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President Barack Obama has been so preoccupied with the November elections that he has shamefully neglected foreign policy. This is especially true with regard to Pakistan — a nuclear nation that could soon tumble into the hands of Muslim extremists who want to buy a one-way ticket to paradise by killing Infidels.
Despite deficits that have mounted into the trillions of dollars, the Obama administration has been downright miserly towards Pakistan. The result is a fractured Pakistan that may yet be swallowed up by jihad.
According to The Express Tribune, "It is an undeniable fact that a revolution is coming in Pakistan."
The sobering truth points to one thing — Pakistan is at a tipping point. Whether it is an intended strategy or willful neglect by Obama, radical Muslims could soon seize control of this military superpower and its bristling array of nuclear weapons. If you think President Jimmy Carter executed poor foreign policies during his one term, consider this: Pakistan is Iran on steroids and may become bent on our destruction.
This month militants in Pakistan have destroyed several large and desperately needed fuel supplies headed for our embattled troops in Afghanistan.
Worse yet, these attacks come just days after the Pakistani government — our supposed ally — blocked entry into Afghanistan, bringing the American — Pakistan relationship to an all-time low.
Obama's war against Afghan insurgents is pushing Pakistan towards the brink of civil war, warns Time Magazine's Robert Baer: "We're reduced to common sense in figuring out where Pakistan's breaking point is. The war in Afghanistan has done nothing for Pakistan's stability, and in fact it's gotten progressively shakier over the past 10 years."
Another Islam Misstep By Obama
Pakistan is America's most important ally against the war on terror. President George W. Bush understood that and provided Islamabad with more than $11 billion after the 9/11 attacks. But under Obama, President Asif Ali Zardari's government has received just a tiny fraction of that amount.
Zardari admits that he is nearly impotent against the Taliban-led insurgency that began after Obama assumed office. Today the Taliban encircles the capital, Islamabad.
According to Zardari the United States is not providing enough money to deal with the 18,000 madrassas (radical Muslim religious schools) or enough to backstop Pakistan's security forces including its army.
There is much at stake, admitted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: "One of our concerns is that if the worst, the unthinkable were to happen, and this advancing Taliban… were to essentially topple the government for failure to beat them back, then they would have the keys to the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan. We can't even contemplate that."
Recent catastrophic floods have pushed Pakistan's economy to the edge. Islamabad's debt has ballooned to $55 billion and any tax base to fill it has evaporated. One third of Pakistan's population has fallen below the poverty line.
A disaster of Biblical proportions is pushing the Islamic nation of 170 million people towards economic collapse. Agriculture has been ravaged by floodwaters that have submerged nearly a quarter of the country's farmland and swept away 70 percent of the roads and bridges. More than 10,000 schools and 500 hospitals have been destroyed or damaged. There are doubts that the land will improve before the autumn wheat planting. If that happens Pakistan faces starvation. Yet Obama pays no heed to Pakistan's plight.
The Montreal Gazette reports that millions of Pakistanis — who were just surviving before the floodwaters hit — are now homeless and unable to feed themselves. According to Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, losses from the flood could reach $43 billion which is an Obama-like fortune for this Third World country. Western analysts say that the end result could cause 20 percent inflation. All this for a country already mired in a terrible economic depression.
This month eight suspected German nationals were killed in a U.S. launched missile drone strike in north-western Pakistan. The group is called Jihad al Islami and their very existence has sparked a not-so-funny joke.
Question: "Which is worse: German Nazis or Pakistan Jihadists?
Answer: German Jihadists."
Pakistan's Nukes Are America's Worst Nightmare
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO has been unopposed. That is until now. This month container trucks and fuel tankers that supply 80 percent of NATO's needs in Afghanistan were blocked by Pakistan forces. This may turn into the biggest embargo America and its allies have faced since Stalin sealed off Berlin six decades ago. It demonstrates what a thin string Obama's policies are hanging by.
When I was a kid my dad actually started digging a bomb shelter during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Those were crazy times and it left me worried about nuclear war until I was almost 30. Like many of you, I thought that the collapse of Communism had arrested nuclear Armageddon, at least in my lifetime. But Pakistan is the cause of a whole new nightmare. It is a nuke toting nation whose arsenal may fall under the control of Muslim radicals.
According to Zardari, "We are not a failed state yet but we may become one in 10 years."
Don't bet that Zardari isn't being overly optimistic. His wife — the charismatic Benazir Bhutto — was perhaps the country's last legitimate national leader before she was brutally assassinated. Since her death the Taliban have launched hundreds of terrorist attacks across Pakistan. The situation has become so bad that Zardari is now a captive of a bunker that more resembles Adolf Hitler's Wolfsschanze military headquarters than it does a presidential palace in a democratic society.
Things have gotten so bad the Obama administration is attacking the enemy within Pakistan's borders. If you don't think that is an alliance in crisis imagine American B-17s bombing England on D-Day.
The Guardian newspaper says the Obama administration has lost patience with Islamabad. This should be worrisome to the world. After all, Zardari's teetering government is all that stands between us and a Jihad armed with 100 nuclear weapons. Last week in OpEdNews, Michael Payne wrote: "The probability that this scenario (involving Pakistan) could explode into a war like no other in history grows greater every day."
While Obama's domestic policies have been atrocious, his lasting legacy may be his failure to deal with Islam and Pakistan. And frankly, I am too old to start digging a bomb shelter.
Yours for real wealth and good health,
John Myers
Myers' Energy and Gold


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M The Myth of Pressure Regulators
by Roger Caffin
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Article Summary:
A number of recent canister stove models feature a pressure regulator in place of a needle valve, and the marketing spin and claims for the virtues of the pressure regulator are bordering on the absurd. Specifically, there are claims that a pressure regulator will allow the stove and canister to operate better in several ways at colder temperatures than a needle-valve stove. We had better add here that some of the worst claims come from retail outlets, which suggests that they know very little about science.
We present here a detailed scientific analysis of how a pressure regulator works and compare it to how a needle valve works, and show there is almost no difference. We then examine the claimed advantage of having a constant pressure behind the jet, and show it is somewhere between minimal and zero under normal use. We look at the claimed difference in the operation of a pressure regulator stove compared to a needle valve stove, and test using the laws of physics and common sense. We also look as some minutiae, such as calculating just how the pressure might change while boiling a litre of water.
Despite all the debunking of the pressure regulator myth, some people claim test data showing improved performance in the cold for their stove. We are willing to accept their figures, and in Part 2 we will examine just what is going on. The explanation is quite simple, but it has nothing to do with the pressure regulator.
- Introduction
- Example Quotations
- Scientific Analysis
- Real World Controllers
- Needle Valves
- Pressure Regulator Valves
- Comparison
- Real World Pressure Variations
- Getting Gas out of Empty Canisters
- Advantages of a Pressure Regulator Valve
- Summary
- Yes, but...
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Deny Facebook Friend Request
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Like us on Facebook
Find out more about the change after the break.
Clicking "Not Now" adds the request to a separate menu of "Hidden Requests." Sending a person's request to this group seems a little like Facebook Purgatory — because it is. You can revisit this list later and approve them at a later date should you change your mind. Or, you can choose the "Don't know this person?" option, and Facebook will block them from being able to request your Facebook friendship in the future, preventing annoying and spam-like requests.


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- Infowars - http://www.infowars.com -
Kentucky Miner Wins Discrimination Case Against Employer
Posted By jwilson On June 21, 2013 @ 4:45 pm In Old Infowars Posts Style,U.S. News | Comments Disabled
Dave Jamieson
Huffington Post
June 21, 2013
In a ruling that could have wide implications for coal miners, a federal judge has rebuked a coal company for trying to sue a Kentucky miner who filed a safety discrimination complaint against management. The decision has called the company's lawsuit a form of retaliation and ordered that it be withdrawn.
As HuffPost reported in January, Armstrong Coal took miner Reuben Shemwell to civil court after Shemwell said he was wrongfully dismissed from his job for raising safety concerns in his mine. It appeared to be the first time that a coal company sued an employee for filing a safety discrimination complaint, and Shemwell's lawyers warned that the threat of legal fees would have a chilling effect on whistleblowers throughout the mining industry.
In their suit filed in Kentucky state court in August, Armstrong lawyers claimed that Shemwell's filing of a discrimination complaint with the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) amounted to "wrongful use of civil proceedings" — essentially, a frivolous lawsuit — after government officials declined to pursue Shemwell's discrimination claim against the company. The Labor Department then turned around and filed a fresh discrimination complaint against Armstrong, arguing that the civil lawsuit in itself was a form of retaliation against the miner.
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USD's mission captures the values that have made it a prominent Catholic university, a vibrant institution of quality higher education, and an Ashoka U Changemaker Campus.
Faculty collaborate one-on-one with undergraduate and graduate students on research, scholarship and creative activity, allowing students to experience the excitement of original discovery.
Our students strive for academic excellence and take great pride in serving their communities. At USD, students learn to think critically, act globally and work collaboratively to achieve their full potential.
