Dear Friends, this is one of Heather Cox Richardson's scariest epistles yet. DO NOT read it just before sleeping, unless you like insomnia. Save it for your morning coffee.
I noticed yesterday that one of our persimmon trees (the one in a slightly warmer location) is putting out leaves. One of our cherry trees is beginning to bloom, and the wisteria out near the street is blooming very nicely, as is the flowering quince. Elsewhere the earlier-blooming variety of flowering pear ha been in bloom for a while, and two or three days ago I noticed that redbud was blooming. The (purple) bush lupine down along the old canal bank below our house has been in full bloom or nearly so for a week or ten days. When we went for a walk yestermorn I was able to walk a full 2 km--it has been some time since I could do that. My sweetie had massaged a particular muscle in my right leg that had been hurting for a long time, and that made all the difference. I did not wear an undershirt, much less a sweater or jacket, and was perspiring by the time we finished our walk. Predicted high temperature tomorrow (today when most of you read this) 80F. ----Alan
As memory serves me, I was poking around looking for a video of the Nobody For President parade in Berkeley, which may not exist. Gold is where you find it, no? ----Alan
Netanyahu is making the world hate Israelis. Kushner seems bent on making the world hate Jews. It's a good thing I know some great Jewish people, who are also connected to some very wonderful Israelis.
3% on income above $500,000 per year? That certainly isn't confiscatory. IMO. I also favor raising (or better eliminating) the limit on income subject to Social Security contributions. ----Alan
I recall that in Finland fines are based on one's annual income. As a result the world's highest drunk driving fine was assessed on a very rich Finn. -----Alan
Back when I started investing, I put my money into municipal bonds, the income from which was free from both state and federal income tax. The coupon interest was lower than corporate bonds, but the maximum income tax was really high back then, so munis were competitive (and safer than most corporate bonds). The idea was to encourage wealthy people to fund municipal improvements (roads, bridges, parking lots, schools, etc.) and it worked well. The run of super high interest rates back around the end of the Vietnam War, combined with municipalities and other governmental organizations issuing bonds to build risky things that were not in their jurisdictions (e.g. casinos) largely ruined munis. When we bought our first house, we used the tax-free income from our munis to pay the mortgage, which payments were tax deductible. And I could look around towns and say to myself "I helped fund that." The system worked well for a long time. ----Alan
Hearing Huey Long saying every family would have a radio called to mind both the Philco floor model radio and the Zenith Transoceanic radio we had when I was a kid. I wouldn't mind having them still; but Philco radios required Philco tubes, so they couldn't be repaired; and I was the only one in my family who listened to short wave broadcasts. Come to think of it, the Philco seemed to be made for FM as well as AM broadcasts, but FM wasn't common outside of big cities until quite some time later. -----Alan
Investigating further, I saw that the Philco 40-180 had a record player concealed inside, which ours did not, but other than that it was the same. ----Alan
Yes, of course. And it's infuriating, thinking how we could end poverty instead. That said, the bloated Pentagon budget is what has been contributing to Ukraine aid while we wait for Congress to stop being massively foolhardy. Plain and simple...it's less effort and destruction for us to help Ukraine win than to let Russia win and head for NATO countries next ~ which would draw us in more directly.
I'll have the same US representative come January. Davis got 53% of the vote against two major and two minor challengers. I think he has been a lackluster do-nothing for far too long, but he convinces voters that seniority per se is a big deal.
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Dear Friends, this is one of Heather Cox Richardson's scariest epistles yet. DO NOT read it just before sleeping, unless you like insomnia. Save it for your morning coffee.
ReplyDeleteHCR 17 March 2024
I noticed yesterday that one of our persimmon trees (the one in a slightly warmer location) is putting out leaves. One of our cherry trees is beginning to bloom, and the wisteria out near the street is blooming very nicely, as is the flowering quince. Elsewhere the earlier-blooming variety of flowering pear ha been in bloom for a while, and two or three days ago I noticed that redbud was blooming. The (purple) bush lupine down along the old canal bank below our house has been in full bloom or nearly so for a week or ten days. When we went for a walk yestermorn I was able to walk a full 2 km--it has been some time since I could do that. My sweetie had massaged a particular muscle in my right leg that had been hurting for a long time, and that made all the difference. I did not wear an undershirt, much less a sweater or jacket, and was perspiring by the time we finished our walk. Predicted high temperature tomorrow (today when most of you read this) 80F.
ReplyDelete----Alan
Alan, two km is great! It sounds like you had a lovely walk, and Spring is well and truly springing where you are.
DeleteBehind Trump’s Campaign Cash Crunch [Click] Losing small-dollar contributors.
ReplyDelete—Alan
Well, yeah. They've probably all run out of cash.
DeleteWavy Gravy recollects the Nobody For President campaign [Click] "No Labels" can't hold a candle to it.
