The Obama administration has let us know that it's going to reduce the annual pay raise for federal employees from 2.4% to 2.0%. The amount to cover the reduced amount is 19.9 billion dollars.
On the other hand, as a private citizen-freelancer, having made an honest mistake on my income tax return in 2006 owed the IRS an additional 1300.00. I made some payments on an installment plan, but then could no longer afford too. They penalized me, they charged interest on the penalty, they had also charged me to make installment payments in the first place. The following year, they confiscated my refund of 11,000.00. I wrote them a letter protesting the original penalty and they granted a waiver, but the interest on it was still due along with the"statutory assessment". This additional money they demanded wiped out the funds I'd already paid and generated another 500.00 dollars owed them in addition too the 11,000.00 refund they'd confiscated.
Today, I discovered that the 457 dollars I had in my checking account has been confiscated by the IRS and they still want more. If any bills come due that I can't cover, I'll be charged 35 dollars a day by my bank for insufficient funds. It seem the bank does the favor of paying the bill despite my lack of funds and then charges me for it. It amounts to compelling me to borrow money at a virtual interest rate that would make a loan shark blush.
This same bank by the way has been given billions in low interest loans and outright grants from the public till.
I'm getting by so far on unemployment checks and small 'loans' to make up my monthly expenses. I'm approaching homelessness while the government employees are making the 'sacrifice' of a reduced pay raise?
I don't think "the government" is of. or by, or for 'the people' anymore. I think the government is 'them' and not 'us'.
Friday, September 04, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
I really shoud...
The problem I always have with 'to do' list is that as soon as I finish making one, I get so overwhelmed, I just lay down and take a nap.
Thursday, May 07, 2009
California Idiots
I looked into getting work as an elevator repairman. It's a Union job, and it pays well.
The apprenticeship process requires one to submit an application and take a competency test. However, no application is accepted unless a sealed copy of one's high school transcripts are provided.
I dropped out of high school in 1975. However, later in life, I requalified myself, went on to university undergarduate studies, graduated, and did well enough to be given a full-ride scholarship to a Masters program from which I also graduated, with honors in 1987.
For the last 22 years I've made a living in the entertainment industry as a prop-maker, carpenter, set-dresser, actor, and photographer.
Yet when I point out that I've two college degrees, I'm again recited the rule:
"... a high school diploma or GED is required." Period!
I ask if that's a minimum requirement. I'm quoted the rule again.
I ask for the reasoning behind the requirement, and each of three people I talked too, including a higher up in the union could not explain this restriction.
Each responded with the exact same logic; '... That's the rule.'
"Yes I understand that's the rule, but can you tell me why the rule was made?"
'Because California decided it should be the rule.'
One of the administrators actually said; "... anyone can get a college degree, you need a high school diploma or you're not going to be allowed to apply."
Later, after a brief exchange with the Union big shot, he told me I could go to the internet/website for an explanation of the policy, but the address he gave me was wrong.
This is the level of intelligence/competence of the people I must provide with evidence that I'm capable of graduating from high school.
The apprenticeship process requires one to submit an application and take a competency test. However, no application is accepted unless a sealed copy of one's high school transcripts are provided.
I dropped out of high school in 1975. However, later in life, I requalified myself, went on to university undergarduate studies, graduated, and did well enough to be given a full-ride scholarship to a Masters program from which I also graduated, with honors in 1987.
For the last 22 years I've made a living in the entertainment industry as a prop-maker, carpenter, set-dresser, actor, and photographer.
Yet when I point out that I've two college degrees, I'm again recited the rule:
"... a high school diploma or GED is required." Period!
I ask if that's a minimum requirement. I'm quoted the rule again.
I ask for the reasoning behind the requirement, and each of three people I talked too, including a higher up in the union could not explain this restriction.
Each responded with the exact same logic; '... That's the rule.'
"Yes I understand that's the rule, but can you tell me why the rule was made?"
'Because California decided it should be the rule.'
One of the administrators actually said; "... anyone can get a college degree, you need a high school diploma or you're not going to be allowed to apply."
