Not only is it wrong in principle to try and shut people up, it is incredibly stupid, and exposes an adolescent inability to deal with other people.
Seriously, grow the fuck up. If you don't like what someone says, you aren't obligated to read their journals. I had this problem once and I can honestly say it is beyond ridiculous. I am the #1 nastiest and most vicious asshole on this site when I want to be, by a very wide margin, and yet I don't feel the compulsion to knock someone every single time they write some colossaly stupid entry.
Do you want to know why? Oh never mind.
Jason's Journal
My Podcast Link
11/21/2006 08:08 #23703
Policing Journals is WRONGCategory: potpourri
11/17/2006 11:03 #23702
Extreme Home Makeover!Category: potpourri
Who else loves this show? I'm sure pretty much everyone loves Extreme Home Makeover. They find a family that really needs an update, send them off to vacation for a week, and then when they get back they have a brand-new, spiffy home to call their own. They are always very good stories, cancer survivors, people who give of themselves, the kinds of people we love to see happy.
I heard something on NPR this morning on the way to work that made me very upset. Did you know that when someone gets an extreme home makeover, their new digs are considered "winnings" as if they won a lottery prize? Did you know that as a result the IRS comes to these people with their hands out, saying "where's mine?" That's right folks, the lucky new homeowners are presented with a big fat tax bill, and if you know how much a house costs the tax bill definitely ain't gonna be cheap. I wonder if after the cameras turn off a bunch of suits go up to the lucky family and ruin their day by notifying them of their five figure obligation to the IRS.
I heard something on NPR this morning on the way to work that made me very upset. Did you know that when someone gets an extreme home makeover, their new digs are considered "winnings" as if they won a lottery prize? Did you know that as a result the IRS comes to these people with their hands out, saying "where's mine?" That's right folks, the lucky new homeowners are presented with a big fat tax bill, and if you know how much a house costs the tax bill definitely ain't gonna be cheap. I wonder if after the cameras turn off a bunch of suits go up to the lucky family and ruin their day by notifying them of their five figure obligation to the IRS.
metalpeter - 11/18/06 16:15
You know what the irony is about that. The city takes forever to tear down houses it should, that are abandoned or used as drug houses. But yet they some how have the time and money to level and fill in the basement of a house lost to the storm, unbelievable.
You know what the irony is about that. The city takes forever to tear down houses it should, that are abandoned or used as drug houses. But yet they some how have the time and money to level and fill in the basement of a house lost to the storm, unbelievable.
jenks - 11/17/06 21:59
I just read that during the snowstorm some family left their house since they had no power (like tons of others), but while they were gone an electrical fire burned their house down. So the city came and demolished it.
Devastating to lose your home like that.
And the best part-
The city then CHARGED them $40,000 for the demolition.
I just read that during the snowstorm some family left their house since they had no power (like tons of others), but while they were gone an electrical fire burned their house down. So the city came and demolished it.
Devastating to lose your home like that.
And the best part-
The city then CHARGED them $40,000 for the demolition.
joshua - 11/17/06 21:39
They must take this into consideration when doing the show. I'm sure that they have some sort of provision protecting the home owner from this type of scenario.
They must take this into consideration when doing the show. I'm sure that they have some sort of provision protecting the home owner from this type of scenario.
metalpeter - 11/17/06 18:52
What would actually be a better idea is if the show sold them the house for $1 . I think then they then might only have to pay the tax amount on the value of the house like you would with any other house anyone owns. I think the real problem comes in that since it is a show and not a government sponsered progarm or charity that the homeowener gets no breaks from the taxes. I personally don't think that the people should have to pay tax on the home. However things inside the home that arn't needed like TV's and video games should be taxed but not eseintals like a bed or a couch.
What would actually be a better idea is if the show sold them the house for $1 . I think then they then might only have to pay the tax amount on the value of the house like you would with any other house anyone owns. I think the real problem comes in that since it is a show and not a government sponsered progarm or charity that the homeowener gets no breaks from the taxes. I personally don't think that the people should have to pay tax on the home. However things inside the home that arn't needed like TV's and video games should be taxed but not eseintals like a bed or a couch.
terry - 11/17/06 11:19
How is winning a home make-over any different from winning any other kind of game-show prize? Do you think that all such winnings should be tax-exempt?
