Seemed a bit cooler this morning when I let the dog out, currently 74F with 84%RH, so I could be mistaken.
Woke up beat down. Kids were exhausted too. The older one had 2 days of standardized testing. The younger is just dealing with her arm in a cast in the heat.
I feel better, and I’m not ‘hung over’ from working outside yesterday. The vest and hat, with breaks, did their jobs I guess. Managing the heat and my exertions in it, is going to be a big thing for me this summer. I have to be able to work outside, so I have to find a way.
Lots on the agenda today. Finish up the Portacool, get to work on the 4 ft fan, get the formwork for the generator pad done, groceries, and grout the tile at the rent house….
We’ll see how much actually gets done.
n
Fer Pete’s Sake, it’s a thunder storm-
‘METEOTSUNAMI’ my @ss.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5738839/Violent-Northeast-storm-caused-meteotsunami.html
And the orwellian revisionism starts-
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5740045/Las-Vegas-shooter-Stephen-Paddock-angry-Waco-Ruby-Ridge-sieges.html
” reports from at least two people claiming they had spoken to Paddock about his paranoia.”
“A jailed man ” talking about FEMA camps and “a woman [who] said she overheard a man”.
A snitch and some random woman. FEMA camps and Waco and Ruby Ridge.
I’ll bet $5 that the next time we see a reference to the ‘paranoia’ they drop the references to WHO reported the conversations.
And the bomb in Cali may have been ‘targeted’- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5737811/Day-spa-owner-40-killed-deadly-explosion-Southern-California-office.html
Mre official fail and the folly of gun control laws-
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5739959/Horrific-video-shows-moment-worker-shot-one-six-colleagues-gun-rampage.html
[Shooter]” has an extensive criminal record that includes 42 arrests and 15 felony convictions in Delaware” and a history of violence in the workplace. You have to scroll down several pages to learn that though, and this little nugget – “Authorities have not said how [shooter] , who was prohibited from having a gun, obtained the .380 calibre pistol believed to be used in the shootings.”
He’s a scumbag criminal ex-con and convicted felon. He got it ILLEGALLY. ‘Cuz he’s a criminal, and they can only hang you once.
Finally, our old and unwanted friend ebola has in fact made it to the city, as officials feared it would – “The deadly virus was detected in the northwest city of Mbandaka, with a population of about 1 million people” Bad news for DRC. Bad news for us if someone gets on a plane. Hope the CDC has reactivated the temperature scanners at ports of entry…. bet they haven’t yet.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5739745/Explosive-increase-Ebola-cases-feared-outbreak-Congo-spreads-CITY.html
n
Palate cleanser for Mr. Greg:
Last Year Seattle Cut Ties With Wells Fargo Over The Dakota Access Pipeline, But No One Else Wanted Their Business
We once considered moving to Seattle. Missed it “by that much.”
H/T Twitchy
WRT Seattle:
It is working hard to become the San Franfreako of the North. Just need a bit more human manure and needles on the sidewalk. My kids’ go to Seattle a couple of times a year. The last time, about 2-months ago, they remarked at how the filth and homeless had gotten exponentially worse.
WRT Seattle:
It is working hard to become the San Franfreako of the North. Just need a bit more human manure and needles on the sidewalk. My kids’ go to Seattle a couple of times a year. The last time, about 2-months ago, they remarked at how the filth and homeless had gotten exponentially worse.
The entire I-5 corridor from Downtown Seattle to the other side of Portland is grim anymore. Have you been to Vantucky -er- Vancouver, WA since legalization?
We once considered moving to Seattle. Missed it “by that much.”
Consider yourself lucky. Our experience only cost me $100,000 and a big chunk of my 40s. I’m a little ticked off at the Northwest.
Just a little.