Later, after a brief exchange with the Union big shot, he told me I could go to the internet/website for an explanation of the policy, but the address he gave me was wrong.
This is the level of intelligence/competence of the people I must provide with evidence that I'm capable of graduating from high school.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Perez Hilton
What a vile little prick this guy is. If I were gay, I'd be quite embarrassed that the likes of this ignoramus was presuming to speak on my behalf or anyone else's. That nasty little attack he made on some young woman has made him popular apparently and like a crack whore after the next puff, he's out of control. News of his demise will be as welcome as the birds singing in the morning.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Lie To Me
Tell me you're a talented writing staff that can take a fascinating scientifically plausible concept and create truly compelling intelligent entertainment ...
Oops, never-mind, you're working for a network after all. Bring on the nonsense and close ups, the trite and implausible! Ratings rule! Sell more shit to the idiots.
Giving good ideas to television is like handing over an iphone to a dog.
Oops, never-mind, you're working for a network after all. Bring on the nonsense and close ups, the trite and implausible! Ratings rule! Sell more shit to the idiots.
Giving good ideas to television is like handing over an iphone to a dog.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
THE RACISTS
"La Raza (literally "The Race") is sometimes used to denote people of Chicano (i.e. Mexican American) and Mexican descent and the Latino world, as well by mestizos who share Native American or national Hispanic heritage." ---wikipedia
It's also the name of a "consciousness raising" political organization that while absurdly protesting racist America, demands and receives millions in federal support for it's fundamentally anti-american agenda.
"The term and idea associated with it have been mainly adopted by some Mexican people in the United States to express pride in their nation." --- wikipedia
It's also the name of a very popular Spanish radio station in Los Angeles. But what is it that warrants such pride? Why are so many Mexicans trying desperatly to escape it?
Mexico is as old as the U.S., rich with resources and talent, and yet it's remains as always, a basket case. How asinine to wave their flags on the streets of America demanding respect.
It's also the name of a "consciousness raising" political organization that while absurdly protesting racist America, demands and receives millions in federal support for it's fundamentally anti-american agenda.
"The term and idea associated with it have been mainly adopted by some Mexican people in the United States to express pride in their nation." --- wikipedia
It's also the name of a very popular Spanish radio station in Los Angeles. But what is it that warrants such pride? Why are so many Mexicans trying desperatly to escape it?
Mexico is as old as the U.S., rich with resources and talent, and yet it's remains as always, a basket case. How asinine to wave their flags on the streets of America demanding respect.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Random Twit
"Interestingly, the residents of Washington DC don't have representation in Congress because the District of Columbia isn't a state. We have 'shadow representatives' that can't vote on bills. 500,000 Americans who suffer from 'no representation without taxation.'"
Michael E., Washington D.C., US
Ask this fellow if he's any idea why this is so. He'll be clueless. He'll probably start with an assumption that the republicans had something to do with it, and conclude with a conspiracy theory involving racism. Point out to him that these 500,000 suffering citizens live entirely on money taken from the 50 states, and he'll accuse you of hate speech.
Michael E., Washington D.C., US
Ask this fellow if he's any idea why this is so. He'll be clueless. He'll probably start with an assumption that the republicans had something to do with it, and conclude with a conspiracy theory involving racism. Point out to him that these 500,000 suffering citizens live entirely on money taken from the 50 states, and he'll accuse you of hate speech.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Perspective
Question: How many stars are in our galaxy?
Answer: Recent estimates are 400 Billion give or take 50%
So at the most, there are fewer stars in the Milky way than dollars being printed up by the Federal Reserve.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The American Dream
The government and culture of the U.S. has been designed over time to make life as comfortable, and as lucrative as possible, for accountants, lawyers, bankers, and elected officials. In other words, it's a parasite's paradise.
Those that actually produce goods and services outside the banking and legal sectors are fed upon by an arrogant, swinish minority.
It's appalling to watch the promotion of such software as Quicken - listening to users declare how happy they are now that they can finish all the mind-fucking financial chores imposed on them in less time than ever before.
