It's time to Break It Down!
Undoubtedly, one can confidently say, never in the annals of recorded history has it taken so long to chronicle the events of any single 100-day span. Various media outlets and a cacophony of journalists were sighing and signifying about the impending First One Hundred Days of the Obama Administration long before he took office. In fact, at least one fatalistic antagonist has an article attributed to the matter and dated a full year before today. It is likely creative editing was used to re-title the work, but this just further underscores the point; it is impossible to consider the mass focus on the issue anything less than fixation; borderline hysteria.
The networks will address it, the cable channels will debate it, newspaper reporters will investigate it, and blogs and other on-line devices will bandy it about in pithy prose. The President of the United States (POTUS familiarly), has long held a unique position among world leaders. A position considered by many to be the most powerful on the planet, the 44th man elected and inaugurated as America’s President, Barack Hussein Obama has had a whirlwind, trial-by-fire indoctrination to his post.
By accounts far and wide, he entered office facing more troubles, tribulations, and woes than any President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who picked up the reins of power during the Great Depression. The central theme in a long list of challenges is a moribund economy, torpedoed by a recession, banking, housing, automobile industry crises, and record levels of unemployment. But not to be easily overshadowed, this sad collection of affairs is followed closely by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, nuclear threats in Middle and Far Eastern satellites, hemorrhaging drugs pouring across the border from Mexico, a broken healthcare system, and defining and defending a position on the environment.
As if those were not enough, and there are certainly more, President Obama and his party must learn to accommodate each other in such a way as to make their numerical majority in both houses of Congress a meaningful statistic. All the President's Men…and Women have yet to fashion a strategy to complete the team. One Hundred Days in, the President appears on track to have bested the pace set by his three most recent predecessors, but he is still far from finished. By March 31st, the Senate had confirmed 38 top-level officials. To put the remaining task in context, the President names approximately 500 positions requiring Senate confirmation, and roughly 3,000 all together. If there is one overarching lesson in all this, it may be, no matter how impressive winning the election was, organizing a cabinet and staff, and governing will be even more difficult.
Alas, maybe, just maybe on the eve of President Obama’s One Hundredth Day in office, his domestic inter-party challenge eased a bit. Yesterday, in a significant development, Senator Arlen Specter, Republican from Pennsylvania, saying, “I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans,” according to David Espo, the Associated Press, announced his plans to switch to the Democratic party. According to a number of blogs, including the CNN PoliticalTicker, Right-wing Republican stalwart Rush Limbaugh greeted the news by urging Senator Specter to take Senator McCain and his daughter Meghan with him. Reportedly, Mr. Limbaugh characterized it as good, because it was weeding out people who are not really Republicans.
It remains to be seen how this action translates on the Senate floor. Senator Specter noted he would not automatically line up in support of President Obama’s initiatives. However, it is worth noting, this will boost the Democratic caucus to 59 members. If as anticipated, Al Franken prevails in his court case to win the Minnesota Senate seat, the Democrats have the potential to achieve the elusive filibuster-proof voting bloc. Given the often contentious nature of the debate between Republicans and Democrats, this late-breaking change may be one of the most important outcomes of President Obama’s First One Hundred Days.
Given the incredible weight of the challenges faced by President Obama, I think he has earned a solid B for his performance during this pressure-packed, highly scrutinized One Hundred Days. It will be interesting to observe how he, and “We the People” respond to his first 365 days, or his first 1,461 (4 years), or 2,922 (8 years), if it should come to that.
His stumbles have been few, but important. He started with an amped-up vetting process that while upgraded from previous forms, still allowed a number of tax-related gaffes and oversights to taint the Cabinet selection process. Alternately, if insufficient attention to tax-related details allowed some soon to be outliers to slip through the screening process, the enhanced nature of the process, which undoubtedly expanded after several Snafu’s, was too robust for some, who ultimately declined rather than submit to the level of transparency and revelation required by Team Obama.
But those are my thoughts and observations. It is up to each of us, using our own individual criteria to assess “The First One Hundred Days, and to Grade the POTUS!” How do you rate the President’s performance?
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21522.html
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/10/obamas_first_100_days.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124095605121565495.html
http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/20/news/economy/obama_first100days/index.htm
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/44.president/first.100.days/index.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/obama-100-days/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2009/01/21/GA2009012102666.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE53R4YP20090428
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/28/limbaugh-to-specter-please-take-mccain-with-you/
http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0409/Fox_tops_CNN_and_MSNBC_combined.html?showall
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04252009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/100_days__100_mistakes_166177.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042801667.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/11/politics/main4936968.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4936968
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/437/gallery/692788.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/408/story/691245.html
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
"A Question of Sex and Marriage"
It's time to Break It Down!
So I am sailing along in an orbit that by now seems natural for me. In the hour or so before I set out to key another edition Break It Down, I mused; what would it be this week? As it is most days, I had yet to decide on a topic; but I was definitely leaning. The one issue I had been asked about more than any other in the week since the last blog was Piracy. Several friends and associates mentioned President Obama’s deft handling of the situation involving American Richard Phillips, Captain of the Maersk Alabama. One or two pointedly asked why I did not write about it last week or when and if I would. They almost had me.
Unless you have been under a rock or doing a Rip Van Winkle impersonation, you know Phillips as the victim of a kidnapping by Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa. After four tension-filled days, 3 kidnappers were killed simultaneously by Navy Seal snipers who lay hidden aboard the U.S. destroyer Bainbridge. A fourth pirate, estimated to be a mere 16 years old, had surrendered earlier.
