rdowns
Apr 14, 09:44 AM
Long and very interesting article on taxes. Very good read. (http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-17350-9_things_the_rich_dont_want_you_to_know_about_taxes.html)
As millions of Americans prepare to file their annual taxes, they do so in an environment of media-perpetuated tax myths. Here are a few points about taxes and the economy that you may not know, to consider as you prepare to file your taxes. (All figures are inflation-adjusted.)
The Internal Revenue Service issues an annual report on the 400 highest income-tax payers. In 1961, there were 398 taxpayers who made $1 million or more, so I compared their income tax burdens from that year to 2007.
Despite skyrocketing incomes, the federal tax burden on the richest 400 has been slashed, thanks to a variety of loopholes, allowable deductions and other tools. The actual share of their income paid in taxes, according to the IRS, is 16.6 percent. Adding payroll taxes barely nudges that number.
Compare that to the vast majority of Americans, whose share of their income going to federal taxes increased from 13.1 percent in 1961 to 22.5 percent in 2007.
(By the way, during seven of the eight George W. Bush years, the IRS report on the top 400 taxpayers was labeled a state secret, a policy that the Obama administration overturned almost instantly after his inauguration.)
A corporate tax rate that is too low actually destroys jobs. That�s because a higher tax rate encourages businesses (who don�t want to pay taxes) to keep the profits in the business and reinvest, rather than pull them out as profits and have to pay high taxes.
The 2004 American Jobs Creation Act, which passed with bipartisan support, allowed more than 800 companies to bring profits that were untaxed but overseas back to the United States. Instead of paying the usual 35 percent tax, the companies paid just 5.25 percent.
The companies said bringing the money home��repatriating� it, they called it�would mean lots of jobs. Sen. John Ensign, the Nevada Republican, put the figure at 660,000 new jobs.
Pfizer, the drug company, was the biggest beneficiary. It brought home $37 billion, saving $11 billion in taxes. Almost immediately it started firing people. Since the law took effect, Pfizer has let 40,000 workers go. In all, it appears that at least 100,000 jobs were destroyed.
As millions of Americans prepare to file their annual taxes, they do so in an environment of media-perpetuated tax myths. Here are a few points about taxes and the economy that you may not know, to consider as you prepare to file your taxes. (All figures are inflation-adjusted.)
The Internal Revenue Service issues an annual report on the 400 highest income-tax payers. In 1961, there were 398 taxpayers who made $1 million or more, so I compared their income tax burdens from that year to 2007.
Despite skyrocketing incomes, the federal tax burden on the richest 400 has been slashed, thanks to a variety of loopholes, allowable deductions and other tools. The actual share of their income paid in taxes, according to the IRS, is 16.6 percent. Adding payroll taxes barely nudges that number.
Compare that to the vast majority of Americans, whose share of their income going to federal taxes increased from 13.1 percent in 1961 to 22.5 percent in 2007.
(By the way, during seven of the eight George W. Bush years, the IRS report on the top 400 taxpayers was labeled a state secret, a policy that the Obama administration overturned almost instantly after his inauguration.)
A corporate tax rate that is too low actually destroys jobs. That�s because a higher tax rate encourages businesses (who don�t want to pay taxes) to keep the profits in the business and reinvest, rather than pull them out as profits and have to pay high taxes.
The 2004 American Jobs Creation Act, which passed with bipartisan support, allowed more than 800 companies to bring profits that were untaxed but overseas back to the United States. Instead of paying the usual 35 percent tax, the companies paid just 5.25 percent.
The companies said bringing the money home��repatriating� it, they called it�would mean lots of jobs. Sen. John Ensign, the Nevada Republican, put the figure at 660,000 new jobs.
Pfizer, the drug company, was the biggest beneficiary. It brought home $37 billion, saving $11 billion in taxes. Almost immediately it started firing people. Since the law took effect, Pfizer has let 40,000 workers go. In all, it appears that at least 100,000 jobs were destroyed.
