FUCK
- Thread starter dorian gray
- Start date
Ars Magna
Ars Magna Recordings
My 401k is downright depressing. I'm using it as an excuse to drink tonight. Who's with me?!?!?! 
I was trying to conjure the same force that Will Ferrell did in Old School when he went streaking. Not sure I succeeded.
I was trying to conjure the same force that Will Ferrell did in Old School when he went streaking. Not sure I succeeded.
- Apr 8, 2004
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Reign in Acai
Of Elephant and Man
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - More than 200,000 state government employees were expected to stay home without pay Friday as California began its first-ever furlough, a move intended to save money during an ongoing fiscal crisis.
State agencies scrambled in the days before the furloughs took effect to avoid confusion for the public, such as people trying to register vehicles or obtain professional licenses.
Among the offices to be closed Friday are those of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Consumer Affairs. The governor's Office of Emergency Services also would be dark as part of a cash-saving move ordered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Critical and revenue-generating agencies were scheduled to remain open, including fire stations, parks and employment centers that process unemployment insurance claims. California's unemployment rate is 9.3 percent, a 15-year high.
Schwarzenegger ordered the two-day-a-month furloughs, reducing the average state worker's salary by 9.2 percent, as he and lawmakers try to solve the state's $42 billion budget shortfall.
The governor had hoped his order would apply to some 238,000 state employees, but each of the seven other constitutional officers have said they will not comply. Employees of the Legislature are not under his authority.
Schwarzenegger's legal affairs secretary, Andrea Hoch, said the administration was prepared to sue the state controller if he did not reduce paychecks for more than 15,000 workers in the other constitutional offices, which include the attorney general, secretary of state and insurance commissioner.
A judge who affirmed Schwarzenegger's authority to order the furloughs said his ruling did not apply to statewide elected officials because they were not a party to the lawsuit. The administration has maintained that employees of constitutional offices are covered by the furlough order.
Doors to about 180 DMV offices were to be locked Friday. Some people said the state gave little notice to the public about the furloughs, which will continue on the first and third Fridays of each month through June 2010.
"They don't have any signs telling us about Friday," said Ingrid Dela Cruz of Sacramento, who was inside a Sacramento DMV office on Thursday.
In fact, there were plenty of signs, but they were posted in locations invisible to most customers because they were hidden behind sliding glass doors.
Schwarzenegger's administration estimated that cutting worker hours would save the state $1.3 billion over the next year-and-a-half.
The state decided to keep some 250 career centers open after previously announcing they would be closed. The centers are where the unemployed get information about job training and benefits.
Labor leaders said the furloughs could have been prevented. Jim Zamora, spokesman for Service Employees International Union, Local 1000, said the administration did not respond to the union's latest contract proposal, which he said included alternatives.
"More than a week ago, Local 1000 presented the governor's negotiators with a deal that would have prevented the closure of state offices, created an orderly, flexible and manageable furlough process, prevented chaos and saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars," Zamora said in a statement.
Jolley, whose office is negotiating with the union, declined to respond.
Some employees, including a group of engineers, said they were going to show up at work, anyway, despite the pay cut.
Craig Copelan, a senior engineer with the state Department of Transportation, said he has been working on a national safety manual with colleagues around the country and that Friday is the final day to turn in comments.
Other employees questioned whether the furloughs would result in taxpayer savings.
Dan Gurule, a police officer at the state mental hospital in Norwalk, said the state would have to pay overtime at 24-hour facilities to those workers who backfill the shifts of people on furlough.
Five state mental hospitals and 33 adult prisons are required to provide constant care to patients and inmates.
"Somebody has to fill in my position," Gurule said. "We still have to have a minimum staffing. That's going to be someone on overtime, being paid time-and-a-half."
"Don't feel bad", said an ashen faced metal forum member, "these blokes are vastly overpaid." The identity of the metalhead is unknown as of press time.
But the furlough may not be all that bad for state workers.
Squaw Valley ski resort at Lake Tahoe was offering $30 lift tickets—a $49 savings—on furlough days to state employees who show a valid state identification card or recent pay stub. Boreal ski resort also has a promotion in which state employees can ski or snowboard every Friday for the rest of the season for $20.
