I was Stumbling around the web and found this stunning shot. Problem is, there was NO information about it. Do you have any idea where it was taken? Please share if you do.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Guest Opinion: Ted McLaughlin, ‘The (Un) Fairness of Income Tax’
“Does this seem fair to you? Is there any justification for someone making over a million dollars a year to pay a smaller tax rate than those making less than $170,00 a year (many of them making far less than that)?
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Statistics are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Internal Revenue Service.
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The richest Americans make most (or all) of their income from interest income or stock gains.
That means they pay the Capital Gains Tax (15%) instead of Income Tax (about 35% in their bracket).
This must be changed. The Capital Gains Tax should be raised to equal the Income Tax, or eliminated and the rich forced to pay their tax in the Income Tax system. Continuing this system of taxation is unfair to most Americans.” Link to original post
Check out this interesting mobile homeless shelter…
Design enthusiast, paul elkins, develops mobile units, and other small scale vehicles.
He previously designed the burning man bicycle camper and his latest development
is a mobile homeless shelter which he designed as part of a competition asking individuals
to meet the demands of the rapidly growing homeless society - a kind of substitute for the
grocery cart situation. Elkins wanted his design construction to be a simple, lightweight,
watertight insulated box on wheels, built with an area for displaying and selling handmade wares.
(Photo right) toilet seat storage and bucket. the mid section of the floor is movable which allows for ample room for use of the bucket.
(Photo Left) the shelter includes a sleeping / resting area, a kitchen and makeshift washroom
GO HERE to see all possible views.
I’m only sharing it because I find it fascinating, and not because I’m promoting it for the company involved.
If you want to know more GO HERE
Awesome Human Rights Ad Campaign - Dictators Afraid of White Mice
GO HERE to see a couple of more terrified dictators. How do you like the mouse they’re afraid of?
Carl’s Corner: Documenting 2011 Snow in Fortuna
My friend Carl Young, who lives in Fortuna, can be seen wandering around on any given day taking photos. These two pics were taken at his place when it snowed the other day.
Frank Buckles: America's last World War I veteran dies
Frank Buckles, the last surviving U.S. veteran of World War I, has died. He was 110.
Buckles, who also survived being a civilian POW in the Philippines in World Wa
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The roll call has be called up yonder–all present and accounted for!
Buckles lied about his age to join the army at age 16.The Missouri native was among nearly 5 million Americans who served in World War I in 1917 and 1918.
"I knew there'd be only one (survivor) someday. I didn't think it would be me," he was quoted as saying in recent years. Full story
Sunday, February 27, 2011
As It Stands: Can you name all the dictators America does business with?
Dave Stancliff/For the Times-Standard
Posted: 02/27/2011 01:30:34 AM PST
Hello, America, and welcome to “Name That Dictator.” I'm your host today and with that, let's get started:
1. Name seven of America's Favorite Dictators worldwide. Remember the amount of money we pour into their economies is a big measuring stick.
U.S. Taxpayer: “I'd have to say King Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz of Saudi Arabia; Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan; Paul Biya of Cameroon; Teodoro Obiange Nguema of Equatorial Guinea; Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia; Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov (or Berdymukhamedov) of Turkmenistan; and Idriss Derby of Chad.”
Fantastic! You got them all. You correctly named the countries we're happily sinking billions of dollars into regardless of their stance on freedom or human rights. You guessed right that democracy is secondary to getting what we want from dictators whose countries are strategic to us.
2. Name five of the World's Worst Dictators. Take a moment because you have about 50 (give or take) to choose from. We do business with most of them.
U.S. Taxpayer: “I'm going with Hu Jintao of China; Kim Jong-Il of North Korea; Muammar al-Qaddafi of Libya; Hosni Murbarak of Egypt; and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan, whose nasty little pastime of boiling his political opponents to death makes him a must pick.”
I'm sorry! Looks like you are not keeping up with world events. Hosni Murbarak was recently hounded out of power by the Egyptian people, and Muammar Qaddafi is on borrowed time after declaring war upon the people of Libya.
3. Here comes another tough question, so pay attention: Of the African dictators, whose life seems a parody of the dictator genre? Hint, Peter Maas said this about him.
U.S. Taxpayer: “I'm leaning toward Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, but my gut instinct says Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.”
Is that your final pick?
U.S. Taxpayer: (pause) “Yes ... I'm going with Teodoro.”
Even more dramatic pause. You're correct! Congratulations! That was a secret bonus question and you're getting double points! Are you ready for the next question?