USD has an active, thriving campus community. In addition to its sublime setting — enhanced by an average 300 days of sunshine each year — USD offers students an abundance of academic programs, facilities and resources.
More than 1500 full-time and 750 part-time employees worked at USD in 2011, in capacities ranging from faculty to food service to administration to groundskeeper.
From the moment you step on our beautiful campus you can see that USD is exceptional.
Opera Workshop
|Event Start Date
|Tuesday, May 10, 2011
French Parlor, Founders Hall
|Event Start Time
|12:45 pm
|Cost: Free
The newly revitalized Opera Workshop presents scenes from stage works by Mozart, Gilbert and Sullivan, Johann Strauss Jr., and Lerner and Loewe.
|Ron Shaheen | firstname.lastname@example.com | x7653
|Web Address


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Posts Tagged With: Follow Friday
Follow Friday – Stump Craig
I met Craig Scott at FGS 2011 last week. Did you know he has a blog called Stump Craig? You should check it out. Contact him with your questions and brick walls. He will provide an answer on his blog. Tweet
Follow Friday – Sept 2, 2011 – FGS2011 Geneabloggers
FGS2011 is just days away! Did you know over 45 Geneabloggers will be in attendance? You can read the FGS Blog post outlining the information on the Official Bloggers and all the other Geneabloggers attending. Follow them and hear what they have to say about the conference! Related articles Wisdom Wednesday – Follow FGS Bloggers […]
WGN Radio Chicago and FGS Conference 2011
Have you heard our very own Chicago genealogy man, Thomas MacEntee is going to speak on WGN Radio tomorrow morning? You can read the full story here, but he will appear at 8:00 a.m. CST, Sunday, August 21, with Rick Kogan on the "The Sunday Papers" show. Listen live or listen later. You have both […]


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Fletcher just relaxing after a hard day of relaxing
1 photo | Posted 8/12/11 04:42 PM | 1 comment
Fletcher decided to jump up on the couch after everyone finished celebrating for the day. He seems to be enjoying his alone time.
Fletcher is the love of our lives. He is 16 years old and is slowly losing his fight to life! This picture was taken a few years ago! He's such a cutie pie!
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People of Earth:
In the last few days, I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. Just because I sell this German BoneYard Novelty Blue Motorcycle Helmet does not mean that I am in a Bone Yard myself.
In fact, I am still very much alive and happy to see the sun. Six years ago, I we started producing this beautiful blue novelty motorcycle helmet. Like a lot of us, I grew up wondering why so many motorcycle helmets on the market were so freaking ugly. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity to make the coolest novelty motorcycle helmet on the market.
But sadly, this is it. After months and months of design work, the German BoneYard Blue is all I could come up with. I basically had to steal the exact design from the German BoneYard Red and just change the color. It is true, creativity is dead…but, at least I made it with a fiberglass shell.
This is not a D.O.T. Certified helmet.


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State Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines created a Youtube video to demonstrate his position in favor of New York's proposed 18 percent "fat tax" on soda and other sweetened drinks. Read today's story and watch the video. What do you think of this proposal?
What do you think of the proposed 'fat tax'?
67 Responses
I heard that they had a nice little Tea Party in Boston back in 1773. Maybe the year 2009 should bring a little Albany Soda party?
Time for the politicians to STOP trying to save us from ourselves. Most of us are intelligent enough to decide what to eat and drink, and how to live in general. Are they going to start putting a surcharge on people who don't exercise? What is next?
This is also not fair to the soda companies. Really….is soda as dangerous as alcohol?
Finally…why don't they just tell the truth: they want to tax soda to make more money. But instead they think we are STUPID enough to think that NYS is doing this out of the kindness of its itty-bitty heart…very concerned for our well-being. If this tax does what Dr. DoGood wants it to do…gets us to stop drinking soda…then obviously Paterson is going to have to find another way to tax us to make up the $. Something tells me he'll find a way.
Great Idea but here is a better way to do it.
I havent researched the entire law regarding taxing high sugar soda so I dont know if they will tax the ingredients. People brew their own beer why not make your own soda too.
Along with every other tax, there should be a "fat(uous)-head" tax. For preposterous elected officials like N.Y.S. Gov. David Paterson.
Time to "stock-up" is now. Before this tax may go into effect.
Item-#32 (JelloBiafra): Your hyperlink posting made me thirsty for a Pepsi-Cola. Thanks for the caffeine.
N.Y.S. Gov. David Paterson is starting to make me wish either Eliot Spitzer or George Pataki was the Governor of New York State again. That takes some doing.
New York you have overtaxed your people for years,and yet you find new ways to tax us.Yet, I drive on a state road every day to work and bounce the whole way.Yet, I read about prisoners getting a college education and I can't afford to send my children to college.Yet, I wait in line at a supermarket and watch people buying better food with food stamps than I can afford and I work 3 different jobs,my wife works 2 jobs.New York you have abused your employees for years,with lag pay,not paying overtime,or paying overtime late.Yet, you find new ways to tax us.
New York wake up, fix the roads,make a prisoner earn his way back into society by working(prisons use to make cons work),make people on welfare or state aid follow a set of rules(if you can't afford your children now and need state aid then stop having more children also drug test them), Treat your employees right stop falling back on them when you can't figure out how to fix the budget.
New York a good way to start is to have all of your facilities start buying what they Need and not what they Want. A $20.00 chair sits just as good as a $200.00 chair. It's time you cut your spending for votes and do the job you promissed when all of you were elected.
TAXES on obesity thats not the answer thats just another excuse to hurt struggling families that have to much pride to ask for help. If you want to help us stop taxing and spending and use that college education you all flaunted during your elections and figure out the right way to fix the problems.
After reading more about how this video came about, all I can say is thank god Dr Daines is a pencil pushing doctor and doesn't really attend to sick people.
If you have as little as slight cold, I don't think he'd be the person to consult.
Today soda pop … tomorrow Twinkies. Will we have to be 21 and look like Celine Dion to buy a regular Pepsi and a Snickers bar too?
I resent nys telling me what I can and cannot consume. Contrary to the prevailing consensus among the politicos, constituents should be able to make their own decisions. I strongly suspect that state government's concern for health is overshadowed by it's desire to bilk more money from taxpayers. With very few exceptions everything is taxed to the max, social programs are on the rise, the endless supply of money to be made from going "Green" will take nys years to fully implement. As a result our illustrious politicos will nickle and dime us to death in new areas of taxation until then. Nys should have testimony from a doctor concerning taxpayer stress and frustration as a result of over taxation and propaganda!
We need single-payer health insurance, i.e., HR676, and then we wouldn't need to bring such issues to the forefront.
Judy #31
They had that Tea Party when taxes hit about 5%. Look at NY – The average person probably sees 40% of their paycheck evaporate then what is left over goes to school taxes, property taxes, sale tax, vehicle registration, fishing license, etc. By the time you're finished, you're probably looking at a 70% tax rate.
Let me know when your party will occur. I'll bring some fatty appetizers and some over taxed liquor to mix in with your soda.
Since this tax will fund so many wonderful programs, it should be every citizen's duty to consume even more soda.
If you don't agree, perhaps you could purchase your soda at a nearby Indian reservation.
Perhaps the soda companies will market unsweetened soda sold next to packets of sugar. Oh, I forgot; soda is sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and you have to go to Mexico to get soda sweetened with cane sugar.
I sure hope he saves all the money he makes with this tax for the health expenses he will need to pay for when its finally out in the open that aspartame causes cancer. I can just see the lawsuits, which probably wouldn't happen if Paterson didn't try to lie to us saying the tax was for our health.
I find all these comments to have valid points. Like everyone else i do not think this tax is to benefit the health of New Yorkers. However, I often hear people complain that when trying to diet or eat right that healty food costs too much money. Why not drop the costs of the healthy foods ?? I also find it interesting that people are complaining that they don't want "Big Brother" telling them what they can put into their bodies but were all for making smokers feel like jerks for smoking, and for jumping on the band wagon when it came to banning trans fats. I don't feel its's right for the goverment to play doctor on any level whether it's smoking, drinking or eating that big mac. I could not agree more with Joels Comments #35. There are better ways to bring in revenue for NYS.
Per the video:
1970: 31 gallons milk, 24 gallons soda. 55 gallons total. (All non-diet soda?)
2005: 21 gallons milk, 35 gallons soda. 56 gallons total.
8 oz. 1% milk: 110 calories
8 oz. regular soda: 100 calories
1970: 496 8-oz. milk, 54,560 calories; 384 8-oz. soda, 38,400 calories (IF ALL NON-DIET…I'm betting it includes both.) TOTAL CALORIES: 92,960
2005: 336 8-oz. milk, 36,960 calories; 560 8-oz. soda, 56,000 calories. TOTAL CALORIES: 92,960.
8 oz. orange juice: 110 calories, 20-30 grams sugar
Quote the Doc: When our body takes in too many calories, it turns them into fat.
Unless it is from OJ or milk?
Does anyone actually think any $ raised will not just go into the general fund?
Please show where the proposed budget has INCREASED health care spending.