I mean I wouldn't quite say that new super-large bedrooms and flat screen TVs qualify as "charity."
So, while I don't agree that you shouldn't have to pay taxes on your new home, I would suggest that the show takes this into account and hands the "lucky" winners a check to cover the taxes as a part of their makeover. (Of course, then the people would have to pay taxes on the payment of the taxes... <hah!>).
How is winning a home make-over any different from winning any other kind of game-show prize? Do you think that all such winnings should be tax-exempt?
I mean I wouldn't quite say that new super-large bedrooms and flat screen TVs qualify as "charity."
So, while I don't agree that you shouldn't have to pay taxes on your new home, I would suggest that the show takes this into account and hands the "lucky" winners a check to cover the taxes as a part of their makeover. (Of course, then the people would have to pay taxes on the payment of the taxes... <hah!>).
11/16/2006 09:21 #23701
Political Tidbits....Category: politics
......Served hot and fresh, like crumpets and tea, based mostly on some links I found on Drudge this morning.
The Democrats have tried hard to sell "new direction" as their slogan, while at the same time denying what that new direction really means. The newly elected leadership has said that it is not the Democrats' intention to cut-and-run, or surrender, or to leave Iraq in a state of chaos, nor is it their intention to cut off funding.
Only a few bold souls have been willing to be honest with us about their intentions, and while I may not agree 100% with them, at least they are not trying to bullshit us.
Kucinich proposes removing the funds for the military operations (from The Dennis Kucinich web site):
Carl Levin proposes near-term troop withdrawal (Breitbart):
Mitt Romney, detestable to liberals because he is a Mormon, and detestable to evangelicals because, well, he's a Mormon, opens up on the Boston Media for having two points of view - the liberal view and the progressive view (paraphrasing, from mediabistro):
Nanny state politics are alive and well, and someone recently laughed at me when I said that eventually smoking will be banned in general, sooner than later being very likely. Laugh no more! Here we have the first American city to ban smoking. All I can say is that at least it isn't criminalized (for now).
Smoking Ban Article on San Mateo Daily Journal:
Al Gore just can't stay out of the spotlight, can he? He's recently said that he might not go into politics again, because he is very comfortable and happy being an environmental activist. Hmmm. I don't think you can be an activist and NOT be political. That's kind of the point, isn't it Al? I think he's really enjoying the attention he's getting. Personally, I think he's more effective doing what he's doing now than being part of the government.
Al Gore calls Aussies and Americans "Bonnie and Clyde" of Global Warming:
Aussie PM John Howard Hits Back at Gore, Promotes Nuclear Energy:'t-panic-just-wait-for-a-more-convenient-truth-urges-howard/2006/11/13/1163266484014.html#
Lastly, a comment based on some things I read in the Jerusalem Post last night. The left here and in Europe may not be taking Ahmedinejad seriously, as proven by that unwatchable Mike Wallace interview, but I'm going to tell you right now that Israelis have had enough. They've also had enough concerning the Palestinians. With Europe being completely unsympathetic, with Iran's nuclear games only being given lip service, and with bodies piling up on a daily basis on both sides of the border with Gaza, I've been hearing many Israelis stating that they want this nonsense to END, period, and what does that mean? It means this shit is going to come to a head very soon. When told that it would end if they could just give up more land, they say "We gave them Gaza and now it is only more or less a staging ground for attacks." If there was ever a time to prove to people that diplomacy is the only solution, it is now, but I have my doubts.
The Democrats have tried hard to sell "new direction" as their slogan, while at the same time denying what that new direction really means. The newly elected leadership has said that it is not the Democrats' intention to cut-and-run, or surrender, or to leave Iraq in a state of chaos, nor is it their intention to cut off funding.
Only a few bold souls have been willing to be honest with us about their intentions, and while I may not agree 100% with them, at least they are not trying to bullshit us.
Kucinich proposes removing the funds for the military operations (from The Dennis Kucinich web site):
Carl Levin proposes near-term troop withdrawal (Breitbart):
Mitt Romney, detestable to liberals because he is a Mormon, and detestable to evangelicals because, well, he's a Mormon, opens up on the Boston Media for having two points of view - the liberal view and the progressive view (paraphrasing, from mediabistro):
Nanny state politics are alive and well, and someone recently laughed at me when I said that eventually smoking will be banned in general, sooner than later being very likely. Laugh no more! Here we have the first American city to ban smoking. All I can say is that at least it isn't criminalized (for now).
