Luke_Wilbur

I think we need to focus on the current leaders of country. Now is not the time to be focusing on the bad. Let's consider following the stories of the good people doing the best they can.

I may not follow Speaker elect Boehner's political ideology. But, I do really believe that he loves our country and American citizens. May our Creator guide him.

The Internal Revenue Service today released final guidance for small employers eligible to claim the new small business health care tax credit for the 2010 tax year. Today’s release includes a one-page form and instructions small employers will use to claim the credit for the 2010 tax year. New Form 8941, Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums, and newly revised Form 990-T are now available on IRS.gov. The IRS also posted on its website the instructions to Form 8941 and Notice 2010-82 , both of which are designed to help small employers correctly figure and claim the credit. Included in the Affordable Care Act enacted in March, the small business health care tax credit is designed to encourage both small businesses and small tax-exempt organizations to offer health insurance coverage to their employees for the first time or maintain coverage they already have. The new guidance addresses small business questions about which firms qualify for the credit by clarifying that a broad range of employers meet the eligibility requirements, including religious institutions that provide coverage through denominational organizations, small employers that cover their workers through insured multiemployer health and welfare plans, and employers that subsidize their employees’ health care costs through a broad range of contribution arrangements. In general, the credit is available to small employers that pay at least half of the premiums for single health insurance coverage for their employees. It is specifically targeted to help small businesses and tax-exempt organizations that primarily employ moderate- and lower-income workers. Small businesses can claim the credit for 2010 through 2013 and for any two years after that. For tax years 2010 to 2013, the maximum credit is 35 percent of premiums paid by eligible small businesses and 25 percent of premiums paid by eligible tax-exempt organizations. Beginning in 2014, the maximum tax credit will increase to 50 percent of premiums paid by eligible small business employers and 35 percent of premiums paid by eligible tax-exempt organizations. The maximum credit goes to smaller employers –– those with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees –– paying annual average wages of $25,000 or less. The credit is completely phased out for employers that have 25 or more FTEs or that pay average wages of $50,000 or more per year. Because the eligibility rules are based in part on the number of FTEs, not the number of employees, employers that use part-time workers may qualify even if they employ more than 25 individuals. Eligible small businesses will first use Form 8941 to figure the credit and then include the amount of the credit as part of the general business credit on its income tax return. Tax-exempt organizations will first use Form 8941 to figure their refundable credit, and then claim the credit on Line 44f of Form 990-T. Though primarily filed by those organizations liable for the tax on unrelated business income, Form 990-T will also be used by any eligible tax-exempt organization to claim the credit, regardless of whether they are subject to this tax.

Is it harmony of body, mind, and soul? Or is it the thought of life? I picture the release of stress and still bliss.

A Maryland-based ornament design company, announced it has generated record sales this season following its initiative to focus exclusively on made-in-America Christmas Tree ornaments, including a unique line of USA-themed ornaments like the George Washington Monument Holiday Ornament. Holiday season sales are up 6%, according to A Christmas Ornament Co., as consumers increasingly look to American-made products rather than those made overseas, in an effort to slow the trend of outsourcing American jobs and manufacturing. “Buying American is a consumer decision, representing the only way we can keep manufacturing jobs in the United States,” commented Luke Wilbur, CEO of A Christmas Ornament Co. “During this Holiday Season, many are suffering as a result of the challenging economy, and many of us have family members who have seen their jobs outsourced to other countries. The holidays are an ideal time to think about helping your fellow Americans, and this is just one small way. We exclusively sell Christmas ornaments sourced from manufacturers, artists, design houses, machinists, materials and inks made in the United States. We are doing our part to keep jobs in America and restore pride in superior American craftsmanship, and as evidenced by our sales growth even during this slow economy, that message is resonating with American consumers." Outsourcing of American manufacturing has had a devastating impact on the US economy, yet big box retailers continue to import billions of dollars of foreign made goods, many of which are poor in quality. A recent Adweek Media/Harris Poll found that three in five Americans (61%) say they are more likely to purchase something when the ad touts it is “Made in America.” While it is clear Americans want to buy products made in the USA, they are often left without an alternative. Americans are forced to perpetuate this cycle when they can't find American-made goods.

