The Nightmare Before Christmas

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Back in the good old days during this season, the US ratified the Thirteenth Amendment, forever abolishing slavery in the United States. Now, American taxpayers have become slaves to big business after special interests wrote and made sure their "Yuge" tax bill was approved by our so-called representatives, which apparently never read it first.

The move has been called the art of a steal by Trump's hometown newspaper, but it can also be called robbing the hood, the engine, or just plain carjacking. Republicans in Congress delivered their epic overhaul of tax laws, bringing "Bigly" cuts for business, and tiny ones for middle-class Americans. No public hearings and no time for our independent government experts to analyze it.

Did fraudsters out in full swing and ready to steal our holiday cheer and we allowed them to get away with it? Those who swore to work in our best interest have allowed steep tax cuts for businesses and for the wealthy. There were no public hearings held on this tax bill as it stands. The US is about to pass the $1.5 trillion tax bill, and send it to the President's signature by Christmas.

Shame on @SpeakerRyan @HouseGOP, @SenateMajLdr @SenateGOP and on @POTUS and @realDonaldTrump
who refuses to show us his returns. What are you hiding? DoYouPay? #ShowMeTheMoney. #TRUMPTAXES

This tax bill is a win for donors, corporations, and the one percent. Its a win for corporations and a loss for the average American and will be a loss for you next year.

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little." President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Does Congress know what they are doing? The US House will have to vote once again on a sweeping tax overhaul after a late-afternoon glitch delayed the plan. US Senate parliamentarian ruled that three provisions in the bill did not comply with strict budget rules and would have to be taken out. Though Senators approved the bill Wednesday morning, now the House fixes the mistake, the GOP $1.5 Trillion bill is a permanent 40% tax cut for corporations, and smaller businesses will also see their tax burden shrink significantly. But what about the rest of US? A sweeping tax plan whose promises face widespread doubts https://apnews.com/fd184b6b1cbf499b954b2916df99db58

Merry Christmas and Happy 2018

Submitted by ub on

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"圣诞快乐"
"GOD JUL"
"BUON ANNO"
"JOYEUX NOEL"
"VESELE VANOCE"
"メリークリスマス"
"MELE KALIKIMAKA"
"NODLAG SONA DHUIT"
"BLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDA"
"С Рождеством Христовым"
"FELIZ NATAL"
"BOAS FESTAS"
"FELIZ NAVIDAD"
"MERRY CHRISTMAS"
"KALA CHRISTOUGENA"
"VROLIJK KERSTFEEST"
"Χαρούμενα Χριστούγεννα"
"FROHLICHE WEIHNACHTEN"
"BUON NATALE-GODT NYTAR"
"HUAN YING SHENG TAN CHIEH"
"WESOLYCH SWIAT-SRETAN BOZIC"
"MOADIM LESIMHA-LINKSMU KALEDU"
"HAUSKAA JOULUA-AID SAID MOUBARK"
"즐거운 성탄"
"'N PRETTIG KERSTMIS"
"ONNZLLISTA UUTTA VUOTTA"
"Z ROZHDESTYOM KHRYSTOVYM"

Artificial Intelligence

Submitted by ub on
Images

Recently, I saw some nut job interviewing Alexa, but after turning it off, I began to wonder about all artificial intelligence and the growing list of voice assistants like Siri, Bixby, and last but not least Alexa. These services may not be of much concern to us currently, but as far as the future is concerned, one never knows, does one?

Chatbots are often brought up as a new form of customer service and engagement on social media, but AI and voice assistants can also help crunch numbers that can lead to business decisions.

Liberty and Justice for All

Submitted by ub on

When I arrived legally in this great country from Cuba with my family, I learned many American phrases. One, my parents taught me was "I know nothing about politics" and as I grew up and learned how to speak English, I watched my folks work hard to realize the American dream.

We left everything behind in our Caribbean island paradise known as the Pearl of the Antilles, following Fidel Castro's rise with his Russian based authoritarian regime, who many didn't recognize until it was too late.

New Years Undies?

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Which color of underwear will you be using to bid farewell to the old year and celebrate the new year? Will you lean towards an old, traditional and very worn item in your drawers?

Undoubtedly, wearing underwear of a specific color and style is one of the most popular traditions that has been carried out from generation to generation to attract good vibes, positive energies, health, money, and love. Therefore, consider the recommendations below, as they represent what you wish for the New Year 2018.

City Images Ambassador

Submitted by ub on

There are thousands of cities on earth, depending on the definition of the term. It is important to take a moment to deconstruct the word #CITY before determining how many there are. The United States has 3,007 counties and 137 county equivalents for a total of 3,144 counties and county equivalents. #Cities and #Towns. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 19,354 incorporated places in the US.

RIP Music Greats

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This year, we lost more music greats. We're offering a sample of each artist compositions which we liked best.

Chuck Berry. Al Jarreau. Gregg Allman. Tom Petty. Fresh Kid Ice. Glen Campbell. Fats Domino.

#AP notes some of the music greats who passed away in #2017.

http://apne.ws/GPJMaJL

Chuck Berry's Greatest Hits https://youtu.be/p1eI4EH-DRg

Al Jarreau Love Songs https://youtu.be/LsgGl6_HMpk

Gregg Allman MIDNIGHT RIDER https://youtu.be/yojZ-Ksr8AE

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers - Refugee https://youtu.be/fFnOfpIJL0M

Bill of Rights

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BILL OF RIGHTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (1791)

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights.

Written by James Madison in response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties, the Bill of Rights lists specific prohibitions on governmental power. The Virginia Declaration of Rights, written by George Mason, strongly influenced Madison.

Omarosa's White House?

Submitted by ub on

The White House reported that Omarosa Manigault Newman, one of President Donald Trump's most prominent African-American supporters, plans to leave the administration next month. TV Guide once included her as one of the 60 Nastiest TV Villains of All Time. But folks don't know why she was hired in the first place, or why she was allegedly fired at last?

Trump press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the resignation of Manigault Newman will take effect on January 20, exactly one year after Trump's inauguration, but why was her access to the president reportedly stripped?

A Tale of Two Mergers

If he is supposed to be president of all Americans and should be treating everyone the same, then why is it that #Trump supports Murdoch for the $52 B Disney-Fox deal, but not the ATT-Time Warner one?

Make no doubt about it, there are major disruptions of the media business status quo outlined below. If Ma Bell and CNN et married, or Homer Simpson and Mickey Mouse tie knot, or not.

The bottom line is these mergers affect consumers because they decrease competition, which is the engine that has always driven the free and open economic marketplace.

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