Cow milk is intended for baby cows to fatten them up. When humans drink milk it fattens them up too. Not only that, but milk and dairy products are filled with hormones given to the cows.
Anyone who has cut dairy products out of the diet knows the health benefits.
I am shocked that a medical doctor would be promoting drinking dairy in such large quantities when the health effects of so much dairy in ones diet is so clear.
The dairy business has us so bamboozled that dairy is good for us, that we consume not only milk in mass quantity, but also cheese and ice cream.
They have botched this tax from the start.
To tax regular soda and not aspertame laced diet sodas…. big mistake
To propose replacing high quantities of soda with milk… big mistake
Fred, once again proving why those in the media could never lead, but are left to bitter criticisms of those who actually do work to make change for the better.
I love looking at people's shopping carts. I guess it's a form of voyeurism, but so be it.
It's amazing what people eat. Chips, frozen foods, prepared foods, sugary juices… it goes on and on. I don't know if taxes will solve the problem, but a little education wouldn't hurt.
A few years ago I decided that I would live on a monthly food budget equal to food stamps. l lost some weight, but it's possible to eat quite healthy if you buy the right foods, and you cook. I can promise you I ate a balanced diet in the process, and wasn't a slave to the dollar menu.
You can't eat filet on this budget, but there are plenty of options such as frozen veggies, whole chickens, dry beans, pasta and rice. It was an eye opening and amazing experience. I encourage everyone to try it.
Just a political hack (pronounced 'jerk')selling one of Paterson's (pronounced 'idiot') 150 tax/fee increases.
The ONLY solution to New York's deficit (and the idiot said it himself) is to consolidate our thousands and thousands of municipalities, towns, villages, hamlets, and out-houses. It's the ONLY solution.
Meantime, we continue to tax the hell out of all New Yorkers, and speed up the process of young people fleeing our state in droves. Before too long, all of our residents will be 'old folk'.
Government should mind it's own business ONCE AGAIN! I don't drink soda but I hate government STEALING more money from others if they enjoy it. Damm what is going to be next? Leave us alone, we are supposed to live in a free society. Doesn't sound to free to me…
Time to kick this government (or what ever it's called) to the curb. We don't need it anymore.
Just another example of the government infringing on our private rights. I am so sick of NYS and its seemingly endless list of taxes and fees. As a matter of personal choice, I try to avoid products that contain 'high fructose corn syrup'. The goal is to live healthy, retire and get the hell out of New York. However, the government and their Dr. HorsesaSS spokesman, has no right to pick and choose which products in the open market deserve these 'specially named' taxes.
All carbonated beverages and soda are bad for you. Some are worse than others. I know for a fact that the chemicals in orange, grape and others like it are worse for you than others. If we are going to tax non-diet soda, what about sugar, candy, cereals, syrup, . . . the list goes on and on. Don't forget about the starches that turn into sugar once you ingest them. Seems a bit odd. I do drink soda on occasion, when there is no soy drinks around. I'd always prefer a vitamin drink. The cost to oversee what should be taxed and what should not be taxed is just another way for the government to get more grants, do more research and hand out more corrupt jobs to their supporters. Less government; not more. What about ginger ale that has always helped me, at least with occasional illnesses. I swear Ginger Ale makes me feel better even with asthma. Just a thought.
I think that this proposed tax is crap – NYS has enough taxes to keep us busy figuring out how to stretch our dollars without adding another one into the mix. And one wonders why folks are leaving New York? What possibly will they think of next? Not all folks that drink non-diet soda are fat – the ones that are should have the common sense to not drink the soda in the first place. Can't blame the soda – when will people be accountable for their actions? Please…..
Item-#53 (Corrine):
Brilliant! You have stumbled onto the solution. The one tax which would fit everyone perfectly. That is: "Ta! Da!" The "Crap" Tax! Replacing all other taxes and fees. In N.Y.S..
The "Crap" Tax is ingenious! The more someone eats, the more one craps and the more taxes one will have to pay. That'll put everyone on an effective diet, immediately. Solving both the problems of obesity and the NYS Budget shortfall in one fell swoop!
If only I could have thought of it first.
These "stupid" taxes and fees are just another reason why I got the heck out of NY state. Why don't they have extra fees on McDonald's fat loaded food? Why not extra taxes on potato chips? What about extra fees on ground meat that is more than 10% fat? Where does this "Stupidity" end? Cut the "fat" from state government first. Assistant Commissioners and assistants to the assistants, and so on down the line. Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians. I've seen this first hand with retiring after 34 years with the tax dept. For every clerk or working stiff, there were at least 10 chiefs in meetings trying to figure out how to keep their jobs.
This government doesnt give a crud about obesity. They look for any excuse to fatten themselves by taxing us.
All of you who ever used the catchy phrase "obesity epidemic" have been sitting on your butts sipping lattes, while conjuring up new ways to pretend your better than the rest of us. Get your fat butts out of that chair and run laps, NOW, or you'll be just as fat as the kid who drinks soda!
The baloney with which people like you will attack any convenient scape goat, which is now fat people, would be funny if it didn't have such a dark side – you are now attempting to forcibly pour Aspartame down the throats of children, which is highly toxic and causes deadly cancer, and it will begin at an age at which they are the most vulnerable to it.
In a world of pizza, burgers, Mexican, pretzels, chips, ding dongs, and candy, soda is no significant fat factor at all. At best, a substitute-sweetened soda can help mature dieters avoid a few calories too many while otherwise seriously dieting on a disciplined diet, which few children who ever become obese are capable of, and with fewer of them than ever are getting the attention they need from their parent concerning their developing lifestyles, this nanny-state bonehead knows he is wasting your time with this hopeless nonsense while trying to pick your pocket. Don't let him do it – flush his face down the toilet, and give him a wedgie!
Oh, did I mention that arsenic, antifreeze, and cyanide also have sweet taste properties? Cyanide also has a nutty almond flavor, and cats are lured to puddles of spilled antifreeze because it smells so good. Just thought I'd throw out a few alternatives to Aspartame.
Ha! Good posts, itchyfinger
We can't put all the blame on Gov. Patterson as he is in the same boat with all the other political crooks that have spent us into oblivion. When we can't afford any more for taxes that they dream up, where will the relief come from? Now we are (and have been) having the political crooks investigate the real crooks i.e. MADOFF with the 50 BILLION ponzi scheme on to be relugated to his posh apartment. Won't be long before the Chinese arrive.


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Polsinelli Podcast- Does Your Business Succession Plan Align With Your Estate Plan?
Nowotny on Private Placement Variable Deferred Annuities
Nowotny on Private Placement Life Insurance
Recent Trends in Succession & Estate Planning
Polsinelli Podcast - Getting the Most Out of Your Estate Planning in 2014
The Greatest Gift: Your Individual + Family Estate Plan
The 2010 Tax Relief Act and your estate plan
Are your estate planning documents protecting your assets?
Same-Sex Marriage Cases in 90 Seconds
Should you Opt-Out of the Voluntary Disclosure Program?
Death and Foreign Asset Disclosure. What you don't know can cost you…a lot
Safeguard Your MVA: Devising a Business Succession Plan that will Preserve your Most Valuable Asset
Divorce can be costly, especially when it reveals undisclosed foreign assets.
Estate Planning: Wills, Trusts, & Power of Attorney in Arizona - Putting Family First
Foreign Asset Disclosure Program
Louis Steinmetz signed a personal guaranty of a $350,000 loan made to an LLC. The LLC defaulted on the loan....more
Founded in Honolulu in 1963 by Frank Damon, a Hawai'i-born descendant of missionaries from New England, and Henry Shigekane, the son of Japanese immigrants, Damon & Shigekane pioneered new territory by crossing ethnic lines —...more
Two U.S. Supreme Court cases long ago confirmed that Social Security is an unfunded federal welfare program. One writer at the Wall Street Journal has apparently yet to get the message. ...more
It all comes down to political risk versus market risk. Social security legally is merely a government welfare program masquerading as a quasi-private funded defined benefit pension plan. Social security bestows no legally...more
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What do you in grammar terminology call a word that is not compound?
Why would you say "10 head of cattle" instead of "10 heads of cattle"? Don't give me: "That's the way cowboys say it." I want a real reason. Isn't it "10 heads of lettuce", anyway?
What do you in grammar terminology call a word that is not compound?
"The essence of this book and that book was identical." "The essences of this book and that book were identical." If they were identical, they are one and the same, so I feel that the first is correct.
Do you say "Seventeen kinds of thread?" or "Seventeen kinds of threads?"
What's the difference between gerund and present participle?
When referring to a group of people, as being released in a contract, should it read "Releases" or "Releasees"? My dictionary lists releasee as singular but gives no plural spelling. Having looked under "Releases," in the dictionary, it does not list it as a plural of "Releasee." Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Whilst happily typing away my math report, I came upon this slight roadblock... "We observed a triangle created by the basketball pole and replicated a smaller triangle that was much more scaled down in size, but each of its sides WERE still in proportion to the larger triangle's. " Please take note of the entirely capitalized "were" that *was* the reason I capitalized it in the first place:') My absolutely horrible computer supported by its "state-of-the-art" spelling program argue that my "were" should be "was." Of course, I personally don't *trust* my computer as it takes some perverse pleasure in pointing out that i spelt "colour" wrong. So can i get backed by a professional opinion, please?