Smoking Ban Article on San Mateo Daily Journal:
Al Gore just can't stay out of the spotlight, can he? He's recently said that he might not go into politics again, because he is very comfortable and happy being an environmental activist. Hmmm. I don't think you can be an activist and NOT be political. That's kind of the point, isn't it Al? I think he's really enjoying the attention he's getting. Personally, I think he's more effective doing what he's doing now than being part of the government.
Al Gore calls Aussies and Americans "Bonnie and Clyde" of Global Warming:
Aussie PM John Howard Hits Back at Gore, Promotes Nuclear Energy:
't-panic-just-wait-for-a-more-convenient-truth-urges-howard/2006/11/13/1163266484014.html#Lastly, a comment based on some things I read in the Jerusalem Post last night. The left here and in Europe may not be taking Ahmedinejad seriously, as proven by that unwatchable Mike Wallace interview, but I'm going to tell you right now that Israelis have had enough. They've also had enough concerning the Palestinians. With Europe being completely unsympathetic, with Iran's nuclear games only being given lip service, and with bodies piling up on a daily basis on both sides of the border with Gaza, I've been hearing many Israelis stating that they want this nonsense to END, period, and what does that mean? It means this shit is going to come to a head very soon. When told that it would end if they could just give up more land, they say "We gave them Gaza and now it is only more or less a staging ground for attacks." If there was ever a time to prove to people that diplomacy is the only solution, it is now, but I have my doubts.
jason - 11/17/06 08:16
Yes Ajay I think technically it's fine to say that a new direction would mean new leadership in Congress. All I'm wondering is what is that new direction going to be? I'm getting so many messages from different Democrats it's hard to discern.
Yes Ajay I think technically it's fine to say that a new direction would mean new leadership in Congress. All I'm wondering is what is that new direction going to be? I'm getting so many messages from different Democrats it's hard to discern.
ajay - 11/17/06 01:42
It's funny to listen to the sore loser(s) here.
Firstly: there is no "you guys" and "we guys" here. It is precisely this sort of a tribal thinking that puts us in the mess we are in.
Secondly: what policy decision did the Republicans take? How much money to take from Abramoff? How to gerrymander the districts to ensure Republican victories? Which company to give the next no-bid contract??
Thirdly: it had been clear for quite some time that the people (you know, the voters, the people who theoretically should have the real power?) were unhappy with the way things were going, but the Republicans did nothing except rubber-stamp proposals from the Administration. Well, the voters had had enough and the results show it.
All I ask of the Congress is oversight, responsibility and accountability. Enact fair laws; make sure that the laws on the books are being followed; and hold the Administrations feet to the fire. I don't really care if it's the Democrats or the Republicans running the Congress, as long as they're doing their jobs. No one in his/her right mind would claim that the previous 2 Congresses even remotely came close to doing what the people elected them to do.
It's funny to listen to the sore loser(s) here.
Firstly: there is no "you guys" and "we guys" here. It is precisely this sort of a tribal thinking that puts us in the mess we are in.
Secondly: what policy decision did the Republicans take? How much money to take from Abramoff? How to gerrymander the districts to ensure Republican victories? Which company to give the next no-bid contract??
Thirdly: it had been clear for quite some time that the people (you know, the voters, the people who theoretically should have the real power?) were unhappy with the way things were going, but the Republicans did nothing except rubber-stamp proposals from the Administration. Well, the voters had had enough and the results show it.
All I ask of the Congress is oversight, responsibility and accountability. Enact fair laws; make sure that the laws on the books are being followed; and hold the Administrations feet to the fire. I don't really care if it's the Democrats or the Republicans running the Congress, as long as they're doing their jobs. No one in his/her right mind would claim that the previous 2 Congresses even remotely came close to doing what the people elected them to do.
jenks - 11/16/06 18:22
Now I'm really not into the federal gov't dictating every bit of my life and saying what I can and can't do- but after a while on the lung cancer service I will just say the day tobacco disappears from the earth can not come soon enough.
