Sometimes this job requires strange tasks.
Right now, I am reading a 100 page report on the cement industry, and steps to make it more green. It is a facinaiting read that totally does not make me want to pound my head against the wall 'till both explode.
That said, I think we have enough votes for the domestic partner resolution. That makes me feel like it is all worth while.
cement.
James's Journal
My Podcast Link
10/27/2009 10:59 #50129
Cement10/25/2009 09:58 #50103
BooThere once was a pumpkin
With a curl in his hair
And when he was good
He was very, very good
But when he was bad he was horrid
With a curl in his hair
And when he was good
He was very, very good
But when he was bad he was horrid
tinypliny - 10/25/09 11:36
heheheheheh nice. He does have a curl like MJ.
heheheheheh nice. He does have a curl like MJ.
metalpeter - 10/25/09 11:34
Kinda looks like Jack the Pumpkin king
Kinda looks like Jack the Pumpkin king
10/20/2009 15:43 #50062
Dizzy
10/19/2009 15:32 #50053
Domestic PartnershipHey Everyone,
At 5:30 in council chambers on the 13th floor of City Hall, there will be a public hearing on Domestic Partnership legislation. It is completely open to the public, so if you want to say something in support of having a registry (sorry, only for two person families... grrr) stop by.
kisses,
-James
At 5:30 in council chambers on the 13th floor of City Hall, there will be a public hearing on Domestic Partnership legislation. It is completely open to the public, so if you want to say something in support of having a registry (sorry, only for two person families... grrr) stop by.
kisses,
-James
james - 10/20/09 15:32
We will force you to the head of the line. Your colleague at First Pres. wont be able to make it and we need to show everyone who the best Pres. Pastor in Buffalo is!
We will force you to the head of the line. Your colleague at First Pres. wont be able to make it and we need to show everyone who the best Pres. Pastor in Buffalo is!
drew - 10/20/09 15:06
I will be there, but if I have to wait around a long long time to comment, I might leave.
I will be there, but if I have to wait around a long long time to comment, I might leave.
jim - 10/20/09 11:34
Stand up and be counted! (accounted?)
Stand up and be counted! (accounted?)
james - 10/20/09 10:52
You could tell you are a home owner, Drew. Only a home owner in the city would make a joke about taxes like that :)
Will we be seeing you this evening? A few of your colleagues will be there, but none so awesome.
You could tell you are a home owner, Drew. Only a home owner in the city would make a joke about taxes like that :)
Will we be seeing you this evening? A few of your colleagues will be there, but none so awesome.
drew - 10/20/09 10:46
Thanks for the education, but I really was just trying to make a joke. :)
Thanks for the education, but I really was just trying to make a joke. :)
heidi - 10/20/09 09:55
To be geeky about the "gay tax"...
An Overview of Federal Rights and Protections Granted to Married Couples
:::link:::
It's very very important for same-sex couples or other nontraditional families to draw up contracts, wills, and other such legal devices to protect each others' interests in your assets.
For example, married couples who have owned & lived in a house for 2+ years automatically get the $500,000 exclusion on gain in selling the house, even if only one is on the title. Other households need to make sure that all members are on the title so that when they sell (or something unfortunate happens), they can each take their own $250K exemption. (Covered in my Federal Individual Income Taxation class last week ;-)
Here's the HRC summary of that:
C. Tax on Gain from the Sale of the Taxpayer’s Principal Residence
Under Internal Revenue Code §121, a single taxpayer may exclude up to $250,000 of profit due to the sale of his or her personal principal residence from taxable income. Married couples filing jointly may exclude up to $500,000 on the sale of their home. Lesbian and gay couples, who are not permitted to marry or to file jointly, are therefore taxed on all gain above $250,000, creating a large tax penalty compared to similarly situated married couples.
To be geeky about the "gay tax"...
An Overview of Federal Rights and Protections Granted to Married Couples
:::link:::
It's very very important for same-sex couples or other nontraditional families to draw up contracts, wills, and other such legal devices to protect each others' interests in your assets.
For example, married couples who have owned & lived in a house for 2+ years automatically get the $500,000 exclusion on gain in selling the house, even if only one is on the title. Other households need to make sure that all members are on the title so that when they sell (or something unfortunate happens), they can each take their own $250K exemption. (Covered in my Federal Individual Income Taxation class last week ;-)
Here's the HRC summary of that:
C. Tax on Gain from the Sale of the Taxpayer’s Principal Residence
Under Internal Revenue Code §121, a single taxpayer may exclude up to $250,000 of profit due to the sale of his or her personal principal residence from taxable income. Married couples filing jointly may exclude up to $500,000 on the sale of their home. Lesbian and gay couples, who are not permitted to marry or to file jointly, are therefore taxed on all gain above $250,000, creating a large tax penalty compared to similarly situated married couples.
james - 10/20/09 08:50
There already is a gay tax. Same-sex couples can't pay taxes as if they were an opposite-sex couple.
