A program at Jennifer’s school called Sunshine Bears gave the twins a pair of quilts. I guess they provide gifts to new mom’s, people in mourning, etc… people with lots of changes going on in their family. Two new arrivals was a big enough change to attract some attention it seems.
We took some photos to give to Jennifer’s co-workers of Liz and Em to show them the quilts being used as a thank you and to encourage others to donate to the group.
We hear that question a lot. Do the rich pay their fair share? Why should millionaires and billionaires get tax cuts? Why can’t they pay more?
They do. Not just in real dollars; they are actually paying more than their share. I have prepared graphs to illustrate this. The graphs are based on publicly available data from the IRS. It takes about 5 minutes to do this in Excel. Seriously, why people have a hard time understanding these facts is beyond me, but here’s some help!
Look at a graph comparing the earnings of, and taxes paid by, each income group. The groups are graduated up from 50% all the way to the top 1%. (Obviously the Top 50% is inclusive of the other “Top X%” groups, etc… as you move right on the graph) The earnings are Adjusted Gross Income figures for 2008 and the taxes paid are federal personal income taxes for the same year. Apples to apples.
As you can see, the bottom 50% of wage earners pay 2.7% of taxes and make almost 13% of the money. Meanwhile, the top 1% of wage earners pay 38% of taxes and make only 20% of the money. A more shocking comparison, is that the bottom 50% pay 2.7% of taxes while the top 50% of income earners pay OVER 97% of taxes.
Comparison of Wage Earners (Share of Total Taxes and Wages)
We need a better way to visualize this relationship since people seem to have a hard time understanding it. I give you: the Share of Taxes Paid relative to the Share of Earnings made. This graph relates the two figures from the previous graph. As you can see, the bottom 50% of wage earners pay significantly less than 100% of their “share.” While every income group above pays progressively more massive shares exceeding 100% of their “share” until you reach the top 1% of wage earners. Those maligned producers of income, investments, jobs and economic prosperity are paying double their “share.”
Wage Earner Groups Share of Taxes Relative to Earnings Share
While I do not mean to suggest that the bottom 50% need be piled on with taxes, this does serve as a direct, effective and unassailable rebuttal to any and all leftists who continue on the mantra that the “rich don’t pay their fair share.” Clearly they pay in excess of their fair share. But how does this fit in context? Data without context is useless. Therefore, I give you: The bottom 50% of wage earners share of income taxes paid… over time. From the end of the Clinton administration all the way through the Bush administration… supposedly replete with tax cuts for the “wealthy.”
Bottom 50% Wage Earners Share of Taxes Relative to Earning Share Over Time
As you can see, the bottom 50% of wage earners saw their share of federal income taxes nosedive from 4% down to 2.7%. And if you think that is a small difference, you have to consider that in 1999, their share of federal taxes paid was 48% higher than their share in 2008. The fact that their share is so small makes further drops very difficult.
Any across the board tax cut, as all of the Bush tax cuts were, would mathematically necessitate real dollar numbers being much higher at the top of the income scale. That’s just how percentages work. If people make more dollars, they keep/pay/cut/increase all in higher numbers of real dollars.You have to accept this premise.
If you are stuck on the notion that someone makes more money than you, then you are beyond hope. Spend less time coveting and jealously plotting to destroy other people and you may succeed in your own endeavors.
There is no feasible way to cut taxes, without them being easily misrepresented as “tax cuts for the rich.” But this is an argumentative sleight of hand. (A lie) Now you know the truth. It’s been said before, in other places and by other people. But here I am, saying it again so you have one more place to find the truth. Math doesn’t lie. The rich already pay their fair share, and some of your share, and some of my share.
Obama has done enough to destroy our economy through wasteful and frivolous spending, fiscal mismanagement, the threat of taxes and the disparaging words of class warfare that drag business and investment to a standstill. Don’t let him and his minions win the next fight – the fight over whether or not to completely level what is left of our economy into so much rubble… so that all we have left is hope for 2012 and the change in our pockets.
And to any hippies that disagree: GET A JOB!
Graph Data Source: United States of America, Internal Revenue Service: Individual Income Tax Returns with Positive Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) Returns Classified by Tax Percentile – Early Release .
The elementary school down the road was a fun place to get in some fetch for Romeo. The twins enjoyed watching the spectacle as well. Album on Facebook. (Originals unavailable for uploading to Flickr due to my OSX86 machine being down for the count.)