Federal Reserve is buying U.S. treasury bonds from Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and the rest of the finance industry at an inflated price instead of buying it directly from the U.S. Treasury. It will be interesting to see who actually purchased large amounts of treasuries before QE2.

Owners want profit and do not want to pay labor for jobs. Automation and Robotics are slowly replacing humans in various business assembly functions. What hardware and software cannot do are more and more outsourced to foreign countries. The actual flow of outsourced goods and services with only brand name here is mind blowing. Americans need to do the tasks that are being outsourced. This Holiday Season buy American. Look online for American made goods. For those that work in a warehouse environment take note.

Now is the Season of Thanksgiving and Good Will towards others. We need to believe in ourselves as a nation. The United States is the greatest country in the history of mankind. Our leaders need to express that. We need to believe that it will only get better. We need to believe in the greatness of ourselves. I have traveled around the world and I still kiss the ground of our great nation. I thank my Creator for giving me the privilege of living the American Dream. AMERICA IS NOT EVIL! The world is not against us. The American dream is envied all over the world. But, foreign states have their own self interest and do not like our nation encroaching on them. I can understand that. In rebuttal, foreign countries at times encroach on us. They own property on our soil and control the market. But, we tend not to have the same rights of ownership in their country. Example China does not allow more than 50 percent ownership in anything in their country. Why should we allow the Chinese to own more than 50 percent of anything in OUR country? China's desire to control our markets and goes against the tenets the PRC preaches. But, maybe it is not China's fault at all. I have a theory that Capitalism is encroaching on China's Communism and Facism is the result. There are many paths to Tyrants We live in the age of the Multinational Corporation. For this reason alone corporations should never have such power. This was the dream of Hitler. Government should never have such power. This was the dream of Stalin. Kings should never have such power. Religion should not have such power. We know what happens individuals take absolute control. Democracy fell in Greece. The Republic fell in Rome. The Grand Experiment of the United States and it division of powers will be threatened if corporations should ever be considered citizens. Corporations should never have a vote. Only its tax paying members that are United States citizens that live on our soil should ever have the right to vote. Foreign corporations should never have influence on our elections. It is in our National Public Interest to know how foreign nations might be influencing us. What is there motif? Will it weaken our defenses? Are they trying to get us to forget how to defend our selves. We need to honor our tax paying Seniors with what was promised to them. In return we will get the wisdom of their life experiences. Learn from from their sacrifice. We need to understand the great wars from their perspective. Many elders I have spoken with have a 'Can Do' spirit. They fear our generation is losing it. They told me that fair trade means fair pay for those who do the labor of products and services. We need to incorporate that world wide. Otherwise, we need to incorporate a standard commodity price and wage on all goods and services that exported to the United States. If they fall way below the national average, then a tariff is placed on the goods. One elder said that we would not have this problem if consumers just demanded goods made in America. I think we need to listen to our Senior Citizens and start rebuilding a better nation. We should establish a period of three months for election bantering. After that, the elected public servants need to come together for the benefit of their area an our nation. Positive ideas from Americans across the country are happening. We just need to promote them.