U.S. Taxpayer: “Sure, let's roll. It's only my money we're talking about.”
4. Name the dictators who rule the following countries: Belarus, Swaziland, and Syria.
U.S. Taxpayer: “OK ... I know the answers. Aleksandr Lukashenka for Belarus, King Mswati III rules Swaziland, and Sayyid Ali Khamenei for Syria. Wait a moment! I'd like to change Syria to Bashar al-Assad in charge.”
The clock stops ticking and the bell goes off! You did it again! You're correct-a-mondo. Let's wrap this game up with the final question of the day: How many countries practice capitalism? This is a tricky question so think before you answer.
U.S. Taxpayer: Let's see ... 15, no 52, no ... 189?
Is that your final answer?
U.S. Taxpayer: Yes it is ... 189.
Buzzers blare! I'm sorry, but that's wrong. Capitalism is an economic policy. It's not a political system and it relies on little government control. Just about every country in the world practices a version of capitalism.
This game show host is still amazed to find any taxpayer who knows as much as you've answered today. Thank you for participating. America has looked the other way for decades as these dictators looted their countries, and it's important the public should know that.
Most Americans probably couldn't name three dictators we do business with on a regular basis. You know why? Because the corporate media doesn't talk about dictators unless world events force them to. Like Egypt, for example. How many Americans were aware it was ruled by an oppressive dictatorship? Look at Libya's mad dictator Qaddafi slaughtering his own people because they want freedom.
“Capitalism is freedom -- and freedom leads to prosperity,” according to Capitalism Magazine. The idea being you can determine levels of capitalism by looking at a country and the rights its citizens enjoy.
It's inescapable; the dictators we do business with are not “good” capitalists by that standard. Does it matter? We need to get that straight if we expect the rest of the world to believe our message of democracy and freedom for all.
As It Stands, if we don't want to appear hypocritical we should re-examine our relationships with the world's dictators.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Don’t be too quick to judge this scholarship program…
I think this group is reacting to what is becoming an increasing fact; White men are becoming minorities in many states, and yet they don’t enjoy any help from programs that Blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities all receive.
I don’t believe this makes them racists. They’re just responding to reality. Of course, there will always be morons who think all white men are rich or something, and they don’t deserve assistance like the rest. Political correctness gone overboard. If the time comes when whites want to have a White History month, watch who objects. I know it’s popular to blame Whites for every woe in the country today…but I just don’t agree with that stereotype.
Texas group to offer college scholarships to white men
“Members of a new Texas association are starting a college scholarship program for a group of students they say do not have as many scholarship options as others -- white men.
Colby Bohannan, a student at Texas State University in San Marcos, and some friends have formed the non-profit Former Majority Association for Equality, which will provide the scholarships. The idea was that there are many scholarships geared toward helping minorities and women attend college, and there are also scholarships for people from certain religions or from certain families. But Bohannan thought his demographic group was missing.
"We know that we're going to be receiving some vicious attacks, from people claiming that we are racists, or promoting some bigotry-filled agenda," Bohannan said on Thursday.
Starting this summer, the association plans to provide as many as five $500 scholarships to deserving white men who have at least a 3.0 grade point average, Bohannan said.
"Our aim is actually just to help students," he said. "We are not trying to jump on any political agenda or bandwagon."
Non-Hispanic whites are, in fact, a minority in the state of Texas. Census numbers released earlier this month show that they make up about 42 percent of the state's population, down from more than half just ten years ago.
To qualify for the group's scholarship, applicants have to be able to prove that they are at least 25 percent Caucasian," Bohannan said.
"We're not looking for blond-haired, blue-eyed, stereotypical white males," he said. "My feeling is that if you can say you're 25 percent Caucasian, you're Caucasian enough for us." Story Source
Humboldt leads nation in Gas Gouging - so what’s new?
When I first moved up here one of the first things I noticed was how high the price of gas was.
Over the years I’ve watched Humboldt County lead the nation in gas gouging and I think I’ve heard just about every excuse there is…the only thing I haven’t heard is the REAL REASON why it’s this way.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: when I hear the “cop-out” that our prices are so high because oil has to be transported from the Bay area, I want to puke!
That’s such bullshit! You can’t tell me that in the hundreds of rural counties and cities in this nation, no one else has to send a lot further than us to get their oil. So why doesn’t some other area lead the way? Just once…you know…so it’s not so obvious we have a oil monopoly up here!
