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Another planet you don't want to miss, especially If you care enough about web apps security. Planet Web Security.
Get the RSS feed here.
Another planet you don't want to miss, especially If you care enough about web apps security. Planet Web Security.
Get the RSS feed here.
Sigh, I never thought it would be hard to find a web programmer. So i guess i'm going to break a rule by posting a job vacancy here.
If you're a web programmer, Indonesian, living in Jakarta or willing to stay in Jakarta. Good at web programming (mostly PHP, ASP would be great), MySQL, HTML and Javascript, then we need you.
Just drop an email with your resume attached to:
I can't promise you anything, but i tell you what, you're going to work with me. How about that?
Oh, one more thing. You're surely going to impress us if you can do Python or Ruby.
So, what are you waiting for?
Why are people still using PHP4 again?
Oh yes, the compatibility issue. Ok, since i'm rewriting all my web apps using Zend Framework now, i guess I don't have much choice except to switch my PHP installed on my server to PHP5 (Zend Framework was written in PHP5).
Why would i use Zend Framework? two words: beautiful and simple. ZF knows very well how to use the power which comes with PHP5. OOP and design pattern are well written all over the place. Having a quick look at Zend_Controller will explain why i say this.
About the simplicity, Aaron Warmus put it well when he said this,
When evaluating the code within Zend Framework, it was clear that the concept of "Extreme Simplicty†meant that when faced with design decisions, Zend Framework always went with using the power which is built into PHP5 …
In a couple words, extreme simplicity means not reimplementing functionality already available in PHP5.
ZF now in days away from its stable version (currently in 1.0.0-RC2). As many other people out there, i hope ZF will be the rescuer of PHP5 slow adoption. In broad, i hope it will make alot easier for us to build a profesional yet reliable web apps using PHP.
Anyway, i'm switching my server now, wish me luck.
After disappeared for years, sexclinique is now alive again. And now it uses blog software as the main platform.
I'm historically connected to this website. It was one of our primary products that was pretty popular around 2000. I remember it was my first year joining the company working on the real web industry.
Glad to see it back alive again. Hope it will gain the popularity as it was several years ago.
I was looking for a cheap domain name registration when i found this list,
I'm totally disappointed, how come they let this bogus entry went into their list. Something that i'd never expect came from a pretty big website like Domaintools.
There are two web stats i watch almost everyday to get to know who and how my visitors got to this blog, Google Analytics and Awstats. But none of them give the exact value of my feed reader, which is also important especially when you share feeds (most people read the feed using feed reader somewhere else instead visiting your website).
As you can see from my Awstats graph here that the most viewed URL in my blog is the feed,
however i never know how many are they, cause it just shows you how many views and average size it got hits.
That's why we need another tools for this. And my favourite one is FeedBurner (which was acquired by Google not long ago). Not only you can customize the look of your feed, you can also track the actual number of people reading your feed.
But the problem is when you use FeedBurner the URL for your feed must be changed. For example, my feed URL in FeedBurner is http://feeds.feedburner.com/NgoprekWeb. This is the problem since my feed URL by default is http://www.ngoprekweb.com/feed (i'm using wordpress). And people read my feed using this URL for months.
If you're using wordpress and having the same problem like me, then here's a little tips for you: use FeedBurner FeedSmith plugin for wordpress. This plugin will detect all ways to access your feed (e.g. http://www.yoursite.com/feed/ or http://www.yoursite.com/wp-rss2.php, etc.), and redirect them to your FeedBurner feed.
It also changes automatically the URL your old feed subscriber read into your FeedBurner feed. As you can see in my FeedBurner stats here, i finally got the real number of my feed subscribers after i installed the plugin,
It's an old trick, but it works for me.
After being delayed for couple days, due to some problem with Pearson Vue database, i finally took my Zend PHP Certification exam last tuesday.
What? are you kidding me, off course i passed the exam.
So now i'm officially Zend certified engineer.
Thanks to Brainmatics for such a good effort preparing my test.
Now, there are three Zend certified engineers from Indonesia. Rock on, dude!


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Shots Plentiful, But Bridgeport Can't Make Them Count
Kevin SchultzAcross the Sound in Connecticut, the Sound Tigers lost both of their games over the weekend, just like the big club. Bridgeport scored only one goal over the course of two games and while the power play was dismal, they threw a ton of pucks at the net and came up empty thanks to some hot goaltending.
Five Thoughts:
- Anders Lee looks pretty good — as he should, I know — even doing a sort of Kabanov deke around a defender on Saturday night. It didn't end up in the back of the net, though.
- Andrey Pedan had three points in two games last weekend but was a healthy scratch for both games this weekend. There doesn't appear to be an explicit reason why, but if you read between the lines he may be getting his own discipline for being late. If you recall, Pedan was the other Sound Tiger late to practice the day Kabanov was late and consequently punted to Stockton. Here's what Fornabaio had on Wednesday: "No Andrey Pedan this morning in practice; Pellerin said he was on "earlier this morning for some skill development and conditioning skate. He wasn't feeling well after the skate. He's going to come back for a workout. He's going to be doing a little individual work with me this week." For one reason or another, looks like he got singled out by the coach. On Twitter, Pedan had some frustration but without context it's impossible to know if that's about sitting out or because he left dinner on the stove too long.
- Alan Quine, drafted as a forward this past June has been playing point on the power play with Calvin de Haan. That's something Quine has done previously in juniors.
- Ryan Strome was held off the scoresheet, registering six shots. Don't read too much into it, he still looks good. In Sunday's first period he went coast-to-coast right up the middle of the ice (on the powerplay, no less). A nice play, but wasn't able to convert.
- The final bullet point goes to Johan Sundstrom for having the team's only goal of the weekend. It's Sundstrom's first since January 11th.
Quick Recaps
Saturday: Manchester 3, Bridgeport 0
The Sound Tigers had their chances in this one, but simply couldn't find a way to get a puck past Martin Jones in the Manchester net. They threw 38 shots at him — only 24 for the opposition — and had some excellent chances, especially later on in the third, but couldn't get one by.
The big issue in this one was the power play; Bridgeport went an amazing 0-for-11 with the man advantage. As notes above, Alan Quine played point along with Calvin de Haan on the top unit. That unit also includes Ryan Strome, Anders Lee and Riley Wetmore. Mike Fornabaio also notes that late in the game Scott Pellerin went as far as planting big Joe Finley in front of the net.
Anders Nilsson got the start and stopped 21 of 23 shots, with the third goal being an empty netter.
Sunday: Springfield 3, Bridgeport 1
The power play was again a problem on Sunday. This time is was on the defensive end, as Darryl Boyce potted a goal past Ken Reiter on a shorthanded 2-on-1 in the first period. Later in the period Springfield would notch a power play goal with Michael Chaput blasted a shot from the high circle though traffic and past Reiter. The Sound Tigers put up an 0-for-6 on the power play in this game. On the other side of special teams, they killed off 11 of 12 penalties on the weekend.
In the third, the Sound Tigers would kill off the first penalty of a 5-on-3. In the box for the first penalty, Johan Sundstrom would finally get them on the board after he came out of the sin bin. Riley Wetmore came up with an excellent steal in the offensive zone, eluded some defenders and fed Sundstom:

subset: commoncrawl


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Fairy Gardens
Fairy gardening is one of the most fun ways to get involved in gardening. Planting a miniature fairy garden is a fun year round craft for people of all ages. There are no limits in fairy gardening, let your imagination run, and create a fanciful indoor garden that will enchant your home
We carry everything you'll need to make a fairy garden!
Here are some ideas for your fairy garden
Gnomes & Animals love to meander in the garden, and the more the merrier, a stroll through the garden is best with a friend.
Benches, pathways, fencing, and arbors are great decorations that bring your garden together. It provides a place for your garden creatures to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Veggie gardens and flower beds are essential to your garden. A Birdbath, wheelbarrow, and pottery are also important. Your gnomes need something to do so they don't get bored. They like to garden too!
Selecting flowers & plants for your fairy garden
Groundcovers, small herbs, and Stepables are great because they trail and wont outgrow your garden. Thyme is the perfect perfect plant for a fairy garden
Succulents add color, texture, and are super easy to grow
Bonsai plants are great for "trees" and "shrubs" in the garden, or find small plants that mimic the look of trees and shrubs
Fairy garden supplies may vary between stores and some items may have limited availability.


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WUFT News
Author Archives: Maria Carter
Former Florida Gov. Reubin Askew Dies At 85
By Maria Carter, Sloan Patterson and Keith Momberg on March 13th, 2014 | Last updated: March 13, 2014 at 6:08 pm
Former Florida Gov. Reubin Askew, recognized for bringing transparency to Florida politics, died Thursday morning.
Jury Selection, Trial Begins for Latest 'Stand Your Ground' Case
By Maria Carter on January 30th, 2014 | Last updated: February 3, 2014 at 12:54 pm
A Brevard County man is charged with murdering a 17-tear-old Jacksonville teen, raising more questions about Florida's "stand your ground" law.


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I'll post some details and photos from today's uniform press conference shortly, but first here are a couple football notes.
The Ducks began summer conditioning workouts yesterday, running with strength coach Jim Radcliffe and putting themselves through voluntary football drills. In a new twist this summer, they went 11-on-11 in some situations Monday, rather than the traditional 7-on-7 without linemen.
The linemen don't make much contact, but it's better than sitting out entirely.
"The O line and the D line kind of get their pass drops and pass rush," quarterback Nate Costa said. "It's good for the quarterbacks — you get a little movement in the pocket — and (the linemen) get to work the first two steps (after the snap). That's something we've been doing so far that hopefully we continue to do."
The veterans worked out yesterday, and the newcomers are scheduled to join them today. For coaches, contact is limited; nothing on the field, and no formal position meetings.
Chip Kelly said he doesn't expect any academic casualties from the incoming recruiting class, of which all but six have already enrolled. Fresno defensive back Cliff Harris in among those still not on hand; in the wake of his arrest on what was ultimately reduced to a misdemeanor charge in the spring, it is believed that Harris was affected by a policy at his high school that barred accused felons from attending classes. But Kelly said he believed Harris was able to complete his high school course work regardless; whether Harris did so at a high enough level to qualify at Oregon is to be determined.
Regarding a handful of veterans, receiver Rory Cavaille and linebacker Riley Showalter are back on scholarship as of the spring. They were on scholarship last year, but Kelly reviewed their status this offseason.
Placekicker Daniel Padilla is "trying to figure out what he's going to do," Kelly said. Padilla, who is widely rumored to be considering a transfer, is Oregon's only scholarship kicker at the moment but isn't on the current two-deep, and that doesn't include the freshman expected to enroll in the fall. Padilla has been invited back for next season, Kelly said.


