Sunday, September 30, 2007
Warming Bush
So when did it become official? You remember a few months ago when this global warming thing was a fabrication from liberal freak jobs? Now more and more reports speak of it as fact. Even the President of the United States in his unique bumbling speech making way, says it like it is true.
One would think it would make 144 point headline text in a least the L.A. Times. So here it is on the Jed, Prophet of the Obvious...
GLOBAL WARMING
IS REAL
IS REAL
I hope knowing don't make matters worse for anyone.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
What is fair in death and taxes?
Gaul coin showing man-headed horse on the reverse.A grim- reaper like figure hovers above, replacing the usual rider.
Notice the solar wheel behind.
I received one of them emails that have a little story. The logic written there pumped some organic hydraulic fluid to a part of my brain that made me want to share my thoughts on it. Now that my bloggin oblongata is all full of life, here ya go.
This is the email text:
Since we are all concerned about taxes and about a National Sales Tax
we need to understand our current system and how it works.
Let's put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand.
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten
comes to $100.
If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.
The fifth would pay $1.
The sixth would pay $3.
The seventh would pay $7.
The eighth would pay $12.
The ninth would pay $18.
The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.
So, that's what they decided to do.
The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with
the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since
you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the
cost of your daily beer by $20."Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But
what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they
divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted
that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man
would each end up being paid to drink his beer.
So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each
man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work
out the amounts each should pay.
And so:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings).
The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings).
The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings).
The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings).
The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings).
The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued
to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to
compare their savings.
"I only got a dollar out of the $20,"declared the sixth man. He pointed
to the tenth man," but he got $10!"
"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar,
too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"
"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back
when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"
"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get
anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"
The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat
down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they
discovered something important. They didn't have enough money
between all of them for even half of the bill!
And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how
our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the
most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them
for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact,
they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat
friendlier.
David R. Kamerschen, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics
University of Georgia
For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who
do not understand, no explanation is possible.
I looked up the author of this and he denies writing it.
http://davidk.myweb.uga.edu/
Snoops.com says this about it:
http://www.snopes.com/business/taxes/howtaxes.asp
I thought the end of it smelled of some sort of propaganda, "boys and girls". I have no idea what sort of propaganda, perhaps be happy and don't let taxes get you down. Or maybe stop your bleating stupid sheeple. That last line insinuates if you have to ask then you would not understand. I have never cared much for that sort of condescension.
My take on taxes falls somewhere close to the FairTax.org. In simplicity the more you have money to consume the more taxes you can afford to pay, allowing no one a way to avoid taxation, no matter how well his tax lawyer performs.
Why does Jed believe the more you have the more you are obligated to pay your fellow humans? Because the burden on a man who makes 20k a year paying 1k in taxes has significant lifestyle adjustments over his five percent payment. Whereas a man making 200k a year paying 20k has less lifestyle changes to compensate over for his ten percent payment. If it were not for the dozens of 20k men working for him he would not have that lifestyle at all. Furthermore the man making 200 million a year paying 50 million in taxes still has plenty to do whatever his heart chooses after a twenty five percent tax. He has hundreds of 20k men and dozens of 200k men, he does owe them something for their efforts and his mega success...just sayin'.
I know I did not address death as the title suggest, but why make matters worse?
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Dreamless
What happened? Where did my dreams go?
Mrs. Jed has been talking of trying to buy another house. I can not see it, the vision is gone. Help me out here folks to see the benefits of entering into that fragile commitment once more.
The way I am seeing it at this point buying a house is a foul deal for a wage slave. A man like Jed who barely makes it from pay stub to pay stub. I have to scrimp and use my yearly bonus to have a four thousand dollar used car with a home altered rag top in which I still owe for. Essentially as a low down payment buyer I am renting the house from the bank except all the repairs are mine. If I am barely able to make the rent and the hot water heater kicks the proverbial bucket there is no place for the couple hundred dollars to come from. That does not cover the other inevitabilities like roofs and air handlers. I am seeing the deal as me being food for the machine of amortized interest. The only way I can see buying a house could be feasible would be having over 50% as a down payment. It would be nice if home loans were simple interest loans that had a shorter term like a automobile purchase. At this point and age in my life I am not wanting 360 affordable monthly payments laid out in front of me.
Some folks are owners and some folks are renters...I reckon I am the latter. I will look at it in the most positive of lights and say I am being less materialistic.
If you can think of something positive to home ownership on a low end situation, please comment me some clues.
I am glad my wife has dreams it can't make matters worse.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Hoist your Jolly Roger
Arrr! It be national speak like a pirate day 'n' I almost missed it. I will post in the lingo ta make up fer lost time.
I missed some hearrty opportunities today ta impress folks with me tales o' the high seas 'n' me visions o' mutiny.
Try ye then ta not make matters worse, mateys.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Good...news?
Thanks to melting Arctic ice we can get trinkets from China to Scandinavia and Europe even faster by boat. See we built that Panama thing for no good reason. Now that is good news to folks needing low cost, low quality goods and fast!
We might even find more oil! Next thing you know old Jed's a millionaire! I think we are witness to a real habitat irony here. Supposedly using hydrocarbons has caused the ice to melt so we can find more hydrocarbons. Every silver lining has a touch of gray, I think I heard someone say.