President Obama has been widely hailed for his decisive actions in averting Phillip’s death at the hands of his captors. There is no question the President deserves a measure of credit in the resolution of this incident, for had disaster struck, he would surely have been blamed. But let’s just be clear; the Navy Seals were the heroes in this story. Laying in hiding, one hundred feet away in choppy seas, with one pirate aiming an AK-47 assault rifle at Captain Phillips, the Seals did what the crack sniper unit is trained to do. The delivered, while operating under immense pressure. In perfect harmony, they fired with split second timing, killing all three pirates, and would be assassins, simultaneously.
At first glance the Pirate story had it all; conflict, a hostage, foils, heroes, drama on the high seas, blood, and a made-for-a-movie happy ending. The only thing is this drama is far from over. There will likely still be numerous opportunities to write about the Somali pirates. Unfortunately!
On the surface, this week’s topic includes much more mundane fare. Though it was not at sea, there was drama, and I heard no accounts of spilled-blood, there were fights, or at least shouting, and threats of brawling.
Yes, I am going there! Front and center, bring on the Miss USA Pageant, or more pointedly, “the comment.” You know the one. But, I will address that in a more in-depth fashion later. For most folks, Beauty Pageants have gone the way of the dinosaur; that is they are extinct. Or at least the following, and high level of interest they once engendered is ensconced in a memory of a by-gone era.
I wear my bias on my sleeve, having never been a fan of the pageant phenomenon. Yes, I concede for the record, most dispatched the “beauty” adjective decades ago. Now many have adopted “scholarship” as the defining moniker of choice. But frankly, between, Miss America the oldest of the lot, Miss USA, Miss Teen America, Mrs. America, Miss World, And Miss Universe, and oh yeah do not forget, Miss, Miss Teen, Ms., and Mrs. Galaxy, who could really keep up with it all?
OK, so this is really not about the Pageant, which coincidentally, Miss North Carolina, Kristen Dalton won. This year’s 58th Edition was held at The Theatre of Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, Nevada.
I am obliged to tell you Kristen attended elementary and middle school (albeit briefly) in Concord and Cabarrus County, next door to Charlotte. Her family moved to Wilmington where she completed middle and high school, and she is now a senior at East Carolina University.
She competed against contestants from the 49 other states, and the District of Columbia. As the winner, Kristen will receive a year’s use of a New York apartment, a public relations team, a two-year scholarship at the New York Film Academy, and an undisclosed salary. She will also go to the Bahamas in August to compete in the Miss Universe Pageant. Not a bad recession package for a college senior.
Now you might think winning the Miss USA Pageant would have rendered Krissy the epicenter of pageant chatter, and propelled her to the top of the charts in popularity and general tongue-wagging. Alas, as often happens in the world of pageantry, a funny thing happened on the way to fame and notoriety; not humorously funny of course.
In this particular case, the Pageant runner-up, Carrie Prejean, Miss California managed, unintentionally, I surmise, to upstage the winner. The are innumerable movie takes centered on the undoing of a pageant contestant by an odd-ball, or at least unanticipated question, and a bad, sad, or perhaps just plan unartful answer.
Much of the post-pageant discourse speculated that Carrie’s response to a question about same-sex marriage sealed the deal for Kristen. Numerous wags on countless shows have weighed in on the contrived controversy. The question, posed by noted blogger and faux celeb, Perez Hilton, has amassed millions of Youtube hits, as has Ms. Prejean’s response. In an instant she was elevated to the status of the latest lightning rod for the debate on same-sex marriage.
Both supporters and detractors have lined up to consume as much air time as the networks, cables channels, and radio affiliates will allow. Newspapers, bloggers, and Internet news media are also in the fray as well. Just in case you were distracted and somehow managed, not only to miss the pageant, but the countless stories that sprung from it, here is a rough transcription of the exchange between Mr. Hilton and Ms. Prejean:
Mr. Hilton (Judge #8):
“Vermont recently became the 4th state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?”
Ms. Prejean (Ms. Cali):
“Well I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anyone out there. But that’s how I was raised, and that’s how I think that it should be; between a man and a woman. Thank you.”
The entire exchange represented a scant 60 seconds in Youtube-time. Of course the resultant conversation has, as they say, gone viral. I am curious about whether this is a question most people, aside from the talking heads and their guests, spend a lot of time contemplating. Of course it did not start, nor will it end, with Perez and Carrie. That notwithstanding; humor me. Tell me what you think about this "Question of Sex and Marriage!"
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_12159013
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-somalia-hijack-captain9-2009apr09,0,2171932.story
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/04/12/2009-04-12_american_captain_richard_phillips_taken_hostage_freed_from_pirates.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_USA_2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-miss-usa-0420apr20,0,694571.story
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/674366.html
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/43268237.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_USA
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1172123/God-testing-faith-says-Miss-California-Perez-Hilton-calls-dumb-bitch-gay-marriage-row.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517137,00.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30298051/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOa_9ftwlbM&NR=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perez_Hilton
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Television/story?id=7381893&page=1
So I am sailing along in an orbit that by now seems natural for me. In the hour or so before I set out to key another edition Break It Down, I mused; what would it be this week? As it is most days, I had yet to decide on a topic; but I was definitely leaning. The one issue I had been asked about more than any other in the week since the last blog was Piracy. Several friends and associates mentioned President Obama’s deft handling of the situation involving American Richard Phillips, Captain of the Maersk Alabama. One or two pointedly asked why I did not write about it last week or when and if I would. They almost had me.