And I went to the forest/elmwood gas station the other day, and they have up such a bitchy whiny baby sign. Complaining that they got their tobacco license taken away. They said "they took it away without even considering the impact it would have on our finances". Aww, poor babies, got in trouble for breaking the law. waah waah. i hate it when that happens.
[forgive my bitchiness I have had a day from hell and am about to lose it.]
Now I'm really not into the federal gov't dictating every bit of my life and saying what I can and can't do- but after a while on the lung cancer service I will just say the day tobacco disappears from the earth can not come soon enough.
And I went to the forest/elmwood gas station the other day, and they have up such a bitchy whiny baby sign. Complaining that they got their tobacco license taken away. They said "they took it away without even considering the impact it would have on our finances". Aww, poor babies, got in trouble for breaking the law. waah waah. i hate it when that happens.
[forgive my bitchiness I have had a day from hell and am about to lose it.]
joshua - 11/16/06 17:49
Ajay thats a fairly cheeky thing to suggest. What we are talking about is substantive policy decisions - most of which even the Democrats themselves are in disagreement on.
"Sticking up for the voters?" Ajay - do you mean to suggest that when the Democrats lose, the voters voices aren't being heard, and when the Democrats win it is then and then alone that the voters voices are being heard? You guys won this one - at least take some time to enjoy it (hook me up with some substantive policy decisions if you can get around to it) and stop being so paranoid. Sheesh! Nobody is *coughahemcough* "stealing" it from you this time! Ha.
Ajay thats a fairly cheeky thing to suggest. What we are talking about is substantive policy decisions - most of which even the Democrats themselves are in disagreement on.
"Sticking up for the voters?" Ajay - do you mean to suggest that when the Democrats lose, the voters voices aren't being heard, and when the Democrats win it is then and then alone that the voters voices are being heard? You guys won this one - at least take some time to enjoy it (hook me up with some substantive policy decisions if you can get around to it) and stop being so paranoid. Sheesh! Nobody is *coughahemcough* "stealing" it from you this time! Ha.
ajay - 11/16/06 12:22
"The Democrats have tried hard to sell "new direction" as their slogan, while at the same time denying what that new direction really means."
Questioning the Administration's policies itself would be a "new direction", no? Given the supine behavior of the Republican-led Congress in the past, just standing up for the voters is, IMHO, a new direction.
"The Democrats have tried hard to sell "new direction" as their slogan, while at the same time denying what that new direction really means."
Questioning the Administration's policies itself would be a "new direction", no? Given the supine behavior of the Republican-led Congress in the past, just standing up for the voters is, IMHO, a new direction.
11/10/2006 08:46 #23700
This Is Just Wrong, and Anti-American.Category: politics
And I'm not using those words lightly:
Jason
Jason
codypomeray - 11/11/06 00:23
i agree. if these little brats don't want to say the pledge, fine i have no problem with that. they'll learn...but to draft a rule making it against "procedure" at the school is just plain stupid. yeah i was happy bush got thumped and rummy was dumped. but these are little snot nosed kids in OC land who probably want to be extras on mtv.....
i agree. if these little brats don't want to say the pledge, fine i have no problem with that. they'll learn...but to draft a rule making it against "procedure" at the school is just plain stupid. yeah i was happy bush got thumped and rummy was dumped. but these are little snot nosed kids in OC land who probably want to be extras on mtv.....
museumchick - 11/10/06 09:21
I agree with you. It's one thing if you don't want to say the pledge on your own. It's another to ban the utterance of the pledge so that no one else who might want to say it could.
I agree with you. It's one thing if you don't want to say the pledge on your own. It's another to ban the utterance of the pledge so that no one else who might want to say it could.
11/09/2006 08:58 #23699
Meanwhile, the Local ElectionsCategory: politics
Not to break up the rants or parties you guys are enjoying, but I have to ask you all something. You're all just talking about the national elections, and you're happy that the "corrupt, unethical" Republicans no longer have control - yet we just elected two real gems to Albany, and I want to know why nobody is talking about it. I suspect it's a case of see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, or a case of just looking the other way. I hate to be so cynical but that's the way it looks.
Alan Hevesi (D) - An out and out THIEF of taxpayer dollars for his own personal purposes, and a repeat offender to boot. Famous for doing the same thing in the city. Oh, what a guy, he repaid it after he got caught. Unethical, inappropriate, and apparently completely acceptable to Democrats. I heard a good comment on the radio yesterday. Someone said "Who better to look after thieves than a thief? Who knows them better?"