Gee, I guess with the time they've saved, they can handle a little more paperwork. How about some more tax code?
The greatest American Industry
This is what I want to do:
I want to download the transactions from last year into a program. I want the program to take all the transactions and sort them by categories such as 'date', 'amount', 'vendor', etc. Once sorted, I want to select all transactions by a particular vendor and assign them a tax category.
I would also like to choose the size of the type used in the program to make it easier to read. Apparently, all such features are impossible to include in a single fucking application. I've spent hours registering in support forums, chat rooms and 'knowledge bases' all to no avail.
Here's what I'd rather have done:
The government stops extorting my money and leaves me the fuck alone.
The GD income tax
I've just spent the last few hours entering data about last year's financial transactions only to find out that I'd made a mistake - even though the program 'Quicken' indicated it was responding as I expected. All this of course is to satisfy the IRS's presumption of guilt, in the event they decide to take a look at me. It's a damned yearly chore, and months of anxiety, just to prove that I'm allowed to keep an extra thousand dollars of my own. My taxable income last year was ... 10k less than the mean. Living in Los Angeles, this is a mean figure indeed, and yet, the Federal Gov. wants/demands my help. The industry that's built on the idiotic and corrupt taxation of the people is enormous and growing in good times or bad. Of course I sleep better at night knowing that those damn rich people are paying a higher percentage than little ole' me. Right?
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Monday, January 29, 2007
Friday, February 03, 2006
I was supposed to start a detox program today, but I was was given the wrong directions to the center and never found it. When I got home and called it was made clear, but I'd have to wait until next week to start. I was disappointed, angry and felt like crying or killing. I made it all the way home without stopping at a liqueur store. But it was Friday night, and I'd nothing to look forward too but the still insanity of life in my apartment. I got back into the car and picked up a bottle of Skyy Vodka - a small one. As usual, along with my receipt was included a three dollar coupon for my nest bottle. I've saved at least 18 dollars now on vodka. In fact even more as I punch in my Albertson's club number for an additional savings of two dollars. It's a drunkard's dream. Here's to next week when all will be made better as I remove the demon alcohol from my life.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
I'm on the internet tonight reading postings in the rant and rave section of Craig's list and I come across this post titled "re:re:re: Brad Pitt's Penis". Now my first instinct is - oh for Pete's sake don't open that ... but then there it is ... and it says "damn, no wonder Jennifer left him". Now as I'm scrolling down the list to find the previous post I'm thinking what kind of low-life shit is this, who would post such a thing ... and then there it was ... "re"re: Brad Pitt's penis". And it was apparently some gay guy that wanted to see his butt instead. So now I'm pretty disgusted because I really Brad and I can't stand this kind of small-minded, anonymous, gossipy shhh - stuff.
I wasn't going to look at the original posting ... but then I realized I'd already defiled myself, and I might as well see what all the talk's about ... and then there he was - naked. And I see him you know .. naked and I'm thinking, 'so what's the problem here?' I mean I've done some research on it and according to my sources I'm - he's just average.
Nothing wrong with that.
And then I thought, hey, that's pretty cool; Brad Pitt and I have something in common.
I wasn't going to look at the original posting ... but then I realized I'd already defiled myself, and I might as well see what all the talk's about ... and then there he was - naked. And I see him you know .. naked and I'm thinking, 'so what's the problem here?' I mean I've done some research on it and according to my sources I'm - he's just average.
Nothing wrong with that.
And then I thought, hey, that's pretty cool; Brad Pitt and I have something in common.
This I think is a perfect personal ad for the entire city of Los Angeles:
I turn heads when I walk in a room - tall, long legs, beautiful features.
I'm also intelligent, friendly and frequently kind to strangers.
I am looking for a genuine connection with a gentleman who is intelligent, cultured, traveled, self-aware and successful.
I am especially attracted to men who have built their own empires or are in some other way highly independent and self-made.If this describes you - please send a photo and a clear, intelligent and personalized (no cut-and-paste generic) description of who you are. Your picture gets mine.Thank you!
