US Enacts War Revenue Act

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today-in-wwi:

October 3 1917, Washington–In addition to raising money through the the Liberty Loans, the US government also increased tax rates.  The income tax was relatively new as a standard part of the tax code, as the 16th Amendment permitting it was only ratified in 1913–although there had been an income tax briefly during and just after the Civil War.  On October 3, President Wilson signed the War Revenue Act, which doubled the standard income tax rate (from 2% to 4%), and greatly increased the marginal rates for higher-income earners, up to 67% for the very highest rate.  The standard exemption was also lowered, meaning that more Americans would be paying taxes.

Nevertheless, the exemptions were still quite generous ($2000 for married filers, corresponding to around $36,000 in 2017) meant that the vast majority of Americans did not pay income tax.  Nevertheless, the US government was able to full one third of the cost of the war with a tax paid by only 5% of Americans.  Similarly, the top brackets only applied to extremely high incomes; the top rate applied to incomes of over $2 million ($36 million today), and rates were still below 50% for incomes below $300,000 ($5.5 million today).

Today in 1916: Germans Decree Forced Labor in Belgium and PolandToday in 1915: Russia Issues Ultimatum to BulgariaToday in 1914: First Canadian Troop Convoy Departs for Europe

Bar Ettiquette

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spaggel:

Not many of my followers know, but I’m a bartender and after this weekend (and for the last 5 years) I thought I’d make a quick a simple list of bar manners to mind.

If you use a lime after a shot do not stick your gross ass chewed up lime on the bar. Put it back into the shot glass, on a napkin or find a trash can for the love of god. 

If you don’t want a straw in your drink, either say so when you order or put in on a napkin or throw it away. Again, do not stick it in your mouth, suck on it and leave your spit straw on the counter. Have you no manners?

Don’t yell. Use your manners.

I know it looks like I will never look into your beautiful, drink starved eyes, but I can see you even if I’m not looking at you. Trust me. 

If I am not looking at you, I’m not taking your order. If I look at your eyes, that’s a sign that I’m ready to take your order. Which I am not, so don’t wave your hand in front of my face to make me look at you. I might forget what I’m doing an take even longer. You’re only hurting yourself.

If you are ordering multiple drinks, order them all at once. Not one at a time. You get your drinks faster and everyone around you can get served faster as well. It’s a win-win.

I don’t care what you drink, honestly. Like, drink a long island. Or a lemon drop. It makes my gut hurt because sugar. But I Don’t Care. And neither should you, so don’t make shitty comments the person next to you when they order. 

Unless you’re putting red bull in grey goose. Save yourself some cash and just get well vodka. 

I take it back, there was one time someone ordered a pint glass of half & half and a shot of malibu rum in it and I thought i was going to die.

If I ask you if you want a back/chaser for your shot I’m not questioning your masculinity or giving you a test. I just want to know. It’s easier to do it all at once.

I don’t know that one special drink at another bar, but tell me what you like about it and I’ll try to find you an alternative. 

Please. Please don’t ask me to just pour you whatever. Especially when it’s busy. I have to hold back the urge to pour you a shot of grape pucker and call it a day.

If you ask me for a “girly” or “pussy” drink I will pour you fernet branca because I am both girly, in possession of a vagina and that’s all I drink. You’ll regret it.

If you order something gay I will pour you whiskey because that’s what all my gay male friends drink. They also drink fernet as well. It’s a toss up there. 

In fact. I serve women, gay men/women and straight dudes all about the same when it comes to whiskey. It’s strange how gender and sexuality have nothing to do with the types of alcohol you drink.

The correct terminology you are looking for is “fruity” or “mixed” 

Anyway. Someone once asked for both. After I responded with fernet to his “pussy” shot request, he ordered a “gay” shot.

So I told him I’d make him a gay shot called a dick in his mouth.

I did. 

He told me it was “a little stiff”

I told him if there’s a dick in his mouth, you better hope it’s stiff.