Meanwhile in the news:
Gas prices: 'Most expensive February ever'
Gas prices spike 6 cents, even though oil just rose. Why? Cartoon source
Friday, February 25, 2011
Parting shots…
May 1933: Hitler abolishes Unions; Oct 1982 Ronald Reagan: Unions are "an elemental human right" Topical.
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Sleep Helps Us Remember What We Need To (Interesting)
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Here’s a great link on old and new Drive-in movies! Enjoy!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I remember the old days when we had two drive-in movies in Humboldt (1979).
Watched our last “outside movie” in the “driving” rain! at the one where the new BLM Office is.
Back in the 60s we spent every weekend at the drive-in movies.
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From Oregon: shocking mug shots reveal toll of drug abuse
Photos are part of a 48-minute documentary called “From Drugs to Mugs,” created by Deputy Bret King. King hopes that the documentary, which is available on a DVD along with a CD of mug shots, will help scare kids straight by showing them concrete evidence of damage that can occur within months from using meth, heroin or cocaine.
In-your-face photos aim to scare teens straight by striking their vanity
With disturbing before and after photos of drug users’ faces, a new anti-drug campaign may succeed where others have failed, grabbing teens’ attentions by appealing to their vanity.
The pairs of mug shots, which graphically display the damage drugs can do to the face, were collected by the sheriff’s office in Multnomah County, Ore.
Drug Czar upset with hometown paper’s pro-legalization editorial
This looks like the next step in our so-called War on drugs…where Kerlikowske is going to go around the country and try to intimidate newspaper editors who are for legalization of marijuana!
Can you say Nazi tactics?
This insanity is starting to reach a fever pitch as the administration wages this senseless war on Pot in editorial boardrooms…
“On Friday, February 18, The Seattle Times ran an editorial endorsing HB 1550, a bill introduced by Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson that would tax and regulate marijuana in the state of Washington. The editorial was thoughtful, reasoned, and logical. Apparently, the Office of National Drug Control Policy doesn’t appreciate this kind of rabble-rousing.
As reported today in The Stranger, The Seattle Times received a call immediately after they ran their editorial from Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske, who wanted to fly out to the Emerald City and personally meet with the entire editorial board. This meeting will take place on Friday. Please join us in requesting The Seattle Times live-stream their important and unprecedented meeting with the Drug Czar.
Beyond the obvious chilling of First Amendment rights implicated by an executive official making such a request, one can only assume that Czar Kerlikowske is making the cross-country flight on the American taxpayer dime. At the very least, Czar Kerlikowske will be ‘bullying’ the editorial board on the clock, meaning the taxpayer is paying for him to do this. Considering we’re paying for his flight and his meeting, we should at least be able to sit in via the Internet! In the interest of a transparent government, please join us in requesting that this meeting be streamed live via the World Wide Web.
Oh, and you’ll be pleased to know that The Seattle Times is not backing down in their support of HB 1550 in light of Czar Kerlikowske’s request.” Source
Indiana AG Calls For Live Ammo Against Protestors, Loses Job
The battle over the future of organized labor in the state of Indiana is so heated that one deputy attorney general suggested that "live ammo" be used against the protesters in Madison.The deputy Attorney General, Jeff Cox (pictured here) sent the following to Mother Jones editor Adam Weinstein:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "[A]gainst thugs physically threatening legally-elected state legislators & governor? You're damn right I advocate deadly force"
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The statement, in addition to being inflammatory and inappropriate, cost Cox his job. The Indiana Attorney Generals Office offered the following statement:
"We respect individuals' First Amendment rights to express their personal views on private online forums, but as public servants we are held by the public to a higher standard, and we should strive for civility."
Cox's statements to Weinstein appeared to be the last straw for the agency. On Cox's personal blog, Pro Cynic (now deleted), he compared former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich to a Nazi, and suggested that President Obama is an "enemy" ruling his people the same way Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq. FULL STORY
The Iceman looks tired — but he's 5,300 years old
Geeze…this guy looks better than I do! I know. I know. It doesn’t take much.
Brown-eyed, bearded, furrow faced and tired: this is how Otzi the Iceman might have looked, according to the latest reconstruction based on 20 years of research and investigations.
Realized by two Dutch experts, Alfons and Adrie Kennis, the model was produced with the latest in forensic mapping technology that uses three-dimensional images of the mummy's skull as well as infrared and tomographic images. Full story.
