This Rosetta Stone ad is annoying for a variety of reasons, but I cringe every time that alleged teacher says her students' Spanish-speaking parents are "alleviated" by her ability to communicate with them in their own language.
Relieved, perhaps? Conditions are situations are alleviated, not people.
God I hope she's not teaching English.
Commenters on the YouTube site also reveal that "te amo, teeth"... er, tita... is wrong, too. (Never mind the lingering question of why a child who presumably has one English-speaking parent doesn't just say, "I love you, Grandma"?)
Annoying and wrong? Time for this one to go, Rosetta Stone.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Evolution(?) of language
If the word "fuck" is an F-bomb, then euphemisms such as "WTF" and "effing" must be F-grenades?
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Tax "equality"
Much has been made recently of the need to raise the tax rate on the richest Americans, because much of their income is taxed at the capital gains rate of 15% rather than the higher progressive rates plus payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare) that are taken from wages.
Citizens are beginning to realize, and pundits are starting to admit, that the tax code is structured to favor investment (read: passive income) and disfavor work.
While the rate disparity does bother me, I am waiting for the pundits to address the total inequity regarding deductions. Businesses are allowed to deduct even the most trivial expenses, because "it costs money to make money"; meanwhile, individuals who attempt to deduct the cost of the car that gets them to work, or the house where they sleep and shower, or the food that keeps them alive and able to work, will find themselves on the wrong end of an IRS audit. These expenses are somehow not considered to be germane to one's ability to produce labor. BULLSHIT.
The rate means little if the amount of taxable income can be reduced to nearly nothing via deductions.
Before they start talking about closing the home mortgage deduction "loophole" — the one major deduction individuals have left — how 'bout taking a chunk out of deductions businesses can take for rent, utilities, furniture, and all the other things that "the little people" are stuck paying for out of our own pockets? Something tells me that would put quite a dent in the national deficit!
Citizens are beginning to realize, and pundits are starting to admit, that the tax code is structured to favor investment (read: passive income) and disfavor work.
While the rate disparity does bother me, I am waiting for the pundits to address the total inequity regarding deductions. Businesses are allowed to deduct even the most trivial expenses, because "it costs money to make money"; meanwhile, individuals who attempt to deduct the cost of the car that gets them to work, or the house where they sleep and shower, or the food that keeps them alive and able to work, will find themselves on the wrong end of an IRS audit. These expenses are somehow not considered to be germane to one's ability to produce labor. BULLSHIT.
The rate means little if the amount of taxable income can be reduced to nearly nothing via deductions.
Before they start talking about closing the home mortgage deduction "loophole" — the one major deduction individuals have left — how 'bout taking a chunk out of deductions businesses can take for rent, utilities, furniture, and all the other things that "the little people" are stuck paying for out of our own pockets? Something tells me that would put quite a dent in the national deficit!
Monday, September 12, 2011
We are living in Bizarro World
The Russians are holding a mirror up to us and criticizing our lack of freedom?!
It would be laughable if it weren't so accurate.
In less than 30 years, the world has been turned on its ear. It's a shame RT held the story for 9/11; had they posted it before the California presidential debates, perhaps the candidates would have been moved by the sound of Reagan spinning in his grave.
In other news, Eurasia has always been at war with Eastasia.
It would be laughable if it weren't so accurate.
In less than 30 years, the world has been turned on its ear. It's a shame RT held the story for 9/11; had they posted it before the California presidential debates, perhaps the candidates would have been moved by the sound of Reagan spinning in his grave.
In other news, Eurasia has always been at war with Eastasia.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Mini review: Cheap Trick on Austin City Limits
Unlike some other aging rockers, Robin Zander still has his voice.
...and (like some others?) the sock in his pants.
They played "Gonna Raise Hell" way too fast. It's supposed to be dark and spooky, not all pop-energetic. Other than that, it was a foot-tapping, sing-along affair.
...and (like some others?) the sock in his pants.
They played "Gonna Raise Hell" way too fast. It's supposed to be dark and spooky, not all pop-energetic. Other than that, it was a foot-tapping, sing-along affair.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Déjà vu...ish
If Kim Kardashian can sue Old Navy for using a look-alike (Reggie Bush is tapping it, what other evidence do they need?), Grant Imahara should be able to sue for this:
...although there's no word on whether the actor is tapping any of Grant's exes.
...although there's no word on whether the actor is tapping any of Grant's exes.
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