I went to English exam today. One of the problem was very difficult for me. The problem is Which is correct? 1) The old IS respected in our society. 2) The old ARE respected in our society. I wrote #1 is correct . I wonder if I was right.
In New Yorker, I read: "There was a cold wind and an intermittent drizzle." A cold wind and a drizzle together would make two things. Shouldn't it be "There were"?
Why do you think that these nouns resisted the temptation of adding an "s" to pluralize? Like Sheeps, Fishes, or Cattles. How was it decided that they do not have plural forms? And for what reason? And ultimately, if these nouns function fine without the plural forms, then why do we even need plural forms for any other nouns?
You can count chickens. 1 chicken, 2 chickens. But Once you fry them, you can't count them. Why not? What's wrong with 2 fried chickens?
"For this recepie, vodka or rum can be used, though neither is ideal." Should it be "neither are"? If I were to cast it, "both are not ideal", it is "are". So, it seems that "neither" should also get "are".
"That's such bull-shit." Here you have no article; not "a bull-shit". "He gave me shit." Here, too, you have no article. "I don't give a shit." Now, why do you have an article here?
When you refer to something that is labeled with letters, like letter A, button B, formula C, or exhibit D, you don't put articles, but that seems odd. Why wouldn't you say "a button B" or "a formula C"?
What are the rules for FEW vs. A FEW?
"These computers come with a 40GB hard drive" Or "These computers come with 40GB hard drives." Which is correct? If both, which is preferred? Or what are the different implications?
"Mercedes SL500. Acura NSX. BMW Z4. These types of cars are ..." Or "This type of cars" Or "This type of car" Or "These types of car" Or "These types of a car" In a situation where, by the word "type", I mean to say "expensive sports car", which is correct? It is one specific type of automobile that I'm trying to refer to, so "types" seems wrong, but to follow a list of cars with "This type of" seems wrong too. (What would "this" be referring to? It would not be the cars that I listed.)
"In a future, we'll have..." Why is "future" a countable noun? In what situations do you use "futures"? Do you ever say, "In futures, we'll have..."
Can I say "a lot of water"? Could "a lot of" be used for uncountable nouns? In other words, could "a lot of" be used to substitute both "many" and "much"?
"These are not what is going to bring us happiness." Or "These are not what are going to bring us happiness." Which is correct?
If anyone else were... —October 5, 2015, 4:53pm
On Tomorrow —October 5, 2015, 4:40pm
"This is she" vs. "This is her" —October 5, 2015, 11:17am
Pronunciation: aunt —September 28, 2015, 10:14am
"all but" - I hate that expression! —September 25, 2015, 2:41pm
Why do we have "formal" English? —September 24, 2015, 2:17pm
waiting on —September 24, 2015, 2:07pm
"This Wednesday" vs. "Next Wednesday" —September 24, 2015, 1:59pm
"escaped prison" or "escaped from prison"? —September 24, 2015, 1:53pm
How does one debate a person? —September 24, 2015, 1:48pm


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Wolves ownership news coming; 'favorable' on Rick Adelman's return
Get the 1500 ESPN SportsWire delivered to your inbox daily, and keep up with all the news in Twin Cities Sports
Minnesota Timberwolves ownership news is coming. Soon.
In a brief phone conversation on Tuesday evening, Wolves owner Glen Taylor said he'll have a major announcement on the ownership front sometime in the next week.
When poked and prodded, the only other information he would volunteer was that it's a scenario that would never be guessed.
Taylor has had talks with Chris Hansen's Seattle group, but they want to move the Wolves to Seattle, and Taylor said that's not happening.
As for the future of coach Rick Adelman, Taylor said he doesn't yet what Adelman will do, but it "looks very favorable" for some sort of return. Taylor added that Adelman has kept him well-informed.
President of basketball operations David Kahn is scouting in Europe, according to Taylor. Asked if it was OK to make a leap on Kahn's future based on him continuing to work, Taylor said no.
When pressed if the NBA.com report about Flip Saunders taking over Kahn's duties was accurate, all Taylor would say is that no decision has been made yet. But in the same breath, Taylor said a decision would come by the end of the month.
That would be today.
Asked whether former Bulls and Lakers coach Phil Jackson was a part of any equation, Taylor said no comment.


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Everyone wants to know two things after you meet Bono: What did you say to him and what did he smell like?
With all my efforts focused on remembering how to breathe and stand and form words, I completely forgot about sniffing Bono. I imagine he and I are both OK with that. But I do remember with perfect clarity what I said to him as I pulled out of our scentless hug: "This is a dream come true."
I think I may have lied to Bono, though.
Young, not dumb: I quizzed my college students on the Songs Of Innocence cover
I was curious what non-fans and U2 laymen think of the album art for U2's "Songs Of Innocence." My fanatic... more
Naked and not afraid: U2's Songs Of Innocence cover
"Songs Of Innocence" is U2's most reflexive album to date. It reveals their influences, their innocences, and their loss of... more
A body in a soul.
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(Update, 5/10/13: While at the U2 Conference last month, I learned that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has... more
They want their money back if you're alive at 33
I've been meaning to write this post since I turned 33, which was 364 days and 8 hours ago. There... more
Time won't take the Boy out of this man: Bono turns 52
Fifty-two years ago, Paul David Hewson was born to sing for us. By the time he reached his 18th birthday,... more
Music can change the world because it can change people
I get asked a lot if I've met Bono. Surely someone who's devoted 20 years of her life and a... more
I'll show you a place high on a desert plain: In search of U2's Joshua tree
U2's The Joshua Tree was released 25 years ago today: March 9, 1987. It's not my favorite U2 album; it's... more
The Turkish Lady
It's Super Bowl Sunday — a day of little present interest but much past significance to me. Of course, in... more


text:
Boys basketball: Friday's preseason roundup
Lincoln Park 59, Palm Beach Gardens 54: Roderick Reaves had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds as the Greyhounds won a preseason game in Fort Pierce.
Stiven Joseph finished with 15 points for the Greyhounds.
John Carroll 60, Fort Pierce Westwood 56: Mike Rosario had a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Golden Rams won a preseason game in Fort Pierce. Davante Richardson had 21 points for Fort Pierce Westwood.
St. Edward's 47, Edgewood 41: Darell Flowers scored 11 points as the Pirates won a pre-season game in Orlando.
Brock Miller added nine points for the Pirates.
Zion Lutheran 44, Morningside Academy 14: Jordan Stone scored six points and added seven rebounds as the Eagles lost a pre-season game in Boca Raton. Brandon Thomas added six points for the Eagles.
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So, I've had my Standie for almost 3 years now and I have NEVER been able to stifle a canter or a gallop out of him at all, until Saturday. He doesn't pace anymore, but he sure can trot fast! Like, super fast.. He'll only gallop once he reaches the speed where he physically can't trot anymore, and that limit is the speed they use when racing.
On Saturday, me and two other friends went on this 5 hour ride up the road and decided to go into a trail. It was just a big loop around trail that was probably 2 meters wide and it was all gravel (good footing for horses), and I started trotting. He heard the other horses coming up behind him and broke out into a full-blown gallop and it was actually enjoyable!
I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to engage my horse's canter or gallop without having to speed trot first?


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Archive for April, 2012
Posted by Jordan Williamson in FairTax on April 30, 2012
This week, on May 1st the country will observe Loyalty Day. This little noted holiday was signed into law and proclaimed first by President Eisenhower. Its stated purpose is to be a special day that Americans can reaffirm their loyalty to the United States and to recognize their heritage of American freedom. It is a worthwhile goal and a lofty purpose to be sure. It is imperative in a republic for the people to remain loyal to their government; otherwise it would hold no legitimacy. However, it is equally important for the government itself to remain loyal not only to its own heritage but its own people as well. This loyalty day provides a perfect opportunity to examine this relationship between the government and its people and our attachment to our heritage.
It is easy to argue that our current government is a far cry from the one created at our founding. To find the precise reasons as to why, it is important to examine the history of current government policies. And while it is tempting to decry the whole assignment as pointless and to lament about our inability to return to those founding principles we should take note that the goal will be unreachable without work and examining where we went wrong will help direct our efforts. There are plenty of substantive discussions in this manner revolving around the jurisprudence of the commerce clause, the expansive powers of federal executive agencies, and the diminishing powers of the states. Our concentrations should, rightly, surround the issue of the tax code. There are key facts in its history that can help us understand how we have travelled so far off course. By now we should be well aware that the income tax was not envisioned by our founding fathers or implemented near the signing of the Constitution. In fact, the United States of America with its current Constitution survived 126 years without delving into American's pocketbooks. In the Constitution there are only three clauses that describe the government's power to tax. The limits placed create a system that must be apportioned among the several states, in fact a direct tax cannot be levied until a census or enumeration occurs. The other clause gives the power to tax to Congress. An income tax was first passed in 1861 to meet the rising costs of the Civil War, it was a flat tax. The flat tax lasted a year leading to the first graduated income tax being implemented in 1862. Due to the emergency nature of these Acts, both were sunset in 1866. History shows us that government is not quick to forget streams of revenue. Our money can quickly burn a hole through the pocket of a silver-tongued politician. While the income tax went away it was still fresh in the minds of political leaders that saw the potential for government's power to dramatically increase.