I find it telling that my wife’s job is still open *4 years later*. The clinic tried all kinds of alternatives (nurses, PAs, midwives, Fred Meyer pharmacists), but they’re once again posting for a full doctor
Palate cleanser for Mr. Greg:
Last Year Seattle Cut Ties With Wells Fargo Over The Dakota Access Pipeline, But No One Else Wanted Their Business
Seattle used to be home of a large bank, SeaFirst, but that institution, much like Florida’s large home-grown bank, Barnett, was absorbed into Bank of America as part of the questionably legal mergers that took NCNB from a small regional player to a “Too Big To Fail” behemoth.
I worked in what used to be the SeaFirst HQ building in Downtown Seattle, not far from City Hall.
I had a very nice full ride scholarship offer for grad school at UofW, which I declined. I was coming from Arizona, with 300 plus days of sunshine a year, where a 3 day overcast and rain would have me sitting on the couch, fetal. To say that I was adversely affected by S.A.D. would be putting it mildly. I didn’t think I’d survive 300 plus days of overcast…
n
I find this interesting…
The International Public Safety Association is putting together some new policy task forces. One of them is to be ” Contemporary civil unrest readiness, response and recovery strategies”.
I think that will make some good future blogfodder….
n
I had a very nice full ride scholarship offer for grad school at UofW, which I declined. I was coming from Arizona, with 300 plus days of sunshine a year, where a 3 day overcast and rain would have me sitting on the couch, fetal. To say that I was adversely affected by S.A.D. would be putting it mildly. I didn’t think I’d survive 300 plus days of overcast…
I’m now going to say something nice about Seattle. Shocking but true.
The gloom is exaggerated to some extent. Portland is bad because it sits in a convergence of valleys, but, over three months I worked in Downtown Seattle, from late February 2013 until I quit the job in mid-May, I saw *some* sun every day, even if it was fleeting in the late afternoon, right before sunset, after the weak sun finally burned off the morning crud.
Maybe that was a mild Winter
Passing on UW? Dunno if that was good or bad.
My wife’s relatives bought one cousin an MBA from UW. That paper got him a bunch of interviews, but, at the one job he accepted, he was walked to the door on his first day before lunchtime once they figured out he wasn’t up to the task. That name on the diploma certainly opened doors for him, however, even if he wasn’t able to keep them open.
@RickH – Please take a look at the Create New Topic in “Testing Forum” box on AskWoody’s Testing Forum site. Allows you to see Text and Visual versions of your post before you send it.
Is that a standard WordPress plug-in? Would that add too many bells and whistles?
A couple of the forums I visit and participate in regularly have had this and I do find it helpful. Not just lipstick on a pig.
Thanks for your consideration.
“America’s long-term challenge #2: the looming retirement crisis”
https://www.sovereignman.com/trends/americas-long-term-challenge-2-the-looming-retirement-crisis-23432/
“Last week, the financial services giant Northwestern Mutual released new data showing that 1 in 3 Americans has less than $5,000 in retirement savings.”
I guess that we are going to have to just muddle through retirement of 1/3rd ??? of the workforce over the next 20 ??? years. The problem is that the workforce replacements are illegals, illiterate, have huge debts themselves, etc, etc, etc.
I predict social security only for the penniless, IRA and 401K seizures XXXXXXX reinvestment, and general mayhem. More homeless, more 3 or 4 generations living in one home, etc. I don’t even want to think about Medicare.
On that word, my brother-in-law is being forcibly retired by UPS at the age of 62. He has been on short term disability for several months now. He has worked for them for 30+ years as a truck loader, etc, all blue collar union jobs. Luckily, he will get his pension from UPS, not the Teamsters. But his half of his base pay pension will run out after 20 years. His malaria from being a Christian missionary in New Guinea for several years has apparently come back with a vengeance. The drugs do not work for him anymore and he is now walking with a walker and falling. Not good while trying to load or fuel a truck.
I predict social security only for the penniless, IRA and 401K seizures XXXXXXX reinvestment, and general mayhem. More homeless, more 3 or 4 generations living in one home, etc. I don’t even want to think about Medicare.