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Chinese Parliamentary Sessions 2013
March 2013 sees the annual meeting of the two legislative and consultative bodies of China, where major policies are decided and key government officials appointed. The National People's Congress (NPC) is held in the Great Hall of the People in China's capital, Beijing, and with 2,987 members, is the largest parliament in the world. It gathers alongside the People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) whose members represent various groups of society.
English-language studies 'destructive' to China's education, says CPPCC deputy
Most Popular
The head of a national research institute in China said English-language studies were "destructive" to education, which is facing an "unprecedented crisis".
Schools are placing too much emphasis on English, said Zhang Shuhua, head of the Intelligence Research Academy, adding that language studies should be treated as a means for social reform and development, but, instead, they are seen as an end.
He called it putting the cart before the horse. Zhang made the remarks on Monday at a discussion session during an annual gathering of China's political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Zhang said many students with good academic performance have been blocked from universities because of poor English test scores, government news portal China.com.cn reported on Monday.
He added that recent "English enthusiasm" in China has taken up a large chunk of educational resources, at a high cost but with little gains.
Zhang argued it was "absolutely unnecessary" to impose English-language studies on students who pursue professions in Chinese medicine, ancient Chinese language, Chinese history and others that do not require the use of a foreign language.
In China, children start to learn English as early as kindergarten. In middle school, it is seen as the most important subject next to Chinese and mathematics. University students must pass a language test before they can graduate; some also take a more difficult test to pursue post-graduate studies.
Because students devote more effort into passing English tests, they spend less time studying for courses for their major, dealing a "heavy blow" to overall education, Zhang said.
In any case, Zhang continued, despite their efforts, Chinese students may be mastering useless "mute English", referring to poor oral language skills.
The CPPCC deputy cited a 2010 survey by China Youth Daily that showed 80 per cent of people polled agreed that there is a language crisis and that Chinese skills are deteriorating. Of those, more than half blamed the emphasis on foreign language study.
Zhang suggested elementary and middle schools focus on teaching Chinese and maths and reduce other subjects such as biology and chemistry, which should be non-required courses. He urged that English-language programmes be reformed to move away from exams and adopt more applicable lessons.
Founded in 2011 by national think tank Chinese Academy of Science, the Intelligence Research Institute mainly gathers, arranges and reports on domestic and global academic research and theory.
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This article is now closed to comments
In reply to: shayliu (Mar 13th 2013, 7:46pm)
In reply to: xiaoblueleaf (Mar 14th 2013, 10:44am)
In reply to: shayliu (Mar 13th 2013, 7:46pm)
Sorry but I'm having a hard time understanding your philosophy maybe because it's too "Zen"for my taste. No one is imposing anything except the fact that English has always been the international language all these years and if the students of the SAR could become bilingual competent why can't the people in the Mainland?
In reply to: lamlm38 (Mar 13th 2013, 7:59pm)
In reply to: napoleon_wang (Mar 13th 2013, 3:12pm)
And the point that Chinese people are very poor in English according to some foreigners. A better comparison would be to compare Chinese people abroad who speaks English with the Foreigners in China who speak English.
My main point is we are not in France, UK or any other country. We are in China and in China the main emphasize should be Chinese and Chinese culture, like in France the main emphasize should be French and the French culture. Respect the people who they are and how they think. Every race or person have their pro and cons. It is not a competition, which race is better or worse and don't try to impose your values on other people since everyone have their own values. Eventually happiness is the only thing that counts.
In reply to: newgalileo (Mar 13th 2013, 5:49pm)
My thought was neither to excuse those students for their poor performance nor the entire system and aims about learning English in China. I am more thinking that English should be more efficiently used.
For most of Chinese including students, English is a tool to understand what is being spoken or written in that language. They aren't to speak or write in English. China has plenty academically trained interpreter and translator. It is more efficient to rely on them than one's own poorly learned English.
Hong Kong in my secondary school days there was a year of English-Chinese translation course which students had to take. No intention to make anyone a professional interpreter or translator but it was an interesting subject for anyone with language inclined ability. Hong Kong University and King's College in fact were training ground in the beginning of colonial rule for local students to work in government offices to bridge the language gap with its Chinese subjects. So there was no need for everyone to learn English (or Chinese). China should do the same and eliminate the English learning burden.
Have you guys noticed that people from countries speaking same language tend to share similar values, ideologies and cultures? This is because similar values, ideologies and cultures are carried in the media (education, news , general communication etc) with the same language, their people are therefore conditioned to follow such values, ideologies and cultures.
Have you noticed that, although without the endorsement of the UN, the US used the so-called preemptive right to invade Iraq in 2003, those countries which supported the US in the invasion are mostly English speaking countries (UK, Australia etc).
Let us think! These high ranking Chinese officials are not NUTS..
In reply to: Hollander323 (Mar 13th 2013, 10:38pm)
In reply to: likingming (Mar 13th 2013, 10:34pm)


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Maine New England Big and tall peach plain pique polo shirt
Item No.0900102202
Item No.0900102202
60% Off - Save a total of £9.00
This peach plain pique polo shirt from Maine New England comes in a regular fit with a three button neck and raised stripe detail on the collar and cuffs. Also available in smaller sizes.
UK Home Delivery Free (UK orders over £30) or £3.49
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Subject to exceptions, Debenhams is happy to exchange or refund your purchase within 28 days of delivery. Please check here for more details on our returns policy and exceptions.


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Sneak Preview Pre-Sale! Forever 21 Launches Hello Kitty Forever Capsule Collection
All things Kitty please! Going on pre-sale today, Forever 21 and Sanrio teamed up for the second year in a row to launch the a simply adorible holiday Hello Kitty Collection! The fab and quite fashionable pieces range from an extremely affordable $6.50 to about $30. There are some awesome structured sheer long sleeve tops that I am loving, as well as some sweaters, skirts, jackets and PJs adorned with Kitty, Badtz Maru, Chococat and more Sanrio friends. The collection sold out in a few hours last year, but I have the pre-sale link that will hopefully get you in FIRST to some of these awesome HK threads before they sell out. What are you waiting for?? Get to shopping! Meeee-owww!
Will YOU be buying anything from the Hello Kitty Forever Capsule Collection by Forever 21?
Barbie McQueen
Instagram @BarbieMcQueen
shalottlillySo cute!!!!Dec 15, 2012
KLizRodrz♥Dec 14, 2012
maisiejoi love these!Nov 19, 2012
kellyytaylorI'm so in love!Nov 17, 2012


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I have Easy Boot Gloves for both of my geldings. I originally bought them for Biscuit because he had hoof cracks when I first got him and was taking him to a weekend ride with loads of rocks. They saved a ride one weekend for hubby's horse that had a sore heel and another ride I took them in case they were needed and turns out they were. Saved a ride for Cousin's hubby's horse too because they were in the trailer!
We went back to the rocky place and I got another set of Easy Boot Gloves so both horses would be comfortable. I do my own horses feet so the horses were trimmed prior to leaving. My cousin's horse has them and so do my two trail buddies. We use them as necessary and have nothing but good things to say about them.


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Four-Links – vintage snow vehicles, homebuilt Silver Arrow, Airbox Corvette, Junior Styles Tomorrow's Cars
Yup, we got snow up here in New England. Enough to get me thinking about a vintage snowmobile again. It apparently has a bunch of H.A.M.B.ers thinking about vintage snowmobiles as well, but along some different lines.
* Apparently, Brit Max Hyde wanted a Mercedes W25 Silver Arrow, but thought he could build his own replica version using a Citroen 2CV chassis and drivetrain. Yes, it looks just as much the train wreck as it sounds. (via)
* Looking at the cobbed-up fiberglass airbox that Chevrolet used for only a handful of 1957 fuel-injected Corvettes, I'm not too ashamed of my own cobjobs. As long as they work, that is. And don't feel bad about not knowing what an Airbox Corvette is – it seems many Corvette experts and enthusiasts also have never heard of them. (via)
* What's with the hats that all the Fisher Body Craftsman's Guild winners – including a young Virgil Exner Jr. – apparently had to wear for the March 1947 Mechanix Illustrated story?
Twelve Awesome Cars with Whitewall Tires
Coker Picks their favorites
1 Comment - Leave a Reply


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Mr. Grizzard was a 1969 graduate of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. He was an active member in both the Burns Club and the St. Andrews Society of Atlanta and served as president of the Kerr Family Association of North America.
He is survived by: his wife, Corinne; two brothers, George King Grizzard of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and Stephen Jones Grizzard of Clarkesville; a sister, Jeannine Annette Grizzard of Ashland, Ore.; and two nieces Virginia King Grizzard-Brierley of Los Angeles and Elizabeth Jones Grizzard of Atlanta.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the charity of one's choice.
The Clayton Tribune, April 5, 2012


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How to use PHP script to display the numbers, the average and the number of positive numbers on a web page? Write a PHP script that creates an array to store 10 numbers. Make sure initializing the array with some positive numbers and some negative numbers.
supplier garden ~ gardening ~ garden supply


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This cartridge was available exclusively with the Wal-Mart Holiday bundle of 2007 and is not sold separately.
The Keystone cartridge includes a perfectly simple, all-caps font that you'll love to use for a variety of scrapbook layouts, cards, signs, and more.
This cartridge includes the Shadow creative feature.
Cartridge Resources:
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© 2012 Provo Craft & Novelty, Inc. All rights reserved. CRICUT ® is a registered trademark of Provo Craft & Novelty, Inc.


