The Way I See ItBy cj pollickClearwater Fun 'N Sun Events - Fun 'N Sun has events from April 18th till April 27th. Jazz Fest is on April 18th -19th and the Florida Orchestra In The Park on April 20th. Fun 'N Sun has been one of Clearwater's popular events - - don't miss this year's activities. 5th Annual Charity Softball Game - Members of the Clearwater Police Department will play members from the Largo Police Department in a charity softball game on April 25th. This will be the 5th annual charity game between the local police departments. The softball game will be played at Bright House Field at 4:30 p.m. All of the proceeds will go to charity. Largo Vice Mayor Plans To Relocate - Largo Vice Mayor Andy Guyette plans to relocate out of state and thus will resign his elected position in Largo. It is understood that the current city commission will appoint a successor to handle Guyette's city position until the next city election in November. Largo citizens should call or write Largo City Hall of their interest in such an appointment. Pope Visits America - Whenever the Pope visits America it is big news. The visit by Pope Benedict XVI will be another historic trip by a Pope to America for more reasons than perhaps other papal visits. It had been reported that the growing secularist trend in America and rising militant Islam may be some of the reasons for the papal visit. Pope Benedict XVI has, however, been active in visiting many places around the world carrying the good news of the Roman Catholic Church and the Christian faith. The Masters - If you were like many golfing fans last Sunday, you took time to watch The Masters. Best professional golfers versus one man, Tiger Woods. And, as expected, Tiger Woods made a late charge even though he started the day several strokes down. Folks turned-on their television sets just to see if Tiger could make a come-back. Nevertheless, the best golfer in the world could not shake a young South African named Trevor Immelman from winning the coveted "green jacket." Immelman became the first South African to win at The Masters since Gary Player 30 years ago. In the last three years Tiger Woods posted a second, a second and a third place finish at this tournament. Suffice that Tiger is the man to beat at most every golf tournament he enters. Fans of all sports should keep an eye on the Tiger, he is possibly the best golfer to have ever played the game. The money? Immelman won over a million dollars and Tiger won about $800,000. Not a bad weekend. 2010 Tax Increase Not A Good Picture - U.S. tax code changes made in 2001 and 2003 will expire on December 31, 2010. Why should current tax rules be made permanent? Here is a brief summary of how the removal of favorable tax changes made in 2001 might affect taxpayers in 2011 unless made permanent: Marginal tax rates will increase by 13-percent for the highest taxpayers and to 50-percent increase for lower income taxpayers. The marriage tax penalty will be re-instituted and the child tax credit cut by $500 per child. Long-term capital gains will be increased from 15-percent to 20-percent and top tax rates on dividends will go from 15-percent to 39.6-percent. The estate tax will be re-instituted with a top rate of 55-percent and an estate tax exemption of only $600,000. The alternative minimum tax (AMT) will reach more middle-income wage earners where some experts believe it could ensnare about 25 million taxpayers. Why would Congress allow current tax rules to "sunset?" Federal budget deficits. The people we elect to Congress may find it easier to simply raise taxes than to cut government waste and some government entitlement programs. Cut spending or raise taxes? How many of our elected representatives are talking about the above tax problem that will hit American taxpayers in 2011? Let's see, tax dividends at about 40-percent Yep, that should help corporate growth in America. More Socialism - There is an organization in America, of course, they should be in France or England, that believes parents that stay-at-home and "parent" should be paid by the U.S. government. Yes, parents that stay-at-home and parent, should be paid by people that work and also parent. Believe it or not, there are some countries that support such a concept, of course, they are socialists. More socialism in America? You tell me. Tired Of Calling For Tech Support - Called Verizon regarding a tech support issue and end-up trying to communicate with someone in Mexico. They hardly spoke English and I could hardly speak Spanish. Suffice that the problem was not solved. Bottom line? Leaving Verizon. Then called another tech company with a router question and it resulted in my talking with someone in the Philippines.
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