I Quote That - Smile

WTF Has Obama Done? - Issue No. 006 - Economy

I almost have one week down.  Only 39 more weeks to go, LOL.  I may have to cut these to five a week, they're so time consuming.

On today's issue I will focus on the number one issue facing our country - the Economy.  

If you've been watching the news like I have all day; You would have noticed that another week of private sector jobs were added to the 22 straight weeks of employment growth.  While Republicans continue to berate the President and deny seeing any type of improvement, the economy is slowly improving.  Unemployment is now at 8.3% which was the case in February 2009, a month after the president took office.

But how was this possible?  Well, we can thank a President who's been resilient, despite no help from Republicans in Congress.  Today we'll look at one broad policy and two targeted actions (WTF-15, WTF-16) in regard to the Economy.

WTF-14

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): a $789 billion economic stimulus plan.

(1) To preserve and create jobs and promote economic
recovery.
(2) To assist those most impacted by the recession.
(3) To provide investments needed to increase economic
efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and
health.
(4) To invest in transportation, environmental protection,
and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic
benefits.
(5) To stabilize State and local government budgets, in
order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services
and counterproductive state and local tax increases. [Reference]

WTF-15

Raised the small business investment limit to $250,000 through the end of 2009.

Stimulus raised the expensing limit - During the campaign, Barack Obama promised to extend a tax break for small businesses to give them a boost during the recession. The tax change raised the expensing limit — the amount that small companies can claim as their business expenses for investments.

A sharp-eyed reader brought to our attention a tiny provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the economic stimulus package, that did exactly that. Section 1202 of the stimulus legislation raised the limit to $250,000. A May 2009 memo from the Internal Revenue Service confirms the change.[Reference]
 

WTF-16

U.S. Economy: Manufacturing grew by most since 2004.

In early 2011, The Institute for Supply Management’s factory index rose to 60.8, exceeding the most optimistic forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of economists and the highest level since May 2004, figures from the Tempe, Arizona-based group showed today. Readings greater than 50 signal growth. 

Stocks rose, extending a global rally, as factory reports from China to Europe bolstered the outlook for American companies like Caterpillar Inc. The ISM’s employment gauge climbed to the highest level since 1973, indicating manufacturers may be more willing to hire as sales pick up. 

“Businesses have figured out the economic recovery has legs so they’re growing more confident about expanding production and new orders and increasing hiring,” said John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo Securities LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Manufacturing is making a very decent contribution to growth.”[Reference]

As promised, I will come back to the Economy in another issue.  Please make sure to read Issue No. 007 tomorrow as I continue with WTF-17
Everyday on BLADE 7184

Another State Down, 42 More To go

Before I continue with my blogs I did want to mention an important achievement that occurred yesterday.  In a move that has Washington Republicans and conservative bible thumpers screaming their lungs out - marriage for the gays was passed in the state!

In a vote of 28 to 21 the Senate passed a marriage equality bill where it is expected to easily pass through the House.  Once that is done, Governor Christine Gregoire will sign the bill into law!!!  And for those who are unaware, she's actually the one who introduced the bill.  And for that we're thankful!

We love you Christine - the gays love you!

Commercial Appearing In Another Commercial's Commercial

Whoever thought of this idea is probably raking in the dough as we speak.  Who would've thought that two products could be sold by a commercial appearing in another commercial's commercial?

Way to go Old Spice and Bounce. LOL.  Pure Genius.

Dear Yellow Pages

AMEN!

Post Secret Fridays - Issue 093

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard.

 See More Secrets. Follow PostSecret on Twitter.

 Want to see older Post Secret Friday issues? Go here.

Isn't This The Truth? Welcome Home, Son

If I was to collect a nickle for the number of times my mother asked me to fix something when I went back home, I'd be filthy rich by now.  LOL.  Ryan's mom is the perfect example for this comic.  She's always asking for computer help.  God bless her, we love her.