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|Aerial Combat
|Take the wall past a tricky move to the large ledge. From the ledge pull up to good holds then move right to good undercuts. Pull over to a large flat hold then make a huge reach to another good hold, easy ground and a belay on the left.
Submit a new photo of this climb.


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Bullet Trains
By Viator, March 2015
Japanese bullet trains, known locally as Shinkansen, are among the fastest in the world and routinely reach speeds of close to 200mph (320 km/h), easily linking major cities throughout Japan with one another. Trend-defining safety, pressurized cabin comfort, record-setting punctuality, and fantastic cultural nuances like heated toilet seats, Shinkansen are by far the easiest and most exciting option to see the amazing Japanese countryside.
Touching down in Tokyo, options to reach other Japanese destinations abound. If your time in Japan is limited and you don't want to miss the sights of Kyoto, zoom there and back on a comprehensive one-day rail tour from Tokyo, where you'll have stunning views of Mt. Fuji before embarking on a guided afternoon tour of old-town Kyoto.
Alternatively, if you're feeling like escaping the city and would prefer to see the countryside, why not visit Lake Ashi and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mt. Fuji in one of Tokyo's most popular day tours? Surrounded by stunning natural beauty, the icy caps of Mt. Fuji and the crystalline waters of Lake Ashi are sure to be the perfect antidote to the hectic city life.
Want to sojourn out into Japan a little longer? Why not combine the two? Multiple day trips link Mt. Fuji to Kyoto, Nara, and Hakone, and any option between the two.
Tours & Tickets
Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi and Bullet Train Day Trip from Tokyo
Discover some of Japan's most famous highlights on a full-day guided tour from Tokyo. Travel to Mt Fuji's bustling 5th Station and learn about the revered ... Read more
Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 11 hours (approx.)
3-Day Mt Fuji, Kyoto and Nara Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo
See the iconic highlights of Japan on a 3-day guided tour to Mt Fuji, Kyoto and Nara. Visit revered Mt Fuji, take a boat cruise on Lake Ashi and an aerial tram ... Read more
Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 3 days (approx.)
Kyoto and Nara 2-Day or 3-Day Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo
Leave Tokyo on the bullet train to visit the heritage-filled cities of Kyoto and Nara, staying overnight in Kyoto, on your choice of a guided 2-day or 3-day ... Read more
Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 2 days / 1 night or 3 days / 2 nights
Kyoto Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo
If you want to see the highlights of beautiful Kyoto but have limited time, zip there and back by bullet train (Shinkansen) on this full-day tour from Tokyo. ... Read more
Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 12 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
3-Day Kyoto and Hiroshima Independent Tour by Nozomi Bullet Train from Tokyo
Discover Kyoto and Hiroshima, two of Japan's most famous cities, without the hassle of arranging transportation or hotels on this independent tour. Explore ... Read more
Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights
2-Day Mt Fuji and Kyoto Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo
Combine a visit to Mt Fuji with a bullet train ride and Kyoto sightseeing on this activity-filled 2-day tour from Tokyo. Day 1 introduces you to Japan's ... Read more
Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 2 days (approx.)
2-Day Mt Fuji, Hakone and Bullet Train Tour from Tokyo
Escape the big-city bustle to explore Mt Fuji, stay in scenic Hakone then zoom back to Tokyo by bullet train on this overnight jaunt. With an informative ... Read more
Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 2 days (approx.)
2-Day Kyoto and Nara Rail Tour by Bullet Train from Tokyo
Venture by bullet train from Tokyo to the historical sites of Nara, and enjoy an overnight stay in Kyoto – the heart of Japanese culture! On this two-day trip, ... Read more
Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 2 days, 1 night
3-Day Private Tokyo and Nagano Tour: Snow Monkeys, Tsukiji Market and Bullet Train
Take the bullet train (Shinkansen) to Nagano, round-trip from Tokyo, and explore both cities with a knowledgeable private guide. You'll get an authentic taste ... Read more
Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
Overnight Mt Fuji and Onsen Experience from Tokyo
Get a true glimpse into Japanese culture, tradition and natural beauty on an overnight tour from Tokyo to Mt Fuji and the hot spring baths, known as 'onsen.' ... Read more
Tokyo, Japan
Duration: 2 days (approx.)


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With 96 named tributary canyons and dozens of smaller, unnamed side canyons, as well as eight major bays, two long river arms — the San Juan and the Escalante — and more shoreline than the West Coast of the United States, boaters could spend a lifetime exploring the nooks and crannies of the 160,000-acre lake.
Steve Ward grew up in Page and has spent years exploring the lake. With Stan Jones (aka "the Sage of Page"), Ward is co-author of Boating and Exploring Map and Guide to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the definitive visitor guide to the lake.
With so much to choose from, where should visitors go?
Here are recommendations from Ward, who is also public relations director for Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas, which rents houseboats and operates the lodging facilities at the lake's marinas. (Distances are measured in river miles from the dam.)
Padre Bay, 20 miles
Not too far from the Wahweap Marina and oozing scenery, Padre Bay is the perfect destination for first-time visitors. Features to look for include Gunsight Butte and the Cookie Jar. The "weathering pits" in the sandstone hills south of the Cookie Jar will astound hikers. The perfectly round depressions range from 10 to 50 feet in diameter and 20 to 70 feet deep.
West Canyon, 29 miles
This is one of the lake's most beautiful canyons, Ward says, with the upper end of the canyon featuring high sandstone walls 20 feet apart and 1,000 feet high.
Cathedral Canyon, 45 miles
The trip through the narrow, labyrinthine canyon is thrilling. Sandstone walls, so close together in places they scrape your boat as you pass through, tower hundreds of feet overhead, while shafts of sunlight reflect off canyon walls and illuminate the green water. "Cathedral is one of the most easily navigable (side canyons) and one of the safest to do," Ward says.
Rainbow Bridge, about 50 miles
The largest natural bridge in the world is the single most popular destination on the lake. The stunning orange-rock arch soars nearly 300 feet, higher than the dome of the U.S. Capitol. Before the lake was created, the only way to reach the bridge was via a long, hard hike. When the lake is full, visitors can boat nearly all of the way to the national monument. These days, though, you'll have to hike about a mile.
Escalante River, 68 miles
"If you've got time to hike, the canyons off the Escalante (River) Arm give you a hint of what the whole area was like before the lake," Ward says. The Cathedral in the Desert, an area revered by river runners as the finest attraction off the river, is in the Clear Creek Canyon of the Escalante Arm, just a few miles off the main channel.
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Your Hydration Calculator Results
You need:
Why is water so important? There are lots of reasons. Water helps carry nutrients to all the cells of your body and then helps with waste removal. Many of the biochemical reactions that occur in your body rely on water, and it can also help to regulate your body temperature. That's one reason you need to drink more water on a hot day.
Increasing your Water IntakeDoes it matter what types of fluids you consume? Most of the water you need comes from the liquids you drink. Water is an obvious source for your daily fluid needs. Other good beverages include milk, herbal teas, green tea, low-sodium broth, or 100-percent fruit juices, and vegetable juices. And while a can of soda has as much water as a similar sized glass of water, the soda has extra calories from sugar, and it may contain various artificial colorings and additives you might want to avoid.
So it's not the water itself that makes a good or bad source, it's the other ingredients that make the difference.
What about foods? About 20 percent of your water intake comes from the foods you eat -- even dry toast has a little bit of water in it. But in general, fresh fruits and vegetables contain a fair amount of water. Plus, they're high in potassium and low in sodium, which can help keep your body fluids balanced.
Drinking water can help you lose weight, especially if you use it to replace higher calorie beverages. A tall glass of water with a slice of lemon or lime makes an excellent 'diet' beverage.
It's possible to drink too much water if you drink a very large amount all at once. It causes blood levels of sodium to be too low, which results in a condition called hyponatremia. Don't drink all of the water once -- drink several glasses of water throughout the day. That's especially important if you engage in lots of heavy exercise.
Speak to your doctor about how much water to drink if you have kidney or adrenal problems, or if you're taking diuretic medications.
Infants should be given only formula or breast milk unless your pediatrician tells you otherwise.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness." Accessed November 1, 2014. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heattips.asp.
Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. "Dietary Reference Intakes: Electrolytes and Water." Accessed November 1, 2014. http://www.iom.edu/?id=18495.
University of Rochester Medical Center Health Encyclopedia. "Why Your Body Needs Water." Accessed November 1, 2014. http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=1499.


