Tag: media

In recent news:

Republicans achieve top goal in Obama tax-cut plan
By CHARLES BABINGTON, Associated Press Charles Babington, Associated Press – 8 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Republicans control neither the House nor the Senate — and certainly not the White House.

Republicans prevailed on their biggest demand: continuing Bush administration tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, despite Obama’s 2008 campaign promise to let them expire for households earning more than $250,000 a year. Obama, while acknowledging Democratic unrest, agreed to extend the tax breaks for two years, whereas Republicans wanted a permanent extension.

His plan also would renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed, and grant a one-year reduction in Social Security taxes paid by workers but not by employers.

The proposed Social Security tax cut would apply to virtually every working American. For one year they would pay 4.2 percent of their income, instead of 6.2 percent, to the government retirement program, fattening U.S. paychecks by $120 billion in 2011.

Obama said he reluctantly made another concession to Republicans, concerning the estate tax. It would tax estates worth more than $5 million at a rate of 35 percent, a GOP goal. Democrats favored a $3.5 million threshold, with a 45 percent tax on anything higher.

Under his plan, unemployment benefits would remain in effect through the end of next year for workers who have been laid off for more than 26 weeks and less than 99 weeks. Without an extension, 2 million individuals would have lost their benefits over the holidays, the White House said, and 7 million would have done so by the end of next year.

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Looks good to me. Any problems? Let me know because I’m seriously clueless on all levels of operation. Bahahaha!

I recall watching on PBS (Public Broadcasting Station) a delightful British sitcom series called: “Are You Being Served?” I comedy and this is one of the few British shows that I could laugh along with Maw. I loved all the characters. But Mr. Humphries was one whom I found to be quite humorous, along with Mrs. Slocombe, the old lady with the colorful hair-dos. The twosome are always exchanging a few words with each other.

In recent news:

WikiLeaks reveals sites critical to US security
By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Sharon Theimer, Associated Press – 32 mins ago

WASHINGTON – In a disclosure of some of the most sensitive information revealed yet by WikiLeaks, the website has released a secret cable listing sites worldwide that the U.S. considers critical to its national security.

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If Julian Assange does “get served,” I’ll be laughing! Why? His very visage reminds me of the dear Mr. Humphries. Now can’t we all get a good laugh without getting into each other’s businesses? Sure there may be security issued involved. But I prefer the freedom of speech anytime.

And without the efforts of Assange and pals, we wouldn’t know (or care) if our government does ILLEGAL and IMMORAL activities. We need people like him to expose the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth – so help us “God”. When the government shuts down his accounts, that’s a red flag that Assange is onto something very important to humanity. When the police starts abusing its citizens, that a “no-no”. When people distrust each other, that’s it – we’re doomed as a nation.

For example, last night, we viewed a show about Saddam Hussein’s abusive government. He created so much fear among his people and within his country that families are afraid of each other. Trust among each other has been broken by fear itself. Many innocent people died, just for speaking up against injustice and for being critical of Hussein’s reign of terror. I didn’t like how Saddam’s stupid henchmen meeted out punishment. It was graphic for us viewers.

Bottom-line: Let’s not allow fear to break down trust that truth (like WikLeaks) is too damn ugly but necessary.