DAVE: Someone on ESPN this morning suggested that Danica Patrick is beginning to get into Anna Kournakova land: all looks and marketing with little success. I agree with that assessment. I certainly don't give a fuck about auto racing, but yet I talk about her because of her looks. That's pretty much the way I used to talk about Anna Kournakova. Danica needs to win something.
JIM: I guess. I'm not always completely comfortable with that. She's been good enough to become one of the best in the world at her sport and a contender. If she never wins a race outright, I don't think it diminishes that. If she wins one race, then people will complain that she hasn't won two. If she wins two, they will complain that she hasn't won an overall championship (is there even such a thing in racing?). It will just go on and on.
Winning doesn't have to be the be all, end all. I'd like to think that competing counts for something. Dan Marino never won a Supe, but I still think he was a great quarterback.
DAVE: You like Danica Patrick.
JIM: I don't mind looking at Danica Patrick. I liked looking at Anna Kournikova too.
DAVE: No arguments here. I wonder what became of Anna Kournakova?
JIM: I heard something about her in the not too distant past. I don't remember what it was, I guess it must not have included a picture so it didn't stick in my mind.
Google her.
DAVE: I did quickly. She looks the same. Interestingly enough, I learned from Google that the retired Kournakova is 31. Meanwhile, Danica Patrick is 32.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
DAVE: It seems so weird to me that ESPN actually shows the tweets from athletes, other famous people, and average viewers. What is the relevance of these opinions to the news? I thought Facebook was bad. Twitter is evil.
JIM: My son's teachers recently sent a letter home that they are all starting Twitter accounts and want their students to follow them. So now my son has a Twitter account. Ugh.
JIM: My son's teachers recently sent a letter home that they are all starting Twitter accounts and want their students to follow them. So now my son has a Twitter account. Ugh.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Did I not get the memo? Are cargo-style gray sweat pants now acceptable for casual wear outside of the house? They're sweat pants. You can put front pockets, back pockets, and even cargo pockets on them, but they're still sweat pants. If you're going to wear cargo sweat pants, why not just wear a pair of normal pants or jeans. I'm confused.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Contraception
Thursday, 09 February 2012 00:01
Written by Rob Rogers
The Obama administration is instituting a policy requiring health insurance plans to offer birth control to women free of charge. That includes plans provided by Catholic hospitals, universities and charities. As you might expect, church leaders and social conservatives are not happy.
Thursday, 09 February 2012 00:01
Written by Rob Rogers
The Obama administration is instituting a policy requiring health insurance plans to offer birth control to women free of charge. That includes plans provided by Catholic hospitals, universities and charities. As you might expect, church leaders and social conservatives are not happy.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Experts disagree on impact of gambling revenue on school tax bills
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In 2004, during the debate over whether to legalize gambling in Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell predicted that slot machine revenue one day would be able to cut school property taxes by an average of 23 percent.
About 71/2 years and 10 casinos later, many homeowners are still waiting for that day.
While slot machine gambling is delivering promised tax relief, it doesn't appear that many residents locally are getting close to the 23 percent savings predicted by the former governor -- or even the 15 percent to 20 percent estimated when slots gambling was legalized in July 2004.
This year, the average reduction statewide will be $198. It might buy a nice dinner out or a cheap flat screen TV, but chances are it won't come close to covering a school tax bill.
"In reality, I think in the Bucks County area, it might be 7 to 8 percent at most. When you're talking about a $4,000 to $5,000 tax bill and you're getting $250, that's 5 percent," said state Rep. Paul Clymer, a Bucks County Republican who opposed legalized gambling.
In Allegheny County, based on data from the state Department of Education and the Allegheny County website, it doesn't appear as if many property owners are seeing reductions anywhere close to 23 percent.
For instance, a property owner with a $100,000 house in South Fayette is seeing his school tax bill cut by 5.8 percent. In Bethel Park, it's 6.5 percent, and in Moon, 6.2 percent. In McCandless, part of the North Allegheny School District, it's 7.3 percent. In Penn Hills and Plum, it's 7.3 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively. In Carnegie, it's 6.8 percent.
