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May. 12th, 2009
Two movies not worth watching
May. 12th, 2009 10:10 amTwo movies took America by storm: Slumdog Millionaire (2008) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).
They have a lot in common:
They have a lot in common:
- Both come from a humongous rapidly developing country which evokes intense curiosity and mild fear
- Both won quite a few Oscars
- Both pretend to be at least somewhat high brow, i.e. "not just entertainment"
- Both enjoy very high (8+!) "IMDB User Ratings", probably because the "Users" feel flattered that they understand a "high brow" movie
- Both have idiotic plots, lousy choreography, boring dialogs, and more!
- In my view of a male chauvinist pig, they would have been at least somewhat redeemed had they have a pretty girl, but no, not a single pretty girl in either movie
- Neither is worth your time
lousy journalism
May. 12th, 2009 11:18 amThe National Palestinian Radio is at it again.
They report that a 100 years ago 30% of population of the Holy Land was Christian, now - only 3%.
Why?
They interview a Christian in Bethlehem and he blames the Jews.
They never mention that this town is fully controlled by the PLO.
They don't try to find and interview the Christians who fled the PLO-controlled territories to escape harassment.
They only talk to the people who have a Hamas or PLO gun to their head.
Nice reporting!
They report that a 100 years ago 30% of population of the Holy Land was Christian, now - only 3%.
Why?
They interview a Christian in Bethlehem and he blames the Jews.
They never mention that this town is fully controlled by the PLO.
They don't try to find and interview the Christians who fled the PLO-controlled territories to escape harassment.
They only talk to the people who have a Hamas or PLO gun to their head.
Nice reporting!
Tax Dodge Myths
May. 12th, 2009 03:32 pmhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/10/AR2009051001961.html
Myth:Aided by those overpaid lobbyists, American multinationals are taxed lightly -- less so than their foreign counterparts.
Reality: Just the opposite....
Myth: When U.S. multinationals invest abroad, they destroy American jobs.
Reality: Not so. ... for every 10 percent increase in U.S. multinationals' overseas payrolls, their American payrolls increase almost 4 percent.
Myth: Plugging overseas corporate tax loopholes will dramatically improve the budget outlook as multinationals pay their "fair" share.
Reality: Dream on.
Including state taxes, America's top corporate tax rate exceeds 39 percent; among wealthy nations, only Japan's is higher (slightly). However, the effective U.S. tax rate is reduced by preferences -- mostly domestic, not foreign -- that also make the system complex and expensive. ... Obama would have been better advised to cut the top rate and pay for it by simultaneously ending many preferences. That would lower compliance costs and involve fewer distortions. But this sort of proposal would have been harder to sell. Obama sacrificed substance for grandstanding.
Myth:Aided by those overpaid lobbyists, American multinationals are taxed lightly -- less so than their foreign counterparts.
Reality: Just the opposite....
Myth: When U.S. multinationals invest abroad, they destroy American jobs.
Reality: Not so. ... for every 10 percent increase in U.S. multinationals' overseas payrolls, their American payrolls increase almost 4 percent.
Myth: Plugging overseas corporate tax loopholes will dramatically improve the budget outlook as multinationals pay their "fair" share.
Reality: Dream on.
Including state taxes, America's top corporate tax rate exceeds 39 percent; among wealthy nations, only Japan's is higher (slightly). However, the effective U.S. tax rate is reduced by preferences -- mostly domestic, not foreign -- that also make the system complex and expensive. ... Obama would have been better advised to cut the top rate and pay for it by simultaneously ending many preferences. That would lower compliance costs and involve fewer distortions. But this sort of proposal would have been harder to sell. Obama sacrificed substance for grandstanding.