The income tax began to make its comeback in the fringe of American politics. If any today wonder as to how the tax code could possibly become the tool of social engineering that it is. Or is you wonder why it seems that the code matched with the ever increasing welfare state seems solely interested in redistribution of wealth we need only to look at the strange beginning of the "comeback" for the income tax. The first political party to again advocate for a graduated income tax again was the Socialist Labor Party in 1887. While the Socialist Labor Party was not one that reached national prominence the Populist Party did. It was in their 1892 platform that they supported a graduated income tax. The Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act was passed in 1894 and sought to bring back the income tax. It lowered tariff rates and implemented a 2% income tax on those that made $4000 or more. It is important to mark that lowering taxes on some and raising taxes on a minority or those considered rich is not a new tactic in American politics. The first iteration of a peace time income tax proves that class warfare is inherent in the income tax debate and essential to politicians seeking to use this system for political gain. In these pre-16th Amendment days the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision ruled that the direct taxing of American citizen's incomes was unconstitutional.
In 1896, one year after the Supreme Court decision, the Populist Party ran a "fusion" candidate for President, William Jennings Bryan, who was also nominated by the Democratic Party. A supporter of a graduated income tax, he lost to the Republican William McKinley by a margin of 600,000 votes. It was in 1908 that the graduated income tax became part of the platform of the Democratic Party and in 1913 it was passed. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Revenue Act of 1913 and created our country's current income tax. The passage of the 16th Amendment removed and revoked the previous constitutional challenge by erasing the strict requirements and limits our founders put upon the congressional ability to tax. President Wilson should also be remembered for saying "America is not now and cannot in the future be a place for unrestricted individual enterprise." As we look at the income tax today we should not be surprised at its growth or expanse, we should not be startled at the direction it has taken. Look to its beginning and see that those that supported a graduated income tax were not interested in the heritage of American freedom known at our founding. Even as a principled idea it acts contrary to our framer's intent. The religious beliefs of our founding fathers is rarely denied or ignored and this tax code does violate even biblical teaching. It is a Commandment that you shall not covet thy neighbor's possessions. We have a tax code built around coveting goods belonging to our neighbors. If that sounds like a stretch, listen to the politicians that support the current tax code. We hear about how "the rich" or "the 1%" have wealth and property we are told we cannot attain. Why else would the President of the United States of America be pointing out private jet owners to the American public and make fun of a presidential rival's blueprints. We are told that this is unfair and that we should punish, or tax, those that have more or are in possession of what we consider to be luxury items. In Matthew 22:21 Jesus himself says to, "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." It is render unto Caesar and not let Caesar take what he wants. It is acknowledged by the Creator that we are creatures of free will, and for that to exist we must be given liberty. The current tax code is a denial of that liberty and the confiscatory nature of this code is a denial of that free will.
May 1st is a day that we are to reaffirm our loyalty to the United States government and to our unique heritage of freedom. It calls naturally for reflection and thought. But today should not only be centered on the American citizen reaffirming himself and respecting the government, it should act as a reckoning of the government and its citizen. We should remain loyal to a republic or it ceases to be a republic. But inherent in the idea of a republic is an authority that represents the will of its people. As we can plainly see the creation of this tax code fails to uphold our heritage of freedom, it fails to live up to the sacrifices given by the men and women that built this country, it fails to adequately represent the will of the people. This Loyalty Day should mark a turn in our collective conscience so that we realize there is a system that is broken but more importantly there exists a remedy. The FairTax removes this onerous tax code and replaces it with a system of tax by choice. It repeals class warfare and establishes governmental transparency. It revokes centralized control and codifies an equal footing for the citizenry and those that represent it. There should be respect for the governed because it is our consent that allows us to be governed. We need a tax code that reflects that respect, our heritage, and earns our loyalty. So take this week to contact your Congressman. Let them know you observed Loyalty Day this year and kindly ask that they do the same.
Posted by Jordan Williamson in FairTax on April 23, 2012
FairTax advocates know exactly the magnitude of what we are trying to accomplish. The gravity of the efforts that we must undertake are understood and not taken for granted. It is a struggle that will be fought in every congressional district across the country. In such a grassroots campaign it is imperative that we do not lose focus or direction. However badly this need is felt there is a movement that threatens to distract some facets of our campaign. It has recently been brought to the forefront with the campaign of Herman Cain for president. His 9-9-9 plan has made headlines and is still a central part of his continued mission culminating in a rally held in Washington D.C. this past week. While there is a tremendous appeal in supporting a candidate or plan that is truly a political outsider and unsullied by the taint of Washington politics, the idea behind 9-9-9 presents a clear shortcoming to the newcomer approach.
I should also state that it is widely acknowledged and perfectly clear that the intent was always to transition to the FairTax at a later date. In fact it is this facet that makes the plan so much more maddening. Allow me to illustrate a point. For example, take the healthcare legislation backed by this President and signed into law on March 23, 2010. The political battle was tough and divided on a party line vote. After its passage the congressmen who stood by the President were largely ousted in an historic midterm election. Now imagine, to kick off this campaign season he unveiled "phase II" to be passed in his next term. Not only would his opposition have a field day he would also lose any and all effective support from his own party who supported a massive temporary measure that cost them dearly. Before the argument is made that supporting a negative massive change is completely different than making a massive positive change it should be pointed out that support for 9-9-9 was never overwhelming. In the case of Mr. Cain, when his campaign ran into trouble it should be remembered that support for 9-9-9 was not enough to buy benefit of the doubt much less a reelection. Rewriting the tax code in its entirety only to turn around and rewrite your revision surpasses political improbability into the realm of outright impossibility. Our goals should be uniform and our methods focused. We cannot waste time on endeavors that will have to be repeated.
It is not only an examination of this plan's political viability but its many problems that make it unworkable and undeserving of our efforts. The implementation of the 9-9-9 plan would mark an era in which the federal government has the complete power to tax your money at all stages. It will tax the income you earn, the income of corporations and the money you spend. This will mark a dangerous expansion of the government's tax powers and will make the transition to the FairTax all the more difficult. It will also add to one of the biggest problems found within our current tax code. Currently, in large part due to the corporate tax rate, we cannot pin down exactly how much we really pay in taxes. The addition of a sales tax will complicate these matters incredibly. The coexistence of a corporate tax rate and a sales tax rate will only serve to heighten the prices of products and will not diminish the possible influence of corporate tax lobbyists. The 9-9-9 rate also continues the idea of separation that mars our current code. Keeping tax rates separate allows for changes to one to not affect the other. Therefore, a 9-9-9 plan could easily become a 9-9-12 plan or a 6-9-12 as politicians placate constituents and continue to play class warfare with the "greedy" corporations. There is little security built into the plan and will provide easy pickings for politicians proficient at manipulating tax law to serve personal or political interests. We need a clean break from our current system to one that is controlled by the citizenry.
Another portion of the plan that receives very little coverage or discussion is the use of "empowerment zones" to simulate the FairTax's prebate plan. It is in the so-called empowerment zones that the plan begins to fall apart. Its stated goal is to launch properly structured Empowerment Zones to renew our inner cities. These empowerment zones are geographic locations formally designated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In the past these areas were chosen because they were considered "highly distressed", in as much as they experienced poverty and/or high outmigration. There were 40 empowerment zones, 10 of which were rural. No zone had a population greater than 200,000. Under the 9-9-9 plan those living or working in empowerment zones were eligible from additional deductions not available to those not living within the zone. Even the 9-9-9 plan cannot remove itself from the social engineering aspect of a pervasive tax code. Our current tax code has made people accustomed to being treated based upon income; under 9-9-9 we are to treat people differently based upon geography. To be perfectly honest, this part of the plan smacks more of politics than practicality. If a tax plan is universally good and will provide opportunity for all by leveling the playing field then why would it be necessary to give special breaks to impoverished areas? The biggest mistake made here is the assumption that this idea is somehow akin to the prebate aspect of the FairTax. Whereas the FairTax treats all citizens equally and sends a specific amount directly tied to the poverty level, 9-9-9 creates empowerment zones that are open to receive additional deductions. Luckily for us all we are not operating in a world where the FairTax exists in a vacuum. If two plans exist, why chose the lesser one?
Another claim made by the 9-9-9 plan is that it unifies all tax reformers. I would hope that the existence of this article would prove otherwise however, I am not that arrogant. The claim is made specifically that it will unite those that support a FairTax with those that support a flat tax. Just to point out first of all, if the second phase is to implement the FairTax it is exceedingly disingenuous to claim that "flat-taxers" would support it just because the numbers are even. Outside of empowerment zones that is. But a larger point should be made here. When debating major changes to our tax code, why should we flee substantive discussion? We do not need an in-between solution that is duplicitous and dangerous only to create a temporary political alliance for groups that share much of an overlapping ideology. In that sense it is needlessly complex and ineffective political tool.
