Aside from a few items I've never had great luck with Penney's clothes fitting my body right. In one outfit, something will be too tight one place, too loose another, too low in one place, too high in another.

There's got to be something they sell that's alright. Maybe dishes? :) Or how about those nice
Phoebe Accent Table & Floor Lamps


Target still makes me feel icky too.

This as well as other CA decisions have been positive for our cause, yet, I always get annoyed with Judges making the decision- and then staying them! Yes, appeals will most likely be coming for decades (I honestly think the right will keep this up until an actual amendment to the federal constitution states that marriage is a genderless state of relationship and specifically state it is also between same-sex partners- which will certainly not happen in my lifetime), but the addition of these stays gives off the impression that there is doubt in the decision as well as continues to keep these important benefits from people.

Election issue for fall 2012 (a priori ) | WSJ article
 

I have no doubt in my mind that this item of interest will largely determine who is seated with Presidential power in the up and coming election this fall. Check very closely how the text in this WSJ article is construed. Also take a close look on what it means for those who are married (the lovely little marriage debate of the century - Harsher Marriage Penalties).

* I rest my case *

(for the moment)


Preparing for the End of the Bush Tax Cuts

-BILL BISCHOFF

The Bush-era tax cuts—enacted in 2001 and 2003—are scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Unless Congress acts, most taxpayers will see rate and other increases.
Here is what taxpayers should expect if it doesn't—with the caveat that anything could happen as the presidential election season heats up.
Higher Tax Rates for All

You might think only individuals in the top two brackets will face higher federal income taxes if the Bush cuts evaporate as scheduled on Jan. 1, 2013. But unless Congress takes action and the president (whoever that is) goes along, rates will go up for everyone.
President George W. Bush signs tax-cut legislation in June 2001.



Specifically, the existing 10% bracket will go away, and the lowest "new" bracket will be 15%. The existing 25% bracket will be replaced by the new 28% bracket; the existing 28% bracket will be replaced by the new 31% bracket; the existing 33% bracket will be replaced by the 36% bracket; and the existing 35% bracket will be replaced by the 39.6% bracket.
Higher Capital Gains and Dividend Taxes

Right now, the maximum federal rate on long-term capital gains and dividends is 15%. Starting next year, the maximum rate on long-term gains is scheduled to increase to 20% (or 18% on gains from assets acquired after Dec. 31, 2000, and held for over five years). The maximum rate on dividends will skyrocket to 39.6%.
People in the lowest two rate brackets of 10% and 15% currently pay 0% on long-term gains and dividends. Starting next year, they will pay 10% on long-term gains (or 8% on gains from assets acquired after Dec. 31, 2000, and held for over five years) and 15% and 28%, respectively, on dividends.
Harsher Marriage Penalty

The Bush tax cuts included several provisions to ease the so-called marriage penalty, which can cause a married couple to pay more in taxes than when they were single.
Right now, the bottom two tax brackets for married joint-filing couples are twice as wide as those for singles. This helps keep the marriage penalty from biting lower- and middle-income couples. Starting next year, the joint-filer tax brackets will contract, causing higher tax bills for many couples.
Currently, the standard deduction for married joint-filing couples is double the amount for singles. Starting next year, the joint-filer standard deduction will fall back to about 167% of the amount for singles.
All this means that many lower- and middle-income couples are facing higher tax bills due to a harsher marriage penalty.
Return of Phase-Out Rules for Itemized Deductions

Before the Bush tax cuts, a phaseout rule could eliminate up to 80% of a higher-income individual's itemized deductions for mortgage interest, state and local taxes and charitable donations. The rule was gradually eased and finally eliminated in 2010.
Next year, the phaseout will be back in full force unless Congress takes action and the president approves. So, if you itemize and have 2013 adjusted gross income above about $175,000 (or about $87,500 if you use married-filing-separate status), get ready for this phaseout rule to take a bite out of your wallet.
Return of Phase-Out Rule for Personal Exemptions

Another pre-Bush phaseout rule could eliminate some or all of a higher-income individual's personal-exemption deductions. (For 2012, such deductions are $3,800 each.) The rule was gradually cut back and finally eliminated in 2010. But it will be back next year barring action in Washington.
So you need to be ready for yet another bite out of your wallet if you are a married joint-filer with 2013 adjusted gross income above about $265,000.
If you are single, the magic number will be about $175,000. If you use head-of-household filing status, watch out if your 2013 adjusted gross income exceeds about $220,000.
Some Bush Tax Cuts Are Likely to Be Continued

Some elements of the Bush tax cuts have bipartisan support and will likely be continued beyond this year.
Examples include inflation-indexed alternative minimum tax, or AMT, exemption amounts, the ability to use nonrefundable personal tax credits to offset your AMT bill and the deduction for qualified higher-education tuition and fees.
The current versions of the child tax credit, earned-income credit, dependent-care credit and adoption credit also are more likely than not to be continued. The Bush tax-cut legislation liberalized these credits, and later legislation liberalized them even more.

The things you find out in the Wall Street Journal.....
 

I like picking up the WSJ now and then. I always find something out about the government I didnt know and probably didnt even want to know.

