New Jersey is trying to bulldoze my family’s Atlantic City home as part of a development plan for an already bankrupt casino. I’m fighting back.
 |
 |
|
Tag Archives: king of pop
Ali Lapp, House Majority PAC
| Tuesday night was hard for Democrats to stomach. there were some big successes. Thanks to you were were able to win some of the closest races around. Of the races we invested in, we won sixteen races — two of those were pick-ups for Democrats. The Cook Political Report said it best when they talked about why Democrats were able to win these tight races:“As bad as Election Night seemed, it really could have been worse, and the DCCC and House Majority PAC deserve plenty of credit for shifting their resources to defense early and saving those who could be saved.” Bottom line iswecouldn’t of done it without you. So THANK YOU!!
Now we’re turning our focus to 2016. We’ve got a historic opportunity to roll back these giant Republican gains – and put an end to the GOP’s majority. We can only keep making history with your support. Can you click here to say you are in for 2016? Thank you so much for all you did for us in 2014. Now let’s focus on the future and ensuring that all Americans have representatives that fight for them not the ultra-wealthy. Ali Ali Lapp | Executive Director House Majority PAC is the only super PAC dedicated to electing a Democratic Majority. We’re fueled by you, and we’re the people’s PAC. Click here to chip in and help fuel our efforts. |
Share this:
Overtime
The Right To Overtime Pay No Longer Exists For The Middle Class
Here’s a story we all know: Americans are working hard but earning less. But there’s a policy we don’t often talk about that has had a substantial effect on this trend: overtime pay. In 1975, more than 65 percent of salaried workers earned time-and-a-half pay for every hour worked over 40 hours per week. Today, just 11 percent do.
Overtime is still the law, but it has been allowed to erode for decades. Now, by definition, it no longer covers the middle class. Only workers earning less than $23,660 per year — below the poverty line for a family of four — qualify for mandatory overtime pay.
We would describe why that hurts middle class families and hurts the economy overall, but we think billionaire venture capitalist and champion for middle-out economic policies Nick Hanauer says it better in a new piece for Politico Magazine:
In the absence of a law requiring me to pay you overtime if you earn under a certain amount, you end up working harder—and the harder you work, the fewer employees I need. The fewer employees I need, the higher the unemployment rate. The higher the unemployment rate, the more leverage I have to “encourage” you to “do what it takes” to keep your job. And so you work even more hours, pushing unemployment up and wages down. And that, my friends, is one of the little tricks that keeps you poor and me rich.
There’s a solution to this problem — and it’s something that President Obama can do with or without help from Republicans in Congress. The President has the power to raise the income threshold for overtime on his own. If he restored federal overtime standards to where they were at their 1975 peak, that would cover workers earning up to $69,000. That comes out to 10.4 million more working Americans who would have more money in their pockets or more time to spend with friends and family.
BOTTOM LINE: Americans are working harder and longer to stretch their earnings just to keep up with the cost of living. Meanwhile, overtime pay has been allowed to erode to the point where it no longer covers anyone in the middle class. President Obama has the power to change that by strengthening overtime protections and giving the middle class and our economy a boost it needs and deserves.
Share this:
at least 12 Emoji you’re probably using wrong = fun
12 Emoji That You’re Probably Using Wrong
New York‘s cover story this week proclaims, “Smile, You’re Speaking Emoji.” But are you? Do you understand the difference between the tongue-out emoji and the winking tongue-out emoji? Today’s children communicate almost exclusively in these little smileys, and soon the weak emoji-illiterates in our society will be left behind.
As Adam Sternbergh writes in New York, the “elasticity of meaning is a large part of the appeal and, perhaps, the genius of emoji. … These seemingly infantile cartoons are instantly recognizable, which makes them understandable even across linguistic barriers. Yet the implications of emoji—their secret meanings—are constantly in flux.”
Good news: We know the secret meanings of emoji. Before you find that you’re unable to express your feelings to anyone, familiarize yourself with the true meanings of the 12 most confusing emoji faces.
The Grimace
Emojipedia classifies this one as a “grinning face with smiling eyes,” but it’s a grimace. There are shades of anxiety in there as well, as in I get my LSAT scores in 2 days :grimace emoji:
The Whistle
While this is technically a “kissing face,” it is never used that way. The whistle emoji is appropriate to use when someone asks you if you ate the last of the Skittles, and you have no good answer because you did. Not me :whistle emoji:
Flirty Blush vs. Pillsbury Dough Boy
Two blushing emojis, two different meanings. First is the flirty blush emoji, which is appropriate to use when you are flirting. (?? I’ve heard.)
Next is the creepier cousin of the flirty blush, the Pillsbury dough boy emoji. It tickles! :Pillsbury dough boy emoji: Don’t use this.
The Shrug
This is the closest emoji to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, but it’s imbued with slightly more sadness. It’s Jim Halpert looking at the camera. Your friend: Did you hear The Newsroom got a third season? You: :shrug emoji:
Neutral
This signifies an inability to relate to the subject at hand.
The Overexertion
Technically, this emoji is classified as “triumph,” which couldn’t be more wrong. You could reasonably interpret it to mean “mad” or “steaming mad,” but its true meaning is “I’m struggling on a treadmill rn.”
Panting vs. Silly Wink vs. Poison Control
The three tongue-out emojis are easy to get confused. First is the simple tongue-out face, which signifies panting. It comes off as creepy in most situations and should be avoided.
Next is the silly wink emoji, which means “hey I just made a slightly off-color joke, don’t be mad” or “I’m on poppers!”
Last is the poison control emoji, which signifies extreme distaste with the subject at hand. Your friend: Fucking DEREK booty called me last night. You: :poison control emoji:
The Sweaty Smile
This is not Singin’ In the Rain. This is the nervous, sweaty smile—the *tugs collar* emoji. Off to dinner with my girlfriend’s parents! :sweaty smile emoji:
The Man Baby
The official classification of this emoji is “tired face,” but it actually signifies someone throwing a tantrum.
Get it now? If you’re still confused, don’t worry, you’ll probably die soon.
Art by Sam Woolley
Share this:
Polar bears and seals in danger
Shell’s plans mean disaster for the Arctic, and our government might let it happen.
Be a Seed for Change 
You must be logged in to post a comment.