Downton Abbey: something to look forward to

MoonHowler

The new year seems pretty grim.  Most of us don’t look forward to the new taxes that are looming.  Some of us will pay thousands more in taxes.  Our investments will be taxed, our pay roll taxes will increase, and all the tax brackets will rise.  I just looked at the changes tonight and it literally made me sick.  Thank you Republicans.  I would rather not have to pay these.  98% of us would rather not have to pay these.

Maybe this Republican horror can be sweetened with the start up of season 3 of Downton Abbey.  If you have never watched, it is a treat to behold.  January 6 is the start of this highly acclaimed show on PBS.

 

Watch Downton Abbey: The Cast Preview Season 3 on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

 

 

Republican civil war stymies the House: What are they doing?

MoonHowler

Some House Republicans are out to destroy the country’s economy.   I can’t think of what else it could be.   The stock market finally is giving up the ghost, despite a valiant effort to stay afloat until the end of the year.  Yesterday stocks went into a tail spin.  The outlook for today isn’t much better.

Washingtonpost.com:

Wall Street is finally waking up to the troubling prospect that lawmakers may not reach a deal to avert the “fiscal cliff” before the new year, with stocks swinging dramatically Thursday in response to news from Capitol Hill.

Financial markets had been climbing in recent weeks on the expectation that President Obama and the Congress would reach an agreement, adding further momentum to an economy that has been gaining strength.

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Rocket Launchers? WTF!

MoonHowler

Huffingtonpost.com:

beck rocket launcher ted soqui.JPG
Ted Soqui for LA Weekly
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Yesterday’s LAPD gun buyback was so successful that two-hour waits and gift-card shortages were reported.

The department says it picked up 75 assault weapons as part of its no-questions-asked effort that saw $100 dollar cards handed out for handguns and long guns and $200 for the kind of rifle used in the Newtown tragedy. The LAPD says 901 handguns, 698 rifles, 363 shotguns will also be destroyed.

Good stats. But this is the one that gut us saying WTF:

Cops picked up two — count ’em two — rocket launchers (!) (and not one, as other outlets are reporting), an LAPD official with close knowledge of the program told us. Holy hell why do people on our streets have military grade rocket launchers?

Why does anyone need a rocket launcher in this country?  I have no answers.