Anyway, here are some of the shots she got with her phone!
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Skies Over - Santee, CA
After getting unhooked and settled in for the long winter's night, so to speak. Ruthi began to notice the various cloud formations against the blue sky. You know walking the dog can be pretty boring some days. Walk, smell a few blades of grass, walk a little farther, pee, repeat with an occasional poop.
Anyway, here are some of the shots she got with her phone!
Anyway, here are some of the shots she got with her phone!
Monday, November 6, 2017
Republican’s Congressional Tax Reform Effects:
The information below came from others review and interpretation of the current suggested income tax changes being considered. Interesting . . . some good but too much bad!
1) Yesterday, the House Ways and Means Committee released its initial tax plan which proposes several changes to current tax laws. We want to caution that this is an initial proposal and many changes may be made through negotiations in Congress. We would not suggest any action at this time due to uncertainty over what a final plan will look like, but wanted to pass along the initial details that are being proposed.
• Reduce tax brackets from seven to four. A summary of the now proposed brackets are below:
Income Tax Rate Income Levels
Current Tax Act Single Married-Joint
10 - 15% 12% $0-$44,999 $0-$89,999
25 - 28% 25% $45,000-$199,999 $90,000-$259,999
28 - 39.6% 35% $200,000-$499,999 $260,000-$999,999
39.60% 39.60% $500,000+ $1M+
• Eliminates itemized deductions except for charitable contributions, mortgage interest, property taxes, and retirement savings. Allows the mortgage deduction for new mortgages of $500,000 or less.
• Eliminates deduction for state and local taxes
• State property tax deduction limited to $10,000
• Doubles the standard deduction from $6,300 to $12,000
• Doubles the estate tax deduction from $5.49M to $11M, with the estate tax being phased out in six years
• Eliminates the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
• Increase child tax credit from $1,000 to $1,600
• Lowers corporate tax rates from 35% to 20%
Again, this is an initial proposal and details may change significantly. We will continue to monitor the situation and communicate updates as they are reported. If you have any questions, please let us know.
2) This list has some important differences from one I saw that was explained in detail yesterday. This one doesn’t show important deductions we now have that will be eliminated. As an example, it doesn’t show that we will no longer be allowed deductions for medical expenses, that those paying student loans will no longer be allowed deductions. For those of us living in states that have taxes on incomes, the Federal now allows us a deduction for that. That deduction will also be eliminated. Wish I could remember the other deductions being phased out......all of which would adversely affect lower and middle class folks.
However.............notice the Estate Tax being phased out, and from the way it was explained yesterday, this will benefit the very wealthy. Same with the corporate taxes being LOWERED.
The assessment is that the middle and lower class will be helping to pay for the high income bracket to get even more tax breaks.
Although the paragraph below talks about negotiations, it appears that this Republican congress is trying to rush the bill through, just as they did with the Health Care Bill.
There were no Democrats allowed to be part of the framing of this latest tax reform bill.
3) http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc-news/watch/gop-tax-reform-plan-breaking-down-its-biggest-goals-1056128067761
"You lose nothing when fighting for a cause. In my mind the losers are those who don't have a cause they care about." Muhammad Ali
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
1) Yesterday, the House Ways and Means Committee released its initial tax plan which proposes several changes to current tax laws. We want to caution that this is an initial proposal and many changes may be made through negotiations in Congress. We would not suggest any action at this time due to uncertainty over what a final plan will look like, but wanted to pass along the initial details that are being proposed.
• Reduce tax brackets from seven to four. A summary of the now proposed brackets are below:
Income Tax Rate Income Levels
Current Tax Act Single Married-Joint
10 - 15% 12% $0-$44,999 $0-$89,999
25 - 28% 25% $45,000-$199,999 $90,000-$259,999
28 - 39.6% 35% $200,000-$499,999 $260,000-$999,999
39.60% 39.60% $500,000+ $1M+
• Eliminates itemized deductions except for charitable contributions, mortgage interest, property taxes, and retirement savings. Allows the mortgage deduction for new mortgages of $500,000 or less.
• Eliminates deduction for state and local taxes
• State property tax deduction limited to $10,000
• Doubles the standard deduction from $6,300 to $12,000
• Doubles the estate tax deduction from $5.49M to $11M, with the estate tax being phased out in six years
• Eliminates the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)
• Increase child tax credit from $1,000 to $1,600
• Lowers corporate tax rates from 35% to 20%
Again, this is an initial proposal and details may change significantly. We will continue to monitor the situation and communicate updates as they are reported. If you have any questions, please let us know.