This is the type of news I would like to see everyday. Thank you Intel... Intel Corporation announced today that the company will invest between $6 billion and $8 billion on future generations of manufacturing technology in its American facilities. The action will fund deployment of Intel’s next-generation 22- nanometer (nm) manufacturing process across several existing U.S. factories, along with construction of a new development fabrication plant (commonly called a “fab”) in Oregon. The projects will support 6,000 to 8,000 construction jobs and result in 800 to 1,000 new permanent high-tech jobs. “Today’s announcement reflects the next tranche of the continued advancement of Moore’s Law and a further commitment to invest in the future of Intel and America,” said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini. “The most immediate impact of our multi-billion-dollar investment will be the thousands of jobs associated with building a new fab and upgrading four others, and the high-wage, high-tech manufacturing jobs that follow.” The PC industry is achieving a significant milestone this year with 1 million PCs shipping per day. The upgraded fabs create the capacity for the continued growth of the PC market segment and additional computing markets Intel is addressing, such as mobile and embedded computing. The new investments reinforce Intel’s leadership in the most advanced semiconductor manufacturing in the world. Intel’s brand-new development fab in Oregon – to be called “D1X” – is scheduled for R&D startup in 2013. Upgrades are also planned for a total of four existing factories in Arizona (known as Fab 12 and Fab 32) and Oregon (known as D1C and D1D). “Intel makes approximately 10 billion transistors per second. Our factories produce the most advanced computer technology in the world and these investments will create capacity for innovation we haven’t yet imagined,” said Brian Krzanich, senior vice president and general manager of Intel’s Manufacturing and Supply Chain. “Intel and the world of technology lie at the heart of this future. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we can retain a vibrant manufacturing economy here in the United States by focusing on the industries of the future.” While Intel generates approximately three-fourths of its revenues overseas, it maintains three-fourths of its microprocessor manufacturing in the United States. This new investment commitment also allows the company to maintain its existing manufacturing employment base at these sites. This new capital expenditure follows a U.S. investment announcement made in February 2009 to support state-of-the-art upgrades to its manufacturing process. Those upgrades resulted in 32nm process technology which has already produced computer chips being used today in PCs, servers, embedded and mobile devices around the world. Intel’s first 22nm microprocessors, codenamed “Ivy Bridge,” will be in production in late 2011 and will boost further levels of performance and power efficiency. By continuing to advance manufacturing process technology, additional features and functions can be integrated and enable devices with sleeker designs, higher performance and longer battery life at lower costs for users.

Even if what you are saying is true accept this election round is over. We need not point out differences that will just incite hostility. I think the mandate is the economy and jobs. We must stand united in promoting American manufacturing.

Happy Election Day everyone. I can't wait for this wave of hostility to be over and done.

Alex Sink, Candidate for Governor of Florida, broke debate rules last night by passing note via makeup artist's Android cell phone. What makes it worse is that she actually lies that she thought the call might have been from her child. I actually hope she loses the race because of this. We need better ethics from candidates on both sides.

Are you going Greg?

Any tickets for trade?

I think Mike Shanahan is a great coach. We are one game away from being better than last year. He has his team motivated to play even when they are injured. Jim Haslett has gotten the defense to overachieve expectations. Admit it. They are fun to watch. McNabb is the most dangerous quarterback in the League. He just get nervous and loses control from time-to-time. I see us in the playoffs if we make it through this brutal first half.

Nice post Greg. What did you not like about Welsh Park? Where is it located?

I believe in special interest groups. I just believe that many players are not doing their job to benefit United States interests.

GE Closes Last Incandescent Light Bulb Plant, Jobs Sent to China GE has closed its last major factory making incandescent light bulbs in the United States, a victim of a 2007 law banning sale of the light bulbs by 2014. Environmental activist groups promised the restrictions would create green jobs, but workers at GE's Winchester, Virginia plant are finding the law is merely creating jobs overseas in China, says the Heartland Institute. The 2007 law imposed energy efficiency requirements that cannot be met by traditional incandescent light bulbs. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which are much more expensive than incandescent light bulbs, are the least expensive alternative. The manufacture of CFLs, however, is labor intensive and too expensive to be done at U.S. wage rates. GE could retrofit its Winchester plant to produce CFLs, but GE CFLs would be 50 percent more expensive than bulbs made in China with the benefit of cheap labor. Realizing it could not compete with such a cost disadvantage, GE is closing down its Winchester factory, putting 200 workers out of a job. H. Sterling Burnett, a senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, says people should not be surprised by job losses caused by environmental mandates such as the ban on incandescent light bulbs. "The claim that the unemployment caused by federal policies forcing CFL light bulbs on the public was an 'unintended consequence' would be laughable if the job losses weren't so unfortunate," says Burnett. Sam Kazman, general counsel for the Competitive Enterprise Institute, pointed out banning incandescent light bulbs does not necessarily bring environmental benefits. In 1987 the town of Traer, Iowa handed out 18,000 free fluorescent bulbs to its residents in a demonstration project aimed at reducing power consumption. Residential electricity use actually rose by 8 percent, because people used more lights and kept them on longer once they realized their lighting was cheaper. Source: Kenneth Artz, "GE Closes Last Incandescent Light Bulb Plant, Jobs Sent to China," Heartland Institute, October 4, 2010. For text: http://www.heartland.org/full/28516/GE_Closes_Last_Incandescent_Light_Bulb_Plant_Jobs_Sent_to_China.html

Would you agree that government regulators were corrupted in the Federal Reserve, Treasury, SEC and Minerals and Management agency?