I’ve written here before that you want to keep an eye out for news of Teresa Ghilarducci testifying on Capitol Hill. She’s the Prog academic on point for 401(k) seizures.
Another scheme the Dems discuss whenever they hold the Ways & Means gavel is “imputed income”, taxing the difference between what you pay for the mortgage and taxes on your house vs. what the government estimates it would cost to rent.
We’re pretty much hosed just at the Fed level. Just wait until the states start dusting off the elder support laws. More than a few states have those.
To my generation, paying Social Security is a Faustian Bargain — we cover the tab or our mothers, Allison Janey’s character from “I, Tonya”, move in, complete with birds on their shoulders, literally or figuratively.
In my mother’s case, the “bird” would be whatever Yorkie du jour she failed to ever potty train properly.
Another scheme the Dems discuss whenever they hold the Ways & Means gavel is “imputed income”, taxing the difference between what you pay for the mortgage and taxes on your house vs. what the government estimates it would cost to rent.
What the crap ?
Are these the same estimators who said that Hillary would win the election ?
This is why I say that everyone in the USA should pay 10% of each dollar earned or unearned to the USA guberment. If you make $10 that day then you should send $1 to the guberment. That way EVERYONE shares in the pain. And the freeloaders will be looked on derisively like they used to be.
What the crap ?
Al Gore was the last big proponent of taxing imputed rental income in the 2000 election, but the idea still floats around academia, both conservative and liberal.
https://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/taxing-homeowners-as-if-they-were-landlords/
Sweet jebus is that ever foul.
n
I see Switzerland mentioned in the above article. Brad, comments?
@DadCooks – that site is a WordPress site, with the BBPress plugin for a forum-based area.
Don’t really have a forum here (could, but the current comment system, IMHO, is sufficient), so their solution is not really applicable here.
For forum software, I like phpBB, which I installed on The Home Scientist for Ben. Easily extendable with ‘extensions’ (same as plugins) to change the look and content of areas of the forum. I even made my own extension to add text to the screens, via templates that are included at various points in the code that generated.
Let me get this straight.
If I were a landlord (I am not), I would buy a property and rent it out for a little more than the mortgage and the maintenance costs. I would want to make enough “extra” to be sure that a big-ticket item or a 3 month vacancy wouldn’t put me in the red on the property.
For example, if my mortgage on my home were $1000/month, I would want to collect $1250/month (or something like that) to be sure I wasn’t losing money on the house.
Are these idiots suggesting I should be taxed on the $250/month?
EDIT: They ARE!
and
Need I point out that the last thing we need is more complicated taxes?
What the crap ?
Al Gore was the last big proponent of taxing imputed rental income in the 2000 election, but the idea still floats around academia, both conservative and liberal.
https://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/taxing-homeowners-as-if-they-were-landlords/
It is time for a revolution.
ADD: The first shot should be for algore.
Need I point out that the last thing we need is more complicated taxes?
One of the things that these academic pinheads want is for the IRS to compute your taxes automatically. You will just pay what they think you should pay then. And, it is a jobs program for the IRS also. Win, win for the academic pinheads !
I know more than a few people that make money on the side. I do not know whether or not they report their income. I do, and I pay my taxes (which is why I hate them so). Pull a stunt like that and see how many people don’t bother to report it.
The IRS should not employ so many people. Simplify the tax code (1 page, on the back of the return) and let all those accountants and agents do something productive.
(I know. Broken record. Can’t help it.)
The IRS should not employ so many people. Simplify the tax code (1 page, on the back of the return) and let all those accountants and agents do something productive.
See my 10% of all income (minus business expenses) comment above.
(I know. Broken record. Can’t help it.)
Me too. My simple 10% rule will never happen.
Or, I would be ok with the Fair Tax.
https://fairtax.org/
Are these idiots suggesting I should be taxed on the $250/month?
And if your house is paid off? You get to pay taxes on what someone thinks it would rent for?
Seems like a disincentive to do any kind of maintenance. Or even build a house.