There is a lot of stuff to read on the internets. Taking it all personally will make matters worse, so don't.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Blog Slacker
Hello blog world! I have been a busy man as of the past couple-three weeks. Time has slipped away from me and I have not found time, or should I say made time to write anything.
I owe you something for all the good wishes and prayers about my daughter, an update! I have had several emails asking how she is and I am very glad to report she is doing well with a good prognosis from her doctors. She is considered cancer free, but should keep her dermatologist on speed dial for the rest of her life. She will undergo another lengthy scan in a year to keep watch on her lymphatic systems. Also visual inspection of her skin about every three to six months by a doctor.
It was a bit of a funny story as to how I found she was cancer free. I had asked her on the Friday after her Tuesday scan if she had any news and she said no. Then I called her Monday she said, "no news." Then Tuesday, "no." Then Wednesday I called and she nonchalantly says, "yea, I am fine I don't have to go back for another year." I am feeling all happy and asked why she did not call right away later that Tuesday when she got her news and she replied, "Well, daddy you know I would have called if something was wrong." I got this sinking feeling she was all grown up now.
I suppose it is the same here, as I relay my journeys around the sun on a web log. You can bet your best goat my whiny ass would be typing here about the cruelty and unfairness of life had she received sour news.
This "Heuristic Journeyman/Prophet of the Obvious" sees that us humans are creatures that rarely tell good news as if it were a given like the days in the sun and life itself.
I guess I would not make matters worse if I were to profess the good news and suppress the bad, but it is contrary to my beast.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Happy Labor Day...hell yea
Hey Now! I hope y'all have a fun labor day and get to take a day to do something fun.
I had an exciting day yesterday working the Boomsday festival for the fair city of Knoxville. It is a huge fireworks show that is suspected to have near 400,000 people come out to watch. The department Basegasket and I work for sets the electrical panels for the vendors and sound systems along Neyland drive. We also service the lighting for the Henley Street bridge where the majority of the fireworks are launched. We are charged with switching the lights off on the Gay and Henley Street bridges a few minutes before the start of the fireworks and relighting them after the show. Just about an hour before the show my boss calls on the two way to ask me if I want to walk with him to the Gay Street controller, having nothing better to do I said, "hell yea". Once there, we were talking about the fact that we needed another truck for quick removal of equipment after the festival so he sends me to see his boss who is stationed at the Henley controller. It took me some time to cross the Gay street bridge and walk to the Henely bridge with all the folks milling about. When I get there our department manager says, "you want to do the honors?", I said "hell yea". He did a count down over the Nextel and when I flipped the switch I heard the roar of a sea of humans reflect off the Tennessee River. It gave me chills and made my face blush to think I did that, hell yea!
On a side note and update to earlier post, I completed my soft top installation and it came out quite well if I do say so myself. I was able to pull off my dream of incorporating the trimmings of the factory interior for a rag top as if Ford motor corp designed it. The Bronco was designed to have a removable roof but Ford never offered the option of a soft top, rumor has it they did not want the warranty situation of a canvas top. Anyway here is a photo of it in my favorite position which is called "Safari".
(click for bigger)
It does fold all the way down too.
(click for bigger)
It looks pretty good while up as well.
(click for bigger)
Put the top down, think good thoughts and hell yea, don't make matters worse.
I had an exciting day yesterday working the Boomsday festival for the fair city of Knoxville. It is a huge fireworks show that is suspected to have near 400,000 people come out to watch. The department Basegasket and I work for sets the electrical panels for the vendors and sound systems along Neyland drive. We also service the lighting for the Henley Street bridge where the majority of the fireworks are launched. We are charged with switching the lights off on the Gay and Henley Street bridges a few minutes before the start of the fireworks and relighting them after the show. Just about an hour before the show my boss calls on the two way to ask me if I want to walk with him to the Gay Street controller, having nothing better to do I said, "hell yea". Once there, we were talking about the fact that we needed another truck for quick removal of equipment after the festival so he sends me to see his boss who is stationed at the Henley controller. It took me some time to cross the Gay street bridge and walk to the Henely bridge with all the folks milling about. When I get there our department manager says, "you want to do the honors?", I said "hell yea". He did a count down over the Nextel and when I flipped the switch I heard the roar of a sea of humans reflect off the Tennessee River. It gave me chills and made my face blush to think I did that, hell yea!
On a side note and update to earlier post, I completed my soft top installation and it came out quite well if I do say so myself. I was able to pull off my dream of incorporating the trimmings of the factory interior for a rag top as if Ford motor corp designed it. The Bronco was designed to have a removable roof but Ford never offered the option of a soft top, rumor has it they did not want the warranty situation of a canvas top. Anyway here is a photo of it in my favorite position which is called "Safari".
(click for bigger)It does fold all the way down too.
(click for bigger)It looks pretty good while up as well.
(click for bigger)Another side note and report from an earlier post, please think a good thought or two for my oldest Daughter as she will be going tomorrow for a lengthy anesthetized scan of her lymphatic system as part of her cancer cure.
Put the top down, think good thoughts and hell yea, don't make matters worse.