I turn heads when I walk in a room - tall, long legs, beautiful features.
I'm also intelligent, friendly and frequently kind to strangers.
I am looking for a genuine connection with a gentleman who is intelligent, cultured, traveled, self-aware and successful.
I am especially attracted to men who have built their own empires or are in some other way highly independent and self-made.If this describes you - please send a photo and a clear, intelligent and personalized (no cut-and-paste generic) description of who you are. Your picture gets mine.Thank you!
Europe, 1349
Bands of hooded men, wearing white robes marked front and back with a red cross, are moving to and fro across Europe, attempting to atone for the ravages of the Black Death by whipping themselves in ritual public ceremonies.
The Flagellant Brahren, as they are known, believe that the plague is a punishment for human sin, and that by scourging themselves they can show mankind's repentance. They travel in parties of anything from 50 to 500 men, and are highly organized. Led by a layman - the master - they move from town to town to perform their rituals. Singing hymns and sobbing, the men beat themselves with scourges studded with iron spikes. Blood gushes from their many wounds, and the spikes embed themselves in the torn flesh. The ritual is perform ed in public twice each day.
Such exhibitions are highly influential. The establishment may focus their attacks on church corruption and their promotion of a wave of savage anti-Semitism. but the masses worship the flagellants as living martyrs. Their deeds are to be admired and their commands to be carried out.
Early Rock Stars?
Bands of hooded men, wearing white robes marked front and back with a red cross, are moving to and fro across Europe, attempting to atone for the ravages of the Black Death by whipping themselves in ritual public ceremonies.
The Flagellant Brahren, as they are known, believe that the plague is a punishment for human sin, and that by scourging themselves they can show mankind's repentance. They travel in parties of anything from 50 to 500 men, and are highly organized. Led by a layman - the master - they move from town to town to perform their rituals. Singing hymns and sobbing, the men beat themselves with scourges studded with iron spikes. Blood gushes from their many wounds, and the spikes embed themselves in the torn flesh. The ritual is perform ed in public twice each day.
Such exhibitions are highly influential. The establishment may focus their attacks on church corruption and their promotion of a wave of savage anti-Semitism. but the masses worship the flagellants as living martyrs. Their deeds are to be admired and their commands to be carried out.
Early Rock Stars?
Monday, January 23, 2006
My career is looking up:
hi,
I found your headshot through lacasting.com
would you be interested in auditioning for the lead role in 'the Creep'? It's a short movie, shot on film with pro crew. We'll be shooting for 4 days on Feb 16th through the 19th - around UCLA campus area (I'm a graduate student at the UCLA film school). Hope you're available then.
how is Tuesday, Feb 24th look like for auditions - between 11am and 3pm? We could also do it on Thursday between 11am and 3pm.
attached are sides for the role
regards,
Xavier
hi,
I found your headshot through lacasting.com
would you be interested in auditioning for the lead role in 'the Creep'? It's a short movie, shot on film with pro crew. We'll be shooting for 4 days on Feb 16th through the 19th - around UCLA campus area (I'm a graduate student at the UCLA film school). Hope you're available then.
how is Tuesday, Feb 24th look like for auditions - between 11am and 3pm? We could also do it on Thursday between 11am and 3pm.
attached are sides for the role
regards,
Xavier
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Angry?
Me?
Well, yes as a matter of fact, and I invite you to go through life with a face like mine and an unreliable six inch pecker and give me your results.
All you nice-looking freaks that subscribe to the philosophy that one generates one's reality by thinking are pathetically deluded.
You couldn't begin to imagine the things I have, and here I am after all, writing screeds to the abyss.
Me?
Well, yes as a matter of fact, and I invite you to go through life with a face like mine and an unreliable six inch pecker and give me your results.
All you nice-looking freaks that subscribe to the philosophy that one generates one's reality by thinking are pathetically deluded.
You couldn't begin to imagine the things I have, and here I am after all, writing screeds to the abyss.
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