Unless you have been under a rock or doing a Rip Van Winkle impersonation, you know Phillips as the victim of a kidnapping by Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa. After four tension-filled days, 3 kidnappers were killed simultaneously by Navy Seal snipers who lay hidden aboard the U.S. destroyer Bainbridge. A fourth pirate, estimated to be a mere 16 years old, had surrendered earlier.
President Obama has been widely hailed for his decisive actions in averting Phillip’s death at the hands of his captors. There is no question the President deserves a measure of credit in the resolution of this incident, for had disaster struck, he would surely have been blamed. But let’s just be clear; the Navy Seals were the heroes in this story. Laying in hiding, one hundred feet away in choppy seas, with one pirate aiming an AK-47 assault rifle at Captain Phillips, the Seals did what the crack sniper unit is trained to do. The delivered, while operating under immense pressure. In perfect harmony, they fired with split second timing, killing all three pirates, and would be assassins, simultaneously.
At first glance the Pirate story had it all; conflict, a hostage, foils, heroes, drama on the high seas, blood, and a made-for-a-movie happy ending. The only thing is this drama is far from over. There will likely still be numerous opportunities to write about the Somali pirates. Unfortunately!
On the surface, this week’s topic includes much more mundane fare. Though it was not at sea, there was drama, and I heard no accounts of spilled-blood, there were fights, or at least shouting, and threats of brawling.
Yes, I am going there! Front and center, bring on the Miss USA Pageant, or more pointedly, “the comment.” You know the one. But, I will address that in a more in-depth fashion later. For most folks, Beauty Pageants have gone the way of the dinosaur; that is they are extinct. Or at least the following, and high level of interest they once engendered is ensconced in a memory of a by-gone era.
I wear my bias on my sleeve, having never been a fan of the pageant phenomenon. Yes, I concede for the record, most dispatched the “beauty” adjective decades ago. Now many have adopted “scholarship” as the defining moniker of choice. But frankly, between, Miss America the oldest of the lot, Miss USA, Miss Teen America, Mrs. America, Miss World, And Miss Universe, and oh yeah do not forget, Miss, Miss Teen, Ms., and Mrs. Galaxy, who could really keep up with it all?
OK, so this is really not about the Pageant, which coincidentally, Miss North Carolina, Kristen Dalton won. This year’s 58th Edition was held at The Theatre of Performing Arts in Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, Nevada.
I am obliged to tell you Kristen attended elementary and middle school (albeit briefly) in Concord and Cabarrus County, next door to Charlotte. Her family moved to Wilmington where she completed middle and high school, and she is now a senior at East Carolina University.
She competed against contestants from the 49 other states, and the District of Columbia. As the winner, Kristen will receive a year’s use of a New York apartment, a public relations team, a two-year scholarship at the New York Film Academy, and an undisclosed salary. She will also go to the Bahamas in August to compete in the Miss Universe Pageant. Not a bad recession package for a college senior.
Now you might think winning the Miss USA Pageant would have rendered Krissy the epicenter of pageant chatter, and propelled her to the top of the charts in popularity and general tongue-wagging. Alas, as often happens in the world of pageantry, a funny thing happened on the way to fame and notoriety; not humorously funny of course.
In this particular case, the Pageant runner-up, Carrie Prejean, Miss California managed, unintentionally, I surmise, to upstage the winner. The are innumerable movie takes centered on the undoing of a pageant contestant by an odd-ball, or at least unanticipated question, and a bad, sad, or perhaps just plan unartful answer.
Much of the post-pageant discourse speculated that Carrie’s response to a question about same-sex marriage sealed the deal for Kristen. Numerous wags on countless shows have weighed in on the contrived controversy. The question, posed by noted blogger and faux celeb, Perez Hilton, has amassed millions of Youtube hits, as has Ms. Prejean’s response. In an instant she was elevated to the status of the latest lightning rod for the debate on same-sex marriage.
Both supporters and detractors have lined up to consume as much air time as the networks, cables channels, and radio affiliates will allow. Newspapers, bloggers, and Internet news media are also in the fray as well. Just in case you were distracted and somehow managed, not only to miss the pageant, but the countless stories that sprung from it, here is a rough transcription of the exchange between Mr. Hilton and Ms. Prejean:
Mr. Hilton (Judge #8):
“Vermont recently became the 4th state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?”
Ms. Prejean (Ms. Cali):
“Well I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, in my country, and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anyone out there. But that’s how I was raised, and that’s how I think that it should be; between a man and a woman. Thank you.”
The entire exchange represented a scant 60 seconds in Youtube-time. Of course the resultant conversation has, as they say, gone viral. I am curious about whether this is a question most people, aside from the talking heads and their guests, spend a lot of time contemplating. Of course it did not start, nor will it end, with Perez and Carrie. That notwithstanding; humor me. Tell me what you think about this "Question of Sex and Marriage!"
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_12159013
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-somalia-hijack-captain9-2009apr09,0,2171932.story
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/04/12/2009-04-12_american_captain_richard_phillips_taken_hostage_freed_from_pirates.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_USA_2009
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-miss-usa-0420apr20,0,694571.story
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/674366.html
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/43268237.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_USA
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1172123/God-testing-faith-says-Miss-California-Perez-Hilton-calls-dumb-bitch-gay-marriage-row.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517137,00.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30298051/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOa_9ftwlbM&NR=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perez_Hilton
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Television/story?id=7381893&page=1
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Today Is 4-15; It's A Taxing Matter!