To be perfectly clear, there is no ill will meant toward Mr. Cain. His brief candidacy is proof that in this country anyone can run for President. You do not need a political heritage proven with a recognizable name and it is not necessary to own a vast personal treasure. Anyone with passion enough for the job can state their case. I personally find it regrettable that accusations with little to no basis were enough to derail him from his objective. However, I will not allow that appreciation to act as a shield to a true examination of his ideas. As for 9-9-9 in particular, if the FairTax did not exist it could be an idea worth more discussion and aid. However, that is the point; we have neither the time nor the excess manpower to spend debating an endless supply of "what-if" scenarios. We cannot escape the cold hard facts of an unyielding reality that the FairTax is the best plan presented. If two options lie before you, why choose the lesser? Our country does not have a history of taking half-steps toward liberty. A free people embrace it when they see it and we only get one bite at the apple. Will we kick the can down toward other generations so that they may finish what we could not, or do we provide the example and take up the banner of liberty so that future generations may reap the rewards based upon the hard work we accomplished? As with any other acute observer, the choice is ours. We have only to make it. We will choose freedom for all over perks for some. We will choose a stable plan that treats all citizens equitably over a shaky plan that still separates people into classes. We will continue to keep our eye on the prize and not allow our attentions to be distracted by temporary measures that promise to alleviate our labors but only succeed in doubling them. We will do these things because to fail to do them is to forfeit. And failure is not an option.
One New Cosponsor!
Posted by Jordan Williamson in Uncategorized on April 21, 2012
Thank you to Congressman Bill Flores of Texas district 17! He is our 67th cosponsor. We are one step closer ladies and gentlemen and moments like these are cause for celebration.
Posted by Jordan Williamson in FairTax on April 16, 2012
There is a sharp contrast between the world of the current tax code and the one that the FairTax will bring about. While it is important to examine the ideas behind and the ideals that embody each plan we must never lose sight of what we are trying to change. The current tax code is one we have grown used to since its inception in 1913. Its growth and expansion seem logical to us only because that is all it has been doing the past 99 years. The scope of its reach is never questioned because it has existed for decades. We never question as to why there must be a gross and net pay. We do not waste time wondering why our taxes have to be reconciled. We have been taught that government is too large and unwieldy to keep its own books and that we must do our part to help it. So it comes as a shock to people that a system exists, on paper and in Congress, which will do away with these age old assumptions and practices. Generations have spent their lives knowing only a confiscatory tax system that perceives all income as property of the state first and allowed into the hands of citizens. But how do we know if it is time to change tradition? Can we say that the tax code is evil when 99 years' worth of leaders have examined it and kept it? Or has it just now overstayed its welcome? That is a question for the American people to decide and to highlight the differences we should examine the impact on Americans brought about by both systems.
The first easily realized aspect of our current tax code is that it is complicated. It is this complexity that has a profound impact on the daily lives of Americans. You see, this complexity is more than a mere nuisance. A basic system of taxing income was set up in 400 pages in 1913. Through time that code has grown to cover over 70,000 pages in code, regulations and tax court rulings. Yes, the tax code has its own separate court system. The instruction booklet for the 1040 alone is 189 pages long. The current tax code itself runs an estimated 3.8 million words. It is more than four times longer than the entire works of Shakespeare. The Bard used 900,000 words to artfully cover the breadth and depth of human emotion and experience. A tax system that needs four times that amount has other objectives in mind than revenue. In fact our system has turned into a method for social engineering. Anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of current political discourse will realize that our tax code has been used with a political purpose to split our nation into bitterly divided classes based on income. Not only is the income division used to hamper political debate, it masks the real issue. Our tax code is the progenitor of some troubling discussions around this country. Some people discuss the very real marriage penalty and if they should forego what is an institution to human civilization older than the idea of democracy itself. The tax code actually discourages this act in a stunning show of social reorganization that only finds itself at the edge of the tax debate. Couples also discuss whether or not both should work so that they are not punished by entering a higher tax bracket. People comprehend that this system penalizes success in such a way that promotions and raises can lead to a negative outcome. That is the definition of a backwards system. The tax code even incentivizes what cars to buy which can change markets and alter business plans. The government is using this overly complicated tax code to circumnavigate the Constitution and enter into areas never intended by its framers. And what has this code wrought? Its extensive reach and complicated methods have not brought us enough revenue to close an ever widening deficit. In fact, with all of the news about the debt crisis in Greece and Spain it is overlooked that America has a debt that exceeds the Eurozone and U.K. combined. It is now time to ask what the purpose of this tax code is. It cannot even collect revenue that even the most uninitiated would think necessary. The IRS has in the not too distant past allowed corporate bribes to be tax deductible. Another more recent case involves a basketball player deducting his fines from the NBA from his taxes. Lamar Odom was allowed to deduct $12,000 in fines for poor conduct from his 2007 return. As a Mavericks fan I find this even more insufferable. The problems listed here do not even take into account: the regressive payroll tax, the double tax embedded in products by the corporate tax, the incentive for businesses to leave the country and take their jobs with them due to a hostile tax environment, the multiple tax of social security income, the overwhelming cost of time, money and manpower to comply with an unknowable tax code, and the inherent disrespect and malice the code has for our founding document. What redeeming quality exists within it? Why continue down a road away from prosperity? What reason could possibly exist to keep this disheveled mess that breeds dishonesty, discord, and disarray? Some would postulate that the reason we do not change is that as bad as the code is there is no alternative. Luckily they could not be more wrong.
The FairTax would mark the end of Tax Day. April 15, or in this case the 17, would be just another day on the calendar. No more rushing to the post office or postponing figuring your taxes. Filing an extension would be a thing of the past. You would no longer have to save receipts or papers for tax purposes or look at a deducted paycheck. Gross pay would become take home pay and investments could be retrieved without taxes removed. There would no longer be tax brackets and corporations could finally move back to America and bring their jobs with them. The obsession with income would be removed from Washington and allow them to focus on the real needs of our society, of which there are many. The FairTax is a consumption tax, only met when purchasing a new item at the final point of sale. Your income would be your own and you could spend it as you see fit. The tax cost added to the products are mostly offset with the elimination of the currently 35% corporate tax, not to mention the $148 billion in compliance costs for big businesses alone. What we would see in the world after FairTax is one stripped of much of its complexity. Without an overbearing burdensome list of ever-growing regulations the free market will finally be allowed to flex its muscles a little. This increased competition should drive down the price of products while maximizing their quality and availability. We have tried extensive government intrusion and have seen little to no benefit for hundreds of billions of dollars of "investment". Whether that is measured in failed green companies or an ineffective stimulus, the proof lies with the citizen and not centralized authority. Giving more people back their own money is the avenue toward success. This is realized by both parties. The Republicans have a strong sense of supply-side economics usually embodied by the example of President Reagan. The Democrats also show signs of this in a payroll tax holiday and behind the explanations of statements regarding the economic need for more unemployment checks. The basic idea is a recognition that if the citizen obtained more of his own property and income the more prosperous society will be as a result.
It is not a difficult idea to understand and has enough proof behind it to warrant much more use. If that is the case then why is there such resistance to it? The tax code has been and will continue to be used as a system of control if kept in its current state. The only issues standing in our way are the politicians that are willingly using it toward this purpose. They exist in both parties and in many areas. The alternative reality of the FairTax is attainable if only we are to act. In an election year such as this one it is imperative we use our constitutionally given right to vote our conscience and use our voice. The possibility of the FairTax is directly tied to the energy of its grassroots efforts. It will require more than email evangelism. It will require more than arm chair politicking. This is more than an effort, it is a cause. One worthy of our best efforts and attention. The two scenarios described above are very real and possible. One we know all too well and one that we seek to attain. Will our generation break a cycle almost a century long? That is a question to be answered by the American people. They are responsible for some of the greatest triumphs of mankind. It is the ingenuity of American citizens that brought the world rushing into this new millennium at break neck speed, it revolutionized industries and created wholly new ones, it taught man to fly and planted his foot on the moon. We have proven to history that man is better off ruling himself than having someone rule over him. Let us take up the banner of liberty again and show the world how an economy should truly be run. Without centralized authority but with control given to each individual citizen. Americans have given so much to the world, why doubt us now?
