Ahhhh, but following the (in)famous Prop. 13 in Ca., various local agencies started raising "fees" and "penalties" precisely in order to offset the loss in local taxes. That's why, now, if you contest a traffic ticket, and WIN (the charge is dismissed), you get to pay a fee for your court appearance! Isn't that nice - your day in court depends on you paying for it!
Now, explain again the difference between a tax and a penalty, please.
This
has not been my experience (or what I have observed) at all. I think
this Chelsea should look up the Chelsea I recently met in Humboldt young
people's AA. At 18, a senior, with a drug/alcohol/living problem, she
seemed to find recovery in the program, the people and, yes, the picnics
and skating nights in AA. In all the meetings in all the cities and all
the countries I have been in, there have indeed been lots of poorly
socialized and antagonistic alcoholics. If you just let them be
themselves, and look for the ones who are going where you want to go, AA
becomes an easier softer way. Sorry you started your path in OC Chelsea
- a notably messed up area for many things, including AA.
I
started out in AA as an atheist. Now, 24 years later, I am sober, a
member of AA, and... an atheist! There is a saying (of course there
is!): You're lucky us Irish Catholic Alcoholics let the rest of you into
our club. Just because Bob 'N Bill came from that culture, and imbued
the original writings with that cant, doesn't mean that all are required
to toe the line. There's a very good reason those steps are
"suggested".
WIth a PhD. in marine biology, you can qualify to cut squids for MBARI!
I don't follow. Is PHD the same thing as PhD? I never heard of a union for people with doctorates!
Yep,
the incorrect registrations have been FOUND and STRICKEN. How does this
make the current system unable to detect errors? Or, does it mean that
the errors are being found? You also might want to check the definition
of "convicted".
Steven
Colbert can out-bombast Newt Gingrich. That takes considerable talent.
And it's great (tho a bit exhausting) to watch. And So Can You!
I
thought they'd gone bonkers; putting up air-ground missiles to defend
the underground from terrorist attack. Turns out the missiles are to
blow up the rainclouds! Brilliant, those Brits. No wonder they decided
to become an American colony.
Yes,
well you see, the House Republican leadership is quite clear on the
concept: the economy crashed in 2008 because of the ACA passed in 2010!
Thus, they are totally committed (one could only wish!) to repealing it
daily, until they reach retirement age. At which time they will probably
be hoping to find some affordable health care.
Perhaps
its the fault of spellchecker? In the Land of Smiles, it sometimes
seems impossible to spell Thai Baht correctly on a Windows device. B.
Gates insists it be spelled Bath. Causing lots of Thais to believe it.
iTunes
is a test. If you can install and use it without checking into rehab,
you pass! Or, maybe you fail. Not sure. But it does resemble something
you'd get from Microsoft, doesn't it?
Gov.
Romney has been running, running, running, for many years. If you
don't know anything about him - maybe there's nothing TO know! He looks
to me like nothing so much as a perfect candidate for President - of the
Chamber of Commerce.
Where we really really want somebody who has all that amazing experience in acquiring - and dumping, businesses.
Of course, since the president decided it was his right to kill people when/where he wanted to, I don't consider him acceptable even as president of the CofC.
Where we really really want somebody who has all that amazing experience in acquiring - and dumping, businesses.
Of course, since the president decided it was his right to kill people when/where he wanted to, I don't consider him acceptable even as president of the CofC.
"A
recession is when you are unemployed. A depression is when I'm
unemployed." Or, to quote then-president Nixon: "What recession? All my
friends have jobs!"
That's
a Beret? Looks like a mutant Applecap to me. But the men's uniforms
have a nice bisex look. Couldn't expect a fashion designer to actually
produce outfits that look usable anyway.
But, consider (if you will) - ALL the contestants will be wearing raincoats in public, anyway. So what difference does the ummm... "fashionable" design of the unseen under wear make anyway?
Good to know that things are otherwise so good in the USA that there's nothing more to worry about than what someone else is wearing somewhere else, while doing something else!
But, consider (if you will) - ALL the contestants will be wearing raincoats in public, anyway. So what difference does the ummm... "fashionable" design of the unseen under wear make anyway?