It's time to Break It Down!
The day many have dreaded has finally arrived. Once again, the title is self-explanatory. In any language, if you are an American, 4-15 is coded numeric nomenclature for April 15th; commonly known as Tax Day, or the deadline to File Federal Tax information, thereby informing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of all income amassed during the previous calendar year. The purpose of this submittable is to determine tax liability for the year.
It may seem as though taxes have been around forever. Even the Bible references taxes…in Matthew (22:21), Mark (12:17), Luke (20:25), and Romans (13:7), where Jesus’ directive is explicit; “Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” (New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1995)
In spite of this historic basis for taxation, the American experiment with the revenue stream is relatively new, and also surprisingly sporadic…in the grand scheme of things. Income tax was first levied in the United States in 1861, at a rate of 3% on income above $800 annually. Gauging by the year, you might guess, the resulting income was used to provide funding for the Civil War, which kicked off with the first hostilities April 12, 1861.
The initial American flirtation with an income tax was relatively brief. In 1872, the law was ruled unconstitutional, and repealed. The Revenue Act of 1894 introduced a 2% tax on personal income. However, the question of constitutionality lingered. The question would not be resolved until 1913, with the ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, clearing the way for a an early version of the income tax system we are familiar with today.
Even after clearing the way, and establishing the basic framework for the income tax system, a number of aspects have been adjusted over time. There have been several significant fluctuations in the top rate for example. Interestingly, the rates have been particularly high during great crises; the First and Second World Wars, and during the Depression. Though counterintuitive, there may actually be a precedent for President Obama’s plan to increase the rate for the highest earners during our current economic turmoil.
There has also been a fair amount of volatility regarding the date of Tax Day. With the advent of the modern system, Tax Day was fixed on March 1st, in 1913. It was subsequently moved to March 15th, in 1918, and moved again to April 15th, in 1955, where it remains today. A filing extension is provided when April 15th falls on a weekend, a civil holiday, or when a significant weather event makes it a hardship to file on that day.
The last extension occurred in 2007, when the date was set for Tuesday, April 17th, because the 15th was a Sunday, and the 16th was a holiday (Emancipation Day in Washington, DC). The next scheduled extension will occur in 2012, when Tax Day will be observed on Tuesday, 17th, for the same reason as in 2007.
There are always interesting facts and related details associated with Tax Day. This year for the first time in ages, Tax Freedom Day actually preceded Tax Day on the calendar. Tax Freedom Day is the day when the Tax Foundation, a non-partisan tax research group, calculates that we will have earned enough to pay our collective federal, state, and local tax obligations. The 2009 day was Monday, April 13th, eight days earlier than last year, and two weeks earlier than two years ago. In fact, this was the earliest it’s been in forty-two years.
The world as we know it is largely consumed by economic malaise. One spin-off of the times is a move to spawn tax protest tea parties, loosely inspired by the original Boston Tea Party. Organizers in cities across the country are busy at work in an effort to make a resounding political statement in the face of the massive spending bills, and various bailout efforts endorsed by the President, and approved by Congress.
A poignant, but not-so-well-known, irony is that federal revenues as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) will be lower than any year since 1950, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Once again, to put it in perspective, much as the notion is false that the tax code is as old as America, it is also a misrepresentation to assert that America is a high tax nation.
In 2006, federal state and local taxes amounted to 28% of the American Gross Domestic Product, 26th out of 30 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Only Japan, Korea, Turkey, and Mexico were lower. The top two countries, Denmark and Sweden were over 49%; the top 23 were over 30%.
In terms of top statutory tax rate Americans were 16th, our highest measure. In personal income tax on the average worker, Americans were 25th. Finally, for income tax less cash transfer payments, Americans were 18th. In all four measures, Americans fell in the bottom half of the thirty countries.
Now all that is quite interesting, but it does not mean a thing if you have yet to file your taxes. So, if you have, relax and enjoy a cold beverage. If not, what are you waiting for? Today is “4-15; A Taxing Matter” awaits you! By the way, just in case you haven’t done your taxes, and you are thinking of filing an extension…and you owe, don’t forget to send your estimated payment. The paperwork work can wait, but Uncle Sam wants you(r) money now!
"Today is 4-15; It’s a Taxing Matter!" I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/content/0,,id=104608,00.html
http://www.taxday.biz/blog/2009/02/2009-tax-refund-schedule.html
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/tax-day
http://www.efile.com/tax-day/tax-day.asp
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?grpId=3659174697244816&articleId=281474977655775&nav=Groupspace
http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/09/pf/taxes/late_filers/index.htm?postversion=2009040905
http://dontmesswithtaxes.typepad.com/dont_mess_with_taxes/2009/04/tax-freedom-day-2009-ealiest-ever.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/06/anti-tax-tea-party-protes_n_183814.html
http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/09/tea-party-taxes-opinions-columnists-bartlett.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-04-12-teaparties12_N.htm
The day many have dreaded has finally arrived. Once again, the title is self-explanatory. In any language, if you are an American, 4-15 is coded numeric nomenclature for April 15th; commonly known as Tax Day, or the deadline to File Federal Tax information, thereby informing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of all income amassed during the previous calendar year. The purpose of this submittable is to determine tax liability for the year.