Sssh! Don’t tell nosy neighbors or authorities we were off leash! Especially don’t point them towards this photographic evidence! (Don’t worry, we can just claim these are photoshopped. Romeo looks like a stock photo dog to me!)
Seriously, we think they shut a lemonade stand down on our street today. Fun killers!
These guys are so clueless, it boggles the mind. They point fingers at everyone but they don’t see the problem staring them in the face. Anyone who has ever balanced a checkbook, run a business, paid taxes, paid off debt, planned a household budget or even run some small countries, understands what is going on here.
Anyway, I’m bored here at lunch, so without further ado, here is the political left’s reaction to the credit ratings downgrade of the United States from AAA to AA+… in Facebook comment style so everyone can understand!
I am an avid follower of David Hobby’s Strobist blog and instructional lessons on the use of small flashes. After having mastered the bare basics of photography (very bare, I am painfully new to this,) I dove right into his material because I knew I didn’t have an interest in large studio lighting (I am not a professional, just a hobbyist, no pun intended!) Still, I definitely wanted to enjoy the additional creative power of artificial lighting. Natural lighting and small strobes… those were the tools I wanted to make sure I knew how to use.
Having never taken part in any of Hobby’s Bootcamp lessons, this is my first entry. The lesson was to photograph a local export of some kind. I chose wine, an admittedly more commercial rather than cultural export. We produce a lot of it in and around the Sacramento Metropolitan area. I have favorites from every county around here, including Napa, Sonoma, Placer, Yolo, El Dorado… This one happens to hail from Amador which I think is my favorite nook of the nearby wine world, though it is hard to choose sometimes.
The lesson necessitated lighting the photo, though of course that wasn’t the primary focus, just a means to an end. The limitations were no more than two strobes which was not at all difficult for me to adhere as I only own one! You can find a higher resolution photo, an alternate shot and a setup shot on my Flickr page.
With work during the day, new twins at night and not a lot of time in-between, I haven’t had much time to experiment and practice. But with the kids out with my wife for a few hours this evening, I decided to indulge in some relaxing recreation, and a nice glass of wine afterwards!
Other than a nice glass of port on a late chilly evening, or a perfectly paired Syrah with a meal, I think a good Old Vine Zinfandel is just about the most perfect varietal of wine. I like finding the gems that go easy on the spice and let you savor all of the flavor. It goes with just about everything including the pleasantly quiet yet full atmosphere that hangs about as you and your friends enjoy it’s lush texture rolling past your lips.
I’m going to go grab another glass, enjoy the photos!
Jennifer, the kids and I just returned from Roseville High School — in Roseville, CA — where we viewed their Amorphophallus titanum or “Corpse Flower,” Tiger the Titan. It started blooming earlier today for the first time since being started from seed 10 years ago.
The teacher who runs the greenhouse sent an advisory email to the various staff members throughout the district, of which Jenn belongs (she teaches at Granite Bay HS.) As these flowers tend to attract a lot of attention, we were excited to go see one without the long lines.
The scent was strong, but I must admit I was a tad underwhelmed. I moved around, smelling from different angles. I agree that if you catch it at just the right angle, the scent can be quite strong. Still, it was not overpowering. We brought Elizabeth and Emory along for the ride, though due to the diminutive nature of the high school’s greenhouse, we had to go in shifts. I was able to capture a picture of Emory in mommy’s arms next to the odorous blossom.
Jennifer was interviewed by a reporter from the Press Tribune and we hear that Good Day Sacramento will be making a live shot Monday morning. These flowers only bloom for a few days, and it is at its peak right now. We were happy to beat the crowd!
Thinking of buying candles? Maybe you should! They do more than just light the way during a rolling brown out (remember those!?) They are a wonderful addition to your home’s decor, providing beautiful accent and fragrance as well.
Kimberly Sells, my wife’s cousin, has a Partylite Website with a wide selection of fun and bright home decor. She seems to have a dizzying array of candles. We’re very happy with our Scents and Warmer; it provides a pleasing and calming scent to waft through the Hill house.
Much better than the scent of our dog and two newborns!
Jennifer and I usually make at least one trip to the Music Circus every year. This year I wasn’t sure we’d make it due to the arrival of our twins. But with a show like The Producers, how could we pass it up? Elizabeth and Emory enjoyed some time with relatives at their grandmother’s and we headed down into Sacramento.
First things first, we set out to grab a bite to eat and to wet our whistle. The obvious choice when visiting the Music Circus at the Wells Fargo Pavilion downtown is Brew it Up which is stumbling distance from the theater. However, many people choose this option and your best bet is to venture a bit father. We settled on the Esquire Grill which is just a short walk towards the convention center.