MacBuck
May 8, 08:03 AM
I'm one of the people that find the price tag to be a bit hefty. But, I'd rather not use it than have a free watered-down service.
thisisahughes
Mar 29, 09:25 AM
Dang... I feel like $80 a month is a LOT of money for 1TB of space. Especially when you can pay $70 ONCE and get your own 1TB drive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822324041&cm_re=1tb-_-22-324-041-_-Product
Of course there are many benefits of having your data "in the cloud," but I think their prices are way too high.
I'm waiting for this. http://www.lacie.com/us/technologies/technology.htm?id=10039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822324041&cm_re=1tb-_-22-324-041-_-Product
Of course there are many benefits of having your data "in the cloud," but I think their prices are way too high.
I'm waiting for this. http://www.lacie.com/us/technologies/technology.htm?id=10039
rdrr
Sep 15, 06:32 PM
One other feature I would like to see in MBP would be an embedded evdo chip. That most likely won't happen but would be really nice.
Flowbee
Aug 3, 10:34 PM
The iMac and MacBook Pro, most likely. It would better differentiate the MBP from the MacBook.
toddybody
Apr 5, 02:28 PM
Nothing wrong with a Scion there, buddy. ;)
HA ha! Guess what my first new car was (when i turned 17)...an 05' Scion TC.
The thing was underpowered, not great fuel econ, a fuel injection sensor went bad at 30k miles, the window motors got really slow quickly, the dash looked like Kabul after a while, and of course as soon as i bought one...so did everyone else. It was a happy happy day when I got a used SAAB:) Sorry for the rant...SCIONS are just crappy cars...but i guess you get what you pay for :p
HA ha! Guess what my first new car was (when i turned 17)...an 05' Scion TC.
The thing was underpowered, not great fuel econ, a fuel injection sensor went bad at 30k miles, the window motors got really slow quickly, the dash looked like Kabul after a while, and of course as soon as i bought one...so did everyone else. It was a happy happy day when I got a used SAAB:) Sorry for the rant...SCIONS are just crappy cars...but i guess you get what you pay for :p
padapada
Nov 5, 06:45 AM
Sophos is terrible on Windows; why would anyone want to install that garbage on their Mac? :confused:
From this comment I can tell you have had absolute NO EXPERIENCE with the product.
We have had it in our company for 10 years and it's absolutely non-intrusive and hassle free.
Please don't generate noise if you don't have any relevant experience.
Patrick
From this comment I can tell you have had absolute NO EXPERIENCE with the product.
We have had it in our company for 10 years and it's absolutely non-intrusive and hassle free.
Please don't generate noise if you don't have any relevant experience.
Patrick
OneMike
May 7, 11:54 AM
MobileMe is great to me.
Other then when it was FIRST launched and they kept extending the trial for like 4 months. I seldom if all have issues.
Other then when it was FIRST launched and they kept extending the trial for like 4 months. I seldom if all have issues.
toddybody
Apr 25, 10:43 AM
The info circulating around is false.
Steve
PS shouldn't you be at your gym right now? It's Monday morning, after all.
Good one. Like anyone on MR goes to the gym! Pshh!
Steve
PS shouldn't you be at your gym right now? It's Monday morning, after all.
Good one. Like anyone on MR goes to the gym! Pshh!
peharri
Nov 25, 09:06 PM
Consider this. Let's say Apple does something along the lines we're predicting, and sells their phones. Before we plunk down our money, we go around to the various cell carriers and inquire if they'll let us bring our phone to their network. They say either "NO!" or "Not at this time."
The only mobile carriers in a position to do this are the cdmaOne/CDMA2000 ones (Verizon, Sprint PCS, etc.) If Apple makes a GSM or UMTS phone, the carrier has little or no say in whether you use it. T-Mobile and Cingular will, by next year, be running both types of network in the US, and both already run GSM.
The real influence the cellphone companies (at least, the ones not stuck in the 1980s as far as their network infrastructure goes) have on phone purchasing is the ability to subsidize phones that fit their model. This, in practice, usually means rebranding. Cingular is pretty good on that score and rarely insists on more than some ugly logos printed on the phone (unfortunately their network is not the greatest GSM implementation in the world.) T-Mobile, in my experience, is somewhat worse, though not always for bad reasons. For example, they'd probably insist on "My Faves", a proprietary five person phonebook, being grafted on to whatever UI an "iPhone" has, in return for any substantial subsidy.
