Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Yes.We.Can
"For when we have faced down impossible odds, when we've been told we're not ready or that we shouldn't try or that we can't, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can. Yes, we can. Yes, we can.
It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation: Yes, we can.
It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights: Yes, we can.
It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness: Yes, we can.
It was the call of workers who organized, women who reached for the ballot, a president who chose the moon as our new frontier, and a king who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the promised land: Yes, we can, to justice and equality.
Yes, we can, to opportunity and prosperity. Yes, we can heal this nation. Yes, we can repair this world. Yes, we can."
-Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
FAIL: out of office
When officials asked for the Welsh translation of a road sign, they thought the reply was what they needed.
Unfortunately, the e-mail response to Swansea council said in Welsh: "I am not in the office at the moment. Please send any work to be translated".
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Your feedback requested
A few friends and I had this conversation last week about how to hang toilet paper. Scotty B in particular was adamant that THIS was the way to hang toilet paper.
Your feedback is necessary to answer our query.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Chili: Our Fall Tradition
The week before every halloween, Joel and Becky make Chili. What I love mostly about it is that there is no recipe - Joel just knows it from memory - yet somehow it gets better every year.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Joe the Plumber and business taxes: They're all getting it WRONG!
The "Joe the Plumber" argument is that "Joe" is going to buy a business that is making $250-$270,000 a year and that Obama's tax plan is going to tax him more. What amazes me is that Obama, McCain and many pundits are really missing the boat on how business taxes actually work.A business who generates $270,000 a year (generally) refers to gross income of the business. Business taxes are in no way connected to the gross income!
"Joe" has expenses such as payroll, trucks, insurance, etc. These expenses reduce his taxable income until at the end of the year - he either shows a profit or a loss. THE PROFIT OF THE BUSINESS is what gets taxed. NOT THE GROSS INCOME.
So, if Joe is an awesome businessman - he'll show a 30% profit and pay taxes based on $75,000 - which is well within Obama's tax cut for the middle class.
Lastly, McCain keeps saying that if Obama increases taxes on these businesses (which we know he won't now - but lets play along), that millions of Americans will lose jobs because if the company they work for has to pay more in taxes - they will cut jobs.
Stop it. That's exactly like saying that because I am going to get taxed on my next pay check that I don't want my next pay check. Come on! Even if some individuals end up (those making $250k and up) paying more in taxes - do you honestly think they'll stop earning money because of it? Of course not!
This argument is illogical and is fear mongering. It's simply meant to scare people who don't understand.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
17 years ago....
I don't specifically remember seeing this picture (left) on the National Geographic cover in 1985, but I *do* remember her eyes.
The newest picture (right) is the second time this Afgan girl has ever been photographed.
Interesting story here....
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Interview with Warren Buffet on Charlie Rose
Here are a few quotes from this Charlie Rose interview with Warren Buffet:
"You want to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful."
"They've (Americans have) seen 8% of America's bank deposits in the United States have moved - very skillfully I might say - within the last couple of weeks."
"This is an economic Pearl Harbor."
"If you look at the American public - they have $20 trillion worth of residential homes and they've got $20 trillion worth of stocks, very roughly. Those are both the two big assets of the American family and they are both down dramatically."
"If I got a chance to take 1% of the deal (be a partner with the US in the bailout plan) I'd take it." There's money to be made because the US government has staying power.
"I've said (derivatives) are possible weapons of mass financial destruction and they have been. They destroyed AIG and they certainly contributed to the destruction of Bear Stearns and Lehma."
Americans have improved themselves financially in this century by a rate of 7:1. Some centuries have seen 1%. America's economy is strong.
-Believes strongly in mark-to-market accounting.
-"Inflation is a likely consequence of our decisions now."
-Warren Buffet
"You want to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful."
"They've (Americans have) seen 8% of America's bank deposits in the United States have moved - very skillfully I might say - within the last couple of weeks."
"This is an economic Pearl Harbor."
"If you look at the American public - they have $20 trillion worth of residential homes and they've got $20 trillion worth of stocks, very roughly. Those are both the two big assets of the American family and they are both down dramatically."
"If I got a chance to take 1% of the deal (be a partner with the US in the bailout plan) I'd take it." There's money to be made because the US government has staying power.
"I've said (derivatives) are possible weapons of mass financial destruction and they have been. They destroyed AIG and they certainly contributed to the destruction of Bear Stearns and Lehma."
Americans have improved themselves financially in this century by a rate of 7:1. Some centuries have seen 1%. America's economy is strong.
-Believes strongly in mark-to-market accounting.
-"Inflation is a likely consequence of our decisions now."
-Warren Buffet
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
First class idiots
First class idiots
Originally uploaded by -SPK
Did I mention that we got bumped off our Allentown flight so they upgraded us to first class and we drank like fishes (8:45 am flight mind you) all the way to Charlotte.
Look at all the vodka bottles next to me and Todd.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Seven Hundred Billion Dollars
As our government signs a $700 billion bailout of our central banking system, I think it's time to understand exactly how much $700,000,000,000 actually is.$700 billion is:
$2,325 for every single man, woman and child in the USA
$2,790 for every car registered in the USA
$13,335 for every second since September 29, 1908
$21,540 for every second that a 62 year old has lived
$167,704,839 for every family of a US confirmed death in Iraq (as of 9-28-08)
The NY Times has a nice image to help put this into perspective this too. The below video is called Money as Debt and is totally worth watching. This is what our banking system is, explained in lay persons terms. It's long, but totally worth watching so you understand why the government is doing this. We simply need debt to make our economy work.
It's a vicious cycle, we need debt so we have money and we need money to pay debt, the real question is: How long is this sustainable?
Key West, photo favs
You have to do THIS when you go to Key West.
Key Lime Pie, ahhhhhhhhhhh.
A Sunset sail.
A sunset - with some rain.The whole set is here.
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