It may seem as though taxes have been around forever. Even the Bible references taxes…in Matthew (22:21), Mark (12:17), Luke (20:25), and Romans (13:7), where Jesus’ directive is explicit; “Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” (New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1995)
In spite of this historic basis for taxation, the American experiment with the revenue stream is relatively new, and also surprisingly sporadic…in the grand scheme of things. Income tax was first levied in the United States in 1861, at a rate of 3% on income above $800 annually. Gauging by the year, you might guess, the resulting income was used to provide funding for the Civil War, which kicked off with the first hostilities April 12, 1861.
The initial American flirtation with an income tax was relatively brief. In 1872, the law was ruled unconstitutional, and repealed. The Revenue Act of 1894 introduced a 2% tax on personal income. However, the question of constitutionality lingered. The question would not be resolved until 1913, with the ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, clearing the way for a an early version of the income tax system we are familiar with today.
Even after clearing the way, and establishing the basic framework for the income tax system, a number of aspects have been adjusted over time. There have been several significant fluctuations in the top rate for example. Interestingly, the rates have been particularly high during great crises; the First and Second World Wars, and during the Depression. Though counterintuitive, there may actually be a precedent for President Obama’s plan to increase the rate for the highest earners during our current economic turmoil.
There has also been a fair amount of volatility regarding the date of Tax Day. With the advent of the modern system, Tax Day was fixed on March 1st, in 1913. It was subsequently moved to March 15th, in 1918, and moved again to April 15th, in 1955, where it remains today. A filing extension is provided when April 15th falls on a weekend, a civil holiday, or when a significant weather event makes it a hardship to file on that day.
The last extension occurred in 2007, when the date was set for Tuesday, April 17th, because the 15th was a Sunday, and the 16th was a holiday (Emancipation Day in Washington, DC). The next scheduled extension will occur in 2012, when Tax Day will be observed on Tuesday, 17th, for the same reason as in 2007.
There are always interesting facts and related details associated with Tax Day. This year for the first time in ages, Tax Freedom Day actually preceded Tax Day on the calendar. Tax Freedom Day is the day when the Tax Foundation, a non-partisan tax research group, calculates that we will have earned enough to pay our collective federal, state, and local tax obligations. The 2009 day was Monday, April 13th, eight days earlier than last year, and two weeks earlier than two years ago. In fact, this was the earliest it’s been in forty-two years.
The world as we know it is largely consumed by economic malaise. One spin-off of the times is a move to spawn tax protest tea parties, loosely inspired by the original Boston Tea Party. Organizers in cities across the country are busy at work in an effort to make a resounding political statement in the face of the massive spending bills, and various bailout efforts endorsed by the President, and approved by Congress.
A poignant, but not-so-well-known, irony is that federal revenues as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) will be lower than any year since 1950, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Once again, to put it in perspective, much as the notion is false that the tax code is as old as America, it is also a misrepresentation to assert that America is a high tax nation.
In 2006, federal state and local taxes amounted to 28% of the American Gross Domestic Product, 26th out of 30 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Only Japan, Korea, Turkey, and Mexico were lower. The top two countries, Denmark and Sweden were over 49%; the top 23 were over 30%.
In terms of top statutory tax rate Americans were 16th, our highest measure. In personal income tax on the average worker, Americans were 25th. Finally, for income tax less cash transfer payments, Americans were 18th. In all four measures, Americans fell in the bottom half of the thirty countries.
Now all that is quite interesting, but it does not mean a thing if you have yet to file your taxes. So, if you have, relax and enjoy a cold beverage. If not, what are you waiting for? Today is “4-15; A Taxing Matter” awaits you! By the way, just in case you haven’t done your taxes, and you are thinking of filing an extension…and you owe, don’t forget to send your estimated payment. The paperwork work can wait, but Uncle Sam wants you(r) money now!
"Today is 4-15; It’s a Taxing Matter!" I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/content/0,,id=104608,00.html
http://www.taxday.biz/blog/2009/02/2009-tax-refund-schedule.html
http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/tax-day
http://www.efile.com/tax-day/tax-day.asp
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?grpId=3659174697244816&articleId=281474977655775&nav=Groupspace
http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/09/pf/taxes/late_filers/index.htm?postversion=2009040905
http://dontmesswithtaxes.typepad.com/dont_mess_with_taxes/2009/04/tax-freedom-day-2009-ealiest-ever.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/06/anti-tax-tea-party-protes_n_183814.html
http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/09/tea-party-taxes-opinions-columnists-bartlett.html
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2009-04-12-teaparties12_N.htm
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
"One Shining Moment!"
No feints, sleight of hand, or ingratiatingly smarmy intro. Let’s keep this short and sweet. Most people who read this page know me, and anyone who knows me would confidently bet the bank that I would double back to close the loop on the fanfare that is the NCAA Tournament, AKA March Madness. Two weeks ago I inquired, “Are You Mad Yet?” Two nights ago, the Tourney concluded with the result most prognosticators projected before the season began, with pre-season favorite, the University of North Carolina winning.
So what happened in between? Well, as you may recall, there were sixty-five teams slated to play sixty-four games. Morehead State University defeated Alabama State University to advance as the sixty-fourth seed. For starters, after the play-in game set the field of sixty-four, President Obama, in a display of all-around profundity, placed his prescience on full display by introducing Baracketology to the world, March 18th, the day before the Tourney kicked off. The President completed his bracket during a live TV feed with ESPN Analyst, Andy Katz.