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My B.H.O.D Diagram
1,890 total views, 63 views today
My B.H.O.D Diagram
1,890 total views, 63 views today
Memristor Emulator based on Arduino Shield
This memristor emulator shield (MES) board based on Y. V. Pershin and M. Di Ventra research works (http://www.physics.sc.edu/~pershin/emulator.htm) The only different is, this MES board based on Arduino shield.
This board has been design 2-in-1 concept:
7,720 total views, 98 views today
Reference Paper (Demsar,2006): Download Here
The Friedman test (Friedman, 1937, 1940) is a non-parametric equivalent of the repeated-measures ANOVA. It ranks the algorithms for each data set separately, the best performing algorithm getting the rank of 1, the second best rank 2. (Detail Please See Paper Demsar,2006)
If the null-hypothesis is rejected, we can proceed with a post-hoc test. The Nemenyi test (Nemenyi, 1963) is similar to the Tukey test for ANOVA and is used when all classifiers are compared to each other. The performance of two classifiers is significantly different if the corresponding average ranks differ by at least the critical difference (CD). (Detail Please See Paper Demsar,2006)
CD = qa*sqrt((k(k+1))/6N)
How to calculate qa?
x = stdrinv(p, v, r)
p: p-value, v: Degree of Freedom (Normally 'inf'), r: Number of Algorithm
x = stdrinv(0.95,inf,50) qa = x/sqrt(2) --> (Regarding to Demsar,2006)
20,071 total views, 98 views today


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Cuba Cheese Shoppe Extra Aged Cheddar Selection
The oldest cheddar we have available! The New York State 2 year aged Cheddar has a lot of bite! The Wisconsin 5 year aged Cheddar will tickle your tongue!! These pieces are cut close to 1 pound.
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text: TexasTech.com [ Texas Tech Red Raiders Fall To The Kansas Jayhawks 81-46 [VIDEO] By Tarren Hubbard January 12, 2012 The Red Raiders started strong against the number 10 Kansas Jayhawks, but couldn't maintain it as they lost 81-46. Read More|Comment Category: Texas Tech, Videos Tags: Javarez Willis, kansas jayhawks, Texas Tech Basketball Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


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Free chapters from "OpenOffice.org 2 Guidebook"
OpenOffice expert Solveig Haugland gives out three free chapters on creating and formatting Writer tables, sorting and filtering in Calc and formatting master pages in Impress from her new book, "O...13 Dec 2006
Multiple storage engines in MySQL
An expert explains how multiple storage engines work within MySQL.12 Dec 2006
Unix maintenance costs spur Ohio EPA's Linux adoption
The cost of maintaining legacy HP-UX servers wasn't sitting well with the Ohio EPA. By migrating to Linux, the agency saved enough cash to do disaster recovery.12 Dec 2006
Virtual appliances emerge as OS distribution mechanism
Are virtual appliances the future of operating system distribution? Vendors like VMware and Red Hat hope so. But just how beneficial they are to IT managers remains to be seen.12 Dec 2006
OpenVPN (open source virtual private network)
OpenVPN is an open source virtual private network (VPN) product that offers simplified security, a modular network design and cross-platform portability. OpenVPN is licensed under the GNU General ...11 Dec 2006
Linux and virtual appliances: Five info points
VMware's partnership with Red Hat is only the beginning of what could soon become a slew of packaged virtual appliances in your data center. Here's how to get started.06 Dec 2006
Triggers in MySQL, Oracle and SQL Server
An expert describes compares trigger functions in Oracle, MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server.06 Dec 2006
Securing GRUB on Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Keep your Red Hat server safe from attackers by securing your GRUB boot loader with a password that will prevent unauthorized access to your hosts after a reboot.05 Dec 2006
Unbreakable Linux still unproven, analyst warns
Oracle made a big splash last month when it announced support for Red Hat Linux at a 50% discount, but observers wonder whether Oracle has the mettle to deliver.05 Dec 2006
Nagios plug-ins help device monitoring
Find out where to go for customized Nagios plug-ins that will help you monitor Windows and Linux machines and get some timesaving tips.04 Dec 2006
Nagios: Balancing passive and active checks
The author of "Network monitoring with Nagios" suggests a workaround for balancing active and passive checks and explains the impact of service failures.04 Dec 2006
MySQL: Choosing the most important features
When choosing a database, an expert recommends making sure it can support the volume of data you expect and retrieve it quickly in a readable format.04 Dec 2006
Mutating table errors
A MySQL expert describes how mutating table errors are can be triggered by foreign keys.04 Dec 2006
Upgrading to RHEL5: Considering virtualization, server consolidation
For IT managers, the importance of virtualization and server consolidation will determine whether an upgrade to RHEL5 is a good idea or not.04 Dec 2006
Table triggers vs. row triggers
A MySQL expert describes the difference between table triggers and row triggers and what MySQL will support.01 Dec 2006


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Safeway Grocery Store Posts Postive Quarterly Earnings
Shopping carts are seen in front of a Safeway store on February 21,... News PhotoBusiness,California,Construction Industry,Finance,Horizontal,Safeway,San Anselmo,San Rafael - California,Shopping Cart,Store,USAPhotographer Justin SullivanCollection: Getty Images News 2013 Getty ImagesSAN ANSELMO, CA - FEBRUARY 21: Shopping carts are seen in front of a Safeway store on February 21, 2013 in San Anselmo, California. Safeway, the second largest grocery chain in the U.S., reported a 13 percent increase in fourth- quarter profit with earnings of $244 million, or $1.02 a share compared to $215.6 million, or 67 cents, one year ago. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)