State agencies scrambled in the days before the furloughs took effect to avoid confusion for the public, such as people trying to register vehicles or obtain professional licenses.
Among the offices to be closed Friday are those of the Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Consumer Affairs. The governor's Office of Emergency Services also would be dark as part of a cash-saving move ordered by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Critical and revenue-generating agencies were scheduled to remain open, including fire stations, parks and employment centers that process unemployment insurance claims. California's unemployment rate is 9.3 percent, a 15-year high.
Schwarzenegger ordered the two-day-a-month furloughs, reducing the average state worker's salary by 9.2 percent, as he and lawmakers try to solve the state's $42 billion budget shortfall.
The governor had hoped his order would apply to some 238,000 state employees, but each of the seven other constitutional officers have said they will not comply. Employees of the Legislature are not under his authority.
Schwarzenegger's legal affairs secretary, Andrea Hoch, said the administration was prepared to sue the state controller if he did not reduce paychecks for more than 15,000 workers in the other constitutional offices, which include the attorney general, secretary of state and insurance commissioner.
A judge who affirmed Schwarzenegger's authority to order the furloughs said his ruling did not apply to statewide elected officials because they were not a party to the lawsuit. The administration has maintained that employees of constitutional offices are covered by the furlough order.
Doors to about 180 DMV offices were to be locked Friday. Some people said the state gave little notice to the public about the furloughs, which will continue on the first and third Fridays of each month through June 2010.
"They don't have any signs telling us about Friday," said Ingrid Dela Cruz of Sacramento, who was inside a Sacramento DMV office on Thursday.
In fact, there were plenty of signs, but they were posted in locations invisible to most customers because they were hidden behind sliding glass doors.
Schwarzenegger's administration estimated that cutting worker hours would save the state $1.3 billion over the next year-and-a-half.
The state decided to keep some 250 career centers open after previously announcing they would be closed. The centers are where the unemployed get information about job training and benefits.
Labor leaders said the furloughs could have been prevented. Jim Zamora, spokesman for Service Employees International Union, Local 1000, said the administration did not respond to the union's latest contract proposal, which he said included alternatives.
"More than a week ago, Local 1000 presented the governor's negotiators with a deal that would have prevented the closure of state offices, created an orderly, flexible and manageable furlough process, prevented chaos and saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars," Zamora said in a statement.
Jolley, whose office is negotiating with the union, declined to respond.
Some employees, including a group of engineers, said they were going to show up at work, anyway, despite the pay cut.
Craig Copelan, a senior engineer with the state Department of Transportation, said he has been working on a national safety manual with colleagues around the country and that Friday is the final day to turn in comments.
Other employees questioned whether the furloughs would result in taxpayer savings.
Dan Gurule, a police officer at the state mental hospital in Norwalk, said the state would have to pay overtime at 24-hour facilities to those workers who backfill the shifts of people on furlough.
Five state mental hospitals and 33 adult prisons are required to provide constant care to patients and inmates.
"Somebody has to fill in my position," Gurule said. "We still have to have a minimum staffing. That's going to be someone on overtime, being paid time-and-a-half."
"Don't feel bad", said an ashen faced metal forum member, "these blokes are vastly overpaid." The identity of the metalhead is unknown as of press time.
But the furlough may not be all that bad for state workers.
Squaw Valley ski resort at Lake Tahoe was offering $30 lift tickets—a $49 savings—on furlough days to state employees who show a valid state identification card or recent pay stub. Boreal ski resort also has a promotion in which state employees can ski or snowboard every Friday for the rest of the season for $20.
Reign in Acai
Of Elephant and Man
WASHINGTON Now that there's a tentative agreement on the economic stimulus plan that President Barack Obama and other supporters hope will provide a considerable jolt to the economy, how long will it take to get infrastructure and other projects moving? And do economists think the plan is big enough to create millions of jobs?
Here are some questions and answers about the latest version of the stimulus initiative.
Q: What are the main objectives of the package?