Like so many of the experts, the President picked North Carolina to win the Tournament. And like so many of the experts, he struggled during the middle rounds of the event. But the Baracketologist-in-Chief rallied in the end. While he picked only one of the four finalists correctly, it just so happened he picked the one that mattered, the winner, North Carolina. As was widely reported yesterday, President Obama finished in the top 20% of ESPN’s five million plus brackets. He also place in the top 15% of New York Times’ brackets.
Two weeks ago I opined it would be unlikely to see all four top seeds advance. Sure enough, only half made it to Detroit, Connecticut, and North Carolina; Louisville, and Pittsburgh falling along the way. Last Saturday, Michigan State eliminated UCONN, while UNC beat Villanova. That set the stage for a much ballyhooed rematch between home-standing Michigan State and North Carolina, Pre-Season #1.
Talking heads of all stripes played up the cosmic convergence represented by the Spartans’ finding their mojo, just in time to play in a sold out Ford Field, where up to 55-60,000 of the 72,922 patrons would be fans of the home team. They would be taking on North Carolina, a talented group of interlopers, reputed to be suspect on defense.
Never mind that back on December 3rd, the Tar Heels read the Spartans the Riot Act, winning in the same building, 98-63 (yes, by 35 points). MSU, it was noted played without a key player, and had two other players at less than full strength. Moreover, Michigan State, one of the four #2 seeds, had already beaten two #1 seeds, Louisville, the top seed in the entire Tournament, and UCONN, which boasted the top post defender in college basketball, Hasheem Thabeet, and a team that had never lost when advancing to the Final Four.
So what happened? What happened was the Tar Heels pushed back the pressure, and lived up to the hype. In fact, they may have exceeded expectations, given the circumstances. The Heels throttled the Spartans from the opening minutes, never allowing the crowd to become a factor. They led 55-34 at half time; a record number of points scored, and a record margin. After 17-7, the Spartans never reduced the margin to single digits, trailed by as many as twenty-three, and lost by seventeen, 89-72. It could have been more. At some point, the Tar Heels started playing against the clock, not the Spartans.
By prevailing, UNC won its 5th NCAA Championship, tying Indiana University for third on the all-time list, and trailing Kentucky (7), and UCLA (11). Carolina, of course, had its own feel good story. While MSU was repping the economically downtrodden State of Michigan, hoping to inject an infusion of hope, good cheer, though a display of basketball excellence, Carolina returned four players who thought for a time about leaving school early for the allure and riches of the NBA, following last season. Once all four returned to school, with a futile visit to the Final Four last as potent motivation, the team coalesced around the goal of winning it all this year.
After starting 0-2 in conference play, and experiencing sporadic injuries throughout the year, there were many questions about their viability to win a Championship. In the end, they answered all the questions in a resolute and resounding manner. Through the six Tournament games required to win the Title, they won each by double digits, with a twelve point win against #2 seed Oklahoma their closest game. Coaches and players came together to weave a consolidated virtuoso performance in the Tourney; assuring themselves, but also the Tar Heel Nation of, “One Shining Moment!”
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keMBascrkm0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjZ0uaNMkwk&NR=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/sports/08bracket.html?_r=1
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3992869
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gN7otVeVvIBX7l-birvDHZQjN2MQ
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4048556&categoryid=2459792
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090407/OPINION03/904070386/1004/sports
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090407/SPORTS0202/904070338/1004/Dominant+first+half+powers+Tar+Heels
http://www.freep.com/article/20090407/SPORTS07/90407089/1048/sports/Tar+Heels+whoop+it+up+back+in+Chapel+Hill
http://www.dailytarheel.com/sports/m-basketball-tar-heels-dominate-msu-to-win-2nd-title-in-five-years-1.1646286
http://www.dailytarheel.com/multimedia/slideshows/slideshow-franklin-street-mayhem-1.1646160
http://www.greenandwhite.com/article/20090407/MARCHMANIA/904070333/1026/GW0201
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2009-04-06-michiganstate-northcarolina_N.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/sports/ncaabasketball/08rhoden.html?_r=1&ref=sports
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04072009/sports/college/heel_raising_win_163290.htm
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2009/04/06/2009-04-06_unc_tar_heels_rout_michigan_state_to_win-2.html
http://www.greenandwhite.com/article/20090407/MARCHMANIA/904070333/1026/GW0201
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/07/carolina-in-cruise-control/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040700013.html
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-ncaa-championship7-2009apr07,0,2577928.story
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/college_hoops/story/649938.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/kevin_siers/
So what happened in between? Well, as you may recall, there were sixty-five teams slated to play sixty-four games. Morehead State University defeated Alabama State University to advance as the sixty-fourth seed. For starters, after the play-in game set the field of sixty-four, President Obama, in a display of all-around profundity, placed his prescience on full display by introducing Baracketology to the world, March 18th, the day before the Tourney kicked off. The President completed his bracket during a live TV feed with ESPN Analyst, Andy Katz.
Like so many of the experts, the President picked North Carolina to win the Tournament. And like so many of the experts, he struggled during the middle rounds of the event. But the Baracketologist-in-Chief rallied in the end. While he picked only one of the four finalists correctly, it just so happened he picked the one that mattered, the winner, North Carolina. As was widely reported yesterday, President Obama finished in the top 20% of ESPN’s five million plus brackets. He also place in the top 15% of New York Times’ brackets.
Two weeks ago I opined it would be unlikely to see all four top seeds advance. Sure enough, only half made it to Detroit, Connecticut, and North Carolina; Louisville, and Pittsburgh falling along the way. Last Saturday, Michigan State eliminated UCONN, while UNC beat Villanova. That set the stage for a much ballyhooed rematch between home-standing Michigan State and North Carolina, Pre-Season #1.