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June 20, 2013
MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin head men's soccer coach John Trask has announced the addition of six student-athletes who will join the Badgers for the 2013 season.
Skyler Felt (Palo Alto, Calif.), Brian Hail (St. Louis, Mo.), Nick Jones (St. Louis, Mo.), Mark Kosobucki (Cedarburg, Wis.), Zacc Roelke (Madison, Wis.) and JunHo Seok (Seoul, South Korea.) will join the Badgers in the fall.
"While not a large class in numbers, the 2013 signees will bring quality to the Badgers soccer program in the upcoming years," Trask said. "We are anxious to integrate these new members into the team and look forward to their contributions this season."
Skyler FeltIn 2010, Felt played two years with the Palo Alto 93 Blue Panthers, a team ranked No. 1 in the nation by GotSoccer.com, winning a State Cup and Regional Championship. He also competed for Palo Alto 95 Blue, ranked in the top-20 in the nation by GotSoccer.com, leading the squad in goals. Felt also started for Palo Alto High School that year, tallying 34 points to lead his team.
He is currently competing for the U18 De Anza Force Academy, where he started 18 games and scored five goals. Felt participated in the California North State Olympic Development Program from for five months in 2011.
Trask on Felt: "Skyler comes to us from DeAnza Force a top club located in the San Francisco area. Skyler is a player who comes highly recommended and has the physical and mental tools to compete as a freshman. Skyler will be looked at in any of the attacking positions on the team this coming fall."
Assistant Coach Keith Tiemeyer on Felt: "Though Skyler is from California, he and his family have deep roots in Wisconsin. Skyler brings top notch athleticism and range to our team where he will compete as an attacker."
Brian HailAfter starting for DeSmet Jesuit High School as a freshman, Hail broke out in his sophomore year, earning First Team All-Metro Catholic Conference honors and Second-Team all-state. He continued his ascent with a phenomenal junior year that saw him help his team capture a Class 3 Missouri State Championship, earning First Team all-state recognition and being named the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Player of the Year. He also took home the MSHSSCA Defensive Player of the Year award and was named to the NSCAA All-Midwest Team. He won three USYSA Missouri State Cup Championships as a member of St. Louis Scott Gallagher while also winning a regional championship during a 2009 season.
Trask on Hail: "Brian is one of two players to join us from the Scott Gallagher Soccer Club in St. Louis. Brian was a standout player at DeSmet for legendary coach Greg Vitello. Brian brings a rare combination of tenacity and quality to the game, Brian was acknowledged as the St. Louis Post Dispatch 2011 All-Metro Soccer Player of the Year. I think that sums up what many people feel about Brian's soccer ability."
Tiemeyer on Hail: "Brian's technique on the ball, soccer awareness, physical range and grit provide him versatility that will allow him to compete as a freshman in multiple roles for us at UW."
Nick JonesJones was ranked as the top player in the Heartland Region, as well as the No. 41 player overall in the class of 2013 by TopDrawerSoccer.com. Jones was ranked as the No. 4 forward in the country by College Soccer News. He was a part of the 2012 USSDA National Championship runner-up St. Louis Scott Gallagher USSDA U18 squad. His high school career at Parkway South included First Team all-conference recognition and a District 2 Championship as a sophomore. He was named team captain as a junior and was voted the best offensive player on his squad.
Trask on Jones: "We feel Nick is one of the top strikers in the country. Nick combines big time athleticism, work rate and technical ability for a forward his age. Nick will provide Wisconsin with a true number 9 and I feel that Nick has all the tools to become an All-American and professional player in the future."
Tiemeyer on Jones: "Nick has the soccer and physical tools to be a real goal scoring force in college soccer. He comes from an excellent club soccer environment at Scott Gallagher and has been trained by some of the best, Tim Regan and Tim Leonard. Nick has been previously coached at Parkway South High School by NCAA great, Al Trost."
Mark KosobuckiA Cedarburg, Wis., native, Kosobucki arrives at Wisconsin after spending a year at Northern Illinois. Kosobucki helped lead Marquette University High School to a 24-0-1 record as a senior, a Wisconsin Division I state championship and a fourth-place ranking in the NSCAA National High School Ranking. He started 24 matches his senior year, posting a 0.50 goals against average with 14 shutouts.
Trask on Kosobucki: "Mark is a player who is transferring back to the great state of Wisconsin. Mark is a Milwaukee goalkeeper who has trained extensively with (Wisconsin assistant coach) Stan Anderson and will have the opportunity to compete with the other keepers to be the guy between the posts of the Badgers."
Tiemeyer on Kosobucki: "Mark will add depth to our goalkeeping corps this year. He has excellent high school experience coming from Marquette High School where he was coached by Steve Lawrence, one of the top high school coaches in Wisconsin."
Zacc RoelkeRoelke was ranked as the No. 13 player in the Midwest by TopDrawerSoccer.com. A Madison native, he played seven years for Madison FC in addition to a stint with FC Milwaukee. Roelke earned all-conference recognition in each of his first three years of high school soccer playing for Madison East, gaining honorable mention accolades as a freshman, First Team all-conference honors as a sophomore, and Second Team all-conference honors as a junior. He was named Second Team all-area as a sophomore before achieving First Team all-area honors as a junior.
Trask on Roelke: "Zacc is a local player from Madison, previously coached by former assistant coach, Phil Presser, who impressed us at Summer Soccer Camp. Zacc has the tools to become an outstanding defender for the Badgers. His touch on the ball and physical qualities allow Zacc to compete in every level shown to him. He's made a smooth transition from Madison FC to become a standout for the U-18 FC Milwaukee Academy."
Tiemeyer on Roelke: "Zacc has excellent passing skills for a defender and has the physical tools to compete as an outside back or center back. His comfort on the ball allows him the versatility to also play as a holding central midfielder."
JunHo SeokA Seoul, South Korea native, the Illinois Central College transfer was named to the NSCAA 2012 Junior College Division I All-Central Region team. Seok took home first-team All-Midwest Athletic Conference honors in 2012, and was also named to the Region 24 squad. It was the second-straight year that he was named to the Region 24, and he was named Second Team All-Midwest Athletic Conference in 2011. The Cougars advanced to the 2012 NJCAA Division I National Tournament and were ranked as high as No. 8 in the country.
Trask on Seok: "Junho will bring a wealth of experience to the back part of the team for the next two years. Junho is a player who can play multiple positions and is very technical on the ball. Junho joins fellow alum Tomislav Zadro from ICC in Peoria, IL."
Tiemeyer on Seok: "Junho will provide leadership and maturity to our team. He has vast experience as a soccer player and personal experiences that are very different than those of our current players."
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- Northern New York Newspapers
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MORRISTOWN - The basketball season at Morristown Central was one of dramatic forward strides made by young varsity teams.
The Green Rocket boys jelled in the stretch run and recorded a series of quality wins before energized home crowds.
The Lady Rockets erased the memories of a winless previous season by going 5-12 in a challenging schedule where nine losses came to state-ranked teams.
At Wednesdays Morristown Winter Sports Awards Night, hosted by the Morristown Boosters at the Morristown Fire Hall, the MCS coaches at the varsity, JV and modified level all spoke of the future and what it will take to maintain the upsurge in Green Rocket fortunes.
Cheerleading Coach Megan Bell spoke about the pride that she and her squad felt when the school district restored their team in a time when schools across the nation are being forced to drop athletic programs.
Varsity Girls Coach Rich Rupert expressed the encouraging situation in Rocket Nation.
We had a very good season and we know where we want to be. And we known what we have to do to get there, he said.
We play in a very tough division in the NAC West. We have to get bigger, faster and stronger to be successful. And we have to play all year long. The only way to learn the game is to play. We will start play in a spring league in Potsdam starting Sunday and then we have to get ramped up this summer.
Coaches of all the winter sports made presentations and handed out team awards at the banquet.
Coach Beaulieu praised his 12-4 team for its late season run to a second place finish in the NAC West and a number three Class D seed in the Section 10 Tournament.
A drive which culminated in a win over West Division Champion Lisbon and two wins over a contending Edwards-Knox team.
We had a great year and our win over Lisbon on Cancer Awareness Night was just great for the guys. They worked very hard and it was tough when we just couldnt pull it out against Madrid-Waddington (eventual Class D Champion) in the D-Arama, said Beaulieu.
I was very proud to coach these guys and I hope to be able to coach them next year.
Ryan Vollmer, a First Team All-NAC West selection, was honored as the teams Most Valuable Player. Second Team All-Star Jake VanArnam and Luke King received Coaches Awards and Jacob Fox was cited as the Outstanding Defensive Player.
Zack Kanaly earned Second Team All-NAC West honors, Cory Todd received his teams NAC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award and Vollmer and Betty Ahlfeld Memorial Award recipient Tristan Gilmour earned NAC All-Academic Awards.
Also making contributions to the Rockets success were: Austin Brooks, Tyler Delosh and Devin Dulmage.
Coach Rich Rupert was proud to preside over a restoration season as the Lady Rockets went 5-12 after on the heels of a winless season.
We started 3-1, then went 0-10 and the finished 2-1. But we did very well, we play in a very tough NAC West Division and nine of our 12 losses came to state-ranked teams said Coach Rupert who honored Second Team All-NAC West selection Jessica Geddes and Taylor Piercey with Coaches Awards and recognized Liz Troiano as the Most Improved Player.
Rupert also cited Sam Green for receiving the teams NAC Outstanding Sportsmanship Award, Geddes, Piercey and Mackenzie Barse for earning NAC All-Academic Awards and that Jordyn Tulley was selected to play in the NAC Exceptional Senior Game.
Macalla Roberts rounded out the collective step-up effort by the Rockets.
Coach Megan Bell thanked the school district for restoring the cheering program and expressed her pride in coaching a unit which featured three NAC All-Academic Award qualifiers in All-American Cheerleader Award recipient Angelina Aslanyan, Adriania Fanelli and Kristen Paquette.
Paquette also received Coach Bells Leadership Award and Abby Stout earned the Best Toe Touch Award. Rounding out team were: Bailey Gilmour, Taylor Lipinsky, Madison Meyer, Razia Phillips and Brittany Snyder.
Coach Andy Rupert was happy the way his 14-player squad progressed over the course of the season. He honored Nicole Ferrians as the Outstanding Offensive Player, presented the Outstanding Defensive Player Award to Loren Woodcock and recognized Morgan Macaulay with the Heart and Hustle Award. Rounding out the team which all received certificates were: Savana Barse, Mackenzie Butterfield, Rianna Chapin, Hope Glover, Allison Hockey, Payton Horton, Sidney Johnson, Harlee Mashaw, Harley Thomson and Morgan Wright.
Coach Jeff Johnson directed team which competed well with low numbers and cited Alex Roberts as the Outstanding Offensive Player, Ethan Baldwin as the Outstanding Defender and Nick Tascano as the Most Improved Player. Rounding out the squad were: Nate Mitchell, Garrett Piercey and Russell Young.
Coach Scott Rupert saw plenty of promise in his team and a group players rotated up the varsity at different times during the season to gain experience.
Megan Vollmer was cited as the Outstanding Offensive Player, Logan Green was cited as the Most Valuable Player and Miranda LaFave and Leah Ward received Most Improved Player awards. Rounding out the squad were: Elissa Baldwin, Ryan Brooks, Shaylyn Kasper, Victoria Mitchell and Haley Whitmarsh.
Coach Larry Kanaly saw definite strides from his entire team of Most Valuable Player Lincoln Hall, Coaches Award recipient Owen Kuca, Colton Colby, Gage Fox, Christian Johnson, Jaxen Lapiene, Joseph Walker and Morris Zeininger.
I really want to thank the players and their families. We had a lot of changes to deal with and the players just kept playing even after some tough losses, said Coach Kanaly.
Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.
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Gregory Cummings
Gregory Cummings (@gregorycummings) is a Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Educator. He has owned and operated his own retail pharmacy business since 2009. An alumnus of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Cummings received his bachelor's degree in pharmacy with distinction in 2008. He lives in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario with his fiancee and daughter.
Website: http://www.gregorycummings.com/


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Yes our November picks are a tad late, but we've been busy stressing about all the Christmas shopping we still have to do – we'd like Santa to bring us a nice SCARLET X if anyone's overcome with the spirit of giving. Anyway, here's what we got excited about last month.
DN221: Littlerock – Mike Ott – Director Mike Ott joined us to talk about his second feature and a film I've been dying to watch ever since catching the trailer online.
Terri – I was really looking forward to seeing how Azazel Jacobs had progressed as a filmmaker since Momma's Man and was more than happy to see him successfully delve into the world of the outsider in Terri.
Die Antwoord: Fok Julle Naaiers – We're scared as hell of them, but just can't resisted their menacing Zef infused hip hop ways.
Kerry Film Festival 2011 – We always like to bring you film festival reports from the filmmaker's eye view and Neil's perspective as an ex-festival director was an added bonus. Plus, he scooped a much deserved win too!
Another Earth – Mike Cahill's low budget debut feature manages to combine thought-provoking science fiction with haunting character driven drama, resulting in one of the stand-out features of the year.
MarBelle has a strange compulsion to watch as many films as he can get his hands on and find jobs that give him a legitimate excuse to drill filmmakers about their work. Directors Notes is the latest incarnation of this disorder and so much cheaper than film school. Twitter: @MarBelle


text: Lobe Occipital,flickr Where To Hide The Gifts This Year By Pete Braley November 30, 2012 It's a yearly problem for some," where do I put these gifts so the kids don't find them before Christmas?" "The Stir" posted a list of suggestions this week: Read More|Comment Category: Commentary Tags: christmas, gifts, hide, holiday, presents Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


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Happy Easter from Habitat for Horses
Here at the Habitat for Horses's ranch it is a beautiful Easter Sunday. It is our hope that you will have time to spend with your friends and family – both human and animal – in joy on this day. And to take a moment to contemplate those who cannot. For your enjoyment: ~ HfH Support the rescue ...Full Article
Of Course! Of Course! A Skeleton Horse!
Happy Halloween! Stay safe and have fun! – From Habitat for Horses From: The Pet Collective By: Kate Gallagher Whoa! Could you think up of a cooler costume for ...Full Article