Our Future Is In Their Hands - Take 9

Absolutely hilarious!  We're screwed, and our future is in their hands. LOL.  

When our high school children agree that the Korean War is when we gained our Independence or when they don't know that Mexico and Canada border our United States of America, we have a serious problem on our hands.

Better yet, ask them to name a country that starts with the letter "U".

Things That CANNOT Screen for Breast Cancer and Things That CAN

Susan G. Komen is now trying to backtrack to save their asses so they can  keep their money and keep fooling people.  Hell no, you already showed your true colors. They released the following letter, here.  Thank you Newsweek!

Men vs. Women Hygiene Products

Omg Hilarious, but it's so true.  Give a straight man one of these bottles and that would be all he would need.

Disney Prince of the Week 004

In today's issue, and for the next 16 weeks I'll be posting a Disney Prince of the Week.  Can you guess the movie and the name of the character who played this week's Prince? 

 

Let's Hear It For The Lady

Woo hoo!  You go Michelle Obama!!!  Ellen challenged her to a Push-up competition on her show and it was a race to the finish, with Ellen, going out first.  God Bless her and our First Lady, I simply adore them both!

Of course, Ellen with her wonderful sense of humor makes the video even more enjoyable.

What a Hot Mess: Is That Sex and The City Star, Sarah Jessica Parker?

Omg, tell me this isn't so?  What a hot mess!  What the hell happened to Sex and The City star, Sarah Jessica Parker?  I'm hoping this is for a character she's playing in a movie, and not the disaster created from a Plastic Surgeon.  Who am I kidding?

I never understood why these actresses continue getting this crap done to their faces.  Look at Diane Keaton and Sally Field, both have aged gracefully and beautifully.

No Offense To Your Name, Susan G. Komen, But Your Sister F*cked It All Up!

Most of you may remember my status update from yesterday evening, and rightly so.  I'm pissed.  One, because I've worked in Breast Cancer Research for over 9 years and second, because I was right all along, and I never should have contributed to this fallacy.

Yesterday evening I stated this on my Facebook wall:

"I've always believed that the Susan G. Komen Foundation was nothing but a huge corporation out to get poor people's money and rich companies' contributions. At the same time, with a political agenda. Who knew I was right all along? So much for helping women with breast cancer. Screw you Susan G. Komen. Screw you! The sad part out of all this... you had to use the name of a woman with breast cancer as the name for your corporation." - Peter Flores aka Blade 7184

Well... last night someone hacked into Komen's website and did this:

"Help us run over poor women on our way to the bank"

And rightly so.  I've had an aunt die from breast cancer and have bought countless of "pink" items - do you really thing all that money goes to breast cancer research?  It does not!  But I bought them anyway in support of this foundation.  Not anymore!!!  

I will be looking closer at what I'm purchasing, and will even donate to Planned Parenthood to help women fight this disease.

Hurting women for political purposes is the worst thing you could have done Susan G. Komen, the worst thing.

Must Watch: The Steam Room Straight Boys

The straight boys at SteamRoomStories.com are at it again.  And this time, it's a bet of machismo proportions. LOL.  If you have never seen any of their videos, they're actually quite hilarious.  It's just a group of straight guys hanging out in a steam room sharing stories about their girlfriends, wives, friends, etc.  Kinda like a male gossip girl. LOL

In the following episode, a guy is looking at YouTube videos of guys playing "gay chicken".  When two guys walk in and ask what that is, he explains it to them.

The two guys think he's questioning their heterosexuality and their straight manhood, so they want to take part in this "gay chicken" - provided they win something of course. Little do they know, they get more than they bargained for. LOL.

Harry Potter Trivia

Here's a little Harry Potter Trivia for you Potter fans.