Thanks @RickH.
WRT to recent discussions about taxes and the gooberment: Unfortunately we must either have a violent revolution (like the War of Northern Aggression it will divide families) or allow ourselves to become peasants/slaves grovelling in the mud (most likely). And that is my optimistic view.
I can’t add much to the discussion, except to say: yes we pay tax on self-rental income.
Thete are always discussions about all the tax deductions you get as a home owner – and you do get a lot. This tax basically reduces those deductions.
Thete are always discussions about all the tax deductions you get as a home owner – and you do get a lot. This tax basically reduces those deductions.
I am confused. Then why have home owner tax deductions ?
I am confused. Then why have home owner tax deductions ?
Realtors have lobbyists too.
income tax is never going to be simple, because of how do you define income?
That’s why I’m a proponent of a flat national sales tax. It captures spending by all the under reporters, black marketeers, drug kingpins, trunk slammers, etc. It affects the rich and the poor. Add a national lotto based on sales receipts (paper slips) like China does, to encourage people to ask for a receipt, and be sure the sale is reported.
Now it doesn’t matter where your money comes from, the beast gets fed by everyone at point of USE of the money.
n
Why do you owe federal income tax on unemployment insurance benefits? ‘cuz they CAN.
n
Made it home this afternoon. Long drive and glad it is over.
For those that are interested some of the images I took at the wedding can be found at the following link.
Wedding in Texas
Not certain what the “official photographer” was able to get. As I mentioned before some of the people she posed had their back to a very strong sun. I used fill flash, she used none. To make the faces view-able would require blowing out the background. Not good. She, and her assistance (her husband) constantly got in the way, on purpose. She originally agreed to allow me to take pictures but I think she got intimidated when she saw my equipment. Sigh.
Anyway, I did what I could given the circumstances. I was not in control and would arranged many of the pictures differently. To each their own.
I don’t worry about it. I use an income tax accountant.
Yes, I believe is specialty service providers.
Also, I go to an MD dermatologist to freeze the possible cancer sites off my redneck.
Yuuup, I no longer do the brake jobs on my vehicles.
They just grabbed my Swiss Army Knife at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Jerks !
Supposedly I will get it back after the concert as I got a reciept. We’ll see if I remember to get it.
Anyway, I did what I could given the circumstances. I was not in control and would arranged many of the pictures differently. To each their own.
Your shots looked pretty good.
Our wedding photographer was awful. We contracted with a company that had a solid reputation, but they sent their ‘B’ team to shoot our wedding. The cameraman had an ancient medium format camera that took forever to focus, and everything had to be staged for him. Fortunately, we got great candid shots from our guests thanks to pre-placed disposable cameras on every table.
You may have saved the day for that couple.
Great looking shots Ray!
Our photographer was great. Recommended by lots of girls who’d used him for their wedding shots. Real pro, 2 or 3 cameras hanging off him at all times. Got great shots, had a great eye. Even got a beautiful shot in a service hallway at the hotel, when he noticed the light and background arches…
The video guy, not so much. Didn’t shoot one extra minute of tape, no intro/outro, b roll, nothing. In camera cuts, very rush job. We went with a minimum and minimal package for video and I think he was trying to get out of there. I’m glad we added the video, I really hadn’t thought about all the stuff that happens before I got in the chapel, and I’m glad I got to see that.
We had the photog all day and night and I’m still happy with his shots 13 years later.
n
@lynn, it’s for your own safety, doncha know…
if you don’t get it back, post the link to the model and I’ll look for one next time I’m at the Austin seizure store. Should be $8 unless it’s a huge one, and then it’ll be $20 like all the multitools. Little ones are $1.
n
Great pix, Ray, but:
Doesn’t anyone know how to hold a pen anymore?
We’re teaching our kids cursive writing because the schools have stopped.
So, probably not….
n
@Nick – I’m in agreement. Fairtax.