The fact Apple can't expect carriers to subsidize their phones is one issue they have to deal with. I'm more concerned though with Apple becoming a minority player, with its phone tied to a music store whose success was, in major part, to do with the giant marketshare it had, and thus Jobs's ability to force the labels to compromise on prices.
What would make absolutely more sense is for Apple to simply start up their own network. They've already acquired some assets in this area, haven't they? So why not bide their time until they can really roll the thing out? And since it is relatively common practice for cell towers to have more than one (sometimes several) carriers' equipment mounted on them, Apple could buy into who's-ever network they needed to get one of the "lesser third party" broadcast equipment sets that's already out there among the masses.
Apple would need not merely infrastructure but spectrum to actually start a carrier. They have neither.
Purchasing a carrier is an interesting pipe dream and would terrify the crap out of most shareholders. Mobile telephony is a long term thing, with very little return on investment yet for most people who've invested in it. It's not even a good time to get involved, most companies are rolling out 3G networks and 4G, in the shape of WiMAX, is already being released in some areas.
Were they to do the carrier thing, the best they could hope for would be to be an MVNO. This would be a major change of business model. It has so many ramifications I don't know where to begin.
The only mobile carriers in a position to do this are the cdmaOne/CDMA2000 ones (Verizon, Sprint PCS, etc.) If Apple makes a GSM or UMTS phone, the carrier has little or no say in whether you use it. T-Mobile and Cingular will, by next year, be running both types of network in the US, and both already run GSM.
The real influence the cellphone companies (at least, the ones not stuck in the 1980s as far as their network infrastructure goes) have on phone purchasing is the ability to subsidize phones that fit their model. This, in practice, usually means rebranding. Cingular is pretty good on that score and rarely insists on more than some ugly logos printed on the phone (unfortunately their network is not the greatest GSM implementation in the world.) T-Mobile, in my experience, is somewhat worse, though not always for bad reasons. For example, they'd probably insist on "My Faves", a proprietary five person phonebook, being grafted on to whatever UI an "iPhone" has, in return for any substantial subsidy.
The fact Apple can't expect carriers to subsidize their phones is one issue they have to deal with. I'm more concerned though with Apple becoming a minority player, with its phone tied to a music store whose success was, in major part, to do with the giant marketshare it had, and thus Jobs's ability to force the labels to compromise on prices.
What would make absolutely more sense is for Apple to simply start up their own network. They've already acquired some assets in this area, haven't they? So why not bide their time until they can really roll the thing out? And since it is relatively common practice for cell towers to have more than one (sometimes several) carriers' equipment mounted on them, Apple could buy into who's-ever network they needed to get one of the "lesser third party" broadcast equipment sets that's already out there among the masses.
Apple would need not merely infrastructure but spectrum to actually start a carrier. They have neither.
Purchasing a carrier is an interesting pipe dream and would terrify the crap out of most shareholders. Mobile telephony is a long term thing, with very little return on investment yet for most people who've invested in it. It's not even a good time to get involved, most companies are rolling out 3G networks and 4G, in the shape of WiMAX, is already being released in some areas.
Were they to do the carrier thing, the best they could hope for would be to be an MVNO. This would be a major change of business model. It has so many ramifications I don't know where to begin.
wclyffe
Nov 20, 09:35 AM
I just got this email!!
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your email. Your order is fine and will be filled normally.
We've simply restricted new backorders on the item until currently placed
orders such as yours are filled.
Please don't hesitate to contact us should you have any additional
questions or concerns. Thank you for your business!
Sam S.
Bottom Line Telecommunications
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your email. Your order is fine and will be filled normally.
We've simply restricted new backorders on the item until currently placed
orders such as yours are filled.
Please don't hesitate to contact us should you have any additional
questions or concerns. Thank you for your business!
Sam S.