Posted by Jordan Williamson in FairTax on April 9, 2012
The history of this nation and its present state answer some very old questions. What is the cost of liberty? How can freedom prosper under government regulation? Can a citizen alter or abolish the system of control placed over him? The successes and strides that America has made over the years seem to give us clues to the answers. However, there seems to be a turning point in our philosophy as a people in the past few years. The word cost is meaningless in our national discourse as it seems to be pointless when compared to results. Freedom is not sought by those in power who instead use governmental agencies to regulate equality of outcome regardless of input. Citizens do not seek to alter their government but want to profit from its excess. The idea of a permeating "entitlement mentality" has been met with skepticism however has proven to be a depressingly growing trend of late. 48.5% of American households now receive a type of government assistance. Almost as many as pay into the tax system. Those households receive more from the government than is sent in as income tax. A record number of Americans are admitted into the rolls of the Food Stamp program and their situation is celebrated. At the same time there is no indication from those in Washington that there is a fix to the problem. We are more than willing to extend the unemployment payouts yet unwilling to solve the underlying economic problems causing the unemployment. Our debt is ballooning much faster than it ever has and spending cuts are treated as an attack on U.S. citizens. A bipartisan budget presented by Representative Paul Ryan was passed by the House that balanced the budget by the year 2040. It will not even be debated by the Senate and it has been called by the President, "thinly veiled Social Darwinism", among other things.
It is ignored however, that leaving our spending process uninterrupted will never balance the budget and will spend us into ever increasing debt that at some point will become unacceptable. The welfare spending has grown beyond our ability to pay and compromises the largest portion of our budget. In addition to growing government welfare we see the disastrous effects of a government that is too large to police or hold accountable. Senator Coburn of Oklahoma has made a practice of cataloging wasteful government expenditures, last month saw the arrests for the largest Medicare fraud in our history, and last week saw the maddening actions of the GSA come to light and the arrogance of its employees. These are a few examples of the rampant irresponsibility of those in Washington with our money. However, instead of a comprehensive review and elimination of government agencies, our government is about to hand the IRS the ability to stop tax delinquents from leaving the country. The government is not interested with responsible stewardship but the acquisition of power. Many of these issues would not be so frustrating if it were not for the fact that these actions are taken with our money.
Many of you are finishing or have finished your taxes for the year. This brief time spent recalculating the government's work to see if they have removed enough from your paychecks these last twelve months could be given to more prosperous activities. The money spent double checking the government's work should be devoted toward more successful endeavors. The outcome of such work will always be less than helpful. If you find yourself having to pay an additional amount it is an infuriating extra tax unsuspected and if you find there is no change the whole effort was in vain costing time and money to no end. Even if you receive money back it is only proof that your paycheck was plundered over the past year. In fact it is this confiscatory system of taxation that lies at the heart of the problem. The Tax Foundation released last week this year's Tax Freedom Day. They measured the day at April 17. The first four months and seventeen days of the year are spent not in our own employ, not working for ourselves but to meet this ever growing government desire for money. Tax Freedom Day highlights the growing issue with this confiscatory system. Over one-third of our year is spent in the employ of the government, paying the increasing costs of a runaway budget with zero accountability. We have to do the work our government cannot to ensure we are paying "our fair share" yet the ones we pay refuse even the most basic accountability requirements. There is no budget, there is no accountability, and there is no desire to alter or renovate the system to repair it. We have heard of enterprises described as "too big to fail", (the same overriding idea behind the Titanic) but what we are watching is an organization that is too cumbersome and unwieldy to succeed. We have reached the point where serious reform is a necessity. We realize that government cannot spend its way out of this mess; the effect is disastrous on our debt. We must grow our economy, and to do that we cannot have a system that confiscates the first three and a half months of our income per year.
Our founding proved that the cost of freedom is action and vigilance. It saw the removal of an oppressive and top-down system that led a flourishing nation to become a world power at break neck speed. It was accomplished through the actions of dedicated citizens willing to donate their time, their money, their careers, their efforts toward the goal of freedom. We have a long way to go to restore those lofty aspirations among our leaders. Some we must replace, others we must convince. All the while there is a growing belief that our society is too much changed. Some have given up hope in our future. Younger generations are given little to no confidence. Yet what can we expect without positive influence. It is true that there is substantial work to be done. Our first efforts are correctly directed at the removal of this disastrous income tax system and the implementation of the FairTax. It places the power directly into the hands of citizens and removes the opacity of a growing bureaucracy tainted with lobbyist influence. If there is hope for the future it is found within this movement. It is found in every volunteer and activist. It is found in any person willing to speak out against a top-down system of control. Tax relief and reform are hot-button issues receiving much more attention than is usually given to them. The iron is hot meaning our time to strike is now. There is no more perfect time to get involved. There are very few outcomes that one can predict with 100% accuracy. I can assure you that no change will come without effort by individuals. The conditions will not mold themselves to our preferences. This victory will have to be won from the ground. It requires your action. It requires your time. It requires your voice. John Adams said in 1818. "The Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. … This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American Revolution." Do we not sense this now? The FairTax movement describes such a change. Let us act so that the revolution precedes the war and that the battle is won before it begins.
Posted by Jordan Williamson in FairTax on April 2, 2012
Elections have consequences. The beauty of our system is the fact that we can choose what those consequences will be. That is why the most terrifying force to an unaccountable or corrupt government is an informed populace. Much has been said about the public outcry of the past three years. About the driving philosophy of the TEA party movement, about the overwhelming opposition to a government takeover of 1/6th of our economy, and of the historic wave election of 2010. The analysis has crossed the spectrum, but the truth is far from elusive. People crave liberty. It is an innate sensation universally known. The New World gave mankind the possibility to institutionalize this desire in the form of a representative government founded upon the self- evident truths of certain unalienable rights. This year we face again a national election as we did four short, but momentous, years ago. Are we to choose consequences for ourselves in keeping with the results of the past years, or do we forge a new path, one more in line with our innate desire for freedom? Our actions over the coming months will speak much louder than whatever words we could assemble. For motivation it is important to see just what is at stake.
The passage and implementation of the FairTax will not be an easy task, and the repeal of the 16th Amendment will not be a cakewalk either. The current system has been in place for 99 years, next year marking the centennial for this complicated code brought to us by the same President that instituted the League of Nations. And our tax bureaucracy shows no signs of slowing or stopping its growth. In fact, this year the IRS is looking to add 4000 new agents to step up efforts in hunting down tax cheats. There are multiple problems with this scenario. It is proof that either there is that much inaccuracy in our current tax code which would require 4000 additional people to correct. In which case our current tax code is nothing more than a money sieve. Or there is no oversight in how much that agency is spending and the benefits of catching tax evaders is nothing compared to the cost of hiring 4000 new federal workers. In any case it is undeniable evidence that our system is far too complicated to be of any use in a modern and fast moving world. A rising issue with the IRS that will surely impact the issues we FairTax advocates discuss is the implementation of the new healthcare law. Many of the new 4000 employees are also going to be involved in the new tax rules that will support the new legislation. The IRS also received $303 million to help implement these new rules. The IRS will be much more difficult to dissolve when it becomes entangled with our healthcare. Our task is difficult enough without such interference.
To even the casual observer, the past few years have shown that government has no indication of stopping its own expanse. The only way to do so is through citizen action. It has been said before that this election is about the spirit of America. It is as true this year as it has been every time before. Abraham Lincoln said, "The strife of the election is but human nature applied to the facts of the case." Every election stands to represent our very nature on a varying number of issues. This election is important because of what both sides represent. On one side rests the continued expansion of government in the name of equality, the other represents the nobility of individual rights which are intrinsically tied to individual responsibility. It is true that the FairTax is a nonpartisan bill, but it was the speech at Osawatomie this past winter that President Obama set himself ideologically against the nature of the FairTax. Covered here at the time, it became clear that no amount of public pressure or political activism would change his mind. It is up to us then to change his job.
This stance has nothing to do with party and everything to do with ideology. Behind this bill is a belief not merely centered in economic study, even though it absolutely is. The heart of H.R. 25 is the knowledge that a free citizenry is the power of our American economic prowess. The FairTax will allow each citizen the right to the income he earns by removing income taxes and payroll withholding. The FairTax will protect your right to invest your money as you see fit without a penalty for succeeding by removing the capital gains tax. The FairTax will keep the promises made to seniors by removing the lie that is the social security trust funds and ensure the solvency of social security without adding the injurious benefits tax we currently have. The FairTax will ensure the money left to your family goes to your family by repealing once and for all the insulting estate, or death, tax. As covered last week, the FairTax could stimulate the entire economy more than the government has over the past few years without adding a penny to the national debt by repealing in entirety the corporate tax bringing the offshore wealth flooding home. The FairTax does all of this by repudiating the underlying foundation of centralized control enshrined in the current tax code. It opposes it by championing the causes of individual liberty, right to property, and relies upon our intrinsic desire for freedom. It was a steadfast belief in these principles that led our original colonies to begin a revolution against a world empire. Out manned and out gunned they fought for nothing more than an ideal. Luckily our skirmishes are not fought on the battlefield but in the voting booth. Our weapons are not cannon and musket but words and ideas.
