Happy Boxing Day.....and for those of you who don't know about this holiday here's the Wiki history....
In the United Kingdom, it certainly became a custom of the nineteenth-century Victorians for tradesmen to collect their "Christmas boxes" or gifts on the day after Christmas in return for good and reliable service throughout the year.[5] Another possibility is that the name derives from an old English tradition: in exchange for ensuring that wealthy landowners' Christmases ran smoothly, their servants were allowed to take the 26th off to visit their families. The employers gave each servant a box containing gifts and bonuses (and sometimes leftover food). In addition, around the 1800s, churches opened their alms boxes (boxes where people place monetary donations) and distributed the contents to the poor.
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas celebration.......and now back to reality!!!
1/ In your 40's or 50's?
Excellent article by Robyn Blumner from the St. Pete Times on what they are conveniently forgetting to tell people in their 40's and 50's about the implications of raising the Social Security age. Since our corporate Supreme Court gutted the Federal Age Discrimination act companies can much more easily let older workers go on age grounds, and they do because older staff 1/ earn more and 2/ have higher medical costs.
So as you get older in the corporate world you could be faced with two threats - your retirement [SS] starts later, and you are much more likely to be fired just because you are older and more expensive, and if you are fired it's much more difficult finding a decent job in your 50's and 60's..
The lesson - save save save, feed your 401K because you're going to need it. Get some capital put by. Just another instance of the screwing of the middle class......
If Congress seriously flirts with the idea floated by the president's deficit commission, that of slowly raising the age of eligibility to 69 for full Social Security benefits, then it will need to address another bit of business: protecting older workers from getting laid off simply because they're old and expensive.
There was a time in the halcyon days when working for a company for 20, 30 or more years engendered an implied reciprocal obligation of loyalty. If layoffs occurred they would be largely accomplished using a last-in, first-out standard as a way to communicate to a work force that people mattered. Workers with longevity felt secure knowing that as long as they worked hard they weren't going to be treated as expendable cogs, easily disposed of when it served the bottom line to nix someone at their pay grade.
There was a time in the halcyon days when working for a company for 20, 30 or more years engendered an implied reciprocal obligation of loyalty. If layoffs occurred they would be largely accomplished using a last-in, first-out standard as a way to communicate to a work force that people mattered. Workers with longevity felt secure knowing that as long as they worked hard they weren't going to be treated as expendable cogs, easily disposed of when it served the bottom line to nix someone at their pay grade.
Then came the roaring recession, and the older workers who got laid off during this Darwinian epoch have found that getting another job is ridiculously hard. In a study titled "The 'New Unemployables,' Older Job Seekers Struggle to Find Work During the Great Recession" by Boston College's Sloan Center on Aging and Work, 67 percent of surveyed job seekers age 55 or over were looking for work after more than a year, compared with 43 percent of younger workers. The difficult truism of today's tight economy is that employers are uninterested in hiring someone older. They perceive gray heads as less productive, or as someone who might soon have health problems, or who might expect higher earnings. Basically the same reasons they were let go in the first place.
Yes, that's age discrimination, and yes it's illegal. But conservatives on the U.S. Supreme Court rendered federal law against age discrimination toothless, recently making it much harder for older workers to succeed in court.
Yes, that's age discrimination, and yes it's illegal. But conservatives on the U.S. Supreme Court rendered federal law against age discrimination toothless, recently making it much harder for older workers to succeed in court.
2/ Any doubts at all the game is rigged in favour of the rich and powerful oligarchs? Still believe in fairies too?
Here's a story about sanctions, yes the sanctions we impose with great fanfare and moral indignation on rogue governments like Iran. It turns out there's a division of the Treasury that gives exemptions.....to corporations who ask politely.
At the behest of a host of companies — from Kraft Food and Pepsi to some of the nation’s largest banks — a little-known office of the Treasury Departmenthas granted nearly 10,000 licenses for deals involving countries that have been cast into economic purgatory, beyond the reach of American business.
Most of the licenses were approved under a decade-old law mandating that agricultural and medical humanitarian aid be exempted from sanctions. But the law, pushed by the farm lobby and other industry groups, was written so broadly that allowable humanitarian aid has included cigarettes,Wrigley’s gum, Louisiana hot sauce, weight-loss remedies, body-building supplements and sports rehabilitation equipment sold to the institute that trains Iran’s Olympic athletes.
In the same article there is also a little story about how Washington really works....showing the blatant corruption......the only surprise is how cheaply you can buy a politician, in this case a US Senator.....
