I have come to a decision, handily assisted by Facebook, that roughly 3% of the American public understands marginal tax rates. Seriously, why hasn't any progressive candidate rebranded them? We have GOT to come up with a clearer way of explaining what they are. Not "last-dollar tax rates" but something like that. Something that communicates what they actually MEAN.
In conclusion, Twitter forever!
Some NY rats' mothers are bigger than other NY rats' mothers.
Marginal tax rates are not even a hard thing to understand.
For the ultra-wealthy, the highest marginal tax rate and the overall tax rate are effectively the same thing, since marginal tax bracket is the rate that is approximately effectively all income. Not to mention, for any investment activities or tax planning they do, they are operating entirely with the marginal rates.
The wealthy control the national discourse on taxes.
Wow I have no idea how that came out so garbled. Oh well. I hope it's still generally intelligible.
I'm fairly certain that someone I knew in college had a pair of rats for pets that were about the size of that large one. They can get pretty big, especially if they're eating more or less constantly due to being high.
In the wild I assume it's harder/less likely. But still not insane.
I thought about linking to that Times piece, but it really doesn't say anything everyone doesn't already know. It's just coming from a doctor and in the Times, so...truth?
1: You set the tax rate at the highest marginal rate you want. And you call it a "flat tax" just to fuck with the people who want an actual flat. Then you offer "tax breaks" to middle class and lower incomes to make it progressive.
That might not work, but at least it does not involve any photos of a dead rat.
8: I'm sure talking about a "40% flat tax" wouldn't freak anyone out...
You need a fall guy to do that part.
Anyway, who are you going to believe? Your own judgement or Impression EMEDIA?
8, 12:
Moby, that is actually a very, very good idea. I think it might be able to gain some traction, actually. In Texas, I pay about a 25% tax rate, but then I drive around on toll roads and pay a pretty high sales tax, so in reality it's rather higher. If you could convince people that they already pay 40% in taxes and do away with all sorts of other taxes at the same time it might work.
While I'm persuasive, anybody want to buy a time share?
I'm not interested in a time share, but while you're being persuasive about taxes specifically you might have a word with some of our state legislators up here.
What on earth made everyone talk about taxes in this thread?
18: No idea, but it appears to be Witt's fault.
Life continues to be filled with mysteries.
Like the mystery that I'm cranky because I have insomnia and a cold and tomorrow is going to suck, and then the next day is going to suck, and so on until next Thursday, which I have off. Or maybe that is not a mystery.
So, where is everybody? Whatcha up to?
I'm here, but I'm about to go to bed.
My crazy mom just got home from the gym, so I've got company. She wakes up at 3 am to go water-walking so that she can have a lane to herself.
Like, 3:00 am prompt, so that she can be in the water by 3:20 am.
Before my dad cut out alcohol altogether, they had a mutually ridiculous situation going, where he had to take his sleeping pill at 10 pm so that it would be worn off by the morning, but he wanted to stay up and watch TV because he doesn't need that much sleep, and then he'd stay up until 3 in this groggy sleeping pill messed up phase and cross paths with my mom getting up to go water-walk, and grumpy hilarity would ensue.
Now he does not have a glass of wine, stays up until 1 am or so, and just goes to sleep, and no hilarity ensues.
But enough about me. How's grading?
Oh, fine. It's fine. Induction proofs.
Done!
My mom is still out walking the dog, though.
She's home. Just so we're all clear: my mom wakes up at 3 am. By 6:30, she has exercised and walked the dog. What have you slackers done with the second half of your overnight sleeping hours?
But she does go take a nap at 6:45 am.
Halfway done grading number theory!
(Different class than the induction proofs.)
That sounds like the kids are up.
First couple of years when I was an undergraduate, generally no matter what I'd done the night before, and often even if I'd been out boozing and was hungover, I'd usually be up before 7 for a run. Then home for a shower around 7:15, and then I'd go for a nap from 7:30 until about 8:30, which was utter bliss. That little morning nap after physical activity is fantastic.
So I always felt a bit smug when my flatmates would crawl into the kitchen half-asleep ready to go to 9am lectures, and I was feeling great.