A: A combination of tax cuts and spending incentives totaling nearly $790 billion is aimed at putting money back in the pockets of consumers and businesses and creating millions of jobs. It also looks to accomplish some long-term goals, such as making the country more energy efficient and improving the nation's crumbling roads and bridges.
Overall, the package breaks down to nearly two-thirds spending initiatives and just over one-third tax cuts.
Q: Does the bill include federal aid to the states?
A: Yes. It includes major contributions to states to help with their budget shortfalls and assure the viability of Medicaid and education programs.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the moderate Republican who helped broker the deal, said the spending includes about $90 billion in increased federal matches to states to help pay for Medicaid, along with a $54 billion "fiscal stabilization" fund that states could use to build and repair schools and improve facilities at institutions of higher learning.
Q: What are some of the other main focuses of the bill?
A: Here are some highlights:
Education: The package has some $11.5 billion to support the IDEA program for special education. There's another $10 billion for a federal program to help low-income students.
Energy: The package includes funds to modernize the electrical grid in part by incorporating renewable energy resources and to make federal buildings more energy efficient and help low-income households weatherize their homes.
Health: The plan includes subsidies to allow people who are laid off to purchase health insurance through the federal COBRA plan. There is also money to support hospitals seeking to modernize health information technology.
Infrastructure: The infrastructure section of the package includes funds for building and repairing highways and bridges, expanding transit systems, upgrading airports and rail systems and building and repairing federal buildings with the focus on making them more energy efficient. Funds are available for clean water projects, cleanup of environmental waste areas and nuclear waste cleanups.
Money devoted solely to transportation infrastructure reaches almost $50 billion. Collins said that when all the infrastructure projects for roads, sewers, energy and electricity transmission are added up, it will reach about $150 billion.
The package includes money to bring broadband Internet service to underserved areas.
Other highlights: The plan also supports National Institutes of Health research and contributes to programs in the departments of defense, homeland security, veterans affairs and state.
Q: What are some of the tax breaks in the bill?
A: It includes Obama's signature "Making Work Pay" tax credit for 95 percent of workers, though negotiators agreed to trim the credit to $400 a year instead of $500 or $800 for married couples, cut from Obama's original proposal of $1,000. It would begin showing up in most workers' paychecks in June as an extra $13 a week in take-home pay, falling to about $8 a week next January.
There is also a $70 billion, one-year fix for the alternative minimum tax. The fix would save some 20 million mainly upper-middle-income taxpayers about $2,000 in taxes for 2009.
Q: How will infrastructure spending affect jobs?
A: The Federal Highway Administration has estimated that every $1 billion the federal government spends on infrastructure projects translates to 35,000 jobs. Collins put the total infrastructure spending including highways, mass transit, environmental cleanups and broadband facilities at $150 billion. Do the math and that translates into more than 5 million jobs, based on the highway administration's assumptions.
Senate leaders have offered their own estimate they said Wednesday that the total stimulus package will sustain some 3.5 million jobs.
Q: How long would it take for highway projects to begin?
A: Lawmakers say most of the projects could be up and running within 90 days, although it could take somewhat more time in northern states with longer winters. Highway construction groups have estimated that there are thousands of projects that could be started within that 90 days.
Q: Do economists feel the stimulus package is big enough to actually stimulate the economy?
A: Many leading economists have concluded that the stimulus alone may be insufficient to bring a quick turnaround for the economy.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, called for a larger package of spending and tax breaks and predicted that unemployment could top 9 percent next year, up from the current 7.6 percent, even if an $800 billion package is enacted. Nobel laureate economist Paul Krugman also contends that $800 billion will fall short of filling the gap left by projected reductions in consumer and business spending.
Obama has also acknowledged that the stimulus measures are only "one leg of the stool" needed to stabilize the economy. Spending initiatives and tax cuts, he has said, must be combined with the ongoing massive effort to restore confidence and integrity to financial markets, get credit flowing again and right the collapsed housing market.
Here are some questions and answers about the latest version of the stimulus initiative.
Q: What are the main objectives of the package?
