Just Joshin' ya

So Full, So Hungry.

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:18:00 +0000

Toni made tacos tonight and they were awesome. As a result, I am full and couldn't possibly eat another bite. That said, we are eating at the Kitchen tomorrow night (Thanks to my awesome sisters and brother-in-law). I am getting hungry already.

NetFlix Origami!

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:01:00 +0000

Earlier today Toni introduced me to a great way to use up the flaps that come with our NetFlix DVDs!

www.NetFlixOrigami.com

I made a crab.

And while I'm at it...

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:39:00 +0000

I love the Estate Tax. I hope that someday I (well, my estate) need to pay it (or that I properly plan with charity, etc.). In any case, the Estate Tax rocks.

First, you can't call it a "death tax" because everyone would need to pay a death tax an in reality only a small number of Americans ever qualify for the Estate Tax. You see, under 2011 (Bush tax cuts change the Estate Tax annually) law estates valued over $1,000,000 are subject to a 55% tax. So, you need to be a millionaire to qualify. My opinion is that $1,000,000 is too low of a threshold as many upper-middle class Americans have homes that are worth that much, or more. The Estate Tax should only affect the richest of Americans, and not invade the middle class. 55% is a high rate too. A rate closer to a high-bracket income tax rate makes more sense.

That said, the Estate Tax does some wonderful things. It ensures that charities are funded because donations are tax deductible. Also, it helps to ensure that we do not have hereditary wealth on a massive scale. The decedents of J.P. Morgan or Andrew Carnegie don't retain the wealth and power of their ancestors. If the tax remains in place, then the children of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet will need to work hard to become as wealthy as their parents. Basically, the Estate Tax helps realize the American value that there is no hereditary upper class. If the wealthy want to remain wealthy, then they will need to work.

If you don't want to take my word for it, then listen to Mr. Buffett. His opinion can be found here.

People Pay Taxes

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:24:00 +0000

The speech that John McCain gave at the RNC last night got me to thinking about taxes. I don't even remember what McCain said that set me off (As a Republican he probably mentioned something about cutting taxes), but it made me think about corporate income taxes.

Corporations do not pay taxes. People pay taxes. There, I said it and it is true. Granted, corporations pay tax in that they write quarterly checks to the IRS, but that money comes from somewhere. That money comes right out of the pocket of people. Actually, it comes from three different groups of people: shareholders, employees, or customers. Most Americans fit into all three categories.

The group of people paying the corporate income tax depends upon the company. If the company sells a product in high demand, like oil, then it can pass most of the tax on to customers. This is why an increased tax on oil companies would probably result in an increase in gasoline prices (laws limiting gas prices would result in shortages like we saw in the 1970s).

Other companies that sell products with less-robust demand cannot pass the full effect of their taxes on to the customer. These companies will pass the tax on to the employees or shareholders. Employees may see lower wages or reduced benefits due to corporate taxes. This is especially true for lower-skilled workers because they are more easily replaced. Shareholders experience reduced stock returns and smaller dividends.

When the largest corporations are targeted for tax increases we all suffer. For example, if the corporate tax rate were increased for S&P500 companies the entire country would be affected. Most of the Americans that buy products or services offered by these companies would be faced with some sort of price increase (just what we want with inflation as it is today). The millions of Americans employed by these companies could face additional wage or benefits decreases. Finally, the stock market could see a smaller rate of return which affects anyone invested in the stock market (Most middle-class Americans have a 401(k), IRA, or other investment account and S&P 500 based funds are the most popular investments).

If corporations actually see a reduction in taxes, we all win. Prices drop, profit increases, and wages increase.

We cannot think of corporations as faceless entities that will foot all of our bills. Increasing the corporate tax rate affects all Americans, including the poor and middle class. It is important to think about the unintended consequences of taxes before implementing them.

I guess I miss class already...

Seriously?

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:20:00 +0000

Check out this Reuters story about the Pope's Washington mass.

This is mass, people. We do not eat at mass. We do not even eat before mass. Understand what it means and fall in line.

Too long between posts?

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:06:00 +0000

I am in a delicious revolt against the pressures and guilt associated with not posting here more often. If you are seriously feeling the need to get your daily (yeah right, don't count on that) dose of me, then check out http://twitter.com//jjpoppe.

Oh, and certain web filtering application used by a certain unamed company blocks the link above. I am sorry, but you will just need to get your fix at home.

OMG, too excited to sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:12:00 +0000

Only 96 days, 7 hours, and 46 minutes of waiting left.

So excited!

Snow Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:25:00 +0000

Yesterday Toni, Cali, and I went for a hike at Donner Memorial State Park in Truckee. As you can see, it was beautiful! You can see more pictures here.

Deadly Sin?

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 05:34:00 +0000

Just had a glorious dinner of 2 1/2 pieces of bacon with a bull's eye (an egg fried in a piece of bread). Of course I fried the bull's eye in the bacon grease... OMG, so delicious!