2) This list has some important differences from one I saw that was explained in detail yesterday. This one doesn’t show important deductions we now have that will be eliminated. As an example, it doesn’t show that we will no longer be allowed deductions for medical expenses, that those paying student loans will no longer be allowed deductions. For those of us living in states that have taxes on incomes, the Federal now allows us a deduction for that. That deduction will also be eliminated. Wish I could remember the other deductions being phased out......all of which would adversely affect lower and middle class folks.
However.............notice the Estate Tax being phased out, and from the way it was explained yesterday, this will benefit the very wealthy. Same with the corporate taxes being LOWERED.
The assessment is that the middle and lower class will be helping to pay for the high income bracket to get even more tax breaks.
Although the paragraph below talks about negotiations, it appears that this Republican congress is trying to rush the bill through, just as they did with the Health Care Bill.
There were no Democrats allowed to be part of the framing of this latest tax reform bill.
3) http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc-news/watch/gop-tax-reform-plan-breaking-down-its-biggest-goals-1056128067761
"You lose nothing when fighting for a cause. In my mind the losers are those who don't have a cause they care about." Muhammad Ali
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Monday, October 30, 2017
Welcome to the New World - The New York Times
The true story of a Syrian family’s journey to America in a series of cartoons. It starts in January 2017; with the latest entry on September 29, 2017. Really good information for understanding their experiences. I found it heartwarming. (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/26/opinion/syrian-refugee-family.html?rref=collection%2Fseriescollection%2Fsyrian-refugee-family-welcome-america&action=click&contentCollection=opinion®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlace)
I often wonder what my Italian and German immigrant grandparents must have experienced when they arrived here in the early early 1900’s. How did they get here, how did they learn the language (or not, depending on their children to pick it up), how did they aclimate to such new and different country/climate/language/customs, etc etc etc.
“Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
I often wonder what my Italian and German immigrant grandparents must have experienced when they arrived here in the early early 1900’s. How did they get here, how did they learn the language (or not, depending on their children to pick it up), how did they aclimate to such new and different country/climate/language/customs, etc etc etc.
“Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Sunday, September 24, 2017
I Tried to Defend Colin Kaepernik and This is What I Learned
Another essay (https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2017/9/23/1513170/-I-Tried-to-Defend-Colin-Kaepernik-and-This-is-What-I-Learned?detail=emaildkbn) on elements of the 1st Amendment in the real world! If one of us is denied our 1st Amendment rights/obligations then we are all denied them! I didn’t watch any football games today ‘cause I’m really a Super Bowl Only fan but I have read a number of reports about how other players, coaching staff, owners, and fans are in support of Mr Kaepernik’s 1st Amendment right no matter what the president might say!
I am continually amazed that the president doesn’t understand/remember the oath of office that he took on January 20th, 2017 - "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” John F. Kennedy
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
I am continually amazed that the president doesn’t understand/remember the oath of office that he took on January 20th, 2017 - "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
“Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one's own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” John F. Kennedy
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Sunday, September 10, 2017
FYI - DACA: Dream Act Details
The Dream Act of 2017 is bipartisan legislation that would allow around 1.5 million U.S.-raised immigrant youth to earn lawful permanent residence and American citizenship if they:
• Are longtime residents who came to the U.S. as children;
• Graduate from high school or obtain a GED;
• Pursue higher education, work lawfully for at least three years, or serve in the military;
• Pass security and law enforcement background checks and pay a reasonable application fee;
• Demonstrate proficiency in the English language and a knowledge of United States history; and
• Have not committed a felony or other serious crimes and do not pose a threat to our country.
Versions of the Dream Act have been introduced at least ten times before, starting in 2001. They have passed either the House or Senate, but not both in the same Congressional session.
“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or soften the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”-Franklin Delano Roosevelt
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
• Are longtime residents who came to the U.S. as children;
• Graduate from high school or obtain a GED;
• Pursue higher education, work lawfully for at least three years, or serve in the military;
• Pass security and law enforcement background checks and pay a reasonable application fee;
• Demonstrate proficiency in the English language and a knowledge of United States history; and
• Have not committed a felony or other serious crimes and do not pose a threat to our country.