Antoine Thompson (D) - This notorious yes-man, and proponent of the casino ran UNOPPOSED, which speaks to our local apathy and carelessness when it comes to local elections. Can you believe that people who will be harmed most by the Casino voted for this guy? And here we have to deal with the tired, incorrect rhetoric about Republican voters not voting for their own interests, which makes 750 howl with laughter. What a joke, an absolute joke, and nobody is talking about it. Why?
Oh, be happy that the Republicans no longer have national power, but hang your heads in shame and self-loathing after you learn that we continue to move backwards locally. The local elections are what matter the most to us on a day to day basis, and we are asleep at the wheel, mindlessly turning the (D) option in support of people who never should be in office.
Alan Hevesi (D) - An out and out THIEF of taxpayer dollars for his own personal purposes, and a repeat offender to boot. Famous for doing the same thing in the city. Oh, what a guy, he repaid it after he got caught. Unethical, inappropriate, and apparently completely acceptable to Democrats. I heard a good comment on the radio yesterday. Someone said "Who better to look after thieves than a thief? Who knows them better?"
Antoine Thompson (D) - This notorious yes-man, and proponent of the casino ran UNOPPOSED, which speaks to our local apathy and carelessness when it comes to local elections. Can you believe that people who will be harmed most by the Casino voted for this guy? And here we have to deal with the tired, incorrect rhetoric about Republican voters not voting for their own interests, which makes 750 howl with laughter. What a joke, an absolute joke, and nobody is talking about it. Why?
Oh, be happy that the Republicans no longer have national power, but hang your heads in shame and self-loathing after you learn that we continue to move backwards locally. The local elections are what matter the most to us on a day to day basis, and we are asleep at the wheel, mindlessly turning the (D) option in support of people who never should be in office.
jason - 11/10/06 08:42
Hey Vincent,
Being anti-casino is not a principle of mine in general, I agree that people are free to do whatever they want with their lives. I am definitely opposed to the Buffalo Casino deal for economic reasons however.
J
Hey Vincent,
Being anti-casino is not a principle of mine in general, I agree that people are free to do whatever they want with their lives. I am definitely opposed to the Buffalo Casino deal for economic reasons however.
J
vincent - 11/09/06 17:34
Everyone knows that the State Government really boils down to the Three Men in a Room. Bruno, Silver and now Spitzer. In reality we don't need the Assembly or Senate. The only thing that those institutions are good for is the 14 or 15 Million Dollars each member gets in Pork for their district come election time [City Limit and Black Rock Tolls coming down] plus these districts are the perfect storm of Gerrymandering. You would have to have the Revolution of Revolutions to change NY State Government. It's not just WNY the incumbant re-election rate across the state is around 99.5% for State Government.
As for the Casino. Yes, they're evil and soul-sucking. They are just the perfect cash machine for Governments. Just look at Billion that Ontario's OLGC made last year.
It just seems people need to gamble. Every year people say Las Vegas has reached it's peak and then another 5,000 room hotel/casino gets build and it gets filled @ 90%+ capacity with people shelling out hundres of dollars a night to stay and play.
Yes, they do ruin some lives but then at the same time there are people running around with more money than they know what to do with and look at gambling as a way to pass the time.
Believe me if I could quite working at the Casino tomorrow I would in a heartbeat...
Everyone knows that the State Government really boils down to the Three Men in a Room. Bruno, Silver and now Spitzer. In reality we don't need the Assembly or Senate. The only thing that those institutions are good for is the 14 or 15 Million Dollars each member gets in Pork for their district come election time [City Limit and Black Rock Tolls coming down] plus these districts are the perfect storm of Gerrymandering. You would have to have the Revolution of Revolutions to change NY State Government. It's not just WNY the incumbant re-election rate across the state is around 99.5% for State Government.
As for the Casino. Yes, they're evil and soul-sucking. They are just the perfect cash machine for Governments. Just look at Billion that Ontario's OLGC made last year.
It just seems people need to gamble. Every year people say Las Vegas has reached it's peak and then another 5,000 room hotel/casino gets build and it gets filled @ 90%+ capacity with people shelling out hundres of dollars a night to stay and play.
