7.31.2004
Review: 'The Cheating of America'
From the conclusion of the book: "The central issue of 'The Cheating of America,' and the subject a majority of Americans are frustrated about today, is tax fairness. Does our tax system and the IRS' enforcement of tax laws today maintain the equilibrium between the weathiest and the poorest segments of society? Clearly not."
A great look at old-school and newfangled ways wealthy Americans are cheating the system through tax evasion. This work shows tremendous work on the part of the Center for Public Integrity but leaves me feeling more at a loss for how to level the playing field in the U.S.
Chapter 13: What you can do, boils down to: Don't engage in stupid tax-avoidance or evasion schemes; Don't use cash transactions for business and ask Congress to make publicly-held companies as transparant as non-profits. Solid ideas, but not enough to reverse the trend of companies and wealthy individuals refusing to pay taxes on all of their income.
A good, quick read. I recommend it.
The Cheating of America on Amazon
A great look at old-school and newfangled ways wealthy Americans are cheating the system through tax evasion. This work shows tremendous work on the part of the Center for Public Integrity but leaves me feeling more at a loss for how to level the playing field in the U.S.
Chapter 13: What you can do, boils down to: Don't engage in stupid tax-avoidance or evasion schemes; Don't use cash transactions for business and ask Congress to make publicly-held companies as transparant as non-profits. Solid ideas, but not enough to reverse the trend of companies and wealthy individuals refusing to pay taxes on all of their income.
A good, quick read. I recommend it.
The Cheating of America on Amazon
7.30.2004
rocket-propelled music video
Campbell dancing to Kool and the Gang ... priceless
As reporters talked over such middle-of-the-road hits as U2's "Beautiful Day" and Van Halen's "Dreams" after John Kerry's nomination speech Thursday night, national viewers were treated to some late-night delight as Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell shook her money maker for Kool and the Gang's "Celebrate."
While I missed the Daily Show tonight, Campbell delievered a moment of Zen on par with the best of them.
Another notable sight after the speech: Sharpton's homie-made "sunshine boyz" sign. A made in america sharpie original with an inspiring message of a giant, made in china boot kicking the words "Kick Bush Out."
Thursday night had better post-speech song selection as there was no "live" performance of the song ABC and ESPN made famous, "Let's Get It Started" by Black Eyed Peas.
More on the Peas from 5 minutes ago
What did I learn from watching the DNC convention while either drinking, reading or cutting nappy fur from my cat? PBS had the best coverage with commentators who didn't annoy me on either side of the aisle. As for John Kerry? I walked outside around 11:30 and put his bumper sticker on my car (which is the 20th century way of putting a Kerry IM buddy icon on your AOL chat ID or having Kerry/Edwards wallpaper). Great speech!
While I missed the Daily Show tonight, Campbell delievered a moment of Zen on par with the best of them.
Another notable sight after the speech: Sharpton's homie-made "sunshine boyz" sign. A made in america sharpie original with an inspiring message of a giant, made in china boot kicking the words "Kick Bush Out."
Thursday night had better post-speech song selection as there was no "live" performance of the song ABC and ESPN made famous, "Let's Get It Started" by Black Eyed Peas.
More on the Peas from 5 minutes ago
What did I learn from watching the DNC convention while either drinking, reading or cutting nappy fur from my cat? PBS had the best coverage with commentators who didn't annoy me on either side of the aisle. As for John Kerry? I walked outside around 11:30 and put his bumper sticker on my car (which is the 20th century way of putting a Kerry IM buddy icon on your AOL chat ID or having Kerry/Edwards wallpaper). Great speech!
7.28.2004
MSNBC - Preparing your pet to live with children
MSNBC - Preparing your pet to live with children
good to know ... I'll get gloves so Michele can scoop cat poop while pregnant : )
good to know ... I'll get gloves so Michele can scoop cat poop while pregnant : )
The New York Times > Business > Media & Advertising > Advertising: Breaking the 30-Second Barrier
The New York Times > Business > Media & Advertising > Advertising: Breaking the 30-Second Barrier
Yes, the return of the sponsored news show!
Yes, the return of the sponsored news show!