A: A combination of tax cuts and spending incentives totaling nearly $790 billion is aimed at putting money back in the pockets of consumers and businesses and creating millions of jobs. It also looks to accomplish some long-term goals, such as making the country more energy efficient and improving the nation's crumbling roads and bridges.
Overall, the package breaks down to nearly two-thirds spending initiatives and just over one-third tax cuts.
Q: Does the bill include federal aid to the states?
A: Yes. It includes major contributions to states to help with their budget shortfalls and assure the viability of Medicaid and education programs.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the moderate Republican who helped broker the deal, said the spending includes about $90 billion in increased federal matches to states to help pay for Medicaid, along with a $54 billion "fiscal stabilization" fund that states could use to build and repair schools and improve facilities at institutions of higher learning.
Q: What are some of the other main focuses of the bill?
A: Here are some highlights:
Education: The package has some $11.5 billion to support the IDEA program for special education. There's another $10 billion for a federal program to help low-income students.
Energy: The package includes funds to modernize the electrical grid in part by incorporating renewable energy resources and to make federal buildings more energy efficient and help low-income households weatherize their homes.
Health: The plan includes subsidies to allow people who are laid off to purchase health insurance through the federal COBRA plan. There is also money to support hospitals seeking to modernize health information technology.
Infrastructure: The infrastructure section of the package includes funds for building and repairing highways and bridges, expanding transit systems, upgrading airports and rail systems and building and repairing federal buildings with the focus on making them more energy efficient. Funds are available for clean water projects, cleanup of environmental waste areas and nuclear waste cleanups.
Money devoted solely to transportation infrastructure reaches almost $50 billion. Collins said that when all the infrastructure projects for roads, sewers, energy and electricity transmission are added up, it will reach about $150 billion.
The package includes money to bring broadband Internet service to underserved areas.
Other highlights: The plan also supports National Institutes of Health research and contributes to programs in the departments of defense, homeland security, veterans affairs and state.
Q: What are some of the tax breaks in the bill?
A: It includes Obama's signature "Making Work Pay" tax credit for 95 percent of workers, though negotiators agreed to trim the credit to $400 a year instead of $500 or $800 for married couples, cut from Obama's original proposal of $1,000. It would begin showing up in most workers' paychecks in June as an extra $13 a week in take-home pay, falling to about $8 a week next January.
There is also a $70 billion, one-year fix for the alternative minimum tax. The fix would save some 20 million mainly upper-middle-income taxpayers about $2,000 in taxes for 2009.
Q: How will infrastructure spending affect jobs?
A: The Federal Highway Administration has estimated that every $1 billion the federal government spends on infrastructure projects translates to 35,000 jobs. Collins put the total infrastructure spending including highways, mass transit, environmental cleanups and broadband facilities at $150 billion. Do the math and that translates into more than 5 million jobs, based on the highway administration's assumptions.
Senate leaders have offered their own estimate they said Wednesday that the total stimulus package will sustain some 3.5 million jobs.
Q: How long would it take for highway projects to begin?
A: Lawmakers say most of the projects could be up and running within 90 days, although it could take somewhat more time in northern states with longer winters. Highway construction groups have estimated that there are thousands of projects that could be started within that 90 days.
Q: Do economists feel the stimulus package is big enough to actually stimulate the economy?
A: Many leading economists have concluded that the stimulus alone may be insufficient to bring a quick turnaround for the economy.
Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, called for a larger package of spending and tax breaks and predicted that unemployment could top 9 percent next year, up from the current 7.6 percent, even if an $800 billion package is enacted. Nobel laureate economist Paul Krugman also contends that $800 billion will fall short of filling the gap left by projected reductions in consumer and business spending.
Obama has also acknowledged that the stimulus measures are only "one leg of the stool" needed to stabilize the economy. Spending initiatives and tax cuts, he has said, must be combined with the ongoing massive effort to restore confidence and integrity to financial markets, get credit flowing again and right the collapsed housing market.
