Category Archives: politics

Place your bets…

I’m pretty sure my car’s ‘hippy’ factor actually goes past 11. The burning question is:
How long will it take for someone to steal my magnet?
Place your bet by leaving a date in the comments. The closest one will win.

Obama magnet

Obama magnet

Other questions… will an Obama supporter steal it? or will some PF’er in town for the RNC throw it down a drain?

9 Comments

Filed under politics

some B.S. is better than other B.S.

From my HSA, I can pay a christian science practitioner but not for scientology counsoling. That’s pre-tax. Some pretend is apparently more acceptable than other pretend.

It’s on page 7 of IRS publication 502

You can include in medical expenses fees you pay to
Christian Science practitioners for medical care.

Now for the next quote, this one comes from The Church of Christ, Scientist website. This is what a christian science practitioner does:

Offer spiritually-based Christian Science treatment – a specific kind of prayer explained in the book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, which has resulted for many in physical healing and the resolution of a variety of life problems.

Wow. Reducing tax liberality is our national pastime… but paying someone to pray for you? I knew a guy in college that didn’t know a damn thing about medicine – but you might say he was an entrepreneur herbalist.

Bummer that his goods/services aren’t pretax – on page 15 of that IRS doc

You cannot include in medical expenses amounts you pay for controlled substances (such as marijuana, laetrile, etc.), in violation of federal law.

Legal or otherwise at least what he was selling had an effect.

2 Comments

Filed under politics, rant

I heart Helen Thomas

I read the transcripts for the white house press briefings, it’s a sick morbid fascination.
It’s not that I like to stay informed, it’s more like art appreciation. Which is good, because there is little information disseminated – and even less factual information.
There can be appreciation for things you don’t like – I don’t get into on rap music, but I appreciate some of it. Any common thing done uncommonly well is nothing to sneeze at.

Former press secretary –Ari Fleischer was and will likely remain the Mozart of non-information. It’s not too hard to dodge the white house press corps, but he did it with style – he can talk for minutes without divulging, confirming or denying a fact when directly questioned.

The press secretary never gets ‘pinned down’, that’s there job – to just go to the next question. Last week the lovely Helen Thomas came as close as it gets on the pissing match between congress and the white house on war funding. If a bill isn’t passed many civilian contractors get the pink slip.

Q So this is a way to remind Congress that you want them to pass this bill?
MS. PERINO: That’s exactly what that was.
Q So you’re making them suffer —
MS. PERINO: I’m making the Democrats suffer?
Q No, you’re making the civilians who work for the Defense —
MS. PERINO: Oh, no, it is not us who are making any civilians suffer.
Q There ought to be —
MS. PERINO: We are calling on Congress to —
Q How many billions have we spent already for the Defense Department?

Transcript of the Gaggle.

When I first read that I was cheering for Helen, but after thinking on it… I’m even more sad. She didn’t force the point – she stood out merely because she had the courage to ask a follow up question. She later went on to ask about George’s Thanksgiving plans. I guess it’s better than some startlet’s undies (or lack thereof).

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Filed under politics, rant

Wellstone

Wellstone, originally uploaded by kbb.

Five years ago today.
What a tragedy.
Wellstone is still very much a part of Minnesota. I see “It’s time to park the bus”, and even “He’s dead. Get over it.” in about equal numbers as the “WWWD” or other supportive bumper stickers.

I’m amazed that after all that we’ve been through in the last five years, the guy that would have screamed BULLSHIT the loudest could be denigrated by so many. It’s shameful. I’m embarrassed for them.

The world would be a better place if he was still here.

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Filed under politics