7.26.2004
Boston.com / Business / Rivalry between Wal-Mart, Costco also extends to national politics
Boston.com / Business / Rivalry between Wal-Mart, Costco also extends to national politics
Interesting ... no wonder Costco employees have been more helpful than Sam's Club ... they're better paid and have health benefits.
Interesting ... no wonder Costco employees have been more helpful than Sam's Club ... they're better paid and have health benefits.
7.22.2004
fire at home / vonage 911 is a joke
just had a power line fall in our backyard (around 7:45 p.m.) ... i was out walking dougal, michele was doing laundry ...
power line sets backyard on fire. neighbor pounds on front door to get michele out.
michele find doppler and picks up our phone, dialing 911.
outside with the cat, michele gets a guy who answers "dispatch"
she says our address and says "i need the fire department"
dispatcher says "whoa, what city are you in?"
she says "lakewood" and is told "oh, i need to connect you to that city"
she is put on hold while our neighbors call 911 through SBC and get ahold of the fire department.
the good news, our house is fine.
the bad news, i can't trust vonage to keep me safe. so, do I switch back to SBC (who wants me back at $20/month w/o long distance) or keep my $25/mo VOIP service that is useless in an emergency.
now to e-mail vonage and try to get a straight answer on what dispatch my wife was calling. if i wasn't so hungry, i'd post the pictures I took of the fire department in action ... i'll post those later.
power line sets backyard on fire. neighbor pounds on front door to get michele out.
michele find doppler and picks up our phone, dialing 911.
outside with the cat, michele gets a guy who answers "dispatch"
she says our address and says "i need the fire department"
dispatcher says "whoa, what city are you in?"
she says "lakewood" and is told "oh, i need to connect you to that city"
she is put on hold while our neighbors call 911 through SBC and get ahold of the fire department.
the good news, our house is fine.
the bad news, i can't trust vonage to keep me safe. so, do I switch back to SBC (who wants me back at $20/month w/o long distance) or keep my $25/mo VOIP service that is useless in an emergency.
now to e-mail vonage and try to get a straight answer on what dispatch my wife was calling. if i wasn't so hungry, i'd post the pictures I took of the fire department in action ... i'll post those later.
7.17.2004
backpack journalism
Some links on backpack journalism that I've come across:
Gear
Gear for the Multimedia Newsroom Really like the tablet PC idea.
Digital Photography
Wireless Net connections
Cingular: As cheap as $20/month
Verizon Wireless Internet BroadbandAccess, $80/month Requires: $400 card?
Nextel: First site to layout the charges for a wireless internet ethernet/modem card ... $350 (on sale) Still have to find monthly acess charges for Nextel.
Alltel ... probably $22/month | Alltel FAQLook into Alltel coverage ... isn't it piggy-backing on verizon?
Other options
Vonage soft-phoneUse data network to send VOIP phone calls back to work ... additional connection option for those in the field.
Gear
Gear for the Multimedia Newsroom Really like the tablet PC idea.
Digital Photography
Wireless Net connections
Cingular: As cheap as $20/month
Verizon Wireless Internet BroadbandAccess, $80/month Requires: $400 card?
Nextel: First site to layout the charges for a wireless internet ethernet/modem card ... $350 (on sale) Still have to find monthly acess charges for Nextel.
Alltel ... probably $22/month | Alltel FAQLook into Alltel coverage ... isn't it piggy-backing on verizon?
Other options
Vonage soft-phoneUse data network to send VOIP phone calls back to work ... additional connection option for those in the field.
7.16.2004
Newest vh1 commercial
Re: Re: Newest vh1 commercial ...@ Clipland: music videos, short films, tv commercials, movie trailers
The Internet: Cool.
I can't get a promo spot on VH1 out of my head (why do I see the commercial? It's at the end of every "I Love the 90s" show, so ReplayTV doesn't skip it)
Unfortunately, VH1 doesn't have any info on their TV spots online. And they should. With a link to buy the song.
But, google and a site called Clipland have satified my jonzin'
And, very nice, iTunes is happy to take my .99 to give me the song. Again, Internet: Cool
The Internet: Cool.