I think what both of you should admit is both the regulators and the bankers are corrupt.

I think the power is with the People. Consumers are the ones who make the final purchases. But, I also think it in our national security for consumers to have a choice. I am making a conscious decision to to purchase and sell American made goods. American business sectors cannot compete with $20 per month wages. We need fair trade tariffs on all manufactured goods. We also need to the government to crack down on businesses that misuse the made in USA or made in America label.

People are People.

If we have faith, America can do anything : ) http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/news/article.aspx?feed=PR&Date=20101019&ID=12191681 Maryland based wholesaler chooses to sell only American-made goods A Christmas Ornament Co., http://www.achristmasornament.com, a Maryland-based ornament design company, has announced it will sell only made in the USA Christmas ornaments this holiday season.Outsourcing of American manufacturing has had a devastating impact on the US economy, yet mega retailers continue to import billions of dollars of foreign made goods, many of which are poor in quality. A recent Gallup Poll found that 72% of Americans are paying "heightened attention" to the country of origin of the products they buy and 65% are making an effort to specifically avoid products made in China. While it is clear Americans want to buy products made in the USA, they are often left without an alternative. Americans are forced to perpetuate this cycle when they can't find American-made goods. In response to the flood of far-east imports, A Christmas Ornament Co. has distinguished itself by offering only American-made products. The company has partnered with a number of US manufacturers to create their custom Christmas ornament line. The company's CEO, Luke Wilbur, noted, "We believe producing high quality gift products gives greater opportunities for expanding domestically and abroad. Everyone at A Christmas Ornament is a leader in one way or another, no matter what his or her position in the company may be. Our leaders understand that a satisfied customer typically becomes a repeat buyer." A Christmas Ornament strives to make it easy for everyone to purchase American-made Christmas ornaments at a reasonable price. In addition, A Christmas Ornament offers non-automated (American sourced, of course) on-site customer service to answer any questions customers may have. The company focuses mainly on wholesale orders, but individuals may also purchase Christmas ornaments. A Christmas Ornament's catalog includes time-honored Christmas ornaments made of collectible glass, metal, and porcelain. In bold font, the company states, "All of our ornaments are proudly manufactured in the United States." "We are making a concerted effort to bring 'made in USA' products back to the forefront of manufacturing and we think every little bit helps," says Wilbur. "All our Christmas ornaments are sourced from manufacturers, artists, design houses, machinists, materials and inks made in the United States. We are doing our part to keep jobs in America and restore pride in superior American craftsmanship."

The Recession is over. The government, bankers and venture capitalist have money to lend. Is your business booming? Let us know about it. We need positive American economic stories. Perception in ourselves has to change. We can make a difference.

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Office Dr. Eric Schmidt took to the keynote stage at IFA today to preview new technologies – including tools for Android-powered smartphones that translate conversations from one language to another as you speak. Schmidt spoke in Berlin at the 50th edition of the world’s largest consumer electronics and home appliances tradeshow. Schmidt said more than 200,000 Android-powered smartphones are activated every day, and the Internet will soon deliver information to three or four billion people, „not just the elite,“ via smartphones. „That echoed the 1930 keynote by Albert Einstein,“ said Jens Heithecker, executive director of IFA. „Einstein was talking about radio, the new technology of the time. He said ‚technology enables communication and communication connects people.‘ „Google today connects people to the Internet and opens the world in the same way radio did 80 years ago. And IFA as a platform defines the technologies and innovations of the future that will move our industry forward,“ said Heithecker. Schmidt also previewed other advances in development at Google: • Voice-powered search for Android, the mobile operating system for smartphones; • Street-view search for Android; • Android and the Android app store will be added to GoogleTV, which fuses television with the Web and search tools.Plans call for GoogleTV to launch this fall in the United States, then worldwide. • Users will be able to use Android-powered smartphones and the Apple iPhone as remote control devices for GoogleTV. „This was science fiction, “said Schmidt.