April 2012
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“Despite my fears and concerns, I showed up anyway. I needed this time with my son. I want to be part of this journey. I believe I can teach them the game and preserve the value of their boyhood at the same time. I only know a few of the boys, with the exception of my own child, they look at me sideways, thinking A Mom coach? I jump in, demonstrate, instruct and their response is instant. I am enthusiastic by nature and a lover of children, but it isn’t until I scrimmage with them one afternoon that they swallow me up as a part of their team and we never look back.”
—Janell Burley Hofmann: How I Found Joy in the Pain and Agony of Youth Sports
American Expatriates Renounce Citizenship Over Taxes →
huffingtonpost.com
That’s because the U.S. is one of the only countries in the world that requires its citizens working abroad to file taxes at home, reports the Daily Mail.
American expatriates are exempt from paying tax on the first $95,100 of income earned abroad as long as they fill in the Foreign Income Exclusion form and prove taxes are paid to the country they reside in. But the process is complicated.
Americans expatriates also have to comply with another regulation that calls for them to disclose information on foreign bank accounts with at least $10,000, explains ABC News. Banks are required to provide information on those very clients and their funds to the U.S. government.
Considering that an estimated 3 to 6 million Americans reside abroad, notes TIME magazine, less than 2,000 people relinquishing citizenship isn’t too high of a number. Still, the figure is an indication of a growing trend given that only 502 citizens handed in their passports back in 2009.
But relinquishing one’s U.S. citizenship isn’t as simple as one might imagine.
“While we believe that employers can use testing as one of a variety of tools to help guide employees suffering from substance abuse disorders into treatment –- which as we announced yesterday is not a moral failing but a treatable disease -– it is certainly not our policy that every employer in America ought to test and punish employees.”
—Obama Administration Pushes Drug Testing in Workplace, But Not For Everybody
Lilly Ledbetter Slams Mitt Romney, GOP On Fair Pay Issue →
huffingtonpost.com
“It took me more than 20 years to get an answer for the injustices that I suffered as an unfairly paid worker, so I know what it’s like to wait for justice. I know what it’s like to fight for justice. But Mitt Romney told me and millions of other women that he couldn’t commit to fighting with us or for us,” Ledbetter told reporters Wednesday.
On National Equal Pay Day Tuesday, one day after Romney dodged a question about the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the executive director of the New Hampshire Republican Party called the law a “handout to trial lawyers” that allows women to “sue their employers unnecessarily.”
“Romney and the New Hampshire Republican Party should also consider this isn’t just about women,” Ledbetter responded. “It’s all about families and their economic security. I know Obama believes in those values.”
“I am happy to report that Our Lady of the Lake parishioners have been overwhelmingly and, thus far, unanimously supportive of the decision I made NOT to gather signatures in support of this Referendum. The standing ovation experienced during one of the Masses says less about me and much more about the health of this parish. I only wished the archbishop could have experienced the sustained applause - the ‘sensus fidelium’ - of the people. He needs to listen to this ‘voice.’ That is my prayer.”
—Rev. Tim Clark Applauded For Marriage Equality Stance
Spike In Undocumented Immigrant Children Prompts Use Of Military Base As Shelter →
huffingtonpost.com
An unaccompanied minor in HHS custody faces a hearing in which an immigration judge decides if he or she will be sent back home, reunited with a legal guardian in the United States or granted asylum. Nine out of 10 are reunited with a family member, the AP reports. Yet, under current U.S. law, unaccompanied children are not guaranteed lawyers in deportation and asylum cases. While pro-bono lawyers have done their best to fill this void, in 2011, nearly half of all such children went in front of a judge without any form of representation, according to Elaine Komis, a spokesperson for the Executive Office for Immigration Review in the Department of Justice.
“I completely understand that children have a tough time with air pressure on their little ears & they cry when the cabin pressure changes. That is not what is being outlined here. There are a lot of children being raised to expect constant and immediate gratification of all their whims. They have no ability to entertain themselves or the discipline to interact socially in public situations. Air travel is in no way conducive to children raised this way. Most children are well behaved & actually quite delightful to travel with and I travel at least 100k miles per year. If an airline wants to create a portion of the plane for people over 12, no problem. If an airline wants to ban infants & young children from business and first class, no problem.”
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Do you agree with our commenters?
Families And Flying: Should Airlines Offer Children-Only Seating Areas And Flights?
F--king, Austria Considers Changing Its Name (NSFW) →
huffingtonpost.com
Just to be clear, we are dashing out the “u” and “c” for the sake of our more sensitive readers.
“It’s going to be an absolute pilgrimage for ‘Star Trek’ fans.”
—Destination Star Trek London: All Five Television Captains To Meet
Instagram: Spotlight: Brazil →
blog.instagram.com
Since launching, we’ve seen Instagram spread from our headquarters in the Bay Area to every corner of the globe. In this series we’ll highlight top users from countries and cities with thriving Instagram communities.
Brazil is one of the most Instagram-luvin places on the planet. Which…
We also love Brazil! Everyone should go at least once.