ReplyDelete—Alan
A complete non sequitur that presented itself as I was searching: Tuli Kupferberg sings William Blake's London [Click]
Delete—Alan
Wow! Thanks, Alan. Great setting and fine performance. But...kind'a random, no? What on earth did you search for that brought that up?
DeleteAs memory serves me, I was poking around looking for a video of the Nobody For President parade in Berkeley, which may not exist. Gold is where you find it, no?
Delete----Alan
Forbes: With Millions Of Fresh Artillery Shells Arriving [via Czech Republic], The Ukrainians Are Devising New Tactics To Kill More Russians, Faster [Click] “Ukrainian gunners are coordinating with drone strike teams.” Most thorough exposition of the story that I have found.
ReplyDelete—Alan
In the $465 million NY civil fraud case, Trump’s general counsel and main bond witness could well have been untruthful in a filing Trump made to a NY appellate court to stop the judgment enforcement. [Click] No evidence for assertions of inability to secure bond.
ReplyDelete----Alan
Chinese Mogul Guo Wengui Funneled Millions to Bannon, Fox, Gettr, Docs Show - Click
ReplyDeleteViral 'Assume That I Can' Down syndrome PSA fiercely punches back against harmful misconceptions - Click
ReplyDeleteHave a barf bag readily to hand before clicking this link.
ReplyDeleteTrump Son-in-Law Jared Kushner Calls for Ethnic Cleansing of Gaza to 'Finish the Job' - Click
Netanyahu is making the world hate Israelis. Kushner seems bent on making the world hate Jews.
DeleteIt's a good thing I know some great Jewish people, who are also connected to some very wonderful Israelis.
Rights Groups Tell Biden Israeli Claims About US Weapons Use in Gaza 'Not Credible' - Click
ReplyDeleteIndustry Elites Applaud Saudi Aramco CEO for Calling Oil Phaseout a 'Fantasy' - Click
ReplyDeleteHave they noticed how many coal companies have gone bankrupt in recent years?
Delete----Alan
Wealthy Vermonters call on Legislature to raise their taxes
ReplyDeleteWell, that's Vermont for you. :)
Delete3% on income above $500,000 per year? That certainly isn't confiscatory. IMO. I also favor raising (or better eliminating) the limit on income subject to Social Security contributions.
Delete----Alan
I recall that in Finland fines are based on one's annual income. As a result the world's highest drunk driving fine was assessed on a very rich Finn.
Delete-----Alan
Back when I started investing, I put my money into municipal bonds, the income from which was free from both state and federal income tax. The coupon interest was lower than corporate bonds, but the maximum income tax was really high back then, so munis were competitive (and safer than most corporate bonds). The idea was to encourage wealthy people to fund municipal improvements (roads, bridges, parking lots, schools, etc.) and it worked well. The run of super high interest rates back around the end of the Vietnam War, combined with municipalities and other governmental organizations issuing bonds to build risky things that were not in their jurisdictions (e.g. casinos) largely ruined munis. When we bought our first house, we used the tax-free income from our munis to pay the mortgage, which payments were tax deductible. And I could look around towns and say to myself "I helped fund that." The system worked well for a long time.
Delete----Alan
Hearing Huey Long saying every family would have a radio called to mind both the Philco floor model radio and the Zenith Transoceanic radio we had when I was a kid. I wouldn't mind having them still; but Philco radios required Philco tubes, so they couldn't be repaired; and I was the only one in my family who listened to short wave broadcasts. Come to think of it, the Philco seemed to be made for FM as well as AM broadcasts, but FM wasn't common outside of big cities until quite some time later.
Delete-----Alan
This is the sort of floor model radio we had. [Click] I remember when I was about six years old going upstairs (half a floor) to listen to The Lone Ranger on it.
Delete——Alan
Model 40-180, the large photo, not the small photos surrounding it.
Delete----Alan
Speaking for myself, I think I should be paying Illinois state income tax. (Illinois exempts all retirement income.)
DeleteInvestigating further, I saw that the Philco 40-180 had a record player concealed inside, which ours did not, but other than that it was the same.
Delete----Alan
I truly believe Social Security should not be taxed.
DeleteOpinion: The Bloated Pentagon Budget Is Our Path to Ruin - Click
ReplyDeleteYes, of course. And it's infuriating, thinking how we could end poverty instead.
DeleteThat said, the bloated Pentagon budget is what has been contributing to Ukraine aid while we wait for Congress to stop being massively foolhardy. Plain and simple...it's less effort and destruction for us to help Ukraine win than to let Russia win and head for NATO countries next ~ which would draw us in more directly.
I'll have the same US representative come January. Davis got 53% of the vote against two major and two minor challengers. I think he has been a lackluster do-nothing for far too long, but he convinces voters that seniority per se is a big deal.
ReplyDeleteI'd be glad to have a lackluster do-nothing Democratic US Representative, but not enough to move.
Delete----Alan