I can't get a promo spot on VH1 out of my head (why do I see the commercial? It's at the end of every "I Love the 90s" show, so ReplayTV doesn't skip it)
Unfortunately, VH1 doesn't have any info on their TV spots online. And they should. With a link to buy the song.
But, google and a site called Clipland have satified my jonzin'
And, very nice, iTunes is happy to take my .99 to give me the song. Again, Internet: Cool
7.09.2004
St. Edward athletic field
New St. Ed's athletic field under construction
Now, let's see how many Ignatius coaches cache this page once practice begins to scout the Eagles.
Now, let's see how many Ignatius coaches cache this page once practice begins to scout the Eagles.
7.06.2004
antihistamines are not 'totally comfort drugs'
States watching Tennessee's health care plan for the poor
"In the case of antihistamines, they are totally comfort drugs" says Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen in defense of his new approach to medical care in his state.
Ass.
Bredesen's plan has merits, it's sounds better than Ohio's, and it will keep more Tennesseeans with insurance. But ignoring allergy-related asthma will only increase your costs due to more emergency room visits and reliance on emergency inhalers.
If this is supposed to be a "surgical" cutting of HMO benefits, why ignore the cheaper alternative of letting patients with allergy-related asthma use the $2 a day preventitive care rather than rely on the traumatic, expensive care of the ER?
"In the case of antihistamines, they are totally comfort drugs" says Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen in defense of his new approach to medical care in his state.
Ass.
Bredesen's plan has merits, it's sounds better than Ohio's, and it will keep more Tennesseeans with insurance. But ignoring allergy-related asthma will only increase your costs due to more emergency room visits and reliance on emergency inhalers.
If this is supposed to be a "surgical" cutting of HMO benefits, why ignore the cheaper alternative of letting patients with allergy-related asthma use the $2 a day preventitive care rather than rely on the traumatic, expensive care of the ER?
7.05.2004
Eric Schlosser kicks ass
Just finished Reefer Madness : Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market, a quick read on weed, migrant labor, and porn.
So many good thoughts and observations packed into one lil' book ... my head is bursting with ideas: Drop everything and write books like these, drop everything and fight our corrupted system of bloated government and EVIL corporations that subvert life at every turn.
I had never considered mandatory minimum sentencing outside of a SoAD song, now I am fully onboard with any movement to eliminate minimum sentencing, at least as far as possession of illegal drugs are concerned.
Books like these certainly help define why "free markets" are usually corrupted and fail the people markets should serve. An awesome read, and one that I'll no doubt return to when I need a good shot of "mission juice."
Amazon.com reviews of Reefer Madness
Drug policy alliance: Mandatory Minimum Sentences
Families Against Mandatory Minimums
So many good thoughts and observations packed into one lil' book ... my head is bursting with ideas: Drop everything and write books like these, drop everything and fight our corrupted system of bloated government and EVIL corporations that subvert life at every turn.
I had never considered mandatory minimum sentencing outside of a SoAD song, now I am fully onboard with any movement to eliminate minimum sentencing, at least as far as possession of illegal drugs are concerned.
Books like these certainly help define why "free markets" are usually corrupted and fail the people markets should serve. An awesome read, and one that I'll no doubt return to when I need a good shot of "mission juice."
Amazon.com reviews of Reefer Madness
Drug policy alliance: Mandatory Minimum Sentences
Families Against Mandatory Minimums
7.03.2004
The New York Review of Books: The Truth About the Drug Companies
The New York Review of Books: The Truth About the Drug Companies
"Of the seventy-eight drugs approved by the FDA in 2002, only seventeen contained new active ingredients, and only seven of these were classified by the FDA as improvements over older drugs. The other seventy-one drugs approved that year were variations of old drugs or deemed no better than drugs already on the market. In other words, they were me-too drugs. Seven of seventy-eight is not much of a yield. Furthermore, of those seven, not one came from a major US drug company."
"Of the seventy-eight drugs approved by the FDA in 2002, only seventeen contained new active ingredients, and only seven of these were classified by the FDA as improvements over older drugs. The other seventy-one drugs approved that year were variations of old drugs or deemed no better than drugs already on the market. In other words, they were me-too drugs. Seven of seventy-eight is not much of a yield. Furthermore, of those seven, not one came from a major US drug company."