Versions of the Dream Act have been introduced at least ten times before, starting in 2001. They have passed either the House or Senate, but not both in the same Congressional session.
“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or soften the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”-Franklin Delano Roosevelt
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Essay From Twitter
Below are @GothamGirlBlue ’s tweets, in order (edited for ease of reading, no content/meaning was changed). I felt that her essay came very close to how I have felt since November. With HRC’s book coming out these feelings have come up again!
Enjoy, I hope you appreciate it as much as I did!
“I've been seething all day about the response to Hillary's book, and I feel like I've finally channeled it into a coherent thread. Every last thing we're experiencing now was predicted by Hillary during the campaign. And like Cassandra, we refused to believe her. I shouldn't use the word "we" because I was a member of her coalition. I believed her and I believed in her. She represented her coalition ably, if not perfectly. She talked about issues that mattered to us. She made sure to express empathy.
For that, she was heckled, harassed, attacked, dismissed, ignored and mocked by the very people who were supposed to inform us. And every time someone wrote about how unlikeable she was, or how she didn't talk about what really mattered, or how it's her fault... They were really saying it about our coalition. *We* were unlikeable. *We* didn't really matter. It's *our* fault that Trump won.
This backlash is really about the idea that neither Hillary as a person nor the coalition she represented has any right to public life. She was supposed to stand for white supremacy and patriarchy. She was supposed to put the priorities of white rural voters above all. She was supposed to back down when shouted at. She was supposed to mold herself into something likeable.
It goes without saying that white men determine what is likeable. They say its voters, but they mean white male voters. And we are seeing the backlash of not placating those who want our silence, our submission, our obeisance in their presence. Y'all get distracted when a GOP presidential candidate retweets white supremacists, but you can find all the time to harass Hillary. Trump is out here weaponizing the ICE into the goddamn Gestapo, but you can find time to tell Hillary her voice isn't wanted.
You ignored Cassandra as she begged and pleaded with you to listen, but she carries all the blame for your closed hearts and minds. And us, those who shared in her warnings and now feel the brunt of the brutality, we're told that we had our shot and we wasted it. White men can make a president from a treasonous sexual predator who dreams of being a half-wit, and we ask what they want and need.
But POC, women, urban voters who are responsible for 2/3 of the American economy? We should shut up and go home. No one wants us here. It's very clear that the storytellers of this age are interested in protecting the narrative of white-dominated Americana. That it's a myth, a cruel one devised to obscure crimes of blood and death that cannot be absolved, is precisely why it's so beloved. And anything that would puncture that myth, or their gutless, cretinous protection of it, must be assaulted and destroyed.
Hillary is speaking about what it felt to be on the ramming end of that myth. She's speaking *our* truth, the one of her coalition. She's taking on the very narratives that people are using to shield themselves from their ignorance and poor judgment. And she's reminding us that likeability is a damn lie. You never would have liked her no matter what she did because she challenged you.
Just as we, the coalition, challenge what priorities should be at the forefront of politics and what America looks and sounds like. You want us to go away. You want us to internalize her loss as our inferiority. You want our silence, our return to the back. We will not return. Neither will she. We deserved to win that election; we deserve her Presidency; we deserve *your* silence. You, who downplayed white supremacists. You, who accepted Trump's lies and stupidity. You, who would accept our debasement.
It is your fault that she's got the time to write a book instead of leading our nation. You're going to listen to us now, damn it. And maybe, mercifully, there will be the self-awareness to accept your portion of culpability and double your portion of silence. /fin”
“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or soften the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”-Franklin Delano Roosevelt
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Enjoy, I hope you appreciate it as much as I did!
“I've been seething all day about the response to Hillary's book, and I feel like I've finally channeled it into a coherent thread. Every last thing we're experiencing now was predicted by Hillary during the campaign. And like Cassandra, we refused to believe her. I shouldn't use the word "we" because I was a member of her coalition. I believed her and I believed in her. She represented her coalition ably, if not perfectly. She talked about issues that mattered to us. She made sure to express empathy.
For that, she was heckled, harassed, attacked, dismissed, ignored and mocked by the very people who were supposed to inform us. And every time someone wrote about how unlikeable she was, or how she didn't talk about what really mattered, or how it's her fault... They were really saying it about our coalition. *We* were unlikeable. *We* didn't really matter. It's *our* fault that Trump won.