Some, however, are making out better. In the city of Pittsburgh, the reduction is $269. That equals about 19.3 percent of the school tax bill for a $100,000 house.
In Duquesne, it's 16.6 percent on a $100,000 house. But on the median value of a home in that city of $16,700, it's enough to cover the entire school tax bill. In McKees Rocks, part of the Sto-Rox district, it equals 12.5 percent on a $100,000 home.
But for many others, the amount of school tax relief being provided through slots gambling appears to be more of a pittance compared to what originally was promised.
One who won't argue with that notion is state Rep. Bill DeWeese, the Waynesburg Democrat who helped to usher through the bill that legalized gambling in 2004.
Mr. DeWeese said he is "disappointed" that slot machine gambling has not produced more tax relief for residents. He said he is constantly bombarded by complaints from people in his district about not seeing the promised tax relief, including one instance where he was cornered at a high school football game and grilled on the issue.
"I said, 'I don't have a good excuse,' " he recalled.
Likewise, Mr. Clymer doesn't think slots gambling has delivered on the promises made when it was enacted.
"In 2012, we will become Las Vegas east. We will be the [second-highest] state in gross gambling revenue next to Nevada. In spite of all of that, one could not say that we have meaningful property tax relief," he said.
Added Tim Potts, founder of Democracy Rising PA, a watchdog group seeking to transform state government, "What I can say is that gambling was never about property tax relief. It was about gambling. Period. Tax relief was the Trojan horse.
"[Gambling] was not set up to do that. It was set up to give gambling interests a foot in the door so that they could expand."
Last year, tax revenue statewide from slot machine gambling hit $1.3 billion, with roughly $818 million of that diverted for school property tax relief.
That's still below the $1 billion-a-year mark touted by some politicians, including Mr. Rendell, who could not be reached for comment, when gambling was legalized.
Proponents point out that the state has yet to open four of the 14 casinos envisioned under the law. They are expected to generate more tax revenue to add to the tax relief pot. Venues still to be opened include a standalone casino in Philadelphia, another racetrack casino and two resort casinos.
"You've got some more growth in revenue, no doubt," said Doug Harbach, spokesman for the state gaming control board.
Tax relief from gambling comes solely from slot machines. None of the revenue generated from table games currently is used for that purpose.
Despite the critics, state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, said slot machine gambling is providing meaningful property tax relief in myriad ways.
He said that many senior citizens, for example, qualify for additional gambling-related relief above that doled out through their school districts.
In some cases, a property tax rent-and-rebate program, funded in part by gambling revenues, supplements the primary tax relief they receive. In the city of Pittsburgh, for instance, that may be enough to cut the average school tax bill on a $100,000 home in half, he said.
"I think [gambling's] providing significant property tax relief," he said.
Furthermore, the city and the county last year received $10 million and $5.5 million, respectively, as the local share for hosting the Rivers Casino on the North Shore. While that money does not go directly for property tax relief, Mr. Costa argued that it does help keep taxes down.
He also noted another $120.3 million in slots tax revenue last year was deposited into an economic development trust fund that is used to fund projects throughout the state, including a number locally.
That, too, helps to lower the tax burden, he said. In addition, another $25 million is earmarked to help volunteer fire companies throughout Pennsylvania.
"Had we put it all into property tax relief, you would have seen a different percentage," he said.
In addition, Mr. Harbach said many property owners are unaware of the tax relief they do get as a result of gambling. That's because the money goes directly to school districts, which then reduce property tax bills accordingly. The relief is listed on tax bills as a homestead exemption with no mention of gambling.
"Unfortunately, many homeowners either never see their tax bill since it goes to a bank or mortgage company to be paid from an escrow account, or are unaware that the reduction they do see is a result of slot machine revenue," Mr. Harbach said.
Still, some wonder whether taxpayers are losing ground despite the relief they are getting. A study by the Commonwealth Foundation, a conservative think tank, found that between 2004, when slots gambling was legalized, through the 2008-09 school year, school property taxes in Pennsylvania had increased by $2.1 billion while the amount of slots-related tax relief totaled about $700 million.
