Saturday, 31 January 2009

Linkage

Are we stimulated yet?


Two great posts (and a scary graphic) from Suitably Flip:
Stimulus, Illustrated

So how big is the resulting $1.2 trillion [expenditure+interest] [stimulus] spending package? Big enough to dwarf any government program in history, even after adjusting for inflation. It’s bigger than the New Deal and the Iraq War combined. The interest alone will be costlier than the Louisiana Purchase or going to the moon. The $18 billion in bonuses paid legally by private Wall Street firms in 2008 - decried by the President as “shameful” - is vanishingly small in comparison (smaller even than the bill’s incremental food stamps expenditures).
What else can we get for our $1.2 trillion?
Excusing employers from... [the employer’s share of the payroll] tax would cost an estimated $455 billion per year (ignoring the growth effect of removing hiring disincentives).  With $1.173 trillion to play with, you could fund a payroll tax holiday for more than 2.5 years...
...
Extrapolating from estimates by Heritage’s Center for Data Analysis, a 1-point change in the payroll tax rate ratchets the pace of job creation by 147,000 per year.  Eliminating the employer-side payroll tax completely would be a 7.65-point reduction.  ...Using that as a general guide gets us to 1.12 million incremental jobs per year.

Over 2.5 years, that's good for more than 2.8 million new jobs.


Via:  Joanna

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Linkage

In fine fettle


A couple of days R&R (along with the right meds) have restored Roberta X to full capacity. Today she’s after the Democrats (but the Republicans have no cause to feel safe!). Go read:

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Friday, 30 January 2009

Linkage

Alaska volcano gets set to erupt...


...and “tyree” pre-scripts the coverage (just to make sure that all the talking points get covered):

“Today in Alaska the failed Republican Vice Presidential nominee, former beauty contestant Sarah Palin proved impotent to stop the erupting volcano which was caused by global warming...”

Background story at CNN.
Via:  IP

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Thursday, 29 January 2009

Linkage

Your tax problems, solved

(Well, probably not yours.  Who do you think you are- some politician?)
Ask The Tax Guys:
Dear Tax Guys:
I've had a lot on my mind lately, and when I was going through some old receipt boxes in my filing cabinet I suddenly realized I haven't paid my income taxes for the past 8 years. Am I in trouble? Please help!
Forgetful in Fort Worth

Dear Forgetful:
Here at the IRS, we realize that many well-meaning taxpayers like you can be distracted by various family illnesses, baseball pennant races, political campaigns, and so on. The rules for late filing can be surprisingly flexible if you have the right qualifying circumstances.  According to IRS guidelines, you are eligible for the 306(b)(19) “I Forgot” amnesty if the following applies:
(1) Your total adjusted gross income in the “I Forgot” years was equal to or greater than $8,528,000; and
(2) You are a nominee to head a cabinet-level federal agency...
But Wait, There’s More:
All U.S. taxpayers would enjoy the same immunity from IRS penalties and interest as House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Obama Administration Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, if a bill introduced today by Congressman John Carter (R-TX) becomes law.

Carter, a former longtime Texas judge, today introduced the Rangel Rule Act of 2009, HR 735, which would prohibit the Internal Revenue Service from charging penalties and interest on back taxes against U.S. citizens. Under the proposed law, any taxpayer who wrote “Rangel Rule” on their return when paying back taxes would be immune from penalties and interest.

Disclaimer: This information has been provided for entertainment purposes only, and should not be relied upon when preparing or filing your taxes.  Neither Old Grouch, mee.nu, the internet, nor the Republican party assume any responsibility for any consequences of actions taken, or not taken, based on the aforementioned information.  I am not anyone’s lawyer, and this is not legal advice.  Persons having tax questions are advised to consult their attorney, accountant, tax expert, or Democratic precinct committeeperson.  Your mileage may vary.  Void where prohibited.  Have a nice day.

(“Rangel Rule,” HT NRO.)

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Linkage

Hey, Al!


Inches away from the worst January on record for snowfall in Cleveland?

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Friday, 23 January 2009

Linkage

WHO’s “out of patience”?


Meryl notes that the Saudis are already saying they’re “running out of patience” with the Obama administration.  (Guess they haven’t managed to buy themselves enough Dems yet.)

Hey Saudis, clue:  A bunch of us ran out of patience with you a long time ago.

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Linkage

Blogburst: Screw the National Football League

Disgraceful, but not unexpected.

UPDATE 090124 16:39: here.

David M.:
[from reader email]
My youngest Marine called me this morning. In the course of the conversation he made mention of being part of the Color Guard for the ceremonies at the Super Bowl.  He has been part of other Color Guards at other games and has been able to enjoy the entire game after presenting the Colors.  HOWEVER, this will not be the case this time.  The 12 man/women color guard will be presenting the Colors and then will be escorted out of the stadium and therefore not allowed to see the game.  Steven and the 11 others are quite upset about this and have asked that I see if I could contact someone and have that changed.
What?  The Super Bowl won’t let the military color guard stay and watch the big game?  Yes you read that right.  Was I skeptical?  At first, but after I contacted the Tampa Bay host Committee through their official website and spoke to Katie Wagner, I was assured that yes in fact her email inbox is full of emails from upset Marine Mom’s all asking for an explanation.  To Ms. Wagner’s credit, who by the way was extremely gracious during my questions the Host Committee has no control over game day decisions; that authority rests solely with the NFL. [links in original - o.g.]
The NFL is a bunch of multi-millionaire parasites who would not exist were it not for the billions of dollars they extort from their host cities and the anti-trust exemption given them by their cronies in Congress.  This is typically disgraceful, and not unexpected.

LATER: Hey whatcha upset about, it’s long-standing “policy”
...the outrage is being stoked by the contention that something has changed, presumably due to the economy.  Well, nothing has changed.  Per the league, this is the way it has always been done.
And maybe it’s time the league did something different.

Elsewhere:

Via:  Instapundit

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Thursday, 22 January 2009

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Another milestone in the history of technology


Rocky Mountain News:

Beer drinkers around the globe can hoist their beer cans in a celebratory toast to a milestone that began in Golden half a century ago. Today marks the 50th anniversary of the old Adolph Coors Co. unveiling the U.S. beer industry's first seamless, recyclable aluminum beer can.
One must always remember to keep track of the important stuff.  And have one for me, too!

Via: The Consumerist

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Wednesday, 21 January 2009

Linkage

What didn’t happen


Rustmeister posts a list.

And yes, they are idiots, with the collective intellect of throw pillows. (Dang, gotta remember to steal that one...)

Via:  Tam

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LOL of the day


(Actually a couple of days ago, but what do I know.  Ahem...)

Wherein C.G. Hill one-ups Lileks(!)

Lileks:

...they also seemed to specialize in oily young managers who oozed a slick of avarice, lechery, failure and contempt.  Three out of four I can take if I must, but they hit all the wrong notes.
Hill:
Sounds like the Law Firm from Hell.  “Good morning, Avarice, Lechery, Failure and Contempt.  How may I neglect your call?”
Go read ’em both.

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