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Archive for February, 2012
Posted by Jordan Williamson in FairTax on February 27, 2012
Over the past two weeks I have done my best to explain the dire need in repealing our current tax code in its entirety. It violates the Constitution as it stood before the passage of the 16th Amendment and the amendment itself, and the unlimited power it grants, violates the spirit of the document it inhabits. Understanding that no mere tweaking of the current code will suffice it would now be necessary to discuss what method of taxation should replace it when we hopefully move on. There are two main alternatives to the current tax code discussed on a national level. One is the FairTax and the other is a flat tax. For the purposes of this particular article we will examine the flat tax plan released by Heritage Foundation this past December called the New Flat Tax.
As the FairTax has enjoyed quite a bit of discussion and examination on this website it is only fair to examine the New Flat Tax first. It is a flat tax rate of 28% on income. It repeals the death tax, payroll taxes, and all excises not dedicated to a trust fund. It is designed to be revenue neutral, it has one flat rate, two credits and three deductions. It caps the rate of taxation to 18.5% of GDP in an attempt to alleviate the stress of additional taxes down the line.
The New Flat Tax, as stated, does have two credits and three deductions within it. One credit is a $3,000 credit for purchases of health care insurance and the other is the existing Earned Income Credit. The three deductions are for higher education costs, charitable contributions, and an optional home mortgage interest deduction. Reading further through the description of the plan there exists an additional credit for research and experimentation. It is merely the continuation of the Alternative Simplified Credit that we have today and not counted with the credits above because it is not available to everyone.
After a thorough examination of the idea it becomes increasingly clear that it does nothing to solve the underlying problems of an income tax. Not only does the Earned Income Tax Credit feed directly into the class warfare debates that continue to mar Washington D.C. it violates the purpose of a flat tax itself. This New Flat Tax also makes the mistake of taxing corporations that will only lead to those same costs being passed down to the consumer in a variety of ways. All it amounts to is a reduction of 7% of the current corporate tax rate. While a 7% reduction is nothing to ignore it loses its luster when realized that we currently operate at a crippling 35% rate which is the highest in the industrialized world. The New Flat Tax plan would still leave us 3% above China and the UK but at the exact same level as Mexico. Most interestingly about the corporate tax level in this New Flat Tax plan is that it does not seem confident that it truly is good for business. For instance it gives business ten years to continue under our current system. In fact, the year after the New Flat Tax is passed the corporate tax rate will still remain at the punitive 35% level. In order not to grant certain companies "tax windfalls" by removing the burdens that they currently strive under the New Flat Tax will decrease the corporate income tax by 1% per year until it coincides with the 28% level that individuals pay. Yes, the last thing we want is the removal of an incredibly burdensome tax code to lead to windfalls in a paining economy….
One might ask how keeping the earned income tax credit could work to equalize a tax code that has removed any and all payroll taxes. The final sentence is the key to understanding this and many other questions surrounding the New Flat Tax. It reads as thus,
"Finally, saving out of either capital income or labor income is tax exempt under the New Flat Tax—but tax is levied on all capital income used for consumption. Thus, upper-income citizens who spend much of their income generated from their past saving will pay a large amount of tax."
There in black and white is the problem with any tax code that is interested primarily with income. Even a supposed flat tax, new and improved or otherwise, will devolve into class warfare. The same rules espoused above apply to any gift or estate (read death) tax. The passing of such money from one hand into another is not taxed, but the use of that money during consumption is taxed. All savings are deducted from income but are taxed as spent.
The inherent problems should be easily identifiable. Any tax concerned with income will never be flat and if truly flattened will not stay that way for long. The cap of 18.5% is a politically astute tool to keep politicians from easily tinkering with the system away from prying eyes until the cap is removed. One congress cannot constrain another and if the cap becomes a roadblock to congressional authority then it will be removed. Our constitution has only and specifically eighteen enumerated powers given to congress. It does not take an expert political scientist to see that congress has taken upon itself far more than its eighteen appointed tasks to the detriment of the states and people whose control was taken from them. As long as the 16th Amendment remains our government has the legal authority to tax with unlimited access.
This New Flat Tax participates in the same class warfare sphere that has consumed our current code and it is also politically disingenuous. To say that it encourages investment without removing the Capital Gains Tax or to claim that it repeals the death tax without allowing you to spend any money received is tantamount to a lie. Shifting the burden is not removing it, renaming an unpopular political practice does not make it likeable. This New Flat Tax also does nothing to the egregious affront to religious liberty found in the tax code. By classifying the church to a tax exempt charitable status gives the government the right to regulate its speech nullifying in part the free exercise clause of the First Amendment.
The FairTax on the other hand solves many of the problems highlighted by the New Flat Tax. It is a 23% sales tax that repeals any and all federal taxes and the authority behind them, the 16th Amendment. It restores us to constitutional first principles and treats all American citizens equally under the law. It shares the same exemption of higher education costs because it views a higher education as an investment in human capital; for the same reason there is no Capital Gains tax. It ensures the viability of the Social Security system by placing all of the collected money in a general fund allowing the government to fund priorities first including promises already kept. It increases the transparency of government by setting all Americans in a single class, set against any increase in taxes by the government. It does not use an arbitrary designation of GDP as a cap in tax revenue, but only the watchful eyes of 311 million Americans who would notice a single change to the tax code. It removes the class war inhabiting the tax debate allowing congress to more efficiently do its business. It allows American businesses the freedom that comes with a 0% tax rate that will serve as an open invitation to any international competitor ready to reduce the cost of doing business and to access one of the most highly trained workforces this world has seen. The FairTax does not slowly implement itself over the course of a decade; it removes the antiquated framework we currently deal with and replaces it with a simple, transparent, and fair system.
In the 1912 presidential election, the American voter did not have a choice. All of the major candidates supported an income tax. Today we are given an opportunity; tax reform has become an increasingly popular term and shows that people are ready to see a change up to the current system. We can choose to reset ourselves to the system of 1913, or we can carve out a new path. One that takes the government out from behind the pulpit, one that frees businesses to create the jobs we need, one that treats all Americans equally, and one that does not pander to those interested in dictating to us how our money is spent. It seems that the New Flat Tax has gone the way of New Coke. The only problem is that "Classic Tax" is not popular either. In a free market people vote with their wallets, in the free market of ideas people vote with their voice. Support the FairTax, there really is no other option.
Posted by Jordan Williamson in FairTax on February 20, 2012
If our goal is truly to repeal the current tax code and completely replace it then I believe it would be best to explain why. Of course there are many who do not like it and I would expect if a poll were taken, a heavy majority of Americans would express their distaste for the current system. Last week discussed that if not for the 16th Amendment, the current tax code could only be found unconstitutional. This week will focus on why repealing the entirety of the current code is the only way to restore our constitutionally limited government.
It should be no surprise that the American society we live in today was not foreseen or desired by our founders. Our tax code has created a class system that pits us against each other in a perpetual class war that creeps into every tax debate on Capitol Hill. This division only serves to hamper our efforts to succeed. Every tax discussion then serves to separate the American people leading to great difficulty in taking dramatic steps to right the ship. All of the vitriol that surrounds a class warfare debate has led our fearful politicians to lay dormant as the federal debt climbed $10 trillion in as many years. In addition now to roughly half of Americans not paying into the income tax system, just as many receive government benefits that an increasingly few pay for. Our government has become one chiefly interested in the redistribution of wealth. The tax code is the chief cause. At this rate the many recipients will quickly outvote the diminishing providers, unless action is taken to correct the course. Repeal this system to regain the balance.
Our tax code is not merely content with defining people by class but would like to dictate as to how to live our lives. This involves particularly the "marriage penalty". The tax structure, and its many exemptions, provides a benefit for single parents and those that remain single without marrying. A few laws have been passed to correct this penalty to marriage, but the Alternative Minimum Tax automatically puts married couples in a higher tax bracket. This burden becomes heavier the further down the income ladder you go. Marriage becomes increasingly costly and therefore less feasible. In addition to providing barriers to marriage the higher the taxes are raised the more they inhibit children. It is bad enough that this recession has brought the United States to its lowest birth rates in our history. Raising taxes will only provide another burden on young families. Any economic downturn hurts young families and the poor disproportionately; our tax structure highlights these problems and serves to increase the burden on those who wish to raise a family in America.
Our income tax has also led to the rapid increase in the size of government. As per the 16th Amendment our government has the unlimited power to tax. An unlimited power that is only restrained by the attentiveness of the American populace. In 1913, the year the government was given this unlimited power, our federal budget stood at 8.21% of the GDP. In 1903 it was 6.80%. It took ten years to move 1.4%. In 1914 it rose to 9.55%. In one year it grew more than it had in the previous ten. Over time the government has bloated to consume roughly 40%. As we know the federal debt has risen to such levels as to downgrade our credit rating. There are many ideas as to how to respond to this growing crisis and creative methods on raising taxes are also on the table. One idea floated recently by the President himself was a Global Minimum Tax. Meaning that corporations are punished for being American even if they hide their wealth offshore. There now also exists the idea of a Reasonable Profits Board that will regulate the profits of oil and gas companies. Six congressmen have created this bill put before congress in an attempt to gain more government revenue. As you can see this unlimited power given to congress creates a mindset that if more can be taken then take it. Serious cuts to spending have to vie for time in discussions revolving around increases to revenue. If you find the idea of an unlimited power to tax unsettling or even vaguely socialist then repeal the current system because as history proves, it shows no sign of slowing its own power grab.
As the past few examples show the current tax code has a depressing effect on commerce. Investors have been repeatedly attacked this campaign season by both parties, proving that the class warfare aspect to the tax code provides an easy grab bag of attacks in any political season. The Global Minimum Tax and Reasonable Profits Board are nothing but attacks on businesses. Not only does this country punish success as one moves up the income ladder into increasingly punitive tax brackets, it also houses the single highest corporate tax in the industrialized world. It is a testament to our ingenuity and workmanship that this is still the best place for business in the world. It is also proof that America is the last best hope for liberty on this earth. But we are watching as this precious right is slowly being stripped away. Each attack on a business is an assault on every person with a job. A job created by a business started by an entrepreneur. Creating regulations for every American businessman is not a way to keep the jobs connected with that investment here at home. Our current tax code is not friendly to anyone but the politician but it is certainly an enemy of American businesses.
It should only make sense then that corporations spend heavily in election years. They are, rightly, concerned with easing this considerable burden placed on them by the tax code. This creates an incredible incentive for focused lobbying efforts to change the tax code. The 70,000 plus page code is riddled with exemptions and exclusions favoring one party over many or all others. As one can imagine this only serves to create even further complexity in the code. A code far beyond the reasonable American's grasp of understanding. These lobbying efforts exclude the voice of the constituent and continue to make the tax code something indecipherable to even the trained eye. Our government's most basic connection with its citizens is an incomprehensible boondoggle that must be viewed through the lens of a third party, that being an accountant or accounting software. While we wait to see if we paid enough and if the government wants even more of our money than it forcibly removed from our paychecks over the year, companies, GM for example, pay nothing thanks to a dedicated team of tax lawyers using every loophole paid for over the many years of lobbying. The idea of a representative government is lost in a discussion of the tax code and it is beyond repair. It is in need of repeal.
The tax code, along with the lack of ethics of elected officials, is a reason for the rising trust gap between representatives and the governed. The realization of the truth of corporate taxes also adds to this ever widening gap. The fact that we consumers pay the price for every penny of increased corporate taxes in the form of higher prices, lower quality goods, or lower wages is a chafing one when Washington seems intent on raising these taxes. The additional "hidden tax" of compliance is another costly one on our economy as a whole. But most egregiously are the rights stripped away and privacies lost in complying with the tax code. It has been covered here before about the infringement of the 1st Amendment phrase in regards to churches ability to preach without government punishment. If the church crosses over certain government boundaries, then they are punished with the same tax code that we have to deal with on a daily basis. At least the government can acknowledge as we can that the code is punitive.
We can see now that our tax code is not interested with collecting revenue. It does too much more for that to be its primary concern. This President's Day let us remember those that strove to lay the groundwork for this nation, that set forth the guiding light that led us to where we are, and follow in their footsteps toward a nation concerned with personal liberty and the responsibility that is intrinsically connected with it. The repeal of our current tax code, one that has grown over almost 100 years, is not suggested lightly; however these injustices are an intended consequence of a dedicated few over time to transform this country from the independent nation of our founding to the dependent nation of today. This is no longer a point of discussion but an egregious affront to our liberty that demands action. We have suffered long under the crushing weight of a government with unlimited tax powers and are now reaping the fruits of that long labor. We reject them outright. We reject the idea of a government that can centrally plan an economy or can remove from our paychecks the property we worked to earn before we even see it. We reject having to comply with a convoluted mess designed by those that do not pay into it. We reject a system that chooses who will win or lose in what is supposed to be a free market system. We reject our rights trampled on by unaccountable bureaucrats; we reject the social planning that comes in the form of tax rebates or the lack of those rebates. We reject it en masse. There exists no redeeming quality that could justify its continued existence. And we demand action. I do not believe that one should solely criticize without offering up a differing solution. I offer up the FairTax. The problems described above that it does not address it eliminates. There are other tax proposals that are also discussed under the broad umbrella of tax reform. That will be the topic of discussion for next week. But leave on this note. In the words of Cicero, "What is morally wrong can never be advantageous, even when it enables you to make some gain that you believe to be to your advantage. The mere act of believing that some wrongful course of action constitutes an advantage is pernicious." This tax code is morally wrong; its reach far exceeds its grasp, at its core it is evil. We shall end it.
Posted by Jordan Williamson in FairTax on February 13, 2012
Earlier last week saw the inappropriate and rather disgusting attack on our Constitution by two leaders in government. First of all, President Obama decried his inability to force his agenda on an unwilling Congress due to a system of constitutionally created checks and balances. It is disconcerting to hear his comments of this past week and recall how wistfully he pined for China's top-down leadership structure. But far more egregiously, and telling, was Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's criticism of our founding document on Egyptian television. For those of you who missed the news allow me to quickly recap. Addressing the newly forming Egyptian government, Justice Ginsburg advised them thusly, "I would not look to the U.S. Constitution, if I were drafting a Constitution in the year 2012. I might look at the Constitution of South Africa… It really is, I think, a great piece of work that was done. Much more recent than the U.S. Constitution." This is not the first time Justice Ginsburg has shared her affinity for foreign laws and decisions over those of the U.S. In fact, one of her complaints about the U.S. Supreme Court is that it is not cited more by courts internationally. The Canadian Supreme Court is "probably cited more widely abroad then the U.S. Supreme Court." She further reasoned that, "You will not be listened to if you don't listen to others." It was neglected to mention that "listening to others" in this context means ignoring American jurisprudence, voters, laws, precedent and history. That is not the purpose of a Justice according to our Constitution.