"I don't think too many homeowners are satisfied with the amount of relief they've gotten," said Nate Benefield, the foundation's director of policy analysis.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In 2004, during the debate over whether to legalize gambling in Pennsylvania, Gov. Ed Rendell predicted that slot machine revenue one day would be able to cut school property taxes by an average of 23 percent.
About 71/2 years and 10 casinos later, many homeowners are still waiting for that day.
While slot machine gambling is delivering promised tax relief, it doesn't appear that many residents locally are getting close to the 23 percent savings predicted by the former governor -- or even the 15 percent to 20 percent estimated when slots gambling was legalized in July 2004.
This year, the average reduction statewide will be $198. It might buy a nice dinner out or a cheap flat screen TV, but chances are it won't come close to covering a school tax bill.
"In reality, I think in the Bucks County area, it might be 7 to 8 percent at most. When you're talking about a $4,000 to $5,000 tax bill and you're getting $250, that's 5 percent," said state Rep. Paul Clymer, a Bucks County Republican who opposed legalized gambling.
In Allegheny County, based on data from the state Department of Education and the Allegheny County website, it doesn't appear as if many property owners are seeing reductions anywhere close to 23 percent.
For instance, a property owner with a $100,000 house in South Fayette is seeing his school tax bill cut by 5.8 percent. In Bethel Park, it's 6.5 percent, and in Moon, 6.2 percent. In McCandless, part of the North Allegheny School District, it's 7.3 percent. In Penn Hills and Plum, it's 7.3 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively. In Carnegie, it's 6.8 percent.
Some, however, are making out better. In the city of Pittsburgh, the reduction is $269. That equals about 19.3 percent of the school tax bill for a $100,000 house.
In Duquesne, it's 16.6 percent on a $100,000 house. But on the median value of a home in that city of $16,700, it's enough to cover the entire school tax bill. In McKees Rocks, part of the Sto-Rox district, it equals 12.5 percent on a $100,000 home.
But for many others, the amount of school tax relief being provided through slots gambling appears to be more of a pittance compared to what originally was promised.
One who won't argue with that notion is state Rep. Bill DeWeese, the Waynesburg Democrat who helped to usher through the bill that legalized gambling in 2004.
Mr. DeWeese said he is "disappointed" that slot machine gambling has not produced more tax relief for residents. He said he is constantly bombarded by complaints from people in his district about not seeing the promised tax relief, including one instance where he was cornered at a high school football game and grilled on the issue.
"I said, 'I don't have a good excuse,' " he recalled.
Likewise, Mr. Clymer doesn't think slots gambling has delivered on the promises made when it was enacted.
"In 2012, we will become Las Vegas east. We will be the [second-highest] state in gross gambling revenue next to Nevada. In spite of all of that, one could not say that we have meaningful property tax relief," he said.
Added Tim Potts, founder of Democracy Rising PA, a watchdog group seeking to transform state government, "What I can say is that gambling was never about property tax relief. It was about gambling. Period. Tax relief was the Trojan horse.
"[Gambling] was not set up to do that. It was set up to give gambling interests a foot in the door so that they could expand."
Last year, tax revenue statewide from slot machine gambling hit $1.3 billion, with roughly $818 million of that diverted for school property tax relief.
That's still below the $1 billion-a-year mark touted by some politicians, including Mr. Rendell, who could not be reached for comment, when gambling was legalized.
Proponents point out that the state has yet to open four of the 14 casinos envisioned under the law. They are expected to generate more tax revenue to add to the tax relief pot. Venues still to be opened include a standalone casino in Philadelphia, another racetrack casino and two resort casinos.
"You've got some more growth in revenue, no doubt," said Doug Harbach, spokesman for the state gaming control board.
Tax relief from gambling comes solely from slot machines. None of the revenue generated from table games currently is used for that purpose.
Despite the critics, state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, said slot machine gambling is providing meaningful property tax relief in myriad ways.
He said that many senior citizens, for example, qualify for additional gambling-related relief above that doled out through their school districts.