Last night she went to bed around 9, which I think is pretty standard. She considers herself someone who needs a lot of sleep, but she does take multiple naps throughout the day. Often strict 20 minute naps with a time, though. My mom is nothing if not disciplined.
I personally think she needs a standard amount of sleep, about the same as me.
Oh man, heebie, my illness-induced insomnia must have given out just before yours started. But this post was all about taxes, so I didn't blather here.
We must have overlapped, because I was reading for awhile before I gave up and came downstairs. I'm sorry about your terribly short number of hours of sleep!
I need a non-standard amount of sleep, but people keep making me get up.
Mine wasn't as bad as it could have been if I hadn't been in bed the past two days. Just not being feverish anymore is great. Perhaps I can get some serious cleaning done today, because I certainly need to.
My a friend in college had a rat. It was a fun little critter but it was not toilet trained and he let it poop everywhere, picking up the poops as he noticed them. I find this vaguely disgusting, but the rat was nice. It was curious and surprisingly intelligent for something with a brain the size of a peanut. It was white, but he dyed it pink for some reason, which the rat didn't seem to mind.
Rat poop is little black balls that aren't quite as gross as people poop. Gross enough, though. I prefer not to have poop on my things or on my person regardless of source, but I'm a prissy delicate flower of a man.
32
At least you're productive! If I wake up a 3am or 4am I tend to just lie there and unproductively worry about solutions to issues with my project, or worry about how screwed we are if Trump wins, or any number of other timewasting but obsessive topics.
Then I officially wake up to go to work and it is still dark. The first few weeks of DST are hell.
47: I would just go for straight-up disgusting.
We keep our windows open and have a problem with birds flying in to eat whatever is sitting out in the kitchen. So, bird poop in the house is a problem. Disgusting, but not disgusting enough to close our windows.
I can't believe the pool is open 24 hours! What kind of fancy gym does she belong to?
No screens. They don't use screens in this country. Which is really weird, considering all the zika, dengue, and chikungunya going around. The local preference is to close the windows and blast the air conditioning, which is one reason the country has the highest carbon footprint per capita in the western hemisphere.
But we are on the fifth floor, and mosquitoes don't fly that high. We keep our big, sliding glass doors open and enjoy the sea-breeze, notwithstanding the constant struggle we face keeping the tanangers at bey.
But we are on the fifth floor, and mosquitoes don't fly that high
Could you inform the mosquitoes plaguing my fifth floor abode of this fact?
54, 55: Any entomologists here? This seems worthy of study.
In our building, the first floor is called the ground floor and the second floor is called the first floor, so I guess I'm really on the sixth floor. Maybe that's the difference.
Here is what Google says:
In general, mosquitoes that bite humans prefer to fly at heights of less than 25 ft. Asian Tiger Mosquitoes have been found breeding in treeholes over 40 feet above ground. In Singapore, they have been found in apartments 21 stories above ground.
5th floor seems low to me for the mosquito no go zone. Maybe it depends on if there's pooled water on tall buildings.
Assuming a 10' height for a single floor, that means Taiwan has conquered Singapore.
Here is what an entomologist says:
The answer depends upon the kinds of mosquitoes present in your area and the kind of host(s) they prefer to feed upon. Let's assume that you're a human being (rather than a very capable bird with an internet account). Some kinds of mosquitoes will tend to fly fairly close to the ground as they seek to feed. These will likely bite your ankles or elsewhere on your lower limbs. If you happen to be prostrate on the ground, then they'll likely partake in a meal anywhere on your body. Yet other kinds of mosquitoes will seek hosts a meter or so above ground level. These may more likely attack you around your head, or somewhat lower. The greater the distance you are above the ground, the less likely you'll be bothered by these kinds of mosquitoes. There are many other mosquitoes that feed on mammals and/or birds in the tree canopy. You may encounter them on occasion near ground level, but you'll find many more if you climb several meters or more above ground level, or if you cut trees to displace the mosquitoes that inhabit those more lofty heights.
58 is support for the theory in 59. You want to be at the top of a tall tower with nothing around you.