Article VI of our founding document has something else to say on the matter.
This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.
Unless the previous excerpt contains a clause of exception for wanting to be cited by a court in Belgium I believe the phrase "supreme law of the land" should suffice any and all judges. Our Constitution is the law that governs this country; its changes reflect our own history, like rings on a tree. To ignore it or seek outside help when convenient stands contradictory to who we are as a people and the legal standing of the Constitution itself. In fact, our constitutional history is vital to our understanding of the need to pass the FairTax.
After the wartime income tax, Revenue Act of 1862, expired in 1866 Americans were free again from the income tax. While American citizens were free from this oppressive tax, politicians were obsessed with breathing new life into the recently abolished tax structure. Twenty-one years after its dissolution the Socialist Labor Party began to openly advocate for an income tax, five years later in 1892, the Populist Party demanded a graduated tax become a part of their platform. And in 1894, the Wilson-Gorman Tariff Act passed, instituting a five year 2% tax on "gains, profits, and incomes" in excess of $4,000. Aside from the eventual court ruling on this particular bill it is important to note that the debate in Congress at the time was heated and many voted for the bill that included an income tax because they refused to give up on tariff reform. As this New York Times article from January 30, 1894 shows, "They prefer to bear the odium of the income tax rather than to see the Wilson bill defeated." How many times in our government's history have we been faced with a decision between two evils and taken it? Why must we hold our nose and swallow the bad to get what we want? Luckily at this precise moment in history the Supreme Court looked to the supreme law of the land and declared the tax portion of the Tariff Act unconstitutional. We passed a direct income tax on those of certain wealth and it was, rightly, declared unconstitutional. The Pollock v. Farmers' Loan and Trust Co .decision was handed down in 1895 and eighteen years later fixated politicians pushed a constitutional amendment to override the Supreme Court decision. The Sixteenth Amendment, passed in 1913, allowed the government to directly tax income from any source derived, read your wallet, without regard to apportionment to the States or any census or enumeration. Thus the monstrosity of the current tax code was born, taking great pains in the form of a constitutional amendment to defy a Supreme Court that said it did not belong before.
Enter the FairTax. The FairTax is not the creation of a Washington committee. It is not a cobbled together hodgepodge of political favor and pork tapered around a watered-down central idea. The FairTax is a private sector solution to a public sector problem. Created in the 1994, the FairTax was the idea of some businessmen in Houston who knew there existed a better way to tax the American public that did not involve working 102 days just to earn what the government will take in a given year. The idea of a consumption tax however has been around much longer than eighteen years. In 1783, James Madison voiced his support for a consumption tax, saying, "Taxes on consumption are always least burdensome, because they are least felt, and are borne too by those who are both willing and able to pay them…" That sounds much better than a confiscatory system that punishes success and investment. Another luminary from our American history, Alexander Hamilton, favored a consumption tax and espoused its virtues in the Federalist Paper (No. 21), "It is a signal advantage of taxes on articles of consumption that they contain in their own nature a security against excess." These are the men that formed our government. James Madison, author of the Constitution and Fourth President of the United States, and Alexander Hamilton, First Secretary of the Treasury and the only New Yorker to sign the Constitution. As fellow authors of the Federalist papers these views hold considerable weight on the interpretations of the Constitution at that time, it was viewed as the supreme law of the land and forbade any direct taxes, which are not uniform or apportioned to the States, levied on the people by the Federal government. How does that view stand up to our current code? It doesn't.
There are three clauses in the Constitution signed at the convention considered with taxes. One states that representatives and direct taxes should be apportioned among the several States. Another states that the Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, Imposts and Excises…but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States. And finally, no capitation, or other direct, tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration herein before directed to be taken. Omitting the Sixteenth Amendment, that is all the Constitution says about how the government should levy taxes. It seems that the Sixteenth Amendment was passed to violate the first section, and subsequently used to ignore the other two sections. That one Amendment has been used to increase the size of the government's ability to tax far beyond the intention of our forefathers. That is precisely why it should be repealed. When it is repealed America should be ready with a tax system that meets the requirements and restrictions in the original Constitution. The FairTax meets these strict standards. The FairTax, by removing this overburdening tax code and placing the American citizen in charge of the revenue stream, will be the second positive outcome of taxes in human experience. The first being the capitation tax that led both Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem at the very end of the BC era.
If the Constitution does track with our American history then it is supremely important to use that as the golden standard of national policy. This current system is the product of a change to that original document; I submit to you that it is high time that we return to our founding. The FairTax necessitates a repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment to ensure that it remains the FairTax and not the VAT and income system of Europe. Our laws should not be modeled on a European system that has sunk a region of the world to near economic ruin. Our courts should not use the rulings and laws to subvert or ignore what makes us uniquely American. Our founding is a political miracle in a long history of government oppression. The New York Times ran a story this past week that happens to coincide with Justice Ginsburg's unfortunate Egyptian interview. It describes the waning international appeal of our United States Constitution. Fewer countries are looking to the leadership of our founding to move forward. It is not because of some listen and be listened to theory. It is because we have abandoned our own principles. If the United States chooses not to follow in the wisdom of our own founders than why would anyone else? The Sixteenth Amendment is such a departure from the carefully crafted government of 1787. Ever since the 1913 election our government has grown exponentially, it is directly tied to the extent of the government's reach into your pocketbook. As of today that reach is infinite, confined only by the political realities of the time. It relies on foolishly shortsighted elected representatives. It relies on the inattention of the American public. It relies on the complexity of 70,000 pages of tax language. Gone are the days when we could rely on our judges to keep the government in check. As mentioned before, politicians have lost a respect for the checks and balances etched into our government, and judges are more concerned with their international standing than upholding the law. The only defense resides in the American public. Our voice must rise once again. We must assert our rightful role in the political hierarchy. Our leaders must act with our consent. Take control of the discourse, demand the FairTax from your legislators. We have in the United States of America the oldest working constitution on Earth. It "shall be the supreme law of the land". This year is when to make our ultimatum. Return to the parameters allowed by our founders. Limit our government to its enumerated powers and free the people of the United States to create an economic engine that will engulf any and all competition this world has to offer. China is not standing in our way, neither is the Democratic or Republican party, it is an expansion of government brought on by politicians who tasted a new stream of revenue and forced it into our constitution in 1913. Repeal it. And let's get back to work.
Posted by Jordan Williamson in FairTax on February 6, 2012
As some of you may have noticed, we are in the midst of a Presidential election. Luckily for us, every four years brings about an intense focus on our political life and exactly what is wrong with it. Any national politician worth his or her salt will make a list of immediate solutions for problems that existed long before election season. There are five candidates currently vying for the most powerful office in the world. I am quite sure that you already have a favorite and it is not my intention to dissuade you. However, again in keeping the theme of this particular website I believe it is vitally important to look at the plans for each candidate regarding the tax code. The future of which is of keen interest to myself and other FairTax advocates. A quick note as to my method of research, I neglected to obsessively scribble down notes while re-watching all of the numerous Republican debates because statements are in a constant state of "reclarification". Any and all statements made by a candidate in an off the cuff manner are easily swiped away by the campaign as "out of context" or opposing the original intent. So I focused on the candidates websites. While easily updated, most are true and accurate reflections of a candidate's stated wishes and are, most importantly, written down. A written message on an official website meant to inform a questioning voter is something, I believe, closer to the promise of a campaign.
Governor Mitt Romney speaks to the need for simplifying the tax system. He believes it is in need of a fundamental redesign that lowers rates and broadens the base. He also says that it should be used as an instrument for economic growth and should be stable to counter the constantly shifting set of rules for investors and entrepreneurs. That phrasing sounds as if it were taken from the FairTax handbook however, unsurprisingly, the problem is approached in a different manner. Many of you remember that Governor Romney was less than satisfied with the FairTax plan in a debate. His plan maintains the current rate for income, interest, dividends, and capital gains taxes. He plans on eliminating the death tax and also the capital gains, dividends, and interest taxes on Adjusted Gross Incomes under $200,000. His plan also calls for a reduction of the corporate tax rate to 25%. After all of this is done he pledges a rather nebulous sounding "conservative overhaul" of the tax code in the long term without many real specifics on what that would include. In summation, it is much better than our current code but does not meet one of his own key criteria, expanding the tax base. Some rates are certainly lowered which eases the tax burden on virtually every citizen despite keeping the existing income tax rates but the only mention of a broader tax base falls under the conservative overhaul language. It would be nice to have a little clarification of what that would entail. He does cite the Bowles-Simpson Commission as a good discussion starting point but that is all.
Speaker Newt Gingrich has a significantly bolder plan outlined. His first step is to stop the 2013 tax increases hanging over the heads of every tax payer embedded in our current code. He also calls for the elimination of the capital gains and death tax. His corporate tax rate would be cut down to 12.5% and would include the 100% expensing of new equipment. He calls for an optional 15% flat tax preserving the charitable giving and home ownership deductions, along with the addition of a $12,000 personal deduction. The FairTax seems to have an easier audience within this campaign considering the placement of Herman Cain to a co-chair position on his tax reform and economic growth advisory council. Herman Cain has been a longtime friend to the FairTax, even including it as phase two of his economic policy in his presidential campaign. Many of the Speaker's ideas can be found within the FairTax and are not a large jump from our cause.
Senator Rick Santorum has a laundry list of tax objectives that seek to reset the focus of our current tax system. Although considered comparably timid by some the Senator has a number of ideas. He would create two tax brackets set at 10% and 28%. He would eliminate the potentially disastrous Alternative Minimum tax, death tax, marriage penalty, and the cap on deductions for losses incurred in the sale of a personal residence. He would seek to reduce the capital gains and dividend tax to 12%. He would also seek to half the current corporate tax rate to 17.5%. He would retain the charitable giving, home mortgage interest, healthcare, retirement savings deductions while tripling the personal deduction for each child. He would increase and make permanent the research and development tax credit from 14% to 20%. He would remove the corporate tax rate on manufacturers and also not tax any money repatriated in that industry. All other corporate repatriated money would be taxed at 5.25%. Along with Speaker Gingrich he would provide for 100% expensing on new business equipment. The only issue seen with the Senator's plans is that they still view the tax code as a means to engineer a society. Granted, incentivizing manufacturing and larger families is better than disincentivizing them but, it still puts the government in a role that decides who wins and loses that game. That is a key element the FairTax removes from the equation.
Congressman Ron Paul's plans revolve completely around his massive cuts to spending. If his trillion dollar cuts are not met then his tax plan will have a disastrous impact on the debt and deficit. Most important to his plans is the Liberty Amendment, which abolishes the income and death taxes. He also calls for the immediate repeal and abolishment of the capital gains tax, taxes on tips and social security benefits and an ideal income tax rate of 0%. The issue of a Flat tax or a FairTax should only be decided on the repeal of the 16th Amendment according to Congressman Paul. While all of those goals sound great there are a number of inconsistencies, such as the existence of a flat tax without the power to directly tax incomes or the existence of a flat tax and an income tax rate of 0%. And the priority any of these items are given is not discussed. As stated above any of these plans taken in advance of the required spending cuts would greatly add to the crushing debt problem. These policies are wonderful sounding but are in very strict danger of adding to the problem if not passed in a correct order. That may sound persnickety but I do not want my tax reform to rest upon the shoulders of a congress that needs to cut spending by $1.2 trillion much less pass a budget. If the money cannot be cut over ten years than it is even less believable that it could happen in a single election cycle.
President Obama's tax proposal is one we have heard before. It is mired in the class warfare rhetoric that has defined the class system structure of the current tax code. In fact our first income tax was a flat tax passed in 1861. It was a flat 3% rate on those making above $800 annually. Our first progressive income tax was passed in 1862. One year was how long the flat tax remained so. The progressive tax was a 3-5% rate on annual income above $600. The definition of "rich" was rapidly changing even back then. We have heard the "Buffett" argument before in this country. That is the essence of the President's plan moving forward. Continuing the mindless mantra of class warfare the millionaires and billionaires are called to "pay their fair share." Since the top 10% pay 70% of the taxes and the bottom 49% pay nothing than I agree that the rich should start paying their fair share. The way to do that is not raise their taxes, not to increase the burden that is already disproportionately theirs, it is to start cutting. The Buffett Rule argument and the targeting of "hedge fund managers, private jet owners, and oil companies" has not led to a robust economy over the past four years and shows no signs of doing so if continued for four more. No matter what deity the President uses to convince Americans to support his confiscatory and redistributive tax model I doubt Jesus would seek to decimate the labor force participation rate. This tax plan has proven to be disastrous for the economy and the American people. If the President wants the rich to pay a "fair share" than I suggest he take a look at the FairTax.
There are five competing tax theories espoused by the current Presidential candidates. Some share elements of the FairTax, others stand in direct opposition. It is up to us to endeavor over the coming months to elect those to national and state office that share our views and convince them that our way truly is the way to put Americans back to work and ensure their liberty in the future. One plan enshrines liberty at its heart and urges equality in its practice. Those two principles created a nation, and by following the lead given to us by our forefathers we can kick start an economic revival never seen before in the history of this earth. There is no force more powerful than the will of a free people. It is time our tax code and candidates understood that. This election has the potential to truly be historic; it is up to you to see us break from a cycle of government restriction and control to a path of prosperity without end. It is up to you to see an Amendment repealed, and a tax code forsaken. You see, this election is not for us to sit and watch; it is not our duty to be promised to by a speaker on a podium. It is our God given and patriot protected right as American citizens to alter the course of our own destiny. We should not be sated with reduced rates and temporary deduction increases; this country is not accustomed to taking half steps toward liberty. If we are to guarantee our prosperous future, it is up to us to get involved. Get out and support the FairTax. Demand it. We deserve nothing less.