Bottom Line Telecommunications
SFStateStudent
Apr 20, 02:20 AM
Probably going to wait for the iPhone 6; first time without getting the newest and the latest/best iPhone...oh well :eek:
Maury
Mar 31, 09:16 AM
I had a nasty feeling then it would mark the decline of Apples great computers & here we are.
Yes, here we are, with the best computer lineup ever, best sales ever, and best OS ever.
The sky is falling!
Yes, here we are, with the best computer lineup ever, best sales ever, and best OS ever.
The sky is falling!
bikertwin
Sep 11, 03:25 PM
That being said, DVD quality downloads now (or in the near future) are a distinct possibility. Again, bandwidth is a mofo. How do you offer so much content, with such large file-sizes, to millions of customers simultaneously, while also maintaining bandwidth for music downloads.
Will there be a download queue, so we have to wait in line to download content?
What if you get a $2 discount on the movie if you allowed Apple to point up to 10 customers to your machine to download that movie, bittorrent-style? (Obviously this would be secure Apple technology, not bittorrent per se.)
Will there be a download queue, so we have to wait in line to download content?
What if you get a $2 discount on the movie if you allowed Apple to point up to 10 customers to your machine to download that movie, bittorrent-style? (Obviously this would be secure Apple technology, not bittorrent per se.)
wclyffe
Nov 7, 02:47 PM
I assume u have the unit. I am most interested in where u mounted
The complete Psych Pin list
the world ends with you pins.
The World Ends With You
the world ends with you pins.
Blakeco123
Apr 23, 04:41 PM
Where are the icons located?
not the icons the wallpaper
and its Macintosh HD/Library/Desktop pictures
icons are located by clicking get info on an application, then clicking the icon in the window and command+c to copy. open up preview and click file, open from clipbord
not the icons the wallpaper
and its Macintosh HD/Library/Desktop pictures
icons are located by clicking get info on an application, then clicking the icon in the window and command+c to copy. open up preview and click file, open from clipbord
Mac'nCheese
May 6, 05:44 PM
We do? Not the impression I get.
Sorry, forgot to put that part in blue.
Sorry, forgot to put that part in blue.
Peel
Aug 7, 04:32 PM
ITS A DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE !!!!!!!!!! NOT A GIVE-THE-WHINY-CONSUMERS-EVERYTHING-THEY-WANT-MACWORLD-CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!
Give it a rest!!!!
Ahh! I share your sentiments completely. Developer's tools at the developers conference. Simple isn't it?
The next comsumer show is Paris in September. That's where we're likely to see the ipods and other goodies.
Give it a rest!!!!
Ahh! I share your sentiments completely. Developer's tools at the developers conference. Simple isn't it?
The next comsumer show is Paris in September. That's where we're likely to see the ipods and other goodies.
GregA
Jul 31, 12:51 AM
Just wondering - what would happen if Apple allowed Airport Extreme/Express etc (AND every Mac which has Wireless) to become a hub that anyone with a .Mac account could log in to and use?
Basically, as a Mac owner with a wireless card, you could elect to share your bandwidth for $5/GB (or something appropriate depending on country). Any .Mac subscriber could use your connection, and it would credit your .Mac account (redeemable on .Mac fees, roaming onto other people's networks, iTMS, or Apple store).
How much coverage would you get through this? Would it be legal?
Basically, as a Mac owner with a wireless card, you could elect to share your bandwidth for $5/GB (or something appropriate depending on country). Any .Mac subscriber could use your connection, and it would credit your .Mac account (redeemable on .Mac fees, roaming onto other people's networks, iTMS, or Apple store).
How much coverage would you get through this? Would it be legal?
SMM
Nov 26, 03:39 PM
Simple...it's NOT gonna happen anytime soon.
The Tablet market is a sad failure, as it represents a tech in search of a purpose...nobody needs or wants it.
Hint? Think Origami, one among too many MS failures...just like the Zune in the next months.
Apple will NOT enter the fabled Tablet market again, as the focus of demand is on notebooks, nothing else...yet another borndead rumor.
You seem to speak from a position of personal knowledge. Is this because you actual know these facts, or is it just the conviction of your analysis?