Oh, I forgot to quote the punchline:
Venturing higher than the tree canopy, and you'll be far less likely to find many mosquitoes looking for a blood meal.
So, if you're much higher than the surrounding tree canopy, you should be good.
Comments 58, 61 and 63 brought to you by extreme procrastination. I should really stop commenting and do this work that I urgently need to do.
Now that we've settled that, lets see if any ornithologists to let us know if there is technology that can keep a bird from flying through a window while allowing the breeze and mosquitoes in.
The only thing that can stop a bad bird with a gun is a good bird with a gun.
Then I guess birds really are dinosaurs.
Is there predictive evolutionary biology? Like, people who have tried to quantify and be rigorous about what species might be our masters? Bc I think for sure it will be crows or parrots.
60 is a nonstarter. Jadis would just petrify the rocs as they came in. Granted there'd be collateral damage from the giant plummeting statues, but she isn't squeamish.
69: no species will even conceivably begin to dominate us (with the possible exception of bacteria), but when we die off (likely soon, in evolutionary terms), the world will belong to the insects. (And the flying fish, which will replace birds, most of which are going out with us.) 16 ft roaches, and armies of millions of ants the size of dogs. It will be horrible.
Why are the birds going with us? Did we get really hungry toward the end?
16 ft roaches
Based on the size of the roach I saw this morning, we are already getting close. Good thing there was only one.
74: That's what the Lorax said, but lots of birds live on the ground (admittedly difficult with 16ft roaches) or on the sides of cliffs.
The decaying ruins of our cities will compensate while the forests grow back. And crows thrive in cities already! I look forward to a bright future of corvids dancing on my grave.
Or pecking at my unburied corpse. Depending how fast the end comes.
77: lots of birds in an absolute sense but not as a percentage of total birds. (Unless you're counting chickens/farmed poultry, but they all die quickly when we're no longer around to keep the foxes out of the henhouses.) I didn't say every bird would die off. A select few will likely evolve back into tyrannosaurs.
I feel like flying fish are a bad pick for future mastery. First, the oceans seem even more fucked than forests. Second, fish have been around for way longer than birds or most mammals and what have they ever done? Never awesome like dinosaurs or eagles or humans. Basically the dumb mediocrities of the animal world since forever.
82: as soon as they evolve some way to stay out of the water indefinitely, watch out.
81: I expect that while the ants are evolving to be the size of dogs, the birds will have plenty of time to adapt also. There were lots and lots of different types of dinosaurs.
Never awesome like dinosaurs or eagles or humans.
Sharks, man.
Sharks are done. The oceans will be for jellyfish. (That's what the flying fish will be fleeing.)
Roaches are not social animals. If you've seen one roach, that's mostly likely the lot of them.
If that were not the case, I would probably have to move.
72 giant ants and roaches
They will have to evolve a new way to breathe and a new form of exoskeleton to do that. I've got my money on dolphins re-evolving the ability to be walk once the "human-sized predator" niche on land is empty.
That's what they want you to think.
I had a rat as a kid. They are the perfect pets: low maintenance, hardy, sweet natured, social, intelligent, and trainable. Pictures of dead rats or seeing sewer rats still grosses me out though.
I also need two dissertation chapters by tomorrow, so I've been on the 1 every 2 days plan. It's amazing much you can write in 48 hours, given enough coffee. Anyways, I have 1 done and 1 to finish today.
More annoyingly, I also need a 3 page or so dissertation project "statement" separate from a dissertation prospectus.
All of this is for grants I am not super likely to get because 1) they are really competitive and 2) my dept needs to nominate me, but they probably won't because 3) I am eligible for other more area/topic specific grants, so they will probably choose people without those options. Also, the grants are due until mid april, but they chose a stupidly early internal deadline.
#gradlife
Dave, they will be constructing their new exoskeletons from our petrified bones.
Dolphins v. crows seems like a reasonable competition. I think crows take it b/c flying plus can grasp with claws. I also feel like dolphins spend too much time with fish to become smart.
Why do super roaches beat out super rats?