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If you've ever backpacked around a foreign country on the cheap, you can probably relate to how difficult it is to keep clean when finding hot water and adequate water pressure is a challenge. Well, compound those issues with a lack of gravity, and taking a shower probably sounds near impossible. How could hair stay clean when showers and even dry shampoo aren't options? Do astronauts just stay dirty for the duration of their voyages, or does hair magically not get dirty outside the atmosphere? As it turns out, neither: it actually is possible to clean hair in outer space.
The beauty regimen in the video below may not be for all of you, but surely some of you fashionistas have plans to be astronauts "when you grow up." In this fascinating video "Hair Raising Hygiene," astronaut Karen Nyberg shows exactly what it takes to keep tresses clean when you're floating in the International Space Station. It's not rocket science (get it?); Nyberg just uses water in a bag and no-rinse shampoo.
We can't decide if it looks not at all fun, or extremely fun. Either way, Nyberg certainly doesn't have to worry about volume.
Related links:
Doutzen Kroes Is Going To Outer Space
WATCH: This Shampoo Commercial Stars Adolf Hitler
Beauty Beat: A Body Wash That's Like Showering With Stuart Smalley
An Easy Way To Get Frizz-Free Hair


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Tuesday, 12 July 2011
6 comments:
- Tania Hershman said...
Whoo-hoo, great news about Small Wonder, it's a fantastic festival, and you get to go into the main house's kitchen and get treated royally! Hope to see you there. Spent the cheque yet?
- 12 July 2011 at 19:32
- TOM J VOWLER said...
Hey. Yeah, looking forward to SW. Cheque banked for a writing den at bottom of garden.
- 12 July 2011 at 20:22
- WOMEN RULE WRITER said...
Yay, Tom, thrilled for you. I would like to talk about the short story into the early hours :)
Congrats on Small Wonder. I will get there sometime.
- 12 July 2011 at 21:46
- Anna-Marie said...
Sounds like you had a wonderful celebration - very well deserved, well done! :-)
- 13 July 2011 at 11:45
- TOM J VOWLER said...
Thanks, Nuala. FOC shortlist interesting. Have you read the O'Brien or Tóibín?
Many thanks, Anna-Marie.
- 13 July 2011 at 11:54
- WOMEN RULE WRITER said...
Hi T,
I read and reviewed the Edna O'Brien (The Short Review).
I find CT's short fiction a bit hit and miss.
Yiyun's book is elegant and affecting.
Reading Val Trueblood now - loving it.
Have yet to read MacLeod and Rivecca.
- 12 August 2011 at 10:08