In some cases, a property tax rent-and-rebate program, funded in part by gambling revenues, supplements the primary tax relief they receive. In the city of Pittsburgh, for instance, that may be enough to cut the average school tax bill on a $100,000 home in half, he said.
"I think [gambling's] providing significant property tax relief," he said.
Furthermore, the city and the county last year received $10 million and $5.5 million, respectively, as the local share for hosting the Rivers Casino on the North Shore. While that money does not go directly for property tax relief, Mr. Costa argued that it does help keep taxes down.
He also noted another $120.3 million in slots tax revenue last year was deposited into an economic development trust fund that is used to fund projects throughout the state, including a number locally.
That, too, helps to lower the tax burden, he said. In addition, another $25 million is earmarked to help volunteer fire companies throughout Pennsylvania.
"Had we put it all into property tax relief, you would have seen a different percentage," he said.
In addition, Mr. Harbach said many property owners are unaware of the tax relief they do get as a result of gambling. That's because the money goes directly to school districts, which then reduce property tax bills accordingly. The relief is listed on tax bills as a homestead exemption with no mention of gambling.
"Unfortunately, many homeowners either never see their tax bill since it goes to a bank or mortgage company to be paid from an escrow account, or are unaware that the reduction they do see is a result of slot machine revenue," Mr. Harbach said.
Still, some wonder whether taxpayers are losing ground despite the relief they are getting. A study by the Commonwealth Foundation, a conservative think tank, found that between 2004, when slots gambling was legalized, through the 2008-09 school year, school property taxes in Pennsylvania had increased by $2.1 billion while the amount of slots-related tax relief totaled about $700 million.
"I don't think too many homeowners are satisfied with the amount of relief they've gotten," said Nate Benefield, the foundation's director of policy analysis.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
DAVE: Today, I am wearing a button-down shirt and a tie for the first time in a couple of years. I had to look for both, and then I was pleased to discover that I still remember how to tie a tie. After a couple of years, I was afraid that I had forgotten how to do it. Whew.
JIM: I know one way to tie a tie and that is it. I think every once in awhile that I should learn a couple of other knots, but really the only time I ever wear a tie these days is pretty much at funerals so what's the point?
DAVE: That's it. The last time that I wore a tie was to my aunt's funeral three years ago.
I only know one way to tie a tie, and I'm satisfied with that. What is the dress code at your job?
JIM: Theoretically, I guess it's business casual, but it's pretty lax. There are people who wear jeans and t-shirts every day and there are some who I don't think I ever saw wear shoes all summer.
DAVE: That's awesome.
JIM: For the most part, yes. But there are some people I work with who have pretty damn ugly feet.
DAVE: Yeah, I'm against the menfolk wearing sandals.
JIM: When I say no shoes, I'm talking no shoes. Bare feet in some cases.
DAVE: That ain't right at all.
JIM: Exactly.
JIM: I know one way to tie a tie and that is it. I think every once in awhile that I should learn a couple of other knots, but really the only time I ever wear a tie these days is pretty much at funerals so what's the point?
DAVE: That's it. The last time that I wore a tie was to my aunt's funeral three years ago.
I only know one way to tie a tie, and I'm satisfied with that. What is the dress code at your job?
JIM: Theoretically, I guess it's business casual, but it's pretty lax. There are people who wear jeans and t-shirts every day and there are some who I don't think I ever saw wear shoes all summer.
DAVE: That's awesome.
JIM: For the most part, yes. But there are some people I work with who have pretty damn ugly feet.
DAVE: Yeah, I'm against the menfolk wearing sandals.
JIM: When I say no shoes, I'm talking no shoes. Bare feet in some cases.
DAVE: That ain't right at all.
JIM: Exactly.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
DAVE: Do you chew gum? I realized recently that I don't. I used to way back in college, but now I have no interest. I'm sure my breath has suffered.
JIM: No, I don't. My wife tries to get me to chew gum once in awhile. I think I have a pack in my car, but I have no idea how old it is and probably wouldn't recommend trying it at this point.