Yes, they do ruin some lives but then at the same time there are people running around with more money than they know what to do with and look at gambling as a way to pass the time.
Believe me if I could quite working at the Casino tomorrow I would in a heartbeat...
joshua - 11/09/06 17:14
The method by which Antoine Thompson got support is the epitome of what is wrong with Buffalo politics. Byron Brown is a joke of a mayor - for you people who voted for him; go ahead, raise your hands and be counted!
The method by which Antoine Thompson got support is the epitome of what is wrong with Buffalo politics. Byron Brown is a joke of a mayor - for you people who voted for him; go ahead, raise your hands and be counted!
dcoffee - 11/09/06 14:52
Personally, I'm not to concerned about Davis and Reynolds, Davis was a republican in reality, drill in ANWR, no abortion, no affirmative action.... Probably Reynolds can get more money for us, so oh well.
You're right about Antoine, like most of our elected officials he screwed the pooch on the casino. He was just feeling to political winds, most people in his district are fooled into thinking the casino is a good idea, he isn't standing up for them and proving that it is actually going to hurt them. People voted against their own interests, they just give you a blank stare and say "jobs.. jobs.." The discussion around the casino tends not to scratch the surface of the issue. But it'll be stoped by the court, not local officials. Though I still think we should get a refferendum on the proposal.
Hevesi, shouldn't have gotten reelected but he will be impeached anyway. But You're right, people weren't paying attention, they'd rather elect a crook and vote for another party.
Personally, I'm not to concerned about Davis and Reynolds, Davis was a republican in reality, drill in ANWR, no abortion, no affirmative action.... Probably Reynolds can get more money for us, so oh well.
You're right about Antoine, like most of our elected officials he screwed the pooch on the casino. He was just feeling to political winds, most people in his district are fooled into thinking the casino is a good idea, he isn't standing up for them and proving that it is actually going to hurt them. People voted against their own interests, they just give you a blank stare and say "jobs.. jobs.." The discussion around the casino tends not to scratch the surface of the issue. But it'll be stoped by the court, not local officials. Though I still think we should get a refferendum on the proposal.
Hevesi, shouldn't have gotten reelected but he will be impeached anyway. But You're right, people weren't paying attention, they'd rather elect a crook and vote for another party.
jason - 11/09/06 10:08
Yeah I know, it's just a difference between theory and practice for me. I just don't get it. People are only passionate about the elections that get all the news on the networks and big papers.
Yeah I know, it's just a difference between theory and practice for me. I just don't get it. People are only passionate about the elections that get all the news on the networks and big papers.
mrmike - 11/09/06 09:54
I'd wager Hevesi isn't long for this world, but Thompson did have an opponent in Marc Coppola, just not a very good opponent. Thompson is a butt boy for the Mayor. Brown used his political operation to install him and get the party money behind him and it was just enough to snowball anybody so nobody noticed Antoine is the keeper of no original ideas, just the ones Lord Bryon assigns to him.
I'd wager Hevesi isn't long for this world, but Thompson did have an opponent in Marc Coppola, just not a very good opponent. Thompson is a butt boy for the Mayor. Brown used his political operation to install him and get the party money behind him and it was just enough to snowball anybody so nobody noticed Antoine is the keeper of no original ideas, just the ones Lord Bryon assigns to him.
Estrip, we know drama
Ok I must have missed something. I know there was what seemed like some heat between jaoninbuffalo and pyrcedgrrl but not sure if that is what you are refering to. But yeah I think that if you don't like what someone writes then you should just skip to another journal. Just like you would if music came on the radio you didn't like. That being said there is nothing wrong with a little friendly debate as long as it isn't personal. I also think that anyone should be able to say anything they wan't on their blog and shouldn't have to worry about being pursecuted.
Who's policing what where?
"i knew the two of you would get along very nicely."
Quality!
Indeed, but you also know how to debate, discuss VALID POINTS and stick to the subject.
You're not one to pick out one detail, freak out about it and then go cry "mean mommy" on the person who is questioning you.
i knew the two of you would get along very nicely.
Hey man. I said the same thing as you. Good post. The hypocrisy of this is incredibly funny. Here is the deal, my name is a hyperlink, if you don't like what I read do not click on my name. The End. Angnyway..thanks for sharing my opinion.