A Fifty Percent Chance, Huh?

Back on Tuesday, just like many other times this year, the National Weather Service was forecasting a 50 percent chance of rain for Wednesday night and Thursday. I have seen this forecast many times this year...a 50 percent chance. What good does it do tell people that there is a 50 percent chance of rain? It's like..anyone can say it might or might not rain on any given day. You sure as heck don't need to go to college for 4 years. Now maybe the NWS has some kind of policies about doing this, but it seems to be that they can to a lot better than saying there's a 50 percent chance of rain. It's like throwing up your arms and saying "I don't know what's going to happen". Even on Wednesday I think they were still saying a 50 percent chance. Finally on Thursday morning, they took the chance up to 100 percent, AFTER IT HAD STARTED RAINING! A lot of good that did!

So Sayeth The Shack

Vote For The Veep

Given the state of affairs in this country and around the world, the upcoming presidential election will likey be one of the most important in a long while. But there are two big problems. First of all, is either candidate qualified to lead in these times of trouble and turmoil? More importantly, will either candidate, if elected, live out the term of office? One risks getting assassinated, for various reasons. The other is so old that he might die in office. This makes the vice-presidential candidate perhaps more important than the presidential candidate. I am not happy with either candidate, but will most like choose based on who they pick for running mate more than anything else.

Don't Be Fooled

The price of crude oil and gasoline have tumbled from their recent record highs, but make no mistake, they will sooner or later be heading back up. And this time they will set even higher records...maybe 5 bucks per gallon..maybe even more.

The point is, whatever you were doing earlier this summer to save on gasoline, KEEP IT UP!!
Drive less, combine trips and errands, put off that vacation trip, switch to a more fuel-efficient vehicle, if possible. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security that the crisis is over. This has happened time after time in the past, and we never learn. Do you think we've learned this time? Only time will tell.

So Sayeth The Shack

George W. Bush Presidential Library

The following is from internet discussion boards, not my original work....

The George W. Bush Presidential Library is now in the planning stages.

The Library will include:

The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.

The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won't be able to remember anything.

The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don't even have to show up.

The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.

The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.

The National Debt room which is huge and has no ceiling.

The 'Tax Cut' Room with entry only to the wealthy.

The 'Economy Room' which is in the toilet.

The Iraq War Room. After you complete your first tour, they make you to go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth tour.

The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shotgun gallery.

The Environmental Conservation Room, still empty.

The Supreme Court's Gift Shop, where you can buy an election.

The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican Senators.

The 'Decider Room' complete with dart board, magic 8-ball, Ouija board, dice, coins, and straws.

The museum will also have an electron microscope to help you locate the President's accomplishments.

Congressmen and Senators get in free. After all, they've had a free ride for the past 8 years!

So Sayeth The Shack

Post-Election Taxes

The following was received via e-mail. Thought I would pass it on.

DATA ON TAXES

Proposed changes in taxes after the 2008 General election:

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

MCCAIN

0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples). McCain does not propose

any change in existing home sales income tax.

OBAMA

28% on profit from ALL home sales

How does this affect you? If you sell your home and make a profit, you

will pay 28% of your gain on taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and

would like to down-size your home or move into a retirement community, 28%

of the money you make from your home will go to taxes. This proposal will

adversely affect the elderly who are counting on the income from their

homes as part of their retirement income.

DIVIDEND TAX

MCCAIN 15% (no change)

OBAMA 39.6%

How will this affect you? If you have any money invested in stock market,

IRA, mutual funds, college funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or

anything that pays or reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly

40% of the money earned on taxes if Obama becomes president. The experts

predict that 'Higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains would crash

the stock market, yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.'

INCOME TAX

MCCAIN (no changes)

Single making 30K - tax $4,500

Single making 50K - tax $12,500

Single making 75K - tax $18,750

Married making 60K- tax $9,000

Married making 75K - tax $18,750

Married making 125K - tax $31,250

OBAMA (reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts)

Single making 30K - tax $8,400

Single making 50K - tax $14,000

Single making 75K - tax $23,250

Married making 60K - tax $16,800

Married making 75K - tax $21,000

Married making 125K - tax $38,750

Under Obama, your taxes could almost double!

INHERITANCE TAX

MCCAIN 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)

OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax

Many families have lost businesses, farms, ranches, and homes that have

been in their families for generations because they could not afford the

inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose

them to these taxes.

NEW TAXES PROPOSED BY OBAMA

New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet.

New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already)

New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water, electricity)

New taxes on retirement accounts, and last but not least....

New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level

of medical care as other third-world countries!!!

You can verify the above at the following web sites:

http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/election/2008/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/issues.taxes.html

http://elections.foxnews.com/?s=proposed+taxes

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/politics/articles/mccain_obama_offer_different_visions_on_taxes.html

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/barack_obama/

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/candidates/john_mccain/