Our election is in danger of sacrificing reason to rhetoric; our clarion call for fairness must be made carefully and clearly. As activists we must make tough decisions, and even work against all odds. Volunteers for Marco Rubio saw some pretty dark times in the early days of their primary challenge against a popular governor. But in the end, today there is speculation of a possible Vice Presidential nomination for Senator Rubio of Florida and not Senator Crist. Our actions will undoubtedly have an effect if we apply ourselves judiciously yet energetically to the task at hand. That means sometimes taking on incumbents when necessary. In Texas there is a race between Kenny Marchant and political newcomer Grant Stinchfield. Our local group has done our level best to persuade incumbent Marchant to support our cause. He sat on the Ways and Means committee during our hearing this past summer and he has made it abundantly clear that he will not support the FairTax. To us, that means a change of leadership is necessary and some of our members have decided to volunteer for Grant Stinchfield, an ardent FairTax supporter. This is not a blanket solution for every congressional race and I would trust our activists in their own areas to make the correct decisions. But at this time in our effort we must begin changing minds or changing leadership because the status quo can no longer be tolerated. The longer we wait in the name of political politeness or lack of political will or courage our job becomes that much more difficult.
The fortunate part about a national grassroots movement is that there is a plethora of opportunities to work for a cause. That makes election years a very busy time. There are races to monitor and attacks to answer. There are candidates to vet and meetings to attend. There are blocks to walk and phone banks to run. But the central element to a campaign is also found at the heart of politics. The art of persuasion. Luckily, the FairTax sells itself; we just need people willing to speak. If elections are a study of human nature as applied to the facts, and if they truly do have real consequences, what do we want this election to say about us? Are we to resign ourselves to lives of centralized authority handing down decrees? Or is this the time we make a stand? We know the results of inaction. We know the results of failure. We see it in the unreadable mess that is 70,000 pages of tax law. Get involved and make a difference, the outcome of tomorrow's election is based solely upon the work of today. We have a before us a chance to change tomorrow. That chance is available to every American due to certain unalienable rights, articulated and expressed by political activists. They changed a world, now let's shape a nation.


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Word - Heineck
CHARLESTON, SC - Kristen Blair Heineck and Matthew Jeremy Word were married August 10, 2008 at St. Luke's Chapel in Charleston with Rev. Terry Wilson officiating. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Arthur Heineck of Anderson, SC. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Forte and Mr. and Mrs. Dale Heineck. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wayne Word of Laurens, SC. He is the grandson of Mrs. Pat Richburg and the late Tony Richburg, the late John Hamby and the late G. A. and Hazel Word. Matron of Honor was Mrs. Rebecca Heineck Ferrara, sister of the bride. Bridesmaids were Miss Amanda Renee Beckler, Miss Ellen Jane Chapin, Mrs. Erin Gray Heineck, Mrs. Kathryn Evans Miller, Mrs. Meg Groeber Putnam, Mrs. Rebecca Salisbury Richardson and Miss Kesina Jean Selch. Best Man was Mr. Charles Wayne Word, father of the groom. Groomsmen were Mr. Joshua Matthew Berry, Dr. James Arthur Bruce, Mr. Jeffrey Wayne Chapman, Dr. Ryan Lee Gilreath, Dr. John Joseph Hillers, Mr. Joshua Christian Long and Mr. Cameron Charles Word. Ushers were Mr. Michael Adam Ferrara, Mr. Andrew James Heineck and Dr. Robert Jason Heineck. Flowergirl was Miss Lillian Grace Whatley and Greeter was Miss Caroline Nicole Whatley. The Bride is a 2006 graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and is currently a student of MUSC pursuing a Masters in Physician Assistant studies. The Groom is a 2002 graduate of Clemson University with Bachelor of Science in Health Science and a 2007 graduate of the College of Dental Medicine at MUSC. He is currently a dentist at Coastal Family Dentistry of Mount Pleasant and West Ashley. After a wedding trip to St. John, the couple will live in Charleston, SC.
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Frequently asked questions
- Who do I contact for information on imported food?
- For information on importing food from another country, visit the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service website, or phone: 1800 020 504
- My fridge/freezer hasn't been working for 24-48 hours, what should I do?
- The factsheet "Food safety and power failures" explains what to do in this situation. See Food safety in emergency situations.
- Is meat that has been frozen for 8 months okay to eat?
- It should be okay to eat - but the quality might not be very good.
- Are Bug Zappers illegal?
- Bug Zappers are not illegal, but should not be installed in food preparation areas or places where there is exposed food. Spray is okay as long as it is not directed onto food or food surfaces.
- What is the law on Doggy Bags?
There are no laws that prevent restaurants and cafes from giving customers doggy bags however, food businesses can minimise risks by:
- Having a procedure in their Food Safety Program for dealing with doggy bags.
- Having a leaflet or messages on menus explaining the risks of doggy bags to consumers; and
- Seeking advice from insurers.
- Where can I get information on donating food?
Access to a regular food supply is one of our most basic human needs, and many charities have dedicated themselves to meeting this requirement for many years.
Many food businesses have generously supported the efforts of these charities, but others may have worried about whether they can give away food legally and what their responsibilities might be under the Food Act and other relevant laws.
More information can be accessed at Donating Food.
- Who do I contact to make a food or food premises complaint?
Contact the local council responsible for the area in which the food outlet is located.
Ask to speak with an Environmental Health Officer. They have the power to investigate food complaints and take action against those found responsible for any problems found.
Your notification may also enable others in the community to be protected from the same problem.
- How do I contact my Local Government food safety unit?
- Follow this link to find your local council.
- What do I need to do to start up a food business?
To protect Victorians, all food businesses must comply with our food laws, including the Food Act. The brochure below will tell you about:
- how Victorian laws, particularly the food laws, affect what you might be planning to do in your new food business,
- how to meet your obligations, and
- how to get more help and information if you need it.
Note: This brochure is being updated following the Food Act changes which came into effect on 1 July 2010. Please visit this site again when the changes have been completed.
- What is the law on wearing disposable gloves when handling food?
- It is not a requirement to wear gloves whilst handling food. However, gloves may be worn to protect food. It is important that gloves are changed on a regular basis, or as soon as they get dirty. If gloves are not worn utensils should be used to handle and serve food and hands must be kept clean, wounds must be covered and jewellery and false nails should not be worn.
- Do I have to have a food handling certificate or formal training to handle food?
Food handlers do not have to attend formal food safety training courses to meet the skills and knowledge requirements. A food business can adopt many approaches to training, including on-the job training, recognising prior experience, or having staff attend a training course. The Department of Health & Human Services's Do Food Safety program is a free online training course for those who want to improve their knowledge of safe food handling techniques. Participants who complete the online assessment and score more than 90% can print a certificate to display their knowledge.
Visit the Do Food Safely online training course.
Do Food Safely is not an accredited course. Those who wish to gain accreditation in food safety practices should contact their local Registered Training Organisation (RTO) for accredited courses. Details can be accessed from the National Training Information Service (NTIS) website.
Formal training is required to work as a Food Safety Supervisor. For more information and to download a fact sheet, see Food safety supervisor requirements.
- Can I take specific foods interstate with me for personal use (e.g. frozen prawns or fruit)?
Check with the Department of Primary Industry and your airline before taking these foods interstate as there may be issues, e.g. fruit fly issues.
With respect to food safety - as long as you have the relevant equipment to store the food appropriately, being in a plane, train or car should not increase the risk of contamination on the journey.
More information on transporting foods safely e.g. frozen (ie, hard throughout) and protected (sealed/covered) can be accessed from Food safety in the home and in the community.
- Can dogs (or other animals) be taken to food premises?
Under the national Food Standards Code (the Code) a food business must allow assistance animals, such as guide dogs, in the areas of a food premises used by customers, but not in any food preparation or storage areas.
In 2012 the Code was amended to allow dogs that are not assistance animals in the outdoor dining area of a food premises, provided that the outdoor dining area can be entered, by the public, without passing through an enclosed area.
- Does my food premises need a Food Safety Supervisor?
- View a list of Food Safety Supervisor - frequently asked questions.
- How can I safely clean eggs from my chickens?
Eggs are a nutritious food, but cracked and dirty eggs have the potential to be contaminated with important food poisoning organisms, especially Salmonella.
If you keep chickens at home for egg production, you should use safe handling practices to reduce the food safety risk. The Department of Environment and Primary Industries has information on safe handling and cleaning of eggs produced in the home.
- What causes the metallic after-taste after eating pine nuts?
- This taste disturbance is called pine mouth. The NSWFA website provides more detail about this condition
- Why does some meat glow in the dark?
- This can be a bit disconcerting when you notice it, but it is the result of harmless bacteria on the surface of the meat which produce a blue-green, bio-luminescent pigment. These bacteria, members of the Pseudomonas family, do not cause food poisoning, and will be destroyed by proper cooking.
- I became ill after eating butterfish - what should I do?
Escolar or oilfish are sometimes sold or mis-labelled as rudderfish or butterfish. Eating these fish can result in an oily diarrhoea presenting 30 minutes to 36 hours after consumption of the fish, and may also cause abdominal pain and cramping. Although unpleasant, this isn�t strictly food poisoning, but occurs as a result of the high levels of natural wax in the fish which acts as a laxative.
Neither true rudderfish, nor butterfish, produce these diarrhoea-like symptoms. If you have encountered these symptoms, contact your local council to investigate in the first instance.
- What is Quorn?
- Quorn is the marketing name for a protein derived from a fungus. A very few people have adverse reactions when eating this food, and if you experience such a reaction you should stop eating this food. The FSANZ information page has more details.