Talking heads of all stripes played up the cosmic convergence represented by the Spartans’ finding their mojo, just in time to play in a sold out Ford Field, where up to 55-60,000 of the 72,922 patrons would be fans of the home team. They would be taking on North Carolina, a talented group of interlopers, reputed to be suspect on defense.
Never mind that back on December 3rd, the Tar Heels read the Spartans the Riot Act, winning in the same building, 98-63 (yes, by 35 points). MSU, it was noted played without a key player, and had two other players at less than full strength. Moreover, Michigan State, one of the four #2 seeds, had already beaten two #1 seeds, Louisville, the top seed in the entire Tournament, and UCONN, which boasted the top post defender in college basketball, Hasheem Thabeet, and a team that had never lost when advancing to the Final Four.
So what happened? What happened was the Tar Heels pushed back the pressure, and lived up to the hype. In fact, they may have exceeded expectations, given the circumstances. The Heels throttled the Spartans from the opening minutes, never allowing the crowd to become a factor. They led 55-34 at half time; a record number of points scored, and a record margin. After 17-7, the Spartans never reduced the margin to single digits, trailed by as many as twenty-three, and lost by seventeen, 89-72. It could have been more. At some point, the Tar Heels started playing against the clock, not the Spartans.
By prevailing, UNC won its 5th NCAA Championship, tying Indiana University for third on the all-time list, and trailing Kentucky (7), and UCLA (11). Carolina, of course, had its own feel good story. While MSU was repping the economically downtrodden State of Michigan, hoping to inject an infusion of hope, good cheer, though a display of basketball excellence, Carolina returned four players who thought for a time about leaving school early for the allure and riches of the NBA, following last season. Once all four returned to school, with a futile visit to the Final Four last as potent motivation, the team coalesced around the goal of winning it all this year.
After starting 0-2 in conference play, and experiencing sporadic injuries throughout the year, there were many questions about their viability to win a Championship. In the end, they answered all the questions in a resolute and resounding manner. Through the six Tournament games required to win the Title, they won each by double digits, with a twelve point win against #2 seed Oklahoma their closest game. Coaches and players came together to weave a consolidated virtuoso performance in the Tourney; assuring themselves, but also the Tar Heel Nation of, “One Shining Moment!”
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keMBascrkm0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjZ0uaNMkwk&NR=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/sports/08bracket.html?_r=1
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=3992869
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gN7otVeVvIBX7l-birvDHZQjN2MQ
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4048556&categoryid=2459792
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090407/OPINION03/904070386/1004/sports
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090407/SPORTS0202/904070338/1004/Dominant+first+half+powers+Tar+Heels
http://www.freep.com/article/20090407/SPORTS07/90407089/1048/sports/Tar+Heels+whoop+it+up+back+in+Chapel+Hill
http://www.dailytarheel.com/sports/m-basketball-tar-heels-dominate-msu-to-win-2nd-title-in-five-years-1.1646286
http://www.dailytarheel.com/multimedia/slideshows/slideshow-franklin-street-mayhem-1.1646160
http://www.greenandwhite.com/article/20090407/MARCHMANIA/904070333/1026/GW0201
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2009-04-06-michiganstate-northcarolina_N.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/sports/ncaabasketball/08rhoden.html?_r=1&ref=sports
http://www.nypost.com/seven/04072009/sports/college/heel_raising_win_163290.htm
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/college/2009/04/06/2009-04-06_unc_tar_heels_rout_michigan_state_to_win-2.html
http://www.greenandwhite.com/article/20090407/MARCHMANIA/904070333/1026/GW0201
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/07/carolina-in-cruise-control/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040700013.html
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-ncaa-championship7-2009apr07,0,2577928.story
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/college_hoops/story/649938.html
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/kevin_siers/
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
"No Foolin'!"
While there is no dearth of seriously heavy news to discuss, I will defer reminding you of the direst aspects of it this week, and explore instead, albeit briefly, another Hallmark Holiday, April Fools’ Day (AFD). Today, is April 1st, and if you are like many, you will be exposed to, abused by, or perhaps a party to more than a few jokes and pranks.
In the most classic sense, it is difficult to consider AFD a holiday. After all, we do not honor anyone, or anything. There is no real revelry, or planned over-indulgence in the preparation and consumption of meals. We do not make it a long weekend, travel great distances, or call loved ones to reminisce.
And yet, it is it is observed in many countries, and has been for hundreds of years. Perhaps in a time such as this, when there is an unusual abundance of the stressful and depressing, concocting a few harmless pranks to spring on unsuspecting friends and associates (emphasis on harmless) may lighten the mood a bit. Of course, I am fully confident, regardless of whether that is the case, the mischief-makers will abound. They always do. Mark Twain, a great American humorist once said, “The first day of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.” In other words, just run with it.
To wit, one of the most interesting factors, and compelling universal laws involved in the spinning and execution of AFD yarns is no source is above suspicion. For example, I have linked a story from CNN.com that provides details of an investigation into the Conficker C computer worm by a group known as the Conficker Cabal.
The story goes on to reference a $250,000k bounty from Microsoft, as being part of the group’s motivation for tracking down the e-Menace to Society. Like the most viral urban legends, urban myths, Internet hoaxes, and e-mail rumors, a good AFD ruse gains credibility from being based upon some level of truth or facts. The Conficker worm does exist. Beyond that acknowledgment, when it comes to the question of the bounty, I am inherently suspicious. The Journal of the Turkish Weekly, in an edition dated today trumpets a headline announcing the bounty. Consider the date.