With more carbon dioxide, warmer temperatures, and more humidity there should be lots of plant growth. This should increase oxygen levels, making ideal conditions for giant insects.
Mammals are too finicky. Clean air, clean water--without those, they're toast. Roaches thrive.
If there's one thing that rats are known for, it's being dependent on the clean water of the sewers.
I have to imagine some aspects of the insect evolution will be accelerated in the nuclear fallout.
Right, but they do that now and rats don't seem to be at endangered by roaches.
The few remaining birds and mammals, clinging to survival in cold, mountaintop environments, will watch in horror at the rise of massive colonial organisms crawling across the land and bubbling out of the seas.
I suppose of the roaches to go Damnation Alley levels of cooperation, no small mammal will make it long.
104: All birds will be penguins. All mammals will be lemmings.
Tigre, I know this is a straight line so straight it will probably get banned for egregious heteronormativity, but I have met far too many fish that are smarter than I am
You just mean you weren't able to catch the fish. But unless the fish caught you, I'll call it a push.
I guess if they sold you some penny stocks in a pump and dump scheme, that would also be a win for team fish.
It is embarrassing for ocean life that the smartest animal they've managed to produce is basically an evolved slug. The moment mammals dipped their toes back in the water the supposedly badass sharks were knocked off the top of the food chain.
rats don't seem to be at endangered by roaches
109: That's pretty much the plot of his memoir.
That was really gross, but it doesn't show the bugs killing the rodent. Just eating the corpse.
The title said they killed and ate it. In the tropics, Ants eat live birds.
Also, I'm so glad I opened that with my phone instead of my big computer screen.
And just remember: they'll be the size of dogs. That changes the whole equation.
It sure looked dead from the first shot.
Is 110 referring to the octopus? Also seems like a good candidate for mastery.
Since octopodes aren't mammals I assume not.
114
I always believe YouTube titles are 100% accurate.
She wakes up at 3 am to go water-walking so that she can have a lane to herself.
No one wants to share a lane with that preachy bearded dude. He elbows everybody and acts like he owns the place.
I did mean octop*s and was thinking of species that hadn't spent time on land.
I kind of wonder if Jesus will come back in octopus/parrot/dolphin format in the future. Is there predictive evolutionary theology?
Octoparrophin, just to mess with people's heads.
He could be coming back any moment, peep. Look busy.
I just got out of a meeting with the Bitcoin people. Did you know that gold should really be worth $13,000 an ounce?
Lastly, you who read; aye, you
Who this very line may scan:
Think of all you planned to do ...
Have you done the best you can?
See! the tavern lights are low;
Black's the night, and how you shrink!
God! and is it time to go?
Ah! the clock is always slow;
It is later than you think;
Sadly later than you think;
Far, far later than you think.
128: That must have been an amazing meeting. Did you manage to keep a straight face for the entire thing?
I almost lost it when Donald Trump was being praised for his integrity.
Hey - being a self promoting con artist is a type of integrity!
I mean, not the normal sort where good intentions or something are involved. But he definitely holds firm to his principles ("ME ME ME ME ME" and "MONEY NOW"), even in the face of having to pretend he sometimes has other ones.
"ME ME ME ME ME" and "MONEY NOW"
It surprises me that message could appeal to Bitcoin people, who are selfless and only want to make the world a better place.
Semi-OT, but I assume people other than me have seen that picture making the rounds on Facebook of Hillary Clinton hugging George W. Bush, right? Most people sharing it seem to find it uplifting, but I assume if anyone besides me doesn't, I can find them here.
Semi-OT, but I assume people other than me have seen that picture making the rounds on Facebook of Hillary Clinton hugging George W. Bush, right?
It's been mentioned in a couple of the primary threads. Brief discussion (and a link from Megan to what looks like an interesting blog) here).
136: missed that, sorry.
I wonder how revealing my reaction to this is. Are there right-wingers having a similar reaction? Is it "people who care about good results from politics more than decorum" vs. "people who don't"? I haven't been motivated enough to compare that photo to her and a war criminal, but it seems fair.
I kind of wonder if Jesus will come back in octopus/parrot
Jesus is totally coming back as The Squawktopus.