By the time Customs seized the electrodes on Nov. 5, waste was piling up in the sun. Nor did prospects look good for Mr. Liu’s application to the licensing office seeking to do an end run around the sanctions. On Nov. 21, a State Department official, Ralph Palmiero, recommended that the agency deny the request since the sanctions explicitly mandated the “termination of existing contracts” like Mr. Liu’s.
That is when Senator Inouye’s office stepped in. While his electrodes were at sea, Mr. Liu had made his first ever political contribution, giving the senator’s campaign $2,000. Mr. Liu says the timing was coincidental, that he was simply feeling more politically inclined. Records show that an Inouye aide called the licensing office on Mr. Liu’s behalf the same day that Mr. Palmiero recommended denying the application. The senator himself wrote two days later.
Mr. Inouye’s spokesman, Peter Boylan, said the contribution had “no impact whatsoever” on the senator’s actions, which he said were motivated solely by concern for the community’s health and welfare.
The pressure appears to have worked. The following day, the licensing office’s director at the time asked the State Department to reconsider in an e-mail that prominently noted the senator’s interest. A few days later, the State Department found that the purchase qualified for a special “medical and humanitarian” exception.
The license was issued Dec. 10. Two months later, Mr. Liu sent the senator another $2,000 contribution, the maximum allowable. Mr. Levey said he could not comment on the details of a decision predating his tenure.
3/ Jon Stewart and the 9/11 First Responders bill
The mainstream media completely ignored the killing of the 9/11 bill by the Republicans - not a single outlet commented on it, and it took Jon Stewart to shame the Congress into passing it.
Indeed, as Media Matters first noted, the day after the initial vote was held two weeks ago in whichfilibustering Republicans unanimously voted to not let the first responder bill proceed, none of the network news telecasts that night reported on the story. None. And in the 48 hours that followed, the cable news channels didn't have much to say either, nor did many print or online pundits. The bill to aid Sept. 11 heroes had been dealt a rather stunning blow in the Senate, and most mainstream media players didn't care, to the point where the story wasn't even covered.
But yes, on the night of the vote, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart covered the vote. And Stewart, in his signature way, highlighted the stunning hypocrisy in play.
Then last week Stewart reloaded for another round. Plus, the host sat down with first responders and interviewed them about the diseases many of them were suffering, and also got their take on the surprisingly difficult legislative battle they were facing in Congress.
And guess what? Stewart, at that point, was practically alone in carrying out that simple act of journalism. By dedicating even a few minutes of his show to the 9-11 bill and by interviewing key players in the saga, Stewart instantly lapped most of the Beltway press corps. Why? Because for some bizarre reason, there seemed to have been a kind of groupthink conclusion that the 9/11 first responder bill, and the fact that it was being blocked by filibustering Republicans, was not news. (Nothing to see here, people... )
But, of course it was. And by shaming both the press and Republicans last week, Stewart proved that point. (And people wonder why younger demos turn to Stewart for their news?)
4/ Rihanna on the British TV show "The X Factor", which got in hot water for this performance which was deemed "too sexy" for TV.....you be the judge......
5/ Fox News - "There's no climate change"
Story about how Heathrow airport is slowly clearing the backlog of stranded travellers and getting back to normal, but Friday came news that a new storm is hitting France and Germany causing chaos to Christmas air travel.......
Ironically the lead for this story is some very unlucky cruise passengers from Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas returning from their stormy cruise, and getting stuck at Heathrow.........see below.....
First, they cruised the Mediterranean on the Brilliance of the Seas, the ship, now notorious, whose battle with hurricane-force winds and gargantuan waves became worldwide news. Then they decided to spend a relaxing day in London before returning home.
That was Saturday.
“I’m not trying to be negative, but they herded us in here and we have not been able to talk to anyone,” Mr. Barlow said of the tent, the latest step in a surreal odyssey in which the couple has tried mightily to find a flight to Washington, despite there being no flights and no information after a snowstorm five days ago. (At this point, there is no longer any snow, either.)
CNN Europe video [2 minutes] about the huge storm the Brilliance of the Seas went through off the coast of Egypt with commentary from passengers and pictures. Lucky for RCCL the storm was at night so noone could take a video of the huge waves.......if any of our alert readers find video of the storm send it along.....