Good to know that things are otherwise so good in the USA that there's nothing more to worry about than what someone else is wearing somewhere else, while doing something else!
Nobody
pays that "corporate tax rate", so just how does it matter what the
rate is? Try looking at the "effective tax rate" which, for the really
big/profitable corporations is... ZERO!
Thank
you for the clarifying exegesis. I am now pondering the (almost
metaphysical) concept of the differing legal liabilities of an
owner/operator vs. a passive owner. If I lease my commercial boat to you
to fish, who is responsible for its maintenance? Who is liable if it
causes damage? Breaks the law?
I bet the answer in court is more a matter of "Who Has The Deepest Pockets?"
But that's just because we live in a hopelessly litigious society.
I bet the answer in court is more a matter of "Who Has The Deepest Pockets?"
But that's just because we live in a hopelessly litigious society.
At
least when Gov. Pailin decided to stop doing her job, she *resigned*
there and then. Didn't wait three years. Altho, reconsidering, perhaps
she never did actually do her job.
Thing
is - for those who cherish and admire their ability to game the system,
it's a matter of status to "win" the tax-payment game. In Thailand, the
(hugely) popular Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra managed to avoid
taxes on a giant windfall. He had a choice, of course. Pay what many
felt he owed and stay in office; or refuse to pay and show off his
game-winning smarts and high status and suffer a coup. Of course, he
chose not to pay.
Gov. Romney's self image is so inextricably enmeshed in his ability to optimize his economic situation he simply cannot believe that anybody would not so admire his agility, and yearn for him to become the leader of us all.
I suspect he's wrong.
Gov. Romney's self image is so inextricably enmeshed in his ability to optimize his economic situation he simply cannot believe that anybody would not so admire his agility, and yearn for him to become the leader of us all.
I suspect he's wrong.
David;
One of Stalin's most significant early moves to solidify his power was
to destroy what he termed the "middle class" or, as was said, "We are
fond of describing any peasant who has enough to eat as a 'kulak'."
Those who were left ended up in Siberia.
The middle class is dangerous to those who seek absolute power.
The middle class should be protected today under CITES - The Convention on Trade in Endangered Species.
Those who were left ended up in Siberia.
The middle class is dangerous to those who seek absolute power.
The middle class should be protected today under CITES - The Convention on Trade in Endangered Species.
Of course, in Dirksen's time it was a paltry "Million here, million there." How wonderfully we have advanced.
"...at some point the system will tip irreversibly". Good thing this hasn't happened yet!
"Oh, good, I thought we were in trouble."
"Oh, good, I thought we were in trouble."
"...in
the squalid tradition of McCarthyism." Huh! From the text of her
comments, I should think Ms. Bachmann could be sued by Joe McCarthy's
estate for plagiarism! Or, possibly, she has somehow come into
possession of the mysterious and long-sought "List" of "known communists
in the State Department" that Sen. McCarthy used to brandish for the
cameras (but never allowed anybody else to see).
WIth the modern-day ability to scan, cut-and-paste, the word Muslim could easily be substituted for Communist, and we can continue the briefly interrupted witch hunts. That proved so effective back in the '50s.
WIth the modern-day ability to scan, cut-and-paste, the word Muslim could easily be substituted for Communist, and we can continue the briefly interrupted witch hunts. That proved so effective back in the '50s.
It's a good thing, though, that the shooter wasn't a Muslim. Then the 'massacre' would have been 'terrorism'.
The
FBI was looking for "Arab Terrorists" in "the vicinity of the Murragh
Building explosion". Who they found, eventually, was Timothy McVeigh.
Pretty much in spite of their best efforts to find some muslim terrorists.
Pretty much in spite of their best efforts to find some muslim terrorists.
It seems rather obvious, from a purely statistical viewpoint: More guns, more gun discharges. More shooting, more people shot.
I'd be (sort of) willing to accept this as "The Price We Pay For Freedom", if we actually had any freedom.
I'd be (sort of) willing to accept this as "The Price We Pay For Freedom", if we actually had any freedom.