DAVE: Kathy tries to get you to chew gum once in a while? I think she's telling you that your breath is bad when she does that. Women do that. Sneaky bitches.
JIM: Probably. It usually seems to be at odd times though. I wish she'd just say what she wants.
JIM: No, I don't. My wife tries to get me to chew gum once in awhile. I think I have a pack in my car, but I have no idea how old it is and probably wouldn't recommend trying it at this point.
DAVE: Kathy tries to get you to chew gum once in a while? I think she's telling you that your breath is bad when she does that. Women do that. Sneaky bitches.
JIM: Probably. It usually seems to be at odd times though. I wish she'd just say what she wants.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
It was cold in Pittsburgh today. But the high in Toronto was 12. The low was zero. Zero. I don't have any idea how I survived my two winters in Toronto. I know for certain that I wore a lot of sweaters. Occasionally even a very nice and terribly warm Icelandic sweater. Do you remember those? Well, I had one in high school. Interestingly, I was never much of a sweater wearer after high school. In fact, I don't wear them now.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
An unfortunate series of events has left me searching for a new shower head for my shower. Those of my vast and loyal readership who know me well (which is a very small number) know that my shower is a very important part of my day. And my condo has a stall shower that requires the right shower head. I have learned from experience over the years that Waterpik makes the best shower heads when you want to get the most from your water pressure. So, I am only looking at Waterpiks. I'm completely crazy.
Friday, January 6, 2012
The place where I presently work has a lot of very loyal customers who have been coming there for many years. Most of them live in the East End, my domain. Yesterday, my ninth grade Latin teacher came in with her daughter. Her son and I ran cross-country in ninth and tenth grade before my family moved to Toronto, thus changing the course of my life like a butterfly flapping its wings in South America. Instead of graduating high school as a top student and going off to college at Penn or Princeton, as was the plan, instead, I ended up spending two years out of school before I went to the University of Pittsburgh. A handful of bad things have happened to me in my life. Leaving Pittsburgh was just the first really big one. But not only did moving change my life for the worse, in many ways, it changed my life for the better, in many ways. I just need to remind myself of just exactly what those better things are. I'm trying to think of one right now.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Winter in Pittsburgh means a lot of rainy days. Where I work, people have recently been saying that they would rather that it snowed than to have to endure all that rain. I think that these people are either crazy or they have short memories. Snow sucks. An inch or two every now and then is fine, maybe even nice. But any more than that is an inconvenience, if not a pain in the ass. Please understand that I HATE rain almost anytime, and especially in the winter. I would much prefer that winter in Pittsburgh wasn't the winter rainy season (frequently followed by the spring rainy season). But I will take rain over snow any day. Any day. I would also like more sunshine, but I've lived here long enough to know that that just isn't going to happen. I really hate winter.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Never Forget
Sunday, 18 December 2011 09:08
Written by Rob Rogers
I am extremely proud of our fighting men and women, thankful for their sacrifices and happy they are coming home from Iraq. When it comes to our leaders, namely the Bush White House (Cheney, Rove, etc.) and congress, I am not thankful or proud. It is sad and horrific that we have wasted so many lives, not to mention all the money, resources and global goodwill, on a war based on fictional threats to our homeland security. It is unforgivable that our leaders took us into that war. The other part that is unforgivable to me is the apathy of the American people. Sure, now we have protesters on Wall St., but where are the massive anti-war protests of the '60s? We swore we would never forget the lessons of Vietnam. So much for that.
Sunday, 18 December 2011 09:08
Written by Rob Rogers
I am extremely proud of our fighting men and women, thankful for their sacrifices and happy they are coming home from Iraq. When it comes to our leaders, namely the Bush White House (Cheney, Rove, etc.) and congress, I am not thankful or proud. It is sad and horrific that we have wasted so many lives, not to mention all the money, resources and global goodwill, on a war based on fictional threats to our homeland security. It is unforgivable that our leaders took us into that war. The other part that is unforgivable to me is the apathy of the American people. Sure, now we have protesters on Wall St., but where are the massive anti-war protests of the '60s? We swore we would never forget the lessons of Vietnam. So much for that.
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