That's a shocking headline in itself. In a story that was buried in online, radio, TV and print news headlines, we actually caught a break from our representatives on Capitol Hill. This past Tuesday, the House overwhelmingly approved a four-year extension of a moratorium on state and local taxes on Internet access, despite widespread support in both parties for a permanent ban. The vote was 405-2. If you took the under (406 points) you lost. Said Rep. Mel Watt (D-NC), "This bill is pro consumer, pro innovation and pro technology." And what exactly does this all mean???
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said a permanent ban would ensure that businesses would continue to invest in the Internet and keep access affordable for users. Those last five words are really what we care about. Don't know about you but I'm taxed quite handsomely for my cable-TV and cellphone use now, thank you. I don't need another bill I don't understand but must pay. Up next is a Senate vote but apparently the Senate has made it clear that a permanent ban would be DOA. Watt said, "Without quick action, the ban was in danger of expiring before new legislation could pass." The tax ban, first passed in 1998 was set to expire on November 1 but the extension exempts some states that approve taxes prior to the original enactment...
You might wonder why the Senate doesn't plan to make the bill permanent. Smith knows, "Democratic leaders want to leave the door open to taxing the Internet in the future." Now this is a story that shouldn't be buried because it affects all of us. Quite a bit more than whether Joe Torre is about to be made Yankee manager-for-life or not...
10 Timeline Memories:
- 1867] North to Alaska: The U.S. takes possession of Alaska after purchasing it from Russia for $7.2 million (roughly Joe Torre's salary per year)...1898] Hola: The U.S. takes possession of Puerto Rico...
- 1892] Can you hear me now?: The 1st long distance telephone line between Chicago and New York is opened...
- 1931] "Happy Trails": Inventor Thomas Alva Edison dies of natural causes in West Orange (NJ) at 84...1982] Former first lady Bess Truman dies of congestive heart failure in Independence (MO). At 97, Bess was the longest living first lady. Although Ladybird recently got close, Bess still wins...
- 1950] Curtains: Connie Mack announces his retirement after 50 seasons as manager-owner of baseball's Philadelphia Athletics...
- 1954] Bad call-letter change: WNnnnnnnBC Radio changes calls to WRCA (but not for long and WNnnnnnnBC will soon return)...
- 1968] Power to the people, rat on: The U.S. Olympic Committee suspends Tommie Smith and John Carlos for giving a "black power" salute during a victory ceremony in Mexico City...
- 1969] Banned for life: The federal government bans artificial sweeteners known as cyclamates because of evidence linking it to cancer in laboratory rats...
- 1971] Don't Look: Look Magazine disappears after 34 years of publication...
- 1977] Reggie-Reggie-Reggie: Reggie Jackson makes World Series history with back-to-back-to-back home runs (each one on the first pitch). No one did it before or since...
- 2001] Gotcha: Four defendants are convicted in New York for the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa...
Music Memories:
- 1957] Debuted on this date: Paul McCartney debuts with the Quarry Men in Liverpool...1969] The Jackson Five make their first TV appearance on ABC-TV's "Hollywood Palace". Sammy Davis Jr. is the host and Diana Ross introduces them, seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USsPvSbUbDI ...
- 1975] Reunited and it feels so good: Simon & Garfunkel reunite on "Saturday Night Live"...
- 1976] Number One on this date: "If You Leave Me Now" - Chicago: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y0TEa-Aa4sU ...
Commentary:
I was sorry to hear about the passing of Teresa Brewer at 76. Teresa had suffered for years from the neuromuscular disease PSP, which also took the life of Dudley Moore. Brewer was a teenager when she topped the charts in 1950 with "Music, Music, Music". She also topped the charts with "Til I Waltz Again With You" and had several other hits including "Sweet Old-Fashioned Girl" and even did a duet (if you want to call it that) with Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle. In 1981 Teresa Brewer did this medley of her hits: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2rvxZT2SgSo . R.I.P. Teresa Brewer... On a brighter note, Paul Power tells us the name of the theme song for "The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show": "No Name Theme" by Dave Appel & the Applejacks on Parkway. Paul adds, "I faithfully watched that show and recall the IFIC button and may have even switched from Doublemint (Gene Autry's fave) to Beechnut Spearmint" ...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday":
Eric Moran (46), Wynton Marsalis (46), Jean-Claude Van Damme (47), Martina Navratilova (51), Pam Dawber (56) seen here as 'Mindy' on "Mork and Mindy": http://youtube.com/watch?v=aT7m8QdDJoI&mode=related&search= , Mike Ditka (68) seen here being Mike Ditka: http://youtube.com/watch?v=mvfhmdrOeKI&mode=related&search= , Keith Jackson (79) seen being the one, the only: Keith Jackson (or is it Jimmy Gallagher?): http://youtube.com/watch?v=sTSvbv9uLlY , Chuck Berry (81) and Jesse Helms (86)...
Timeline Countdown: 6 days until the World Series opener, 13 nights until Halloween, 17 days until Standard Time and 28 days until Thanksgiving...