Bring on that good old fashioned "Redneck" Religion
As seen in the above excerpt from a Bradenton (Florida) Police Department report, suspect Joshua Lee Joehlin told cops that he is a member of the “Redneck” faith.
Joehlin, a 20-year-old Texan, was busted on a felony charge of engaging in a lewd and lascivious act with a minor. Joehlin, pictured at left, is being held in the Manatee County jail in lieu of $10,000 bond. Story Source
weGrow explosion: The 'Walmart of weed' to open in California
It's being called the Walmart of weed: a 10,000-square-foot Sacramento gardening emporium that opens Saturday with how-to experts and merchandise to help medical marijuana patients grow pot.
The cavernous weGrow hydroponics store marketing itself as a retail outlet is the first national franchise for a company that bills itself as a supply and training destination for legal pot growers. In coming months, weGrow plans to open stores in Arizona, Colorado, New Jersey and Oregon.
The Sacramento Bee reports the enterprise started in Oakland last year as a warehouse store called iGrow.
Pot isn't sold or grown at the store. In the past, hydroponics outlets have avoided any mention of marijuana because pot cultivation is illegal under federal law. But hydroponics stores have exploded as states approve medical marijuana use. Source
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Parting shots…
CBS and Warner stop production of 'Two and a Half Men'
It's over for Charlie Sheen.
“After a day of unhinged and unsolicited comments ripping his show's executive producer Chuck Lorre and assorted enemies -- Alcoholics Anonymous and Thomas Jefferson, among others -- the star finally went further than CBS and Warner Brothers Television could take.” Story
Humans are the world's smelliest animal, study shows
Pungent body o
Our powerful scent attracts at least two species of mosquitoes, according to a paper accepted for publication in the journal Trends in Parasitology. Understanding what it is about human odor that attracts these bugs could help prevent the spread of diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. Story
It seems good old fashioned joy rides are still popular in Lincoln, Nebraska…with a slight twist;
“Officials said a sheriff's deputy responded to a report of a suspicious pickup truck east of Lincoln. The deputy said he stopped the truck to question the driver and found everyone in the vehicle was unclothed. The deputy said their clothes were in the bed of the pickup.
According to authorities, when the two men and two women in the pickup were questioned about what they were doing, one replied, "I think we're getting in trouble." Story Meet Nickolus Borgman…the driver
Time to submit your Oscar worthies even though no one cares
For all I know, the Oscars are already over. Oh wait!
What’s that? They’re getting ready… there’s still time.
Editorial cartoon by Signe Wilkinson / Philadelphia Daily News
Writer makes good argument : it’s ‘Harder to Get Started Today’
If you read my column last Sunday The real American Dream – jobs for everyone you’ll remember I talked about the same subject. I really like the way Trent laid it out. He uses a lot of statistics and facts to make his argument air-tight. Solid read:
“Over the past weekend, I had a long conversation with a man in our community who was nearing retirement age. He felt comfortable about his own coming retirement, but he seemed very pessimistic that his children would ever be ready to retire. “They just don’t know how to save money,” he told me.
I told him that, although I agreed with him that young people should save more, there is also a strong case that it is much more difficult today for a young person to establish themselves financially as he did when he was a young adult.
He looked at me strangely. “What do you mean?” he asked.
So, I laid it out for him, piece by piece. Afterward, it occurred to me that the entire discussion might make for a good post here, particularly with some specific research to back it up:
Real wages Let’s start with income. In 1970, the average wage earner took home $312 per week (in 1982 dollars). In 2004, the average wage earner brought home $277 per week (in 1982 dollars) – and it’s still falling. That means that, once you factor out inflation, the average wage earner in 1970 brought home about 18% more than the average wage earner today.
Home prices Even if you adjust for inflation – and even if you take into account the crash of the housing bubble from 2007 to today – the median price for a home in the United States has gone up more than 50% since 1970. Remember, that number accounts for inflation, so what that number actually means is that the cost of a home requires 50% more of a person’s paycheck than it did in 1970.”
Dancing for Dictators: if the dollars are right they’ll perform any night
How much would you have to get paid to perform for a dictator or one of their family members? It's one of those hypotheticals people love to throw around in the entertainment world and in the case of Beyonce and the Gadhafi clan, the magic number seems to be $2 million.
Other artists -- including Mariah Carey and Sting -- have performed for controversial figures for far less. Take a look through this gallery to see who has danced and crooned for dictators and their families.
Tyranny is the topic of this Sunday’s As It Stands, in the Times-Standard. I ask the question? Can you name all the dictators America does business with?
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