On the other hand, a story at NBA.com today details a win by the Charlotte Bobcats over the Los Angeles Lakers last night. To provide just a modicum of perspective for this outrageous claim, consider that the Lakers hail from Hollywood, have won fourteen NBA Championships, and count the inimitable Kobe Bryant as a member of their roster. The Bobcats have been in the league five years, and have never made the playoffs. There was even a rumor circulating that the Bobcats had prevailed against the Lakers in five of their previous six games. Can you imagine that?
In other words, you are likely to hear all kinds of unbelievable assertions today. Some may make you smile, others may cause you to think, and some you may reject outright. The guiding principle remains if something sounds too good to be true, in all likelihood, it is not true. But every now and then miracles do happen. The Bobcats have now won six of their last seven against the Lakers. They are 6-4 against them all time, making them one of only two teams in the NBA with a winning record against my favorite team…except when they play the Bobcats; ”No Foolin’!” I should reveal the identity of the other team, but I figure sports fans know. If you do not follow sports, and want to know, ask a fan. I refuse to write that team’s name in this post.
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/24/conficker.computer.worm/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conficker
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools'_Day
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/aprilfools/origins.asp
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/Hoaxipedia/April_Fools_Day_-_Origin/
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aprilfools1.html
http://stockholm.usembassy.gov/holidays/celebrate/april.html
http://wilstar.com/holidays/aprilfool.htm
http://www.google.com/archivesearch?hl=en&q=april+fool's+day&um=1&ie=UTF-8&scoring=t&ei=NtfSSbaIJZzItgez7_yZBw&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&resnum=11&ct=title
http://www.thefoolsday.com/
http://www.turkishweekly.net/other-news/145475/microsoft-announces-250000-conflicker-worm-bounty-networkworld-com.html
http://www.nba.com/games/20090331/LALCHA/gameinfo.html?ls=gt1hp0020801104
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/bobcats/story/634807.html
In the most classic sense, it is difficult to consider AFD a holiday. After all, we do not honor anyone, or anything. There is no real revelry, or planned over-indulgence in the preparation and consumption of meals. We do not make it a long weekend, travel great distances, or call loved ones to reminisce.
And yet, it is it is observed in many countries, and has been for hundreds of years. Perhaps in a time such as this, when there is an unusual abundance of the stressful and depressing, concocting a few harmless pranks to spring on unsuspecting friends and associates (emphasis on harmless) may lighten the mood a bit. Of course, I am fully confident, regardless of whether that is the case, the mischief-makers will abound. They always do. Mark Twain, a great American humorist once said, “The first day of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year.” In other words, just run with it.
To wit, one of the most interesting factors, and compelling universal laws involved in the spinning and execution of AFD yarns is no source is above suspicion. For example, I have linked a story from CNN.com that provides details of an investigation into the Conficker C computer worm by a group known as the Conficker Cabal.
The story goes on to reference a $250,000k bounty from Microsoft, as being part of the group’s motivation for tracking down the e-Menace to Society. Like the most viral urban legends, urban myths, Internet hoaxes, and e-mail rumors, a good AFD ruse gains credibility from being based upon some level of truth or facts. The Conficker worm does exist. Beyond that acknowledgment, when it comes to the question of the bounty, I am inherently suspicious. The Journal of the Turkish Weekly, in an edition dated today trumpets a headline announcing the bounty. Consider the date.
On the other hand, a story at NBA.com today details a win by the Charlotte Bobcats over the Los Angeles Lakers last night. To provide just a modicum of perspective for this outrageous claim, consider that the Lakers hail from Hollywood, have won fourteen NBA Championships, and count the inimitable Kobe Bryant as a member of their roster. The Bobcats have been in the league five years, and have never made the playoffs. There was even a rumor circulating that the Bobcats had prevailed against the Lakers in five of their previous six games. Can you imagine that?
In other words, you are likely to hear all kinds of unbelievable assertions today. Some may make you smile, others may cause you to think, and some you may reject outright. The guiding principle remains if something sounds too good to be true, in all likelihood, it is not true. But every now and then miracles do happen. The Bobcats have now won six of their last seven against the Lakers. They are 6-4 against them all time, making them one of only two teams in the NBA with a winning record against my favorite team…except when they play the Bobcats; ”No Foolin’!” I should reveal the identity of the other team, but I figure sports fans know. If you do not follow sports, and want to know, ask a fan. I refuse to write that team’s name in this post.
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/24/conficker.computer.worm/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conficker
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools'_Day
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/aprilfool/
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/aprilfools/origins.asp
http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/Hoaxipedia/April_Fools_Day_-_Origin/
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aprilfools1.html
http://stockholm.usembassy.gov/holidays/celebrate/april.html
http://wilstar.com/holidays/aprilfool.htm
http://www.google.com/archivesearch?hl=en&q=april+fool's+day&um=1&ie=UTF-8&scoring=t&ei=NtfSSbaIJZzItgez7_yZBw&sa=X&oi=timeline_result&resnum=11&ct=title
http://www.thefoolsday.com/
http://www.turkishweekly.net/other-news/145475/microsoft-announces-250000-conflicker-worm-bounty-networkworld-com.html
http://www.nba.com/games/20090331/LALCHA/gameinfo.html?ls=gt1hp0020801104
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/bobcats/story/634807.html
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