I happen to know one of your statements is false. My company needs it and wants it. So do many people in the construction industry. In many respects, we are blind to the activities where we make our money. So, we are forced to often depend on a management layer to provide a communication stream between our administrative resources and our jobsites. However, in many cases, we manage in reactionary mode because of the inadequacies of our communication pathway.
When I was hired seven years ago, one of my assigned goals was to automate our field operations. I am going to condense many years of study and experimentation into a single statement. Tablet PC's have the right combination of footprint and technology to 'close the loop' for what we need.
My company has incorporated many advanced technologies. We have hosted numerous 'show and tell' sessions for others in the industry. A by-product of this has been the development of a large peer group of other construction IT professionals. We all see the need to manage field operations through technology, not through untimely reports, telephone calls and/or faxes, weekly meetings, etc.
The Tablet market is a sad failure, as it represents a tech in search of a purpose...nobody needs or wants it.
Hint? Think Origami, one among too many MS failures...just like the Zune in the next months.
Apple will NOT enter the fabled Tablet market again, as the focus of demand is on notebooks, nothing else...yet another borndead rumor.
You seem to speak from a position of personal knowledge. Is this because you actual know these facts, or is it just the conviction of your analysis?
I happen to know one of your statements is false. My company needs it and wants it. So do many people in the construction industry. In many respects, we are blind to the activities where we make our money. So, we are forced to often depend on a management layer to provide a communication stream between our administrative resources and our jobsites. However, in many cases, we manage in reactionary mode because of the inadequacies of our communication pathway.
When I was hired seven years ago, one of my assigned goals was to automate our field operations. I am going to condense many years of study and experimentation into a single statement. Tablet PC's have the right combination of footprint and technology to 'close the loop' for what we need.
My company has incorporated many advanced technologies. We have hosted numerous 'show and tell' sessions for others in the industry. A by-product of this has been the development of a large peer group of other construction IT professionals. We all see the need to manage field operations through technology, not through untimely reports, telephone calls and/or faxes, weekly meetings, etc.
Hawkeye411
Mar 29, 03:02 PM
Prayers for our Japanese friends!!
GoodWatch
May 4, 03:11 PM
That makes sense, while not incredibly expensive, the cost of manufacturing is still overhead if they can reduce it by providing a mechanism for the consumer to d/l it why not.
Whilst I think I have a connection with enough bandwidth to cope with the size, I do want the DVD. The cost of manufacturing (50 cents per DVD?) are costs we as customers pay for, not Apple. I you buy a carton of milk you pay for the milk plus the carton.
Whilst I think I have a connection with enough bandwidth to cope with the size, I do want the DVD. The cost of manufacturing (50 cents per DVD?) are costs we as customers pay for, not Apple. I you buy a carton of milk you pay for the milk plus the carton.
Dr.Gargoyle
Aug 2, 01:39 PM
you have got to be CRAZY to think that he's going to intro an ipod at WWDC, when MW Paris is right around the corner! MW Paris in september is pretty much ALWAYS when they intro ipods and consumer products this time of year.
I am still a bit curious why the last iPod-updater had text strings such as: "t_feature_app_PHONE_APP, kPhoneSignalStrength,
clPhoneCallModel,
clPhoneCallHistoryModel,
prPhoneSettingsMenu",
if an iPhone isn't around the corner. It doesn't make sense to include that unless the iPhone is very close to be released.
Besides, wouldn't it be beneficial, in terms of new apps, to let the developers know that the iPhone was about to be released very shortly?
I am still a bit curious why the last iPod-updater had text strings such as: "t_feature_app_PHONE_APP, kPhoneSignalStrength,
clPhoneCallModel,
clPhoneCallHistoryModel,
prPhoneSettingsMenu",
if an iPhone isn't around the corner. It doesn't make sense to include that unless the iPhone is very close to be released.
Besides, wouldn't it be beneficial, in terms of new apps, to let the developers know that the iPhone was about to be released very shortly?
3CCD
Aug 4, 03:40 PM
I'm excited to see what happens but since I'm in no crunch I'm waiting for the best time to buy. I'll wait till the new year if I have to.