- Apr 8, 2004
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I don't really care about a stimulus bill. It's all completely fake and will only burden our childrens' lives with unimaginable debt. I'd happily trade the stimulus for some head-rollings and hangings. Maybe some floggings. Folks like Bernard Madoff should be quartered. But nah, nothing will ever happen to these people. They're already rich. No amount of recession or depression will ever touch them. No law will ever make their lives miserable. The lesson I've learned is that it pays to lie, cheat, and steal your way through life.
- Apr 8, 2004
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And obtain mortgages for far more than you can actually afford...the taxpayers will bail you out.
Reign in Acai
Of Elephant and Man
Conspicuously Absent
Linguistically Confused
They can insure themselves against their own failure and corruption, and get even more rich if they get fired.
:zombie: uke:
Thanatopsis123
ç½é¬¼
We need to build up our infrastructure and create some fucking jobs to do so. Build factories, railways, dams, bridges that don't fucking collapse, etc etc etc.
Am I wrong here?
Am I wrong here?
- Apr 8, 2004
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Well, yeah, but it's a symptom of a larger disease that is known as automobile addiction. Trillions of dollars of road construction that will last for only another 50 years before it has to be replaced all over again...all at the taxpayer's expense. Oh, don't drive? Sorry, you're still paying for it sucka!
Reign in Acai
Of Elephant and Man
Infrastructure isn't at the root of our problems. Our main ailment lies with the parasitic tax leeches of society who whip a kid out of their snatch upon first sign of winter's frost. Filthy fucking coons who refuse to toil because Grandpa Jebediah was whipped like a mule over Mesa. Then there's the revolving door of the prison system which Juan by Juan costs us (CA) $43,000 a year for housing/sustenance. What the fuck are these vermin eating, filet mignon? A bullet behind their ears would be the most efficient budget cut-back our society has ever seen. Don't worry niglets, you'll be buried amongst white sexual deviants and violent criminals, there will be no need to cry to the Black Gods which have forsaken thee in the same manner you have done to your plow. There's plenty of tax monies being accrued to cover the expenses of roads, bridges, sewage systems, etcetera. (If the idlers were put to labor & the vermin put to rest)
- Apr 8, 2004
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There's just too many people in the world. End of story. You think *we* have problems? Half the world is still tyring to deal with communicable diseases this country hasn't seen the likes of since 1890.
Reign in Acai
Of Elephant and Man
It's nice to see that Obama has time for town hall meetings now that he is in office. This jiggaboo couldn't be arsed when McCain challenged him to a series of debates, but now that the economy is hanging by a tether, he can leisurely hear the cries of McDonald's workers and downtrodden black senior citizens. This Julio faggot was offered two radio jobs due to this spectacle and the black lady (who my heart goes out to) received housing by the hands of a generous G.O.Per. To which Pres.Obama received all the credit.
"President can you turn this fish and loaf of bread in to a feast for this entire hall?"
@ the "I Love You Barack" white lady.
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EricT
Don't you ever get...
I am amazed by the fact that they're trying to vote this fucking WASTE of a stimulus bill in through the fucking house WITHOUT the 48 hour debate/reading period for the public (or even some representatives). The 1000 page bill has been available for reading for about 4 hours. Nobody has had the chance to see what the fuck was changed/agreed on. Early looks show it's not much of a change from the one that was disputed by the entire Republican side of the house/11 democrats.
ANd why is the house trying to do this?
Because Queen Pelosi has a flight to Rome at 6pm.
Fucking ridiculous. I can't wait till these people are dead. Hopefully the republican side can hold off the vote till we've at least had the chance to go through the bill "With a fine tooth comb".
ANd why is the house trying to do this?
Because Queen Pelosi has a flight to Rome at 6pm.
Fucking ridiculous. I can't wait till these people are dead. Hopefully the republican side can hold off the vote till we've at least had the chance to go through the bill "With a fine tooth comb".
EricT
Don't you ever get...
So, anyway, what are you going to do with that extra 13 dollars a week? I'm gonna buy drugs with it.
- Apr 8, 2004
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EricT
Don't you ever get...
I'm planning on putting it towards tiny amounts of opium. I'll ensure it's of the afghan-grown group.
- Apr 8, 2004
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