Quips: Quick commentary on politics, technology and life, I think.

Thursday, December 2

I see headlines I must make note of

And this is just from the Washington Post:

• Abstinence Programs Mislead: Report finds federally funded curricula have false or distorted information — If you can't make your case based on the truth... oh, nevermind.
• Fast Internet Service for the People: Philadelphia plans to provide wireless Internet access citywide — Hopefully this becomes a model, not an abberration the telecom industry moves to quash.
• Judge Eyes Bush's War on Terrorism — Ooh, this could get interesting.
• Microsoft Unveils Blogging Service — That should take care of innovations in that field. Everybody move along. What's next?

Posted by jb, 10:37 AM :: :: #

Wednesday, November 24

Watch out for those camera phones

In an attempt to keep up with e-mail I get from my relatives, and provide a public service, here's some things you might be finding in your inbox:

Keep a watch out for people standing near you in the checkout line at retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, etc who have a camera cell phone in hand. With the camera cell phones, they can take a picture of your credit card, which gives them your name, number, and expiration date.

But don't worry too much. Snopes hasn't seen any reports of this actually happening, but does concede that it is theoretically possible. About.com tells a similar tale, adding that law enforcement may have picked this up, helping to spread a rumor that seems to have started in January 2004.

There was also a reference to God Speaks - the folks behind the billboards like, "Don't make me come down there. -God"

Posted by jb, 9:01 PM :: :: #

Saturday, November 20

Headlines that won't make you happy

Apparently, this is what the people voted for, but you'd think these kind of priorities wouldn't go over that well:

• Bill Clears Way for Government to Cut Back College Loans: "The federal government will be able to require millions of college students to shoulder more of the cost of their education under the new spending bill before Congress."
• Rebellious Republicans Derail 9 / 11 Reform

Posted by jb, 6:33 PM :: :: #

Thursday, November 18

Time to talk taxes

The Washington Post has the first glimpse of the administration's tax proposals. As you read this, remember that the federal graduated income tax is the only progressive part of our tax system. Everything else generally hits poor people harder than it hits rich people. Here's the proposal:

• shield interest, dividends and capitals gains from taxation (so, unearned income, anything that isn't worked for, so sweat or labor is expended here, that's free and clear)
• expand tax breaks for business investment (so, if you've got some money to give to a business owner, by all means. If you need to buy broccoli, too bad.)

The changes are meant to be revenue-neutral. To pay for them, the administration is considering:

• eliminating the deduction of state and local taxes on federal income tax returns (Hmm, I don't think Texas and Florida have state income taxes, so they don't benefit from the current system. Hmm.)
• scrapping the business tax deduction for employer-provided health insurance (so we lose an incentive for a business to provide health insurance to its workers? Am I reading that right?)

Dan Froomkin has more in his White House Briefing.

On the rest of the tax front, the LA Times has an op-ed looking at the possiblity we could tax people based on how much they drive without having to put toll booths up everywhere. Seems as more fuel-efficient vehicles hit the road, gas taxes may not pay for all the road projects. At least this would make those who use them pay for them.

On a completely non-tax note, I give you the NYT and the BBC on why we are meant to run long distances. Which doesn't mean I'm going to start doing it.

Posted by jb, 5:32 PM :: :: #

Wine update

I think we've got our wine picked out, but if you're still looking, there's quite the shopping list at the SF Chron, with some easy advice thrown in:

"Stay away from oaky whites and tannic reds. Your best bet is to uncork wines with loads of fruity character."

Posted by jb, 1:16 PM :: :: #

Wednesday, November 17

Even better, and fresher, headlines

• 9/11 Fund Disbursements Could Have Been More Fair, Report Finds: "...It fueled the divisiveness which was inevitable when the statute required different amounts for everybody," said Kenneth R. Feinberg, special master of the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund.
• Ireland is named 'best country': Ireland is the best place to live in the world, according to a "quality of life" assessment by Economist magazine.
• Abraham won't be missed: The SF Chronicle's David Lazarus is unimpressed by the work done at the Energy Department by the former Michigan senator and GOP operative.

And finally, best of all:

• WINES OF THE TIMES: What Becomes a Turkey Most - And the winner is:

  In general, lean white wines, especially those with mineral flavors and crisp acidity, are the best over the long haul. They are refreshing and keep the appetite sharp. But by all means do not neglect the reds. The drier the red, the better, we decided.

Posted by jb, 5:27 PM :: :: #

Another headline buffet

Articles I need to link to before my browser gives up:

• The Political Veteran: He Survived Vietnam and Won the Senate. Could Chuck Hagel Take the White House?
• GOP's Future Sits Precariously on Small Cushion of Victory: LAT's Ronald Brownstein finds that, amid all the postelection tumult, it's easy to lose sight of what President Bush did — and did not — accomplish in his reelection victory this month.
• Fewer enroll at 6 Michigan colleges: "At a time when Michigan's two largest universities have unusually large freshman classes, six of the state's 15 public universities are grappling with fall enrollment drops that are forcing them to ramp up recruiting efforts to offset millions of dollars in lost tuition."
• Ballparks in West Offer D.C. Divergent Lessons: Seattle and Denver have vastly different experiences when it comes to economic development near new sports stadiums.

Posted by jb, 3:11 PM :: :: #

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