I have opted to skip the Esquire Grill in the past, but service has improved significantly since the post recall days when their own popularity seemed to outpace their attention to service. Our waiter was very prompt, friendly and the service was downright excellent.
After some delicious bites of Ahi Shashimi with avacado and jalapeño slices, and few tasty drinks including his martini and hers lemon drop, we were all set for the show. The Producers is a movie that was made into a musical which also spawned another film. It may be a classic (the original dates back to 1968,) but I am always in the mood for an excellent Mel Brooks comedy. The man is a genius, and the skilled actors, musicians and more at the Music Circus put on a wonderful show.
I highly recommend the classic theater-in-the-round to anyone looking for a fun night out. It’s loads more entertaining than stuffing yourself into a sticky movie theater to see The Magical Wizard #8: The Quest for more Money! The atmosphere is lively and not too formal, heck some people show up in shorts. Don’t worry, it’s been years since we suffered in the heat; if you remember a big tent with swamp coolers, may I suggest you revisit as things have changed!
Head on down and maybe we’ll see you there!
I’ve been giving the new Google+ social networking site a try and I have to say, it’s empty and lonely but kind of nice.
It’s empty and lonely because I don’t have a lot of early adopters to network with at the moment. Especially besides getting an invite, I haven’t made full use of the site yet. One major reason is a lack of any kind of iPhone or iPad native app. Though I have heard that one has already been submitted for approval, so hopefully I can use that soon.
It’s fun to use as far as social networking sites go. The circles interface is intuitive and the whole design is very slick and clean. I’m sure it will be cluttered with ads eventually, but for now it is somewhat pleasing to look at. The total lack of FarmingMafiaCafe stupidity is a refreshing change of pace! We’ll see how things shape up. I think I’m going to need more of my inner circle type contacts to be using the service before I can make full use of it.
For now my verdict is: promising, will continue to give it a chance.
Early Monday morning Jennifer and I headed to the hospital for a routine checkup. The babies passed with flying colors, but the doctors worried about Jenn. Since the babies were so far along, and due for a scheduled cesarean birth on Friday, Jennifer was beginning to warrant more of their attention and concern. We were shuttled over to a triage room while they waited for things to improve. Soon we were asked the dreaded question, “When was the last time you ate?”
She was headed for the OR.
I didn’t even have time to rush home to grab the bag, which in retrospect we should have carried with us any time we went to the hospital. It was packed and ready to go at home so I made a few quick phone calls and suited up while they prepped the mother to be.
Grandmothers-to-be showed up, and we were off to the races. I was allowed to enter the OR once they had Jenn prepped and on the table. With a curtain up to hide the stuff that’s tamer than prime time medical dramas, I stood up to watch each miracle of life spring forth.
Elizabeth was first and her lungs started up as soon as her top half was free. With her legs still being pulled free, she let the world know she was here. No sooner had they presented her to us and rushed her over to a table, Emory was on his way out. He too had his lungs going strong, smaller in size but with lots of fight.
Soon they were working on both babies and I had to manage my presence between comforting Jenny and attending to both of my new children. I calmly sliced through both umbilical cords with ease, though I am glad I read up ahead of time; they are a little tough. I followed each baby out as they were weighed.
It was a few minutes past two on Monday, June 13, 2011. Elizabeth clocked in at 6lbs 12.7oz with a length of 18″. My heart sank when Emory rang in at 4lbs 14.5oz. He was 17.5″ long but they informed me that he would need to go to the NICU as he was under the 5lbs limit.
Almost as soon as it had started, it was over and Jenny was all cleaned up. We left for recovery as a family. While there, the nurses attended to Jennifer and I split my time between the babies. Emory roasted under a heat lamp like a sun bathing vacationer in the tropics. He looked pretty comfortable and even opened his eyes for me. Elizabeth was very calm and collected for such a new baby. I took a brief time out to rush out and announce in the waiting room, then it was back to the family.
After a brief and above expectation nursing with both babies, we set off for a regular room… All of us, as a family. Emory had his sugar levels checked and rechecked before we set off. They had signed off on his not needing the NICU! We were very happy to keep him with us as we settled in with the two most important things in our lives.
Elizabeth is a source of comfort and strength for her younger (by minutes) smaller brother Emory who was fussing until we placed him next to his big sister. A beautiful sight.