Most people sharing it seem to find it uplifting,
Really? I've seen it shared many times, always by people who thought it was basically disgusting.
139: I've seen it shared twice, and each time it got no critical comments. I should be the change, I guess.
The anti-hug thing is exactly what pisses me off. So now we want politicians who viscerally hate their opponents at a personal level? Or what? Maybe it's a lawyerly thing but it's actually totally possible to get on professionally with people whose positions you find contemptible and who you're working hard to oppose. Plus how many people have lived in the White House -- of course there's some mutual sympathy. But no it's just evidence of CORRUPTED BY ELITES because everyone needs to be at MAX OUTRAGE LEVEL always, in internet world.
I do kind of want politicians who won't hug the worst president of my life.
141 is totally amazing to me considering several years ago there was a conversation on this very blog about whether people would shake Bush's hand if they for some reason met him at a function of some sort, and I was IIRC the sole conservative sellout who said of course I would shake his hand. Everyone else was somewhere between saying they'd just refuse and saying they'd spit in his face. But even I wouldn't give him a warm friendly embrace (even if in theory I knew him well enough to give him a friendly embrace), and while a fellow politician doing may be forgivable it's certainly not a good look.
Jesus, tigre, how many millions do i have to kill to lose your friendship?
Clinton has moved into the category: "My thoughts are illegal and I can't write them on the internet."
The picture moved her into the loathed category.
The linked body language analysis showed Clinton was sincere and spontaneous in her affection, physically demonstrated, for that murdering monster. She meant it, it wasn't politeness, she really really likes Bush.
Typing slowly and correcting a lot, y'all apparently don't understand how much I hate Republicans.
I hate Democrats who tolerate Republicans. Repubs are fucking murdering Nazis with one foot in the camps. All. Of. Them.
There is nothing to talk about. Exterminate the brutes.
148 should have been in quotes. Sorry.
149: I watch they do, and watch what happens. Especially what happens, because even what they do can get slippery.
Apparently Obama wasn't President when Libya was destroyed.
Discussion referenced in 145 is here (from 2007), continued and extended here (starting basically with comment 180) (second link is from 2009).
I even said then: "I wouldn't hug Bush (or Mugabe), if that helps clarify my position"! And yet I still took nothing but shit. For a theoretical handshake!
Maybe we should expect different standards of behavior from Presidents than we do from Unfogged commenters.
153: Then what's the point of going presidential?
Didn't FDR hug Stalin? And Stalin was almost as evil as Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
On second thought, the future clearly belongs to the ostrich. It's already adapted to harsh desert conditions and humans have wiped out nearly all large land carnivores, so that sweet terror-bird niche is wide open again.
And an ostrich could totally eviscerate Bush right now without having to evolve or anything.
The mouseover is dead. Long live the mouseover.
Anyway, the old one lasted just over a year. I remember because I said it on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day 2015.
because everyone needs to be at MAX OUTRAGE LEVEL always, in internet world
God, right? I haven't followed the primaries or watched a single minute of the debates and it's been fucking great.
I'm thinking of driving to Cleveland for the Trump Riots. It's been nearly twenty years since I've been to Cleveland anyway.
Since this is the tax thread, I have a question. If the IRS sent me a notice that they need more information to process my tax return for 2015 and I haven't filed a 2015 tax return. Should I be worried?
161: Kinda? I mean, there is a small epidemic of people scam-filing on behalf of other people so they can grab EITC very quickly.
Here's what Turbo Tax recommends:
https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/General-Tax-Tips/Identity-Theft--What-to-Do-if-Someone-Has-Already-Filed-Taxes-Using-Your-Social-Security-Number/INF23035.html
and the IRS:
https://www.irs.gov/uac/Taxpayer-Guide-to-Identity-Theft
"The Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft" sounds like a self-help book for beginning criminals.
Most eoe hate doing their taxes, so someone is nice enough to take care of it for you and you're gonna get all upset about it?
I done know how my phone gets eoe from people.
162: Also, thanks. The second link especially was helpful.
This is happening to me because I'm white.