend.

We couldn’t stop the Amway heiress from becoming Secretary of Education, but locals made strides and/or statements against the Attorney General nominee, Wells Fargo’s Dakota Access Pipeline stake, and (again) the immigration ban. We’ve also got stuff about the Tommy Bahama-branded travel trailer; the local Gold’s Gym franchisee going fully indie; and developer Martin Selig’s daughter making it big in Hollywood.

As well as more reports of icky behavior by you-know-who, we also consider the maybe-coming storm; what’s to be done with Steinbrueck Park; a minister’s account of police (non-)accountability; local screenwriters who’ve found an unexpected market for their work; a vintage video-game champ; and how the one percent flies. Oh, and also my (not really) secret past.

Regional politicians proposed a far better idea than an all-robocar lane on I-5: hi-speed rail from here to Vancouver. Additional subjects in our e-missive include the state’s still-unreformed foster care system; blame placed for the Greenwood gas explosion; a hope to one day “re-program” cancer cells; a coming exhibit on Seattle’s food history; and whales vs. whales off Vancouver Island.

KCTS is streaming the must-see doc about pioneer local rock photog Jini Dellaccio. Plus: a “racial reparations”-themed funding site; the notion that every Seattleite needs and always will need a private car; Tukwila police lawsuits; and a real made-in-Seattle feature film for the first time in how long?

For our big pre-weekend missive we’ve got: A city growing even faster than Seattle (no, not THAT one); why drones should be kept away from orcas; the first thing associated with the “50 Shades” franchise to actually occur IN Seattle; the Pride Fest boss quits; and the Mariners bringing up a childhood TV memory.

SIFF begins today on a note of off-screen controversy. While you wait in line for your jumbo popcorn, read about the apparent resolution to the dueling Pride Parade airlines; the next occupant of the ex-Capitol Club/Bauhaus space; another punk legend’s passing; “Black Lives Matter” in Bellevue; and every nerd’s dream: clothes you don’t have to wash for weeks!