Correct!
Capital punishment has been the punishment of choice for thousands of years. It hasn't worked yet, so clearly it will start working soon... very very soon.
Capital punishment has been the punishment of choice for thousands of years. It hasn't worked yet, so clearly it will start working soon... very very soon.
“We want everyone to take a year off of sex and deal with who they are.” Rev. Anthony Evans...
"For every problem there is an answer that is simple, obvious, and wrong." H. L. Mencken...
"For every problem there is an answer that is simple, obvious, and wrong." H. L. Mencken...
If that's next to "zoo doo beach", I'd have to agree with the shut-it-down crowd!
The
USA has pretty generally shown itself to be massively inept when it
comes to installing puppet governments. I put it down to the balkanized
culture of the CIA.
Actually,
I've been meaning to ask: Does Gov. Romney wear LDS clothing? After
all, if a reporter (?) could ask Clinton the boxers/briefs question, why
not ask the Gov.?
Always
been thus. When I was in process of becoming a Vietnam Vet, I was
ordered to stamp every log I produced with "Secret", when they were
supposed to be "FOUO". The Lieutenant wanted to be more important, in
hopes of becoming a Lt. Cmdr.
You can find it all in Catch-22.
Great book, but less amusing now, more appalling.
You can find it all in Catch-22.
Great book, but less amusing now, more appalling.
Typical
politician BS: Sen. Murkowski conflates a 25% increase in fuel cost
with a 25% increase in cost of goods delivery/pleasure cruising. That
amount of increase would also have to include a twenty-five percent
increase in the shipping lines profit.
Besides, MY fuel cost went up way more than 25%, so why do we think that a rise in luxury (and really really boring) cruise ship travel is inappropriate? You wanna cruise the inland passage? Get a sailboat! Do your own sailing! Avoid the norovirus epidemic!
Besides, MY fuel cost went up way more than 25%, so why do we think that a rise in luxury (and really really boring) cruise ship travel is inappropriate? You wanna cruise the inland passage? Get a sailboat! Do your own sailing! Avoid the norovirus epidemic!
Face
it folks; Trayvon Martin died for trying to "Stand His Ground". He
should have acknowledged Mr. Zimmerman's right to stop-and-frisk, and
been a good submissive child. Just like YOU were when you were seventeen
years old.
No
mention atall of the fact that Rep. Bachmann in essence simply
plagiarized Joe McCarthy. As if her research had unearthed his famous
(or perhaps fabulous) list of "Communists (Muslim Terrorists) in the
State Department". It worked for a while for Tailgunner Joe, 'til Ed
Murrow finally had enough. Looks like maybe it won't work so well in
re-runs.
Thanks be to God!
Thanks be to God!
How
about we resurrect HUAC and check out Sen. Joseph McCarthy's list of
communist infiltrators in the State Department first? He started it, he
should be the one these duped fools oughtta investigate first.
What
suppresses business activity is - nobody can afford to buy anything, so
every businessman of sense knows it's not a good idea to make anything!
Just sit on the cash reserves until the next tax holiday.
In
the case of the VA, I would guess they want accountability. As opposed
to paying billions for fake bills, like Medicaid did to Rick Scott. Who
paid back enough to stay out of jail so he could run for governor of
Florida.
True,
Dr. Rice is smart, well educated, and knowledgeable. But there's this
tendency she has to want to kill people! We had a VP like that just
recently. In fact she probably learned her homicidal ways from V. P.
Dick (If I Only Had A Heart) Cheney.
Well,
yeah, in the normal course of (GOP) events, Gov. Pailin would have
advanced to the front of the line. But the constant exposure of her
fairly high levels of ignorance and insanity have caused too many to shy
away from her. You Betcha!
"Deficits
Don't Matter" Dick Cheney... "Facts Don't Matter" Karl Rove... And now
(courtesy of the Piers Morgan interview), "Laws Don't Matter" Mitt
Romney...
Just quoting from your masters...
That's the great question of today; Will the No-On-Obama vote exceed the Yes-On-Romney vote?
And, will the two combined be greater than the Yes-On-Obama vote?