Friday, they had an article on the USDA. Did you know the USDA is in the mortgage business? The USDA Rural Housing Program provides mortgage loans to rural homeowners and guarantees loans made by banks to rural homeowners. It accounted for almost a third of all mortgages issued in 2010 in sparsely populated areas.

Overall it is a small player in the market holding or backing approx a million loans totalling 84.4 billion - less than 1% of the 9.4 trillion in US mortgage debt.

But, since the mortgage crisis began in 2007, the USDA loan volumes have tripled. The agency guaranteed 16.9 billion in loans in 2011 and issued 1.1 billion in direct loans.

The agency started making loans to farmers in 1949, then expanded to other rural residents.

They allow borrowers to finance up to 102% of a homes value. And, most borrowers are low and moderate income homeowners vulnerable to job losses and falling home values.

12% of its guaranteed loans and 17% of its direct loans are delinquent or in foreclosure.

At issue in this article was the debt collection practices of the USDA. By law, they can begin going after delinquent homeowners without a court process. They can take tax refunds, seize up to 15% of social security benefits, garnish up to 15% of take home wages, and tack on 28% to cover collection costs.

On guaranteed loans, they can and do go after leftover loan money after a foreclosed property has been sold for less than was owed - a practice commercial banks stopped.

They also will allow people to stop payments even up for a couple of years in hardship cases BUT they up the payments when they resume so the loan is still paid off in the contracted length of time.

Interesting.

That IS interesting to know. I already knew they provided loans because I was considering that kind of loan for the home I just bought. I ended up saving up enough of a down payment so I didn't need a USDA loan, but I was told about a year ago that a USDA loan was the best option if you're cash-poor but pay your bills, etc. The town I used to live in was too big to qualify, so some agent or other recommended I look in surrounding areas. After reading this post, I'm glad I didn't end up with a USDA loan, though "god willing and the creeks don't rise," I don't plan to go into default.

haha we can pretend that's why if you'd like. ;)

anyone else sickened by the comments?

Home Depot tells anti-gay hate group AFA what they can do with their petition

Executives at The Home Depot gave a cool reception to representatives of the anti-gay hate group American Family Association at the company’s annual shareholder’s meeting in Atlanta this week.

The AFA recently called for a nationwide boycott against The Home Depot because it says the home improvement retailer continues to “promote the homosexual agenda.”

AFA Executive Vice-President Buddy Smith, and Director of Special Projects Randy Sharp, said they were rebuffed by Home Depot Chairman Frank Blake and other company executives for challenging their “corporate endorsement” of marriage equality and LGBT rights.

I just don't read the comments anymore unless I want to lose all faith in humanity

How many times have I told you not to?



Exactly!

HISTORIC: Federal appeals court strikes down DOMA



http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/...kes-down-doma/

Brazil's new bill criminalizes homophobia


http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/b...mophobia290512

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com...12/06/01/40438

Zimmerman's bail revoked, he has 48 hours to turn himself into authorities.

Disney World 'Gay Days' To Be Protested By Florida Family Association Planes

"...same-sex revelry"

(pause)

:superfunny:

Same-sex revelry? I am sooooo putting that on my Gay Agenda. Hanging out at Disney with similarly-bodied or similarly-gendered people and enjoying myself. Dang if Disney doesn't have their work cut out for them though. If they want to have a day like that that includes everyone with cash enough to afford them, by the time they're done categorizing and pigeon-holing there won't be a free day left for the bigots to pay for the right to sing "It's a Small World".

Better Disney should just put up a big sign that says they reserve the right to refuse service to segregationists. Then everyone can relax and the bigots can go build their own Big Happy Non-Gay Park.

Any corporation who wants to waste their time flying anti-'mo banners over (possibly) the GAYEST place on the planet deserves to be kicked out of the Zealots And Nutjobs You-nion. (Yep. That's just Z.A.N.Y.)

The Gay Selma: Schools Ignore Gay Bullying at Their Own Peril


http://www.sfweekly.com/2012-05-30/n...ti-dan-savage/

Church’s billboard says ‘I’m sorry’ to gay people in North Carolina weeks after state passes same-sex marriage ban

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...#ixzz1wgphTqv5


http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...icle-1.1087620

Argentina's gender ID law takes effect
 

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—Transsexuals have been lining up in Buenos Aires to be the first to take advantage of Argentina's groundbreaking gender-identity law. It allows people to change their names and sexes on official documents without first getting approval from a judge or a doctor.

No other country in the world allows people to change their official identities based merely on how they feel. Many other countries including the United States require people to undergo painful sex change operations or hormone therapy, and present psychiatric records showing they have a syndrome known as "gender identity disorder."

Argentina's gender identity law won congressional approval with a 55-0 Senate vote last month and went into effect Monday.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/lat...--+Latest+news

California Gay-Marriage Case on Path to Supreme Court

SAN FRANCISCO—The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Tuesday declined to rehear arguments over California's ban on gay marriage, which the court invalidated in February. The decision sends the case on a trajectory to the U.S. Supreme Court.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...googlenews_wsj