The Brilliance is 90,000 tons, and is one of the four most beautiful ships Royal Caribbean has built....the four Radiance class ships are classic designs, very guest friendly and wonderfully laid out with lots of balcony cabins......if you are thinking of taking a cruise I recommend these ships, but not in the Mediterranean in December. The weather is waaaaaay too volatile....
The 2,100-passenger Brilliance of the Seas was making its way to Alexandria, Egypt when large waves and heavy winds sent the boat rocking,according to USA Today.
An American passenger told CBS' "The Early Show" that it was a "horrifying" experience and that water had crashed through the ship's 10th floor windows, sogging passenger quarters.
6/ Goodbye to 2010, from Jib Jab......the year in politics, with Obama/Biden puppets and song.....quite well done.......2 minutes....
7/ The train that never stops....Chinese design video of a revolutionary concept for future train travel.....it's just a concept but shows the Chinese are thinking about this stuff. Of course in the US the Republicans are talking about eliminating all subsidies for Amtrack and other rail systems....1 minute......
here have been many different Train concepts that aim to be the future of transportation, adding more speed, more room, more comfort and more features, but what about a new conceptual design looking to create a train that doesn’t need to stop?This innovative concept train by Jianjun Chen is made up of out of the box thinking and aims to save tremendous amount of time for passengers and train personnel.
8/ A DDD favourite
"The Idiots", with Zoe Saldana and Kate Bosworth....very funny.........
9/ Ah, Florida.....we're doomed......
Article about the new Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and how he is repaying his debt to the Big Sugar interests by killing an initiative that is trying to make our schoolchildren healthier by stopping the sale of sweet junk in public schools........he hasn't even taken office and he's already a scumbag on the take.
Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL) has yet to take office in his new role as Florida Agriculture Commissioner, but he’s already making his Big Sugar contributors smile.
Throughout 2010, the State Board of Education has considered banning sugary drinks from Florida schools, including soft drinks, high-sugar juices, and chocolate milk.
Throughout 2010, the State Board of Education has considered banning sugary drinks from Florida schools, including soft drinks, high-sugar juices, and chocolate milk.
There is a bill being pushed by the new President of the Senate Mike Haridopolos called TABOR, which if passed would be a disaster for Florida.....it will be sold to the stupids as a way to "cut your taxes", but it would be awful for cities.....and counties......and public schools.....and local services......and you....
but make no mistake: This push to supposedly make government more efficient and productive by limiting its revenue, but which would hamper its ability to provide necessary services, is Mr. Haridopolos' handiwork. He cutely dubs the spending limit a "smart cap."
It's anything but. Colorado's the only state that passed a similar cap on state and local government collections, in 1992. By 2005, residents had voted to suspend it for five years. The cap had dropped Colorado from 35th to 49th in the nation in K-12 spending, and from 23rd to 48th in the nation in access to prenatal care. That's hardly a success.
In Florida, the "smart cap" would reduce funding for schools and social services. Florida Chief Financial OfficerAlex Sink also warns a tax cap would make it more costly to sell bonds for public-works projects — and to pay claims against state-run Citizens Insurance after a major hurricane.
It's anything but. Colorado's the only state that passed a similar cap on state and local government collections, in 1992. By 2005, residents had voted to suspend it for five years. The cap had dropped Colorado from 35th to 49th in the nation in K-12 spending, and from 23rd to 48th in the nation in access to prenatal care. That's hardly a success.
In Florida, the "smart cap" would reduce funding for schools and social services. Florida Chief Financial OfficerAlex Sink also warns a tax cap would make it more costly to sell bonds for public-works projects — and to pay claims against state-run Citizens Insurance after a major hurricane.
..............................
State lawmakers also recoil at the overreaching power of the federal government. But with TABOR, Mr. Haridopolos and Co. would attempt to control how local governments spend taxpaper money. Even though that's precisely what voters elect local representatives to do.
10/ Cool dog video, showing a Dalmation dog leaping through snowbanks and under them.....sound track by Harry Connick Jr. I know it sounds silly, but it's quite fun.
Amusing and Christmasy......
11/ Movie review - "Gullivers Travels" in 3D, with Jack Black. The review is written in "Olde Englishe" and is most amusing ....and from what I can gather this film is a good one for kids of all ages.......especially if you like Jack Black.......
My avowed purpose in composing that text, as any swot who has suffered the Duty and Dullness rampant in our Schools must know, was to employ my modest pen as a scourge against human Folly and the vanities of the Age. Having deemed itself unable to defeat those foes, this rendition of “Gulliver’s Travels” chuses rather to join them.
