Stimulus Check?

First, let me start by saying that my understanding of what this whole ‘Stimulus Check’ thing is supposed to do, is to stimulate the economy by giving about 130 million people and families a portion of the total 170 billion dollar amount set aside for the stimulus.  I guess that somehow it will help our economy by giving all these people money to go out and spend.

I received my notice a few weeks back saying mine was on the way, great.  Today I got a letter saying that it was applied to some back taxes I owed.  So much for any ’stimulus’ on my part.  I have a problem with that considering the whole income tax thing being ‘voluntary’ in the first place but I still owe them.  I won’t even delve into that can of worms because it will just piss me off.  I was a little irked when I got the notice today, but pretty much expected it considering how our government likes to pick our pockets for any and all reasons.  I did however, do a little thinking about the topic.

I started wondering how many other people ‘owed’ back taxes.  There are millions of people that owe back taxes.  I am sure that just like me, their ’stimulus’ checks got stimulated right back into the IRS’s account.

My limited understanding of economics tells me that when ever you inject lots of new money into an economy, it makes inflation go up because, now there are more dollars in circulation and they are worth less now.  Did our wise and esteemed leaders forget this or did they not worry about it because they knew that with the millions of American’s who owed back taxes, a significant portion of the money they ‘gave’ to us would come right back to them?

The whole thing stinks of some kind of shenanigans being played on U.S. citizens.  In reality the paltry amounts given to people, on an individual basis, is not really that much.  They may be able to pay off some debt or fill the gas tank, but in the larger context of the world we currently live in, it’s a drop in the barrel.  I would really love to see the numbers on what amount of the 170 billion dollars that was given out, came right back to the IRS because the recipients owed taxes.

So, the question is.  Who or what was this thing supposed to stimulate???  Certainly not the economy since 170 billion dollars just shoved into circulation probably would not help our economy.  I don’t claim to be an expert by any means, but I can and do read.  If anyone would care to enlighten me on how this helps us, please let me know.

I Just Have To Share This

I recently made a new image that turned out so well I just felt the need to share it.  I know I know, call me generous.  Anyway, I have fun making various images just for the sheer pleasure of it and put them in my gallery on DeviantArt.  Most of them are in the 1024×762 resolution which of course is probably the most common screen resolution and is perfect for desktop wallpaper.  Here is the image.

Sen. John Kerry Seeking Feedback On Net Neutrality

Sen. John Kerry is seeking feedback on what people would like to see discussed at tomorrows Commerce Committee hearing on net neutrality. You have a chance to voice your opinion, to do that, go here. Let our political leaders know that we are concerned about this issue. If you are not sure what net neutrality is or how it concerns you, read some of my blog articles on it, as well as do your own research on the topic. You may be surprised at just what is actually going on.

Updated Main Site For Better Poem Reading

I updated my main hub website to better facilitate the viewing of the poetry I have written. Previously, people would have to scroll and hunt my blog site to see them all. They are all now in one single spot and listed so all you have to do is click on the one you want to look at. You can find them here. Enjoy.

FCC Hearing At Stanford About Net Neutrality

The FCC held another hearing at Stanford University today. The previous one at Harvard last February, was almost ludicrous taking in to account the antics performed by Comcast and it’s paid henchmen. I strongly encourage anyone that has an interest in the freedom to use the internet in their own unfettered way, to keep an eye on what is going on with Net Neutrality. This issue has far reaching implications, not just internet freedom, but our freedom in general.

What baffles and bothers me, is the lack of substantial mainstream media attention of this whole issue. You may hear a quick blurb on your local television news station, or you may not. This is a huge issue, and people need to wake up and see what the big corporate telecoms are doing. Many people are not very computer literate, and have little to no knowledge of some of the technical aspects. Companies like Comcast take advantage of this, and play word games to impart spin to their lies, and lies they are. They blow smoke and set up mirrors to divert the publics attention from the real issue which is, Comcast denied blocking traffic, then changed it’s story to they only temporarily delay traffic. Well, which is it?

The fact is they got caught red handed and are now trying to put out the fires they created. Reading various forums around the web I still find people that think Comcast has done nothing more than ‘managed’ their bandwidth. That is what Comcast would love people to think. The people who give this kind of response are not grasping what is actually going on and are completely forgetting that Comcast keeps changing their story. I could go on and on but won’t. You can do your own research. I hope you do. Search and learn just how close we really have come to having a corporation dominated internet that would dictate to you how you surf, where you surf, what sites you can see and how fast you will see it. Don’t let it happen.

To all would be dictators:

DON’T TREAD ON ME!

Looking For Cool Desktop Wallpaper?

If you are, I have quite a few for you to choose from here. Most of them are rendered at 1024×762, if you want a higher resolution for one, feel free to ask. I make the images just because I enjoy making them as well as looking at them. Enjoy.

Here is an example:

More New Art

I have been busy making more images for people to enjoy. If you like looking at pictures or are maybe looking for something to use as a desktop wallpaper, have a look at my gallery. Here is a little sample of some of my newest ones.

Easter

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!

Comcast At It Again

SAVE THE INTERNET AND OUR FREEDOM!

If you value your freedom to browse and use the internet at your own discretion, then read on.

There is an issue that is being addressed at several levels pertaining to Comcast’s blocking of internet traffic in what they call, ‘Traffic Shaping’. When confronted with accusations of blocking traffic, Comcast denied it. Too bad for Comcast that at least two independent tests were run, and found that, yes indeed Comcast was sending falsified RST packets. You can read more about it here. So, they changed their story…slightly. Recently in Boston there was a public hearing with FCC commissioners about the future of the internet. Hundreds of concerned citizens arrived to take part in the hearing only to find that Comcast had bused in a crowd of ‘seat warmers’ 90 minutes before the hearing and these people took up most of the limited space in the auditorium. These are just a few of the unscrupulous tactics that Comcast has pulled. I am doing this because more people need to be aware of what’s going on and draw their own conclusions, but please, an informed conclusion. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH and find out just what this company has been pulling. A good place to start is at http://www.savetheinternet.com. Comcast already has at least two lawsuits pending that I know of. A simple search with the words ‘Comcast’ ‘Blocking’ ‘Sued’ will find you lots of info.

I just could not let this issue go once I found out about what was happening. It doesn’t take much thought to see where this kind of corporate activity will lead.

Art Update

Well, I have been busy lately making more scenes for people to enjoy. Not that a lot of people actually look at them, but what the heck, they are fun to make.  I recently started a page on deviantart and have been posting most of my new stuff there. I will probably continue to post most of my new stuff there, but will from time to time post a few select ones here on my blog site. Enjoy.