Stay tuned.
And, will the two combined be greater than the Yes-On-Obama vote?
Stay tuned.
You
gotta admire the British thought process. One of the most emphasized
sales pitches for this absurdly overhyped exercise in wretched excess
(pardon me; THE OLYMPICS!) was BOC assertion that putting on a weeklong+
TeeVee extravaganza would get the overweight overfed underactive Brits
off their TeeVee viewing duffs and out to the gyms and tracks to
exercise! Yes! Watching the Olympics as Olympic sport!
Mitt
did live in France, you may recall. He is, therefore, no stranger to
living and working in a foreign country. Of course, he was carrying the
message of the LDS to the benighted Catholics of France.
Sometimes, listening to the man, I suspect he's really a stranger in the US.
Maybe someone better check HIS Birther Certificate?
Sometimes, listening to the man, I suspect he's really a stranger in the US.
Maybe someone better check HIS Birther Certificate?
Well, British food can pretty well be expected to be fairly offal... err... awful.
And *NOT* the obviously forged one!
Let's get with Joe Arpaio's Possee.
Let's get with Joe Arpaio's Possee.
One
might call this the "Kerry Problem". John Kerry showed all kinds of:
knowledge, experience, understanding, commitment, et tedious cetera...
But, he wasn't LIKABLE. The ornery voter preferred a more likeable,
thouhg more doofus candidate.
And paid a high price for so doing.
And paid a high price for so doing.
"...only 17 percent “had been diagnosed with mental health or behavior
disorder prior to the attack.” BUT "...78 percent “exhibited a history
of suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts.”
How interesting! Suicide attempts are, apparently, not a symptom of mental or behavioral disorder. WHAT kind of behavior would you consider disordered, if suicide doesn't fit the bill?
On a kinder note, this (very meager) statistical citiation would seem to indicate that possibly... just possibly, there is a bit of a connection between suicidal and homicidal tendencies. Perhaps it's just a matter of "I wanna KILL - you, me, him, her, it, makes no difference".
How interesting! Suicide attempts are, apparently, not a symptom of mental or behavioral disorder. WHAT kind of behavior would you consider disordered, if suicide doesn't fit the bill?
On a kinder note, this (very meager) statistical citiation would seem to indicate that possibly... just possibly, there is a bit of a connection between suicidal and homicidal tendencies. Perhaps it's just a matter of "I wanna KILL - you, me, him, her, it, makes no difference".
Economics:
"The Dismal Science". A really good description, except for one thing.
If it were truly a science, there would be at least some basic facts,
theses, concepts that were clear and obvious and undeniable.
What it is: economists are free to create their own algebra, their own predictive systems. Observably, they spend much of their time disagreeing with other economists (sometimes even themselves). Thus - economics is in fact a belief system. A religion. Complete with sects cults and heresies.
And lots and lots of bad-sounding words that politicians can use to demonize other politicians. Which isn't really all that hard to do (demonizing politicians, that is).
Aside: Some years ago I "invented" the NEW science of "Econostrology". Divining the economic future using charts of the solar system and zodiacal signs. Hey! It works as well as what those Economists use!
What it is: economists are free to create their own algebra, their own predictive systems. Observably, they spend much of their time disagreeing with other economists (sometimes even themselves). Thus - economics is in fact a belief system. A religion. Complete with sects cults and heresies.
And lots and lots of bad-sounding words that politicians can use to demonize other politicians. Which isn't really all that hard to do (demonizing politicians, that is).
Aside: Some years ago I "invented" the NEW science of "Econostrology". Divining the economic future using charts of the solar system and zodiacal signs. Hey! It works as well as what those Economists use!
flyover: C'mon! No roads = no road to success. Would Dr. Jack have succeeded as well in the Somali army? The Libyan army?
The notion of society is that there is a cooperation within the group to allow the success of the individual.
There; that wasn't so difficult, was it?
The notion of society is that there is a cooperation within the group to allow the success of the individual.
There; that wasn't so difficult, was it?
The taxpayers ARE the government! Geez!
7/31/2012 9:07 AM GMT+0700
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