The purveyors of the Amusement have superadded to the Spectacle a third dimension, the main Effect of which is to expand the already extensive Belly and Buttocks of Mr. Jack Black, a rotund Clown charged with the task of impersonating Lemuel Gulliver. My storied Voyager is thus converted to yet another fellow of slack Ambition and ample Gut, toiling at a Loser Job and pining for his Stella (or Darcy, as she is here called), a woman of quick Intellect and slender Frame, in whose League he is so totally not. Though of course we never are permitted to doubt that this Stella will smile upon him in the end, and do so moreover with the glorious and gleaming Teeth of Miss Amanda Peet.
Here's the trailer.........
Todays video - EU explained. Not really a joke, but an amusing way to explain the economic policies of the EU in a "who's on first" format........quite good....
Todays Postal joke
There was a man who worked for the Post Office whose job was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses.
One day, a letter came addressed in a shaky handwriting to God with no actual address. He thought he should open it to see what it was about.
The letter read:
Dear God,
I am an 83 year old widow, living on a very small pension.
Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension payment.
Next Sunday is Christmas, and I had invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with, have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope.. Can you please help me?
Sincerely, Edna
The postal worker was touched. He showed the letter to all the other workers. Each one dug into his or her wallet and came up with a few dollars.
By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which they put into an envelope and sent to the woman...
The rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of Edna and the dinner she would be able to share with her friends.
Christmas came and went.
A few days later, another letter came from the same old lady to God.
All the workers gathered around while the letter was opened.
It read:
Dear God,
How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me?
Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful gift.
By the way, there was $4 missing.
I think it might have been those bastards at the post office.
Sincerely,
Edna
Todays AARP jokes
USEFUL INFORMATION FOR YOU
From the American Association Of Retired People
From the American Association Of Retired People
| Questions and Answers from the AARP Forum | |
| Q: Where can men over the age of 60 find younger, sexy women who are interested in them? | A: Try a bookstore, under fiction. |
| Q: What can a man do while his wife is going through menopause? | A: Keep busy. If you're handy with tools, you can finish the basement. When you're done you'll have a place to live. |
| Q: Someone has told me that menopause is mentioned in the Bible. Is that true? Where can it be found? | A: Yes. Matthew 14:92: "And Mary rode Joseph's ass all the way to Egypt ..." |
| Q: How can you increase the heart rate of your 60-plus year old husband? | A: Tell him you're pregnant. |
| Q: How can you avoid that terrible curse of the elderly wrinkles? | A: Take off your glasses. |
| Q: Seriously! What can I do for these Crow's feet and all those wrinkles on my face? | A: Go braless. It will usually pullthem out. |
| Q: Why should 60-plus year old people use valet parking? | A: Valets don't forget where theypark your car. |
| Q: Is it common for 60-plus year olds to have problems with short term memory storage? | A: Storing memory is not a problem, Retrieving it is the problem. |
| Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly? | A: Yes, but usually in the afternoon. |
| Q: Where should 60-plus year olds look for eye glasses? | A: On their foreheads. |
| Q: What is the most common remark made by 60-plus year olds when they enter antique stores? | A: "Gosh, I remember these!" |
Todays British joke
Three British friends married women from different parts of the world.....
The first man married a Filipino. He told her that she was to do the dishes and house cleaning. It took a couple of days, but on the third day, he came home to see a clean house and dishes washed and put away.
The second man married a Thai. He gave his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the cooking. The first day he didn’t see any results, but the next day he saw it was better. By the third day, he saw his house was clean, the dishes were done, and there was a huge dinner on the table.
The third man married a girl from Glasgow . He ordered her to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed, and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn’t see anything, the second day he didn't see anything but by the third day, some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye and his arm was healed enough that he could fix himself a sandwich and load the dishwasher. He still has some difficulty when he pees.
The first man married a Filipino. He told her that she was to do the dishes and house cleaning. It took a couple of days, but on the third day, he came home to see a clean house and dishes washed and put away.
The second man married a Thai. He gave his wife orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes and the cooking. The first day he didn’t see any results, but the next day he saw it was better. By the third day, he saw his house was clean, the dishes were done, and there was a huge dinner on the table.
The third man married a girl from Glasgow . He ordered her to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry washed, and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he didn’t see anything, the second day he didn't see anything but by the third day, some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out of his left eye and his arm was healed enough that he could fix himself a sandwich and load the dishwasher. He still has some difficulty when he pees.
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