This backlash is really about the idea that neither Hillary as a person nor the coalition she represented has any right to public life. She was supposed to stand for white supremacy and patriarchy. She was supposed to put the priorities of white rural voters above all. She was supposed to back down when shouted at. She was supposed to mold herself into something likeable.
It goes without saying that white men determine what is likeable. They say its voters, but they mean white male voters. And we are seeing the backlash of not placating those who want our silence, our submission, our obeisance in their presence. Y'all get distracted when a GOP presidential candidate retweets white supremacists, but you can find all the time to harass Hillary. Trump is out here weaponizing the ICE into the goddamn Gestapo, but you can find time to tell Hillary her voice isn't wanted.
You ignored Cassandra as she begged and pleaded with you to listen, but she carries all the blame for your closed hearts and minds. And us, those who shared in her warnings and now feel the brunt of the brutality, we're told that we had our shot and we wasted it. White men can make a president from a treasonous sexual predator who dreams of being a half-wit, and we ask what they want and need.
But POC, women, urban voters who are responsible for 2/3 of the American economy? We should shut up and go home. No one wants us here. It's very clear that the storytellers of this age are interested in protecting the narrative of white-dominated Americana. That it's a myth, a cruel one devised to obscure crimes of blood and death that cannot be absolved, is precisely why it's so beloved. And anything that would puncture that myth, or their gutless, cretinous protection of it, must be assaulted and destroyed.
Hillary is speaking about what it felt to be on the ramming end of that myth. She's speaking *our* truth, the one of her coalition. She's taking on the very narratives that people are using to shield themselves from their ignorance and poor judgment. And she's reminding us that likeability is a damn lie. You never would have liked her no matter what she did because she challenged you.
Just as we, the coalition, challenge what priorities should be at the forefront of politics and what America looks and sounds like. You want us to go away. You want us to internalize her loss as our inferiority. You want our silence, our return to the back. We will not return. Neither will she. We deserved to win that election; we deserve her Presidency; we deserve *your* silence. You, who downplayed white supremacists. You, who accepted Trump's lies and stupidity. You, who would accept our debasement.
It is your fault that she's got the time to write a book instead of leading our nation. You're going to listen to us now, damn it. And maybe, mercifully, there will be the self-awareness to accept your portion of culpability and double your portion of silence. /fin”
“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or soften the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”-Franklin Delano Roosevelt
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Sunday, September 3, 2017
FACEBOOK Commentary
I don’t personally utilize Facebook for a number of personal reasons and concerns about privacy/security. That being said, I may be a bit more worried about this review than others. But, I thought any of you that are Facebook’ers might want to check this out! Note: it is not about “FAKE NEWS” on Facebook. (https://www.lrb.co.uk/v39/n16/john-lanchester/you-are-the-product)
You will have to enter your email address to read the complete book review. That means you will be getting some “junk mail” that you will need to unsubscribe to at a later point. I think it’s worth it but then I’m an anti-Facebook-er. (https://www.lrb.co.uk/v39/n16/john-lanchester/you-are-the-product)
Facebook (FB) is now acknowledging how much Russian advertising was placed on the site but not how many Americans (possibly as many as 23 million) might have seen/been influenced by these FAKE ads spreading false information, mostly on Hillary Rodham Clinton. (http://www.thedailybeast.com/russias-facebook-fake-news-could-have-reached-70-million-americans) Additional reporting external to FB provides more scary information/facts. (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/us/politics/russia-facebook-twitter-election.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur)
“Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States." W.E.B. Du Bois
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
You will have to enter your email address to read the complete book review. That means you will be getting some “junk mail” that you will need to unsubscribe to at a later point. I think it’s worth it but then I’m an anti-Facebook-er. (https://www.lrb.co.uk/v39/n16/john-lanchester/you-are-the-product)
Facebook (FB) is now acknowledging how much Russian advertising was placed on the site but not how many Americans (possibly as many as 23 million) might have seen/been influenced by these FAKE ads spreading false information, mostly on Hillary Rodham Clinton. (http://www.thedailybeast.com/russias-facebook-fake-news-could-have-reached-70-million-americans) Additional reporting external to FB provides more scary information/facts. (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/07/us/politics/russia-facebook-twitter-election.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur)
“Either America will destroy ignorance or ignorance will destroy the United States." W.E.B. Du Bois
1st Amendment - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
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