Random

CCLI called yesterday to tell us that they are sending a new agreement to cover Cheryl's music. Apparently there are a number of downloads in Australia and the copyright agreement covering that country is significantly different -- and the one she signed a few years ago must be outdated. I'm pleased that there is the need for an additional contract.

THE PACIFIC ISLAND nation of Niue (population 2,000) plans to mint coins featuring Luke Skywalker, Leia, Yoda and Darth Vader. ~ NPR

WARREN BUFFET is at it again:

I have worked with investors for 60 years and I have yet to see anyone — not even when capital gains rates were 39.9 percent in 1976-77 — shy away from a sensible investment because of the tax rate on the potential gain. People invest to make money, and potential taxes have never scared them off. And to those who argue that higher rates hurt job creation, I would note that a net of nearly 40 million jobs were added between 1980 and 2000. You know what’s happened since then: lower tax rates and far lower job creation. 

Since 1992, the I.R.S. has compiled data from the returns of the 400 Americans reporting the largest income. In 1992, the top 400 had aggregate taxable income of $16.9 billion and paid federal taxes of 29.2 percent on that sum. In 2008, the aggregate income of the highest 400 had soared to $90.9 billion — a staggering $227.4 million on average — but the rate paid had fallen to 21.5 percent. ~ link