If we’re to have a national tax (and I don’t concede that we NEED one), it should be structured to encourage savings, not spending. Discouraging work is what the income tax does.
@Ray – Nice job on the pictures – they look great!
I don’t remember how we found our wedding photographers, but they were great (a husband and wife team.) We had the option to purchase all the negatives, so we did that too. One of these days, Real Soon Now, I’ll get them digitized. For now, they continue to slumber in the safe deposit box at the bank.
Great pix, Ray, but:
Doesn’t anyone know how to hold a pen anymore?
The classic way to hold a pen never worked for me. My handwriting got better in school once I reached a grade level where the teachers stopped caring about mechanics.
I have to agree with Nick: a flat sales tax (actually, VAT would be better) would be the fairest possible tax. It will catch lots of the gray market, and it’s a visible tax – something you see on every receipt, for everything that you buy.
We have income tax here, as well. Which sucks, but it is at least highly visible: no withholding, you get to pay a whopping lump sum each year. Makes you realize just how much tax you pay, which encourages people to vote against tax increases.
Taxes need to be both simple and visible.
In theory, on the “soak the rich” front, I would be a fan of inheritance taxes. You earned the money, you get to spend it. But you don’t get to set up a dynasty. Of course, the really rich will just move their money elsewhere, so I suppose it doesn’t help.
My eldest sister holds pens/pencils between her first & second fingers – the way most folks hold a pencil to erase. I’ve tried it & it works well but does not feel natural to me.
My youngest sister held her pencil against her ring finger instead of her middle finger. Gave her a callous on the “wrong” finger. I can’t write like that at all.
In both cases, they wrote better when teachers stopped correcting mechanics.
Wedding in Texas
http://www.raymondthompsonphotography.com/Weatherly/
Ray, you are truly talented. This shows that taking pictures is an art, not a science.
At least your niece ??? will have these if the other photographers pictures suck as bad as they sound.
I have to agree with Nick: a flat sales tax (actually, VAT would be better) would be the fairest possible tax. It will catch lots of the gray market, and it’s a visible tax – something you see on every receipt, for everything that you buy.
I just don’t trust the feddies to totally replace the current income tax with a national sales or VAT tax. Of course, VAT is a lot of freaking paperwork for the small businesses like mine.
We have income tax here, as well. Which sucks, but it is at least highly visible: no withholding, you get to pay a whopping lump sum each year. Makes you realize just how much tax you pay, which encourages people to vote against tax increases.
Taxes need to be both simple and visible.
Your self-rental income sounds complicated. And high potential of unfairness like our property taxes that are supposedly based on impartial annual evaluations.
Greg Norton wrote:
“Our wedding photographer was awful.”
My sister’s (back in 1972) was good. But the receptionist at the photographer’s agency was not. When my sister made the booking she specifically asked for colour prints. But the bimbo wrote B&W. When she got the B&W prints she went absolutely ballistic. I was convinced bodies would be found floating in the Torrens over this.
My sister begged, borrowed and stole (literally, in the case of my slides) guest photos. She thought about re-staging the wedding.
And ten years later you realize you haven’t looked at the photos in 5 years, can’t recall the names of everyone at the reception, and wonder why you spent the money…
I’ve got mine in the rotation of my screensaver so I see mine much more often than most people, and the kids are fascinated by them.
n
God, no VAT. That thing is poison. It’s like passing the same $20 bill around a circle and everyone thinks they’ve made and spent $20 bucks. Except that the .gov is the only one who gets anything as they snip a little every time…
n
I’m with you @Nick, people have no idea how bad a VAT is and how it is rife with political favors and corruption. Yes, it is about the worst, most misguided form of taxation.
KISS – a simple flat sales tax, no more than 9%. The gooberment does not deserve a tithe.
This has been a bad day, but I will keep it to myself for now. Don’t worry, I’m okay and so is the family. Just stuff and bad people.
Oopps, posted this on Thursday. Oh well, no delete function so I’ll just leave it here.