Happy Boxing Day

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:41:00 +0000

Libation, lasagna, and cakes. I could get used to this Boxing Day thing.

Seriously?

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 18:17:00 +0000

I listen to the previous day's Marketplace in the morning (dorky, no?). Friday's marketplace had a bumper that I thought was a little odd. It was a harmonica version of Outkast's Hey Ya. Awesome.

Snuggles with Muggles

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:23:00 +0000

Cali has decided that certain parts of the day should be devoted to snuggles. These are typically right before she is supposed to go to bed or outside. I have a feeling that she has ulterior motives.

Puppy Kindergarden

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 03:22:00 +0000

A couple of days into kindergarden you learn what type of student you have. Some puppies will be the good students, learning the commands quickly and always listening to the teacher. Other puppies only like recess. Of course our Cali is a puppy in her own league; she likes recess and disrupting class. We love her.

Sad times?

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 04:45:00 +0000

Today lost an old friend. The hard disk in my iPod died by the kiss of death. Yes, the dreaded HD click death. Although I am saddened by loss, I am consoled by the fact that I am writing this post on my new iPhone. Let's hope that it stays with me as long as the last one!

Happy Constitution Day

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 06:09:00 +0000

Today was Constitution Day, celebrating the 220th Anniversary of the Ratification of the Constitution of the United States Constitution. You may find out some funtastic Facts about the Constitution at the UC Davis Constitution Day Website. The National Archives also has downloadable high-resolution Images of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence too!

You may have noticed that I have capitalized every Noun in this Post. Josh's random Constitution Fact: During the 17th and 18th Centuries it was fashionable to capitalize every Noun, not just the Proper Nouns as we do Today. If you view a high-quality Image (such as one available from the National Archives via the Link above), you will see that all Nouns in the United States Constitution are capitalized. Bring that Fact up at a Party, and you will be super popular!

What should we call her?

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 01:39:00 +0000

The best ever!

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 03:21:00 +0000

Toni and I are watching Celebrity Jeopardy and we noticed a particularly awesome and celebritytastic category: Shiny Things.

Love it!

Picnic Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 00:44:00 +0000

This year was wet, but it was fun anyway. Here is the traditional picture...

Too much of something...

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 02:26:00 +0000

You know that something just isn't quite right when you eat uncooked oats for breakfast all week long. Is it Picnic Day yet?

On a side note, one of my favorite instructors at UC Davis is one of this year's marshals!

I guess it has sprung...

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 06:33:00 +0000

Living (well, dead) History!

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 07:37:00 +0000

So as I was driving to class this evening (quite late due to traffic I might add), I passed through the intersection of 28th and L which is adjacent to Sutter's Fort. In my already bitter, anti-driving mood I noticed that the intersection was thoroughly thrashed. There must be like 10 different steel plates covering holes in the middle of the street. I hate holes in the middle of the street.

After a great class I opened a bottle of wine and checked in with my RSS feeds. MSNBC had an intersting little story about an archaeological dig by Sutter's Fort in Sacramento. Apparently they found some Gold Rush era human remains. Radar images suggest that the road may be directly above an unmarked cemetery.

I guess that the Sutter's Fort route to class is out for the rest of this year...

Hey B, maybe we can drag the other Rops out for a little living history mixed with archeology? I am so for it!

Flashback quiz

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 06:18:00 +0000

So I was going through some old notes from college today and I found this quiz on a handout from my Computer Security professor:

March 12, 2003 ECS 153 Computer Security

Here's a little quiz to inspire you when you study for the final (answers are below - try it before you look!).

1. How long did the Hundred Years War last?
2. In which country are Panama hats made?
3. Where does catgut come from?
4. What is a camel's hair brush made of?
5. What kind of creatures were the Canary Isles named after?
6. What was King George VI's first name?
7. What color is a purple finch?

There! Wasn't that easy?

And Their Answers
1. 116 years (from 1337 to 1453).
2. Ecuador.
3. From sheep and horses.
4. Squirrel fur.
5. A large breed of dogs. The Latin name was Insularia Canaria - "Island of Dogs."
6. Albert. When he came to the throne in 1936 he respected the wish of Queen Victoria that no future king should be called Albert.
7. The distinctively colored parts are crimson.

Spot sees spots...

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 04:39:00 +0000

So on my way to class from school the awesomeness that is NPR radio gave me some good entertainment to get stuck in traffic to. Please enjoy!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6376594

Click on listen for the full experience.

Way better than buying a goat...

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 02:34:00 +0000

Today I exerted my manly powers by crawling under the sink and installing our garbage disposal! You can't really understand just how life changing an insinkerator is until you live a year without one. Seriously, this is awesome.

TV with elan

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 14:41:00 +0000

This fall I have a new reason to look forward to Mondays. NBC has a new show, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" which promises to fill the void left by the "West Wing". But why am I so psyched about a TV show that I can't see until mid-September? By the awesome powers of NetFlix Toni and I watched the pilot last night. Oh yes, it was soo awesome.