You're Not Alone

You see, you're not the only one alone on Valentine's Day.  In fact, its becoming the norm more and more.

click to enlarge

Americans are now within mere percentage points of being a majority single nation: Only 51% of adults today are married, according to census data. And 28% of all households now consist of just one person -- the highest level in U.S. history. That second statistic may appear less dramatic than the first, but it's actually changing much faster: The percentage of Americans living by themselves has doubled since 1960. [source]

I Quote That - Don't Waste Yourself

Impractical Jokers

Remember when truTV used to be Court TV?  Yeah, neither can I.  My favorite show on the network was Forensic Files, but that was back in the day.  In either case, their new show, "Impractical Jokers" which premiered in December has become a huge hit, and its pretty darn funny actually.  According to their website, Friends, "Sal, Murr, Q and Joe have entertained and challenged each other with the most hilariously awkward dares they could imagine. Now they're upping the ante, engaging in a series of outrageous public stunts (recorded by hidden cameras) to make each other (and you) howl with laughter. Think it's funny when one of these Jokers completes a dare? Wait till you see what happens when they can't!"

WTF Has Obama Done? - Issue No. 005 - Taxes

One of the most prominent issues of the current political climate are TAXES!  President Obama's Achievements on this subject are extensive, so I will be listing three today.  

As with my previous issues, I will come back to each category at a later time.  

When I read, and research all that our president has accomplished in the last 3 years, it is mind-boggling to me how much the Tea Party and Republican Party has lied, and continues to lie the American people.  I've even fallen into their traps in the past, but not anymore!.  I'm here to help fix that.

Today we will look at the president's broad policy and one targeted action (WTF-13).

WTF-11

Adopted Economic Substance tax doctrine.

A policy that states that tax changes must have significant economic justification, as a federal law.

It's called the "economic substance doctrine." It's a law that set a rule to prevent tax dodgers.  What it means is that people aren't allowed to find creative ways to avoid paying their taxes.

The measure is expected to generate a relatively small amount of new tax revenue, about $4.5 billion over 10 years, according to the the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation. [Reference]

WTF-12

Cracked down on tax cheats (Exec Order).

On January 20, 2010, President Barack Obama ordered a new crackdown on federal contractors who don't pay their taxes. 

Obama signed an executive order telling federal agency chiefs to take steps to bar those companies from receiving new government contracts. The order also directed the IRS to review contractor filings to make sure companies are not lying about the taxes they've paid.  Obama said the practice is inefficient, wasteful and, above all, wrong.

"It is simply wrong for companies to take taxpayer dollars and not be taxpayers themselves," Obama said. "We need to insist on the same sense of responsibility in Washington that so many of you strive to uphold in your own lives, in your own families and in your own businesses." [Reference]

WTF-13

Temporarily suspended taxes on unemployment benefits.

When the economy deteriorated in 2008, Congress extended benefits, giving more money and setting longer time frames for the states with the highest unemployment numbers. The economic recovery bill that Obama signed extended those time periods again. Depending on circumstances, most people receiving benefits should get an extension, with the hardest hit states winning extended benefits through Dec. 31, 2009.

Unemployment benefits are normally taxed as regular income, but the bill exempted the first $2,400 of unemployment from 2009 income taxes.

"Today, I signed the unemployment insurance extension to restore desperately needed assistance to two and a half million Americans who lost their jobs in the recession.  After a partisan minority used procedural tactics to block the authorization of this assistance three separate times over the past weeks, Americans who are fighting to find a good job and support their families will finally get the support they need to get back on their feet during these tough economic times.  Now it’s time for Congress to act on more proposals that support our economic recovery, including passing critical aid to our states and support to small businesses.  Small businesses are the engine of job growth, and measures to cut their taxes and make lending available should not be held hostage to partisan tactics like those that unconscionably held up unemployment insurance." - President Obama on July 21, 2010 after the Senate passed an extension of unemployment insurance. [Reference-1, Reference-2]

Please make sure to read Issue No. 006 tomorrow as I continue with WTF-14
Everyday on BLADE 7184