But, if Buffalo is anything like every other municipality that has this, there will be more opposite-sex couples signing up than same-sex.
There already is a gay tax. Same-sex couples can't pay taxes as if they were an opposite-sex couple.
But, if Buffalo is anything like every other municipality that has this, there will be more opposite-sex couples signing up than same-sex.
drew - 10/20/09 00:07
Getting "registered" sounds more like a negative than a positive. Does any minority really want to be "registered" by the government?
I give it 5 weeks of existence before there is a "gay tax."
Getting "registered" sounds more like a negative than a positive. Does any minority really want to be "registered" by the government?
I give it 5 weeks of existence before there is a "gay tax."
tinypliny - 10/19/09 21:48
I didn't know the City Hall had a 13th floor. I thought buildings here didn't have 13th floors.
I found this the hard way when I was staying in a high rise hotel in San Diego and tried that swipe card thingy in someone else door many many times (because I had miscounted the elevator beeps and not bothered to check the number).
That door turned out to be some scientist's whom I had just met that morning. I could see that she was terrified that I had come to off her in her sleep or something.
I didn't know the City Hall had a 13th floor. I thought buildings here didn't have 13th floors.
I found this the hard way when I was staying in a high rise hotel in San Diego and tried that swipe card thingy in someone else door many many times (because I had miscounted the elevator beeps and not bothered to check the number).
That door turned out to be some scientist's whom I had just met that morning. I could see that she was terrified that I had come to off her in her sleep or something.
james - 10/19/09 21:38
You must pass a citizenship before entering CIty Hall... unless you have a ticket to pay.
Na, all are welcome. It is a public hearing, so anyone can attend. A little bit of me is hoping that the crazy nut-job "we hate homosinuals" will show up so they can be schooled by the real Christians who speak in favor of this.
You must pass a citizenship before entering CIty Hall... unless you have a ticket to pay.
Na, all are welcome. It is a public hearing, so anyone can attend. A little bit of me is hoping that the crazy nut-job "we hate homosinuals" will show up so they can be schooled by the real Christians who speak in favor of this.
tinypliny - 10/19/09 21:33
I didn't make this one - but are non-citizens and non-residents allowed a say in these matters?
I didn't make this one - but are non-citizens and non-residents allowed a say in these matters?
10/13/2009 13:47 #50006
Health CareI posted a brief bit of this on Twitter/Facebook. But I will post it here as well.
I just got a letter from the parent of a four year old boy. A massive brain tumor caused by a rare form of cancer was discovered that impaired the child's sight and mobility. He had brain surgery and is now undergoing cancer treatment. Of course, the parents have auctioned off their entire lives to help their son and now have nothing.
Why do we have fundraisers for families like this? Why do we have fund raisers for the families of firefighters who die while on duty? We do we have memorial fund raisers dedicated to children who could not afford to fight their cancer?
It's enough to make me want to become a Communist.
I just got a letter from the parent of a four year old boy. A massive brain tumor caused by a rare form of cancer was discovered that impaired the child's sight and mobility. He had brain surgery and is now undergoing cancer treatment. Of course, the parents have auctioned off their entire lives to help their son and now have nothing.
Why do we have fundraisers for families like this? Why do we have fund raisers for the families of firefighters who die while on duty? We do we have memorial fund raisers dedicated to children who could not afford to fight their cancer?
It's enough to make me want to become a Communist.
dcoffee - 10/20/09 17:29
exactly, this kind of stuff always makes us want to give, but society doesn't line up with our values.
exactly, this kind of stuff always makes us want to give, but society doesn't line up with our values.
tiburon1724 - 10/19/09 21:25
Greed is what makes Capitalism work. It plays off human nature. That said, it ultimately hits a wall where it self destructs, just as the human race will.
Greed is what makes Capitalism work. It plays off human nature. That said, it ultimately hits a wall where it self destructs, just as the human race will.
metalpeter - 10/14/09 19:32
As I'm sure you know there are many forms of Communism. But one good thing is that it does help take away the greed factor. Everything that is fucked up in this country is because of Greed. The Union and the Big wigs both wanted to much money. Insurance Companies aren't about helping people they are about making as much profit as possible. Insurance doesn't cover pre exsiting conditions. Hey here is an idea why not just charge more since you will have to pay out more, you greedy bastards. There are no Jobs because they have been shipped off to Mexico and India and who ever makes a piece the cheapest in stead of the best is who gets the contract. If America fails then the communists where right, about us captilist pigs.
As I'm sure you know there are many forms of Communism. But one good thing is that it does help take away the greed factor. Everything that is fucked up in this country is because of Greed. The Union and the Big wigs both wanted to much money. Insurance Companies aren't about helping people they are about making as much profit as possible. Insurance doesn't cover pre exsiting conditions. Hey here is an idea why not just charge more since you will have to pay out more, you greedy bastards. There are no Jobs because they have been shipped off to Mexico and India and who ever makes a piece the cheapest in stead of the best is who gets the contract. If America fails then the communists where right, about us captilist pigs.
Yeah!